Salmonid Instream Flow, Recreation, Amphibian Rescue and Dam … · 2020. 4. 3. · Monterey...
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Salmonid Instream Flow, Recreation, Amphibian Rescue and Dam Removal on the Carmel River ̶ Monterey County Mr. Alley provided the Monterey Peninsula Management District with technical support and report writing for more than a decade. His work helped fulfill CEQA requirements for the proposed New Los Padres Dam on the Carmel River. DWA conducted three instream flow studies for steelhead (1990, 1991 and 1995) in rugged, isolated reaches of the Carmel River. The firm analyzed the potential impact of additional water impoundment to the recreational steelhead fishery on the Carmel River (1993). To satisfy Cal-Trans requirements, DWA sampled the steelhead population and measured water quality in Carmel River Lagoon prior to excavation of the South Arm, with observations of a controlled sandbar breach (1996), completing the report of baseline data collection in 1997. In 2008─2012, Mr. Alley assisted the biological consulting firm, Ecological Studies, in capturing and relocating California red-legged frogs and tadpoles from San Clemente Reservoir and diminishing the bullfrog population during its annual drawdowns required for seismic safety. In 2012-2013, Donald Alley was the fishery biologist on the successful Granite Construction Company’s proposal team that developed the plan to take down the San Clemente Dam on the Carmel River (Monterey County) and provide steelhead fish passage through the project area and newly excavated channel. DWA developed plans (scopes/budgets) to monitor construction activities, maintain adult and juvenile steelhead passage during the dismantling of the dam and through the planned excavated channel bypassing the reservoir’s construction spoil site. DWA developed plans (scopes/budgets) to capture juvenile steelhead from the reservoir before it was drained and to trap juvenile steelhead above the project area as they moved downstream while the dam was dismantled and the excavated channel was under construction. DWA developed a monitoring scope and budget to assess adult steelhead spawning passage through the excavated channel after project completion. Nine months of planning and meetings were required prior to successful award of the dam removal project to Granite Construction Company. In 2014, DWA provided the fishery analysis for the Carmel River Lagoon Biological Assessment related to the Carmel Lagoon Ecosystem Protective Barrier (EPB), Scenic Road Protection Structure, and Interim Sandbar Management Plan Project. This comprehensive plan was meant to promote improvement in ecological function of the Carmel Lagoon, including natural floodplain function and improvement of habitat for Threatened and Endangered species within the existing lagoon by allowing the lagoon to breach naturally, without increasing flood risk to private structures and public facilities. The EPB would maintain existing protection from flooding to low-lying homes and other local Carmel-by-the- Sea infrastructure along the north edge of the Lagoon in the context of a reduction in the frequency of mechanical management of the sandbar. The client was the Monterey County Resource Management Agency.
Transcript of Salmonid Instream Flow, Recreation, Amphibian Rescue and Dam … · 2020. 4. 3. · Monterey...
Salmonid Instream Flow, Recreation, Amphibian Rescue and Dam Removal on the Carmel River ̶ Monterey County Mr. Alley provided the Monterey Peninsula Management District with technical support and report writing for more than a decade. His work helped fulfill CEQA requirements for the proposed New Los Padres Dam on the Carmel River. DWA conducted three instream flow studies for steelhead (1990, 1991 and 1995) in rugged, isolated reaches of the Carmel River. The firm analyzed the potential impact of additional water impoundment to the recreational steelhead fishery on the Carmel River (1993). To satisfy Cal-Trans requirements, DWA sampled the steelhead population and measured water quality in Carmel River Lagoon prior to excavation of the South Arm, with observations of a controlled sandbar breach (1996), completing the report of baseline data collection in 1997. In 2008─2012, Mr. Alley assisted the biological consulting firm, Ecological Studies, in capturing and relocating California red-legged frogs and tadpoles from San Clemente Reservoir and diminishing the bullfrog population during its annual drawdowns required for seismic safety. In 2012-2013, Donald Alley was the fishery biologist on the successful Granite Construction Company’s proposal team that developed the plan to take down the San Clemente Dam on the Carmel River (Monterey County) and provide steelhead fish passage through the project area and newly excavated channel. DWA developed plans (scopes/budgets) to monitor construction activities, maintain adult and juvenile steelhead passage during the dismantling of the dam and through the planned excavated channel bypassing the reservoir’s construction spoil site. DWA developed plans (scopes/budgets) to capture juvenile steelhead from the reservoir before it was drained and to trap juvenile steelhead above the project area as they moved downstream while the dam was dismantled and the excavated channel was under construction. DWA developed a monitoring scope and budget to assess adult steelhead spawning passage through the excavated channel after project completion. Nine months of planning and meetings were required prior to successful award of the dam removal project to Granite Construction Company. In 2014, DWA provided the fisheryanalysisfortheCarmelRiverLagoonBiologicalAssessmentrelatedtotheCarmel Lagoon Ecosystem Protective Barrier (EPB), Scenic Road Protection Structure, and Interim Sandbar Management Plan Project. This comprehensive plan was meant to promote improvement in ecological function of the Carmel Lagoon, including natural floodplain function and improvement of habitat for Threatened and Endangered species within the existing lagoon by allowing the lagoon to breach naturally, without increasing flood risk to private structures and public facilities. The EPB would maintain existing protection from flooding to low-lying homes and other local Carmel-by-the-Sea infrastructure along the north edge of the Lagoon in the context of a reduction in the frequency of mechanical management of the sandbar. The client was the Monterey County Resource Management Agency.
Monterey County- San Clemente Dam spilling before drawdown. 6a
Monterey County- Former San Clemente Dam on Carmel River after seasonal drawdown of the
reservoir for seismic risk reduction, prior to its eventual removal. 6b
Monterey County- Remaining San Clemente Reservoir with aeration bubblers after drawdown,
July 2012. 6c
Monterey County- Rescuing red-legged frog tadpoles during San Clemente Reservoir drawdown,
2012. 6d
Monterey County- Rescuing red-legged frog tadpoles (in buckets), San Clemente Reservoir
drawdown on Carmel River. 6e
Monterey County- Nighttime rescue of California red-legged frog from San Clemente Reservoir
during drawdown on Carmel River. 6f
Monterey County- Former San Clemente Dam on Carmel River with functional fish ladder for
adult steelhead and pipe exit from the dam for steelhead smolts into the ladder, prior to its eventual removal. 6g
Monterey County- Steelhead passage design for the excavated channel during San Clemente Dam
removal. 6h
Monterey County- Resting pool design for excavated channel during/ after San Clemente Dam
removal before in-channel wood placement. 6i
Monterey County- Resting pool design for excavated channel after San Clemente Dam Removal. 6j
