ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORT
35.	CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR MAY 2024
Meeting Date:			June 17, 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:  Above average rainfall in May kept 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, the lowest tributaries have started to go intermittent.

To date, only four adult steelhead have been captured in the Los Padres Dam fish trap and moved above the dam. Flows were adequate to start annual Redd (steelhead nest) surveys on May 21. Surveys are getting a very late start this season due to the high flows observed this spring, causing these surveys to be conducted at the end of the migration season and not at optimal timing for enumeration. Results will be reported in next month’s report. Fry (baby steelhead) were observed along the stream banks in many different locations indicating that steelhead had successfully hatched.

May’s streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 61 to 163 cfs (mean 101 cfs), while flows at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 75 to 194 cfs (mean 121).

There were 0.67 inches of rainfall in May as recorded at the San Clemente gauge. The total rainfall for Water Year (WY) 2024 (which started October 1, 2023) is 24.17 inches, or 116% of the long-term year-to-date average of 20.92 inches.

FISH RESCUE: Staff conducted rescues in two tributaries (Potrero, and Hitchcock Creeks) as they began to dry back. All fish were released into the Carmel River at the tributary’s confluence. As of the end of May, a total of 119 fish have been rescued (77 YOY, 42 1+ year olds, and 0 mortalities).

CARMEL RIVER LAGOON:  In May, the lagoon’s Water Surface Elevation ranged from approximately 3.6-10.5 feet (NGVD 1988) (see graph below).

Water quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on May 30, 2024, while the lagoon mouth was open, water surface elevation was 4.0 feet, and river inflow was 77 cfs. Steelhead migration and rearing conditions were adequate. Average salinity levels between sites ranged from 2.4 -12.7 parts per thousand (ppt), average water temperature between sites ranged from 62.3-73.3 degrees Fahrenheit, and average dissolved oxygen (DO) levels between sites ranged from 0.75-12.7 mg/l.

U:\staff\Boardpacket\2024\06172024\Informational Items\35\Item-35.docx