Carmel River Steelhead Association

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS WEBSITE IS INTENDED TO FURTHER THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE OBSERVED LOW FLOWS OF GARZAS CREEK. OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THE CREEK, THE CARMEL RIVER AND ITS SPECIES AND HABITAT ARE NOT UNDULY IMPACTED BY UPSTREAM DEVELOPMENT OR OTHER ACTIVITIES.

The Sierra Club, Ventana Chapter & Carmel River Steelhead Association have concerns with the Protocol covering operations of Moore's Lake, an in-stream lake located on the Las Garzas Creek on Rancho San Carlos Partnership land. The Protocol was agreed upon between US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries, California Department of Fish & Game and Rancho San Carlos Partnership in December 2000. Public Records refer to a Memorandum of Understanding between the parties and the State Water Resources Control Board, but this document has not been made available to us. Therefore we have no knowledge of how it affects the Protocol but it is our contention that in accepting the Protocol the SWRCB may have overlooked their responsibilities for the continuing supervision of the Public Trust that lies in the lower parts of Las Garzas Creek.

Information is for your review and downloads from this page are encouraged. It includes information compiled from the Sierra Club Ventana Chapter records, the CRSA archives and letters from those who are interested in ensuring that minimum flows occur now and in the future in the tributary creeks and the Carmel river itself.

The index lists 23 titles and is divided into small packets that are linked to each file which are formatted in portable data format PDF for ease of opening and download to your computer if required.

Additional information concerning the formal complaint filed by Ventana Chapter Sierra Club and the Carmel River Steelhead Association may be found at

#1 Instream Flows for Public Trust Use by Andrew H. Sawyer, Asst. Chief Counsel, CSWRCB Dec 1999. Ref. SWRCB Decision 1632 (1995); Wat Code {{ 1243, 1243.5;CDFG Code Section 5937; Cal. Code Regs., tit 23, |782. The Public Trust imposes a duty of continuing supervision

#2 Balance Hydrologics Inc. Minutes of Field meeting, Las Garzas Creek Water rights 10/12/2000 ; identification of break between the canyon proper & alluvial fan; observed virtually all flows in the lower half of the 14 sq. mile watershed with Moore's Lake below outlet & valve system; even 2 inches of rain may not cause creek to rise if the stream is diverted or still replenishing; locations selected for data loggers.

#3 Signed protocol Actual signed Protocol see that continuous flow was traded ; implications of no long term impact on lower Garzas seemingly irrelevant to the "kill" and correspondence below which reflects concern at long term impacts. See items 7-12 below.

#4 Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. to the agencies 10/26/2000 Comments on evaporation ; v-notch weir & sensors on Salsipuedes Creek circa 1989-1994 & average year inflows, outflows & hydrology

#5 CDFG Coulston letter RSCP 7/26/1999 comments on the protocol Component 3 Consumptive Use Limitations impact on lower Garzas

#6 CDFG Coulston to SWRCB 05/11/1999 public trust resources (Steelhead) harmed significantly by incident; DFG very concerned about effects of Moore's lake on the biota of Las Garzas Creek

#7 Jones & Stokes Associates RSCP EIR locations of existing & proposed water supply wells; yields & location of existing wells.

#8 Greg James, MPWMD , hydrologist observations of 8/14/2001 a time when RSCP logs indicate flow 0.01cfs at Stn 5 in the upper Garzas.

#9 Letter to the press from Clive R. Sanders, copied to RSCP 11/11/1996 on Vote yes for Reg "M" voluntary restriction on using wells within1000ft from creeks.

# 10CDFG, Palmisano to Monterey County planning on RSCP/Santa Lucia Preserve on base flows in the creeks 11/13/1995 & requiring no well use within 1000ft of centerline of creeks.

#11 CRSA Protest to SWCRB dated12/7/1999 App. A029282 & T030980 reference to impacts on lower Garzas, paras 5-8 , 10. Conditions this Public Trust protest be disregarded & dismissed; 1) adequate stream flows below Moore's Lake to support all life stages; streamflow into & out be maintained to ensure adequate flows during Steelhead spawning season in lower Garzas.

#12 CRSA Protest to SWRCB various RSCP apps. 4/30/1988 public trust protesting long term impacts on lower Garzas, paras 5-8 & 10. Covers measuring devices covering amount of surface water bypassed below all points of diversion SWCRB, NMFS & CDFG should monitor daily flows

#13 CRSA Report to MCBOS Karas 1/28/1996 RSCP-Santa Lucia Preserve, reinstate condition 15 if it is not possible to restrict pumping from within 1000ft of the creek and EIR ground water hydrology, stream base flow.

#14 CRSA 12/31/1995 presentation to MCBOS event drying up of Las Garzas creek during the late part of the Steelhead rescue season, not attributed to RSCP but to early well operation by Ca'-Am; recommendation that no pumping from within 1000ft of creeks; Note: County planning required RSCP on two wells T26 & T14 to restrict pumping unless output from all other wells was insufficient . These two wells are within a 1000' of a Protected Flow Reach.

#15 Letter from Dr. Roy Thomas on his observations over the past three years of the lack of any flow over "waterfall"& the spring & pond above the falls in Garland Park.,

#16 CRSA to SWRCB historical background of the problems surrounding the Carmel River & the tributaries for newcomers to the watershed.

#18 Apparent water transfers from Moore's Lake to retention ponds: some first-hand observations by a local resident.

# 19 RSCP EIR States there will be no diversions from Moore's Lake; State water application "will be for impoundment only". There are no diversions from Moore's lake and the water level remains essentially constant. The only consumptive use is evaporation.

#23 RSCP "Questions and Answers": "RSCP applications to SWRCB will be used to perfect the right to store water in Moore's Lake, not for water supply...."

Additional information concerning the formal complaint filed by Ventana Chapter Sierra Club and the Carmel River Steelhead Association may be found at:

If you came from the complaint webpage you may wish to review other documents that are referred to in the complaint at web page

Last updated September 10th 2003 by Clive Sanders.