ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
20.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2012
Meeting Date:			October 15, 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 September 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 diminished as flows continued to become intermittent from the Schulte Road (RM 6.7) area down to the lagoon. Juvenile fish rearing was adequate above the Narrows, but becoming increasingly adverse as flows continued to slowly decline.

During September 2012, the mean daily streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station averaged 6.19 cubic-feet per second (cfs) and ranged from 5.7 to 7.5 cfs. Unimpaired runoff at San Clemente Dam (SCD) for the month of September 2012 was 37 AF. Unimpaired runoff at SCD for Water Year (WY) 2012, which started on October 1^st and ended September 30^th, has totaled 20,026 AF or about 29% of the long-term annual average of 68,756 AF. During September 2012, 0.0 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (CAW) SCD. The rainfall total for WY 2012 is 13.94 inches, which is 65% of the long-term annual average of 21.45 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: During September 2012, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 3.03 to 5.62 feet above mean sea level (see graph below). Flows into the lagoon steadily declined from 0.08 cfs to 0 cfs, as measured at the MPWMD Highway One gage. The lagoon remained closed to the ocean the entire month. At the end of the month, high tides coupled with ocean surge washed sea water over the beach and into the lagoon, raising the WSE approximately 2.5 ft.

Water-quality sampling was conducted on September 28, 2012. During this sampling survey, the WSE was 5.3 feet. Water clarity was poor at all sites with visibilities of approximately 0.5 meters. Salinity levels throughout the lagoon had risen from 1.4 parts per thousand (ppt) in August to a range from 6.5 ppt at the surface to 23.5 ppt at the bottom. The increase in salinity is due to the addition of seawater from the waves topping over the sandbar at the end of September. Dissolved oxygen levels were adequate in the main body and north arm areas of the lagoon and considered stressful in the South Arm site. The South Arm 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 57 degrees Fahrenheit (F) to 64 F.

FISH RESCUES: On June 15, 2012, staff began fish rescues, starting at Highway 1 Bridge and working up to the Schulte Bridge (RM 6.70) by the end of September. Flows became critical (<1 cfs) at the lower end of the DeDampierre project (RM 13.5) during September. Staff responded by performing rescues through this reach. Through September, a total of 7,632 fish were rescued, 7,190 young-of-year, 413 yearlings and 29 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 September 30, 2012, staff has stocked a total of 7,417 fish into the rearing channel and rearing troughs, 6,958 young-of-year and 459 yearlings. There have been 1,298 mortalities. The survival rate at the facility through the end of September was 82%.

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