Transcript Carmel River Lagoon Update

Monterey Peninsula
Water
Management
District
Carmel River Lagoon Update
A presentation to the
Carmel Point and Lagoon
Preservation Association
● Status of the Study Plan for Long
Term Adaptive Management of the
Carmel River State Beach and
Lagoon
● Lagoon closing in spring 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
by Larry Hampson, Water Resources Engineer
Study Plan for Long Term Adaptive
Management of the Carmel River State
Beach and Lagoon
The next few slides identify:
• The planning area
• Why a comprehensive plan is needed
• The stakeholders involved
• Goals of the plan
• Alternatives to be considered
• Progress to date
Immediate Planning Area
Why a comprehensive plan is needed
Issues to address include:
 Storms remove sand from along Scenic
Road and from the south end of the beach
 Homes and infrastructure on the north side
of the lagoon are subject to flooding from
the river and the ocean
 Beach manipulation, Carmel River
diversions, and land use within the Carmel
River watershed impact the beach and
habitat at the lagoon for steelhead and
California red-legged frogs
Spring storms remove sand from Stewart’s Cove
and from the slope below Scenic Road
Scenic Road
Stewart’s Cove
March 1993
Winter storms remove sand from the basement
layer at the southern end of the beach
Extreme ocean storms can fill the lagoon and
flood low lying areas
January 5, 2008
January 5, 2008 Flood
Sand bar management affects the beach
and lagoon volume
An outlet to the south results in low water levels
April 29, 2009
Carmel River diversions reduce inflow in the
spring and summer
Lagoon water flows continuously
through the beach
Land use in the upper watershed affects
beach sand replenishment
Impacts to Steelhead
High and low water comparison
9 a.m., February 9, 2006, Elev.= 9.5
Lagoon surface area = 90 acres (estimate)
8:30 a.m., February 6, 2006, Elev.= 2.7
Lagoon surface area = 12 acres (estimate)
Higher water levels =
higher water quality and more aquatic habitat
Lower water levels expose fish to predators,
warm water, higher salinity levels, and lower
dissolved oxygen levels
Stakeholders









Big Sur Land Trust
California American Water
California State University Monterey Bay
Carmel Development Company
Carmel River Lagoon Coalition
Carmel River Steelhead Association
Carmel River Watershed Conservancy
Monterey County Service Area 50
Pebble Beach Company
Technical Advisory Committee











California Coastal Commission
California Department of Fish and Game
California State Parks
Carmel Area Wastewater District
Monterey County Public Works Department
Monterey County Water Resources Agency
Monterey Peninsula Water Management District
NOAA Fisheries
Regional Water Quality Control Board
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Planning Goal – comprehensive management
 Decrease
potential for flood damage on
the north side of the lagoon
 Reduce the need to manage the beach
 Improve steelhead habitat in the lagoon
 Protect Scenic Road
 Increase the sand supply to the mouth
General categories of alternatives to be studied
 Beach
sand replenishment
 Structural protection along Scenic Road
 Flood proofing of structures
 Mechanical control of lagoon elevation
(e.g., pump to reduce high levels, install
grade control at outlet to raise lowest
level)
 Create managed outlet channel
 Increase dry season flows
Alternatives Analysis
 Several
scientific studies are needed in
order to evaluate alternatives
 These studies will provide the information
necessary to complete environmental
documents (i.e., EIR and EIS) and
preliminary plans for alternatives
Progress to Date





Outline of studies was completed in April 2007
Proposed scope of work was provided to State
and Federal elected officials in 2007 and 2008
with a request for funds
Project work is part of the highest-ranked project
in the Monterey Peninsula planning region
Funding for certain components of the plan has
been requested by CRWC
MPWMD and MCWRA continue to search for
grant funds to complete studies and begin work
on environmental analysis
How far have we really come?

You can always count on Americans to do
the right thing—after they’ve tried
everything else.
- Winston Churchill
Lagoon closing in spring 2009
• Closing the lagoon before the dry season is timed
to fill the lagoon to as high an elevation as
feasible before river inflows stop
• Closing is the responsibility of the California State
Parks Department
• State Parks consults with the Lagoon TAC
concerning the timing and location of the closure
• MPWMD provides data on river inflow, tides, swell
height and direction, condition of the beach, and
status of steelhead migration
What happens when the lagoon is mechanically
closed off before the dry season?
 The
volume of water and habitat in the
lagoon after closure is greater than after a
natural closure
 Water quality remains high for a longer
period during the dry season
 Bird predation is decreased
 Food and habitat for steelhead rearing is
increased
Carmel River Lagoon Cycles
Above – just prior to a breach
Below – during a breach that empties the lagoon
Carmel River State Beach – spring 2009
May 8, 2009
Beach Condition Prior to Closure
Using equipment to block the mouth
and raise the beach
Left - June 11, 2009
Emergency
outlet through
the south end of
the beach
May 26, 2009
Main stem
Above – 5/18/2009
Right – 6/11/2009
South arm
Above – 5/18/2009
Right – 6/11/2009