Draft California 2018 Integrated Report (303(d) List/305(b) Report)

Supporting Information

Regional Board 6 - Lahontan Region

Water Body Name:	Blackwood Creek
Water Body ID:	CAR6342002119990128133830
Water Body Type:	River & Stream


DECISION ID	103488	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

Pollutant:	Alkalinity as CaCO3
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 Staff Conclusion:	This pollutant is being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under section 3.2 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.2 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. One line of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Zero of two samples exceed the guideline for alkalinity. 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 CWA 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. Zero of two samples exceeded the guideline and this does not exceed 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 Staff 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. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 103488, Alkalinity as CaCO3	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

LOE ID:

98463

Pollutant:

Alkalinity as CaCO3

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Total

Beneficial Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed TRPA Tahoe Ambient Monitoring data for Blackwood Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 2 samples exceeded the water quality standard for Alkalinity as CaCO3.

Data Reference:

Water Quality Assessment Data for the 2018 solicitation cycle submitted through CEDEN for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Tahoe Ambient Monitoring program.

SWAMP Data:

SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The National Recommended Water Quality Criteria for Alkalinity as CaCO3 for the protection of freshwater aquatic life is not less than 20000 ug/L. (National Recommended Water Quality Criteria 2016)

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 2 monitoring site(s) (634S14243, 634S14251)

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-08-13 and 2014-08-14

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program


DECISION ID	103527	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

Pollutant:	Benthic Community Effects
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 Staff Conclusion:	Benthic Community Effects are being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 3.9 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.9, additional lines of evidence (LOEs) associating the Benthic Community Effects decision with a water or sediment concentration of pollutants other than benthic-macroinvertebrate bioassessment or habitat assessment LOEs are necessary to place a water body on the 303(d) List for Benthic Community Effects. One line of evidence evaluating benthic-macroinvertebrate bioassessment data is available in the administrative record to assess this indicator. 1 of 2 benthic-macroinvertebrate samples exceed the California Stream Condition Index (CSCI) impairment threshold. These data indicate that the waterbody is likely unimpaired for Benthic Community Effects and therefore no other pollutant LOEs need be associated with this decision at this time. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against placing Benthic Community Effects in this waterbody segment on the CWA 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. 1 of 2 benthic-macroinvertebrate bioassessment samples had CSCI scores below 0.79. Therefore, this water body is not exceeding the water quality threshold for the protection of the COLD beneficial use. The available information indicates that the waterbody/pollutant combination should not be placed on the 303(d) List of impaired waters at this time. 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 Staff 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.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 103527, Benthic Community Effects	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

LOE ID:

96466

Pollutant:

Benthic-Macroinvertebrate Bioassessments

LOE Subgroup:

Population/Community Degradation

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

There were two CSCI scores for this site. One score was from station 634S14243 and had the score 0.378662728, and there were two samples collected on one day from station 634S14251 that averaged to 0.941196053. One of these two scores exceeds the water quality objective.

Data Reference:

Water Quality Assessment Data for the 2018 solicitation cycle submitted through CEDEN for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Tahoe Ambient Monitoring program.

SWAMP Data:

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are lethal to or that produce significant alterations in population or community ecology or receiving water biota. In addition, the health and life history characteristics of aquatic organisms in waters affected by controllable water quality factors shall not differ significantly from those for the same waters in areas unaffected by controllable water quality factors.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)

Evaluation Guideline:

The California Stream Condition Index (CSCI) is a biological scoring tool that helps aquatic resource managers translate complex data about benthic macroinvertebrates found living in a stream into an overall measure of stream health. The CSCI score is calculated by comparing the expected condition with actual (observed) results (Rhen, A.C. et al., 2015). CSCI scores range from 0 (highly degraded) to greater than 1 (equivalent to reference). CSCI scoring of biological condition are as follows (per the scientific paper supporting the development of the CSCI scoring tool): greater than or equal to 0.92 = likely intact condition, 0.91 to 0.80 = possibly altered condition, 0.79 to 0.63 = likely altered condition, less than or equal to 0.62 = very likely altered condition. Sites with scores below 0.79 are considered to have exceeded the water quality objective for the aquatic life beneficial use.

Guideline Reference:

The California Stream Condition Index (CSCI): A New Statewide Biological Scoring Tool for Assessing the Health of Freshwater Streams.

Spatial Representation:

Samples collected at the following station: 634S14243

Temporal Representation:

Sample was collected on 8/13/2014

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QAPP for TRPA Tahoe Ambient Monitoring

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program


DECISION ID	103489	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

Pollutant:	Indicator Bacteria
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 Staff Conclusion:	This pollutant is being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under section 3.2 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.2 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant, one that assesses for REC-1 using E.coli and two that assess for MUN using the same data assessed for the Basin Plan's log mean and 10 percent exceedance objectives for fecal coliform. Zero of one samples exceed the REC-1 objective, zero of two samples exceed the log mean fecal coliform objective and zero of two samples exceed the 10 percent exceedance 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 CWA 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. Zero of one samples exceed the REC-1 objective, zero of two samples exceed the log mean fecal coliform objective and zero of two samples exceed the 10 percent exceedance objective and this does not exceed 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 Staff 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. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 103489, Indicator Bacteria	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

LOE ID:

129337

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Municipal & Domestic Supply

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed RWB6_BACT_Monitoring data for Blackwood Creek to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 2 samples exceeded the logmean water quality standard for Coliform, Fecal. This is a 30-day rolling logmean that is calculated daily.

Data Reference:

Water Quality Assessment Data for the 2018 solicitation cycle submitted through CEDEN for Regional Water Board 6 Bacteria Monitoring.

SWAMP Data:

SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Waters shall not contain concentrations of coliform organisms attributable to anthropogenic sources, including human and livestock wastes. The fecal coliform concentration during any 30-day period shall not exceed a log mean of 20/100 ml. (Lahontan Region Basin Plan)

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): 634BLKB05

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2014-06-10 and 2014-10-03 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 103489, Indicator Bacteria	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

LOE ID:

129427

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Municipal & Domestic Supply

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed RWB6_BACT_Monitoring data for Blackwood Creek to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 2 samples exceeded the water quality standard for Coliform, Fecal. The water quality standard is based on a 10% exceedance rate that is calculated monthly.

Data Reference:

Water Quality Assessment Data for the 2018 solicitation cycle submitted through CEDEN for Regional Water Board 6 Bacteria Monitoring.

SWAMP Data:

SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): 634BLKB05

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2014-06-10 and 2014-10-03 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 103489, Indicator Bacteria	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

LOE ID:

99801

Pollutant:

Escherichia coli (E. coli)

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed RWB6_BACT_Monitoring data for Blackwood Creek to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the Statistical Threshold Value (STV) water quality standard for E. coli. The STV is based on a 10% exceedance rate that is calculated monthly.

Data Reference:

Water Quality Assessment Data for the 2018 solicitation cycle submitted through CEDEN for Regional Water Board 6 Bacteria Monitoring.

SWAMP Data:

SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The bacteria water quality objective applicable to all waters, except Lake Tahoe, where the salinity is less than 10 parts per thousand (ppth) 95 percent or more of the time is a STATISTICAL THRESHOLD VALUE (STV) of 320 cfu/100 mL not to be exceeded more than 10 percent of the time (calculated monthly).

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries Plan. Part 1: Trash Provisions; Part 2: Tribal Subsistence Beneficial Uses and Mercury Provisions; Part 3: Bacteria Provisions and Variance Policy

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): 634BLKB05

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2014-10-03 and 2014-10-03 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program


DECISION ID	103492	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

Pollutant:	Oxygen, Dissolved
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 Staff Conclusion:	This pollutant is being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under section 3.2 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.2 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. One line of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Zero of one samples exceed the objective for dissolved oxygen concentration. 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 CWA 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. Zero of one samples exceed the objective and this does not exceed 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 Staff 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. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 103492, Oxygen, Dissolved	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

LOE ID:

130021

Pollutant:

Oxygen, Dissolved

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Total

Beneficial Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed TRPA Tahoe Ambient Monitoring data for Blackwood Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality standard for Oxygen, Dissolved.

Data Reference:

Water Quality Assessment Data for the 2018 solicitation cycle submitted through CEDEN for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Tahoe Ambient Monitoring program.

SWAMP Data:

SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

For waters with the beneficial uses of COLD, COLD with SPWN, WARM, and WARM with SPWN, the minimum dissolved oxygen concentration shall not be less than that specified in Table 3-6. (Water Quality Control Plan, Lahontan Region)

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s) (634S14243)

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-08-13 and 2014-08-13

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program


DECISION ID	103493	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

Pollutant:	Specific Conductivity
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 Staff Conclusion:	This pollutant is being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under section 3.2 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.2 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. One line of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Zero of one samples exceed the guideline for specific conductivity. 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 CWA 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. Zero of one samples exceed the guideline and this does not exceed 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 Staff 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. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 103493, Specific Conductivity	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

LOE ID:

97351

Pollutant:

Specific Conductivity

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Total

Beneficial Use:

Municipal & Domestic Supply

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Data Reference:

Water Quality Assessment Data for the 2018 solicitation cycle submitted through CEDEN for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Tahoe Ambient Monitoring program.

SWAMP Data:

SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)

Evaluation Guideline:

California Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) apply to ambient waters under the Lahontan Basin Plan's \Chemical Constituents\" objective. The California Secondary MCL for specific conductivity is 900 uS/cm."

Guideline Reference:

California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 15. Domestic Water Quality and Monitoring

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s) (634S14243)

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-08-13 and 2014-08-13

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program


DECISION ID	103495	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

Pollutant:	Turbidity
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 Staff Conclusion:	This pollutant is being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under section 3.2 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.2 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. One lines of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Three of 32 samples exceed the guideline for turbidity. 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 CWA 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 32 samples exceeded the guideline and this does not exceed 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 Staff Decision Recommendation:

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 103495, Turbidity	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

LOE ID:

98841

Pollutant:

Turbidity

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Total

Beneficial Use:

Municipal & Domestic Supply

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed NWIS data for Blackwood Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 3 of 32 samples exceeded the water quality standard for Turbidity.

Data Reference:

Water Quality Assessment Data for the 2018 solicitation cycle submitted through CEDEN for the USGS National Water Information System.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Water designated as MUN shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) or secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) based upon drinking water standards specified in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. The Lahontan Basin Plan also has regionwide turbidity objective for other beneficial uses that states: Waters shall be free of changes in turbidity that cause nuisance or adversely affect the water for beneficial uses. Increases in turbidity shall not exceed natural levels by more than 10%.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)

Evaluation Guideline:

California Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) apply to ambient surface waters under the Lahontan Basin Plan's \Chemical Constituents\" objective. The Secondary MCL for turbidity is 5 NTU. Calculation of a numeric objective for other beneficial uses requires comparison with upstream or other background data which may not be available as part of the data used for water quality assessment. "

Guideline Reference:

California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 15. Domestic Water Quality and Monitoring

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s) (USGS-10336660)

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-10-20 and 2016-09-16

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QAPP not required for federal data

QAPP Information Reference(s):

This is a placeholder reference for data which does not require a QAPP.


DECISION ID	103800	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

Pollutant:	pH
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 Staff Conclusion:	This pollutant is being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under section 3.2 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.2 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 that are based on the same dataset assessed for COLD and MUN. The Basin Plan pH objective requires background data that is unavailable, consequently the pH data cannot be assessed. All the lines of evidence show zero of zero samples exceed the 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 CWA 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. [NUMBER] of [NUMBER] samples exceeded the [OBJECTIVE/GUIDELINE/CRITERIA] and this does not exceed 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 Staff 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. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 103800, pH	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

LOE ID:

129700

Pollutant:

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

0 of 0 samples exceeded the water quality standard for pH. Although pH data does exist for this waterbody, the objective for this pollutant requires background information that is currently unavailable, and therefore an assessment of water quality standards could not be made.

Data Reference:

Water Quality Assessment Data for the 2018 solicitation cycle submitted through CEDEN for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Tahoe Ambient Monitoring program.

SWAMP Data:

SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The Lahontan Basin Plan's regionwide objective for pH states: \In fresh waters with designated beneficial uses of COLD or WARM, changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.5 pH units. For all other waters of the region, the pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.5 units. The Regional Board recognizes that some waters of the Region may have natural pH levels outside of the 6.5 to 8.5 range. Compliance with the pH objective for these waters will be determined on a case-by-case basis.\""

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s) (634S14243)

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-08-13 and 2014-08-13

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 103800, pH	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

LOE ID:

129660

Pollutant:

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Municipal & Domestic Supply

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Data Reference:

Water Quality Assessment Data for the 2018 solicitation cycle submitted through CEDEN for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Tahoe Ambient Monitoring program.

SWAMP Data:

SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s) (634S14243)

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-08-13 and 2014-08-13

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Quality Assurance Program Plan and Standard Operating Procedures for SWAMP program


DECISION ID	69086	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

Pollutant:	Iron
Final Listing Decision:	List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2016)
Revision Status	Revised
Sources:	Source Unknown \| Unknown Nonpoint Source
Expected TMDL Completion Date:	2031
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Staff Conclusion:	Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant was considered for placement on the section 303(d) list in a previous assessment cycle. No new information was reviewed for this current assessment cycle. Therefore, the previous conclusion remains unchanged, and is as follows: 303(d) listing decisions made prior to 2006 were not held in an assessment database. The Regional Boards will update this decision when new data and information become available and are assessed.

Regional Board Staff Decision Recommendation:	This region was not assessed this cycle. All decisions have been carried over from the previous cycle and remain the same.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 69086, Iron	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

LOE ID:

4586

Pollutant:

Iron

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Not Recorded

Beneficial Use:

Municipal & Domestic Supply

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

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	76704	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

Pollutant:	Nitrogen
Final Listing Decision:	List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2016)
Revision Status	Original
Sources:	Source Unknown
TMDL Name:	Lake Tahoe Nutrients/Sediment
TMDL Project Code:	198
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA:	08/16/2011
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Staff Conclusion:	This pollutant was considered for placement on the section 303 (d) list in a previous listing cycle. 303(d) listing decisions made prior to 2006 were not held in an assessment database. Regional Board conclusion: No new data were assessed for this assessment cycle, however; the final listing decision has changed since the Lake Tahoe TMDL, which partly addresses the nitrogen impairment within Blackwood Creek, was adopted after the 2010 Integrated Report. Blackwood Creek is a tributary to Lake Tahoe. On-the-ground efforts required by the Lake Tahoe TMDL will also achieve pollutant load reductions in waters tributary to Lake Tahoe, including Blackwood Creek. There is also a water-body specific Blackwood Creek TMDL that addresses historic channel disturbance and bedded sediment instabilities. The largest source of nitrogen in the Lake Tahoe (and Blackwood Creek) watershed is transportation-related emissions that lead to atmospheric nitrogen deposition. The Lake Tahoe TMDL includes implementation measures to reduce atmospheric nitrogen sources. The TMDL relies on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to lead efforts to improve transportation infrastructure and reduce overall vehicle miles traveled in the Lake Tahoe region to reduce emissions that lead to atmospheric nutrient loading. Public transit and vehicle fleet turnover are expected to further reduce nutrient-laden emissions in the Tahoe basin that will reduce nitrogen loading in the Blackwood Creek watershed. Furthermore, Federal, State, and larger local restoration agencies have well defined multi objective watershed restoration programs to address historic disturbances to Lake Tahoe tributary stream channels. Implementation of USFS-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit's Blackwood Creek Restoration Project between 2008 and 2009 helped restore the functional channel/floodplain relationship within the most degraded section of Blackwood Creek which is expected to reduce sediment and nutrient loading to Blackwood Creek. The California Tahoe Conservancy has also implemented additional work on Blackwood Creek to treat channel incision at the Highway 89 crossing that will further reduce pollutant loading. These projects are all part of the Blackwood Creek TMDL implementation plan that targets restoration to address channel instability and re-establish natural geomorphic function. Finally, the Lake Tahoe TMDL requires the USFS-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit to undertake restoration actions to reduce erosion and treat urban storm water runoff from paved and unpaved roadways, campgrounds, and recreational trails within the Blackwood Creek watershed. Storm water collection, conveyance, and treatment facilities coupled with revegetation of previously disturbed lands and stabilizing areas designated for recreational use are expected to reduce nutrient loading to Blackwood Creek. Pollutant load reductions within Blackwood Creek will be tracked through implementation of detailed performance and compliance measures and assessment and reporting protocols included in the Lake Tahoe TMDL. The TMDL Management System project is establishing activity-based tracking and reporting requirements to assess activities that are expected to reduce pollutant loading from non-urban sources. The Lahontan Water Board and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection will implement a Lake Tahoe TMDL Management System for managing, tracking, integrating and evaluating new information generated from TMDL implementation actions, effectiveness monitoring, research efforts, and other factors such as climate change and wildfires. The Management System is based on an adaptive management framework to (1) link load reduction effectiveness with project implementation monitoring to improve project design and to assess if actual environmental improvement is occurring as expected; (2) establish guidance and operation protocols for how new information will be incorporated into project designs and TMDL program implementation; (3) establish prioritized TMDL research needs to fill data gaps and reduce uncertainties, and (4) implement a process for updating and reporting pollutant load reduction estimates and tracking projects within the TMDL implementation timeline. The Lake Tahoe TMDL requires implementation, effectiveness, and status and trends monitoring. Tributary stream status and trends monitoring will track long-term changes in water quality conditions relative to established water quality standards or goals, and project-specific monitoring will be used to assess the efficacy of various implementation measures. Long-term water quality trends and pollutant load reduction tracking in Blackwood Creek will be captured through the ongoing efforts of the Lake Tahoe Interagency Monitoring Program (LTIMP) whose primary objective is to monitor discharge, nutrient load, and sediment loads from representative streams that flow into Lake Tahoe. Nitrogen and phosphorus loading calculations are performed using the LTIMP flow and nutrient concentration database. LTIMP has monitored Blackwood Creek and other tributaries to Lake Tahoe since 1988; this data is stored on the USGS website at http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/.

Regional Board Staff Decision Recommendation:	This region was not assessed this cycle. All decisions have been carried over from the previous cycle and remain the same.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 76704, Nitrogen	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

LOE ID:

4587

Pollutant:

Nitrogen

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Not Recorded

Beneficial Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

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	80336	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

Pollutant:	Phosphorus
Final Listing Decision:	List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2016)
Revision Status	Original
Sources:	Source Unknown
TMDL Name:	Lake Tahoe Nutrients/Sediment
TMDL Project Code:	198
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA:	08/16/2011
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Staff Conclusion:	This pollutant was considered for placement on the section 303 (d) list in a previous listing cycle. 303(d) listing decisions made prior to 2006 were not held in an assessment database. Regional Board conclusion: No new data were assessed for this assessment cycle, however; the final listing decision has changed since the Lake Tahoe TMDL, which partly addresses the phosphorus impairment within Blackwood Creek, was adopted after the 2010 Integrated Report. Blackwood Creek is a tributary to Lake Tahoe. On-the-ground efforts required by the Lake Tahoe TMDL will also achieve pollutant load reductions in waters tributary to Lake Tahoe, including Blackwood Creek. There is also a water-body specific Blackwood Creek TMDL that addresses historic channel disturbance and bedded sediment instabilities. The primary source of phosphorus in Blackwood Creek is associated with historic watershed disturbance actions that have caused elevated watershed erosion rates and altered natural geomorphic processes in the stream itself. Recreational uses, including informal camping, paved and unpaved access roads, and user-created trails are all additional sources of sediment and associated phosphorus loading to the creek. The Lake Tahoe TMDL requires that the USFS-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit undertake restoration actions to reduce erosion and treat urban storm water runoff from paved and unpaved roadways, campgrounds, and recreational trails within the Blackwood Creek watershed. Storm water collection, conveyance, and treatment facilities coupled with revegetation of previously disturbed lands and stabilizing areas designated for recreational use are expected to reduce sediment and associated phosphorus loading to Blackwood Creek. Maintenance activities, including vegetation management work and restoration of small disturbed sites that are underway, or planned and expected, within the forested uplands of Blackwood Creek will further reduce or avoid increases in fine sediment and associated phosphorus loads). Furthermore, Federal, State, and larger local restoration agencies have well defined multi objective watershed restoration programs to address historic disturbances to Lake Tahoe tributary stream channels. Implementation of USFS-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit's Blackwood Creek Restoration Project between 2008 and 2009 helped restore the functional channel/floodplain relationship within the most degraded section of Blackwood Creek which is expected to reduce sediment and nutrient loading to Blackwood Creek. The California Tahoe Conservancy is also planning to implement additional work on Blackwood Creek to treat channel incision at the Highway 89 crossing that will further reduce pollutant loading. These projects are all part of the Blackwood Creek TMDL implementation plan that targets restoration to address channel instability and re-establish natural geomorphic function. Finally, the Lake Tahoe TMDL requires implementation dust control measures which help reduce pollutant loads of fine sediment. Implementation of these measures helps address the phosphorus loading (associated with these fine sediments from dust sources) that impairs Blackwood Creek. Pollutant load reductions within Blackwood Creek will be tracked through implementation of detailed performance and compliance measures and assessment and reporting protocols included in the Lake Tahoe TMDL. The TMDL Management System project is establishing activity-based tracking and reporting requirements to assess activities that are expected to reduce pollutant loading from non-urban sources. The Lahontan Water Board and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection will implement a Lake Tahoe TMDL Management System for managing, tracking, integrating and evaluating new information generated from TMDL implementation actions, effectiveness monitoring, research efforts, and other factors such as climate change and wildfires. The Management System is based on an adaptive management framework to (1) link load reduction effectiveness with project implementation monitoring to improve project design and to assess if actual environmental improvement is occurring as expected; (2) establish guidance and operation protocols for how new information will be incorporated into project designs and TMDL program implementation; (3) establish prioritized TMDL research needs to fill data gaps and reduce uncertainties, and (4) implement a process for updating and reporting pollutant load reduction estimates and tracking projects within the TMDL implementation timeline. The Lake Tahoe TMDL requires implementation, effectiveness, and status and trends monitoring. Tributary stream status and trends monitoring will track long-term changes in water quality conditions relative to established water quality standards or goals, and project-specific monitoring will be used to assess the efficacy of various implementation measures. Long-term water quality trends and pollutant load reduction tracking in Blackwood Creek will be captured through the ongoing efforts of the Lake Tahoe Interagency Monitoring Program (LTIMP) whose primary objective is to monitor discharge, nutrient load, and sediment loads from representative streams that flow into Lake Tahoe. Nitrogen and phosphorus loading calculations are performed using the LTIMP flow and nutrient concentration database. LTIMP has monitored Blackwood Creek and other tributaries to Lake Tahoe since 1988; this data is stored on the USGS website at http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/.

Regional Board Staff Decision Recommendation:	This region was not assessed this cycle. All decisions have been carried over from the previous cycle and remain the same.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 80336, Phosphorus	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

LOE ID:

4588

Pollutant:

Phosphorus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Not Recorded

Beneficial Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

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	69087	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

Pollutant:	Sedimentation/Siltation
Final Listing Decision:	List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2016)
Revision Status	Original
Sources:	Source Unknown
TMDL Name:	Blackwood Creek sediment
TMDL Project Code:	182
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA:	07/11/2008
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Staff Conclusion:	Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant was considered for placement on the section 303(d) list in a previous assessment cycle. No new information was reviewed for this current assessment cycle. Therefore, the previous conclusion remains unchanged, and is as follows: In October 2007 the Lahontan RWQCB approved a sediment TMDL for Blackwood Creek, with an implementation program recognizing ongoing watershed restoration work by the U.S. Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. The TMDL was adopted under Resolution 6T-2007-0027 and did not involve a Basin Plan amendment. The USEPA approved the TMDL on July 11, 2008.

Regional Board Staff Decision Recommendation:	This region was not assessed this cycle. All decisions have been carried over from the previous cycle and remain the same.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 69087, Sedimentation/Siltation	Region 6
Blackwood Creek

LOE ID:

4589

Pollutant:

Sedimentation/Siltation

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Not Recorded

Beneficial Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

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):