| Water Body Name: | Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) |
| Water Body ID: | CAR6341003120021219154348 |
| Water Body Type: | River & Stream |
DECISION ID |
19662 |
Region 6 |
Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) |
||
| Pollutant: | Chloride |
| Final Listing Decision: | Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list) |
| Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2010) |
| Revision Status | Revised |
| Sources: | Atmospheric Deposition | Highway/Road/Bridge Runoff | Natural Sources | Source Unknown |
| Expected TMDL Completion Date: | 2027 |
| Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: | Pollutant |
| Regional Board Staff Conclusion: | This pollutant is being considered for removal from the section 303(d) list under section 4.2 of the Listing Policy. Under this section a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.
This waterbody pollutant combination was originally listed before 2006 and 303(d) listing decisions made prior to 2006 were not held in an assessment database. The Regional Board is updating this decision since new data has become available. Two lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Seven hundred and thirty two of the 733 samples associated with the 2012 LOE exceed the water quality objective, which is based on a site-specific objective of 0.15 mg/L for Trout Creek, which applies to Heavenly Valley Creek since it is tributary to Trout Creek. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the section 303(d) list. 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. Seven hundred and thirty two samples associated with the 2012 LOE exceeded the objective and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.2 of the Listing Policy. 4. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are met. |
| Regional Board Staff Decision Recommendation: | After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded. |
|
|||||
| LOE ID: | 4616 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Chloride | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | Not Recorded | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Non-Contact Recreation | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 0 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 0 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | Not Specified | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Unspecified--This LOE is a placeholder to support a 303(d) listing decision made prior to 2006. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d) | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Unspecified | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d) | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | Unspecified | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d) | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | Unspecified | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Unspecified | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | Unspecified | ||||
| QAPP Information: | Unspecified | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |||||
|
|||||
| LOE ID: | 34056 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Chloride | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | Total Dissolved | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 733 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 732 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Seven-hundred and thirty-two of the 733 samples collected exceeded Trout Creek's site-specific objective. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Data for temperature, nutrients, and bacteria in Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) and various water bodies in Alpine County, Jul 1980-Jun. 2010 | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Chapter 2 of the Lahontan Region's Basin Plan states Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) as being tributary to Trout Creek and thus, the objective for Trout Creek applies to the Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) water body. The site-specific objective for Chloride in Lahontan Basin Plan Table 3-14 for Trout Creek is 0.15 mg/L. | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended) | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | |||||
| Guideline Reference: | |||||
| Spatial Representation: | Data was collected from the HVC-1, HVC-2, and HVC-3 stations. | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Samples were collected approximately once a month from November 1983 to May 2010. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | |||||
| QAPP Information: | Samples were collected by STPUD and analyzed using STPUD Laboratory quality assurance program. | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |||||
DECISION ID |
32084 |
Region 6 |
Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) |
||
| Pollutant: | Nitrate |
| Final Listing Decision: | Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list) |
| Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | New Decision |
| Revision Status | Revised |
| 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 lines of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. None of the 714 samples exceed the water quality objective. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against 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. None of 714 samples exceeded the objective and this does not exceed 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 not be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded. |
|
|||||
| LOE ID: | 31722 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Nitrate | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | Total | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Municipal & Domestic Supply | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 714 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 0 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Zero of the 714 samples exceeded the water quality objective for Nitrate. The data was reported as Nitrate as N which was converted to Nitrate. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Data for temperature, nutrients, and bacteria in Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) and various water bodies in Alpine County, Jul 1980-Jun. 2010 | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | he Water Quality Control Plan, Lahontan Basin, Objective for Municipal and Domestic Supply uses of inland surface waters states the following: waters shall not contain concentrations of inorganic chemicals in excess of the limits specified in California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Table 64431-A of section 64431 (Inorganic Chemicals). The maximum contaminant level listed in Table 64431-A for Nitrate is 45 mg/L. | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended) | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | |||||
| Guideline Reference: | |||||
| Spatial Representation: | Samples were collected at the following sites: HVC-1, HVC-2, and HVC-3. | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Samples were collected from 11/14/1983 to 5/25/2010. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | |||||
| QAPP Information: | Samples were collected by STPUD and analyzed using STPUD Laboratory quality assurance program. | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |||||
DECISION ID |
32085 |
Region 6 |
Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) |
||
| Pollutant: | Nitrite |
| Final Listing Decision: | Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list) |
| Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | New Decision |
| Revision Status | Revised |
| 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. None of the 477 samples exceed the water quality objective. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against 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. None of the 477 samples exceeded the objective (MCL) and this does not exceed 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 not be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded. |
|
|||||
| LOE ID: | 31674 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Nitrite | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | Total | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Municipal & Domestic Supply | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 477 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 0 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Zero of the 477 samples exceeded the water quality objective for nitrite. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Data for temperature, nutrients, and bacteria in Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) and various water bodies in Alpine County, Jul 1980-Jun. 2010 | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | The Water Quality Control Plan, Lahontan Basin, Objective for Municipal and Domestic Supply uses of inland surface waters states the following: waters shall not contain concentrations of inorganic chemicals in excess of the limits specified in California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Table 64431-A of section 64431 (Inorganic Chemicals). The maximum contaminant level listed in Table 64431-A for Nitrite as N is 1.0 mg/L. | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended) | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | |||||
| Guideline Reference: | |||||
| Spatial Representation: | Samples were collected at the following sites: HVC-1, HVC-2, and HVC-3. | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Samples were collected from 2/19/1993 to 5/25/2010. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | |||||
| QAPP Information: | Samples were collected by STPUD and analyzed using STPUD Laboratory quality assurance program. | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |||||
DECISION ID |
32086 |
Region 6 |
Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) |
||
| Pollutant: | Nitrogen, ammonia (Total Ammonia) |
| Final Listing Decision: | Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list) |
| Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | New Decision |
| Revision Status | Revised |
| 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. One of the 400 samples exceed the water quality objective, which is a 4-day objective for unionized ammonia. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against 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. One of 400 samples exceeded the objective and this does not exceed 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 not be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded. |
|
|||||
| LOE ID: | 31723 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Nitrogen, ammonia (Total Ammonia) | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | Total | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Fish Spawning | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 400 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 1 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | One of the 400 samples exceeded the water quality objective for un-ionized ammonia. The single exceedance occurred in HVC-3 on 11/5/1994. Total ammonia nitrogen samples were converted to unionized ammonia using the Basin Plan formulas on p.3-3 and p.3-4. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Data for temperature, nutrients, and bacteria in Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) and various water bodies in Alpine County, Jul 1980-Jun. 2010 | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | The Lahontan Basin Plan 4-day objective for unionized ammonia is a function of pH, temperature, and the presence of salmonids. | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended) | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | |||||
| Guideline Reference: | |||||
| Spatial Representation: | Samples were collected at the following sites: HVC-1, HVC-2, and HVC-3. | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Samples were collected from 1993 to 2010. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | |||||
| QAPP Information: | Samples were collected by STPUD and analyzed using STPUD Laboratory quality assurance program. | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |||||
DECISION ID |
32083 |
Region 6 |
Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) |
||
| Pollutant: | Temperature, water |
| Final Listing Decision: | Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list) |
| Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | New Decision |
| Revision Status | Revised |
| 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 3.2 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.2 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.
One lines of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. One of the 723 samples exceed the water quality objective. The samples were collected between 11/14/1983 and 5/25/2010 and this sampling frequency seems sufficient to establish baseline conditions (including diel, seasonal, annual and interannual variations in temperature) or to detect trends in the temperature regime if such trends exist. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against 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. One of the 723 samples exceeded the objective and this does not exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.2 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 not be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded. |
|
|||||
| LOE ID: | 31703 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Temperature, water | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | None | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 723 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 1 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | One of the 723 samples exceeded the evaluation guideline for temperature in this water body. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Data for temperature, nutrients, and bacteria in Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) and various water bodies in Alpine County, Jul 1980-Jun. 2010 | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | The natural receiving water temperature of all waters shall not be altered unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Regional Board that such an alteration in temperature does not adversely affect the water for beneficial uses. For waters designated WARM, water temperature shall not be altered by more than five degrees Fahrenheit above or below the natural temperature. For waters designated COLD, the temperature shall not be altered. | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended) | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | Inland Fishes of California (Moyle 1976) states that for rainbow trout the optimum range for growth and completion of most life stages is 13-21 degrees C (page 129). | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | Fish introductions in CA: History and impact on native fishes. Davis, CA: University of CA, Davis | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | Samples were collected in the following locations in this water body: Heavenly Valley Creek; Downstream of Pioneer Heavenly Valley Creek; 250' upstream of Pond #2 Heavenly Valley Creek; 25' downstream of Meadow Crest Dr. | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Samples collected between 11/14/1983 and 5/25/2010. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | |||||
| QAPP Information: | South Tahoe Public Utility District Laboratory Quality Assurance Program by Terry Powers, Laboratory Director (March 30, 2009) | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |||||
DECISION ID |
32087 |
Region 6 |
Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) |
||
| Pollutant: | pH |
| Final Listing Decision: | Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list) |
| Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | New Decision |
| Revision Status | Revised |
| 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 3.2 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.2 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. The Lahontan Basin Plan's narrative pH objective is an antidegradation-based objejctive that requires that there be no change greater than 0.5 pH units in waters designated for COLD and WARM beneficial uses. ( A pH range of 6.5 to 8.5 units applies to "all other waters.") Listing Policy section 3.10 contains directions for assessment based on trends in water quality. Though the LOE (34620) associated with this decision finds that 88 of the 733 samples exceed the water quality objective, this can not be determined with certainty because baseline conditions (normal ambient pH) has not been established for this waterbody. As such, it is more accurate to report the use rating for this decision as insufficient information instead of fully supporting. Staff recommend some trend analysis be completed on this data set before next listing cycle to determine the normal ambient pH for this waterbody. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against 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. It is not possible to determine with certainty if 88 of the 733 samples exceeded the objective because the objective requires that a normal ambient pH for the waterbody be established to determine compliance. 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 not be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded. |
|
|||||
| LOE ID: | 34620 | ||||
| Pollutant: | pH | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | Dissolved | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 733 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 88 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Numeric data generated from 733 minimums and maximums of pH data had 88 exceedences. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Data for temperature, nutrients, and bacteria in Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) and various water bodies in Alpine County, Jul 1980-Jun. 2010 | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | In fresh waters with designated beneficial uses of COLD or WARM, changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.5 pH units. For all other waters of the Region, the pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.5. The Regional Board recognizes that some waters of the Region may have natural pH levels outside of the 6.5 to 8.5 range. Compliance with the pH objective for these waters will be determined on a case-by-case basis. [There is no site specific objective for pH for this water body] | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended) | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | |||||
| Guideline Reference: | |||||
| Spatial Representation: | Samples were collected from the the HVC-1, HVC-2, and HVC-3 stations. | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Samples were collected approximately once a month from November 1983 to May 2010. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | |||||
| QAPP Information: | Samples were collected by STPUD and analyzed using STPUD Laboratory quality assurance program. | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |||||
DECISION ID |
19683 |
Region 6 |
Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS boundary to Trout Creek) |
||
| Pollutant: | Sedimentation/Siltation |
| Final Listing Decision: | List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL) |
| Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2010) |
| Revision Status | Revised |
| Sources: | Source Unknown |
| TMDL Name: | Lake Tahoe Nutrients/Sediment |
| TMDL Project Code: | 198 |
| Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: | 08/16/2011 |
| Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: | Pollutant |
| Regional Board Staff Conclusion: | This pollutant was considered for placement on the section 303(d) list in a previous assessment cycle. 303(d) listing decisions made prior to 2006 were not held in an assessment database.
Regional Board conclusion: This pollutant was considered for placement on the section 303(d) list in a previous assessment cycle. No new information was reviewed for this current assessment cycle, however; the previous conclusion has changed since the Lake Tahoe TMDL, which partly addresses the sediment impairment within this segment of Heavenly Creek, was adopted after the 2010 Integrated Report. Heavenly Valley Creek (from the USFS boundary to Trout Creek) is a tributary to Lake Tahoe. On the ground efforts required by the Lake Tahoe TMDL that focus on (1) stabilizing disturbed areas within the forested uplands and (2) managing and treating urban uplands (e.g. street sweeping, installing and maintaining infiltration and stormwater treatment facilities) will also achieve pollutant load reductions of sediment within this waterbody segment, which is tributary to Lake Tahoe. The largest source of sediment in this reach of Heavenly Valley Creek is urban storm water runoff and erosion of disturbed undeveloped areas. The Lake Tahoe TMDL identifies actions that resource management agencies, Lake Tahoe municipalities (El Dorado and Placer Counties, and the City of South Lake Tahoe) and California Department of Transportation must take to reduce fine sediment and nutrient loading to the Lake. Municipal Stormwater NPDES permits require the Lake Tahoe municipalities and CalTrans to develop and implement comprehensive pollutant load reduction programs (PLRPs) to meet specified pollutant load reduction requirements. Expected implementation measures include a variety of alternative treatment options, roadway operation practices, and local ordinances to reduce average annual pollutant loads. These Lake Tahoe TMDL implementation efforts will also reduce inputs of sediment to this impaired segment of Heavenly Valley Creek from the USFS boundary to Trout Creek. Additionally, the Lake Tahoe TMDL requires that the USFS-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit undertake restoration actions to reduce erosion and treat urban storm water runoff from paved and unpaved roadways, campgrounds, and recreational trails within the Lake Tahoe watershed. Storm water collection, conveyance, and treatment facilities coupled with revegetation of previously disturbed lands and stabilizing areas designated for recreational use are expected to reduce erosion and help control sediment discharges to Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS to Trout Creek). Finally, the Lake Tahoe TMDL also requires implementation of measures to control stationary sources of dust which help reduce pollutant loads of fine sediments. Implementation of these measures helps address the sedimentation/siltation loading that impairs Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS to Trout Creek) from dust sources. Pollutant load reductions within C will be tracked through implementation of detailed performance and compliance measures and assessment and reporting protocols included in the Lake Tahoe TMDL. The TMDL Management System project is establishing activity-based tracking and reporting requirements to assess activities that are expected to reduce pollutant loading from non-urban sources. The Lahontan Water Board and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection will implement a Lake Tahoe TMDL Management System for managing, tracking, integrating and evaluating new information generated from TMDL implementation actions, effectiveness monitoring, research efforts, and other factors such as climate change and wildfires. The Management System is based on an adaptive management framework to (1) link load reduction effectiveness with project implementation monitoring to improve project design and to assess if actual environmental improvement is occurring as expected; (2) establish guidance and operation protocols for how new information will be incorporated into project designs and TMDL program implementation; (3) establish prioritized TMDL research needs to fill data gaps and reduce uncertainties, and (4) implement a process for updating and reporting pollutant load reduction estimates and tracking projects within the TMDL implementation timeline. The Lake Tahoe TMDL requires implementation, effectiveness, and status and trends monitoring. Tributary stream status and trends monitoring will track long-term changes in water quality conditions relative to established water quality standards or goals, and project-specific monitoring will be used to assess the efficacy of various implementation measures. Long-term water quality trends and pollutant load reduction tracking in Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS to Trout Creek) will be captured through the ongoing efforts of the Lake Tahoe Interagency Monitoring Program (LTIMP) whose primary objective is to monitor discharge, nutrient load, and sediment loads from representative streams that flow into Lake Tahoe. Nitrogen and phosphorus loading calculations are performed using the LTIMP flow and nutrient concentration database. LTIMP has monitored Heavenly Valley Creek (USFS to Trout Creek) and other tributaries to Lake Tahoe since 1988; this data is stored on the USGS website at http://wdr.water.usgs.gov/. |
| Regional Board Staff Decision Recommendation: | After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are being exceeded. The final listing decision for this waterbody pollutant combination has changed for this listing cycle to "being addressed by a USEPA approved TMDL." This waterbody pollutant combination has been and continues to be addressed by implementation of the Lake Tahoe TMDL, which was approved by the USEPA on August 16, 2011. |
|
|||||
| LOE ID: | 4617 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Sedimentation/Siltation | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | Not Recorded | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 0 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 0 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | Not Specified | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Unspecified--This LOE is a placeholder to support a 303(d) listing decision made prior to 2006. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d) | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Unspecified | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d) | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | Unspecified | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | Placeholder reference pre-2006 303(d) | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | Unspecified | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Unspecified | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | Unspecified | ||||
| QAPP Information: | Unspecified | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |||||