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

Supporting Information

Regional Board 4 - Los Angeles Region

Water Body Name: Santa Clara River Estuary
Water Body ID: CAE4031100020000229171211
Water Body Type: Estuary
 
DECISION ID
8830
 
Pollutant: Arsenic
Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Sources: Source Unknown
Expected TMDL Completion Date: 2021
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Weight of Evidence: This pollutant is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under section 3.1 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.1 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.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification for 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. Nine of 63 samples exceeded the California Toxics Rule Saltwater Criterion Maximum Concentration for arsenic and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.1 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 met.
 
RWQCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are exceeded and a pollutant contributes to or causes the problem.
 
SWRCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation:
 
USEPA Decision:
 
 
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 8830
 
LOE ID: 7549
 
Pollutant: Arsenic
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Estuarine Habitat
Aquatic Life Use: Fish Migration | Fish Spawning | Preservation of Rare & Endangered Species | Wildlife Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 63
Number of Exceedances: 9
 
Data and Information Type: Fixed station physical/chemical (conventional plus toxic pollutants)
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Nine of 63 samples exceeded the California Toxics Rule saltwater Criterion Maxmium Concentration of 69 ug/L for Arsenic. Semi-annual ambient water quality samples for Arsenic were taken in compliance with the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility NDPES permit monitoring requirements.
Data Reference: NPDES receiving water monitoring reports for the City of San Buenaventura Ventura Water Reclamation Facility (NPDES No. CA0053651).
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The California Toxics Rule lists a Criterion Maximum Concentrion of 69 ug/L for Arsenic to protect aquatic life in saltwater.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The listed monitoring stations for this water body pollutant combination include: R1 located at the south shoreline, R3 located at the west shoreline, and L5 located at the northwest shoreline.
Temporal Representation: Grab samples were taken and analyzed on semi-annual basis from February 2002 to February 2007
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Data was collected in compliance with the sampling and monitoring procedures detailed in NPDES Permit No. CA0053651 Monitoring and Reporting Program.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Ventura Water Reclamation Facility Monitoring and reporting program for NPDES No. CA0053651
 
DECISION ID
8831
 
Pollutant: Nitrogen, Nitrate
Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Sources: Source Unknown
Expected TMDL Completion Date: 2021
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Weight of Evidence: This pollutant is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under section 3.1 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.1 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.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification for 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. 56 of 288 samples exceeded the Los Angeles Region Basin Plan water quality objects for nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.1 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 met.
 
RWQCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are exceeded and a pollutant contributes to or causes the problem.
 
SWRCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation:
 
USEPA Decision:
 
 
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 8831
 
LOE ID: 7819
 
Pollutant: Nitrogen, Nitrate
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Estuarine Habitat
Aquatic Life Use: Fish Migration | Fish Spawning | Preservation of Rare & Endangered Species | Wildlife Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 288
Number of Exceedances: 56
 
Data and Information Type: Fixed station physical/chemical (conventional plus toxic pollutants)
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 56 of 288 samples exceed Basin Plan standards. Monthly ambient water quality samples for nitrate were taken in compliance with the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility NDPES permit monitoring requirements.
Data Reference: NPDES receiving water monitoring reports for the City of San Buenaventura Ventura Water Reclamation Facility (NPDES No. CA0053651).
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan states that "...waters shall not exceed 10 mg/L as nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N)..."
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 listed monitoring stations for this water body pollutant combination include: R1 located at the south shoreline, R2 located at South Shoreline, R3 located at the west shoreline, R4 located at West shoreline near the point of surface discharge or tidal inflow/outflow at shoreline, and L5 located at the northwest shoreline.
Temporal Representation: Grab samples were taken and analyzed on monthly basis from January 2002 to February 2007
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Data was collected in compliance with the sampling and monitoring procedures detailed in NPDES Permit No. CA0053651 Monitoring and Reporting Program.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Ventura Water Reclamation Facility Monitoring and reporting program for NPDES No. CA0053651
 
DECISION ID
8872
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
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 placement on the section 303(d) list under section 3.6 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.6 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.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification for 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 6.1.3 of the
2. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
3. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
4. 67 of 150 samples exhibited significant toxicity to the Fathead Minnow, Ceriodaphnia, and Selanastrum and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.1 of the Listing Policy.
5. Pursuant to section 3.11 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 be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are exceeded and a pollutant contributes to or causes the problem.
 
SWRCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation:
 
USEPA Decision:
 
 
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 8872
 
LOE ID: 7834
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Estuarine Habitat
Aquatic Life Use: Fish Migration | Fish Spawning | Preservation of Rare & Endangered Species | Wildlife Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 150
Number of Exceedances: 67
 
Data and Information Type: Fixed station physical/chemical (conventional plus toxic pollutants)
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: 67 of 150 samples exhibited significant toxicity to the Fathead Minnow, Ceriodaphnia, and Selanastrum. Semi-annual ambient water quality samples for toxicity were taken in compliance with the Ventura Water Reclamation Facility NDPES permit monitoring requirements.
Data Reference: NPDES receiving water monitoring reports for the City of San Buenaventura Ventura Water Reclamation Facility (NPDES No. CA0053651).
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan states at there shall be no acute or chronic toxicity in ambient waters outside mixing zones.
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: Toxicity was defined as a reduction of the NOEC below 100% and was considered significant if the effect on the sample exposure was greater than 25%. Chronic toxicity is further expressed as toxic units (TUc), where TUc = 100/NOEC
The No Observable Effect Concentration (NOEC) is expressed as the maximum percent of receiving water that causes no observable effect on a test organism, as determined by the result of a critical life stage toxicity test. The NOEC is defined, in (USEPA, 2002) as the The lowest concentration of toxicant to which organisms are exposed in a life-cycle or partial life-cycle (short-term) test, which causes adverse effects on the test organisms (i.e., where the values for the observed responses are statistically significantly different from the controls).
Guideline Reference: U.S. EPA, 2002. Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition, October 2002.
  FINAL Calleguas Creek Watershed Toxicity, Chlorpyrifos and Diazinon TMDL Technical Report. 2005. Submitted to Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. Prepared by Larry Walker Associates on behalf of the Calleguas Creek Watershed Management Plan. June 21, 2005.
 
Spatial Representation: The listed monitoring stations for this water body pollutant combination include: R1 located at the south shoreline, R3 located at the west shoreline, and L5 located at the northwest shoreline.
Temporal Representation: Grab samples were taken and analyzed on semi-annual basis from January 2002 to February 2007.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Data was collected in compliance with the sampling and monitoring procedures detailed in NPDES Permit No. CA0053651 Monitoring and Reporting Program.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Ventura Water Reclamation Facility Monitoring and reporting program for NPDES No. CA0053651