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ITEM: |
INFORMATIONAL
ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS |
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26. |
QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER RIPARIAN CORRIDOR
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REPORT |
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Meeting Date: |
July 18, 2022 |
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 2022 0.70
MONITORING
OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION: Starting in June 2022, 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 2022 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 2022 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 6, 2022, 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\2022\20220718\Informational
Items\26\Item26.docx