ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
19.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2011
Meeting Date:			November 21, 2011	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David J. Stoldt,	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: During October 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 October 2011, the mean daily streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station averaged 18.6 cubic-feet per second (cfs) and ranged from 16 to 21 cfs. For data on unimpaired runoff at San Clemente Dam (SCD) for the month of October 2011, see the Monthly Water Supply Status Report in the MPWMD Monthly Board Agenda Packet, dated November 21, 2011. During October 2011, 1.71 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (CAW) SCD. The rainfall total for WY 2012 is 1.71 inches, which is 222% of the long-term YTD average of 0.77 inches and 8% of the long-term annual average of 21.45 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: During October 2011, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 7.21 to 8.78 feet above mean sea level (see graph below). Water quality was sampled on October 28, 2011. The lagoon mouth remained closed and river inflow was continuous the entire month. During the late October sampling, all sites were quite deep (> 2.5 meters) as the lagoon sandbar was still closed and inflow was relatively high. Salinity levels across all sites increased with depth below 2 meters, reaching maximum concentrations of 25.8 parts per thousand (ppt) at the Carmel Area Wastewater District’s (CAWD) outfall pipe and 19.8 ppt just south of the CAWD pipe in the Odello Channel. Dissolved oxygen was stratified at about 2 meters depth, with the top 2 meters ranging from 5 to 7 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and greater than 2 meters depth decreasing to under 1 mg/L. Dissolved oxygen less than 5 mg/L is considered stressful and fish were not likely using this space as viable habitat. Water temperatures across all sites increased with depth, ranging from 57°F at the surface to 67°F at the bottom. Although typical for this time of the year, the water temperature at all sites was suboptimal for fish survival.

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 September, a total of 1,751 fish were rescued, 1,670 young-of-year, 81 yearlings and 0 mortalities. Staff transported 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 October 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 185 mortalities through October. The survival rate in the rearing channel through the end of October was estimated as 89%.

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