Priority Margin Unit Stormwater Monitoring to Support Load Estimates of PCBs into San Leandro Bay and the Emeryville Crescent

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

The Priority Margin Unit Studies: The 2014 update of the RMP PCB Strategy called for a multi-year effort to implement the recommendations of the  PCB Synthesis Report (D

The Priority Margin Unit Studies: The 2014 update of the RMP PCB Strategy called for a multi-year effort to implement the recommendations of the  PCB Synthesis Report (Davis et al., 2014) including: 1. identifying margin units that are high priorities for management and monitoring, 2. developing conceptual models and mass budgets for margin units downstream of watersheds where management actions will occur, and 3. monitoring in these units as a performance measure. The goal of the effort was to inform the review and possible revision of the PCB TMDL and the reissuance of the Municipal Regional Permit for Stormwater (MRP).

Probabilistic Assessment of the Biotic Condition of Perennial Streams and Rivers in California

Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB) | August 22nd, 2006

States are required under the Clean Water Act §305(b) to report annually to Congress on the condition of their waterbodies, but satisfaction of this requirement has been

States are required under the Clean Water Act §305(b) to report annually to Congress on the condition of their waterbodies, but satisfaction of this requirement has been confounded by the lack of resources (both technical and financial) to adequately assess these waterbodies. Partly because of this limitation, most regions of the nation have been unable to answer the most basic questions about their water quality, even 35 years after the passage of the act. To address these constraints, the U.S. EPA established its Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), a long term research program designed to develop the tools and techniques needed for cost-effectively answering the fundamental status and trends questions in the Clean Water Act. The EMAP studies are based on a probabilistic survey design in which each sampling location represents a known length of stream with known statistical confidence. This design permits the inference of stream conditions for large geographic regions with a relatively small investment in sampling. After completing an assessment of the condition of wadeable streams in the Middle-Atlantic states, the EPA initiated a similar assessment of streams in the western states (WEMAP), which included a high density of sites in California. Now that the first round of WEMAP studies has been completed, California has the ability to include the first statistically defensible condition assessments in its 305b reports. Because they provide a direct measure of the biotic integrity, bioassessment data are a key component of EMAP water quality monitoring. Bioassessment, the science of describing the ecological condition of waterbodies from the assemblages of organisms they contain, is well established as a valuable tool for water resource management (Karr 1981, Yoder and Rankin 1995, Barbour et al. 1996, Wright et al. 2000, Bailey et al. 2004). Because assemblages of aquatic organisms (e.g., fish, benthic macroinvertebrates (BMIs) and algae) are comprised of taxa that are differentially responsive to different environmental stressors, bioassessments provide a direct means of measuring compliance with the goal of biotic integrity stipulated under the Clean Water Act. Although comprehensive condition assessments will ultimately include assessments of the physical and chemical conditions of waterbodies, condition assessments based on bioassessment data can stand alone as effective measures of the ecological condition of the state’s waterbodies. There are many different approaches to translating a list of organisms present at a site into an assessment of its ecological condition (Wright et al. 1984, Kerans and Karr 1994, Hawkins et al. 2000, Van Sickle et al. 2005, Ode et al. 2005). We have demonstrated elsewhere (Rehn and Ode 2004, Rehn and Ode 2005) the use of BMI data to produce regional 305(b)-type stream condition assessments using multimetric techniques to calculate site condition scores. These regional assessments were possible because we had previously developed benthic indices of biotic integrity (B-IBIs) for northern and southern coastal California; statewide assessments require a tool for scoring sites that can be applied statewide. We present here a statewide condition assessment using predictive models based on the River Invertebrate Prediction and Classification System (RIVPACS, Wright 1984). Like multimetric approaches (Kerans and Karr 1994, Ode et al. 2005, Rehn and Ode 2005), predictive modeling techniques establish thresholds of ecological impairment based on a characterization of the biotic assemblages expected to occur under minimal human disturbance (Wright et al. 1984, 1989, 2000). However, predictive models compare assemblages at test sites to an expected taxonomic composition rather than expected metric values. Taxon-based models have seen widespread use since the first BMI models were created in Great Britain in the late 1970s (Norris and Georges 1993, Hawkins et al. 2000, Van Sickle et al. 2005) and have been promoted in the US (Hawkins et al. 2000, Hawkins and Carlisle 2001) as an alternative to the multimetric approach initially endorsed by the EPA (Barbour et al. 1999). For this analysis, we employed newly developed California RIVPACS models (C. Hawkins unpublished) that can be used to score sites throughout the state.

Public Update for Drought Response Groundwater Basins with Potential Water Shortages and Gaps in Groundwater Monitoring

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | June 30th, 2014

Year 2013 closed as the driest in recorded history for many areas of California. On January 17, 2014, Governor Brown signed a Proclamation of a State of Emergency in resp

Year 2013 closed as the driest in recorded history for many areas of California. On January 17, 2014, Governor Brown signed a Proclamation of a State of Emergency in response to the drought. This Public Update addresses Order #11 of the Governor’s Proclamation and provides information regarding groundwater basins with potential water shortages and gaps in groundwater monitoring. Groundwater is a vital resource in California providing close to 60 percent of the state’s water supply in a dry year. Drought conditions typically result in an increase of groundwater well activity and pumping to compensate for water supply shortages. Increased groundwater pumping can lead to adverse conditions including dry wells, subsidence, decreased water quality, saline intrusion, and stream depletion. Evaluation of available data produced the following: Groundwater levels have decreased in nearly all areas of the state since spring 2013, and more notably since spring 2010. Since spring 2008, groundwater levels have experienced all-time historical lows (for period of record) in most areas of the state and especially in the northern portion of the San Francisco Bay Hydrologic Region, the southern San Joaquin Valley, and also for the South Lahontan and South Coast hydrologic regions. In many areas of the San Joaquin Valley, recent groundwater levels are more than 100 feet below previous historical lows. The greatest concentration of recently deepened wells is in the fractured bedrock foothill areas of Nevada, Placer, and El Dorado counties. The Kaweah and Kings subbasins have the greatest numbers of deepened wells in an alluvial groundwater basin. Thirty-six alluvial groundwater basins that have a high degree of groundwater use and reliance may possess greater potential to incur water shortages as a result of drought. The basins exist in the North Coast, Central Coast, Sacramento River, Tulare Lake, and South Coast hydrologic regions. Of California’s 515 alluvial groundwater basins, 169 are fully or partially monitored under the California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM) Program. Forty of the 126 High and Medium priority basins are not monitored under CASGEM. There are significant CASGEM groundwater monitoring data gaps in the Sacramento, San Joaquin River, Tulare Lake, Central Coast, and South Lahontan hydrologic regions. Although there are 4,122 CASGEM wells and 39,429 Voluntary wells in the Water Data Library groundwater level database, gaps in groundwater monitoring persist. Several areas of the state lack a current groundwater management plan that addresses all related requirements of the California Water Code. DWR is contracting with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory for use of satellite-based radar data to measure subsidence in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Department of Agriculture are developing an automated system for estimating fallowed agricultural acreage.

Public Update for Drought Response: Groundwater Basins with Potential Water Shortages, Gaps in Groundwater Monitoring, Monitoring of Land Subsidence, and Agricultural Land Fallowing

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | November 25th, 2014

California’s Water Year 2014 (October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014) was one of the driest in decades and followed two consecutive dry years throughout the state.

California’s Water Year 2014 (October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014) was one of the driest in decades and followed two consecutive dry years throughout the state. Water year 2014 was the fourth driest year on record after 1924, 1931, and 1977, based on the Sacramento Valley water year index, and the second driest year on record after 1977, based on the San Joaquin Valley water year index. On January 17, 2014, Governor Brown signed a Proclamation of a State of Emergency in response to the drought. In accordance with the proclamation, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) prepared Public Update for Drought Response, Groundwater Basins with Potential Water Shortages and Gaps in Groundwater Monitoring, dated April 30, 2014. On April 25, 2014, the governor issued a second emergency proclamation to strengthen the state’s ability to manage water and habitat effectively in drought conditions and called on all Californians to redouble their efforts to conserve water. In accordance with Order #11 of the April proclamation, this report provides additional and expanded information on groundwater basins with potential water shortages, gaps in groundwater monitoring, monitoring of land subsidence, and agricultural land fallowing.

Pulse of the Delta 2011

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | March 16th, 2011

Welcome to the first issue of the Pulse of the Delta: Monitoring and Managing Water Quality in the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta, the new publication of the emerging D

Welcome to the first issue of the Pulse of the Delta: Monitoring and Managing Water Quality in the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta, the new publication of the emerging Delta Regional Monitoring Program (RMP). This report is a direct response to Delta RMP stakeholders’ desire for an accessible water quality summary for the Delta that addresses important regional questions. Table of Contents: Did Contaminants Play a Role in the Pelagic Organism Decline? The Delta RMP: Re-thinking Water Quality Monitoring in the Delta Ammonia in the Delta: The science, implications for management How Delta Studies Have Reshaped Our Understanding Pyrethroid Insecticides Contaminants of Emerging Concern: Adapting to a Moving Target New Pesticides

Pulse of the Delta 2012

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | August 2nd, 2013

This second edition of the Pulse of the Delta includes the following sections: The KEY TOPIC article introduces this year’s theme, LINKING SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT THR

This second edition of the Pulse of the Delta includes the following sections: The KEY TOPIC article introduces this year’s theme, LINKING SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT THROUGH REGIONAL MONITORING (PAGE 6). The MANAGEMENT UPDATE section provides updates on Delta RMP development (PAGE 12) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Delta Clean Water Act evaluation (PAGE 18). It further provides an update on the development of Nutrient Numeric Endpoints for San Francisco Bay, due to the relevance of this topic to Delta stakeholders (PAGE 28). And as a new feature, the Management Update section now also provides a regulatory status update for pollutants of concern. This edition of the Pulse of the Delta introduces a NEW STATUS AND TRENDS section with updates on important monitoring results (PAGE 44) and leading indicators (PAGE 50) for the Delta. The STATUS AND TRENDS section was made possible thanks to significant contributions by the Interagency Ecological Program, U.S. Geological Survey, the Central Valley Regional Water Board, California Department of Fish and Game, California Department of Water Resources, and scientists at the UC Berkeley and San Francisco State University Romberg Tiburon Center. Two FEATURE ARTICLES provide an overview of recent research findings that could help wetland managers reduce the methylmercury problem and a glimpse into the future of the Interagency Ecological Program (IEP). One of the main challenges as ecosystem restoration efforts are moving forward will be the mercury problem. Large-scale restoration of wetland areas will be required to provide a sufficient amount of aquatic habitat for restoring the Delta ecosystem. At the same time, water quality managers will need to identify actions to protect people and wildlife from exposure to methylmercury that may originate from restored wetlands, due to a legacy of mercury contamination in Delta soils. Recently completed and ongoing studies in the Yolo Bypass provide new information on management options for controlling methylmercury production in wetlands and offsite transport (PAGE 66). IEP scientists have been monitoring and researching the San Francisco Estuary since 1970. Now the IEP has arrived at an important crossroads, and its future is being decided at the same time as environmental managers are determining what a desirable future ecosystem would look like, how it would function, and how it can be established (PAGE 76).

Quality Assurance Program Plan for The Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | June 23rd, 2017

The Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP) is managed and operated by the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI). SFEI was founded as a

The Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP) is managed and operated by the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI). SFEI was founded as a non-profit organization in 1986 to foster the development of the scientific understanding needed to protect and enhance the San Francisco Estuary.

Quality Assurance Program Plan for The Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | December 16th, 2019

The Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP) was created to provide long-term monitoring information on ecosystem health in the Bay. The i

The Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP) was created to provide long-term monitoring information on ecosystem health in the Bay. The impetus for the program development was a resolution by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Board to require dischargers in the Bay Area regulated under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program to participate in regional monitoring. Contribution to the Program constitutes compliance with the requirement to participate. Elimination of certain permit requirements for individual permits offset the requirement for continued participation.  The RMP began as a pilot study in 1989 and has been collecting water, sediment, and biological tissue data since 1993. The Status and Trends component of the RMP routinely collects monitoring data on these environmental matrices. The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) uses Status and Trends data to assist in regulatory decision-making, such as for determining impairment (303(d)) listing, NPDES permit conditions, and estimating Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) of various pollutants needed to protect ecosystem and human health. The data are also useful for monitoring and modeling the effectiveness of past and planned management actions.  The overarching goal of the program is to collect data and communicate information about water quality in San Francisco Bay to support management decisions. The RMP, in consultation with its stakeholders, the Technical Review Committee, and the Steering Committee refined the management questions in May 2008. 

Quality of Groundwater Used for Domestic Drinking-Water Supply in the Coachella Valley, 2020

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | January 13th, 2023

Quality of Groundwater Used for Domestic Supply in the Modesto, Turlock, and Merced Subbasins of the San Joaquin Valley, California

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | January 6th, 2023

More than 2 million Californians rely on groundwater from privately owned domestic wells for drinking-water supply. This report summarizes a water-quality survey of domes

More than 2 million Californians rely on groundwater from privately owned domestic wells for drinking-water supply. This report summarizes a water-quality survey of domestic and small-system drinking-water supply wells in the Modesto, Turlock, and Merced subbasins of the San Joaquin Valley where more than 78,000 residents are estimated to use privately owned domestic wells. Results indicate that inorganic and organic constituents in groundwater were respectively present above regulatory (maximum contaminant level, MCL) benchmarks for public drinking-water quality in 37 percent and 9 percent of the aquifer area used for domestic drinking-water supplies (herein, “domestic groundwater resources”). The most prevalent inorganic constituents exceeding regulatory benchmarks were nitrate, uranium, and arsenic. The only organic constituents exceeding regulatory benchmarks were the fumigant constituents 1,2,3-trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP) and 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), but the herbicides atrazine and simazine were detected at low concentrations below one-tenth of regulatory benchmarks in 30 percent of domestic groundwater resources. Total dissolved solids (TDS) and manganese exceeded aesthetic-based (secondary maximum contaminant level [SMCL]) benchmarks for drinking water in 3 percent and 13 percent of domestic groundwater resources, respectively. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were detected in 23 percent of domestic groundwater resources, with 4 percent exceeding California state notification or response levels for specific compounds. Total coliform bacteria were detected in 20 percent of domestic groundwater resources. Elevated concentrations of nitrate, uranium, TDS, and pesticides (fumigant constituents and herbicides) are related to agricultural land use and were typically present at shallow depths up to 75 meters below land surface. Agriculturally derived constituents were detected in wells screened below the Corcoran Clay Member of the Tulare Formation (herein, “Corcoran Clay”) in the southeastern part of the study area, where the Corcoran Clay tends to be shallower and thinner than in areas to the northwest. Nitrate, uranium, and TDS were most prevalent in the northwest part of the study area proximal to the valley trough where soils are poorly drained and agricultural land uses are predominantly grain, alfalfa, and dairy farms. Pesticides tended to occur in groundwater below coarse-grained surficial deposits and within a northwest to southeast trending band along the eastern extent of the Corcoran Clay that typically demarcates the western extent of well-drained soils associated with perennial orchard crops. Elevated concentrations of arsenic tended to occur west of this band in reducing groundwater but also sometimes co-occurred with elevated nitrate in oxic groundwater, most likely because of geochemical conditions in agriculturally affected groundwater that can enhance the mobility of arsenic from aquifer sediments.