ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORT
22.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2022
Meeting Date:			March 21, 2022	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:  Dry conditions continued in February as the watershed received little measurable precipitation for the second month. Carmel River steelhead migration and rearing conditions were “fair” in the mainstem, and “poor” in the tributaries.

February’s mean daily streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir dropped from 38 to 24 cfs (monthly mean 30.3 cfs) resulting in 1,680 acre-feet (AF) of runoff, while the streamflow at the Highway 1 gage dropped from 45 to 25 cfs (monthly mean 32.9 cfs) resulting in 1,820 acre-feet (AF) of runoff.  

There were 0.40 inches of rainfall in February as recorded at the San Clemente gauge. The rainfall total for WY 2022 (which started on October 1, 2021) is 9.96 inches, or 64% of the long-term year-to-date average of 15.48 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  During February, the lagoon water surface elevation (WSE) ranged from ~ 3.9 to 11.2 feet as the river mouth opened and closed (North American Vertical Datum of 1988; NAVD 88) (See graph below).

Water quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on February 28, 2022, while the lagoon mouth was closed, water surface elevation was 10.25 feet, and river inflow was 25 cfs. Steelhead rearing conditions were generally “good”. Salinity increased with depth, ranging from 2 - 31 ppt, dissolved oxygen (DO) levels ranged from 8 – 11 mg/l, while water temperatures remained cool, ranging from 51- 54 degrees F.

LOS PADRES DAM ADULT STEELHEAD COUNT:  Los Padres Reservoir filled and spilled on December 14, 2021, reaching a peak daily mean outflow of 629 on December 23, 2021.  The fish ladder and trap began operating on December 22, 2021. To date, there have been nine adult steelhead counted (January – 1, February – 8), including four recaptured (previously tagged) fish.

RESISTANCE BOARD WEIR:  As part of the District’s steelhead life-cycle monitoring program, a fish weir was installed in the lower river to temporarily trap upstream migrating adult steelhead for tagging and measurement. The weir was installed January 6, 2022, and the first fish were captured on January 7th.

As of February 28, 57 adult, sea-run steelhead had been captured and PIT tagged, with two recaptured fish.  Lengths ranged from 525 mm to 750 mm (ave. 672 mm, 27.5 inches) (21 – 32 inches).

Carmel River Lagoon Plot:

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