Watershed Health Report Card Updated Score and Indicators

CRWC is working closely with CSUMB to produce an updated Watershed Health Report Card for the Carmel River Watershed. The Report Card is a public facing tool that uses 13 biological, chemical, and ecological indicators to track key watershed health metrics to identify priority restoration efforts.  In the fall of 2022, significant modifications were made to the Report Card to improve and update watershed assessment practices. A new indicator for nutrients and pesticides was added, previous indicators were updated, and a new methodology for  overall streamflow was implemented.

Considering the Carmel River watershed’s proximity to Salinas, ‘Salad Bowl of the World’, and the vineyards in the Carmel Valley, it is imperative to measure the nutrients and pesticides within the watershed. Runoff from local agriculture, including these nutrients and pesticides, can have adverse effects on habitat and water quality. The measurement was completed by counting all known measured pesticides and nutrients within the watershed, then setting a threshold limit to each type. Any above the threshold were deemed as a failure and were averaged over the total of all pesticides and nutrients. The nutrients and pesticides indicator received a fair score at 74. This indicator will need to be continually monitored.

Additionally, unimpaired streamflow and tributary flow indicators were combined to one indicator called the overall streamflow. Measurements for the river-floodplain connectivity indicator have been adapted to better capture river-floodplain connectivity. Ratios will be established to accurately compare and measure river-floodplain connectivity throughout the watershed. Current ratios and grading are still underway but will be present in the upcoming health report card. 

Now, the overall grade for the watershed is fair at 67, which is a C letter grade. This grade was obtained from weighing the four major categories, chemical and physical, biotic and ecological, landscape, and natural disturbance. The watershed health has improved but more conservation and management efforts are still needed. For more information, including past indicator scores, visit our website.