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ITEM: |
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS |
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23. |
QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER RIPARIAN CORRIDOR
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT |
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Meeting Date: |
July 16, 2012 |
Budgeted: |
N/A |
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From: |
Dave Stoldt, |
Program/ |
N/A |
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General Manager |
Line Item No.: |
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Prepared By: |
Thomas Christensen and |
Cost Estimate: |
N/A |
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Larry Hampson |
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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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IRRIGATION
OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: The
supplemental watering of riparian restoration plantings has resumed for the
summer season in 2012 at six Monterey Peninsula Water Management District
(District) riparian habitat restoration sites.
The following irrigation systems were in use April
through June: deDampierre, 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)
April - June 2011 1.49
MONITORING OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: During May and
June 2012, staff recorded bi-monthly 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 23-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 values are measured at all four sites using 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 California American Water service area, the
District’s monitoring provides insight into the status of soil moisture through
the riparian corridor.
Current
monitoring results for the 2012 monitoring season to date show that riparian
vegetation is below threshold stress levels.
Late spring rains and adequate river flows have helped trees in the
riparian corridor remain vigorous during early summer. The graph in Exhibit
23-A shows average canopy ratings for willows and cottonwoods in
selected restoration sites in the lower Carmel Valley. The graph in Exhibit 23-B shows impacts to water table
elevations.
The
types of monitoring measurements made during May through June 2012 are as
follows:
Monitoring Measurement
Canopy
ratings (See
Exhibit 23-A for trends.)
Soil
moisture (tensiometers)
Groundwater
levels (monitoring wells) (See Exhibit
23-B for trends.)
Groundwater pumping (production
wells)
OTHER
TASKS PERFORMED SINCE THE APRIL 2012 QUARTERLY REPORT:
1.
Carmel
River Vegetation Management Project Notification: On June 1, 2012, District staff notified the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), and the Regional Water
Quality Control Board of four sites that are scheduled for vegetation
management activities this fall. A total of approximately 2,218 square feet of
stream encompassing approximately 0.051 acres in the channel bottom will
be affected by this year’s project. The goal of the vegetation
management activities is to reduce the risk of streambank
erosion along riverfront properties where vegetation encroachment could
potentially divert river flows into streambanks
during high flow periods.
2.
Riparian
Irrigation Tune-up: District staff (Mark Bekker and Matt Lyons) have been tuning up
multiple irrigation systems along the Carmel River that are designed to offset
impacts associated with groundwater extraction. Tune-ups include replacement of
clogged emitters, leak repair, and trouble shooting well pumps and pressure
tanks.
3.
Public
Outreach and Education: On May 20, 2012,
District staff participated with the Monterey County Resource Conservation
District and the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District in Watershed
Awareness Day. Representatives from all three agencies helped facilitate the
restoration of an empty field by planting native riparian plants along the
Carmel River at deDampierre Park and presented
information on watershed dynamics and health.
4.
State
Proposition 84 Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Grant Program: MPWMD, the City of Seaside, and the Monterey
County Water Resources Agency selected a team composed of Balance Hydrologics,
Whitson Engineers, and the Watershed Institute at California State University
at Monterey Bay to complete an update of the Master Drainage Plan for the
Canyon Del Rey watershed. District staff
also compiled and submitted the first quarterly report for the IRWM Plan update
to the Department of Water Resources.
5.
Sleepy Hollow Ford Removal and Bridge Replacement
Project: District staff worked with
the California Department of Fish and Game on a change to the grant agreement
with CDFG to complete a constructability analysis for the bridge. This will allow completion of final design and
specifications for the project.
Funds for the project will come
from a fund set up by a Settlement Agreement between Cal-Am, the National
Marine Fisheries Service, and CDFG for steelhead enhancement projects along the
Carmel River. Removal of the ford would
remove a fish passage barrier at low flows and replace it with a bridge across
the river, which would also allow year-round access to raise steelhead at the
Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility.
EXHIBITS
23-A Average
Willow and Cottonwood Canopy Rating
23-B Depth to
Groundwater
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2012\20120716\InfoItems\23\item23.docx