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

Supporting Information

Regional Board 3 - Central Coast Region

Water Body Name: Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County)
Water Body ID: CAX3141005020021002220006
Water Body Type: Coastal & Bay Shoreline
 
DECISION ID
6147
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County)
 
Pollutant: Fecal Coliform
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2006)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: Source Unknown
Expected TMDL Completion Date: 2011
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal from the section 303(d) list under section 4.3 of the Listing Policy. Under this section a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess Fecal Coliform consistent with Listing Policy, Section 4.3.

One line of evidence (LOE # 3989) is a placeholder for a listing made prior to 2006. This LOE contains information about the data used for this listing and Regional Board staff do not have this data available for this assessment.

However, the current decision is based on two lines of evidence which summarize weekly data collected from January 2004 to December 2006. Assessment of these data demonstrates that applicable water quality standards for Fecal Coliform are not being exceeded in this water segment. Three of 135 samples exceed the single sample maximum Objective for Water Contact Recreation and none of 32 geomean values exceed the geomean Objective for Water Contact Recreation. However, this data is not Fecal Coliform, as it is identified in the data file, but instead is E. coli data. Staff assessed these data relative to the Ocean Plan objective for Fecal Coliform. Staff is not aware of any marine objective or criteria for E. coli and State Board staff support assessment of E. coli data using the Ocean Plan Objective for Fecal Coliform. The original assessment resulted in the following recommendations to change the 2006 List of Impaired Waterbodies: five recommendations to de-list and one recommendation to List. However, staff no longer supports these decisions and instead recommends that no beach be de-listed due to the flawed assessment of Fecal Coliform data. Staff plans to conduct a comprehensive assessment of beach E. coli data as part of the 2010 Integrated Report, in coordination with the State Water Board and USEPA.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification for removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the section 303(d) list.

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. Three of 135 samples exceed the single sample maximum Objective for Water Contact Recreation and none of 32 geomean values exceed the geomean Objective for Water Contact Recreation. Neither of these exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.2 of the Listing Policy. However, staff does not support de-listing until the errors in the data and the assessment method has been resolved with State Water Board Staff.
4. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should be not removed from the section 303(d) list because of errors in the data and unresolved data assessment methods
 
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 6147, Fecal Coliform
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County)
 
LOE ID: 20191
 
Pollutant: Fecal Coliform
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 135
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Central Coast Regional Board Staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 3 of 135 samples exceed the criterion for Coliform, Fecal.
Data Reference: AB 411 Data for 2004
  AB 411 Data for 2005
  AB 411 Data for 2006
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2005) states that the single sample maximum for fecal coliform shall not exceed 400 MPN/100 mL.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California. California Ocean Plan 2005. Sacramento, CA: State Water Resources Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County) was collected at one AB411 monitoring site (Ocean/Surf Beach)
Temporal Representation: Data was collected over the time period 1/5/2004 - 12/26/2006. This includes weekly AB411 monitoring between April 1 and October 31 of each year.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA information not available
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 6147, Fecal Coliform
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County)
 
LOE ID: 3989
 
Pollutant: Fecal Coliform
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Not Recorded
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: Not Specified
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Unspecified--This LOE is a placeholder to support a 303(d) listing decision made prior to 2006.
Data Reference: Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Unspecified
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Unspecified
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Unspecified
Temporal Representation: Unspecified
Environmental Conditions: Unspecified
QAPP Information: Unspecified
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 6147, Fecal Coliform
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County)
 
LOE ID: 20190
 
Pollutant: Fecal Coliform
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 32
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Central Coast Regional Board Staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 32 samples exceed the criterion for Coliform, Fecal.
Data Reference: AB 411 Data for 2004
  AB 411 Data for 2005
  AB 411 Data for 2006
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2005) states that the 30-day geometric mean for fecal coliform shall not exceed 200 MPN/100 mL.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California. California Ocean Plan 2005. Sacramento, CA: State Water Resources Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County) was collected at one AB411 monitoring site (Ocean/Surf Beach)
Temporal Representation: Data was collected over the time period 1/5/2004 - 12/26/2006. This includes weekly AB411 monitoring between April 1 and October 31 of each year.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA information not available
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
6148
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County)
 
Pollutant: Total Coliform
Final Listing Decision: Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2006)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: Source Unknown
Expected TMDL Completion Date: 2021
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under sections 2.1 and 3.3 of the Listing Policy.

Five lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Based on section 3.3 the site exceeded numeric objectives for conventional pollutants. Three LOEs assess weekly data compared to three different Total Coliform water quality objectives for Water Contact Recreation and the number of exceedances for each objective does exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.2 of the Listing Policy. However, in LOE #25569, this same total coliform data is compared to the water quality objective for Shellfish Harvesting and 51 of the 135 samples exceed that objective.

According to the binomial distribution, waters shall be placed on the Section 303(d) list if the number of measured exceedances supports rejection of the null hypothesis as presented in Table 3.2. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the section 303(d) list due to exceedances of the Shellfish Harvesting Objective.

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. Fifty-one of the 135 samples exceeded the water quality objective for Shellfish Harvesting and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.2 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: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded.
 
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 6148, Total Coliform
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County)
 
LOE ID: 25569
 
Pollutant: Total Coliform
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Shellfish Harvesting
 
Number of Samples: 135
Number of Exceedances: 51
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Data for this line of evidence was collected weekly by County of Santa Barbara Staff at one AB 411 site (Ocean Beach) between January 2004 and December 2006.
Data Reference: AB 411 Data for 2004
  AB 411 Data for 2005
  AB 411 Data for 2006
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2005) states that not more than 10 percent of the total coliform samples shall exceed 230 per 100 ml.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California. California Ocean Plan 2005. Sacramento, CA: State Water Resources Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Data for this line of evidence was collected at Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County) at one AB 411 site (Ocean Beach).
Temporal Representation: Data was collected over the time period 1/5/2004 - 12/26/2006.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: No QA information is available.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 6148, Total Coliform
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County)
 
LOE ID: 3990
 
Pollutant: Total Coliform
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Not Recorded
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: Not Specified
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Unspecified--This LOE is a placeholder to support a 303(d) listing decision made prior to 2006.
Data Reference: Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Unspecified
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Unspecified
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Unspecified
Temporal Representation: Unspecified
Environmental Conditions: Unspecified
QAPP Information: Unspecified
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
12580
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County)
 
Pollutant: Enterococcus
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under section 3.3 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.3 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

Two lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. When compared to the Ocean Plan Objectives for Water Contact Recreation, six of 135 samples exceeded the single sample maximum Objective, three of 32 geomean assessments exceeded the geomean Objective.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against placing this water segment-pollutant combination on 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. When compared to the Ocean Plan Objectives for Water Contact Recreation, 6 of 135 samples exceeded the single sample maximum Objective, 3 of 32 geomean assessments exceeded the geomean Objective. Neither of these exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.2 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: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
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):
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 12580, Enterococcus
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County)
 
LOE ID: 20193
 
Pollutant: Enterococcus
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 135
Number of Exceedances: 6
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Central Coast Regional Board Staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 6 of 135 samples exceed the criterion for Enterococci.
Data Reference: AB 411 Data for 2004
  AB 411 Data for 2005
  AB 411 Data for 2006
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2005) states that the single sample maximum for Enterococcus shall not exceed 104 MPN/100 mL.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California. California Ocean Plan 2005. Sacramento, CA: State Water Resources Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County) was collected at one AB411 monitoring site (Ocean/Surf Beach)
Temporal Representation: Data was collected over the time period 1/5/2004 - 12/26/2006. This includes weekly AB411 monitoring between April 1 and October 31 of each year.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA information not available
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 12580, Enterococcus
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County)
 
LOE ID: 20192
 
Pollutant: Enterococcus
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 32
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Central Coast Regional Board Staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 3 of 32 samples exceed the criterion for Enterococci.
Data Reference: AB 411 Data for 2004
  AB 411 Data for 2005
  AB 411 Data for 2006
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2005) states that the geometric mean for Enterococcus shall not exceed 35 MPN/100 mL.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California. California Ocean Plan 2005. Sacramento, CA: State Water Resources Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Ocean Beach (Santa Barbara County) was collected at one AB411 monitoring site (Ocean/Surf Beach)
Temporal Representation: Data was collected over the time period 1/5/2004 - 12/26/2006. This includes weekly AB411 monitoring between April 1 and October 31 of each year.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA information not available
QAPP Information Reference(s):