Saltwater Intrusion in Los Angeles Area Coastal Aquifers— the Marine Connection

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | August 14th, 2002

Saltwater from the Pacific Ocean is seeping into some Los Angeles Basin coastal aquifers and replacing freshwater. Without treatment, this ground water does not conform t

Saltwater from the Pacific Ocean is seeping into some Los Angeles Basin coastal aquifers and replacing freshwater. Without treatment, this ground water does not conform to drinking-water or agricultural standards. This problem is significant because much of the water used by the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County comes from ground-water sources. Although not all coastal aquifers in the region are at risk, the existing resources are vital and must be protected to maintain adequate supplies of potable water. In the 1950’s, construction began on the first of three “barriers” in an attempt to halt saltwater intrusion. Each barrier consists of a series of injection wells that essentially form a subsurface wall of freshwater designed to keep saltwater from penetrating further into aquifers. The barriers are only partly effective; saltwater continues to infiltrate in some areas. New studies show that the ground-water geohydrology of the coastal aquifers is more complex than previously imagined. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists, working in cooperation with the Water Replenishment District of Southern California and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, are expanding efforts to understand the geologic processes and fluid pathways that control saltwater intrusion.

Sampling and Analysis Plan for 2016 RMP Status and Trends Bird Egg Monitoring

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | February 1st, 2016

The samples will be collected by staff at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center [USGS-WERC] who will procure all necessary egg collection permits. Eggs will then be

The samples will be collected by staff at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center [USGS-WERC] who will procure all necessary egg collection permits. Eggs will then be analyzed for: ● Total mercury (THg) (cormorant eggs at Moss Landing Marine Laboratory-Marine Pollution Studies Lab [MLML-MPSL]; tern eggs at USGS-WERC),  ● Selenium (cormorant and tern eggs at MLML-MPSL),  ● PCBs (cormorant eggs at the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Water Pollution Control Laboratory [DFW-WPCL]),  ● PBDEs (cormorant eggs at DFW-WPCL) (NOTE: PBDE analysis in tern eggs was discontinued due to increased USGS costs),  ● PFCs and precursors (cormorant eggs at AXYS Analytical Laboratories), and  ● Halogenated carbazoles (cormorant eggs at Southern Illinois University) NOTE: Carbazole analyses will be done pro bono by SIU for research purposes. Carbazoles are not part of the RMP Status and Trends design. SIU will not measure percent moisture in its samples. Therefore, it is important to make sure that sample weights, prior to analysis, are accurately measured since we will be applying the percent moisture values from other laboratories to their samples. Available data will be used to back-calculate fresh wet weight values for these samples. 

Sampling and Analysis Plan for Microplastic Monitoring in San Francisco Bay and Adjacent National Marine Sanctuaries

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | May 31st, 2017

Plastic in the ocean, and more specifically microplastic (particles <5 mm), has been gaining global attention as a pervasive and preventable threat to the health of m

Plastic in the ocean, and more specifically microplastic (particles <5 mm), has been gaining global attention as a pervasive and preventable threat to the health of marine ecosystems. Microplastic is ingested by marine organisms (Wright et al. 2013), and may impact their physiological processes (von Moos et al. 2012; Cole et al. 2013, 2015; Rochman et al. 2013, 2014b; Wright et al. 2013; Watts et al. 2015; Lu et al. 2016; Sussarellu et al. 2016). Microplastic may also contain harmful chemicals such as flame retardants, plasticizers, or dyes (Browne et al. 2013; Fries et al. 2013; Rochman et al. 2013, 2014 a,b), and may provide a substrate for the adsorption of other harmful chemicals in the ocean, like PCBs and DDT (Teuten et al. 2007), which then may be transferred up the food chain (e.g., Farrell and Nelson 2013; Rochman et al. 2014a; Setala et al. 2014). Many scientific questions remain, however, and there is a need for research on the patterns of distribution and uptake of microplastic by organisms in their ocean ecosystems.

Sampling for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) by the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Priority Basin Project

Publisher not available | May 25th, 2021

San Fernando Groundwater Basin Remediation Program

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) | January 1st, 2018

San Francisco Bay California Toxics Rule Priority Pollutant Ambient Water Monitoring Report

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | March 2nd, 2017

In 2000, the USEPA published Water Quality Standards; Establishment of Numeric Objectives for Priority Toxic Pollutants for the State of California, commonly known as the

In 2000, the USEPA published Water Quality Standards; Establishment of Numeric Objectives for Priority Toxic Pollutants for the State of California, commonly known as the California Toxics Rule (CTR), which established numeric water quality standards for 126 priority pollutants. Under the Policy for Implementation of Toxics Standards for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California (also known as the State Implementation Policy, SIP) the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (SFBRWQCB) is required to establish water quality-based effluent limitations in order to achieve priority pollutant standards. For the purposes of this document “water quality criteria” (WQCs) will be used to refer both to the CTR established numeric criteria for 126 priority pollutants as well as to numeric objectives for 12 of these priority pollutants and tributyltin previously established in the San Francisco Bay Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) and/or the National Toxics Rule. A number of these pollutants previously were or continue to be regularly monitored as part of the Regional Monitoring Program Status and Trends (RMP S&T). The priority pollutants not routinely included in RMP S&T were previously monitored in wet and dry season ambient water sampling in 2002 and 2003. Results of that effort are detailed in a previously issued report: http://www.sfei.org/documents/san-francisco-bay-ambient-monitoring-interim-report Most of the priority pollutants were not detected in that study, or detected at concentrations below their WQC. Among the pollutants that were detected, a number of them were also found at similar concentrations in lab blanks, suggesting they might not have been present (or at least were at lower concentrations) in the ambient environment. Since over a decade had passed since that previous monitoring effort, the RMP embarked on an effort to repeat measurement of these seldom analyzed (non- S&T) contaminants, to ensure conditions have not changed appreciably to present greater risk for any of them.

San Francisco Bay California Toxics Rule Priority Pollutant Ambient Water Monitoring Report

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

In 2000, the USEPA published Water Quality Standards; Establishment of Numeric Objectives for Priority Toxic Pollutants for the State of California, commonly known as t

In 2000, the USEPA published Water Quality Standards; Establishment of Numeric Objectives for Priority Toxic Pollutants for the State of California, commonly known as the California Toxics Rule (CTR), which established numeric water quality standards for 126 priority pollutants. Under the Policy for Implementation of Toxics Standards for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California (also known as the State Implementation Policy, SIP) the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (SFBRWQCB) is required to establish water quality-based effluent limitations in order to achieve priority pollutant standards. For the purposes of this document “water quality criteria” (WQCs) will be used to refer both to the CTR established numeric criteria for 126 priority pollutants as well as to numeric objectives for 12 of these priority pollutants and tributyltin previously established in the San Francisco Bay Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) and/or the National Toxics Rule. A number of these pollutants previously were or continue to be regularly monitored as part of the Regional Monitoring Program Status and Trends (RMP S&T). The priority pollutants not routinely included in RMP S&T were previously monitored in wet and dry season ambient water sampling in 2002 and 2003. Results of that effort are detailed in a previously issued : Most of the priority pollutants were not detected in that study, or detected at concentrations below their WQC. Among the pollutants that were detected, a number of them were also found at similar concentrations in lab blanks, suggesting they might not have been present (or at least were at lower concentrations) in the ambient environment. Since over a decade had passed since that previous monitoring effort, the RMP embarked on an effort to repeat measurement of these seldom analyzed (non- S&T) contaminants, to ensure conditions have not changed appreciably to present greater risk for any of them.

San Francisco Bay Microplastics Project: Science-Supported Solutions and Policy Recommendations

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | September 2nd, 2019

Plastics in our waterways and in the ocean, and more specifically microplastics (plastic particles less than 5 mm in size), have gained global attention as a pervasive an

Plastics in our waterways and in the ocean, and more specifically microplastics (plastic particles less than 5 mm in size), have gained global attention as a pervasive and preventable threat to marine ecosystem health. The San Francisco Bay Microplastics Project was designed to provide critical data on microplastics in the Bay Area. The project also engaged multiple stakeholders in both science and policy discussions. Finally, the project was designed to generate scientifically supported regional and statewide policy recommendations for solutions to plastic pollution. 

San Francisco Bay Nutrient Management Strategy Observation Program

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | July 1st, 2020

This document presents a planning-level description of the draft Nutrient Management Strategy Observation Program (NMSOP), including estimated budget and approach for ph

This document presents a planning-level description of the draft Nutrient Management Strategy Observation Program (NMSOP), including estimated budget and approach for phased growth. The NMSOP represents the design that is needed to address NMS†data needs¨ not an existing program. The proposed design represents a balance between two key goals: ● Target high priority NMS data collection needs ● Where feasible, align field work and data collection efforts with other programs’ established infrastructure, to enhance cost-effectiveness and sustainability. While an inter-program collaborative approach is important for securing NMSOP’s long-term sustainability, building a reliable consortium will require up-front effort to establish inter-program science, management, and financial agreements. This document focuses on the NMSOP scientific program design and growth, with institutional program development described in a companion work plan (SFEI 2016b).

San Francisco Bay Triennial Bird Egg Monitoring Program for Contaminants, California—2018

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | May 23rd, 2019

The Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP), administered by the San Francisco Estuary Institute, is a large-scale effort to monitor cont

The Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay (RMP), administered by the San Francisco Estuary Institute, is a large-scale effort to monitor contaminant trends in water, sediment, fish, and birds throughout San Francisco Bay (San Francisco Estuary Institute, 2016). As part of the RMP and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) long-term Wildlife Contaminants Program, the USGS samples double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) and Forster’s tern (Sterna forsteri) eggs throughout the San Francisco Bay approximately every 3 years to assess temporal trends in contaminant concentrations. This sampling has previously been carried out by USGS in 2009, 2012, and 2016. This document summarizes egg collections for 2018, as well as mercury concentrations in Forster’s tern eggs on an individual egg basis. These data are available in a USGS data release (Ackerman and others, 2019).