ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
24.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER THROUGH DECEMBER 2013
Meeting Date:			January 29, 2014	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 December 2013, Carmel River streamflow at the MPWMD Highway 1 gage (HW 1) was 0 cubic-feet per second (cfs).  Lower river flows during December were not adequate for migration or rearing for any life stage of steelhead.  The river is dry to the Red Rock area in mid-valley (RM 8.1) as well as an additional mile of stream between Boronda Bridge and DeDampierre Park (RM 14.1). 

Mean daily stream-flow at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station varied from a high of 3.3 to a low of 2.5 cfs, which resulted in a mean monthly flow of 3.05 cfs.  Unimpaired runoff at San Clemente Dam (SCD) for the month was 294 AF.  Unimpaired runoff at SCD for Water Year (WY) 2014, which started on October 1, 2013, totaled 557 AF or about 7.9% of the long-term average of 7,044 AF.

During December 2013, 0.32 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (CAW) SCD.  The rainfall total for WY 2014 (which started on October 1, 2013) is 1.06 inches, which is 15.6% of the long-term annual average of 6.77 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  In December 2013, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) rose from approximately 3.5 feet to 5.3 feet above mean sea due to wave overwash in the second half of the month (see graph below).  Surface inflow to the lagoon ceased on May 24, 2013.

Lagoon water-quality profiles were completed at five sites on December 12, 2013. Temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen levels were all in the “good” range for steelhead rearing and the CO² concentration improved since October, dropping to 25 mg/l. The south-arm is undergoing another red-algae and aquatic grass bloom.

LOWER RIVER STEELHEAD RESCUES:  No rescues were done in November or December. Staff is continuing to monitor conditions at the river front.

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