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

# Supporting Information

## Regional Board 5 - Central Valley Region

Water Body Name: | Lower Bear River Reservoir
Water Body ID: | CAL5326004320020430103904
Water Body Type: | Lake & Reservoir

DECISION ID | 4459
Pollutant: | Copper
Final Listing Decision: | Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2006)
Revision Status | Revised
Reason for Delisting: | Flaws in original listing
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: | Pollutant
Weight of Evidence: | This pollutant is being considered for removal from the section 303(d) list under section 4 of the Listing Policy. Under section 4 of the listing policy, all listings of water segments shall be removed from the section 303(d) list if the listing was based on faulty data, and it is demonstrated that the listing would not have occurred in the absence of such faulty data. Faulty data include, but are not limited to, typographical errors, improper quality assurance/quality control procedures, or limitations related to the analytical methods that would lead to improper conclusions regarding the water quality status of the segment. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification for removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the section 303(d) list. This conclusion is based on the staff findings that: 1. This pollutant was erroneously listed in the 2006 listing cycle. The State Water Board recomended "do not list" for copper in the Lower Bear River Reservoir, as shown on page 549 of the State Water Boards staff report documenting "do not list" fact sheets for the Central Valley Region. http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/tmdl/docs/303dlists2006/swrcb/staffreport/dnl_r5.pdf. 2. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy. 3. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy. 4. One of 14 samples exceeded the CTR criterion and this does not exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.1 of the Listing Policy. 5. Pursuant to section 4.11 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 removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are not being exceeded.
SWRCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation: |
USEPA Decision: |

Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 4459

LOE ID: | 730
Pollutant: | Copper
LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water
Matrix: | Water
Fraction: | Dissolved
Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat
Number of Samples: | 14
Number of Exceedances: | 1
Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | One out of 14 samples exceeded the criteria. The measurements were made using two different approaches. One set of samples had a higher quantitation limit of 0.5 ug/L. The other set of samples had a lower quantitation limit of 0.03 ug/L. Only one of the higher quantitation limit level samples could be used for this assessment. This sample was the sample that exceeded the criteria. [Preliminary Supplemental Copper Monitoring Results March - December 2002] (PG&E, 2003b).
Data Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Hardness based criteria from USEPA (CTR) for freshwater ranged from 1.36 ug/L to 0.50 ug/L.
Objective/Criterion Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
Evaluation Guideline: |
Guideline Reference:
Spatial Representation: | Sample sites: LBRR1 - top, Lower Bear River Reservoir - surface sample near dam. LBRR1 - middle, Lower Bear River Reservoir - mid depth sample near dam. LBRR1 - bottom, Lower Bear River Reservoir - bottom sample near dam.
Temporal Representation: | Samples were taken from 4/23/2002 to 09/09/2003.
Environmental Conditions: |
QAPP Information: | Well documented QA/QC including report on certified analytical reports and chain-of-custody documentation.
QAPP Information Reference(s):

DECISION ID | 4461
Pollutant: | pH
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)(2006)
Revision Status | Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: | Pollutant
Weight of Evidence: | This pollutant is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under sections 3.2 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.2 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. One line of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Based on section 3.2 the site does not meet the Basin Plan water quality objective for pH in a few instances. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is insufficient 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. Three of 13 averaged water sample pH values exceeded the Basin Plan water quality objective for pH, and this does not exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.2 of the Listing Policy. 5. 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 not be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
SWRCB Board Decision / Staff 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 applicable water quality standards are not exceeded.
USEPA Decision: |

Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 4461

LOE ID: | 734
Pollutant: | pH
LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water
Matrix: | Water
Fraction: | Dissolved
Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat
Number of Samples: | 13
Number of Exceedances: | 3
Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | pH was measured at the top, middle, and bottom of the Lower Bear Reservoir. 3 (of 13) average pH measurements were below the Basin Plan pH criterion (6.5). (PG&E, 2003b).
Data Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | "pH is not to be depressed below 6.5"- From the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board's Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan).
Objective/Criterion Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
Evaluation Guideline: |
Guideline Reference:
Spatial Representation: | Lower Bear River Reservoir sample collected near the dam from the epilimnion (Top). Latitude (38° 32.365 N); Longitude (120° 15.162 W).
Temporal Representation: | Samples taken monthly* from 4/12/2002 to 12/11/2002. *(No sample taken 11/13/2002 due to snow storm).
Environmental Conditions: |
QAPP Information: | Well documented QA/QC including report on Certified Analytical Reports and Chain-of-Custody Documentation.
QAPP Information Reference(s):

DECISION ID | 4460
Pollutant: | Oxygen, Dissolved
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)(2006)
Revision Status | Original
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: | Pollutant
Weight of Evidence: | 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. Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. A few samples exceed the water quality objective. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against 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 numeric water quality objective for dissolved oxygen was not exceeded. 2. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy. 3. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy. 4. Three of 22 samples exceeded the Basin Plan dissolved oxygen water quality objective (below 7.0 mg/L), and these do not exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.2 of the Listing Policy. 5. 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: | No new data were assessed for 2008. The Regional Board will update this decision when new data and information become available and are assessed.
SWRCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation: | This is a decision made by the State Water Resources Control Board and approved by the USEPA in 2006 . No new data were assessed by the Regional Board for 2008. The decision has not changed.
USEPA Decision: |

Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 4460

LOE ID: | 731
Pollutant: | Oxygen, Dissolved
LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water
Matrix: | Water
Fraction: | Dissolved
Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat
Number of Samples: | 8
Number of Exceedances: | 2
Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Two out of 8 samples at this location had a DO concentration below 7.0 mg/L. (PG&E, 2003b).
Data Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Dissolved Oxygen (DO) concentrations shall not be reduced below 7.0 mg/L (for waters designated as COLD)-From the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board's Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan).
Objective/Criterion Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
Evaluation Guideline: |
Guideline Reference:
Spatial Representation: | Lower Bear River Reservoir sample collected near the dam from the epilimnion (Top). Latitude (38° 32.365 N); Longitude (120° 15.162 W).
Temporal Representation: | Samples taken monthly* from 4/12/2002 to 12/11/2002. *(No sample taken 11/13/2002 due to snow storm).
Environmental Conditions: |
QAPP Information: | Well documented QA/QC including 174 page report on Certified Analytical Reports and Chain-of-Custody Documentation.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
LOE ID: | 732
Pollutant: | Oxygen, Dissolved
LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water
Matrix: | Water
Fraction: | Dissolved
Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat
Number of Samples: | 6
Number of Exceedances: | 0
Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Zero out of 6 samples at this location had a DO concentration below 7.0 mg/L. (PG&E, 2003b).
Data Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Dissolved Oxygen (DO) concentrations shall not be reduced below 7.0 mg/L (for waters designated as COLD)-From the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board's Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan).
Objective/Criterion Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
Evaluation Guideline: |
Guideline Reference:
Spatial Representation: | Lower Bear River Reservoir sample collected near the dam from the epilimnion (Middle). Latitude (38° 32.365 N); Longitude (120° 15.162 W).
Temporal Representation: | Samples taken monthly from 5/16/2002 to 10/23/2002.
Environmental Conditions: |
QAPP Information: | Well documented QA/QC including 174 page report on Certified Analytical Reports and Chain-of-Custody Documentation.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
LOE ID: | 733
Pollutant: | Oxygen, Dissolved
LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water
Matrix: | Water
Fraction: | Dissolved
Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat
Number of Samples: | 8
Number of Exceedances: | 1
Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | One out of 8 samples at this location had a DO concentration below 7.0 mg/L. (PG&E, 2003b).
Data Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Dissolved Oxygen (DO) concentrations shall not be reduced below 7.0 mg/L (for waters designated as COLD)-From the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board's Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan).
Objective/Criterion Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
Evaluation Guideline: |
Guideline Reference:
Spatial Representation: | Lower Bear River Reservoir sample collected near the dam from the hypolimnion (Bottom). Latitude (38° 32.365 N); Longitude (120° 15.162 W).
Temporal Representation: | Samples taken monthly* from 4/23/2002 to 12/11/2002. *(No sample taken on 11/13/02 due to snow storm).
Environmental Conditions: |
QAPP Information: | Well documented QA/QC including 174 page report on Certified Analytical Reports and Chain-of-Custody Documentation.
QAPP Information Reference(s):