Strategy for In-Bay Fate Modeling to Support Contaminant and Sediment Management in San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | August 15th, 2022

This report presents a strategy and multi-year workplan for modeling polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), and sediment in San Franci

This report presents a strategy and multi-year workplan for modeling polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), and sediment in San Francisco Bay (the Bay). Robust in-Bay fate modeling is needed to address priority management questions that have been identified for these constituents.

Stress Relief: Prescriptions for a Healthier Delta Ecosystem

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 ways t

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.

Summary and Evaluation of Central Valley Spring-run Chinook Salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit 2016

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) | April 13th, 2016

The ESA, under Section 4(c)(2), directs the Secretary of Commerce to review the listing classification of threatened and endangered species at least once every five years

The ESA, under Section 4(c)(2), directs the Secretary of Commerce to review the listing classification of threatened and endangered species at least once every five years. After completing this review, the Secretary must determine if any species should be: (1) removed from the list; (2) have its status changed from threatened to endangered; or (3) have its status changed from endangered to threatened. The most recent status reviews for West Coast salmon and steelhead occurred in 2010, and prior to that in 2005 and 2006. This document summarizes NMFS’s 5-year review of the ESA-listed Central Valley (CV) spring-run Chinook salmon Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU).

Summary of Draft Environmental Impact Report Peripheral Canal Project

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | August 1st, 1974

Summary of Federal and State Water Project Environmental Impacts in the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary, California

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) | July 15th, 1996

Summary of NMFS BiOp RPA Actions for Water Year 2014

Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) | October 30th, 2014

Summary Report on the Transactions of the Smelt Working Group in Water Year 2014

Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) | August 29th, 2014

The Bay‐Delta Fish and Wildlife Office (BDFWO) has prepared this report to summarize the implementation the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) biological opi

The Bay‐Delta Fish and Wildlife Office (BDFWO) has prepared this report to summarize the implementation the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) biological opinion on the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) Long‐term Operations (BiOp) in Water Year (WY) 2014. In addition to background information pertinent to implementation of the BiOp , this report provides a summary of the transactions of the Smelt Working Group (SWG), as well as water operations and during WY 2014. The SWG is a technical team that evaluates biological and technical issues regarding Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) and develops recommendations for consideration by the Service during implementation of the BiOp’s Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) actions. During WY 2014 the SWG made no recommendations for more restrictive water operations and the Service issued no determinations to reduce water exports.

Summary Report on the Transactions of the Smelt Working Group in Water Year 2018

Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) | November 1st, 2018

Support for Sediment Bioaccumulation Evaluation: Toxicity Reference Values for San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | December 3rd, 2018

This special study of the Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay was conducted to support the Dredged Material Management Office (DMMO) proces

This special study of the Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay was conducted to support the Dredged Material Management Office (DMMO) process of evaluating results from bioaccumulation testing performed for routine dredging projects. The goal was to use the current DMMO methodology for selecting Toxicity Reference Values (TRVs) from the US Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Residue-Effects Database (ERED), in order to develop a standard list of TRVs for San Francisco Bay. TRVs are used as a conservative screening tool to efficiently evaluate whether observed invertebrate test organism body burdens could indicate adverse ecological effects on benthic organisms in situ. Currently, there are no published standard TRVs for the Bay, and TRV selection is presently performed on a case-by-case basis during the evaluation of bioaccumulation testing results submitted by individual dredgers. A standard list would promote consistent application of the methodology and improve the efficiency of dredging project evaluations. 

Suspect Screening and Chemical Profile Analysis of Storm-Water Runoff Following 2017 Wildfires in Northern California

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) | May 5th, 2022

The combustion of structures and household materials as well as firefighting during wildfires lead to releases of potentially hazardous chemicals directly into the landsc

The combustion of structures and household materials as well as firefighting during wildfires lead to releases of potentially hazardous chemicals directly into the landscape. Subsequent storm-water runoff events can transport wildfire-related contaminants to downstream receiving waters, where they may pose water quality concerns. To evaluate the environmental hazards of northern California fires on the types of contaminants in storm water discharging to San Francisco Bay and the coastal marine environment, we analyzed storm water collected after the northern California wildfires (October 2017) using a nontargeted analytical (NTA) approach. Liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometric analysis was completed on storm-water samples (n = 20) collected from Napa County (impacted by the Atlas and Nuns fires), the city of Santa Rosa, and Sonoma County (Nuns and Tubbs fires) during storm events that occurred in November 2017 and January 2018. The NTA approach enabled us to establish profiles of contaminants based on peak intensities and chemical categories found in the storm-water samples and to prioritize significant chemicals within these profiles possibly attributed to the wildfire. The results demonstrated the presence of a wide range of contaminants in the storm water, including surfactants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and chemicals from consumer and personal care products. Homologs of polyethylene glycol were found to be the major contributor to the contaminants, followed by other widely used surfactants. Nonylphenol ethoxylates, typically used as surfactants, were detected and were much higher in samples collected after Storm Event 1 relative to Storm Event 2. The present study provides a comprehensive approach for examining wildfire-impacted storm-water contamination of related contaminants, of which we found many with potential ecological risk.