ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
23.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR MARCH 2013
Meeting Date:			May 20, 2013	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Beverly Chaney	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW CONDITIONS: During April 2013, Carmel River streamflow conditions continued to decline from 21 cubic-feet per second (cfs) to 5.5 cfs as measured at the MPWMD Highway 1 (HW 1) gage. On April 4^th a pulse of water was released from Los Padres Dam to aid in upstream adult steelhead migration. This pulse brought the river flow up for three days to a maximum mean daily flow of 39 cfs at the HW 1 gage. Flows during early April were adequate for migration of juvenile and smolt stages of steelhead but impaired the latter half of the month. Except for the short pulse, adult steelhead migration conditions were impaired the entire month, with mean daily flows less than 15 cfs.

During April 2013, the mean daily streamflow recorded at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station was 24 cfs and ranged from 16 to 63 cfs. Flows were higher during the two days of pulse release, maxing out on April 5^th at 63 cfs. Unimpaired runoff at San Clemente Dam (SCD) for the month of April 2013 was 1,402 AF. Unimpaired runoff at SCD for Water Year (WY) 2013, which starts on October 1^st, has totaled 26,182 AF or about 36% of the long-term annual average of 68,756 AF. During April 2013, 0.48 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (CAW) SCD. The rainfall total for WY 2013 is 14.47 inches, which is 70% of the long-term Year-To-Date average of 20.60 inches and 68% of the long-term annual average of 21.37 inches.

Unimpaired flows for Water Year (WY) 2013 (starting October 1, 2012) have “clinched” a categorical “BELOW NORMAL” year at 26,182 AF (OCT-APR),  but the January to April 2013 flow conditions categorize well within “CRITICALLY DRY” and are similar to conditions in 1994 and 2007.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: During April 2013, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 1.2 to 10.0 feet above mean sea level (see graph below). Continuous flow entered the lagoon all month long, but flow continued to decline from 21 cfs to 5.5 cfs as measured at the MPWMD HW 1 gage. The lagoon mouth opened early in the month, after filling to 10 feet on the 8^th due to the pulse flow released from Los Padres Dam, draining the lagoon to ~1.2 feet before slowly refilling to ~7 feet where it remained until the end of the month.

Water quality profiles were completed at five lagoon sites on April 30, 2013. During the sampling the WSE was 7.99 feet. The water had a dark green tint and visibility was 1 meter. Salinity levels increased with depth at all sites with concentrations of 0.3 parts-per-thousand (ppt) at the surface to maximum concentrations of 18.1 ppt were observed throughout the water column. Dissolved oxygen levels ranged from 7.2 to 19.8 mg/L. Water temperatures increased considerably since March and were “fair” for steelhead rearing, ranging from 64 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the water column.

ADULT STEELHEAD AT SAN CLEMENTE DAM: The fish counter and video camera were installed and tested at the ladder in late November 2012. The Lagoon opened to the ocean this season on December 3, 2012. The first fish recorded at the counter was on December 5, 2012. Through the end of April there have been a total of 249 fish recorded at the counter including: 18 in December, 46 in January, 47 in February, 115 in March and 23 in April (see graph below).

ADULT STEELHEAD AT LOS PADRES DAM: The first fish observed in the trap was on January 15, 2013. Through the end of April there have been a total of 65 fish recorded in the trap including: 3 in January, 5 in February, 45 in March, and 12 in April (see graph below).

SMOLT TRAPPING: District staff installed the smolt box trap and weir near mid-valley on April 18, 2013. The primary goal of the trap is to prevent stranding of downstream migrants in drying reaches of the lower river. Captured smolts and kelts are transported and released into the ocean at Carmel River Beach, while captured juvenile fish are transported farther upstream and released into permanent habitat. Through the end of the month, a total of 795 steelhead had been trapped and transported including: 57 smolts; 624 young-of-the-year; and 114 age 1+ juveniles.

FISH RESCUES: District staff began rescues on April 19, 2013 as flow at the HW 1 gage decreased to 10 cfs. Through the end of April, 341 steelhead had been captured and released upstream in permanent habitat including: 324 young-of-the-year, 16 age 1+ juveniles, and 1 mortality.

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