Draft California 2012 Integrated Report( 303(d) List/305(b) Report)

Supporting Information

Regional Board 6 - Lahontan Region

Water Body Name: Donner Lake
Water Body ID: CAL6352002119980806104900
Water Body Type: Lake & Reservoir
 
DECISION ID
31757
Region 6     
Donner Lake
 
Pollutant: Arsenic
Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Sources: Source Unknown
Expected TMDL Completion Date: 2025
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Staff Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under section 3.1 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.1 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

One line of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant for the COMM beneficial use. Three of the samples exceed the OEHHA Fish Contaminant Goal for arsenic in fish tissue set at 0.0034 ppm.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification in favor of placing this water segment-pollutant combination on the section 303(d) list in the Water Quality Limited Segments category.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
3. Three of three samples exceed the guideline and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.1 of the Listing Policy.
4. Pursuant to section 3.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board Staff Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are exceeded and a pollutant contributes to or causes the problem.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 31757, Arsenic
Region 6     
Donner Lake
 
LOE ID: 31666
 
Pollutant: Arsenic
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Tissue
Matrix: Tissue
Fraction: Fish fillet
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: Fish tissue analysis
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Three of 3 samples exceeded the criterion for arsenic. Three composites were generated from 2 species: lake trout, and brown trout. All composites were comprised of 3 fish except for 1 lake trout composite that was comprised of 5 fish. Composites of fish collected at the same location and time period were averaged by species. Six composites were not used in the assessment because the laboratory data reporting limit(s) was above the objective and therefore the results could not be quantified with the level of certainty required by the Listing Policy.
Data Reference: RWB6 Donner Lake Fish Bioaccumulation Status
 
SWAMP Data: SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Water Quality Control Plan, Lahontan Region: Pesticide concentrations, individually or collectively, shall not exceed the lowest detectable levels, using the most recent detection procedures available. There shall not be an increase in pesticide concentrations found in bottom sediments. There shall be no detectable increase in bioaccumulation of pesticides in aquatic life.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline: The modified OEHHA Fish Contaminant Goal for arsenic in fish tissue is 0.0034 ppm. This screening level assumes an average body weight of 70 kg and a consumption rate of 32 g/day for a 30 year exposure over a 70-year lifetime. This constituent is a carcinogen therefore the risk level is set to one in a million. (Klasing, S., and R. Brodberg, 2008; OEHHA, 2004)
Guideline Reference: Development of Fish Contaminant Goals and Advisory Tissue Levels for Common Contaminants in California Sport Fish: Chlordane, DDTs, Dieldrin, Methylmercury, PCBs, Selenium, and Toxaphene
  Air Toxics Hotspots Program Risk Assessment Guidelines. Part ll Technical Support Document for Describing Available Cancer Potency Values.
 
Spatial Representation: Data for this line of evidence for Donner Lake was collected at 1 monitoring site: Donner Lake & Donner Creek - Fish Bioaccumulation Project - 635DNL001.
Temporal Representation: Data was collected on 10/4/2002, 8/25/2005, 11/18/2005, and 5/31/2006.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: The SWAMP QAPP (2008) was followed.
QAPP Information Reference(s):