ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
20.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR MAY 2012
Meeting Date:			June 12, 2012	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 May 2012, Carmel River streamflow conditions were adequate for rearing juvenile steelhead, suboptimal for smolt emigration and poor for adult migration. Flow was constant to the lagoon the entire month. The lagoon was mechanically closed for the season on May 18, 2012 in order to keep it as full as possible for the summer steelhead rearing period.

During May 2012, the mean daily streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station averaged 30.5 cfs and ranged from 20 to 49 cfs. Unimpaired runoff at San Clemente Dam (SCD) for the month of May 2012 was 1,944 AF. Unimpaired runoff at SCD for Water Year (WY) 2012, which started on October 1^st, has totaled 18,648 AF or about 27% of the long-term annual average of 69,199 AF. During May 2012, 0.04 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (CAW) SCD. The rainfall total for WY 2012 is 13.87 inches, which is 66% of the long-term Year-To-Date average of 21.11 inches and 65% of the long-term annual average of 21.45 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: During May 2012, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 1.26 to 8.06 feet above mean sea level (see graph below). The lagoon naturally breached on May 15^th in the middle of the night and emptied to approximately 1.26 feet WSE. On May 18^th the Monterey County Public Works closed the lagoon mechanically. Since that time the lagoon filled to approximately 8 ft WSE by the end of the month. Flows into the lagoon steadily declined from 59 cfs to 16 cfs, as measured at the MPWMD Highway One gage.

Water quality sampling was conducted on May 29, 2012. During this sampling survey, the WSE was 7.72 feet and all sites were quite deep, greater than 2.5 meters. Water clarity was excellent in all sites with visibility greater than 2 meters. Salinity levels throughout the lagoon were fresh above 2 meters and increased with depth. The South Arm CAWD Pipe site had the highest salinity level of 26.6 parts per thousand, observed at the bottom. Dissolved oxygen levels were adequate at the surface for steelhead, ranging from 7.1 mg/L to 8.7 mg/L, decreasing to stressful ranges (less than 5 mg/L) around 2.5 meters of depth. Water temperatures ranged from 64 degrees Fahrenheit (F) to 66 F down to 2.5 meters depth, which is within adequate rearing range for steelhead. Below 2.5 meters depth, water temperature rose to above 68 F, which is considered stressful for steelhead. Overall, the water column was stratified at approximately 2.5 meters depth, above this depth conditions for rearing steelhead were adequate. Below 2.5 meters depth the conditions were considered stressful for steelhead, due to high water temperatures, low dissolved oxygen and high salinity levels.

ADULT STEELHEAD AT SAN CLEMENTE DAM: The fish counter and video camera were installed and tested at the ladder in December 2011. The first fish recorded over the counter was on February 14, 2012, the first day San Clemente Reservoir spilled. Through the end of May there have been a total of 470 fish recorded passing the counter, 72 in February, 366 in March, 32 in April and 0 in May. The fish counter malfunctioned for an 11-day period in February; counts for this period have been updated. Final tally of steelhead past San Clemente Fish Counter for the 2011-2012 season is 470 fish.

ADULT STEELHEAD AT LOS PADRES DAM: The fish trap is operational. The first fish observed in the trap was on February 28, 2012. Through the end of April there have been a total of 174 fish recorded in the trap, 6 in February, 156 in March, 12 in April and 0 in May. Final tally of steelhead past the Los Padres Fish Trap for the 2011-2012 season is 174 fish.

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