ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORT
27.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR APRIL 2024
Meeting Date:			May 20, 2024	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Cory Hamilton	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:  Wet weather continued in April keeping river flows well above the long-term average for this time of the year, and on par with the conditions in 2017 and 2023. Steelhead migration conditions were excellent for both adult and juvenile fish in the main stem, and excellent in the tributaries.

To date, only four adult steelhead have been captured in the Los Padres Dam trap and moved above the dam. Flows were still too high to start annual Redd (steelhead nest) surveys, although there have been steelhead observed spawning in select spot checks were there is adequate river access. Fry (baby steelhead) were observed along the stream banks in many different locations indicating that steelhead had successfully hatched.

April’s streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 172 to 406 cfs (mean 264 cfs), while flows at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 190 to 392 cfs (mean 292).

There were 1.89 inches of rainfall in April as recorded at the San Clemente gauge. The total rainfall for Water Year (WY) 2024 (which started October 1, 2023) is 23.5 inches, or 115% of the long-term year-to-date average of 20.49 inches.

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  In April, the lagoon’s Water Surface Elevation ranged from approximately 4.25-10.5 feet (NGVD 1988) (see graph below).

Water quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on April 25, 2024, while the lagoon mouth was open, water surface elevation was 5.25 feet, and river inflow was 224 cfs. Steelhead migration and rearing conditions were excellent. Salinity levels were low, ranging from 0.1-3.9 ppt, water temperature ranged from 57-63 degrees Fahrenheit, and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels ranged from 0.5-11 mg/l.

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