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ITEM: |
INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORT |
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19. |
CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2024 |
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Meeting Date: |
October 21, 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 end of summer and the beginning of fall. At the end of September, Los Padres
Reservoir water surface elevation (WSE) was 1,024 ft with 966 acre-foot of water
storage. Flow release out of the reservoir was 10 cfs,
while the incoming flow into the reservoir was 5 cfs.
September’s streamflow at the Sleepy
Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 11 to 12
cfs (mean 11.5 cfs), while
flows at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 1.7 to 5.1 cfs
(mean 2.7 cfs).
There was a trace of rainfall in September as recorded at the
San Clemente gauge. The total rainfall for Water Year (WY) 2024 (which started
October 1, 2023) is 24.18 inches, or 114% of the long-term
year-to-date average of 21.22 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. As of the end of July, a total
of 5,279 fish have
been rescued (4,830 YOY, 416 yearlings, and 28 morts)
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 August, the lagoon’s Water Surface Elevation
(WSE) ranged from approximately 7.8-9.1 feet (NGVD 1988) (see graph below). Water
quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on September 26, 2024,
while the lagoon mouth was closed, water surface elevation was 9.0 feet at the
time of sampling, and river inflow was approximately 2.0 cfs.
The North Arm of the lagoon is dry. Steelhead
migration conditions were still adequate with connection to the river but was
closed to 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 1-18 parts
per thousand (ppt), water temperatures ranged from 61-68 degrees Fahrenheit, and
dissolved oxygen (DO) levels ranged from 4.9 -12.8 mg/l.
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2024\10212024\Information
Items\19\Item-19.docx