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ITEM: |
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS |
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25. |
CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR JUNE
2018 |
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Meeting Date: |
July 16, 2018 |
Budgeted: |
N/A |
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From: |
David J. Stoldt, |
Program/ |
N/A |
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General Manager |
Line Item No.: |
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Prepared By: |
Beverly Chaney |
Cost Estimate: |
N/A |
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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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AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW CONDITIONS: Releases from Los Padres Reservoir were reduced
in June to maintain storage as the inflow dropped to summer levels. River flows
in the lower river remained above the long-term daily median, but fish
rescues were started in late June as rearing conditions for juvenile steelhead
dropped to “fair” below the narrows. All
lower valley tributaries are dry at the confluence.
Mean daily streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir dropped from 28 to
16 cfs (monthly mean 21.3cfs) resulting in 1,270 acre-feet (AF) of runoff,
while mean daily streamflow at the Highway 1 gage dropped from 23 to 4 cfs
(monthly mean 12.1 cfs), resulting in 717 AF of runoff.
There were 0.00 inches of rainfall in June as recorded at
Cal-Am’s San Clemente gauge. The rainfall total for WY 2018 (which started on
October 1, 2017) is 13.52 inches, or 64% of the long-term year-to-date average
of 21.05 inches.
CARMEL RIVER
LAGOON: The lagoon mouth is now closed
for the summer and the water surface level remained relatively stable, ranging
from approximately 9.8 to 11.2 feet above mean-sea-level (see graph
below).
Water quality
depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on June 5 while the lagoon was
closed and a river inflow was 19 cfs. Steelhead rearing conditions at all sites
were generally “good” down to 1.5 meters depth and “fair” in the deeper
locations, with salinity increasing with depth (0.6-29 ppt), temperature ranging
from 64-73 degrees F, and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels of 4-8 mg/l.
LIFE CYCLE
MONITORING:
Tributary Rescues – Staff conducted nine fish rescues in two
tributaries (Cachagua and Garza Crs.) in June, collecting a total of 1,911
young-of-the-year (YOY) and age 1+ juvenile fish that were released into the
Carmel River. As of June 30th, 2,164 fish have been rescued from the
tribs, including 1,856 YOY, 295 1+, 13 mortalities (0.6%), 152 fish were
tagged, and there were 21 recaptures (in Potrero Cr.).
Mainstem Carmel River Rescues - Staff began mainstem rescues on June 25th
at the Highway 1 Br. As of June 30th, 288 fish have been rescued,
including 100 YOY, 185 1+, 3 mortalities (1.0%), 233 fish were tagged, and
there was 1 recapture.
Tagging – Rescued fish larger than 65 mm are now being tagged
with Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags. District staff
is currently operating four 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.
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2018\20180716\InfoItems\25\Item-25.docx