ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
20.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2019
Meeting Date:			October 21, 2019	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:  Carmel River flows dropped slightly in August but remained above typical summer levels, providing good to fair rearing conditions for steelhead young-of-the-year (YOY) throughout much of the watershed.

August’s mean daily streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir dropped from 20 to 15 cubic-feet-per-second (cfs) (monthly mean 17.3 cfs) resulting in 1,060 acre-feet (AF) of runoff. Mean daily streamflow at the Highway 1 gage dropped from 7.2 to 4.7 cfs (monthly mean 5.8 cfs) resulting in 357 acre-feet (AF) of runoff. Los Padres Dam stopped spilling on August 5th, but ~14 cfs are being released through the dam’s outlet works. A problem with the outlet pipe occurred mid-month due to the large landslide in the reservoir when the pipe became partially blocked with debris.  The issue was resolved a few days later by divers in the reservoir but the situation needs to be closely monitored.

There were 0.00 inches of rainfall in August as recorded at the San Clemente gauge. The rainfall total for WY 2019 (which started on October 1, 2018) is 30.93 inches, or 146% of the long-term year-to-date average of 21.15 inches. 

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  The lagoon mouth was closed by Monterey County crews on July 10, 2019 by pushing beach sand across the western side of the lagoon. In August, the water surface elevation (WSE) held steady between ~10.2 to 10.5 feet (North American Vertical Datum of 1988; NAVD 88) (see graph below) providing important additional summer habitat.

Water quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on August 19, 2019 while the lagoon mouth was closed, the water surface elevation was ~10.25 feet, and river inflow was 5.3 cfs. Steelhead rearing conditions were generally “fair” throughout the lagoon, salinity was <1 ppt down to 2.5 m depth in the south arm, dissolved oxygen (DO) levels were variable from 1 - 10 mg/l, and water temperatures remained between 68 - 73 degrees F. 

TRIBUTARIES STEELHEAD RESCUES:  Staff began fish rescues in the tributaries in early May. As of August 31, a total of 15,013 fish has been rescued, including: 14,933 young-of-the-year (YOY), 23 age 1+ fish, with 57 mortalities (0.4%). The majority of the fish have been rescued from Hitchcock Creek (3,114) and Cachagua Creek (9,714).

MAINSTEM STEELHEAD RESCUES:  No rescues have been needed this year in the mainstem due to higher than usual summer flows. Staff continues to monitor the conditions.

SLEEPY HOLLOW STEELHEAD REARING FACILITY:  General contractor Mercer-Fraser Company of Eureka, CA, was hired for the Intake Upgrade Project and started construction in September 2018 on the $2 million project. The main features of the project include installing a new intake structure that can withstand flood and drought conditions as well as the increased bedload from the San Clemente Dam removal project, and a new Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) that can be operated in times of low flow or high turbidity to keep the fish healthy. 

During July and August 2019, the project moved towards completion with the construction of the RAS building, including the installation of the plumbing and components (drum filters, UV sterilizer, sump tank, and electrical) and installation of the degassing/oxygenation system. Telemetrix Co. of Marina was hired to setup the monitoring and alarm systems.

SPAWNING GRAVEL ENHANCEMENT PROJECT AT LOS PADRES:  The District is currently partnering with Cal-Am Water to complete another round of spawning gravel enhancement below Los Padres Dam. Cal-Am is funding the purchase and placement of 1,000 tons of 1.5-4” river-run gravel, while the District obtained the required permits, and is providing the project expertise, onsite project management and reporting, and the required Approved Biologist for the federal permits.

Natural gravel is now trapped behind the dam causing the substrate downstream to become too coarse for adult steelhead to spawn in.  The 1,500 tons of 1.5 – 4 inch gravel placed by the District in 2014 was very successful in providing crucial spawning habitat in the Cachagua area. As that material moves downstream each winter additional material needs to be placed upstream to keep the reach seeded. With the addition of 1,000 tons of gravel in 2019 and another 1,000 tons in 2020, we hope to the increase available spawning habitat and continue the upward trend in steelhead spawning success in the upper Carmel River. Permitting was completed in July 2019 and gravel deliveries were completed over two weeks in August (see photo below). Staff plans to begin gravel placement in mid-September.

This year’s project continues the 26-year Spawning Gravel Enhancement Program started by the District in 1993. With the completion of the this year’s project, the District will have placed approximately 5,900 tons of gravel between Los Padres Dam and Sleepy Hollow, downstream of San Clemente Dam.

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