ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
27.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR APRIL 2010
Meeting Date:			May 17, 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 April 2010 were optimal for adults, smolts and juvenile fish with continuous flow to the lagoon throughout the month.

During April 2010, the mean daily streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station averaged 257 cubic-feet per second (cfs) and ranged from 137 to 497 cfs. Unimpaired runoff at San Clemente Dam (SCD) for the month of April 2010 was 15,322 AF. Unimpaired runoff at SCD for Water Year (WY) 2010 to date, which started the first of October, has totaled 83,540 AF or about 133% of the long-term average to date for this site, and 122% of the long-term annual average of 68,627 AF. During April 2010, 4.45 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (CAW) SCD. The rainfall total for the month of April was 265% of the normal mean of 1.68 inches at SCD. The rainfall total for WY 2010 is 26.95 inches, which is 126% of the long term annual average of 21.34 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: During April 2010, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 2.04 to 7.07 feet above mean sea level (see graph below). Lagoon sampling occurred only once this month, due to weather restraints. This sampling occurred on April 23^rd, during a low elevation period. Water quality in the lagoon during sampling was adequate for all life stages of steelhead in the south arm area only. The other sampling locations had dissolved oxygen readings at or under 5 mg/L. This is considered stressful for all life stages of steelhead. Fish likely moved out of these areas and into more oxygen rich waters, for example the south arm area. As elevation rose, we would expect fish to redistribute throughout the lagoon back into more oxygenated areas. Water temperatures and salinities were within optimal ranges during sampling.

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^th. There have been a total of 167 fish recorded passing the counter, two in October, five in November, three in December, 25 in January, 55 in February, 65 in March and 12 in April (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 April average count of 440 fish observed at the counter, since its installation in 1993.

ADULT STEELHEAD AT LPD: By the end of April 2010, 55 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.

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