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

Supporting Information

Regional Board 2 - San Francisco Bay Region

Water Body Name: Glen Echo Creek
Water Body ID: CAR2042004020080817194904
Water Body Type: River & Stream
 
DECISION ID
9454
 
Pollutant: Copper | Lead | Nickel | Zinc
Final Listing Decision: Decision in Progress
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Original
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Weight of Evidence: This pollutant is being considered for listing under section 3.1 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.1 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

A single line of evidence is available for each pollutant in the administrative record. Concentrations of dissolved zinc, copper, lead and nickel do not exceed water quality standards.

Based on the limited available data for this waterbody, the weight of evidence indicates that there is insufficient 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. Concentrations of dissolved zinc, copper, lead and nickel do not exceed water quality standards.

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, Water Board staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because there is insufficient information to determine that the standards are not met.
 
SWRCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation:
 
USEPA Decision:
 
 
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 9454
 
LOE ID: 8966
 
Pollutant: Copper | Lead | Nickel | Zinc
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Asses Water Quality: The Glen Echo Creek watershed was monitored as part of SWAMP assessment. None of the three samples exceeded the water quality objectives for copper, lead, nickel and zinc.
Data Reference: Data collected by the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Years 4 and 5 Assessment
 
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.
Table 3-4 in the Basin Plan (2007) lists freshwater water quality objectives for toxic pollutants: copper - 9.0 ug/L; lead - 2.5 ug/L; nickel - 52 ug/L and zinc - 120 ug/L.
Objective/Criterion Reference: San Francisco Bay Basin (Region 2) Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected at a sampling location at the lower part of Glen Echo Creek upstream from the confluence with Lake Merritt.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected during spring, dry and wet season of 2004-2005.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: All samples were collected and analyzed using procedures comparable with the SWAMP Quality Assurance Management Plan (SWRCB, 2002).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
DECISION ID
9453
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
Final Listing Decision: Decision in Progress
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Original
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Weight of Evidence: This pollutant is being considered for listing under sections 3.1 and 3.6 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.6 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

Multiple lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess toxicity in Glen Echo Creek.

Based on the readily available data for this waterbody, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification available against 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 concerning current conditions and supporting the listing decision satisfy the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.

2. The data used satisfy the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.

3. Amphipod toxicity has not been observed in the sample analyzed but concentrations of chromium, copper, lead and zinc in one sediment sample exceed sediment quality guidelines.

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, Water Board staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because there is insufficient information to confirm toxicity and to determine that the standards are not met.
 
SWRCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation:
 
USEPA Decision:
 
 
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 9453
 
LOE ID: 8965
 
Pollutant: Zinc (sediment)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Asses Water Quality: Zinc concentration in sediment sample collected in spring 2005 was 241 mg/kg and exceeded the sediment quality guideline.
Data Reference: Data collected by the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Years 4 and 5 Assessment
 
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.
Objective/Criterion Reference: San Francisco Bay Basin (Region 2) Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Sediment Quality Guidelines (MacDonald et al., 2000): TEC (threshold effect concentration) for zinc - 121 mg/kg
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of consensus-based sediment quality guidelines for freshwater ecosystems. Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 39: 20-31
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected at a sampling location at the lower part of Glen Echo Creek upstream from the confluence with Lake Merritt.
Temporal Representation: Sample was collected in spring 2005.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: All samples were collected and analyzed using procedures comparable with the SWAMP Quality Assurance Management Plan (SWRCB, 2002).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 8960
 
Pollutant: Sediment Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Asses Water Quality: Data used to evaluate sediment toxicity comprise one sediment sample collected by the SWAMP in 2005. The sample did not exhibit amphipod toxicity.
Data Reference: Data collected by the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Years 4 and 5 Assessment
 
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 data were evaluated according to the SWAMP methodology. Sample toxicity was determined by comparing mean organism response in samples and in negative controls. Statistical evaluation 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 1322?1329
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected at a sampling location at the lower part of Glen Echo Creek upstream from the confluence with Lake Merritt.
Temporal Representation: Sample was collected in spring 2005.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: All samples were collected and analyzed using procedures comparable with the SWAMP Quality Assurance Management Plan (SWRCB, 2002).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 8962
 
Pollutant: Chromium (sediment)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Asses Water Quality: Chromium concentration in sediment sample collected in spring 2005 was 69.6 mg/kg and exceeded the sediment quality guideline.
Data Reference: Data collected by the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Years 4 and 5 Assessment
 
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.
Objective/Criterion Reference: San Francisco Bay Basin (Region 2) Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Sediment Quality Guidelines (MacDonald et al., 2000): TEC (threshold effect concentration) for chromium - 43.4 mg/kg
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of consensus-based sediment quality guidelines for freshwater ecosystems. Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 39: 20-31
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected at a sampling location at the lower part of Glen Echo Creek upstream from the confluence with Lake Merritt.
Temporal Representation: Sample was collected in spring 2005.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: All samples were collected and analyzed using procedures comparable with the SWAMP Quality Assurance Management Plan (SWRCB, 2002).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 8963
 
Pollutant: Copper (sediment)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Asses Water Quality: Copper concentration in sediment sample collected in spring 2005 was 49.4 mg/kg and exceeded the sediment quality guideline.
Data Reference: Data collected by the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Years 4 and 5 Assessment
 
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.
Objective/Criterion Reference: San Francisco Bay Basin (Region 2) Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Sediment Quality Guidelines (MacDonald et al., 2000): TEC (threshold effect concentration) for copper - 31.6 mg/kg
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of consensus-based sediment quality guidelines for freshwater ecosystems. Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 39: 20-31
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected at a sampling location at the lower part of Glen Echo Creek upstream from the confluence with Lake Merritt.
Temporal Representation: Sample was collected in spring 2005.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: All samples were collected and analyzed using procedures comparable with the SWAMP Quality Assurance Management Plan (SWRCB, 2002).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 8964
 
Pollutant: Lead (sediment)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Asses Water Quality: Lead concentration in sediment sample collected in spring 2005 was 94.1 mg/kg and exceeded the sediment quality guideline.
Data Reference: Data collected by the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Years 4 and 5 Assessment
 
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.
Objective/Criterion Reference: San Francisco Bay Basin (Region 2) Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Sediment Quality Guidelines (MacDonald et al., 2000): TEC (threshold effect concentration) for lead - 35.8 mg/kg
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of consensus-based sediment quality guidelines for freshwater ecosystems. Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 39: 20-31
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected at a sampling location at the lower part of Glen Echo Creek upstream from the confluence with Lake Merritt.
Temporal Representation: Sample was collected in spring 2005.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: All samples were collected and analyzed using procedures comparable with the SWAMP Quality Assurance Management Plan (SWRCB, 2002).
QAPP Information Reference(s):