ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
24.	QUARTERLY IRRIGATION PROGRAM AND RIPARIAN PROJECTS REPORT
Meeting Date:			April 20, 2006	Budgeted	N/A
From:			David A. Berger,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Thomas Christensen	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

IRRIGATION OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: The supplemental watering of riparian restoration plantings has been on hold during this quarterly period (January through March 2006) at the nine Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) riparian habitat restoration sites because of sufficient soil moisture.

Water Use in Acre-Feet (AF)

January - March 2006 0.00 AF

Year-to-date 0.00 AF

MONITORING OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: During the winter season, the District suspends the riparian vegetation monitoring program. The monitoring of soil moisture and pre-dawn leaf water potential (a measure of vegetation moisture stress) will resume in May of 2006. Typically during the months of May through October, staff takes weekly measurements of leaf water potential on target willow and cottonwood trees to provide an indication of plant water stress and corresponding soil moisture levels at four locations (Cañada, San Carlos, Valley Hills, and Schulte). Combined with monthly readings from the District’s array of monitoring wells and pumping records for large-capacity Carmel Valley wells in the Cal-Am system, the District’s monitoring provides insight into the status of soil moisture through the riparian corridor.

OTHER TASKS PERFORMED SINCE THE JANUARY 2006 QUARTERLY REPORT:

1. French Broom (Genista) Eradication in District Restoration Projects: District staff (Bekker and Lyons) have been removing an invasive weed (French broom, or genista) from the Schulte Restoration Project and the Red Rock Restoration Project sites. French broom competes with native plants and can become problematic if left unchecked.  

2. Big Sur Land Trust (BSLT) Restoration Workshop: On February 12, 2006, District staff (Dettman and Christensen) presented information at a workshop organized by the BSLT at the Carmel River lagoon. Topics included the steelhead life cycle, lagoon water quality, lagoon vegetation dynamics, and restoration principles. Staff also discussed the District’s role in river restoration as part of the District’s Mitigation Program.

3. Carmel River Watershed Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Meeting: On March 22, 2006, District staff (Christensen, Hampson, and Kenner) attended a meeting of the TAC to prioritize activities of the Carmel River Watershed Action Plan. The meeting focused on the creation of evaluation criteria and on how the current Action Plan can be refined with clearly stated goals and objectives. Other participants included representatives of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Planning and Conservation League Foundation, Carmel River Steelhead Association, Coastal Watershed Council, and Carmel River Watershed Conservancy. The group intends to hold additional meetings in the coming months to finalize the prioritization process.

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