ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
30.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2015
Meeting Date:			November 16, 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 October 2015, flow conditions in the lower Carmel 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 2.6 cfs (mean 2.1 cfs) and 130 AF of runoff. 

By the end of October, 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 October, 0.89 inches of rainfall were recorded at Cal-Am’s SCD gauge. The rainfall total for WY 2016 (which started on October 1, 2015) is 0.89 inches, or 115% of the long-term year-to-date average of 0.77 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 October rose from 3.0 to 4.5 feet above mean sea level due primarily to wave overtopping (see graph below).  

Water-quality profiles were conducted in mid-October at five lagoon sites. Overall, conditions remained “fair” for steelhead rearing with water temperatures in the upper 60s degrees Fahrenheit, dissolved oxygen (DO) ranging from 1 - 12 mg/L, and salinity levels ranging from 1 - 8 parts per thousand (ppt).

ANNUAL JUVENILE STEELHEAD POPULATION SURVEYS: Fisheries staff completed the annual October population surveys at six sites between Garland Park and Los Padres Dam. Surveys could not be done at four other sites due to the dry river conditions. In addition, the final site, located in the former SCD inundation zone no longer exists due to the dam removal project. This was the first year all captured steelhead (>65mm TL) were tagged with Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Tags. Staff from the NOAA Fisheries Santa Cruz Laboratory assisted District staff with the tagging and data collection. Data collected from these tagged fish as they migrate out to the ocean as smolts and return in the future as adults will help the District and other agencies answer important questions about the Carmel River steelhead’s life cycle and support improved management of the stock.

JUVENILE STEELHEAD RESCUES: No rescues were needed in October.

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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