ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
19.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR JUNE 2012
Meeting Date:			July 16, 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 June 2012, Carmel River streamflow conditions for fish migration in the lower river were inadequate for both adults and smolts. Habitat conditions for juveniles below the narrows were diminishing as inflows to the lagoon declined to 1 cfs. Juvenile fish rearing was adequate above the narrows, but becoming increasingly adverse as flows continue to decline.

During June 2012, the mean daily streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station averaged 13.3 cubic-feet per second (cfs) and ranged from 9.4 to 19 cfs. Unimpaired runoff at San Clemente Dam (SCD) for the month of June 2012 was 856 AF. Unimpaired runoff at SCD for Water Year (WY) 2012, which starts on October 1^st, has totaled 19,504 AF or about 28% of the long-term annual average of 69,199 AF. During June 2012, 0.07 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (CAW) SCD. The rainfall total for WY 2012 is 13.94 inches, which is 66% of the long-term Year-To-Date average of 21.24 inches and 65% of the long-term annual average of 21.45 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: During June 2012, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 6.16 to 8.03 feet above mean sea level (see graph below). Flows into the lagoon steadily declined from 12 cfs to 1.2 cfs, as measured at the MPWMD Highway One gage. The Lagoon remained closed to the ocean the entire month.

Water-quality sampling was conducted on June 29, 2012. During this sampling survey, the WSE was 6.44 feet and all sites were quite deep, greater than 2 meters. Water clarity was fair to poor at all sites with visibilities less than 2 feet. Salinity levels throughout the lagoon were fresh at all sites from surface to bottom, with the exception of the South Arm CAWD Pipe site; this site had the highest salinity level of 17.2 parts per thousand (ppt), observed at the bottom. Dissolved oxygen levels were adequate at the surface down to 2 meters for steelhead at all sites except the North Arm site; this site had dissolved oxygen readings less than 5 mg/L, which is considered stressful and inadequate for steelhead rearing. Water temperatures throughout the water column ranged from 68 degrees Fahrenheit (F) to 73 F, which is considered stressful for steelhead. Overall, the water column was not stratified and conditions were considered stressful for steelhead rearing, due to high water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels.

FISH RESCUES: On June 15, 2012, staff began fish rescues, starting at Highway 1 Bridge and working up to the Valley Greens Bridge (RM 4.82) by the end of June. Through June, a total of 2,818 fish were rescued, 2,654 young-of-year, 147 yearlings and 17 mortalities. Staff brought all fish to the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility.

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 June 30, 2012, staff has stocked a total of 2,610 fish into the rearing channel, 2,422 young-of-year and 188 yearlings. There are also fish currently being held in two quarantine tanks that have not been enumerated and stocked into the channel yet. There have been 16 mortalities. The survival rate in the rearing channel through the end of June was 99%.

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