ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
23.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR MAY 2015
Meeting Date:			June 15, 2015	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 May 2015, flow conditions in the lower river were inadequate for migration of all steelhead life stages. Mean daily streamflow at the MPWMD Highway 1 gage (HW 1) ranged from an estimated 4 to 11 cfs (mean 7 cfs) with 417 total acre-feet (AF) of runoff, while the Sleepy Hollow Weir ranged from 11 to 25 cfs (mean 19 cfs). 

During May, 0.34 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (Cal-Am) San Clemente Dam (SCD) gage. The rainfall total for WY 2015 (which started on October 1, 2014) is 15.9 inches, or 76% of the long-term year-to-date average of 20.85 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  On December 12, 2014, the lagoon filled and opened to the sea for the first time since May 24, 2013. After a final breaching in late March 2015, the beach berm built up and the lagoon started slowly filling. The lagoon’s water-surface elevation (WSE) in May dropped slightly from 8.5 to 7.9 feet above mean sea level (see graph below).  

Water-quality profiles were conducted in mid-May at five lagoon sites. The lagoon was stratified at 2.5 meters depth. Conditions were generally “fair to poor” for steelhead rearing with water temperatures in the mid-60 degree Fahrenheit range and dissolved oxygen (DO) ranging from 3 - 8 mg/L. Salinity levels were low at 0.5 parts per thousand (ppt) down to 2.5m depth.

DOWNSTREAM MIGRANT TRAP: During the spring months of “dry” years, the District maintains a mid-valley downstream migrant trap to capture steelhead before they can travel to drying reaches of the lower Carmel River. Captured adult steelhead (kelts) and smolts are transported, acclimated to sea water, and then released into the ocean at Stewart’s Cove at the north end of the Carmel River State Beach. Juvenile steelhead and young-of-the-year (YOY) (fry), as well as adult resident rainbow trout, are transported and released into permanent habitat in the Cachagua reach below Los Padres Dam.

The mid-valley trap was installed April 2, 2015. Through the end of May, 157 steelhead have been captured and transported to permanent habitat including: 58 smolts, 2 juveniles, 96 YOY, and one resident adult.

JUVENILE STEELHEAD RESCUES: Rescues began on May 22, 2015 as flow at the MPWMD Highway 1 Gage dropped below 10 cfs. During five days of rescues between the Highway 1 Bridge (River Mile [RM] 1.09) and Rancho San Carlos Bridge (RM 3.86), no steelhead were observed.

ADULT STEELHEAD AT SAN CLEMENTE DAM: The total 2014-15 adult steelhead count at SCD was seven, including two in December, zero in January, three in February, two in March, and zero in April. Not counting 2014, when the river did not reach the ocean, this was the lowest adult count since 1991.

ADULT STEELHEAD AT LOS PADRES DAM: The fish ladder and trap were deactivated on May 21, 2015. There were no sea-run adult fish recorded at the trap in 2014-15.

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