ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORT
22.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR JANUARY 2024
Meeting Date:			February 12, 2024	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:  Several small storms in January brought river flows at Los Padres Dam above 200 cfs for the first time this water year. To date, no adult steelhead have been captured in the trap below the dam, but several sea-run adults were observed in the Sleepy Hollow reach. The larger tributaries had low flow throughout the month, but the smaller tributaries remained dry at the gage sites.

January’s streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 37 to 270 cfs, while flows at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 42 to 239 cfs.

There were 4.49 inches of rainfall in January as recorded at the San Clemente gauge. The total rainfall for Water Year (WY) 2024 (which started October 1, 2023) is 9.50 inches, or 85% of the long-term year-to-date average of 11.23 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  In January, the lagoon’s WSE ranged from approximately 4.4-11.5 feet (NGVD 1988) (see graph below), opening, and closing with the tides.

Water quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on January 26, 2024, while the lagoon mouth was open, water surface elevation was 9.75 feet, and river inflow was 144 cfs. Steelhead migration and rearing conditions were good. Salinity levels ranged from 0.5-22 ppt, water temperature ranged from 52-61 degrees Fahrenheit, and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels ranged from 6-15 mg/l.

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