ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
23.	QUARTERLY IRRIGATION PROGRAM AND RIPARIAN PROJECTS REPORT
Meeting Date:			April 19, 2010	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			Darby Fuerst,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Thomas Christensen	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: 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 2010) at the eleven Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) riparian habitat restoration sites because of sufficient soil moisture.

Water Use in Acre-Feet (AF)

January - March 2010 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 2010. 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 2010 QUARTERLY REPORT:

1. Carmel River Clean Up: District staff removed plastic bags and trash from long reaches of the Carmel River starting at Esquiline Bridge down towards Highway One Bridge.

2. French Broom (Genista) Eradication in District Restoration Projects: District staff (Mark Bekker and Matt 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.

3. Public Outreach and Education at Carmel Middle School: On January 26 and 27, 2010, District staff Thomas Christensen and Elizabeth Geisler assisted four Environmental Science classes from the Carmel Middle School in revegetating the Carmel River Lagoon Restoration Area. Christensen and Geisler presented information on the Monterey Peninsula Water Resources System and MPWMD’s environmental protection programs for the Carmel River. Highlights included teaching over 150 students about the importance of habitat restoration and native plant propagation.

4. Public Outreach and Education at Carmel High School: On March 2, 2010, the District’s Riparian Projects Coordinator, Thomas Christensen, gave a presentation to seniors in the Advanced Placement Environmental Science Class at Carmel High School. Topics included information on the Monterey Peninsula Water Resources System, MPWMD’s Carmel River environmental protection programs, the Carmel River steelhead life cycle, and specific issues related to the Carmel River watershed.

EXHIBITS

None

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