Pathogen & Bacterial Water Quality Monitoring
in the Russian River Watershed

The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, in collaboration with the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, collects water samples in the Russian River and several tributary creeks to monitor levels of pathogens – a group of pollutants that includes bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and other organisms that are harmful to human health.

• Sonoma County Department of Health Services
  
  

What are Pathogens and Bacteria?

Pathogens are microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, prions, protozoa, or fungi that cause disease. Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that are found in every habitat on Earth, including water, soil, organic matter, and in the living bodies of plants and animals.

E. coli, Enterococcus, and Total Coliform are bacteria that are widely used as indicator tests for the presence of other pathogens, and are sometimes called “indicator bacteria.” Coliform is a heading that describes a type of bacteria, which includes E. coli. It is found within the intestines of warm blooded animals. Enteroccocus is much like coliform bacteria, but is known to have a greater correlation with swimming-associated illnesses and is less likely to die off in highly saline water. While E. coli, Enterococcus, and Total Coliform are easy to measure, they do not make ideal indicators of recent fecal material pollution since they may survive for months after being introduced to the environment.

Bacteroides is a genus of bacteria that make up a significant portion of the fecal bacteria population and make a better indicator of recent fecal pollution since they do not survive long in the environment. Bacteroides also are highly specific to their host animal and the TMDL monitoring program results will show if Bacteroides levels present in water samples come from human waste, cow waste, or other sources which may include bird or dog waste.

Stable isotopes of nitrate are helpful for identifying the sources of the water associated with bacteria samples. Results show if water is largely from overland runoff vs. from wastewater treatment facilities vs. manure sources and septic systems.

Direct monitoring of the microbial community will be used as part of the Russian River Pathogen TMDL monitoring effort to quantify over 50,000 bacterial species in a single water sample through a new technology called the PhyloChip. The PhyloChip was originally developed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory using Homeland Security funding to detect airborne bacteria for bioterrorism surveillance.

Where do pathogens and bacteria come from?

Pathogens can come from the natural environment (soils and decaying vegetation), human sewage, animal waste (both wildlife and domestic animals), storm water, and urban runoff. Common sources of pathogen pollution include leaking or failing septic systems, pet waste, waste from agricultural operations, human waste during recreational use, and homeless encampments.

Is the river safe for swimming?

While bacteria normally occur at low levels in the environment and do not necessarily cause illness, high levels can indicate contamination and the presence of other harmful pathogens. These other harmful pathogens could result in such symptoms as diarrhea, cramps, and nausea.

Every week during the summer the Water Board, in collaboration with the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, monitors water quality at swimming beaches along the river. When pathogen levels are high enough to endanger human health, signs are posted at the beach.

What can residents do to help the problem?

• If you have a septic system,have it checked and cleaned. If it needs repair, fix it!
• When you’re enjoying the river, use a portable toilet or other restroom facilities.
• Make sure dirty diapers are put in a garbage can and not left on the ground
• Pick up pet waste.
• If you keep large animals, clean up their waste – and make sure contaminated runoff does not reach your local creek or the river.

2011-2012 Monitoring Efforts & Data

Current monitoring efforts are designed to inform the development of the Russian River Pathogen Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and to continue ongoing summertime monitoring of the Russian River at popular swimming beaches.

Russian River & Tributary Monitoring

Purpose:
To help understand pathogen and indicator bacteria abundance and variability in the mainstem Russian River and several tributaries.

Analytes & Timing:
E. coli, Enterococcus, and Total Coliform: Samples collected weekly between May and September 2011, and on five separate occasions during the winter of 2011-2012.

Bacteroides, stable isotopes of nitrate, and the microbial community via the PhyloChip: Samples collected once during August 2011 and once during winter 2011-2012.

Sampling Locations:

Russian River at Alexander Valley Campground
Russian River at Camp Rose
Russian River at Healdsburg Memorial Bridge
Russian River at Steelhead Beach
Russian River at Forestville Access Beach
Russian River at Johnson’s Beach
Russian River at Monte Rio Beach

• Data
• Graph

Russian River above Commisky Creek
Russian River at Cloverdale River Park
Russian River at Geyserville Bridge
Russian River at Jenner Boat Ramp
Santa Rosa Creek at Los Alamos Road
Santa Rosa Creek at Prince Memorial Greenway
Laguna de Santa Rosa at Sebastopol Community Cntr
Green Valley Creek at Martinelli Road
Dutch Bill Creek at Fir Road

• Data
• Graph
• Map

Site Variability Monitoring

Purpose:
To help understand the variability of indicator bacteria at a site.

Analytes:
E. coli, Enterococcus, and Total Coliform

Timing:
August 30 – September 1, 2011

Sampling Locations:
Russian River at Healdsburg Memorial Beach
Russian River at Monte Rio Beach
Santa Rosa Creek at Prince Memorial Greenway

Land Use Monitoring

Purpose:
To help understand the impacts of different land uses on pathogen and bacteria levels.

Analytes & Timing:
E. coli, Enterococcus, Total Coliform: Samples collected during three wet weather occasions and during three dry weather occasions.

Bacteroides, stable isotopes of nitrate, and the microbial community via the PhyloChip: Samples collected during one wet weather occasion and one dry weather occasion.

Site Locations:
Approximately 15 sites throughout the lower and middle Russian River watershed in streams that drain areas predominately composed of forest land, rangeland, agriculture, urban and residential sewered areas, or residential non-sewered areas. The exact locations have not yet been determined.

Beach Use Impacts Monitoring

Purpose:
To help understand the impacts of recreation on pathogen and bacteria levels at public river beaches.

Analytes:
E. coli, Enterococcus, Total Coliform, Bacteroides, stable isotopes of nitrogen, and the microbial community via the PhyloChip

Timing:
Every day from September 21 to September 28, 2011. This time frame includes a high beach use event, the Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival on September 24-25.

Site Locations:
Russian River at Johnson’s Beach
Russian River at Monte Rio Beach

Quality Assurance Project Plan

Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) are documents that describe the details of a monitoring program, including staffing, reasons for the monitoring, sample collection procedures, laboratory analysis procedures, quality control and quality assurance procedures, and data management. Two QAPPs have been developed for the monitoring efforts related to the Russian River Pathogen TMDL.

• Russian River Pathogen Indicator Bacteria TMDL QAPP – Version 1.0 – May 19, 2011
  (pertains to E. coli, Enterococcus, and Total Coliform monitoring) – pdf copy will be available online in November 2011)
• Russian River Pathogen Indicator Bacteria TMDL Supplemental Sampling Plan QAPP – Version 1.0 – August 8, 2011
  (pertains to Bacteroides, stable isotopes of nitrogen, and the microbial community via the PhyloChip)

1996-2010 Monitoring Efforts & Data

Between 1996 and 2010, the Regional Water Board and the Sonoma County Department of Health Services collaborated to collect water samples in the Russian River and Santa Rosa Creek for bacteria analysis.

Purpose:
To determine if bacteria levels exceed thresholds deemed safe for swimming and human health. To determine if warning signs should be posted at beaches.

Analytes:
E. coli, Enterococcus, Total Coliform, and sometimes Fecal Coliform

Timing:
During most years between 1996 and 2010, samples were collected weekly between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Sample Locations:

Russian River at Camp Rose (CR)
Russian River at Healdsburg Memorial Beach (HMB)
Russian River at Steelhead Beach (SB)
Russian River at Odd Fellow’s Bridge (OF)
Russian River at Forestville Access Beach (FAB)
Russian River at Johnson’s Beach (JB)
Russian River at Monte Rio (MR)
Santa Rosa Creek at Melita Road
Santa Rosa Creek at Prince Memorial Greenway

• Map

Data:

2010 Russian River sites: Data - Graph
2009 Russian River sites: Data - Graph
2008 Russian River sites: Data - Graph
2008 Santa Rosa Creek sites: Data - Graph
2007 Russian River sites: Data - Graph
2007 Santa Rosa Creek sites: Data - Graph
2006 Russian River sites: Data - Graph
2006 Santa Rosa Creek sites: Data - Graph
2005 Russian River sites: Data - Graph
2005 Santa Rosa Creek sites: Data - Graph
2002 Santa Rosa Creek sites: Data - Graph
2001 Santa Rosa Creek sites: Data

Bacteria Thresholds

Single Sample Maximum Levels – per CA Dept. of Public Health:

E. coli: 235 per 100 mL
Enterococcus: 61 per 100 mL
Total Coliform: 10,000 per 100 mL
Fecal Coliform: 400 per 100 mL

30-Day Geometric Mean Levels – per CA Dept. of Public Health:

E. coli: 126 per 100 mL
Enterococcus: 33 per 100 mL
Total Coliform: 1,000 per 100 mL
Fecal Coliform: 200 per 100 mL

30-Day Geometric Mean Fecal Coliform Water Quality Objective – per the Basin Plan:

Fecal Coliform: 50 per 100 mL and
No more than 10% of samples should exceed 400 per 100 mL

The California Department of Public Health’s Draft Guidance for Fresh Water Beaches (January 2011) describes bacteria levels that may require posted warning signs in order to protect human health. However, it must be emphasized that these are draft guidelines, not adopted standards, and they are not enforceable.

The Water Board’s Water Quality Control Plan for the North Coast Region, also known as the Basin Plan, includes a Water Quality Objective for bacteria. Levels that do not meet Basin Plan objectives may not pose a health threat, but indicate the need for investigative sampling.

The State Water Resources Control Board is developing a statewide policy for bacterial standards for water contact recreation in fresh waters of California. The policy may include a revised E. coli water quality objective.

Contact Information

Charles Reed
Russian River Pathogen TMDL Project Manager
707-576-2752
creed@waterboards.ca.gov

Rebecca Fitzgerald
TMDL Unit Supervisor
707-576-2650
rfitzgerald@waterboards.ca.gov

---

(Updated November 22, 2011)