ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
23.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR APRIL 2014
Meeting Date:			May 19, 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 April 2014, Carmel River streamflow at the MPWMD Highway 1 gage (HW 1) was 0 cubic-feet per second (cfs).   After retreating to the Quail Lodge area (River Mile [RM] 4.5) in March, a storm in early April pushed the riverfront back downstream to the Rancho Canada (RC) Well reach (RM 3.0) triggering a second pulse of downstream smolt and juvenile steelhead migration to the front (see USGS flow graph below). As of April 30, the front remained near the RC well site.

Mean daily streamflow in April at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 14 to 45 cfs, with a mean monthly flow of 22.6 cfs.  During April, 1.84 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (CAW) San Clemente Dam (SCD).  The rainfall total for WY 2014 (which started on October 1, 2013) is 10.27 inches, or 50.0% of the long-term annual average (to date) of 20.53 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  In April 2014, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) slowly dropped from approximately 5.6 to 4.9 feet above mean sea level (see graph below).  Surface inflow to the lagoon ceased on May 24, 2013. There was no river inflow to the lagoon and the mouth remained closed.

LOWER RIVER STEELHEAD RESCUES:  Staff began steelhead smolt and juvenile rescues on March 3, 2014, the earliest rescue start since 1991. As noted above, the river advanced downstream to the Rancho Canada Well reach two times in 2014, forcing staff to re-rescue the same area as a large pulse of smolts and juveniles became stranded at the front. By the end of April, 1,712 fish had been rescued, including: 871 smolts, 837 non-smolted juveniles, and four adults. The smolts and adults were acclimated to seawater then released into the ocean at Stewart’s Cove, near the Carmel River mouth. The juveniles were transported farther upstream and released.

STEELHEAD SMOLT TRAPP: Staff set up the smolt box-trap and weir on March 18, 2014. The purpose of the trap is to catch downstream migrates before they reach the drying section of river. The trap was operated for eight days before it had to be decommissioned due to permitting issues with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The trap was reinstalled on April 15 and has operated every day since. Through April 29, 538 fish were captured including: 168 smolts, 822 juveniles, and 4 adults.

March Streamflow at the USGS “Near Carmel Gage” at Via Mallorca Br.

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