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LOE ID: |
25189 |
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Pollutant: |
Mercury |
LOE Subgroup: |
Pollutant-Tissue |
Matrix: |
Tissue |
Fraction: |
Total |
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Beneficial Use: |
Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms |
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Number of Samples: |
66 |
Number of Exceedances: |
11 |
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Data and Information Type: |
Fish tissue analysis |
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: |
Fish were sampled for tissue analysis at two locations from Whiskeytown Reservoir. A total of 11 out of 66 samples exceeded the USEPA fish tissue criterion for human health. 1) Whiskeytown Reservoir, near Brandy Creek: The average wet weight mercury concentration in fish tissue was 0.11 ppm for the 26 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: Bluegill- 4 samples, 0.07-0.21 ppm (average 0.14 ppm), no exceedances; Brown Bullhead- 7 samples, 0.03-0.05 ppm (average 0.04 ppm), no exceedances; Largemouth Bass- 5 samples, 0.09-0.12 ppm (average 0.1 ppm), no exceedances; Sacramento Pikeminnow- 3 samples, 0.05-0.05 ppm (average 0.05 ppm), no exceedances; Smallmouth Bass- 3 samples, 0.1-0.72 ppm (average 0.36 ppm), 1 exceedance; Spotted Bass- 4 samples, 0.07-0.11 ppm (average 0.08 ppm), no exceedances. 2) Whiskeytown Reservoir, near the Clear Creek inlet: The average wet weight mercury concentration in fish tissue was 0.21 ppm for the 40 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: Brook Trout- 16 samples, 0.02-0.03 ppm (average 0.02 ppm), no exceedances; Largemouth Bass- 1 sample, 0.29 ppm, no exceedances; Sacramento Pikeminnow- 5 samples, 0.23-0.83 ppm (average 0.63 ppm), 4 exceedances; Sacramento Sucker- 8 samples, 0.21-0.62 ppm (average 0.44 ppm), 6 exceedances; Spotted Bass- 10 samples, 0.05-0.15 ppm (average 0.09 ppm), no exceedances. All 66 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: |
Fish Mercury Project, Year 2 Annual Report, Sport Fish Sampling and Analysis. Final Report. October 2007 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Spatial Representation: |
Samples were collected at two locations from Whiskeytown Reservoir: near Brandy Creek, and near the Clear Creek and Bull Gulch inlets. |
Temporal Representation: |
Fish samples were collected during one sampling event between 7/11/2006 and 7/13/2006. |
Environmental Conditions: |
Significant gold mining activity occurred during the Gold Rush era within the Whiskeytown Reservoir watershed and the lands inundated by Whiskeytown 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 Laboratory QAPP developed by Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML, 2005). This data was also collected and analyzed in accordance with the CALFED Mercury Project QAPP (Puckett and van Buuren, 2000). |
QAPP Information Reference(s): |
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|
LOE ID: |
25190 |
|
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: |
Fish tissue analysis |
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: |
Two Largemouth Bass composite samples were collected for tissue analysis at one location from Whiskeytown Reservoir. None of the 2 samples exceeded the USEPA fish tissue criterion for human health. The wet weight mercury concentrations of the 2 samples were 0.09 ppm and 0.22 ppm. 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: |
Mercury Contamination in Fish from Northern California Lakes and Reservoirs. State of California. The Resources Agency. Department of Water Resources. Northern District. July 2007 |
|
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 |
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Spatial Representation: |
Samples were collected at one location near the Whiskey Creek Arm of Whiskeytown Reservoir. |
Temporal Representation: |
Fish samples were collected during the spring and summer of 2000 and 2001. |
Environmental Conditions: |
Significant gold mining activity occurred during the Gold Rush era within the Whiskeytown Reservoir watershed and the lands inundated by Whiskeytown Reservoir (USGS, 2005). |
QAPP Information: |
Data quality: Excellent.. Quality control for sample collection, preparation, handling, and analyses were conducted in accordance with the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program Quality Assurance Program Plan (Puckett, 2002) with the following exception: instead of wrapping fish in Teflon sheets before being frozen and transported to the laboratory, the fish were wrapped in aluminum foil (dull side to skin). This wrapping method should not have affected mercury concentrations. Quality control procedures for selection of target fish species and compositing of samples followed the General Protocol for Sport Fish Sampling and Analysis developed by OEHHA (Gassel and Brodberg, 2005). |
QAPP Information Reference(s): |