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ITEM: |
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS |
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21. |
QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER RIPARIAN CORRIDOR
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT |
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Meeting Date: |
July 17, 2017 |
Budgeted: |
N/A |
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From: |
Dave Stoldt, |
Program/ |
N/A |
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General Manager |
Line Item No.: |
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Prepared By: |
Thomas Christensen and |
Cost Estimate: |
N/A |
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Larry Hampson |
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General Counsel Review: N/A |
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Committee Recommendation: N/A |
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CEQA
Compliance: This
action does not constitute a project as defined by the California
Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378. |
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IRRIGATION
OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: The
supplemental watering of riparian restoration plantings has resumed for the
summer season in 2017 at six Monterey Peninsula Water Management District
(District) riparian habitat restoration sites.
The following irrigation systems were in use May through June: deDampierre,
Trail and Saddle Club, Begonia, Schulte, Dow, and Schulte Bridge.
Water Use in Acre-Feet (AF)
(preliminary values subject
to revision)
April - June 2017 1.39
MONITORING
OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: Starting in June 2017, staff recorded 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 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.
Current
monitoring results for the 2017 monitoring season to date show that riparian
vegetation is below threshold moisture stress levels. At present, the Carmel River is still flowing
to the Lagoon and providing plenty of water for established plants along the
riparian corridor. The graph in Exhibit 21-A shows average canopy ratings for
willows and cottonwoods in selected restoration sites in lower Carmel
Valley. The graph in Exhibit 21-B shows impacts to water table elevations.
The
types of monitoring measurements made during June 2017 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 APRIL 2017 QUARTERLY REPORT:
1.
Carmel
River Vegetation Management Project Notification: On April 15, 2017, District staff notified the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and the Regional Water
Quality Control Board of fifteen sites that are scheduled for vegetation management
activities this fall. A total of approximately 2,600 square feet of stream
encompassing approximately 0.06 acres in the channel bottom will be
affected by this year’s project. The goal of the vegetation
management activities is to reduce the risk of streambank erosion along
riverfront properties where vegetation encroachment could potentially
divert river flows into streambanks during high flow periods.
2.
Riparian
Irrigation Tune-up: District
staff (Mark Bekker and Matt Lyons) have been tuning up multiple irrigation
systems along the Carmel River that are designed to water new mitigation
plantings for Vegetation Management. Tune-ups include replacement of clogged
emitters, leak repair, and trouble shooting well pumps and pressure tanks.
3.
Instream Flow Incremental Method Study: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and
the National Marine Fisheries Service provided comments to MPWMD on the
study. A final version addresses the
comments; however, staff will obtain additional data on the presence of
steelhead in the lower nine miles during the month of July. This data may be incorporated into the final
report, which is expected to be completed in the month of August.
4.
Los Padres Dam Long-Term Plan: AECOM
completed the first technical memorandum summarizing the information needed to
complete the technical analyses and engineering required for concept
development and evaluation of alternatives.
Cal-Am had no comments; District staff expect to complete a review in
July.
5.
Los Padres Dam Fish Passage Study: HDR and AECOM
hosted the second Technical Review Committee meeting on June 8. Potential alternatives include a fish ladder,
Whoosh! (a method using a soft plastic tube with a partial vacuum to move fish
up and over a dam into a reservoir), barges coupled with collection/release
stations upstream of the dam, improved attraction facilities at the plunge pool,
and installation of pumps to enhance flow for attraction in the reservoir and
plunge pool. A natural fishway
(simulated natural channel) was ruled out based on physical constraints – the
consultant determined that the length of the fishway and volume of flow
necessary for a successful operation are not available at the site.
6.
Stormwater Resource Plan
(SRP):
Staff participated in selection of a consultant to develop the Stormwater
Resource Plan. An initial meeting of
regional representatives is planned for August.
The focus of the SRP will be to identify sources of stormwater
throughout the Monterey Peninsula that can be recycled as new water supply.
EXHIBITS
21-A Average
Willow and Cottonwood Canopy Rating
21-B Depth to
Groundwater
file:///U:\staff\Boardpacket\2017\20170717\InfoItems\21\Item-21.docx