Final California 2020 Integrated Report (303(d) List/305(b) Report)

Supporting Information

Regional Board 8 - Santa Ana Region

Water Body Name: Grout Creek
Water Body ID: CAR8017100019990208145402
Water Body Type: River & Stream
 
DECISION ID
100428
Region 8     
Grout Creek
 
Pollutant: Metals
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: There was no new data considered in the 2014 Listing Cycle, this previously made decision will carryover. The following description applies to an earlier Listing Cycle.

This pollutant is being considered for removal from the section 303(d) list under section 4 and 3.1 of the Listing Policy. Under section 4, listings of water segments shall be removed from the section 303(d) list if the listing was based on faulty data, and it is demonstrated that the listing would not have occurred in the absence of such faulty data. Under section 3.1 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

Grout Creek was originally listed for metals based on elevated metal concentration in a study conducted with shellfish tissue. No native shellfish exists in Grout Creek and shellfish harvesting is not a beneficial use in Grout Creek and this line of evidence does not meet the requirement for listing purposes.

Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. None of the samples exceeded the applicable water quality objectives. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification for removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the 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. None of the samples (one sediment sample and two water samples) exceeded the water quality objectives and this does not exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.1 of the Listing Policy.
4. Shellfish tissue data is not appropriate for evaluating water quality objectives in Grout Creek.
5. 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: This is a decision previously approved by the State Water Resources Control Board and the USEPA. No new data were assessed by the Regional Board for the current. The decision has not changed.
 
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.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 100428, Metals
Region 8     
Grout Creek
 
LOE ID: 7754
 
Pollutant: Arsenic | Cadmium | Chromium (total) | Copper | Lead | Mercury | Nickel | Zinc
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Sediment
Matrix: Sediment
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Only one sample was collected and it did not exceed the guidelines.
Data Reference: Big Bear Lake Metals 303(d) Delisting Proposal
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Santa Ana Region¿s Basin Plan Narrative Objective: The concentrations of toxic pollutants in the water column, sediments or biota shall not adversely affect beneficial uses.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline: Probable Effect Concentration: arsenic: 33 mg/kg dw; cadmium: 4.98 mg/kg dw; chromium: 111 mg/kg dw; copper: 149 mg/kg dw; lead: 128 mg/kg dw; mercury: 1.06 mg/kg dw; nickel: 48.6 mg/kg dw; zinc: 459 mg/kg dw.
Guideline Reference: Development and evaluation of consensus-based sediment quality guidelines for freshwater ecosystems. Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 39: 20-31
 
Spatial Representation: The sample was collected at one station in Grout creek.
Temporal Representation: The sample was collected on 4/1/92.
Environmental Conditions: The sample represented the dry season.
QAPP Information: The data's quality assurance is deemed appropriate since the data was collected under the auspices of the U.S. EPA's Clean Lakes Study.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 100428, Metals
Region 8     
Grout Creek
 
LOE ID: 31401
 
Pollutant: Metals
LOE Subgroup: Narrative Description Data
Matrix: -N/A
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
Aquatic Life Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: QUALITATIVE (EVALUATED) ASSESSMENT - UNSPECIFIED
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: The listing for metals in 1994 was based on shellfish (Corbicula) tissue data that was used in a Regional Board study of metals in Grout Creek. The criteria used for listing was based on protection for aquatic life and for human health. Shellfish is not part of the aquatic life found in Grout Creek and shellfish harvesting is not a beneficial use for Grout Creek.
Data Reference: Big Bear Lake Metals 303(d) Delisting Proposal
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Santa Ana Region¿s Basin Plan Narrative Objective: The concentrations of toxic pollutants in the water column, sediments or biota shall not adversely affect beneficial uses.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation:
Temporal Representation:
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Monitoring was conducted in accordance with Regional Board procedures.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 100428, Metals
Region 8     
Grout Creek
 
LOE ID: 7752
 
Pollutant: Arsenic | Zinc
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
Aquatic Life Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 2
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the two samples collected, none exceeded the criteria.
Data Reference: Big Bear Lake Metals 303(d) Delisting Proposal
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Santa Ana Region¿s Basin Plan Narrative Objective: The concentrations of toxic pollutants in the water column, sediments or biota shall not adversely affect beneficial uses.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline: California Toxics Rule Acute Criteria is as follows: Arsenic 5/29/92 and 4/19/93:340 ug/l; Zinc 5/29/92: 61.81 ug/l and 4/19/93: 26.11 ug/l.
Guideline Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were taken at one location in Grout Creek.
Temporal Representation: The samples were taken on 5/29/92 and 4/19/93.
Environmental Conditions: The samples were collected during the dry season.
QAPP Information: The data's quality assurance is deemed appropriate since the data was collected under the auspices of the U.S. EPA's Clean Lakes Study.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
76751
Region 8     
Grout Creek
 
Pollutant: Copper
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2016)
Revision Status Original
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: There was no new data considered in the 2014 Listing Cycle, this previously made decision will carryover. The following description applies to an earlier Listing Cycle.

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. One of the samples exceed the water quality objective.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification 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 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. One of two samples exceeded the California Toxics Rule and this sample size is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating. A minimum of 16 samples are needed to determine if a beneficial use is fully supported using table 3.1.
4. Pursuant to section 3.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: This is a decision previously approved by the State Water Resources Control Board and the USEPA. No new data were assessed by the Regional Board for the current. The decision has not changed.
 
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.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 76751, Copper
Region 8     
Grout Creek
 
LOE ID: 7753
 
Pollutant: Copper
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Not Recorded
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
Aquatic Life Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 2
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Of the two samples taken, only one exceeded the criteria.
Data Reference: Big Bear Lake Metals 303(d) Delisting Proposal
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Santa Ana Region¿s Basin Plan Narrative Objective: The concentrations of toxic pollutants in the water column, sediments or biota shall not adversely affect beneficial uses.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline: California Toxics Rule Acute Criterion as follows: 5/29/92 and 4/19/93: 2.53 ug/l.
Guideline Reference: Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at one station.
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected on 5/29/92 and 4/19/93.
Environmental Conditions: The samples were collected during the dry season.
QAPP Information: The data's quality assurance is deemed appropriate since the data was collected under the auspices of the U.S. EPA's Clean Lakes Study.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
68815
Region 8     
Grout Creek
 
Pollutant: Nutrients
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)(2016)
Revision Status Original
Sources: A Source Unknown
Expected TMDL Completion Date: 2008
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: There was no new data considered in the 2014 Listing Cycle, this previously made decision will carryover. The following description applies to an earlier Listing Cycle.

303(d) listing decisions made prior to 2006 were not held in an assessment database. The Regional Boards will update this decision when new data and information become available and are assessed.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: This is a decision previously approved by the State Water Resources Control Board and the USEPA. No new data were assessed by the Regional Board for the current. The decision has not changed.
 
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.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 68815, Nutrients
Region 8     
Grout Creek
 
LOE ID: 4410
 
Pollutant: Nutrients
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Not Recorded
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: Not Specified
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Unspecified--This LOE is a placeholder to support a 303(d) listing decision made prior to 2006.
Data Reference: Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Unspecified
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Unspecified
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Unspecified
Temporal Representation: Unspecified
Environmental Conditions: Unspecified
QAPP Information: Unspecified
QAPP Information Reference(s):