ITEM: |
INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORT |
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22. |
CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR JULY 2024 |
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Meeting Date: |
August 19, 2024 |
Budgeted: |
N/A |
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From: |
David J. Stoldt, |
Program/ |
N/A |
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General Manager |
Line Item No.: |
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Prepared By: |
Cory Hamilton |
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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AQUATIC HABITAT AND FLOW CONDITIONS: Above average rainfall this spring kept river
flows well above the long-term average for this time of the year. The river is
still connected to the lagoon. Steelhead migration conditions were adequate for
juvenile fish in the mainstem, but most tributaries have gone intermittent. Low
flow MOA conditions were met on July 8th, Los Padres reservoir
ceased spilling and began utilizing storage on July 12th. Stream conditions continue to slowly degrade
as we continue through the summer months.
July’s streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 13 to 25 cfs (mean 16.7
cfs), while flows at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 5.5 to 24 cfs (mean
12.3).
There was no rainfall in July 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 115% of the long-term
year-to-date average of 21.05 inches.
FISH RESCUE: Staff
started conducting rescues on May 13th in tributaries as they began
to dry back. All fish were released into
the Carmel River at the tributary’s confluence. At of the end of July, a total
of 5,278 fish have
been rescued (4,830 YOY, 415 yearlings, and 28 mortalities) out of the
tributaries. Staff continues to monitor
degrading conditions in the lower mainstem Carmel River in case rescues need to
be initiated there.
CARMEL
RIVER LAGOON: In July, the lagoon’s Water Surface Elevation
(WSE) ranged from approximately 4.8-8.8 feet (NGVD 1988) (see graph below). Water
quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on July 24, 2024, while the
lagoon mouth was open and experiencing tidal overwash, water surface elevation
was 8.8 feet at the time of sampling, and river inflow was approximately 8 cfs.
The North Arm of the lagoon is dry. Steelhead
migration conditions were still adequate with connection to both the river and
the ocean. There is a salinity stratification layer at about 1.0 meter depth,
below this depth salinity increases sharply. High salinity observations reduce the amount
of suitable habitat for juvenile fish. Salinity levels ranged from 1-28 parts
per thousand (ppt), water temperatures ranged from 65-76 degrees Fahrenheit, and
dissolved oxygen (DO) levels ranged from 4.8-19.8 mg/l.
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