ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
23.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2014
Meeting Date:			October 20, 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 September 2014, Carmel River streamflow at the MPWMD Highway 1 gage (HW 1) was 0 cubic-feet per second (cfs).   As of September 30, the wetted river front remained near Robinson Canyon Road Bridge (River Mile, [RM], 8.46). An additional 2.4 miles of stream was dry or intermittent in the reach between West Garzas Well, (RM 12.1) and Rosie’s Bridge (Esquiline Road, RM 14.5).

Mean daily streamflow in September at the District’s Carmel River at Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 1.6 to 3.4 cfs, with a mean monthly flow of 1.94 cfs.  During September, 0.19 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 10.61 inches, or 49.8% of the long-term annual average of 21.29 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  In September 2014, the lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) rose from 2.4 to 3.2 feet above mean sea level (see graph below).  Surface inflow to the lagoon ceased on May 24, 2013.

Water quality profiles were conducted in late September at five lagoon sites. While much of the lagoon remained shallow, water temperatures began to cool, ranging from 63 - 69 degrees F. Dissolved oxygen (DO) levels were variable and ranged from 0.5 – 10 mg/L, while salinity levels remained low at 1.5 - 3 ppt.

LOWER RIVER STEELHEAD RESCUES:  Staff began steelhead smolt and juvenile rescues on March 3, 2014, the earliest rescue start since 1991. By the end of September, a total of 3,585 fish had been rescued, including: 873 smolts, 2,215 non-smolted juveniles, 490 young-of-year (YOY), six adults, and one mortality. The YOY fish are progeny from non-sea run spawning adults – possibly the large fish released from the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility last fall. The smolts and adults were acclimated to seawater then released into the ocean at Stewart’s Cove, near the Carmel River mouth. The juveniles and YOY were transported farther upstream and released.

SPAWNING GRAVEL ENHANCEMENT PROJECT AT LOS PADRES: In 2013, Staff received a $170,000 grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP) for the purchase and placement of spawning gravels below Los Padres Dam. Natural gravel is now trapped behind the dam causing the substrate downstream to become too coarse for adult steelhead spawning. With the addition of 1,500 tons of clean, river-run, 1.5 – 4 inch gravel, staff hopes to increase available spawning habitat through the Cachagua area by 50% as the rock migrates downstream each winter.

Project planning and permitting were completed in July 2014 and the Assured Aggregates, Co. began the six weeks of gravel deliveries to the stockpile site in mid-August. Gravel placement began on September 24 and was completed on September 29, 2014 by the Don Chapin, Co. using a conveyor-truck and loader combination (see photos below). Once river flows increase this winter, the gravel will start to disperse downstream, seeding spawning glides throughout the reach.

This year’s project continues the 20-year spawning gravel enhancement program started by the District in 1993. With the completion of the this project, the District will have placed approximately 4,900 tons of gravel between Los Padres Dam and Sleepy Hollow, downstream of San Clemente Dam.

Approximately 800 tons of 1.5 - 4 inch gravel was placed in the Los Padres Dam plunge pool using a conveyor-truck to disperse the material from the cliff above.

Approximately 300 tons of 1.5 – 4 inch gravel was placed with a loader along the bank near the “old fish ladder” (no longer in use). An additional 400 tons were placed along the river ~100 meters downstream at the “old road crossing” site.

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