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ITEM:
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INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF
REPORTS
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24.
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CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR AUGUST 2011
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Meeting Date:
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September 19, 2011
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Budgeted:
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N/A
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From:
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David J. Stoldt,
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Program/
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N/A
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General Manager
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Line Item No.:
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Prepared By:
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Cory Hamilton
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Cost Estimate:
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N/A
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General Counsel Review: N/A
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Committee Recommendation: N/A
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CEQA Compliance: N/A
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AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW
CONDITIONS: During August 2011, Carmel River
streamflow conditions for fish migration were adequate for all life stages of
steelhead, with the exception of adults, due to insufficient flows for
migration the entire month. Flow to the lagoon was continuous the entire month,
which is atypical for this time of year.
During August 2011, the mean
daily streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River
at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station averaged 18.3 cubic-feet per second (cfs) and
ranged from 14 to 25 cfs. Unimpaired runoff at San Clemente Dam (SCD)
for the month of August 2011 was 1,114 AF.
Unimpaired runoff at SCD for Water Year (WY) 2011, which starts on
October 1st, has totaled 101,137 AF or about 147% of the long-term
annual average of 68,900 AF. During August
2011, 0.00 inches
of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (CAW) SCD. The rainfall total for WY 2011 is 24.73 inches, which is
116% of the long-term annual average of 21.41 inches.
CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: During August 2011, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) ranged
from approximately 5.63 to 6.95
feet above mean sea level (see graph below). Water quality was sampled on August 26, 2011.
During the late August sampling, all
sites were quite deep as the lagoon sandbar was still closed. Most sites were relatively fresh (low
salinity) down to 2-meter depth. Below
that, salinity levels increased with depth, leveling out at near 18 parts per
thousand (ppt) between 2.5 and 4-meters depth at site S2 (see graphs below). Dissolved oxygen (DO) levels were variable –
dropping to 2.07 mg/l and 0.15 mg/L in the north arm and far south arm (Odello
channel), respectively. The South Arm site, near CAWD pipe and main body of the
lagoon, showed DO levels decreased with depth below 2.25 meters. Although typical for this time of the year,
the water temperature at all sites was suboptimal for fish survival (63-72.5 degrees Fahrenheit).
FISH RESCUES: On August 5,
2011, staff began fish rescues, starting at Highway 1 Bridge and working up to Via
Mallorca Bridge (RM 3.24) by the end of August. Through August, a total of 1,751 fish were
rescued, 1,670 young-of-year, 81 yearlings and 0 mortalities. Staff brought 1,734 fish to the Sleepy Hollow
Steelhead Rearing Facility and 17 fish were released in the mainstem Carmel River
at Garland Park.
SLEEPY HOLLOW STEELHEAD REARING FACILITY: All fish brought into the facility go through
a quarantine process, after which they are recounted and stocked into the
rearing channel. During this process
there are some numerical differences between what is brought in for quarantine
from the field and what is stocked into the channel. These differences represent fish that are
consumed by other fish during transport and while in the quarantine tank or
numerical counting errors in the field during rescue. As of August 31, 2011 staff has stocked a
total of 1,685 fish into the rearing channel, 1,610 young-of-year and 75 yearlings.
There have been 112 mortalities. The
survival rate in the rearing channel through the end of August was 93.3%.
U:\staff\word\boardpacket\2011\20110919\InfoItem\24\item24.docx