ITEM:

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS

 

23.

QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER RIPARIAN CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT

 

Meeting Date:

October 19, 2015

Budgeted:

N/A

 

From:

Dave Stoldt,

Program/

N/A

 

General Manager

Line Item No.:

 

Prepared By:

Thomas Christensen and

Cost Estimate:

N/A

 

Larry Hampson

 

 

                            

General Counsel Review:  N/A

Committee Recommendation:  N/A

CEQA Compliance:  N/A

 

IRRIGATION OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: The supplemental watering of riparian restoration plantings has resumed for the summer season in 2015 at nine Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) riparian habitat restoration sites.  The following irrigation systems were in use April through September: deDampierre, Trail and Saddle Club, Begonia, Schulte, Schulte Bridge, Cal-Am’s Schulte Well, Valley Hills, San Carlos, and the Dow property.

 

            Water Use in Acre-Feet (AF)

            (preliminary values subject to revision)

           

            January - March 2015             0.21 AF

            April - June 2015                   1.31

            July – September 2015            4.42

           

            Year-to-date                            5.94 AF

 

MONITORING OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION:   During May through September 2015, staff recorded bi-monthly observations of canopy vigor on target willow and cottonwood trees to provide an indication of plant water stress and corresponding soil moisture levels.  Four locations (Rancho Cañada, San Carlos, Valley Hills, and Schulte) are monitored bi-monthly for canopy ratings based on a scale from one to ten. This scale evaluates characteristics such as yellowing leaves and percentages of defoliation (see scale on Exhibit 23-A).  A total of 12 willows and 12 cottonwoods at these locations provide a data set of established and planted sample trees that are representative of trees in the Carmel River riparian corridor. Combined with monthly readings from the District’s array of monitoring wells and pumping records for large-capacity Carmel Valley wells in the California American Water service area, the District’s monitoring provides insight into the status of soil moisture through the riparian corridor.

 

Current monitoring results for the 2015 monitoring season to date show that riparian vegetation is experiencing increased stress levels associated with groundwater pumping and the drought. Stress is exhibited in areas showing yellowing leaves and defoliation. It is anticipated that many trees will sprout back next spring with some dieback on their outer most branches.  However, it should be noted that the District is irrigating in the vicinity of Cal-Am’s major municipal production wells to help offset the impacts to riparian vegetation in the critical drawdown areas. The graph in Exhibit 23-A shows average canopy ratings for willows and cottonwoods in selected restoration sites in the lower Carmel Valley.  The graph in Exhibit 23-B shows impacts to water table elevations.

 

The types of monitoring measurements made during May through September 2015 are as follows:

            Monitoring Measurement                                        

            Canopy ratings                                                (See Exhibit 23-A for trends.)          

            Groundwater levels (monitoring wells)          (See Exhibit 23-B for trends.)           

            Groundwater pumping (production wells)

 

OTHER TASKS PERFORMED SINCE THE JULY 2015 QUARTERLY REPORT:

 

1.                  Carmel River Vegetation Management: District staff completed the majority of “vegetation management” work along the Carmel River during September 2015. Vegetation and debris piles were selectively removed from six critical areas with vegetation encroachment in the channel bottom. These sites were chosen to minimize the potential that high flows would be directed from the center of the channel toward the bank, possibly causing erosion and property damage.

 

2.                  Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility Upgrade: Staff worked with TetraTech, Inc., the consultant for the project, to complete a Basis of Design report in the 3rd quarter.  Additional power requirements associated with new facilities to recirculate a portion of flow require a modification to the existing Pacific Gas and Electric service that will double the load.  The design project is on schedule and at budget, currently.

 

3.                  Proposition 1 Grant Programs:  A) Staff filed a grant request for $350,000 with the Wildlife Conservation Board to fund a portion of the Instream Incremental Method Study for the Carmel River.  The IFIM will be used to evaluate effects on steelhead habitat from potential changes in diversions and available streamflow. B) The Water Code was recently changed to require the development of a Storm Water Resource Plan for all watersheds.  Staff are coordinating with the Monterey Regional Stormwater Management Program to determine how best to satisfy this new requirement.

 

4.                  Public Outreach: Staff toured the Schulte Restoration site and the San Clemente Dam Removal and Carmel River Reroute with Prof. Matt Kondolf and his river restoration class.

 

EXHIBITS

23-A    Average Willow and Cottonwood Canopy Rating

23-B    Depth to Groundwater

 

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