ITEM:

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS

 

21.

QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER RIPARIAN CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT

 

Meeting Date:

January 25, 2017

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 continued through the summer and early fall season in 2016 at seven Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) riparian habitat restoration sites.  The following irrigation systems were in use April through October: 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

            October- December 2016        1.02

           

            Year-to-date                            7.01 AF

 

MONITORING OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION:   During May through October 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 21-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.

 

Monitoring results for the 2016 season show that riparian vegetation experienced some stress associated with groundwater pumping, but remained below threshold levels. Stress is exhibited in areas showing yellowing leaves and defoliation. 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 21-A shows average canopy ratings for willows and cottonwoods in selected restoration sites in the lower Carmel Valley.  The graph in Exhibit 21-B shows impacts to water table elevations.

 

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

            Monitoring Measurement                                        

            Canopy ratings                                                (See Exhibit 21-A for trends.)          

            Groundwater levels (monitoring wells)          (See Exhibit 21-B for trends.)           

            Groundwater pumping (production wells)

 

OTHER TASKS PERFORMED SINCE THE OCTOBER 2016 QUARTERLY REPORT:

 

1.                  Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility Upgrade: The Board of Directors approved an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the proposed project in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act.  The Consultant began preparation of permit applications for the project.

 

2.                  Proposition 1 Grant Programs:  Staff continued to work with the other Central Coast planning regions to develop a proposal for approximately $4.4 million in project funding from the Department of Water Resources 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.

 

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

 

4.                  Los Padres Dam Alternatives Study: The District received two proposals to study alternatives for Los Padres Dam and Reservoir.  The study is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2017 and take approximately 18 months to complete.

 

EXHIBITS

21-A    Average Willow and Cottonwood Canopy Rating

21-B    Depth to Groundwater

 

 

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