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ITEM: |
INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORT |
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20. |
CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 2025 |
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Meeting Date: |
December 15, 2025 |
Budgeted: |
N/A |
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From: |
David J. Stoldt, |
Program/ |
N/A |
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General Manager |
Line Item
No.: |
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Prepared By: |
Cory Hamilton |
Cost Estimate: |
N/A |
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General Counsel Review: N/A |
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Committee Recommendation: N/A |
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CEQA Compliance: This
action does not constitute a project as defined by the California
Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378. |
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AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW CONDITIONS: During November, a couple of significant rain
events increased base flows to the river. This caused the river to completely
rewet the mainstem channel all the way to the lagoon by November 17th.
The lagoon mouth was closed for the entire month (see graphic below). Rearing and migration conditions were adequate
in the entire mainstem of the river by the end of the month. Los Padres
Reservoir began to fill from a season low elevation of
1015 feet to 1034 feet by the end of the month. Flow released out of the
reservoir at the end of the month was 12.0 cfs.
November’s streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 5.7 to 19 cfs (mean 10.7
cfs), while flows at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 0 to 20 cfs (mean
7.41 cfs).
There was 4.39 inches of measurable rainfall in November
as recorded at the San Clemente gauge. The total rainfall for Water Year
(WY) 2026 (which started October 1, 2025) is 5.50 inches., which is 195%
of normal to date.
FISH RESCUE: On May 16, 2025, District staff started fish rescues due to
drying conditions in the tributaries. On
June 27, 2025, staff started conducting fish rescues in the mainstem Carmel
River, impacted areas include the Crossroads area to the Shulte Bridge area, as
well as the Trail and Saddle club area, for a total of approximately 5 miles.
As of the end of October, a total of 7,470 fish have been rescued (6,475 YOY, 968 1+ year olds, 3 adult kelt
and 24 mortalities). Fish are being released and tagged this season in a
variety of locations in order to track which produces
the best return rates (part of the Rescue and Rearing Management Plan’s release
strategy). These release areas are the
lagoon, perineal waters of the mainstem and the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing
Facility. No rescues occurred in November; staff are preparing for releases
from the facility in December as release conditions are starting to be met.
CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: In November, the lagoon’s Water Surface
Elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 8.2 to 12.5 feet (NGVD 1988) (see
graph below). Water quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on November
21, 2025, while the lagoon mouth was closed, water surface elevation was 10.88
feet at the time of sampling, and river inflow was approximately 20 cfs. The north arm of the lagoon was reconnected to
the main body of the lagoon. Lagoon stratification was observed at about 0.5
meters depth at all sites. Salinity levels ranged from 0.7-26.1 parts per
thousand (ppt), throughout the lagoon. Water
temperatures ranged from 54.1-64.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and dissolved oxygen
(DO) levels ranged from 0.03-9.24 mg/l.
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2025\121525\Informational
Items\20\Item-20.docx