Final California 2010 Integrated Report (303(d) List/305(b) Report)

Supporting Information

Regional Board 1 - North Coast Region

Water Body Name: Russian River HU, Middle Russian River HA, Warm Springs HSA, Lake Sonoma [Reservoir]
Water Body ID: CAL1142403020020720145307
Water Body Type: Lake & Reservoir
 
DECISION ID
5515
Region 1     
Russian River HU, Middle Russian River HA, Warm Springs HSA, Lake Sonoma [Reservoir]
 
Pollutant: Mercury
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2006)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: Nonpoint Source | Resource Extraction
Expected TMDL Completion Date: 2012
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal from the section 303(d) list under section 3.5 of the Listing Policy. One line of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is insufficient justification in favor of removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the section 303(d) list in the Water Quality Limited Segments category.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. Forty-three out of 50 samples exceeded the OEHHA Screening Value and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy.
4. Pursuant to section 3.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: This is a decision made by the State Water Resources Control Board and approved by the USEPA in 2006 .
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of this Regional Board decision, SWRCB staff recommend the decision be approved by the State Board.
 
USEPA Action (if applicable): USEPA approved the listing of this water body as a water quality limited segment requiring a TMDL for this pollutant.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 5515, Mercury
Region 1     
Russian River HU, Middle Russian River HA, Warm Springs HSA, Lake Sonoma [Reservoir]
 
LOE ID: 31005
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Tissue
Matrix: Tissue
Fraction: Fish fillet
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 22
Number of Exceedances: 20
 
Data and Information Type: Fish tissue analysis
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Fish were collected for tissue analysis at two locations from Lake Sonoma. A total of 22 sample composites were generated from one species: Largemouth Bass. Details of the compositing protocol can be found in the March 2009 report entitled: "Contaminants in Fish from California Lakes and Reservoirs: Technical Report on Year One of a Two-Year Screening Study" (SWAMP, 2009). A total of 20 out of 22 samples exceeded the OHHEA fish tissue screening value for human health.
Data Reference: Data associated with report entitled: Contaminants in Fish from California Lakes and Reservoirs: Technical Report on Year One of a Two-Year Screening Survey. A Report of the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP). California State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, CA
  Contaminants in Fish from California Lakes and Reservoirs: Technical Report on Year One of a Two-Year Screening Survey. A Report of the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP). California State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento, CA
  Cruise Report for the Surface Waters Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) Bioaccumulation Screening Study in California Lakes and Reservoirs, Sampling Dates: June 2007- March 2008
 
SWAMP Data: SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Per the Basin Plan (NCRWQCB 2007): All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life. Compliance with this objective will be determined by use of indicator organisms, analyses of species diversity, population density, growth anomalies, bioassays of appropriate duration, or other appropriate methods as specified by the Regional Water Board.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) - North Coast Region (Region 1)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) Screening Value of 0.3 mg/kg to protect human health when consuming fish (OEHHA, 1999).
Guideline Reference: Prevalence of Selected Target Chemical Contaminants in Sport Fish From Two California Lakes: Public health designed screening study. Sacramento, CA: Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
 
Spatial Representation: Samples were collected from two locations in Lake Sonoma. As discussed in the Lakes and Reservoirs Report (SWAMP, 2009), individual sample locations consisted of an area within a given waterbody with an approximate one-mile diameter, from which multiple fish tissue samples were collected. The number of sample locations per waterbody was based on the overall size of the waterbody. Specifics of individual sampling locations can be found in the supplemental report entitled "Cruise Report for the Surface Waters Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) Bioaccumulation Screening Study in California Lakes and Reservoirs, Sampling Dates: June 2007- March 2008" (SWAMP, 2008).
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected on August 28, 2007
Environmental Conditions: There are no known environmental conditions (e.g., seasonality, land use practices, fire events, storms, etc.) that are related to these data.
QAPP Information: Samples were collected, processed, and analyzed in accordance with the methods described in "Quality Assurance Project Plan Screening Study of Bioaccumulation in California Lakes and Reservoirs." (SWAMP, 2008).
QAPP Information Reference(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan Screening Study of Bioaccumulation in California Lakes and Reservoirs. Moss Landing Marine Labs. Prepared for SWAMP BOG, 49 pages plus appendices and attachments
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 5515, Mercury
Region 1     
Russian River HU, Middle Russian River HA, Warm Springs HSA, Lake Sonoma [Reservoir]
 
LOE ID: 666
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Tissue
Matrix: Tissue
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 28
Number of Exceedances: 23
 
Data and Information Type: Not Specified
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Twenty-three out of 28 samples exceeded. Filet composite and individual samples were collected for the following species: largemouth bass collected in 1992-93, 1995-97, and 2000-01; redear sunfish collected in 1993 and 2001; and black crappie collected in 2001. All but three redear sunfish (2001) samples and two black crappie samples exceeded the guideline (TSMP, 2002).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: North Coast RWQCB Basin Plan: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: OEHHA Screening Value 0.3 ug/g for mercury (Brodberg & Pollock, 1999).
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Three stations were sampled: from the Rockpile Road Bridge upstream 1/2 mile in the Warm Springs Creek arm, in Dry Creek Arm about 3 miles upstream Warm Springs Dam, and at mouth of Warm Springs Creek.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected annually in 1992-93, 1995-97 and 2000-01.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Toxic Substances Monitoring Program 1992-93 and 1994-95 Data Reports.

Environmental Chemistry Quality Assurance and Data Report for the Toxic Substances Monitoring Program, 1996-2000. Department of Fish and Game.

Environmental Chemistry Quality Assurance and Data Report for the Toxic Substances Monitoring Program, 2001-2002. Department of Fish and Game.
QAPP Information Reference(s):