ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
20.	QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER RIPARIAN CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT
Meeting Date:			April 15, 2013	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			Dave Stoldt,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Thomas Christensen and	Cost Estimate:	N/A
			Larry Hampson
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

IRRIGATION OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: Supplemental watering of riparian restoration plantings occurred January through March 2013 because of low rainfall. Three Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) riparian habitat restoration sites (DeDampierre, Trail and Saddle Club, and Red Rock) all needed supplemental irrigation to help establish young seedlings.

Water Use in Acre-Feet (AF)

January - March 2013 0.44 AF

Year-to-date 0.44 AF

MONITORING OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: During the winter season, the District suspended the riparian vegetation monitoring program. The monitoring of soil moisture, groundwater levels, and canopy defoliation (a measure of vegetation moisture stress) will resume in May 2013. During the months of May through October, staff will take bi-monthly measurements of depth to groundwater and canopy vigor in areas where willow and cottonwood trees may be impacted by lowered water levels caused by groundwater extraction. The areas monitored are in the vicinity of California American Water’s (Cal-Am) Cañada and San Carlos wells and the District’s Valley Hills (next to Cal-Am’s Cypress Well) and Schulte (next to Cal-Am’s Schulte Well) Restoration Projects. The District’s monitoring provides insight into the status of soil moisture through the riparian corridor by collecting and analyzing bi-monthly readings from the District’s array of monitoring wells and pumping records for large-capacity Carmel Valley wells in the Cal-Am system.

OTHER TASKS PERFORMED SINCE THE JANUARY 2013 QUARTERLY REPORT:

1. Carmel River Clean Up: District staff removed plastic bags, metal, tires, and trash from long reaches of the Carmel River starting at Esquiline Bridge and extending downstream to the Highway One Bridge.

2. French Broom (Genista) Eradication in District Restoration Projects: District staff (Mark Bekker and Matt Lyons) have been removing an invasive weed (French broom, or genista) from the riparian corridor along the Carmel River from the Village area to Rancho San Carlos Road Bridge.  French broom competes with native plants and can become problematic if left unchecked.

3. Public Outreach and Education: On March 7, 2013, District staff presented information on the Monterey Peninsula Water Resource System and Mitigation Program to fifth graders of the International School of Monterey. Then on March 26, 2013, District staff gave a presentation on the Monterey Peninsula Water Resource System and Carmel River Lagoon Dynamics to seniors of Environmental Science classes from Robert Louis Stevenson School.

4. State Proposition 84 Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Grant Program: Several chapters of the draft update to the IRWM Plan have been posted for comment to the IRWM website. During the first quarter of 2013, staff developed a website site application for project sponsors to upload and evaluate project applications for inclusion in the IRWM Plan. Stakeholder meetings were held to allow input on the project review process (February 6) and on objectives and goals for the Ord Community (February 7). In addition to the IRWM Plan update, all nine of the other grant-funded planning projects have commenced work. More detailed quarterly reports about these projects and the IRWM Plan update can be viewed at www.mpirwm.org

5. Sleepy Hollow Ford Removal and Bridge Replacement Project: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife approved an amendment to the grant agreement for this project that will allow the final design and report to be completed in the 2^nd quarter of 2013. However, construction of the project will be delayed until the San Clemente Dam Removal and Carmel River Reroute Project is completed. Construction for the dam removal is expected to begin in June 2013 and the project should be completed in 2015.

6. Schulte Road Bridge Replacement: Monterey County Public Works Department re-initiated bridge replacement construction at this site. The bridge is expected to be completed and in service before the next rainy season begins.

7. Carmel River Lagoon Ecosystem Protective Barrier and Scenic Road Protection: District staff attended a public meeting on March 25 to announce proposed alternatives for installing a barrier on the north side of the lagoon and protection along Scenic Road. The feasibility analysis if partly funded through the IRWM grant program. District staff have also provided technical support to Monterey County and their consultants on the project.

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