ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
26.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR JANUARY 2016
Meeting Date:			February 17, 2016	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: The El Niño rains finally arrived, rewetting the tributaries and causing the Carmel River to start flowing to the lagoon on January 7, 2016. The lagoon mouth opened on January 11, 2016 after Monterey County Public Works crews sculpted an outlet channel at 11 foot elevation. Los Padres Reservoir filled and spilled on January 18, 2016.

During much of January 2016, flow conditions in the lower Carmel River were excellent for migration and rearing of all steelhead life stages. Mean daily streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir ranged from 11 to 606 cubic feet-per-second (cfs) (mean 150 cfs) resulting in 9,240 acre-feet (AF) of runoff, while flows at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 0 to 714 cubic feet-per-second (cfs) (mean 159 cfs), resulting in 9,330 acre-feet (AF) of runoff – the highest monthly flow volume since December 2012.

During January, 6.15 inches of rainfall were recorded at Cal-Am’s San Clemente gauge. The rainfall total to date for WY 2016 (which started on October 1, 2015) is 14.31 inches, or 129% of the long-term year-to-date average of 11.08 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON: The lagoon began rapidly filling in early January from surface runoff and river flow, reaching approximately 13.8 feet above mean sea level before connecting to the ocean on January 11, 2016 through the high elevation channel cut by Monterey County crews. After draining to approximately 5.5 feet, the water surface elevation (WSE) began oscillating with the tides (see graph below).

Water-quality profiles were conducted in mid-January at five lagoon sites. Overall, surface water conditions (to one meter depth) were “good to excellent” for steelhead rearing with water temperatures in the low 50s degrees Fahrenheit, dissolved oxygen (DO) ranging from 5 - 11 mg/L, and salinity levels below 10 parts per thousand (ppt). Deeper water, primarily in the side channels, was generally more saline (up to 29 ppt) and had lower DO levels (down to 3 mg/L).

ADULT STEELHEAD COUNTS: The DIDSON camera was installed, and began operating, on January 12, 2016. The data are currently being reviewed and preliminary results will be reported once available. No adult fish have been observed at the Los Padres Dam fish ladder through January.

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