ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
22.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
Meeting Date:			January 30, 2013	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 December 2012, Carmel River streamflow conditions for fish migration were adequate for all life stages of steelhead from December 2^nd to the 8^th. During December 9^th through the 20^th, streamflow conditions degraded to a mean daily of less than 80 cfs at MPWMD Highway One Gage and were possibly insufficient for unimpaired adult migration. Adult migration conditions became adequate again on the 21^st after another storm event hit the central coast and increased flows. Habitat conditions for juvenile steelhead in the river were excellent, with increased habitat available and optimal water quality due to the increased flows and cool weather. Continuous flow into the lagoon occurred on November 15^th and the lagoon opened to the ocean for the first time this season on December 3, 2012.

During November 2012, the mean daily streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station averaged 6.73 cubic-feet per second (cfs) and ranged from 4.8 to 32 cfs. During December 2012, the mean daily streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station averaged 195 cfs and ranged from 34 to 923 cfs. During November and December 2012, 2.77 and 7.70 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (CAW) SCD, respectively. The rainfall total for WY 2013 is 11.11 inches, which is 164% of the long-term Year-To-Date average of 6.77 inches and 52% of the long-term annual average of 21.37 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: During November 2012, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 4.6 to 6.63 feet above mean sea level (see graph below). The lagoon mouth was closed the entire month.

Water quality was sampled on November 30, 2012 at a WSE of 6.56 feet. The first significant rain event of the season occurred on November 28, 2012. Flows at the MPWMD Highway One Gage increased from a mean daily of 1.9 to 21 cfs as a result of the storm event. Salinity levels across all sites but the two in the Odello Channel increased with depth to a maximum of 22.5 parts per thousand (ppt). This was due to high tidal over wash into the lagoon during the month of November. The two sites in the Odello Channel ranged from 2.6 to 6.7 ppt. Dissolved oxygen was adequate (> 9.0 mg/L) for steelhead across all sites down to the bottom. Water temperatures were optimal for steelhead rearing, ranging from 57 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the water column.

During December 2012, the lagoon’s WSE ranged from approximately 1.19 to 11.27 feet above mean sea level (see graph below). Storms kept hitting the central coast during the beginning of December and increased mean daily flows to approximately 780 cfs, as recorded by the MPWMD Highway One Gage. The lagoon’s mouth opened up for the first time this season on December 3, 2012. The lagoon opened and closed periodically throughout the entire month.

Water quality was sampled on December 18, 2012 at a WSE of 5.94 feet. Salinity levels across all sites increased with depth to a maximum of 28.7 ppt. Salinity increased rapidly (2 to 20 ppt) from the surface down to 1 meter. Dissolved oxygen was adequate (> 8.0 mg/L) for steelhead across all sites down to the bottom. Water temperatures were optimal for steelhead rearing, ranging from 52 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the water column.

Overall, water quality in the lagoon during the months of November and December was stressful for young steelhead because of high salinity levels, the amount of habitat available to them would have been reduced to the top 1 meter or less of water. Smolts and adult fish would have been able to adapt to the higher salinity concentrations and would have had adequate rearing habitat conditions.

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 October. Flows became critical (<1 cfs) at the lower end of the DeDampierre project (RM 13.5) during October. Staff responded by performing rescues through this reach. Through October, a total of 8,156 fish were rescued, 7,689 young-of-year, 438 yearlings and 29 mortalities. Staff brought all the lower river rescued fish (7,632) to the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility and released the DeDampierre reach rescued fish (524) in river habitat upstream of that reach.

SLEEPY HOLLOW STEELHEAD REARING FACILITY: During December 1 through December 11, 2012, District staff carried out releases of this seasons rescued and reared steelhead from the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility (SHSRF). All fish brought into the facility during the rescue season 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. During the rescue season staff stocked a total of 7,417 fish into the rearing channel; 6,958 young-of-year and 459 yearlings. Staff successfully released 5,341 fish into the lower Carmel River; 4,968 young-of-year and 373 yearlings. All fish were transported and released between Valley Greens Bridge (RM 4.82) and Highway One Bridge (RM 1.1). Overall survival rate of fish reared at the SHSRF was 72%.

ADULT STEELHEAD AT SAN CLEMENTE DAM: On December 3, 2012, staff completed the annual testing of the fish counter and set up the video camera at the San Clemente Dam Fish Counting Station. By the end of December 2012, a total of 18 fish had passed the counter.

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