ITEM:

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS

 

25.

QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER RIPARIAN CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT

 

Meeting Date:

October 17, 2016

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 2016 at seven 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, Valley Hills, and the Dow property.

 

            Water Use in Acre-Feet (AF)

            (preliminary values subject to revision)

           

            April - June 2016                   1.58 AF

            July – September 2016            4.41

           

            Year-to-date                            5.99 AF

 

MONITORING OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION:   During May through September 2016, 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 25-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 2016 monitoring season to date show that riparian vegetation is below threshold stress levels.  At present, the river has dried back to approximately Schulte Bridge.  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 25-A shows average canopy ratings for willows and cottonwoods in selected restoration sites in the lower Carmel Valley.  The graph in Exhibit 25-B shows impacts to water table elevations.

 

The types of monitoring measurements made during May through September 2016 are as follows:

            Monitoring Measurement                                        

            Canopy ratings                                                (See Exhibit 25-A for trends.)          

            Groundwater levels (monitoring wells)          (See Exhibit 25-B for trends.)           

            Groundwater pumping (production wells)

 

OTHER TASKS PERFORMED SINCE THE JULY 2016 QUARTERLY REPORT:

 

1.                  Carmel River Vegetation Management: District staff completed the majority of “vegetation management” work along the Carmel River during September 2016. Vegetation and debris piles were selectively removed from 13 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 and circulate an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the proposed project in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act.  Due to lengthy preparation of the CEQA document, the project is now behind schedule and may not be completed until 2018.

 

3.                  Proposition 1 Grant Programs:  Staff worked with other Central Coast regions to develop a proposal for the Department of Water Resources to consider in awarding approximately $4.4 million to the Central Coast for planning and implementation projects involving Disadvantaged Communities (communities with a median household income of 80% or less of the California median household income).  The Monterey Peninsula region should be eligible for up to $466,000 of grant funds.

 

4.                  Public Outreach: Staff attends periodic meeting of the Carmel Valley Association’s Water Committee and provides updates on District activities affecting the Carmel River.

 

EXHIBIT

25-A    Average Willow and Cottonwood Canopy Rating

25-B    Depth to Groundwater

 

 

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