ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
24.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR APRIL 2018
Meeting Date:			May 21, 2018	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: This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378.

AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW CONDITIONS:  Following a wet March, April river flows remained above the long-term daily median in the lower river, creating excellent migration and rearing conditions for both adult and juvenile steelhead.

Mean daily streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir ranged from 51 to 136 cfs (monthly mean 81.1 cfs) resulting in 4,830 acre-feet (AF) of runoff, while mean daily streamflow at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 53 to 182 cfs (monthly mean 94.1 cfs), resulting in 5,600 AF of runoff.

There were 1.35 inches of rainfall in April as recorded at Cal-Am’s San Clemente gauge. The rainfall total for WY 2018 (which started on October 1, 2017) is 13.42 inches, or 65% of the long-term year-to-date average of 20.51 inches. 

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  The lagoon mouth opened and closed throughout out the month with the water surface level ranging from ~3.5 to 10.1 feet above mean-sea-level (see graph below).

Water quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on April 20 while the lagoon mouth was open and inflow was 74 cfs. Salinity level varied with depth and location (3-26 ppt), temperature ranged from (53-68 degrees F), and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels were variable (5-15 mg/l) resulting in “good” steelhead rearing conditions in the main body and south arm, with less ideal conditions in the north and far south arms.

LIFE CYCLE MONITORING:

Los Padres Dam Adult Counts - Cal-Am maintains a fish ladder and trap at the Los Padres Dam (LPD) site. All adult steelhead captured in the trap are trucked to the reservoir and released. As of April 30, 26 sea-run adult steelhead (20 came in April) and six resident adult trout have been captured and moved above the dam. All fish captured in the trap since March 1 are now scanned for the presence of tags. So far, there have been no tagged fish. The downstream smolt bypass facility was activated on February 8, 2018.

Redd Surveys – Staff completed a full-length Carmel River (Highway 1 to Los Padres Dam [LPD], 23 miles) redd (nest) surveys in early May. The comprehensive surveys looked at the number and location of redds, the presence of any steelhead (adults, smolts, juvenile, fry, carcasses), river conditions such as spawning gravel location and movement, and passage barriers, as well as keeping an eye open for any possible illegal activities like poaching. Additionally, a large number of Pacific Lamprey (a species of special concern) redds and adults were observed this year so detailed notes were taken on those.

Overall, 52 steelhead redds were observed between Quail Golf Course (River Mile [RM] ~4.5) and a half-mile downstream of LPD (~RM 24.3), the highest number seen since 2013. Most redds in the Cachagua area were found in spawning gravels placed by the District below LPD in 2014. Few redds were seen downstream of Robinson Canyon bridge this year, primarily due to the large quantities of sand moving through the reach. Thirteen adult steelhead, as well as a number of smolts and fry were also seen.

Rescues – Staff continued monitoring the lower tributaries for fish that may need rescuing once the dry-back begins in May.

Tagging - District staff is currently operating four Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag arrays on the Carmel River in a partnership between the District and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Data is being collected for future analysis and reporting.

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