ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
21.	QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER RIPARIAN CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT
Meeting Date:			January 23, 2012	Budgeted	N/A
From:			Dave Stoldt,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Thomas Christensen and Larry Hampson	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

NOTE: This informational item combines the Quarterly Irrigation Program and Riparian Projects Report with the Quarterly Carmel River Erosion Protection and Restoration Projects Report

IRRIGATION OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: The supplemental watering of riparian restoration plantings resumed in May of 2011 at five Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) riparian habitat restoration sites. The following irrigation systems were in use May through October: Trail and Saddle Club, Begonia, Schulte, Valley Hills, and San Carlos at the Dow Property.

Water Use in Acre-Feet (AF)

(preliminary values subject to revision)

January - March 2011 0.01 AF

April - June 2011 1.20

July – September 2011 2.64

October – December 2011 0.08

Total in 2011 3.93 AF

MONITORING OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: During May through October 2011, staff recorded observations of canopy vigor on target willow and cottonwood trees to provide an indication of plant water stress and corresponding soil moisture levels. Four locations (Rancho Cañada, San Carlos, Valley Hills, and Schulte) are monitored bi-monthly for canopy ratings based on a scale from one to eleven. This scale evaluates characteristics such as yellowing leaves and percentages of defoliation (see scale on Exhibit 21-A). A total of 12 willows and 12 cottonwoods at these locations provide a data set of established and planted sample trees that are representative of trees in the Carmel River riparian corridor. Soil moisture measurements are conducted at all four sites using tensiometers. Soil moisture values are measured at four stations with 18-inch and 36-inch tensiometers in the soil column. Combined with monthly readings from the District’s array of monitoring wells and pumping records for large-capacity Carmel Valley wells in the CAW system, the District’s monitoring provides insight into the status of soil moisture throughout the riparian corridor.

Monitoring results for the 2011 monitoring season showed that riparian vegetation remained below threshold stress levels. The overall riparian corridor fared well with 2011’s relatively high rainfall and river flows as compared to average conditions. The graphs in Exhibits 21-A and 21-B show average canopy ratings for willows and cottonwoods in selected restoration sites in the lower Carmel Valley and impacts to water table elevations.

The types of monitoring measurements made during May through October 2011 are as follows:

Monitoring Measurement

Canopy Ratings (See Exhibit 21-A for trends.)

Soil moisture (tensiometers)

Groundwater levels (monitoring wells) (See Exhibit 21-B for trends.)

Groundwater pumping (production wells)

OTHER TASKS PERFORMED SINCE THE OCTOBER 2011 REPORT:

1. Carmel River Advisory Committee Meeting: On October 27, 2011, staff held a meeting of the Carmel River Advisory Committee. Highlights of the meeting included discussion on activities in the Carmel River Watershed, an update by General Manager Dave Stoldt on water supply planning at MPWMD, and information on the Sleepy Hollow Ford Removal and Bridge Replacement Project.

2. Permit Processing and Property Owner Assistance. District staff processed permits for work in the riparian corridor along the Carmel River and also assisted property owners with remediation of violations such as removing trees without a permit.

3. Carmel River Clean Up: District staff removed trash and plastic below major bridges along the Carmel River before winter rains and high flows washed the debris into the river or into the ocean.

4. State Proposition 84 Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Grant Program: MPWMD executed a $995,000 grant agreement with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) in late December 2011. The grant from DWR will be used for water resource planning purposes in the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Bay, and South Monterey Bay Region (Region).

Between September and December 2011, the MPWMD Board authorized staff to enter into several Sub-Grantee and Consultant agreements for projects associated with the grant. In January 2012, staff began the process of executing those agreements. Staff anticipates that work on several projects will begin in February 2012.

5. Sleepy Hollow Ford Removal and Bridge Replacement Project: A geotechnical analysis was completed and a hydraulic analysis was begun. Based on the results of these investigations, a preliminary bridge and abutments design was completed. Consultants for the project anticipate completing the type selection and cost estimate for the bridge by the end of January 2011.

6. Carmel River Lagoon: District staff monitored beach and lagoon conditions and provided information on beach conditions, lagoon stage and water quality, and watershed conditions to Monterey County to assist with management of the lagoon water surface elevation.

The MPWMD Board authorized staff to enter into an agreement with Monterey County to provide $54,200 from the IRWM Planning Grant for a feasibility study of protecting Scenic Road from erosion. This study will be coordinated with the work to study the feasibility of placing a protective barrier along the north side of the lagoon to prevent flooding and to increase the volume of water that the lagoon can hold. District staff will participate with Monterey County in the evaluation of proposals to place a barrier at the lagoon. One of the goals of the two coordinated projects is to reduce the need to physically manage the beach with bulldozers and shovels in order to reduce the threat of local flooding. Physical management of the beach affects steelhead habitat at the lagoon is a likely cause of stress and mortality for all life phases of steelhead passing through the lagoon.

7. San Clemente Dam Removal Project: A 600-page draft Request for Proposals was reviewed in December 2011 by the Technical Review Team, which includes MPWMD. District staff continue to review the proposed design and provide feedback to the design team including information on debris and sediment flow through the river and fish passage criteria in the rerouted channel.

EXHIBITS

21-A Average Willow and Cottonwood Canopy Rating

21-B Depth to Groundwater

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