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LOE ID: |
22563 |
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Pollutant: |
Mercury |
LOE Subgroup: |
Pollutant-Tissue |
Matrix: |
Tissue |
Fraction: |
Total |
|
Beneficial Use: |
Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms |
|
Number of Samples: |
44 |
Number of Exceedances: |
12 |
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Data and Information Type: |
PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING |
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: |
Fish were sampled for tissue analysis at multiple locations throughout New Melones Reservoir. A total of 12 out of 44 samples exceeded the USEPA fish tissue criterion for human health. The average wet weight mercury concentration in fish tissue was 0.23 ppm for all 44 samples collected. The number of fish collected per sample, the measured mercury concentrations in fish tissue, and the number of exceedances are, by species: Bluegill- 1 sample, 0.18 ppm, no exceedances; Channel Catfish- 15 samples, 0.05-0.28 ppm (average 0.13 ppm), no exceedances; Kokanee Salmon- 11 samples, 0.08-0.14 ppm (average 0.11 ppm), no exceedances; Largemouth Bass- 10 samples, 0.27-0.94 ppm (average 0.48 ppm), 8 exceedances; Spotted Bass- 5 samples, 0.24-0.53 ppm (average 0.4 ppm), 4 exceedances; White Catfish- 2 samples, 0.03 and 0.05 ppm, no exceedances. All 44 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: |
United States Bureau of Reclamation Mercury Fish Study for Folsom and New Melones Reservoirs, 2004-2006. United States Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, Environmental Monitoring Branch. Unpublished Data |
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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. (USEPA, 2001) |
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 multiple locations throughout New Melones Reservoir. Site locations were not provided with the submitted data. |
Temporal Representation: |
Fish samples were collected during one sampling event between 8/10/2004 and 8/11/2004. |
Environmental Conditions: |
Significant gold and mercury mining activity occurred during the Gold Rush era within the New Melones Reservoir watershed and the lands inundated by New Melones Reservoir (USGS, 2005). |
QAPP Information: |
Data quality: Excellent.. Quality Control for all of the elements described in section 6.1.4 of the Policy was conducted in accordance with the QAPP for the Survey of Mercury Content in Fish from Folsom Lake and New Melones Reservoir (USBR, 2004). |
QAPP Information Reference(s): |
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|
LOE ID: |
22564 |
|
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: |
2 |
|
Data and Information Type: |
PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING |
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: |
Fish were sampled for tissue analysis at one location from New Melones Reservoir. A total of 2 out of 2 samples exceeded the USEPA fish tissue criterion for human health. The average wet weight mercury concentration in fish tissue was 0.39 ppm for the two samples collected. The number of fish collected per sample, the measured mercury concentrations in fish tissue, and the number of exceedances are, by species: Carp- one 5-fish composite sample, 0.42 ppm, 1 exceedance; Largemouth Bass- one 7-fish composite sample, 0.36 ppm, 1 exceedance. Both composite samples were collected from fish with average total lengths greater than 150 mm, which represent 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. (USEPA, 2001) |
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 the Angel Creek Arm of New Melones Reservoir. |
Temporal Representation: |
Fish samples were collected during one sampling event on 9/1/1987. |
Environmental Conditions: |
Significant gold and mercury mining activity occurred during the Gold Rush era within the New Melones Reservoir watershed and the lands inundated by New Melones Reservoir (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 1987 (Rasmussen and Starrett, 1989). |
QAPP Information Reference(s): |