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

Supporting Information

Regional Board 9 - San Diego Region

Water Body Name: Soledad Canyon
Water Body ID: CAR9061000020011026104908
Water Body Type: River & Stream
 
DECISION ID
17006
 
Pollutant: Selenium
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 | Unknown Nonpoint Source | Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers
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. Two of the three samples exceed the water quality objective for selenium.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification in favor of 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. Three of the four samples exceed the water quality objective for selenium 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 not 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 17006
 
LOE ID: 7578
 
Pollutant: Selenium
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 2
 
Data and Information Type: Fixed station physical/chemical (conventional plus toxic pollutants)
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Three water samples were collected at Soledad Canyon Creek station 906LPSOL2 in March, April, June, and September 2002. Two samples showed excessive selenium concentration according to results in the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program Report, 2007.
Data Reference: Monitoring data for Region 9
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: CTR Freshwater Chronic (CCC) 5 ug/L (U.S. EPA, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin (9).
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference: Water Quality Standards; Establishment of Numeric Criteria for Priority Toxic Pollutants for the State of California; Rule. 40 CFR Part 131. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, Water Division, San Francisco, CA.
 
Spatial Representation: Water samples were collected at Soledad Canyon Creek station 906LPSOL2; (Latitude 32.8911675, Longitude -117.2126625).
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected on March, April, June, and September 2002.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Quality control for the chemical analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program.
QAPP Information Reference(s): 2002. Quality Assurance Management Plan for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program. California Department of Fish and Game, Monterey, CA.
 
DECISION ID
5523
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
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)(2006)
Revision Status Original
Sources: Unknown Nonpoint Source | Unknown Point Source
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.

Two lines of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Five of eight of samples exceed the water quality objective for sediment toxicity.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification in favor of 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. Five of eight samples exceeded the water quality objective 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 not 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 5523
 
LOE ID: 3322
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 4
Number of Exceedances: 2
 
Data and Information Type: Chemical monitoring of sediments
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Two out of four samples displayed statistically significant toxicity in the survival endpoint when compared to the negative control based on a statistical test with alpha of less than 5%. One of the four samples (collected April 24, 2002) also displayed statistically significant toxicity in the survival endpoint compared to the negative control, but this data point is not included in the total toxic samples as it had a data qualifier. All samples were tested using the 10-day Hyallela azteca test (SWAMP, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life. Compliance with this objective will be determined by use of indicator organisms, analyses of species diversity, population density, growth anomalies, bioassays of appropriate duration or other appropriate methods as specified by the Regional Board (Region 9 Basin Plan, pages 3-15 to 3-16; September 8, 1994).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: All samples were collected from one station, Soledad Canyon Creek 2.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected from March 2002 through September 2002. Toxicity in the survival endpoint was detected in samples collected on March 13, 2002 and September 18, 2002.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWAMP QAPP.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 21390
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 4
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Ambient toxicity testing (chronic)
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Four samples were collected at Soledad Canyon Creek station 906LPSOL2 from March 2002 to September 2002, they showed significant toxicity levels (SL) in the following tests: Selenastrum algae growth test - three of the four samples. Ceriodaphnia dubia survival/reproductive test - one of the four samples. Results were from California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program Report, 2007.
Data Reference: Monitoring data for Region 9
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: From the Basin Plan, all waters shall be free of toxic substances that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin (9).
 
Evaluation Guideline: According to SWAMP, waters are considered toxic when samples show significant toxicity levels (SWAMP code ‘SL’) when compared to a negative control. Significant toxicity is determined when statistical tests result in an alpha of less than 5% and percent control values less than the evaluation threshold.
Guideline Reference: Monitoring data for Region 9
 
Spatial Representation: Samples were collected at Soledad Canyon Creek station 906LPSOL2; (Latitude 32.89116, Longitude -117.21268).
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected on March, April, June, and September 2002.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Quality control for the chemical analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program.
QAPP Information Reference(s):