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

Supporting Information

Regional Board 9 - San Diego Region

Water Body Name: Tenaja Canyon
Water Body ID: CAR9014000020190809042658
Water Body Type: River & Stream
 
DECISION ID
114993
Region 9     
Tenaja Canyon
 
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 114993, Alkalinity as CaCO3
Region 9     
Tenaja Canyon
 
LOE ID: 139755
 
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 SWAMP RWB9 Monitoring data for Tenaja Canyon 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, Habitat, Sediment, Tissue, Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 9.
 
SWAMP Data: 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 (901NP9TNC)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-04-24 and 2018-04-24
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWAMP QAPrP 2008, Nagoda and Busse, 2013. Quality Assurance Project Plan for Screening of Cyanotoxins in Lakes/Reservoirs and Coastal Wetlands in the San Diego Region, SWAMP QAPrP 2017
QAPP Information Reference(s): Quality Assurance Program Plans, Quality Assurance Project Plans, and Standard Operating Procedures for the SWAMP program
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 114993, Alkalinity as CaCO3
Region 9     
Tenaja Canyon
 
LOE ID: 139838
 
Pollutant: Alkalinity as CaCO3
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
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: Water Board staff assessed SWAMP RWB9 Monitoring data for Tenaja Canyon 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, Habitat, Sediment, Tissue, Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 9.
 
SWAMP Data: 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 (901NP9TNC)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-04-24 and 2018-04-24
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWAMP QAPrP 2008, Nagoda and Busse, 2013. Quality Assurance Project Plan for Screening of Cyanotoxins in Lakes/Reservoirs and Coastal Wetlands in the San Diego Region, SWAMP QAPrP 2017
QAPP Information Reference(s): Quality Assurance Program Plans, Quality Assurance Project Plans, and Standard Operating Procedures for the SWAMP program
 
 
DECISION ID
126276
Region 9     
Tenaja Canyon
 
Pollutant: Benthic Community Effects
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: 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. Zero of one benthic-macroinvertebrate samples exceed the California Stream Condition Index (CSCI) impairment threshold. These data indicate that the waterbody is likely unimpaired for Benthic Community Effects and therefore no other pollutant LOEs need be associated with this decision at this time.

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. Zero of one benthic-macroinvertebrate bioassessment samples had CSCI scores below 0.79. Therefore, this water body is not exceeding the water quality threshold for the protection of the COLD beneficial use. The available information indicates that the waterbody/pollutant combination should not 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 because applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 126276, Benthic Community Effects
Region 9     
Tenaja Canyon
 
LOE ID: 215836
 
Pollutant: Benthic-Macroinvertebrate Bioassessments
LOE Subgroup: Population/Community Degradation
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed data for 901NP9TNC to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the threshold. CSCI scores were from 1.0474 to 1.0474 .
Data Reference: California Stream Condition Index Scores for the 2020 Integrated Report
 
SWAMP Data: 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 901NP9TNC
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected from 4/24/2018 to 4/24/2018.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Data collected following SWAMP QA protocols.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Quality Assurance Program Plans, Quality Assurance Project Plans, and Standard Operating Procedures for the SWAMP program
 
 
DECISION ID
114992
Region 9     
Tenaja Canyon
 
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: 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 114992, Turbidity
Region 9     
Tenaja Canyon
 
LOE ID: 147583
 
Pollutant: Turbidity
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
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: Water Board staff assessed SWAMP RWB9 Monitoring data for Tenaja Canyon to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Turbidity.
Data Reference: Field, Habitat, Sediment, Tissue, Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 9.
 
SWAMP Data: 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 (901NP9TNC)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-04-24 and 2018-04-24
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWAMP QAPrP 2008, Nagoda and Busse, 2013. Quality Assurance Project Plan for Screening of Cyanotoxins in Lakes/Reservoirs and Coastal Wetlands in the San Diego Region, SWAMP QAPrP 2017
QAPP Information Reference(s): Quality Assurance Program Plans, Quality Assurance Project Plans, and Standard Operating Procedures for the SWAMP program
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 114992, Turbidity
Region 9     
Tenaja Canyon
 
LOE ID: 147221
 
Pollutant: Turbidity
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 SWAMP RWB9 Monitoring data for Tenaja Canyon to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Turbidity.
Data Reference: Field, Habitat, Sediment, Tissue, Water data for the 2020/2022 integrated report in Region 9.
 
SWAMP Data: 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 (901NP9TNC)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-04-24 and 2018-04-24
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: SWAMP QAPrP 2008, Nagoda and Busse, 2013. Quality Assurance Project Plan for Screening of Cyanotoxins in Lakes/Reservoirs and Coastal Wetlands in the San Diego Region, SWAMP QAPrP 2017
QAPP Information Reference(s): Quality Assurance Program Plans, Quality Assurance Project Plans, and Standard Operating Procedures for the SWAMP program