ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
17.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR MARCH 2010
Meeting Date:			April 19, 2010	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			Darby Fuerst,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Cory Hamilton	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW CONDITIONS: Streamflow conditions for fish migration during March 2010 were optimal for adults, smolts and juvenile fish with continuous flow to the lagoon throughout the month.

During March 2010, the mean daily streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station averaged 305 cubic-feet per second (cfs) and ranged from 148 to 632 cfs. Unimpaired runoff at San Clemente Dam (SCD) for the month of March 2010 was 18,779 AF. Unimpaired runoff at SCD for Water Year (WY) 2010 to date, which started the first of October, has totaled 68,240 AF or about 128% of the long-term average to date for this site, and 99% of the long-term annual average of 68,627 AF. During March 2010, 2.59 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (CAW) SCD. The rainfall total at SCD for the month of March was 78% of the mean of 3.31 inches. The rainfall total for WY 2010 is 22.5 inches, which is 105% of the long term annual average of 21.3 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: During March 2010, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 2.03 to 7.96 feet above mean sea level (see graph below). Water quality in the lagoon was adequate for steelhead rearing with the exception of 1 to 1.5 meters of depth and deeper. At this depth, the high saline waters become stressful for young-of-the year fish. Although stressful for young-of-the-year fish, it is a good acclimation area for smolts preparing to enter the ocean waters. High salinities were recorded at the end of the month, beginning of the month water-quality sampling yielded low saline waters and provided adequate rearing conditions for all life stages. Water temperature and dissolved oxygen in the lagoon remained adequate at all depths for steelhead.

ADULT STEELHEAD AT SCD: The fish counter and video camera were installed at the ladder on October 17, 2009. The first fish recorded over the counter was on October 17. There have been a total of 155 fish recorded passing the counter, two in October, five in November, three in December, 25 in January, 55 in February and 65 in March (see graph below). This season’s counts have exceeded last year’s total count of 95 fish. This year’s to-date counts are well below the through March average count of 398 fish observed at the counter, since its installation in 1993.

ADULT STEELHEAD AT LPD: By the end of March 2010, 45 fish were reported at Cal-Am’s Los Padres Dam Fish Trap (see graph below). This season’s counts have exceeded last year’s total count of 21 fish.

EXHIBITS

None

U:\staff\word\boardpacket\2010\20100419\InfoItems\17\item17.doc