ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
21.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR JUNE 2009
Meeting Date:			July 20, 2009	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			Darby Fuerst,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Cory Hamilton	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW CONDITIONS: During June 2009, Carmel River streamflow conditions for fish migration were inadequate for adults and marginal for smolts with continuous flow to the lagoon. Juvenile fish rearing was adequate above the narrows and becoming increasingly adverse downstream as flows continued to decline.

During June 2009, the mean daily streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station averaged 24.2 cubic feet per second (cfs) and ranged from 14 to 31 cfs. During June 2009, 0.02 inches of rainfall (17% of the long-term June average of 0.12 inches) were recorded at California American Water’s San Clemente Dam (SCD). The rainfall total for Water Year 2009 through June is 18.08 inches, which is 84% of the long-term average of 21.4 inches for the water year to date.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: During June 2009, the lagoon’s water surface elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 7.88 to 8.63 feet above mean sea level (see 1^st graph below). State Department of Parks and Recreation and Carmel River Steelhead Associations attempts to build the sandbar up, and stabilize the lagoon water elevation seemed to be successful. Water quality in the lagoon was considered sub-optimum for steelhead rearing with water temperatures ranging from 66 to 71 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the vertical water column.

ADULT STEELHEAD COUNT AT SCD: The fish counter and video camera were installed at the ladder in January 2009. The first fish was recorded over the counter on February 15, 2009, and through the end of June 95 adults had been counted (see 2^nd graph below). This is officially the end of the migration season. The season total was 95 adult fish past SCD.

ADULT STEELHEAD COUNT AT LOS PADRES DAM: Through the end of June 2009, 21 adult fish had been captured and transported above Los Padres Dam (LPD) (see 3^rd graph below). This is officially the end of the adult migration season. The season total was 21 adult fish past LPD.

FISH RESCUE: On June 22, 2009 staff began fish rescues, starting at Highway 1 Bridge and preceded up to Via Mallorca Bridge. A total of 698 fish were rescued, 697 fish were brought to the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility and one mortality occurred during rescue activities.

SLEEPY HOLLOW STEELHEAD REARING FACILITY: During June, staff stocked 697 fish in the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility. Of those 697 fish, 646 were young-of-the- year and 51 were 1+ juveniles. During the month there were one young-of-the-year and 5 juvenile mortalities. The survival rate at the facility for the month of June was 99%. Staff also retained Iverson Tree Service to remove 3 dead trees and trim 3 trees that were diseased and posed a threat to the facilities infrastructure.

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