ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
24.	QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER RIPARIAN CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT
Meeting Date:			April 16, 2018	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: This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines section 15378.

IRRIGATION OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: Supplemental watering of riparian mitigation plantings at four sites (Trail and Saddle Club, Begonia, Schulte, and Schulte Bridge) occurred in January and February because of insufficient rainfall.

Water Use in Acre-Feet (AF)
January - March 2018	0.82 AF
Year-to-date	0.82 AF

MONITORING OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: During the winter season, the District suspended the riparian vegetation monitoring program. The monitoring of soil moisture, groundwater levels, and canopy defoliation (a measure of vegetation moisture stress) will resume in June 2018. During the months of June through October, staff will take monthly measurements of depth to groundwater and canopy vigor in areas where willow and cottonwood trees may be impacted by lowered water levels caused by groundwater extraction. The areas monitored are in the vicinity of California American Water’s (Cal-Am) Cañada and San Carlos wells, and the District’s Valley Hills (next to Cal-Am’s Cypress Well) and Schulte (next to Cal-Am’s Schulte Well) Restoration Projects. The District’s monitoring provides insight into the status of soil moisture through the riparian corridor by collecting and analyzing monthly readings from the District’s array of monitoring wells and pumping records for large-capacity Carmel Valley wells in the Cal-Am system.

OTHER TASKS PERFORMED SINCE THE JANUARY 2018 QUARTERLY REPORT:

1. Carmel River Clean Up: District staff removed plastic bags, metal, tires, and trash from long reaches of the Carmel River starting at Esquiline Bridge and extending downstream to the Highway One Bridge.

2. DeDampierre Well Repair. During the month of February, District staff made significant repairs to the DeDampierre Well located at DeDampierre Park in Carmel Valley. The well had been in an underground vault for 30 years and the wood and beams holding the soil back had significantly deteriorated. The District along with two contractors raised the well casing and filled in the 6 foot deep vault area with soil. The well was then rewired and had all its controllers placed above ground. The DeDampierre Well irrigates riparian restoration plantings along the Carmel River.

3. State Proposition 1 Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Grant Program: Staff continued to work with the Santa Cruz Foundation to fund Disadvantaged Community projects. The District will also consider funding an update to the IRWM Plan (see related item in this Board packet).

4. Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility Intake Upgrade: Staff continued to work with permitting agencies to address questions about the project.

5. Instream Flow Incremental Method Study: The National Marine Fisheries Service requested additional time to review the Draft Final Study. No additional work was completed during the quarter.

6. Los Padres Dam Long-Term Plan: Approximately 2/3 of the tasks in the scope of work for this project have been completed. Due to unforeseen events and delays in review, this project is likely to extend to the end of 2019.

7. Salinas and Carmel Rivers Basin Study: Staff has had several teleconferences to establish baseline information and approaches to model developments.

8. Stormwater Resource Plan: Staff reviewed a draft Stormwater Resource Plan and project prioritization. Work on the plan with the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency and City of Monterey and others is expected to be completed in 2018.

U:\staff\Boardpacket\2018\20180416\InfoItems\24\Item-24.docx