Carmel River Lagoon UpdateCarmel River Lagoon Update

A presentation to theA presentation to the

Carmel Point and Lagoon Carmel Point and Lagoon Preservation AssociationPreservation Association

Monterey Peninsula Water Management District

● Status of the Study Plan for Long Status of the Study Plan for Long Term Adaptive Management of the Term Adaptive Management of the Carmel River State Beach and Carmel River State Beach and LagoonLagoon

● Lagoon closing in spring 2009 Lagoon closing in spring 2009

Thursday, July 23, 2009 Thursday, July 23, 2009

by Larry Hampson, Water Resources Engineerby Larry Hampson, Water Resources Engineer

Study Plan for Long Term Adaptive Study Plan for Long Term Adaptive Management of the Carmel River State Management of the Carmel River State Beach and LagoonBeach and Lagoon

The next few slides identify:The next few slides identify:

• The planning area The planning area

• Why a comprehensive plan is neededWhy a comprehensive plan is needed

• The stakeholders involvedThe stakeholders involved

• Goals of the planGoals of the plan

• Alternatives to be consideredAlternatives to be considered

• Progress to dateProgress to date

Immediate Planning AreaImmediate Planning Area

Why a comprehensive plan is neededWhy a comprehensive plan is needed

Issues to address include:Issues to address include: Storms remove sand from along Scenic Storms remove sand from along Scenic

Road and from the south end of the beachRoad and from the south end of the beach Homes and infrastructure on the north side Homes and infrastructure on the north side

of the lagoon are subject to flooding from of the lagoon are subject to flooding from the river and the ocean the river and the ocean

Beach manipulation, Carmel River Beach manipulation, Carmel River diversions, and land use within the Carmel diversions, and land use within the Carmel River watershed impact the beach and River watershed impact the beach and habitat at the lagoon for steelhead and habitat at the lagoon for steelhead and California red-legged frogsCalifornia red-legged frogs

Spring storms remove sand from Stewart’s Cove Spring storms remove sand from Stewart’s Cove and from the slope below Scenic Road and from the slope below Scenic Road

Scenic Road

Stewart’s Cove

March 1993March 1993

Winter storms remove sand from the basement Winter storms remove sand from the basement layer at the southern end of the beachlayer at the southern end of the beach

Extreme ocean storms can fill the lagoon and Extreme ocean storms can fill the lagoon and flood low lying areasflood low lying areas

January 5, 2008

January 5, 2008 FloodJanuary 5, 2008 Flood

Sand bar management affects the beach Sand bar management affects the beach and lagoon volumeand lagoon volume

An outlet to the south results in low water levelsAn outlet to the south results in low water levels

April 29, 2009April 29, 2009

Carmel River diversions reduce inflow in the Carmel River diversions reduce inflow in the spring and summerspring and summer

Lagoon water flows continuouslyLagoon water flows continuouslythrough the beachthrough the beach

Land use in the upper watershed affects Land use in the upper watershed affects beach sand replenishmentbeach sand replenishment

Impacts to SteelheadImpacts to Steelhead

High and low water comparisonHigh and low water comparison

9 a.m., February 9, 2006, Elev.= 9.5Lagoon surface area = 90 acres (estimate)

8:30 a.m., February 6, 2006, Elev.= 2.7Lagoon surface area = 12 acres (estimate)

Higher water levels = Higher water levels = higher water quality and more aquatic habitathigher water quality and more aquatic habitat

Lower water levels expose fish to predators, Lower water levels expose fish to predators, warm water, higher salinity levels, and lower warm water, higher salinity levels, and lower

dissolved oxygen levelsdissolved oxygen levels

StakeholdersStakeholders

Big Sur Land TrustBig Sur Land Trust California American WaterCalifornia American Water California State University Monterey BayCalifornia State University Monterey Bay Carmel Development CompanyCarmel Development Company Carmel River Lagoon CoalitionCarmel River Lagoon Coalition Carmel River Steelhead AssociationCarmel River Steelhead Association Carmel River Watershed ConservancyCarmel River Watershed Conservancy Monterey County Service Area 50Monterey County Service Area 50 Pebble Beach CompanyPebble Beach Company

Technical Advisory CommitteeTechnical Advisory Committee

California Coastal CommissionCalifornia Coastal Commission California Department of Fish and GameCalifornia Department of Fish and Game California State ParksCalifornia State Parks Carmel Area Wastewater DistrictCarmel Area Wastewater District Monterey County Public Works DepartmentMonterey County Public Works Department Monterey County Water Resources AgencyMonterey County Water Resources Agency Monterey Peninsula Water Management DistrictMonterey Peninsula Water Management District NOAA FisheriesNOAA Fisheries Regional Water Quality Control BoardRegional Water Quality Control Board U.S. Army Corps of EngineersU.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Planning Goal – comprehensive management Planning Goal – comprehensive management

Decrease potential for flood damage on Decrease potential for flood damage on the north side of the lagoonthe north side of the lagoon

Reduce the need to manage the beachReduce the need to manage the beach Improve steelhead habitat in the lagoonImprove steelhead habitat in the lagoon Protect Scenic Road Protect Scenic Road Increase the sand supply to the mouthIncrease the sand supply to the mouth

General categories of alternatives to be studiedGeneral categories of alternatives to be studied

Beach sand replenishmentBeach sand replenishment Structural protection along Scenic RoadStructural protection along Scenic Road Flood proofing of structuresFlood proofing of structures Mechanical control of lagoon elevation Mechanical control of lagoon elevation

(e.g., pump to reduce high levels, install (e.g., pump to reduce high levels, install grade control at outlet to raise lowest grade control at outlet to raise lowest level)level)

Create managed outlet channelCreate managed outlet channel Increase dry season flowsIncrease dry season flows

Alternatives AnalysisAlternatives Analysis

Several scientific studies are needed in Several scientific studies are needed in order to evaluate alternativesorder to evaluate alternatives

These studies will provide the information These studies will provide the information necessary to complete environmental necessary to complete environmental documents (i.e., EIR and EIS) and documents (i.e., EIR and EIS) and preliminary plans for alternativespreliminary plans for alternatives

Progress to DateProgress to Date

Outline of studies was completed in April 2007Outline of studies was completed in April 2007 Proposed scope of work was provided to State Proposed scope of work was provided to State

and Federal elected officials in 2007 and 2008 and Federal elected officials in 2007 and 2008 with a request for fundswith a request for funds

Project work is part of the highest-ranked project Project work is part of the highest-ranked project in the Monterey Peninsula planning region in the Monterey Peninsula planning region

Funding for certain components of the plan has Funding for certain components of the plan has been requested by CRWCbeen requested by CRWC

MPWMD and MCWRA continue to search for MPWMD and MCWRA continue to search for grant funds to complete studies and begin work grant funds to complete studies and begin work on environmental analysison environmental analysis

How far have we really come?How far have we really come?

You can always count on Americans to do You can always count on Americans to do the right thing—after they’ve tried the right thing—after they’ve tried everything else. everything else.

- Winston - Winston ChurchillChurchill

Lagoon closing in spring 2009 Lagoon closing in spring 2009

• Closing the lagoon before the dry season is timed Closing the lagoon before the dry season is timed to fill the lagoon to as high an elevation as to fill the lagoon to as high an elevation as feasible before river inflows stopfeasible before river inflows stop

• Closing is the responsibility of the California State Closing is the responsibility of the California State Parks DepartmentParks Department

• State Parks consults with the Lagoon TAC State Parks consults with the Lagoon TAC concerning the timing and location of the closureconcerning the timing and location of the closure

• MPWMD provides data on river inflow, tides, swell MPWMD provides data on river inflow, tides, swell height and direction, condition of the beach, and height and direction, condition of the beach, and status of steelhead migrationstatus of steelhead migration

What happens when the lagoon is mechanically What happens when the lagoon is mechanically closed off before the dry season?closed off before the dry season?

The volume of water and habitat in the The volume of water and habitat in the lagoon after closure is greater than after a lagoon after closure is greater than after a natural closurenatural closure

Water quality remains high for a longer Water quality remains high for a longer period during the dry seasonperiod during the dry season

Bird predation is decreasedBird predation is decreased Food and habitat for steelhead rearing is Food and habitat for steelhead rearing is

increasedincreased

Carmel River Lagoon CyclesCarmel River Lagoon Cycles

Above – just prior to a breachBelow – during a breach that empties the lagoon

Carmel River State Beach – spring 2009Carmel River State Beach – spring 2009

May 8, 2009

Beach Condition Prior to ClosureBeach Condition Prior to Closure

Using equipment to block the mouth Using equipment to block the mouth and raise the beachand raise the beach

Left - June 11, 2009Left - June 11, 2009

Emergency Emergency outlet through outlet through

the south end of the south end of the beachthe beach

May 26, 2009

Main stem Main stem

Above – 5/18/2009

Right – 6/11/2009

South armSouth arm

Above – 5/18/2009

Right – 6/11/2009