Draft 2008 California 303(d)/305(b) Integrated Report

Supporting Information

Regional Board 4 - Los Angeles Region

Water Body Name: Alamitos Bay
Water Body ID: CAB4051200020070329124415
Water Body Type: Bay & Harbor
 
DECISION ID
5897
 
Pollutant: Indicator Bacteria
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: 2019
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Weight of Evidence: 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.

Four lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.

LOE 172 was disassociated from this decision because LOE 27594, 27597, 27598, and 27600 encompassed the data from the older LOE in addition to including newer data.

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.

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. 19 of 84 samples at 2nd St. Bridge and Bayshore ave. and 16 of 84 samples at 1st st. and Bayshore ave exceeded the geometric mean bacteria objectives and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.2 of the Listing Policy.
4. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are met.
 
RWQCB Board Decision / Staff 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.
 
SWRCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation:
 
USEPA Decision:
 
 
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 5897
 
LOE ID: 27600
 
Pollutant: Indicator Bacteria
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 84
Number of Exceedances: 10
 
Data and Information Type: Other Agencies/Organizations provided monitoring data
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 10 out of 84 samples exceeded the Basin Plan geometric mean water quality objectives for indicator bacteria in marine water and 18 out of 345 samples exceeded the Basin Plan single sample water quality objectives. Water quality samples were taken and analyzed for indicator bacteria consistent with California Code of Regulations Title 17, sections 7958-7961 and related guidance issued by California Department of Public Health .
Data Reference: The City of Long Beach Health Department Bacteria Monitoring Data for Alamitos Bay.
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan bacteria objectives state that to protect water contact recreation in marine waters individual samples shall not exceed the following limits: the total coliform density shall not exceed 10000/100 ml; the fecal coliform density shall not exceed 400/100 ml; the enterococcus density shall not exceed 104/100 ml; and the total coliform density shall not exceed 1,000/100 ml, if the ratio of fecal-to-total coliform exceeds 0.1 as single samples. The bacteria objectives also establish that the geometric means of individual samples shall not exceed the following limits: the total coliform density shall not exceed 1000/100 ml, the fecal coliform density shall not exceed 200/100 ml, and the enterococcus density shall not exceed 35/100 ml, as a geometric mean. The bacteria objectives are found in Attachment A of Regional Board Resolution No. 2001-018.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
  Basin Plan Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan as of 02/02/2009
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The City of Long Beach conducted sampling in Alamitos Bay at sampling station B-31 located at 56th pl. on the bayside.
Temporal Representation: Grab samples were taken and analyzed on a weekly basis from January 2000 to February 2007.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Data was collected in compliance with the sampling and testing procedures detailed in the California Department of Public Health related guidance.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Draft Guidance for Salt Water Beaches. Last Update: April 10, 2006. Initial Draft: November 1997. Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management, California Department of Health Services
  California Code of Regulations Title 17, sections 7958-7960.
 
LOE ID: 27594
 
Pollutant: Indicator Bacteria
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 84
Number of Exceedances: 12
 
Data and Information Type: Other Agencies/Organizations provided monitoring data
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 12 out of 84 samples exceeded the Basin Plan geometric mean water quality objectives for indicator bacteria in marine water and 31 out of 343 samples exceeded the Basin Plan single sample water quality objectives. Water quality samples were taken and analyzed for indicator bacteria consistent with California Code of Regulations Title 17, sections 7958-7961 and related guidance issued by California Department of Public Health .
Data Reference: The City of Long Beach Health Department Bacteria Monitoring Data for Alamitos Bay.
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan bacteria objectives state that to protect water contact recreation in marine waters individual samples shall not exceed the following limits: the total coliform density shall not exceed 10000/100 ml; the fecal coliform density shall not exceed 400/100 ml; the enterococcus density shall not exceed 104/100 ml; and the total coliform density shall not exceed 1,000/100 ml, if the ratio of fecal-to-total coliform exceeds 0.1 as single samples. The bacteria objectives also establish that the geometric means of individual samples shall not exceed the following limits: the total coliform density shall not exceed 1000/100 ml, the fecal coliform density shall not exceed 200/100 ml, and the enterococcus density shall not exceed 35/100 ml, as a geometric mean. The bacteria objectives are found in Attachment A of Regional Board Resolution No. 2001-018.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
  Basin Plan Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan as of 02/02/2009
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The City of Long Beach conducted sampling in Alamitos Bay at sampling station B-14 located at the shore float.
Temporal Representation: Grab samples were taken and analyzed on a weekly basis from January 2000 to February 2007.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Data was collected in compliance with the sampling and testing procedures detailed in the California Department of Public Health related guidance.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Draft Guidance for Salt Water Beaches. Last Update: April 10, 2006. Initial Draft: November 1997. Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management, California Department of Health Services
  California Code of Regulations Title 17, sections 7958-7960.
 
LOE ID: 27597
 
Pollutant: Indicator Bacteria
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 84
Number of Exceedances: 16
 
Data and Information Type: Other Agencies/Organizations provided monitoring data
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 16 out of 84 samples exceeded the Basin Plan geometric mean water quality objectives for indicator bacteria in marine water and 42 out of 350 samples exceeded the Basin Plan single single sample water quality objectives. Water quality samples were taken and analyzed for indicator bacteria consistent with California Code of Regulations Title 17, sections 7958-7961 and related guidance issued by California Department of Public Health .
Data Reference: The City of Long Beach Health Department Bacteria Monitoring Data for Alamitos Bay.
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan bacteria objectives state that to protect water contact recreation in marine waters individual samples shall not exceed the following limits: the total coliform density shall not exceed 10000/100 ml; the fecal coliform density shall not exceed 400/100 ml; the enterococcus density shall not exceed 104/100 ml; and the total coliform density shall not exceed 1,000/100 ml, if the ratio of fecal-to-total coliform exceeds 0.1 as single samples. The bacteria objectives also establish that the geometric means of individual samples shall not exceed the following limits: the total coliform density shall not exceed 1000/100 ml, the fecal coliform density shall not exceed 200/100 ml, and the enterococcus density shall not exceed 35/100 ml, as a geometric mean. The bacteria objectives are found in Attachment A of Regional Board Resolution No. 2001-018.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
  Basin Plan Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan as of 02/02/2009
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The City of Long Beach conducted sampling in Alamitos Bay at sampling station B-29 located near the intersection of 1st st. and Bayshore ave.
Temporal Representation: Grab samples were taken and analyzed on a weekly basis from January 2000 to February 2007.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Data was collected in compliance with the sampling and testing procedures detailed in the California Department of Public Health related guidance.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Draft Guidance for Salt Water Beaches. Last Update: April 10, 2006. Initial Draft: November 1997. Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management, California Department of Health Services
  California Code of Regulations Title 17, sections 7958-7960.
 
LOE ID: 27598
 
Pollutant: Indicator Bacteria
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 84
Number of Exceedances: 19
 
Data and Information Type: Other Agencies/Organizations provided monitoring data
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 19 out of 84 samples exceeded the Basin Plan geometric mean water quality objectives for indicator bacteria in marine water and 54 out of 352 samples exceeded the Basin Plan single sample water quality objectives. Water quality samples were taken and analyzed for indicator bacteria consistent with California Code of Regulations Title 17, sections 7958-7961 and related guidance issued by California Department of Public Health .
Data Reference: The City of Long Beach Health Department Bacteria Monitoring Data for Alamitos Bay.
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan bacteria objectives state that to protect water contact recreation in marine waters individual samples shall not exceed the following limits: the total coliform density shall not exceed 10000/100 ml; the fecal coliform density shall not exceed 400/100 ml; the enterococcus density shall not exceed 104/100 ml; and the total coliform density shall not exceed 1,000/100 ml, if the ratio of fecal-to-total coliform exceeds 0.1 as single samples. The bacteria objectives also establish that the geometric means of individual samples shall not exceed the following limits: the total coliform density shall not exceed 1000/100 ml, the fecal coliform density shall not exceed 200/100 ml, and the enterococcus density shall not exceed 35/100 ml, as a geometric mean. The bacteria objectives are found in Attachment A of Regional Board Resolution No. 2001-018.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
  Basin Plan Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan as of 02/02/2009
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The City of Long Beach conducted sampling in Alamitos Bay at sampling station B-67 located near the intersection of 2nd St. Bridge and Bayshore ave.
Temporal Representation: Grab samples were taken and analyzed on a weekly basis from January 2000 to February 2007.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Data was collected in compliance with the sampling and testing procedures detailed in the California Department of Public Health related guidance.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Draft Guidance for Salt Water Beaches. Last Update: April 10, 2006. Initial Draft: November 1997. Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management, California Department of Health Services
  California Code of Regulations Title 17, sections 7958-7960.