Sonoma Creek Pathogens TMDL

U.S. EPA gives final approval to TMDL for Pathogens in the Sonoma Creek Watershed
On February 29, 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the Basin Plan amendment adopted by the regional Water Board in June 2006, incorporating a TMDL and implementation plan for pathogens in the Sonoma Creek watershed. The amendment now becomes part of the Water Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay Basin (Basin Plan), the master planning document for water quality in the Bay Area.

Water Board's adopted Resolution no. R2-2006-0042 (pdf)
Basin Plan Amendment (pdf)
Final Staff Report (pdf, 1.1MB)
Watershed map showing sampling sites and land uses

Background:

The Sonoma Creek watershed includes 465 miles of creeks and streams, flowing southeast through the Sonoma Valley from headwaters in the Sugarloaf Range to San Pablo Bay. Rainfall ranges from about 23 inches per year in the valley to more than 50 inches in the Sonoma Mountains to the West and the Mayacamas mountains to the east. Approximately 30 percent of the watershed is forest; agriculture (mainly vineyards) account for another 30 percent, and 20 percent is grassland and rangeland. Only 15 percent of the watershed is developed. The watershed provides habitat for several native threatened or endangered species of concern, including steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), and California freshwater shrimp (Syncaris pacifica). Sonoma Creek is impaired by pathogens, and also by nutrients and sediment. The pathogens TMDL identifies actions that, once implemented, should reduce all three pollutants and contribute to the restoration and support of the fishery.

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For more information contact:
Tina Low
Water Resources Control Engineer
San Francisco Bay Region
1515 Clay Street, Suite 1400
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: 510-622-5682
Fax: 510-622-2460
E-mail: TLow@waterboards.ca.gov