ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
20.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR JUNE 2015
Meeting Date:			July 20, 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 June 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 0 to 5 cubic feet-per-second (cfs) (mean 1 cfs) with 66 total acre-feet (AF) of runoff, while flow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir ranged from 5 to 12 cfs (mean 7 cfs). 

By the end of the June, the lower Carmel River was dry up to the USGS Near Carmel Gage (Via Mallorca Road) at river mile (RM) 3.2, and intermittent up to RM 5.4 (Cypress Well). An additional 0.2 miles of river near the Carmel Valley Trail and Saddle Club (CVTSC) (RM 13.3) was also intermittent. All major tributaries below San Clemente Dam (SCD) were also dry at their confluences with the Carmel River.

During June, 0.00 inches of rainfall were recorded at California American Water’s (Cal-Am) 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 20.97 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 June dropped steadily from 7.8 to 5.0 feet above mean sea level as surface inflow ceased (see graph below).  

Water-quality profiles were conducted in early June at five lagoon sites. The lagoon remained 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 - 7 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 upstream and released into permanent habitat in the Cachagua reach below Los Padres Dam.

The mid-valley trap was installed April 2, 2015 and decommissioned on June 26, 2015 due to the low flow conditions. Through the end of June, 386 steelhead were captured and transported to permanent habitat including: 58 smolts, 2 juveniles, 323 YOY, and one resident adult. There were two mortalities (0.5%).

JUVENILE STEELHEAD RESCUES: Rescues began on May 22, 2015 as flow at the MPWMD Highway 1 Gage dropped below 10 cfs. Through the end of June, 305 steelhead were rescued between HW1 and the CVTSC including 257 YOY, 24 age 1+ juveniles, 23 resident adults, and one mortality (0.3%). All rescued fish were transported and released in the Cachagua reach below Los Padres Dam.

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