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ITEM: |
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORT |
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15. |
CARMEL RIVER FISHERY REPORT FOR AUGUST 2024 |
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Meeting Date: |
September 16, 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.
At the end of August, Los Padres Reservoir water surface elevation (WSE)
was 1,031 ft with 1,283 acre-foot of water storage. Flow release out of the
reservoir was 11 cfs, while the incoming flow into the reservoir was 6 cfs.
August’s streamflow at the Sleepy Hollow Weir gaging station ranged from 11 to 13 cfs (mean 11.3
cfs), while flows at the Highway 1 gage ranged from 2.2 to 6.4 cfs (mean
4.1 cfs).
There was no rainfall in August 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 21.08 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 5,278 fish have
been rescued (4,830 YOY, 415 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 8.6-6.8 feet (NGVD 1988) (see graph below). Water
quality depth-profiles were conducted at five sites on August 27, 2024, while
the lagoon mouth was closed, water surface elevation was 7.1 feet at the time
of sampling, and river inflow was approximately 2.9 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 1.5 meter depth, below this depth
salinity increases sharply. High
salinity observations reduce the amount of suitable habitat for juvenile fish. Salinity
levels ranged from 1-17 parts per thousand (ppt), water temperatures ranged
from 67-73 degrees Fahrenheit, and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels ranged from 7.2-11.2
mg/l.
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2024\09162024\Informational
Items\15\Item-15.docx