| Water Body Name: | Kirker Creek |
| Water Body ID: | CAR2073104020080624164244 |
| Water Body Type: | River & Stream |
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 16096 |
| LOE ID: | 5340 |
| Pollutant: | Toxicity |
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water |
| Matrix: | Water |
| Fraction: | None |
| Beneficial Use: | Warm Freshwater Habitat |
| Number of Samples: | 5 |
| Number of Exceedances: | 2 |
| Data and Information Type: | Ambient toxicity testing (acute) |
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Five samples were collected by SWAMP in 2003 to evaluate water toxicity. Two samples collected during winter wet season were acutely toxic to Ceridaphnia with one sample causing 100% mortality. Selenastrum growth was significantly lower than the control in four out of five samples. On average all samples displayed statistically significant water column toxicity at least to one of the test organisms. |
| Data Reference: | Water Quality Monitoring and Bioassessment in Four San Francisco Bay Region Watersheds in 2003-2004: Kirker Creek, Mt. Diablo Creek, Petaluma River, and San Mateo Creek. Surface Water Monitoring Program, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, Oakland. CA |
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances that are lethal to or that produce other detrimental responses in aquatic organisms.
There shall be no chronic toxicity in ambient waters. Chronic toxicity is a detrimental biological effect on growth rate, reproduction, fertilization success, larval development, population abundance, community composition, or any other relevant measure of the health of an organism, population, or community. |
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | San Francisco Bay Basin (Region 2) Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) |
| Evaluation Guideline: | Water toxicity was evaluated according to the SWAMP methodology. The U.S.EPA whole effluent toxicity protocol (U.S.EPA 1994) was used to test the effect of water samples on three freshwater test organisms. Statistical evaluation (alpha = 0.05) and a default threshold of 80% of the control value were used to establish whether water exhibited significant toxicity adversely impacting aquatic organisms. |
| Guideline Reference: | Revised approach to toxicity test acceptability criteria using a statistical performance assessment. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 16, No. 6, pp 13221329 |
| Short-Term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. EPA/600/4-91/002. Third Edition. July 1994 | |
| Spatial Representation: | Data were collected at two sampling locations: 1) just below the grazed rangeland in the upper reach of the Creek and 2) at the floodway area draining highly urbanized and industrial parts of the Kirker Creek watershed. |
| Temporal Representation: | Samples were collected during spring, summer and winter wet seasons of 2003. |
| Environmental Conditions: | |
| QAPP Information: | Samples were collected and analyzed using procedures comparable with the SWAMP Quality Assurance Management Plan (SWRCB 2002). |
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | Quality Assurance Management Plan for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program. Sacramento, CA. State Water Resources Control Board. SWAMP. December 2002 (1st version) |
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 7644 |
| LOE ID: | 5410 |
| Pollutant: | Trash |
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Nuisance |
| Matrix: | Not Specified |
| Fraction: | None |
| Beneficial Use: | Wildlife Habitat |
| Number of Samples: | 6 |
| Number of Exceedances: | 5 |
| Data and Information Type: | Occurrence of conditions judged to cause impairment |
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Data results were obtained through application the RTA methodology, developed by the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP). The RTA documents the total number and characteristics of pieces of trash per one hundred feet of stream or shoreline. The trash assessment protocol involves picking up and tallying all of the trash items found within the defined boundaries of a site. The tally results for level of trash (relating to REC2) and threat to aquatic life (relating to WILD) assessment parameters were considered for the listing determination. These results are available for field visits/trash surveys conducted in March and July 2003, and February 2004 according to the Rapid Trash Assessment methodology.
This waterbody had threat to aquatic life parameter scores in the poor category (indicating threat to Wildlife Habitat beneficial uses) at two different locations on two different dates. |
| Data Reference: | A Rapid Trash Assessment Method Applied to Waters of the San Francisco Bay Region:Trash Measurement in Streams |
| Rapid Trash Assessment (RTA) data collected by the SF Bay Region Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program from 2002-2005 and method description | |
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | The Basin Plan prohibits discharge of Rubbish, refuse, bark, sawdust, or other solid wastes into surface waters or at any place where they would contact or where they would be eventually transported to surface waters, including flood plain areas.
The Basin Plan has a narrative objective for floating material, Waters shall not contain floating material, including solids, liquids, foams, and scum, in concentrations that cause nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses. The Basin Plan has a narrative objective for settleable material, Waters shall not contain substances in concentrations that result in the deposition of material that cause nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses. |
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | San Francisco Bay Basin (Region 2) Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) |
| Evaluation Guideline: | If the RTA Parameter 3 (Threat to Aquatic Life) is in the poor condition category (scores 0-5), then WILD is not supported. This level of trash is a large amount (>50 pieces) of transportable, persistent, buoyant litter that is detrimental to aquatic life. The RTA defines poor condition for this parameter as follows, large amount (>50 pieces) of transportable, persistent, buoyant litter such as: hard or soft plastics, balloons, Styrofoam, cigarette butts; toxic items such as batteries, lighters, or spray cans; large clumps of yard waste or dumped leaf litter; or large amount (>50 pieces) of settleable glass or metal. |
| Guideline Reference: | A Rapid Trash Assessment Method Applied to Waters of the San Francisco Bay Region:Trash Measurement in Streams |
| Spatial Representation: | RTA data were collected for this waterbody in two different locations in 2003 and 2004. |
| Temporal Representation: | RTA data were collected for this waterbody in March and July in 2003 and February 2004. |
| Environmental Conditions: | |
| QAPP Information: | For RTA trash assessment data to be considered, the data must have been collected by field operators that have received a 2-hour training in the Rapid Trash Assessment methodology. |
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 7583 |
| LOE ID: | 5341 |
| Pollutant: | Sediment Toxicity |
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Sediment |
| Matrix: | Sediment |
| Fraction: | None |
| Beneficial Use: | Warm Freshwater Habitat |
| Aquatic Life Use: | Unknown |
| Number of Samples: | 1 |
| Number of Exceedances: | 1 |
| Data and Information Type: | Toxicity testing of sediments |
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Data used to evaluate sediment toxicity comprise one sediment sample collected by the SWAMP in 2003. The sample displayed statistically significant toxicity during the 10-day Hyalella azteca test and exhibited 100% mortality. |
| Data Reference: | Water Quality Monitoring and Bioassessment in Four San Francisco Bay Region Watersheds in 2003-2004: Kirker Creek, Mt. Diablo Creek, Petaluma River, and San Mateo Creek. Surface Water Monitoring Program, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, Oakland. CA |
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances that are lethal to or that produce other detrimental responses in aquatic organisms.
There shall be no chronic toxicity in ambient waters. Chronic toxicity is a detrimental biological effect on growth rate, reproduction, fertilization success, larval development, population abundance, community composition, or any other relevant measure of the health of an organism, population, or community. |
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | San Francisco Bay Basin (Region 2) Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) |
| Evaluation Guideline: | Sediment toxicity was evaluated according to the SWAMP methodology. Sample toxicity was determined by comparing mean organism response in samples and in negative controls. Statistical evaluation (alpha = 0.05) and a default threshold of 80% of the control value were used to establish whether the sediment exhibited significant toxicity adversely impacting aquatic organisms. |
| Guideline Reference: | Revised approach to toxicity test acceptability criteria using a statistical performance assessment. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 16, No. 6, pp 13221329 |
| Spatial Representation: | Sample was collected at the lower part of the Kirker Creek watershed. |
| Temporal Representation: | Sample was collected during spring season of 2003. |
| Environmental Conditions: | Data are representative of the lower watershed (floodway) with the monitoring site located below predominantly residential and industrial areas. |
| QAPP Information: | Samples were collected and analyzed using procedures comparable with the SWAMP Quality Assurance Management Plan (SWRCB 2002). |
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | Quality Assurance Management Plan for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program. Sacramento, CA. State Water Resources Control Board. SWAMP. December 2002 (1st version) |
| | |
| LOE ID: | 5345 |
| Pollutant: | Sediment Toxicity |
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Sediment |
| Matrix: | Sediment |
| Fraction: | None |
| Beneficial Use: | Warm Freshwater Habitat |
| Aquatic Life Use: | Unknown |
| Number of Samples: | 3 |
| Number of Exceedances: | 3 |
| Data and Information Type: | Toxicity testing of sediments |
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Data used to evaluate sediment toxicity comprise three sediment samples collected in 2004 to determine pyrethroids toxicity in urban-dominated creeks as described in Amweg et al. (2006). All samples displayed statistically significant toxicity during the 10-day Hyalella azteca test and showed the highest mortality rates among all seven creeks studied in the East Bay area. |
| Data Reference: | Pyrethroid insecticides and sediment toxicity in urban creeks from California and Tennessee. Environmental Science and Technology, 40(5): 1700-1706 |
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances that are lethal to or that produce other detrimental responses in aquatic organisms.
There shall be no chronic toxicity in ambient waters. Chronic toxicity is a detrimental biological effect on growth rate, reproduction, fertilization success, larval development, population abundance, community composition, or any other relevant measure of the health of an organism, population, or community. |
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | San Francisco Bay Basin (Region 2) Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) |
| Evaluation Guideline: | Sample toxicity was determined by comparing mean organism response in samples and in negative controls. Statistical evaluation (alpha = 0.05) and a default threshold of 80% of the control value were used to establish whether the sediment exhibited significant toxicity adversely impacting aquatic organisms. |
| Guideline Reference: | Revised approach to toxicity test acceptability criteria using a statistical performance assessment. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 16, No. 6, pp 13221329 |
| Spatial Representation: | Data were collected at sampling locations at the lower part of Kirker Creek. |
| Temporal Representation: | Samples were collected during spring and summer seasons of 2004. The last sampling event (late October 2004) occurred after the first rain of the season to capture the potential effects of dry season pesticide use. |
| Environmental Conditions: | Data are representative of the lower watershed (floodway) with the monitoring site located below predominantly residential and industrial areas. |
| QAPP Information: | Samples were collected and analyzed using procedures comparable with the SWAMP Quality Assurance Management Plan (SWRCB 2002). |
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | Quality Assurance Management Plan for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program. Sacramento, CA. State Water Resources Control Board. SWAMP. December 2002 (1st version) |
| | |
| LOE ID: | 5348 |
| Pollutant: | Pyrethroids |
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Sediment |
| Matrix: | Sediment |
| Fraction: | None |
| Beneficial Use: | Warm Freshwater Habitat |
| Aquatic Life Use: | Unknown |
| Number of Samples: | 3 |
| Number of Exceedances: | 3 |
| Data and Information Type: | Toxicity testing of sediments |
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Amweg et al. (2006) interpreted results of toxicity testing and sediment pyrethroid concentrations of seven compounds in three samples from Kirker Creek. Total pyrethroid concentrations at Kirker Creek samples were more than 50% higher than the concentrations detected in other six East Bay area creeks that were studied. The pyrethroid concentrations in Kirker Creek samples ranged from 66.1 to 186.2 ng/g. Also the spring sample contained the highest concentration of any single pyrethroid (deltamethrin) measured reaching the value of 57 ng/g.
The Kirker Creek samples had estimated TUs within the range of 5.67-7.2. Based on this analysis the study concluded that there was good evidence for the role of pyrethroids in the observed toxicity. |
| Data Reference: | Pyrethroid insecticides and sediment toxicity in urban creeks from California and Tennessee. Environmental Science and Technology, 40(5): 1700-1706 |
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances that are lethal to or that produce other detrimental responses in aquatic organisms.
There shall be no chronic toxicity in ambient waters. Chronic toxicity is a detrimental biological effect on growth rate, reproduction, fertilization success, larval development, population abundance, community composition, or any other relevant measure of the health of an organism, population, or community. |
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | San Francisco Bay Basin (Region 2) Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) |
| Evaluation Guideline: | Pyrethroid oncentration data and analysis of toxicity units (TU) were used to determine whether pyrethroids could be linked to the observed toxicity to Hyalella azteca. Amweg et al. (2006) determined that samples with less than 1 TU were nontoxic and those with TU greater than 2 were consistently toxic. |
| Guideline Reference: | Pyrethroid insecticides and sediment toxicity in urban creeks from California and Tennessee. Environmental Science and Technology, 40(5): 1700-1706 |
| Spatial Representation: | Data were collected at sampling locations at the lower part of Kirker Creek. |
| Temporal Representation: | Samples were collected during spring and summer seasons of 2004. The last sampling event (late October 2004) occurred after the first rain of the season to capture the potential effects of dry season pesticide use. |
| Environmental Conditions: | Data are representative of the lower watershed (floodway) with the monitoring site located below predominantly residential and industrial areas. |
| QAPP Information: | Pyrethroid Insecticides and Sediment Toxicity in Urban Creeks from California and Tennessee, (Amweg et al., 2006). |
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | Pyrethroid insecticides and sediment toxicity in urban creeks from California and Tennessee. Environmental Science and Technology, 40(5): 1700-1706 |