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

Supporting Information

Regional Board 9 - San Diego Region

Water Body Name: Telegraph Canyon Creek
Water Body ID: CAR9091100020081010151336
Water Body Type: River & Stream
 
DECISION ID
127560
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
Pollutant: Nitrogen
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: 2027
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal from the CWA section 303(d) List under section 4.1 of the Listing Policy. Under this section a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

Two lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess pollutant. Five of the five samples exceed the water quality threshold.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient 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. Five of the five samples exceed the water quality threshold, and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.1 of the Listing Policy.
4. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are 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.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 127560, Nitrogen
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
LOE ID: 26151
 
Pollutant: Nitrogen
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 4
Number of Exceedances: 4
 
Data and Information Type: Fixed station physical/chemical (conventional plus toxic pollutants)
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Four of four samples collected at Telegraph Canyon Creek station (908PTEL02) from May 2005 to April 2006 show excessive nitrogen concentrations according to results of California's SWAMP (2007).
Data Reference: Monitoring data for Region 9
 
SWAMP Data: SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Water bodies shall not contain biostimulatory substances in concentrations that promote aquatic growth to the extent that such growths cause nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses (RWQCB, 2007).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline: A desired goal in order to prevent plant nuisance in streams and other flowing waters appears to be 0.1 mg/L total phosphorus, P. These values are not to be exceeded more than 10% of the time unless studies of the specific water body in question clearly show that water quality objective changes are permissible and changes are approved by the Regional Board. Analogous threshold values have not been set for nitrogen compounds; however, natural ratios of nitrogen to phosphorus are to be determined by surveillance and monitoring and upheld. If data are lacking, a ratio of N:P = 10:1, on a weight to weight basis shall be used (RWQCB, 2007).
Guideline Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin
 
Spatial Representation: Water samples were collected at Telegraph Canyon Creek station (908PTEL02); (Latitude -117.06288, Longitude 32.62860).
Temporal Representation: Samples was collected in May 2005; September 2005; January 2006; and April 2006.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Quality Assurance Management Plan for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program.
QAPP Information Reference(s): 2002. Quality Assurance Management Plan for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program. California Department of Fish and Game, Monterey, CA
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 127560, Nitrogen
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
LOE ID: 144158
 
Pollutant: Total Nitrogen as N
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed SMC Regional Watershed Monitoring data for Telegraph Canyon Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 1 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Nitrogen, Total.
Data Reference: Field, Sediment, Toxicity, Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 9.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, by themselves or in combination with other nutrients, shall be maintained at levels below those which stimulate algae and emergent plant growth. A desired goal in order to prevent plant nuisance in streams and other flowing waters appears to be 0.1 mg/L total P. Analogous threshold values have not been set for nitrogen compounds; however, natural ratios of nitrogen to phosphorus are to be determined by surveillance and monitoring and upheld. If data are lacking, a ratio of N:P = 10:1, on a weight to weight basis shall be used (Water Quality Control Plan, San Diego Basin).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site (909M24923)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2015-05-07 and 2015-05-07
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2007. Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds., Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2019. Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds
QAPP Information Reference(s): Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition
 
 
DECISION ID
113451
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
Pollutant: Alkalinity as CaCO3
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 113451, Alkalinity as CaCO3
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
LOE ID: 139718
 
Pollutant: Alkalinity as CaCO3
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed SMC Regional Watershed Monitoring data for Telegraph Canyon Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Alkalinity as CaCO3.
Data Reference: Field, Sediment, Toxicity, Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 9.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant, animal, or aquatic life (Water Quality Control Plan, San Diego Basin).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline: The CCC of 20mg/L is a minimum value except where alkalinity is naturally lower, in which case the criterion cannot be lower than 25% of the natural level (USEPA National Recommended Water Quality Criteria Aquatic Life)
Guideline Reference: National Recommended Water Quality Criteria. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Water. Office of Science and Technology
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site (909M24923)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2015-05-07 and 2015-05-07
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2007. Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds., Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2019. Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds
QAPP Information Reference(s): Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition
 
 
DECISION ID
127765
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
Pollutant: Ammonia
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 127765, Ammonia
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
LOE ID: 184959
 
Pollutant: Nitrogen, ammonia (Total Ammonia)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed SMC Regional Watershed Monitoring data for Telegraph Canyon Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Ammonia as N.
Data Reference: Field, Sediment, Toxicity, Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 9.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Total Ammonia criterion continuous concentration (expressed as a 30-day average) to protect aquatic life in freshwater is Temperature and pH dependent, and was calculated according to the formula listed in the Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Ammonia - Freshwater 2013 document.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Ammonia - Freshwater 2013
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site (909M24923)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2015-05-07 and 2015-05-07
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2007. Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds., Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2019. Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds
QAPP Information Reference(s): Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition
 
 
DECISION ID
115529
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
Pollutant: Ammonia (Unionized)
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 115529, Ammonia (Unionized)
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
LOE ID: 185250
 
Pollutant: Ammonia (Unionized)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed SMC Regional Watershed Monitoring data for Telegraph Canyon Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Ammonia as N, Unionized.
Data Reference: Field, Sediment, Toxicity, Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 9.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The discharge of wastes shall not cause concentrations of un-ionized ammonia (NH3) to exceed 0.025 mg/l (as N) in inland surface waters, enclosed bays and estuaries and coastal lagoons (Water Quality Control Plan, San Diego Basin).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site (909M24923)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2015-05-07 and 2015-05-07
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2007. Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds., Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2019. Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds
QAPP Information Reference(s): Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition
 
 
DECISION ID
126473
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
Pollutant: Benthic Community Effects
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)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Benthic Community Effects are being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 3.9 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.9, additional lines of evidence (LOEs) associating the Benthic Community Effects decision with a water or sediment concentration of pollutants other than benthic-macroinvertebrate bioassessment or habitat assessment LOEs are necessary to place a water body on the 303(d) List for Benthic Community Effects.

One line(s) of evidence evaluating benthic-macroinvertebrate bioassessment data is/are available in the administrative record to assess this indicator. One of one benthic-macroinvertebrate samples exceed the California Stream Condition Index (CSCI) impairment threshold. However, a minimum of two benthic-macroinvertebrate samples are needed to assess listing status.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against placing Benthic Community Effects in this waterbody segment on 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. One of one benthic-macroinvertebrate bioassessment samples had CSCI scores below 0.79. The available information is insufficient to determine whether the waterbody/pollutant combination should be placed on the 303(d) List of impaired waters at this time.
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: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
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 126473, Benthic Community Effects
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
LOE ID: 215825
 
Pollutant: Benthic-Macroinvertebrate Bioassessments
LOE Subgroup: Population/Community Degradation
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed data for 909M24923 to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 1 of 1 samples exceeded the threshold. CSCI scores were from 0.5841 to 0.5841 .
Data Reference: California Stream Condition Index Scores for the 2020 Integrated Report
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant or animal, or aquatic life. Compliance with this objective will be determined by use of indicator organisms, analysis of species diversity, population density, growth anomalies, bioassays of appropriate duration, or other appropriate methods as specified by the Regional Board. Region 9 Basin Plan.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline: The California Stream Condition Index (CSCI) is a biological scoring tool that helps aquatic resource managers translate complex data about benthic macroinvertebrates found living in a stream into an overall measure of stream health. The CSCI score is calculated by comparing the expected condition with actual (observed) results (Rhen, A.C. et al., 2015). CSCI scores range from 0 (highly degraded) to greater than 1 (equivalent to reference). CSCI scoring of biological condition are as follows (per the scientific paper supporting the development of the CSCI scoring tool): greater than or equal to 0.92 = likely intact condition, 0.91 to 0.80 = possibly altered condition, 0.79 to 0.63 = likely altered condition, less than or equal to 0.62 = very likely altered condition. Sites with scores below 0.79 are considered to have exceeded the water quality objective for the aquatic life beneficial use.  
Guideline Reference: Bioassessment in complex environments: designing an index for consistent meaning in different settings
 
Spatial Representation: Samples were collected from station 909M24923
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected from 5/7/2015 to 5/7/2015.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: The data was collected under a permit required receiving waters monitoring and reporting program
QAPP Information Reference(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan for Southern California Regional Watershed Monitoring Program Bioassessment, Version 1.0, and Freshwater Bioassessment from Weston Solutions.
 
 
DECISION ID
125556
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
Pollutant: Chloride
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 125556, Chloride
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
LOE ID: 215144
 
Pollutant: Chloride
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed SMC Regional Watershed Monitoring data for Telegraph Canyon Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 1 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for chloride.
Data Reference: Field, Sediment, Toxicity, Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 9.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Chloride objective in this HSA is 500 mg/L, and this concentration is not to be exceeded more than 10% of the time during any one year period (Basin Plan, Table 3-2).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site (909M24923)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected on 5/7/2015
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2007. Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds., Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2019. Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds
QAPP Information Reference(s): Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition
 
 
DECISION ID
113447
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
Pollutant: Oxygen, Dissolved
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 113447, Oxygen, Dissolved
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
LOE ID: 144937
 
Pollutant: Oxygen, Dissolved
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed SMC Regional Watershed Monitoring data for Telegraph Canyon Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Oxygen, Dissolved.
Data Reference: Field, Sediment, Toxicity, Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 9.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Dissolved oxygen levels shall not be less than 5.0 mg/l in inland surface waters with the WARM beneficial use designated (Water Quality Control Plan, San Diego Basin).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site (909M24923)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2015-05-07 and 2015-05-07
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2007. Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds., Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2019. Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds
QAPP Information Reference(s): Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition
 
 
DECISION ID
113449
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
Pollutant: Phosphorus
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 113449, Phosphorus
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
LOE ID: 145990
 
Pollutant: Phosphorus
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed SMC Regional Watershed Monitoring data for Telegraph Canyon Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 1 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Phosphorus as P.
Data Reference: Field, Sediment, Toxicity, Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 9.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, by themselves or in combination with other nutrients, shall be maintained at levels below those which stimulate algae and emergent plant growth. A desired goal in order to prevent plant nuisance in streams and other flowing waters appears to be 0.1 mg/L total P. Analogous threshold values have not been set for nitrogen compounds; however, natural ratios of nitrogen to phosphorus are to be determined by surveillance and monitoring and upheld. If data are lacking, a ratio of N:P = 10:1, on a weight to weight basis shall be used (Water Quality Control Plan, San Diego Basin).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site (909M24923)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2015-05-07 and 2015-05-07
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2007. Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds., Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2019. Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds
QAPP Information Reference(s): Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition
 
 
DECISION ID
125557
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
Pollutant: Sulfates
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 125557, Sulfates
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
LOE ID: 215182
 
Pollutant: Sulfates
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed SMC Regional Watershed Monitoring data for Telegraph Canyon Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for sulfates.
Data Reference: Field, Sediment, Toxicity, Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 9.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Sulfate objective in this HSA is 500 mg/L, and this concentration is not to be exceeded more than 10% of the time during any one year period (Basin Plan, Table 3-2).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site (909M24923).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected on 5/7/2015.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2007. Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds., Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2019. Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds
QAPP Information Reference(s): Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition
 
 
DECISION ID
113450
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
Pollutant: Turbidity
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 113450, Turbidity
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
LOE ID: 147696
 
Pollutant: Turbidity
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed SMC Regional Watershed Monitoring data for Telegraph Canyon Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 1 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Turbidity.
Data Reference: Field, Sediment, Toxicity, Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 9.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Turbidity water quality threshold in this HSA is 20 NTU, and this level is not to be exceeded more than 10% of the time during any one year period (Basin Plan, Table 3-2).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site (909M24923)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2015-05-07 and 2015-05-07
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2007. Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds., Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2019. Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds
QAPP Information Reference(s): Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition
 
 
DECISION ID
113448
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
Pollutant: pH
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 113448, pH
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
LOE ID: 145630
 
Pollutant: pH
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed SMC Regional Watershed Monitoring data for Telegraph Canyon Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for pH.
Data Reference: Field, Sediment, Toxicity, Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 9.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: In inland surface waters the pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.5.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site (909M24923)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2015-05-07 and 2015-05-07
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2007. Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds., Weston Solutions, Inc.. 2019. Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Regional Monitoring of Southern California's Coastal Watersheds
QAPP Information Reference(s): Bioassessment Survey of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition
 
 
DECISION ID
68370
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
Pollutant: Selenium
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: 2021
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: The decision has not changed from the previous listing cycle. No new data were assessed for the current listing cycle. Therefore, the previous conclusion remains unchanged, and is as follows:

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.

Two lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Four of four of the samples exceed the California Toxics Rule water quality objective for selenium.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification in favor of 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. Four of four of the samples exceed the California Toxics Rule water quality objective for selenium and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.1 of the Listing Policy.
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 cycle. 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 68370, Selenium
Region 9     
Telegraph Canyon Creek
 
LOE ID: 26152
 
Pollutant: Selenium
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 4
Number of Exceedances: 4
 
Data and Information Type: Fixed station physical/chemical (conventional plus toxic pollutants)
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Four of four samples collected at Telegraph Canyon Creek station (908PTEL02) from May 2005 to April 2006 show excessive selenium concentrations according to results of California's SWAMP (2007).
Data Reference: Monitoring data for Region 9
 
SWAMP Data: SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: CTR Freshwater Chronic (CCC) 5 ug/L. (U.S. EPA, 2000).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Standards; Establishment of Numeric Criteria for Priority Toxic Pollutants for the State of California; Rule. 40 CFR Part 131. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, Water Division, San Francisco, CA
 
Evaluation Guideline: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic
substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or
that produce detrimental physiological responses
in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life (RWQCB, 2007).
Guideline Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin
 
Spatial Representation: Water samples were collected at Telegraph Canyon Creek station (908PTEL02); (Latitude -117.06288, Longitude 32.62860).
Temporal Representation: Samples was collected in May 2005; September 2005; January 2006; and April 2006.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Puckett, M. 2002. Quality Assurance Management Plan for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program.
QAPP Information Reference(s): 2002. Quality Assurance Management Plan for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program. California Department of Fish and Game, Monterey, CA