| Water Body Name: | Beach Lake (aka Black Crown Lake, in Delta Waterways, eastern portion) |
| Water Body ID: | CAL5100000020020730132558 |
| Water Body Type: | Lake & Reservoir |
DECISION ID |
72255 |
Region 5 |
Beach Lake (aka Black Crown Lake, in Delta Waterways, eastern portion) |
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| Pollutant: | Mercury |
| Final Listing Decision: | Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list) |
| Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2016) |
| Revision Status | Original |
| Reason for Delisting: | Flaws in original listing |
| Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: | Pollutant |
| Regional Board Conclusion: | Black Crown Lake was added to the CWA section 303(d) List in 2010 based on the concentrations of mercury in fish tissue and an identified impairment of the COMM beneficial use.
Black Crown Lake is remote, fenced, and monitored, and is not used for commercial or recreational fishing. The Bufferlands site is surrounded peripherally with a combination of chain link, barbed wire, and wire-field fencing with locked gates to prevent and deter access. Breaks in the fence exist where land features such as Interstate 5 and levees exist as physical barriers that block access. A tree screen also exists to the west of the lake. "No Trespassing" signage through is placed around the lake at 300-foot other intervals. All other access routes for vehicle entry are gated and locked. COMM is not a designated beneficial use for Black Crown Lake in the Water Quality Control Plan for the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins nor is COMM an existing or a potential beneficial use of the lake. The original basis for adding Black Crown Lake to the CWA section 303(d) List in 2010 was flawed as COMM is not an appropriate beneficial use for assessment. |
| Regional Board Decision Recommendation: | After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should be removed from the section 303(d) list because COMM is not a designated Beneficial Use for this water body nor is COMM an existing or a potential beneficial use of the water body. |
| State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation: | |
| State Board Decision Recommendation: | After review of this Regional Board decision, SWRCB staff recommend the decision be approved by the State Board. |
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| LOE ID: | 95414 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Mercury | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Tissue | ||||
| Matrix: | Tissue | ||||
| Fraction: | Total | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 5 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 3 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Five Largemouth Bass samples were collected for tissue analysis at one location from Black Crown Lake in the Upper Beach Lake Wildlife Area. Three of the 5 samples exceeded the USEPA fish tissue criterion for human health. Four of the 5 samples were analyzed as whole fish samples, which were translated to a filet concentration by multiplying the whole body concentration by 1.62 (Peterson et al, 2007). The wet weight mercury concentrations of the 5 samples ranged from 0.06 ppm to 0.44 ppm, with an average of 0.26 ppm. All of the samples were collected from fish with total lengths greater than 150 mm, which represent fish most commonly caught and consumed by sport fishers and their families. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Beach Lake Monitoring Report. Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD). January 1998 | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life. The objective applies regardless of whether the toxicity is caused by a single substance or the interactive effect of multiple substances. | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Water Quality Control Plan for the California Regional Water Quality Control Board Central Valley Region, Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins. 4th ed | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | The U.S. EPA 304(a)-recommended water quality criterion for concentrations of methylmercury in fish tissue of trophic level 4 fish (150 - 500 mm; fillet wet weight) is 0.20 mg/Kg. | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | Water Quality Criterion for the Protection of Human Health: Methylmercury. Final. United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Science and Technology Office of Water. EPA-823-R-01-001. January 2001 | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | Samples were collected at one location from Black Crown Lake in the Upper Beach Lake Wildlife Area. | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Fish samples were collected during one sampling event from 12/11/1997 to 12/12/1997. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | |||||
| QAPP Information: | Data quality: unknown. | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |||||
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| LOE ID: | 95658 | ||||
| Pollutant: | None | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Testimonial Evidence | ||||
| Matrix: | -N/A | ||||
| Fraction: | None | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Wildlife Habitat | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 0 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 0 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | Not Specified | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Black Crown Lake is a remote water body that lies on private property owned by the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (Regional San). The lake is located within a 2150-acre expanse of open space surrounding the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (SRWTP) called the Bufferlands. This space is used to minimize the potential for odor and other nuisances that could impact the surrounding neighborhoods.
The COMM beneficial use is described in the Water Quality Control Plan for the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins as "Commercial and Sport Fishing (COMM) - Uses of water for commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or other organisms including, but not limited to, uses involving organisms intended for human consumption or bait purposes." COMM is not a designated beneficial use for Black Crown Lake in the Basin Plan. Black Crown Lake is remote, fenced, and monitored, and is not used for commercial or recreational fishing as described in the beneficial use definition. The Bufferlands area, including Black Crown Lake, is actively monitored, maintained, and protected by Regional San and the Sacramento County Park Rangers, and public access is restricted. The Bufferlands area is surrounded peripherally with a combination of chain link, barbed wire, and wire-field fencing with locked gates to prevent and deter access. Breaks in the fence exist where land features such as Interstate 5 and levees exist as physical barriers that block access. A tree screen also exists to the west of the lake. "No Trespassing" signage through is placed around the lake at 300-foot other intervals. All other access routes for vehicle entry are gated and locked. Consequently, COMM is not an existing or potential beneficial use of Black Crown Lake. |
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| Data Reference: | MEMO - Black Crown Lake - Removal of COMM Beneficial Use (Statewide Mercury Program for Reservoirs) | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | |||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | |||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | |||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | |||||
| Guideline Reference: | |||||
| Spatial Representation: | |||||
| Temporal Representation: | |||||
| Environmental Conditions: | |||||
| QAPP Information: | N/A | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |||||
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| LOE ID: | 22583 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Mercury | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Tissue | ||||
| Matrix: | Tissue | ||||
| Fraction: | Total | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 5 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 4 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Fish were sampled for tissue analysis at one location from Black Crown Lake in the Upper Beach Lake Wildlife Area. A total of 4 out of 5 samples exceeded the USEPA fish tissue criterion for human health. The average wet weight mercury concentration in fish tissue was 0.47 ppm for all 5 samples collected. The number of fish collected per sample, the measured mercury concentrations in fish tissue, and the number of exceedances are, by species: Carp- one 6-fish composite sample, 0.15 ppm, no exceedances; Largemouth Bass- 4 composite samples, 0.48-0.65 ppm (average 0.56 ppm), 4 exceedances. All 5 composite samples were collected from fish with average total lengths greater than 150 mm, which represent fish most commonly caught and consumed by sport fishers and their families. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Toxic Substances Monitoring Program: Freshwater Bioaccumulation Monitoring: TSM Program Data 1978-2000. State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life. The objective applies regardless of whether the toxicity is caused by a single substance or the interactive effect of multiple substances. | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Water Quality Control Plan for the California Regional Water Quality Control Board Central Valley Region, Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins. 4th ed | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | The USEPA Fish Tissue Residue Criterion for methylmercury in fish is 0.3 mg/kg (0.3 ppm) for the protection of human health. This is the concentration in fish tissue that should not be exceeded based on a total fish and shellfish consumption-weighted rate of 0.0175 kg fish/day. (USEPA, 2001). | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | Water Quality Criterion for the Protection of Human Health: Methylmercury. Final. United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Science and Technology Office of Water. EPA-823-R-01-001. January 2001 | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | Fish were sampled for tissue analysis at one location from Black Crown Lake in the Upper Beach Lake Wildlife Area. | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Fish samples were collected during three sampling events from 5/20/1985 to 8/7/1987. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | |||||
| QAPP Information: | Data quality: Good. Quality Control for the fish sampling, tissue preparation, mercury analysis, and QA sample analysis portions of this study was conducted as described in the Toxic Substance Monitoring Reports for 1985, 1986 and 1987 (Rasmussen et al., 1987; Rasmussen, 1988; Rasmussen and Starrett, 1989). | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |||||
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| LOE ID: | 95416 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Mercury | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Tissue | ||||
| Matrix: | Tissue | ||||
| Fraction: | Total | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 5 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 4 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Fish were sampled for tissue analysis at one location from Black Crown Lake in the Upper Beach Lake Wildlife Area. A total of 4 out of 5 samples exceeded the USEPA fish tissue criterion for human health. The average wet weight mercury concentration in fish tissue was 0.47 ppm for all 5 samples collected. The number of fish collected per sample, the measured mercury concentrations in fish tissue, and the number of exceedances are, by species: Carp- one 6-fish composite sample, 0.15 ppm, no exceedances; Largemouth Bass- 4 composite samples, 0.48-0.65 ppm (average 0.56 ppm), 4 exceedances. All 5 composite samples were collected from fish with average total lengths greater than 150 mm, which represent fish most commonly caught and consumed by sport fishers and their families. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Toxic Substances Monitoring Program: Freshwater Bioaccumulation Monitoring: TSM Program Data 1978-2000. State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life. The objective applies regardless of whether the toxicity is caused by a single substance or the interactive effect of multiple substances. | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Water Quality Control Plan for the California Regional Water Quality Control Board Central Valley Region, Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins. 4th ed | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | The U.S. EPA 304(a)-recommended water quality criterion for concentrations of methylmercury in fish tissue of trophic level 4 fish (150 - 500 mm; fillet wet weight) is 0.20 mg/Kg. | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | Water Quality Criterion for the Protection of Human Health: Methylmercury. Final. United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Science and Technology Office of Water. EPA-823-R-01-001. January 2001 | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | Fish were sampled for tissue analysis at one location from Black Crown Lake in the Upper Beach Lake Wildlife Area. | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Fish samples were collected during three sampling events from 5/20/1985 to 8/7/1987. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | |||||
| QAPP Information: | Data quality: Good. Quality Control for the fish sampling, tissue preparation, mercury analysis, and QA sample analysis portions of this study was conducted as described in the Toxic Substance Monitoring Reports for 1985, 1986 and 1987 (Rasmussen et al., 1987; Rasmussen, 1988; Rasmussen and Starrett, 1989). | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |||||
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| LOE ID: | 22589 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Mercury | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Tissue | ||||
| Matrix: | Tissue | ||||
| Fraction: | Total | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 5 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 2 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Five Largemouth Bass samples were collected for tissue analysis at one location from Black Crown Lake in the Upper Beach Lake Wildlife Area. Two of the 5 samples exceeded the USEPA fish tissue criterion for human health. Four of the 5 samples were analyzed as whole fish samples, which were translated to a filet concentration by multiplying the whole body concentration by 1.62 (Peterson et al, 2007). The wet weight mercury concentrations of the 5 samples ranged from 0.06 ppm to 0.44 ppm, with an average of 0.26 ppm. All of the samples were collected from fish with total lengths greater than 150 mm, which represent fish most commonly caught and consumed by sport fishers and their families. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Beach Lake Monitoring Report. Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD). January 1998 | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life. The objective applies regardless of whether the toxicity is caused by a single substance or the interactive effect of multiple substances. | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Water Quality Control Plan for the California Regional Water Quality Control Board Central Valley Region, Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins. 4th ed | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | The USEPA Fish Tissue Residue Criterion for methylmercury in fish is 0.3 mg/kg (0.3 ppm) for the protection of human health. This is the concentration in fish tissue that should not be exceeded based on a total fish and shellfish consumption-weighted rate of 0.0175 kg fish/day. (USEPA, 2001). | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | Water Quality Criterion for the Protection of Human Health: Methylmercury. Final. United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Science and Technology Office of Water. EPA-823-R-01-001. January 2001 | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | Samples were collected at one location from Black Crown Lake in the Upper Beach Lake Wildlife Area. | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Fish samples were collected during one sampling event from 12/11/1997 to 12/12/1997. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | |||||
| QAPP Information: | Data quality: unknown. | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |||||