ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
22.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2015
Meeting Date:			October 19, 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 September 2015, flow conditions in the lower river were inadequate for migration of all steelhead life stages. Mean daily streamflow at the MPWMD Highway 1 (HW 1) gage was 0.0 cubic feet-per-second (cfs) with 0.0 total acre-feet (AF) of runoff, while flow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir ranged from 1.7 to 3.2 cfs (mean 2.2 cfs) and 129 AF of runoff. 

By the end of September, the lower Carmel River remained mostly dry to California American Water’s (Cal-Am) Berwick Wells in mid-valley, at river mile (RM) 8.2. The 1.5 mile reach between Boronda Road Bridge (RM 12.7) and the area known as Chalk Rock off Paso Hondo Road (RM 14.2) was also dry or intermittent. All major tributaries below San Clemente Dam (SCD) remained dry at their confluences with the Carmel River.

During September, 0.00 inches of rainfall were recorded at Cal-Am’s SCD gage. The rainfall total for WY 2015 (which started on October 1, 2014) was 16.04 inches, or 76% of the long-term year-to-date average of 21.18 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 September remained fairly steady, ranging from 3.0 to 3.3 feet above mean sea level due to evaporation and wave overtopping (see graph below).  

Water-quality profiles were conducted in mid-September at five lagoon sites. Overall, conditions have improved since August and are generally “fair” for steelhead rearing with water temperatures between 64 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Dissolved oxygen (DO) was variable, ranging from 1 - 15 mg/L, and salinity levels ranged from 1 - 3 parts per thousand (ppt).

JUVENILE STEELHEAD RESCUES: Rescues began on May 22, 2015 as flow at the HW 1 Gage dropped below 10 cfs. Through the end of September, 2,649 steelhead have been rescued between HW1 and Rosie’s Bridge in Carmel Valley Village including: 2,293 YOY, 263 age 1+ juveniles, 72 resident adults, one steelhead kelt, and 20 mortalities (0.9%). Most rescued fish were transported and released into the Carmel River in the Cachagua reach below Los Padres Dam. Due to the Tassajara Fire, 35 rescued fish were released in the large pool at Scarlett Well.

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