ITEM:

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS

 

28.

QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER RIPARIAN CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT

 

Meeting Date:

January 29, 2014

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: The supplemental watering of riparian restoration plantings resumed for the summer season in 2013 at nine Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) riparian habitat restoration sites.  The following irrigation systems were in use April through December: deDampierre, Trail and Saddle Club, Begonia, Schulte, Schulte Bridge, All Saints, Valley Hills, San Carlos, and the Dow property.

 

            Water Use in Acre-Feet (AF)

            (preliminary values subject to revision)

           

            January - March 2013             0.44 AF

            April - June 2013                   1.70

            July – September 2013            6.52

            October – December 2013      4.90

           

            Year-to-date                            13.56 AF

 

MONITORING OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION:   During May through October 2013, staff recorded bi-monthly observations of canopy vigor on target willow and cottonwood trees to provide an indication of plant water stress and corresponding soil moisture levels.  Four locations (Rancho Cañada, San Carlos, Valley Hills, and Schulte) are monitored bi-monthly for canopy ratings based on a scale from one to ten. This scale evaluates characteristics such as yellowing leaves and percentages of defoliation (see scale on Exhibit 28-A).  A total of 12 willows and 12 cottonwoods at these locations provide a data set of established and planted sample trees that are representative of trees in the Carmel River riparian corridor.  Soil moisture values are measured at all four sites using 18-inch and 36-inch tensiometers in the soil column.  Combined with monthly readings from the District’s array of monitoring wells and pumping records for large-capacity Carmel Valley wells in the California American Water service area, the District’s monitoring provides insight into the status of soil moisture through the riparian corridor.

 

Monitoring results for the 2013 season show that riparian vegetation is experiencing increased stress levels in some areas with yellowing leaves and defoliation.  However, the overall riparian corridor and critical drawdown areas (impacted by water extraction) under irrigation are showing signs of resilience given the dry conditions. The graph in Exhibit 28-A shows average canopy ratings for willows and cottonwoods in selected restoration sites in the lower Carmel Valley.  The graph in Exhibit 28-B shows impacts to water table elevations.

 

The types of monitoring measurements made during May through October 2013 are as follows:

            Monitoring Measurement                                        

            Canopy ratings                                                (See Exhibit 28-A for trends.)          

            Soil moisture (tensiometers)                                       

            Groundwater levels (monitoring wells)          (See Exhibit 28-B for trends.)           

            Groundwater pumping (production wells)

 

OTHER TASKS PERFORMED SINCE THE OCTOBER 2013 QUARTERLY REPORT:

 

1.                  Carmel River Vegetation Management: District staff completed “vegetation management” work along the Carmel River on October 14, 2013. Vegetation was selectively removed from two critical areas with vegetation encroachment in the channel bottom. A total of 1,500 square feet of stream was opened up. These sites were chosen to minimize the potential that high flows would be directed from the center of the channel toward the bank, possibly causing erosion and property damage.

 

2.                  Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility Intake Upgrade: The California State Coastal Conservancy is proposing to reimburse MPWMD for up to $450,000 in expenses for completing the design and environment review to upgrade the intake for the steelhead rearing facility.  Please see the Consent Calendar in this packet for additional information.

 

3.                  U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BuRec) WaterSMART Grant Program:  MPWMD cooperated with the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency on a Letter Of Interest to in this grant program.   If selected for funding, a basin study would be conducted in an area including the Carmel Valley, the Salinas Valley, and a portion of San Luis Obispo containing the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin.  The study would consider basin supplies and demands over the next several decades and would evaluate the effects of global climate change on water availability.  Grants are expected to be between $500,000 and $1 million with a 50% local match required.  Proposals are due February 19, 2012.

 

 

EXHIBITS

28-A    Average Willow and Cottonwood Canopy Rating

28-B    Depth to Groundwater

 

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