CRWC Proposed Stewardship Program

 

Potential for Using Recycled Water in Carmel Lagoon

Carmel Area Wastewater District                                                September  2000

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Photograph by Robin Wilson of Carmel, October 1999

This photograph taken in the fall of 1999 shows no apparent flow into the lagoon, but underflow of the Carmel river and seepage has perhaps kept the lagoon at least appearing to be fresh. 

Below are photos taken from the same vantage point on September 3 2000. Areas previously covered with water are high & dry. The water level is very shallow & provides little cover for smolts thus making it easier for feeding marine & land predators. The difference is caused by a drop in flow & the cumulative effects of excess diversions from the river, tributaries & from all types of wells. And this in a  "good water" year. One can readily see the accumulated silt and weed infestation presumably fostered by shallow conditions &  higher water temperature. 

Above bottom right is where the south arm of the lagoon joins the lagoon proper.

The photo below, shows the marsh area & the south arm of the lagoon. This would be one area where secondary water could be released to further improve the quality by natural filtration through the soil. This arm was planned as a deep channel but now appears to be full of sediment that has washed down from Tularcitos Creek and the lower Carmel River and is also filling up the lagoon.

And lastly, a photo of  the area that falls between the park facilities and to the east Mission Ranch. In a normal year much of this area to the middle right of the picture would be covered with water all year. Now, some of these changes may be due to the error made by the County a couple of years ago when they opened the sand bar at this end of the lagoon rather then at the rivers natural channel at the opposite side. The greater part of the lagoon waters and the water life went straight into the ocean and then at high tides the ocean engulfed this fragile area.  

Stewardship Proposal:

The following is a proposal that the Recreationists Stakeholder Group would like to present to the Council in the hope that we the Council can provide the initiative that will enable the use of recycled wastewater to replenish the Carmel Lagoon on a regular basis throughout the summer.  We believe with no river-flows into the lagoon in summer that this is preferable to discharging the wastewater into the ocean.

Incorporated in this proposal are content *** from pages 46 through 48 of the Carmel River Lagoon Enhancement & Management Plan: Conceptual Design Report, prepared  for the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park district, California State Coastal Conservancy & the California Department of Parks & Recreation.  This report was prepared by Philip Williams & Associates, Jones & Stokes Associates and California State University at Monterey Bay in September 1999.    

This paper describes the benefits of using treated wastewater to improve steelhead rearing habitat & smolt holding areas in the lagoon. The release would be by direct inflow to the river from CAWD-TP or by pipeline to an upstream location which would have additional benefits to the barren habitat up river from the Highway one bridge.  The CAWD-TP in addition to providing water for Pebble Beach golf-course irrigation also has approximately 2.0 to 4.5 million gallons per day (mgd) of secondary treated wastewater available year round.  This water is normally discharged into the Pacific ocean at a point 600 feet out from the shoreline. The CAWD-TD is willing to provide this water at no charge & possibly be willing to share the cost of pipeline construction to the discharge point. 

Also incorporated is content *** from a letter to Dr. Roy Thomas, President of the Carmel River Steelhead Association dated June 23 2000 from Mr. Ray von Dohren, General Manager of the Carmel Area Waste Water District  (founded in 1908).  Currently the treatment plant produces between 1500 & 2200 acre feet of secondary effluent annually.  About 690 acre feet of that total receives further treatment and is used in the Del Monte Forest for golf course irrigation. As mentioned in the study excess water from the treatment plant is discharged into the ocean.  There is also the possibility of using the secondary effluent to enhance the riparian habitat and the existing marsh areas that flow into the lagoon.  This is done in Marin & Santa Clara county. The Monterey County Health Department rejected the idea. The wastewater district staff think that even though the lagoon is used by the public the proposal is worth studying.  Alternatively of course at a cost of $800 per acre foot the water can receive tertiary treatment  through facilities funded by Pebble Beach Company.

The Coastal Conservancy has received a large grant to enhance the Lagoon. In talking with the consultants to the Lagoon project we have been informed that they are not planning on using the wastewater. The Recreationists Group would like to recommend that the Council appoint a committee to work with the Coastal Conservancy, the agencies involved  & the County Health Department to authorize the use of secondary treated water in the river and lagoon. If agreement could be reached it would be necessary  to seek funds for cost of implementing the proposal on an ongoing basis.  A natural source of funds might be the Coastal Conservancy if they have available funds or the Sea Grant Colleges & other government sources like NMFS & CDFG that have grant funds for improving habitat in estuaries & lagoons. 

Our order of preference would be to pipe water to the river at a point before the river enters the lagoon.  Second choice would be to discharge into the marsh areas but we recognize that this selection needs more study. If water could be discharged into the river before natural flows stop it will ensure a much better habitat for the Steelhead smolts preparing to enter the lagoon prior to acclimatizing to ocean water. Higher  levels of water, adequate cover provided by woody debris will ensure greater survival of smolts that have entered the lagoon.

*** if you wish to review these papers send e-mail to simbacli@pacbell.net