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ITEM: |
INFORMATIONAL
ITEM/STAFF REPORT |
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25. |
CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR APRIL
2020 |
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Meeting Date: |
May
18, 2020 |
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: After a very dry winter, wet weather
finally came in between mid-March and early April and the river responded
favorably. Mainstem April flows exceeded 75% of the long-term values (Acre
Feet) and passage conditions improved to “excellent” for both in and outmigration
of adult steelhead and outmigration of smolts. Rearing conditions for juveniles
also improved to “excellent”.
April’s mean daily streamflow at the Sleepy
Hollow Weir rose from 88 to 699 cubic-feet-per-second (cfs) (monthly mean 185 cfs)
resulting in 11,040 acre-feet (AF) of runoff. Mean daily streamflow at the
Highway 1 gage rose from 92 to 789 cfs (monthly mean 206 cfs,
the highest of the 2020 Water Year) resulting in 12,260 acre-feet (AF) of
runoff.
There were 1.97 inches
of rainfall in April as recorded at the San Clemente gauge. The rainfall
total for WY 2020 (which started on October 1, 2019) is 17.39 inches, or 85% of
the long-term year-to-date average of 20.48 inches.
LOS PADRES DAM ADULT
STEELHEAD COUNT: The Los Padres Dam fish ladder and trap started operating on
December 12, 2019. The ladder was turned on and off intermittently since
mid-February due to continued movement of the large landslide in the reservoir
that is affecting the outlet pipe. There were 44 adult steelhead in April,
including 27 on April 4th as a large storm hit the region. For the
year, 65 adult steelhead, and two resident adults, have been trapped and
transported above the dam; seven of those were tagged by National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) crews, and two of the captured fish had been tagged
last year (recaptures).
CARMEL RIVER
LAGOON: The lagoon mouth opened
on December 3, 2019. In April, the lagoon was primarily open with
the water surface elevation (WSE) ranging from ~3.9 – 8.9 feet (North American Vertical Datum of
1988; NAVD 88) (See graph below).
Water quality
depth-profiles were not conducted in April due to the Covid-19 shutdown but a
spot check on April 21, when the lagoon was open, found excellent DO and
temperature levels and low salinity.
Carmel River Lagoon Plot:
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2020\20200518\InfoItems\25\Item-25.docx