ITEM:

INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORT

 

22.

CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR JULY 2024

 

Meeting Date:

August 19, 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 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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