# Draft 2008 California 303(d)/305(b) Integrated Report

# Supporting Information

## Regional Board 5 - Central Valley Region

Water Body Name: | Yuba River, South Fork (Spaulding Reservoir to Englebright Reservoir)
Water Body ID: | CAR5173203120020710160332
Water Body Type: | River & Stream

DECISION ID | 11439
Pollutant: | Mercury
Final Listing Decision: | List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | New Decision
Revision Status | Revised
Sources: | Resource Extraction
Expected TMDL Completion Date: | 2021
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: | Pollutant
Weight of Evidence: | This pollutant is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under sections 3.1 and 3.5 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.1 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Two 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 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. Two of 21 samples exceeded the USEPA fish tissue residue criterion for human mealth of 0.3 mg/kg, 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.
RWQCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation: | After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are exceeded and a pollutant contributes to or causes the problem.
SWRCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation: |
USEPA Decision: |

Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 11439

LOE ID: | 22428
Pollutant: | Mercury
LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Tissue
Matrix: | Tissue
Fraction: | Total
Beneficial Use: | Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
Number of Samples: | 2
Number of Exceedances: | 0
Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Asses Water Quality: | Two Rainbow Trout samples were collected for tissue analysis at one location from this reach. None of the samples exceeded the USEPA fish tissue criterion for human health. The wet weight mercury concentrations of the 2 samples were 0.09 ppm and 0.15 ppm. Both 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: | Mercury Bioaccumulation in Fish in a Region Affected by Historic Gold Mining: The South Yuba River, Deer Creek, and Bear River Watersheds, California, 1999. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-367. Prepared in cooperation with Bureau of Land Management; California State Water Resources Control Board; Nevada County Resource Conservation District; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service; and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Sacramento, CA
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: | Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) for the California Regional Water Quality Control Board - Central Valley Region
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.
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 this reach of the Yuba River, South Fork just downstream of Edwards Crossing.
Temporal Representation: | Fish samples were collected during one sampling event on 9/29/1999.
Environmental Conditions: | Significant gold mining activity occurred during the Gold Rush era within the Yuba River, South Fork watershed below Lake Spaulding (USGS, 2005).
QAPP Information: | Data quality: Excellent. In accordance with section 6.1.4 of the Listing Policy, data from major monitoring programs in California and Published USGS reports are considered of adequate quality.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
LOE ID: | 22427
Pollutant: | Mercury
LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Tissue
Matrix: | Tissue
Fraction: | Total
Beneficial Use: | Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
Number of Samples: | 18
Number of Exceedances: | 1
Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Asses Water Quality: | Fish were sampled for tissue analysis at two locations from this reach. A total of 1 out of 18 samples exceeded the USEPA fish tissue criterion for human health. 1) Yuba River, South Fork at Washington: Thirteen Rainbow Trout samples were collected for tissue analysis at this location. One of the 9 samples exceeded the USEPA fish tissue criterion for human health. The wet weight mercury concentrations of the 13 samples ranged from 0.10 ppm to 0.30 ppm, with an average of 0.15 ppm. 2) Yuba River, South Fork below Lake Spaulding: The average wet weight mercury concentration in fish tissue was 0.08 ppm for the 5 samples collected at this location. The number of fish collected per sample, the measured mercury concentrations in fish tissue, and the number of exceedances are, by species: Brown Trout- 2 samples, 0.07 and 0.07 ppm, no exceedances; Rainbow Trout- 3 samples, 0.06-0.11 ppm (average 0.08 ppm), no exceedances. All 18 fish tissue 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: | Gold mining impacts on food chain mercury in northwestern Sierra Nevada streams (1997 revision). In Sacramento River Mercury Control Planning Project. Larry Walker and Associates (editors). Final project report prepared for Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District. Davis, CA. March 1997
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: | Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) for the California Regional Water Quality Control Board - Central Valley Region
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.
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 two locations from this reach of the Yuba River, South Fork: one mile downstream of Washington, and just downstream of Lake Spaulding.
Temporal Representation: | Fish samples were collected during two sampling events on 11/12/1993 and 10/24/1995.
Environmental Conditions: | Significant gold mining activity occurred during the Gold Rush era within the Yuba River, South Fork watershed below Lake Spaulding (USGS, 2005).
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 March 1997 Final Report (Slotton et al., 1997).
QAPP Information Reference(s):
LOE ID: | 22426
Pollutant: | Mercury
LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Tissue
Matrix: | Tissue
Fraction: | Total
Beneficial Use: | Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
Number of Samples: | 1
Number of Exceedances: | 1
Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Asses Water Quality: | One 3-fish composite sample of Smallmouth Bass was collected at one location from this reach. The wet weight mercury concentration of this fish tissue sample was 0.69 ppm, which exceeds the USEPA fish tissue criterion. The composite sample was collected from fish with total lengths greater than 150 mm, which represents fish most commonly caught and consumed by sport fishers and their families.
Data Reference: | SWRCB-DWQ. 2002. Toxic Substances Monitoring Program: Freshwater Bioaccumulation Monitoring: TSM Program Data 1978-2000. State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality
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: | Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) for the California Regional Water Quality Control Board - Central Valley Region
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.
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: | The sample was collected at one location from the Yuba River, South Fork near Bridgeport.
Temporal Representation: | The fish sample was collected on 8/4/1980.
Environmental Conditions: | Significant gold mining activity occurred during the Gold Rush era within the Yuba River, South Fork watershed below Lake Spaulding (USGS, 2005).
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 Report for 1980 (McCleneghan et al., 1981).
QAPP Information Reference(s):

DECISION ID | 13217
Pollutant: | Temperature, water
Final Listing Decision: | List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | New Decision
Revision Status | Revised
Sources: | Source Unknown
Expected TMDL Completion Date: | 2021
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: | Pollutant
Weight of Evidence: | (LIST - CONVENTIONAL POLLUTANT) This pollutant is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under section 3.2 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.2 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. 1 lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. The majority 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 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. 50 of 58 samples exceed the narrative temperature objective and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.2 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 met.
RWQCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation: | After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are exceeded and a pollutant contributes to or causes the problem.
SWRCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation: |
USEPA Decision: |

Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 13217

LOE ID: | 25344
Pollutant: | Temperature, water
LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water
Matrix: | Water
Fraction: | None
Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat
Number of Samples: | 58
Number of Exceedances: | 50
Data and Information Type: | Not Specified
Data Used to Asses Water Quality: | Thermometer readings were taken as part of the South Yuba River Citizens League River Monitoring Program. Measurements were taken at mid-stream, at least one inch below the water surface. The maximum mesrured 7DADM temperatures exceeded the temperature criteria in every year from 2001 through 2006 at every monitoring station except for the 2 most upstream staions, Keleher Campground and Langs Crossing, which only had data from 2006.
Data Reference: | Letter for South Yuba River temperature data and QAPP
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | The natural receiving water temperature of intrastate waters shall not be altered unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Regional Water Board that such alteration in temperature does not adversely affect beneficial uses. In determining compliance with the water quality objectives for temperature, appropriate averaging periods may be applied provided that beneficial uses will be fully protected.
Objective/Criterion Reference: | Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) for the California Regional Water Quality Control Board - Central Valley Region
Evaluation Guideline: | The guideline used was the 2003 US EPA Region 10 Guidance for Pacific Northwest State and Tribal Temperature Water Quality Standards (USEPA, 2003). The document includes recommended temperature criteria for salmon and trout based on different life stages. The recommended temperature for salmon and trout adult migration plus Non-Core Juvenile Rearing is that the annual maximum 7 day avaerage of daily maximums (7DADM) should be no greater than 18 degrees C. This criterion is reccomended to: (1) safely protect against lethal conditions for both juveniles and adults; (2) prevent migration blockage conditions for migrating adults; (3)provide optimal or near optimal juvenile growth conditions (under limited food conditions) for much of the summer, except during the summer maximum conditions, which would be warmer than optimal; and (4) prevent adults and juveniles from high disease risk and minimize the exposure time to temperatures that can lead to elevated disease rates.
Guideline Reference: | EPA Region 10 Guidance for Pacific Northwest State and Tribal Temperature Water Quality Standards. EPA 910-B-03-002. Region 10 Office of Water, Seattle, WA
Spatial Representation: | Tempearature measurements were taken at 9 sites spanning this segment. From downstream to upstream, samples were collected in the Yuba River at Bridgeport, Jones Bar, Highway 49 Bridge, Purdon Crossing, Below Humbug Creek, Above Humbug Creek, Keleher Campground and Langs Crossing.
Temporal Representation: | Measurements were taken on a monthly frequency throughout the year from 2001 through 2006 and at various addtional intervals.
Environmental Conditions: |
QAPP Information: | Data were collected in accordance with the Water Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Yuba Watershed Council Monitoring Comittee
QAPP Information Reference(s):