Biological Condition of Non-Perennial Streams and Spring-Fed Oases in the Colorado River Basin Region

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | August 22nd, 2014

The Colorado River Basin Regional Water Board conducted bioassessment sampling at high-quality (i.e., “reference”) streams in their region during 2013-2015. The purpo

The Colorado River Basin Regional Water Board conducted bioassessment sampling at high-quality (i.e., “reference”) streams in their region during 2013-2015. The purpose of the study was to characterize the biological condition of these streams, which had never been done before, and to expand ongoing research as to whether existing biological indices, developed primarily for perennial streams, apply in nonperennial streams. The latter are usually excluded from bioassessment surveys, but make up the majority of stream length in the most arid parts of the state like the Colorado River Basin, leaving stream condition assessments in such regions largely incomplete. The indices evaluated were the California Stream Condition Index (CSCI) based on benthic macroinvertebrates and the first to have statewide applicability in perennial streams, and the D18 and S2 indices for diatoms and soft algae, respectively, developed for use in perennial streams of southern coastal California. Sixteen sites were sampled during the 3-year period, and data loggers that measure water depth were deployed for 2 of the 3 years to characterize the hydrologic regime at each site. Most sites were nonperennial, but a few were spring-fed perennial oases. Fourteen of the sites passed formal reference screening criteria developed by statewide programs. The CSCI and S2 indices had generally good applicability in the region, with most samples from reference sites indicated either good or fair (i.e., non-degraded) biological condition. The mean CSCI score at regional reference sites was slightly lower than the statewide mean (i.e., 0.90 vs. 1.0, respectively), but the difference could be an artifact of a relatively small regional data set. The fact that CSCI and S2 performed as well as they did in a region, and in a set of stream types, largely excluded from their development indicates that the indices can be used in nonperennial streams (and spring-fed oases) in the Colorado River Basin as long as certain minimum flow conditions are met, such as sustained flow for several weeks prior to sampling and sufficient wetted width to employ existing protocols developed for perennial streams. By contrast, the D18 index did not perform well in the region. A majority of samples from reference sites indicated poor or very poor biological condition when condition thresholds based on statewide data sets were used, but even when more relaxed thresholds based on just south coast reference sites were applied, the number of reference sites in good or fair condition was still much lower than expected. This was not a result of regional reference sites being of low quality, but was most likely an artifact of applying the index to a set a stream types unintended for its use. Development of statewide algal indices is underway, which may improve the performance of diatom indices in the southern desert.

Biological opinion on the coordinated operations of the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) | December 15th, 2008

On May 16, 2008, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources asked the Service to initiate consultation on the Long-Term Operational C

On May 16, 2008, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources asked the Service to initiate consultation on the Long-Term Operational Criteria and Plan (OCAP) for coordination of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project, specifically concerning the delta smelt and its critical habitat. (See OCAP Legal Archives.) On December 15, 2008, the Fish & Wildlife Service issued a biological opinion (BO) on the Long-Term Operational Criteria and Plan (OCAP) for coordination of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. The Service determined that the continued operation of these two water projects, as described in the plan, was likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the delta smelt and adversely modify its critical habitat. The inclusion by the Service of reasonable and prudent alternatives, and their acceptance by the water agencies, avoided jeopardy and adverse modification.

Biological sensitivities to high-resolution climate change projections in the California current marine ecosystem

Wiley | July 28th, 2022

Biology-based Stressor Thresholds

California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) | October 1st, 2011

The objective of this memo is to describe how biological assessment data (such as those collected using Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) bioasse

The objective of this memo is to describe how biological assessment data (such as those collected using Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) bioassessment protocols) can be used to develop biologically-relevant stressor thresholds. This memo describes an objective approach for setting regulatory stressor thresholds based on the association between biological condition and stressor intensity gradients. While these relationships show a large amount of variability typical of biological data, there are clear thresholds that indicate levels below or above which stream health is maintained or degraded.

Bisphenols in San Francisco Bay: Wastewater, Stormwater, and Margin Sediment Monitoring

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | October 28th, 2022

Bisphenols are a class of synthetic, mobile, endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Bisphenol A (BPA), the most well-studied bisphenol, is produced and used in vast quantities w

Bisphenols are a class of synthetic, mobile, endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Bisphenol A (BPA), the most well-studied bisphenol, is produced and used in vast quantities worldwide—especially in polycarbonate plastics and as a polymer additive. Recently, some manufacturers have begun using alternative bisphenol compounds, such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS). These uses of bisphenols have led to widespread bisphenol detections in the environment and wildlife. The present study examined wastewater effluent in the San Francisco Bay Area and San Francisco Bay sediment samples for 17 bisphenols. The effluent samples were compared to available stormwater runoff data to better understand bisphenol transport, fate, and potential risks to wildlife.

Blurred lines: Multiple freshwater and marine algal toxins at the land-sea interface of San Francisco Bay, California

Harmful Algae (Elsevier) | March 10th, 2018

San Francisco Bay (SFB) is a eutrophic estuary that harbors both freshwater and marine toxigenic organisms that are responsible for harmful algal blooms. While there are

San Francisco Bay (SFB) is a eutrophic estuary that harbors both freshwater and marine toxigenic organisms that are responsible for harmful algal blooms. While there are few commercial fishery harvests within SFB, recreational and subsistence harvesting for shellfish is common. Coastal shellfish are monitored for domoic acid and paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), but within SFB there is no routine monitoring for either toxin. Dinophysis shellfish toxins (DSTs) and freshwater microcystins are also present within SFB, but not routinely monitored. Acute exposure to any of these toxin groups has severe consequences for marine organisms and humans, but chronic exposure to sub-lethal doses, or synergistic effects from multiple toxins, are poorly understood and rarely addressed. This study documents the occurrence of domoic acid and microcystins in SFB from 2011 to 2016, and identifies domoic acid, microcystins, DSTs, and PSTs in marine mussels within SFB in 2012, 2014, and 2015. At least one toxin was detected in 99% of mussel samples, and all four toxin suites were identified in 37% of mussels. The presence of these toxins in marine mussels indicates that wildlife and humans who consume them are exposed to toxins at both sub-lethal and acute levels. As such, there are potential deleterious impacts for marine organisms and humans and these effects are unlikely to be documented. These results demonstrate the need for regular monitoring of marine and freshwater toxins in SFB, and suggest that co-occurrence of multiple toxins is a potential threat in other ecosystems where freshwater and seawater mix.

Bottled water contaminant exposures and potential human effects

Environment International (Elsevier) | December 19th, 2022

Background: Bottled water (BW) consumption in the United States and globally has increased amidst heightened concern about environmental contaminant exposures and health

Background: Bottled water (BW) consumption in the United States and globally has increased amidst heightened concern about environmental contaminant exposures and health risks in drinking water supplies, despite a paucity of directly comparable, environmentally-relevant contaminant exposure data for BW. This study provides insight into exposures and cumulative risks to human health from inorganic/organic/microbial contaminants in BW. Methods: BW from 30 total domestic US (23) and imported (7) sources, including purified tapwater (7) and spring water (23), were analyzed for 3 field parameters, 53 inorganics, 465 organics, 14 microbial metrics, and in vitro estrogen receptor (ER) bioactivity. Health-benchmark-weighted cumulative hazard indices and ratios of organic- contaminant in vitro exposure-activity cutoffs were assessed for detected regulated and unregulated inorganic and organic contaminants. Results: 48 inorganics and 45 organics were detected in sampled BW. No enforceable chemical quality standards were exceeded, but several inorganic and organic contaminants with maximum contaminant level goal(s) (MCLG) of zero (no known safe level of exposure to vulnerable sub-populations) were detected. Among these, arsenic, lead, and uranium were detected in 67 %, 17 %, and 57 % of BW, respectively, almost exclusively in spring-sourced samples not treated by advanced filtration. Organic MCLG exceedances included frequent detections of disinfection byproducts (DBP) in tapwater-sourced BW and sporadic detections of DBP and volatile organic chemicals in BW sourced from tapwater and springs. Precautionary health-based screening levels were exceeded frequently and attributed primarily to DBP in tapwater-sourced BW and co-occurring inorganic and organic contaminants in spring-sourced BW. Conclusion: The results indicate that simultaneous exposures to multiple drinking-water contaminants of potential human-health concern are common in BW. Improved understandings of human exposures based on more environmentally realistic and directly comparable point-of-use exposure characterizations, like this BW study, are essential to public health because drinking water is a biological necessity and, consequently, a high vulnerability vector for human contaminant exposures.

Brackish Water Desalination Facility Project

Delta Stewardship Council (Delta Council) | April 1st, 2020

The City of Antioch (City) is proposing the Brackish Water Desalination Project (Project), which consists of the construction of a desalination facility at the City’s

The City of Antioch (City) is proposing the Brackish Water Desalination Project (Project), which consists of the construction of a desalination facility at the City’s water treatment plant (WTP) with the capacity to produce up to 6 million gallons per day (mgd) of finished water; demolition of the existing San Joaquin River intake pump station; construction of a new intake pump station; approximately 3,000 feet of pipeline from the existing raw water pipeline underneath Lone Tree Way to the City’s WTP to allow a direct connection to maximize use of existing infrastructure; and approximately 4 miles of pipeline from the desalination facility to the Delta Diablo wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to discharge brine with the WWTP effluent through the existing Delta Diablo outfall to New York Slough. The Project facilities would be located in the cities of Antioch and Pittsburg, California (Figure 1), at the western edge of the San Joaquin- Sacramento Delta (Delta). The main objectives of the Project are to improve water supply reliability and water quality for its customers; develop a reliable and drought-resistance water source to reduce dependency on purchased water supplies; maximize and preserve the use of the City’s pre-1914 water rights; and provide cost effective operational flexibility for the City.

Building Capacity of the California Wetland Program Plan to Protect and Restore Vernal Pools

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | June 30th, 2022

The California Wetland Program Plan (WPP1) seeks to strengthen protection for wetlands in many ways, including building capacity to track the net benefits of wetland poli

The California Wetland Program Plan (WPP1) seeks to strengthen protection for wetlands in many ways, including building capacity to track the net benefits of wetland policies and programs by employing aspects of the State’s Wetlands and Riparian Area Monitoring Plan (WRAMP). The WRAMP framework was initially developed by the California Wetland Monitoring Workgroup (CWMW) of the California Water Quality Monitoring Council (WQMC). The framework recommends the application of systematic and standardized methods to support aquatic resource mapping, wetland condition assessment, public data access to support mitigation planning, and project performance tracking. This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Wetland Program Development Grant focused on developing foundational environmental datasets that support a regional approach to protect and restore vernal pool habitats in California’s Central Valley by applying the California Rapid Assessment Method for streams and wetlands (CRAM). The outputs provide a landscape context for wetland project evaluations and ecological condition tracking tools that can support project planning and performance tracking as outlined in the 401 Certification Program’s State Wetland Definition and Procedures for Discharges of Dredged or Fill Material to Waters of the State (or Procedures, SWRCB Rev. April 2021).

Building water resilience in the face of cascading wildfire risks

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) | September 15th, 2023