Difference between revisions of "The Carneros Watershed"

Revision as of 14:26, 31 January 2011

The Carneros Creek Watershed is located in the Central Coast of California, in Monterey County. The Carneros Watershed is part of the larger Elkhorn Slough Watershed, and Carneros Creek is the main fresh water tributary to Elkhorn Slough.

Location, Size and Climate

The Carneros Creek Watershed is located within the limits of Monterey County in the California central coast and comprises the towns of Aromas, Las Lomas, and parts of Prunedale. The area has a Mediterranean climate [1], with mild summers with temperatures in the 60's, and cool, mild, winters with temperatures in the 50's (2). The warmest month of the year is September, and the coldest is December, with average maximum and minimum temperatures of 73.7°F and 38.1°F respectively. The winter months are wetter than the summer months, and the wettest month is January; the annual average precipitation ins 23.25 Inches (2).

Land cover / land use

Prior to Spanish and American settlement, the Carneros watershed was dominated by floodplains and marches. The Carneros Creek was then a steady moving stream that perhaps disappeared into the numerous Carneros wetlands. Activities of settlement including the reclamation efforts to drain the lower levels of the Carneros Creek, resulted in the loss of these wetlands and continue to influence the creek to this day [1]. A wetland restoration project is currently underway on Triple M Ranch, located on the lower reaches of Carneros Creek.

The Carneros watershed covers approximately 70-km2 with mixed land use including, rural residential, grazed grasslands, cultivated areas, maritime chaparral, oak woodlands and riparian areas. Agricultural land use occupies approximately 10% of the watershed of which strawberries are the dominant crop. Other corps include, raspberries, flowers and vegetables [2]. Agro-industrial activities in the watershed include a mushroom growing operation and a chicken ranch [1].

Surface water hydrology

Carneros stream flows vary according to rainfall. The watershed drains nearly 18,000 acres of steep slopes and flood planes. Carneros soils combined with little development result in almost complete infiltration of water. Run off is caused by bare ground and impermeable surfaces. Agricultural plastics mulch and hoop houses accounts for most all impermeable surfaces (Largay 2007).

Groundwater hydrology

Hydrolic head measurements of the regional groundwater aquifer appear to be similar to historical levels, occurring at elevations from 10 ft above sea level to 10 below sea level [1].

Environmental issues & regulations

303d-listed waterbodies?

Species of Concern

• California Red-Legged Frog
• California Tiger Salamander
• Santa Cruz Long-Toed Salamander

groundwater overdraft (?) in North Monterey County

potential watershed impacts on Elkhorn Slough

Available hydrological data

Largay (2007)established rain gages throughout the Carneros creek in order to characterize flows of surface water. Gages are located at Carneros Creek at the Railcar Bridge, at the Sill Road Crossing, at the Johnson Road Bridge, and in the Oxbow Pond. All gages are equipped with temperature recorders, Solinist Leveloggers and a stilling well. To compensate for barometric changes, Solanist barologgers have been installed at all sites.

References

1. Holloway R. 2010. Annual sediment retention and hydraulic residence time variability in a riverine wetland receiving unregulated inflow from agricultural runoff. California State University Monterey Bay Masters Thesis. http://sep.csumb.edu/cwsp/theses/Holloway_Thesis_101217.pdf

2. IDcide - Local Information Data Server. Weather for the town of Aromas CA. Accessed on Jan 31 2011. http://www.idcide.com/weather/ca/aromas.htm

3.Largay B. 2007. ALBA Triple M Wetlands Project: Existing conditions and Conceptual Design-Technical Advisory Committee Review Draft. Largay Hydrologic Sciences, LLC. http://hydro.csumb.edu/ALBA_CSUMB/ALBA_Triple_M_Conditions_Concepts.pdf

Links

• Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association
• Triple M Ranch
• IDcide - Local Information Data Server. Weather for the town of Aromas CA. [1]. Accessed on 2011 Jan 30.
• Maps of the Carneros Watershed