Contaminant Concentrations in Sport Fish from San Francisco Bay, 2014

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | June 1st, 2017

This summary report presents results from a 2014 survey of contaminants in San Francisco Bay sport fish, as well as an additional 2015 sampling of sport fish in Artesian

This summary report presents results from a 2014 survey of contaminants in San Francisco Bay sport fish, as well as an additional 2015 sampling of sport fish in Artesian Slough in Lower South Bay. This monitoring effort represents the seventh round of sport fish contaminant monitoring conducted by the Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP). This technical report is intended for agency staff charged with managing water quality issues related to bioaccumulation of contaminants in San Francisco Bay.  The RMP began sport fish monitoring in 1997, following a pilot study conducted by the Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program in 1994. Data collected through this monitoring program provides updates on the status and long-term trends of contaminants in Bay sport fish, and are used to update human health consumption advisories and evaluate the effectiveness of regulatory and management efforts to reduce the impacts of contaminants of concern in the Bay. Key analyses in this report include comparisons of concentrations to human health and regulatory thresholds, spatial trend evaluation, and temporal trend evaluation.  Mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, selenium, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs) were analyzed across sixteen fish species collected at eight locations in San Francisco Bay and Artesian Slough. Fish species were selected based on a number of criteria, including species that are popular for consumption, are sensitive indicators of problems (accumulating relatively high concentrations of contaminants), are widely distributed, represent different exposure pathways (benthic vs. pelagic), and have been monitored in the past. Concentrations were compared to numeric human health thresholds established by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) for mercury, PCBs, selenium, and PBDEs. Results were also compared to regulatory thresholds for mercury, PCBs, and selenium, as well as non-regulatory screening value for dioxins, which have been established in Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) regulations by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board). 

Control of the Clear Lake Gnat in California

Entomological Society of America (ESA) | August 1st, 1951

Coordinated Long-Term Operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project, Final Environmental Impact Statement

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) | November 30th, 2015

Costs of Ecosystem Management Actions for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) | April 22nd, 2013

California is at a critical juncture on policy for the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. This report summarizes the results of a wide-ranging study of cost-effective wa

California is at a critical juncture on policy for the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. This report summarizes the results of a wide-ranging study of cost-effective ways to improve the health of the Delta ecosystem. It highlights the need for science-based, integrated management of the many sources of ecosystem stress. The report also recommends improvements to the highly fragmented system of oversight that now involves dozens of federal, state, and local agencies. Several companion reports contain related findings: Aquatic Ecosystem Stressors in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (Mount et al. 2012) summarizes the science of Delta ecosystem stressors for a policymaking audience. Integrated Management of Delta Stressors: Institutional and Legal Options (Gray et al. 2013) lays out proposals for institutional reform of science, management, and regulation. Scientist and Stakeholder Views on the Delta Ecosystem (Hanak et al. 2013) presents detailed results of the two surveys conducted by the report’s authors. Stress Relief: Prescriptions for a Healthier Delta Ecosystem (Hanak et al. 2013) summarizes the overall research project and the recommendations it generated. Where the Wild Things Aren’t: Making the Delta a Better Place for Native Species (Moyle et al. 2012) outlines a realistic long-term vision for achieving a healthier ecosystem.

Coupling a spatiotemporally distributed soil water budget with stream‐depletion functions to inform stakeholder‐driven management of groundwater‐dependent ecosystems

American Geophysical Union (AGU) | November 12th, 2013

Groundwater pumping, even if only seasonal, may significantly impact groundwater‐dependent ecosystems through increased streamflow depletion, particularly in semiarid a

Groundwater pumping, even if only seasonal, may significantly impact groundwater‐dependent ecosystems through increased streamflow depletion, particularly in semiarid and arid regions. The effects are exacerbated, under some conditions, by climate change. In social sciences, the management of groundwater‐dependent ecosystems is generally considered a “wicked” problem due to the complexity of affected stakeholder groups, disconnected legal frameworks, and a divergence of policies and science at the cross road between groundwater and surface water, and between ecosystems and water quality. A range of often simplified scientific tools plays an important role in addressing such problems. Here we develop a spatiotemporally distributed soil water budget model that we couple with an analytical model for stream depletion from groundwater pumping to rapidly assess seasonal impacts of groundwater pumping on streamflow during critical low flow periods. We demonstrate the applicability of the tool for the Scott Valley in Northern California, where protected salmon depend on summer streamflow fed by cool groundwater. In this example, simulations suggest that increased recharge in the period immediately preceding the critical low streamflow season, and transfer of groundwater pumping away from the stream are potentially promising tools to address ecosystem concerns, albeit raising difficult infrastructure and water trading issues. In contrast, additional winter recharge at the expense of later spring recharge, whether intentional or driven by climate may reduce summer streamflows. Comparison to existing detailed numerical groundwater model results suggests that the coupled soil water mass balance—stream depletion function approach provides a viable tool for scenario development among stakeholders, to constructively inform the search for potential solutions, and to direct more detailed, complex site‐specific feasibility studies. The tool also identifies important field monitoring efforts needed to improve the understanding and quantification of site‐specific groundwater‐stream interactions.

Critical Assessment of the Delta Smelt Population in the San Francisco Estuary, California

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) | July 1st, 2005

Cruise Plan: 2016 Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) Bivalve Deployment Cruise

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | June 2nd, 2016

This report details plans associated with the biennial Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in the San Francisco Estuary (RMP) bivalve deployment cruise. This Cr

This report details plans associated with the biennial Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in the San Francisco Estuary (RMP) bivalve deployment cruise. This Cruise Plan was developed based upon the decisions of the RMP Technical Review Committee in 2002 to reduce the number of bivalve transplant stations from twelve to nine, utilize deployment cages rather than bags at all stations, and deploy only Mytilus californianus. These changes went into effect with the 2003 program and continued through the 2012 deployments. In 2014, the RMP Technical Review Committee reduced bivalve deployment transplant stations from 9 to 7 stations, 3 of which are back-up deployment sites. In addition, as instituted initially with the 2006 deployments, there is no mid-deployment maintenance cruise, as previous analyses showed no difference in bivalve growth or survival between maintained and unmaintained deployments. 

Cruise Plan: 2016 Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) Bivalve Retrieval Cruise

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | September 27th, 2016

This report details plans associated with the biennial Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP) bivalve retrieval cruise. This Cruise Plan

This report details plans associated with the biennial Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP) bivalve retrieval cruise. This Cruise Plan was developed based upon the decisions of the RMP Technical Review Committee in 2002 to reduce the number of bivalve transplant stations from twelve to nine, utilize deployment cages rather than bags at all stations, and deploy only Mytilus californianus. These changes went into effect with the 2003 program and continued through the 2012 deployments. In 2014, the RMP Technical Review Committee reduced bivalve deployment transplant stations from 9 to 7 stations, 3 of which are back-up deployment sites. In addition, as instituted initially with the 2006 deployments, there is no mid-deployment maintenance cruise, as previous analyses showed no difference in bivalve growth or survival between maintained and unmaintained deployments. 

Cruise Report 2016 Regional Monitoring Plan (RMP) Bivalve Deployment Cruise, June 28 – July 1, 2016

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | July 7th, 2016

This report describes activities associated with the 2016 bivalve deployment cruise of the Regional Monitoring Program (RMP). Measurement of contaminant concentrations in

This report describes activities associated with the 2016 bivalve deployment cruise of the Regional Monitoring Program (RMP). Measurement of contaminant concentrations in transplanted bivalves accumulated during dry season deployment is designed to provide long-term data on the bioaccumulation of select trace elements and trace organic compounds in tissue throughout the Estuary. 

Cruise Report: 2016 Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) Bivalve Retrieval Cruise, September 30 – October 13, 2016

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | November 3rd, 2016

This report describes activities associated with the 2016 bivalve retrieval cruise of the Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in the San Francisco Estuary (RMP)

This report describes activities associated with the 2016 bivalve retrieval cruise of the Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in the San Francisco Estuary (RMP). Measurement of contaminant concentrations in transplanted bivalves accumulated during dry season deployment is designed to provide long-term data on the bioaccumulation of trace elements and trace organic compounds in tissue throughout the Estuary.