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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: |
January 23, 2023 |
Budgeted: |
N/A |
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From: |
Dave Stoldt, |
Program/ |
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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 was carried out for the
dry season in 2022 at six Monterey Peninsula Water Management District
(District) riparian habitat restoration sites.
The following irrigation systems were in use April through November: Sleepy
Hollow, deDampierre, Trail and Saddle Club, Begonia, Cypress, Schulte, and Rancho
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.
Monitoring
results for the 2022 season show that riparian vegetation experienced moisture stress
because of the “dry” rainfall year and lack of soil moisture. It is important
to note that irrigation around municipal wells is carried out to help alleviate
impacts from water extraction. 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 - October 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 OCTOBER 2022 QUARTERLY REPORT:
1.
District staff have been participating
in Technical Advisory Committee meetings with Monterey Peninsula Regional Park
District, NOAA, CDFW, and McBain Associates regarding restoration of the Carmel
River in Palo Corona Regional Park. Meetings have been focusing on how to
restore processes along the river and encourage natural meanders and make the
floodplain more accessible during lower flows.
2.
District staff have also carried out
steelhead population studies at various sites along the Carmel River.
EXHIBITS
26-A Average Willow and Cottonwood Canopy Rating
26-B Depth to
Groundwater
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2023\20230123\Informational
Items\26\Item-26.docx