ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
32.	QUARTERLY IRRIGATION PROGRAM AND RIPARIAN PROJECTS REPORT
Meeting Date:			April 20, 2009	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			Darby Fuerst,	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 2009) at the eleven Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) riparian habitat restoration sites because of sufficient soil moisture.

Water Use in Acre-Feet (AF)

(preliminary values subject to revision)

January - March 2009 0.00 AF

Year-to-date 0.00 AF

MONITORING OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: During the winter season, the District suspended the riparian vegetation monitoring program. The monitoring of soil moisture, groundwater levels, and canopy defoliation (a measure of vegetation moisture stress) will resume in May 2009. During the months of May through October, staff will take weekly measurements of depth to groundwater and canopy vigor in areas where willow and cottonwood trees may be impacted by lowered water levels caused by groundwater extraction. The areas monitored are in the vicinity of California American Water’s (CAW) Cañada and San Carlos wells and the District’s Valley Hills and Schulte Restoration Projects. The District’s monitoring provides insight into the status of soil moisture through the riparian corridor by collecting and analyzing weekly readings from the District’s array of monitoring wells and pumping records for large-capacity Carmel Valley wells in the CAW system.

OTHER TASKS PERFORMED SINCE THE JANUARY 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT:

1. Carmel River Clean Up: District staff removed plastic bags, trash, and car tires from underneath Highway One Bridge for a final Carmel River clean up before river flow reached the area.

2. Carmel River Violation Remediation: District staff worked with a private property owner, who removed riparian vegetation without a permit, to revegetate the exposed river bank. Approximately 50 willows and 10 black cottonwoods were planted on the exposed bank. Native riparian vegetation, particularly willow and cottonwood growth, offers valuable habitat to numerous wildlife species, including the California red-legged frog and steelhead trout, which are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.  In addition, when established this type of vegetation provides significant erosion protection.

3. 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 riparian corridor along the Carmel River from the mid-valley area to Rancho San Carlos Road Bridge.  French broom competes with native plants and can become problematic if left unchecked. 

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