ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORT
21.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2023
Meeting Date:			March 20, 2023	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:  Compared to January, February seemed dry with slightly below normal precipitation. However, river flows remained high due to the saturated condition of the watershed. Especially cold weather also brought significant snow to much of the upper watershed. All major tributaries were flowing well. Adult migration conditions were excellent and rearing conditions were good to excellent throughout the watershed.

February’s mean daily streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 170 to 455 cfs (monthly mean 247 cfs) resulting in 13,720 acre-feet (AF) of runoff, while flows at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 171 to 401 cfs (monthly mean 238 cfs), resulting in 13,190 acre-feet (AF).

There were 3.55 inches of rain in February as recorded at the San Clemente gauge. The rainfall total for WY 2023 (which started October 1, 2022) is 27.25 inches, or 175.5% of the long-term year-to-date average of 15.53 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  The lagoon water surface elevation (WSE) ranged from approximately 3.5 to 11.3 feet in February, largely due to tidal and wave action (North American Vertical Datum of 1988; NAVD 88) (See graph below).

Carmel River Lagoon Plot:

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