| Water Body Name: | Bull Meadow Creek (Tuolumne County) |
| Water Body ID: | CAR5364003220101020160009 |
| Water Body Type: | River & Stream |
DECISION ID |
127123 |
Region 5 |
Bull Meadow Creek (Tuolumne County) |
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| Pollutant: | Indicator Bacteria |
| Final Listing Decision: | Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list) |
| Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2018) |
| Revision Status | Revised |
| Sources: | A Source Unknown |
| Expected TMDL Completion Date: | 2035 |
| Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: | Pollutant |
| Regional Board Conclusion: | The State Water Board’s Water Quality Control Plan for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California (the “ISWEBE Plan”) contains two bacteria water quality objectives applicable to the REC-1 beneficial use, which were adopted on August 7, 2018. Because the salinity level of this waterbody is equal to or less than 1 part per thousand 95 percent or more of the time, the E. coli bacteria objective applies Therefore, this waterbody is being considered for removal from the CWA section 303(d) List under section 4.3 of the Listing Policy, as applicable, using the E. Coli objective. In accordance with section 6.1.5.3 of the Listing Policy, data should be representative of the critical timing that the pollutant is expected to impact the waterbody. Indicator bacteria (total coliform, fecal coliform, E. coli, enterococci) populations may fluctuate substantially on a daily, seasonal, or yearly basis. Lacking constant inputs, they do not persist in the environment for a long period and effects are of relatively short duration. As a result, the historic levels of indicator bacteria in the waterbody may be a poor indicator of current risks to human health, particularly when more recent data are available to sufficiently assess the water quality standard. Additionally, water quality conditions in waterbodies may change as a result of management actions that have been implemented to address bacteria. Unrepresentative data may result in incorrectly placing or not placing a water body segment on the list, which could result in the unnecessary expenditure of public resources or missing a human health problem. Six lines of evidence are available based on the new E. coli objective. There are an insufficient number of samples available to apply the binomial distribution table in section 4.2 of the Listing Policy to determine beneficial use support. No fecal coliform data are used in this assessment because the fecal coliform water quality objective was superseded and is no longer used as the basis of any 303(d) List decision for water contact recreation. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is insufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the CWA section 303(d) List. 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. There are insufficient samples available to determine listing status using the newly adopted E. coli objective. 4. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met. |
| Regional Board Decision 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. |
| 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: | 96072 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Escherichia coli (E. coli) | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | None | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Water Contact Recreation | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 5 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 5 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | Not Specified | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Five of the 5 samples exceeded the E. coli SSM guideline. Split samples were not used. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Data for Fecal Col, E.coli, and Observations in Region 5 for Various Water Bodies, 2010. | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Waters shall not contain chemical constituents in concentrations that adversely affect beneficial uses. (Water Quality Control Plan, Central Valley Region, Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins). | ||||
| 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: | Single sample maxima (SSM) of allowable density for E. coli in freshwater is 235 MPN/100mL. | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria - 1986. EPA440/5-84-002 | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | The 5 samples were collected from Bull Meadow Creek. CAR5364003220101020160009 | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Samples were collected from June to July of 2010. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | The samples collected after cows were present in the area. | ||||
| QAPP Information: | Samples were collected under the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest Quality Assurance Project Plan. | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | Quality Assurance Project Plan for Stanislaus National Forest. | ||||
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| LOE ID: | 96073 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Escherichia coli (E. coli) | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | None | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Water Contact Recreation | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 1 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 1 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | Not Specified | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | One of One geometric mean samples exceeded the E. coli guideline. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Data for Fecal Col, E.coli, and Observations in Region 5 for Various Water Bodies, 2010. | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Waters shall not contain chemical constituents in concentrations that adversely affect beneficial uses. (Water Quality Control Plan, Central Valley Region, Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins). | ||||
| 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: | Geometric mean for E. coli in freshwater is 126 cfu/100mL. | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria - 1986. EPA440/5-84-002 | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | The samples were collected from Bull Meadow Creek. CAR5364003220101020160009 | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Samples were collected from June to July of 2010. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | The samples collected after cows were present in the area. | ||||
| QAPP Information: | Samples were collected under the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest Quality Assurance Project Plan. | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | Quality Assurance Project Plan for Stanislaus National Forest. | ||||
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| LOE ID: | 60957 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Escherichia coli (E. coli) | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | None | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Water Contact Recreation | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 1 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 1 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | Not Specified | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | One of One geometric mean samples exceeded the E. coli guideline. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Data for Fecal Col, E.coli, and Observations in Region 5 for Various Water Bodies, 2010. | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Waters shall not contain chemical constituents in concentrations that adversely affect beneficial uses. (Water Quality Control Plan, Central Valley Region, Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins). | ||||
| 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: | Geometric mean for E. coli in freshwater is 100 cfu/100mL. | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | 2012 USEPA Recreational Water Quality Criteria - Bacteria | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | The samples were collected from Bull Meadow Creek. CAR5364003220101020160009 | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Samples were collected from June to July of 2010. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | The samples collected after cows were present in the area. | ||||
| QAPP Information: | Samples were collected under the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest Quality Assurance Project Plan. | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | Quality Assurance Project Plan for Stanislaus National Forest. | ||||
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| LOE ID: | 60956 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Escherichia coli (E. coli) | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | None | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Water Contact Recreation | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 5 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 5 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | Not Specified | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Five of the 5 samples exceeded the E. coli STV guideline. Split samples were not used. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Data for Fecal Col, E.coli, and Observations in Region 5 for Various Water Bodies, 2010. | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Waters shall not contain chemical constituents in concentrations that adversely affect beneficial uses. (Water Quality Control Plan, Central Valley Region, Sacramento River and San Joaquin River Basins). | ||||
| 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: | Statistical Threshold Value (STV) of allowable density for E. coli in freshwater is 320 cfu/100mL. | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | 2012 USEPA Recreational Water Quality Criteria - Bacteria | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | The 5 samples were collected from Bull Meadow Creek. CAR5364003220101020160009 | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Samples were collected from June to July of 2010. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | The samples collected after cows were present in the area. | ||||
| QAPP Information: | Samples were collected under the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest Quality Assurance Project Plan. | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | Quality Assurance Project Plan for Stanislaus National Forest. | ||||
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| LOE ID: | 194439 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Escherichia coli (E. coli) | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | None | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Water Contact Recreation | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 4 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 3 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | PATHOGEN MONITORING | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Water Board staff assessed data for Bull Meadow Creek (Tuolumne County) to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 3 of the 4 samples exceeded the geomean water quality threshold for E. coli. This is a six week rolling geomean that is calculated weekly. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 5. | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | The bacteria water quality objective applicable to all waters, except Lake Tahoe, where the salinity is less than 10 parts per thousand (ppth) 95 percent or more of the time is a six-week rolling GEOMETRIC MEAN (GM) of Escherichia coli (E. coli) not to exceed 100 colony forming units per 100 milliliters (cfu/100 mL) (calculated weekly). | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries Plan. Part 1: Trash Provisions; Part 2: Tribal Subsistence Beneficial Uses and Mercury Provisions; Part 3: Bacteria Provisions and Variance Policy | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | |||||
| Guideline Reference: | |||||
| Spatial Representation: | The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): BULMC | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | The samples were collected between the days of 2011-05-25 and 2015-06-22 . | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | |||||
| QAPP Information: | Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center. 2010. QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest., Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center. 2016. QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest., Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC). 2017. QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest., Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center. 2018. QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest. | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest | ||||
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| LOE ID: | 194423 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Escherichia coli (E. coli) | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | None | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Water Contact Recreation | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 8 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 4 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | PATHOGEN MONITORING | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Water Board staff assessed data for Bull Meadow Creek (Tuolumne County) to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 4 of the 8 samples exceeded the Statistical Threshold Value (STV) water quality threshold for E. coli. The STV is based on a 10% exceedance rate that is calculated monthly. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 5. | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | The bacteria water quality objective applicable to all waters, except Lake Tahoe, where the salinity is less than 10 parts per thousand (ppth) 95 percent or more of the time is a STATISTICAL THRESHOLD VALUE (STV) of 320 cfu/100 mL not to be exceeded more than 10 percent of the time (calculated monthly). | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries Plan. Part 1: Trash Provisions; Part 2: Tribal Subsistence Beneficial Uses and Mercury Provisions; Part 3: Bacteria Provisions and Variance Policy | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | |||||
| Guideline Reference: | |||||
| Spatial Representation: | The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): BULMC | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | The samples were collected between the days of 2011-05-25 and 2015-06-22 . | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | |||||
| QAPP Information: | Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center. 2010. QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest., Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center. 2016. QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest., Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC). 2017. QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest., Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center. 2018. QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest. | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | QAPP for Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Project in the Stanislaus National Forest | ||||