EXHIBIT 7-A

Proposed Scope of Services

for

Tasks Conducted by MPWMD for the Carmel River Watershed Assessment

 

 

Note: Unless otherwise stated, all task descriptions are for the Carmel River mainstem only.

                       

 

5.4       Conduct Assessment of Riparian Functioning and Conditions                                                                                                                                                                   

MPWMD will provide an assessment of riparian functions in the main stem from the Carmel River Lagoon to the upper watershed in the Ventana Wilderness.  This assessment will be based on "Properly Functioning Conditions (PFC)”.  The river will be divided into approximately 16 reaches, as shown in Table 1.  Aerial photographs and USGS topography will be used to identify appropriate polygon areas for detailed assessments.  Approximate dimensions and UTM coordinates will be assigned to each polygon for use in a watershed GIS.  A field assessment will be conducted and a checklist, as shown in Exhibit 1, will be filled out for each reach.  MPWMD will supply a copy of all written documents (maps, checklists, photographs) used to complete the assessments.  This task will be carried out by staff experienced in assessing field conditions.                                                               

 

5.5       Conduct Biological Assessment of Fish and Amphibian Populations                                                         

MPWMD will provide a summary of existing data collected by MPWMD and others along the Carmel River from the Lagoon to Los Padres Reservoir.  Expected products include the following:

           

            5.5.1.1 Distribution maps for rearing and spawning habitat between Lagoon and headwaters.

 

A map showing spawning areas from the Lagoon to Los Padres Dam will be developed in a digital format suitable for incorporation as a layer into a GIS.  Rearing habitat between the Lagoon and the upper watershed will be shown as zones along the river with perennial and intermittent habitat.

 

            5.5.1.2 Delineate Potential Rearing Habitat and Population Surveys For Juvenile Steelhead

 

MPWMD will review and update the existing data on juvenile steelhead habitat and provide a quantitative assessment of the quantity and quality of juvenile habitat in several streams, including the main stem from the Narrows upstream to the upper boundary of steelhead migration, Cachagua Creek, and San Clemente Creek.  This assessment will be based on historical information collected since 1973, when the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) first began surveying rearing habitat.  These initial surveys will be supplemented with extensive surveys of habitat completed by D. W. Kelley and Associates between 1982 and 1990 and with population surveys by MPWMD since 1990.  Habitat indexes will be provided for specific key reaches between major tributaries.  Based on this information, MPWMD will provide estimates of the carrying capacity of young-of-the-year steelhead in each reach.

            5.5.1.3 Population counts adult steelhead at Los Padres and San Clemente Dams.

 

Available information gathered since the early 1950’s by CDFG, California-American Water Company (Cal-Am), and MPWMD will be summarized in spreadsheet tables and web-ready graphical representations will be generated.

 

            5.5.1.4 Trend analysis for juvenile and adult steelhead

 

MPWMD will review, update and analyze existing juvenile populations and subsequent runs of adult steelhead with the goal of determining whether the population as a whole is recovering from the effects of the 1987 to1992 drought.  This assessment will be based on historical populations surveys of juvenile steelhead by CDFG and MPWMD, and counts of adult steelhead at Los Padres Dam and San Clemente Dam by Cal-Am and MPWMD. 

 

            5.5.1.5 Distribution of Woody Debris and Its Role In Steelhead Ecology

 

MPWMD will summarize the existing information on distribution of woody debris in the Carmel River, provide a review of the amount and distribution of wood in “healthy” steelhead, review the functions of wood in maintaining steelhead habitat, and assess whether the introduction of additional wood into the Carmel River is necessary to restore habitat values and increase the production of juvenile steelhead.

 

            5.5.1.6 Constraints and Limiting Factors for Steelhead Population and Potential Restoration                   Areas

 

MPWMD will provide an assessment of whether the return of adults is consistent with the juvenile population in the Carmel River.  Based on this assessment and the surveys of habitat and populations within each reach from Task 5.5.1.2 , MPWMD will rate the production of each reach using an index based on the number of returning adults per juvenile steelhead per mile of stream for each return year.  These indices will provide a guide as to whether the populations in specific reaches are consistently near carrying capacity.  For the least effective reaches, MPWMD will provide a list of the probable limiting factors including streamflow, substrate conditions, temperature, woody debris, food supply and spawning habitat.  Based on this list, MPWMD will recommend a series of potential restoration projects for restoring habitat values and steelhead production to higher levels.

 

            5.5.2.1 California Red-legged Frogs

 

MPWMD will provide a map of historical sightings in a GIS-compatible format (Note: this will be a copy of documents produced independently by MPWMD). 

 

            5.5.2.2 California Red-legged Frog – Critical Habitat Maps

 

Based on information provide by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the work of others in the Carmel River Basin, MPWMD will prepare maps of critical habitat for breeding and rearing areas along the mainstem of the Carmel River between the Lagoon and Los Padres Dam.  Maps will be provided in a format readily converted into GIS format.

 

            5.5.2.3 Limiting Factors for Red-legged Frog Populations

 

Based on existing information, MPWMD will provide a reach-by-reach assessment of the potential limiting factors for red-legged frog populations in the Carmel River between the Lagoon and Los Padres Dam.  Potential factors include presence of bullfrogs, water temperature, seasonal lack of surface water, lack of riparian vegetation and cover, and road crossings.

 

 

5.6       Conduct Assessment of Water Quality Conditions in the Carmel River and Lagoon                                                      

            5.6.1 Mainstem

 

MPWMD will provide of a summary of water quality data collected by MPWMD in spreadsheet tables and web-ready graphical representations will be generated.  Temperature data collected along the main stem (excluding the Lagoon) from approximately 1960 to 2002 will be presented.  Other water quality collected along the main stem from approximately 1980 to 2002 will also be provided.

 

            5.6.2 Lagoon

 

MPWMD will provide of a summary of water quality data collected by MPWMD between  approximately 1980 and 2002.  Spreadsheet tables and web-ready graphical representations will be generated.

 

                                                                       

5.7.1        Conduct Assessment of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community, Including Drift Feeders         

                                               

            5.7.1 Review existing information

 

MPWMD will review existing data collected in the main stem and provide a summary of the data.  Functional groups will be identified.  Likely constraints and limiting factors will be analyzed and links to steelhead will be presented.

                                                           

            5.7.2 Analysis of Macroinvertebrate Functional Groups

 

Based in part on the results of 5.7.1, MPWMD will analyze the relative importance of functional groups of macroinvertebrates with a goal of highlighting those species within each functional group that are preferred food items for juvenile steelhead.  MPWMD will provide tables and charts ranking the importance of each functional group and the most numerous species within each group.  Due to the known importance of drift feeding aquatic insects and the fact that these insects also drift diurnally, thereby becoming important as steelhead food, MPWMD will concentrate most of its analysis on drifting insects.

            5.7.3 Factors Limiting Benthic Invertebrate Production

 

Based on a literature review and work of others, MPWMD will review the factors that probably limit the production of benthic invertebrates in the Carmel River.  Where possible, MPWMD will describe potential limiting factors in each reach of the mainstem from the Lagoon to the uppermost boundary of steelhead migration.

 

            5.7.4. Constraints to Populations of Benthic Invertebrates and Functional Groups

 

Based on the ranking of important functional groups and most numerous species, MPWMD will develop a list of probable constraints to the population size of these groups.  Where possible, MPWMD will describe how the constraints could be modified or manipulated at a project level scale and provide a list of potential restoration projects to increase the diversity and production of the most important functional groups and species.

 

            5.7.5 Link Between Steelhead and Benthic Invertebrate Production

 

At a theoretical level, the production of benthic invertebrates and juvenile steelhead should be associated or linked in a positive way.  MPWMD will analyze the available Carmel River data on juvenile populations to test whether higher juvenile production is associated with higher densities of benthic invertebrates, functional groups, or important drifting insects.  Results of this analysis will be used to recommend or modify the list of potential restoration projects from Task 5.7.4.

 

 

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