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ITEM: |
INFORMATIONAL
ITEM/STAFF REPORT |
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26. |
QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER RIPARIAN CORRIDOR
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT |
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Meeting Date: |
July 19, 2021 |
Budgeted: |
N/A |
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From: |
Dave Stoldt, |
Program/ |
N/A |
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General Manager |
Line Item No.: |
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Prepared By: |
Thomas Christensen |
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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IRRIGATION
OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: The supplemental watering of riparian
restoration plantings has resumed for the summer season at six Monterey
Peninsula Water Management District (District) riparian habitat restoration
sites. The following irrigation systems
were in use January through June: Sleepy Hollow, deDampierre, Trail and Saddle
Club, Begonia, Schulte, and San Carlos.
Water Use in Acre-Feet (AF)
(preliminary values subject
to revision)
April - June 2021 0.69
MONITORING
OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: Starting in June 2021, staff recorded monthly observations
of canopy vigor on target willow and cottonwood trees to provide an indication
of plant water stress and corresponding soil moisture levels. Four locations (Rancho Cañada, San Carlos,
Valley Hills, and Schulte) are monitored monthly for canopy ratings based on a
scale from one to ten. This scale evaluates characteristics such as yellowing
leaves and percentages of defoliation (see scale on Exhibit 26-A). A total of 12 willows and 12 cottonwoods at
these locations provide a data set of established and planted sample trees that
are representative of trees in the Carmel River riparian corridor. Combined
with monthly readings from the District’s array of monitoring wells and pumping
records for large-capacity Carmel Valley wells in the California American Water
service area, the District’s monitoring provides insight into the status of
soil moisture through the riparian corridor.
Current
monitoring results for the 2021 monitoring season to date show that riparian
vegetation is below threshold moisture stress levels. Currently the Carmel River is drying in the
lower sections of the river, but there is still adequate soil moisture for the
plants. The graph in Exhibit 26-A shows average canopy ratings for
willows and cottonwoods in selected restoration sites in lower Carmel
Valley. The graph in Exhibit 26-B shows impacts to water table elevations.
The
types of monitoring measurements made during June 2021 are as follows:
Monitoring Measurement
Canopy
ratings (See
Exhibit 26-A for trends.)
Groundwater
levels (monitoring wells) (See Exhibit
26-B for
trends.)
Groundwater pumping (production
wells)
OTHER
TASKS PERFORMED SINCE THE APRIL QUARTERLY REPORT:
1.
Carmel
River Vegetation Management Project Notification: On May 18, 2021,
District staff notified the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW),
and the Regional Water Quality Control Board of six sites that are scheduled for vegetation management
activities this fall. The goal of the vegetation management activities is to
reduce the risk of streambank erosion along riverfront properties where vegetation
encroachment could potentially divert river flows into streambanks
during high flow periods.
2.
Riparian
Irrigation Tune-up: District
staff (Daniel Atkins and Eric Lumas) have been tuning up multiple irrigation
systems along the Carmel River that are designed to water new mitigation
plantings for Vegetation Management. Tune-ups include replacement of clogged
emitters, leak repair, and trouble shooting well pumps and pressure tanks.
EXHIBITS
26-A Average Willow and Cottonwood Canopy Rating
26-B Depth to
Groundwater
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2021\20210719\Informational
Items\26\Item-26.docx