Draft 2008 California 303(d)/305(b) Integrated Report

Supporting Information

Regional Board 4 - Los Angeles Region

Water Body Name: Compton Creek
Water Body ID: CAR4051501019990202111430
Water Body Type: River & Stream
 
DECISION ID
16468
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
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
 
Weight of Evidence: This pollutant is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under section 3.6 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.6 a one line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

One line of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Zero of the 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. Zero of one samples exhibited significant toxicity to Pimephales promelas and Ceriodaphnia dubia and this sample size is insufficient to determine with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy if standards are not met. A minimum of two samples is needed for application of table 3.1.
4. Pursuant to section 3.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
RWQCB Board Decision / Staff 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.
 
SWRCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation:
 
USEPA Decision:
 
 
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 16468
 
LOE ID: 28251
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
Aquatic Life Use: Wildlife Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Zero out of one samples exhibited significant acute and chronic toxicity to Pimephales promelas and Ceriodaphnia dubia. Water quality samples for toxicity were taken in compliance with the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program's monitoring and testing parameters.
Data Reference: Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program data for all watersheds in the Los Angeles Region 2001-2005.
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan states at there shall be no acute or chronic toxicity in ambient waters outside mixing zones.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
  Basin Plan Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan as of 02/02/2009
 
Evaluation Guideline: Toxicity was defined as a statistically significant effect in the sample exposure compared to the control using EPA recommended hypothesis testing (parametric Dunnett's Test or non-parametric Fisher's Exact Test).
Guideline Reference: Methods for Measuring the Acute Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater and Marine Organisms, Fourth Edition
 
Spatial Representation: Water toxicity monitoring was conducted in Compton Creek at station 412LARCMP (Lat: 33.84644, Long: -118.20883).
Temporal Representation: A grab sample was taken on 06/30/2005.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Data was collected in compliance with the sampling and monitoring procedures detailed in the Quality Assurance Management Plan for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Quality Assurance Management Plan for the State of California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program. Sacramento, CA. State Water Resources Control Board. SWAMP. December 2002 (1st version)
 
DECISION ID
17213
 
Pollutant: Benthic-Macroinvertebrate Bioassessments
Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Sources: Nonpoint Source | Point Source
Expected TMDL Completion Date: 2021
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Weight of Evidence: This pollutant is being considered for the section 303(d) list under section 3.9 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.9, waters are listed when a bioassessment shows diminished numbers of species or other metrics (compared to a reference site) and it is associated with another pollutant.

Eight lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Benthic macroinvertebrates as measured by Southern California IBI (index of biological integrity) in Compton Creek were very poor in October of 2003 and very poor in October of 2004 indicating impairment of benthic community structure. This impairment is associated with impairment for copper, lead, trash and pH.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification to place the 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. There is at least one bioassessment sample (Index of Biological Integrity score) to satisfy Section 3.9
4. The impairment is associated with another pollutant in the waterbody to satisfy Section 3.9.
5. Pursuant to section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are met.
 
RWQCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should be added to the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are not being attained.
 
SWRCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation:
 
USEPA Decision:
 
 
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 17213
 
LOE ID: 30162
 
Pollutant: Trash
LOE Subgroup: Narrative Description Data
Matrix: Not Specified
Fraction: None
 
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: A TMDL has been approved for this water segment-pollutant combination. The Trash TMDL for the Los Angeles River Watershed was adopted by the Los Angeles RWQCB on August 09, 2007 and subsequently approved by USEPA. The TMDL was been integrated into the Basin Plan as Attachment A of Regional Board Resolution No. 2007-012.
Data Reference: Basin Plan Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan as of 02/02/2009
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion:
Objective/Criterion Reference:
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation:
Temporal Representation:
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA information unavailable.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 2477
 
Pollutant: Lead
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Not Specified
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Warm 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 2006 303(d)
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion:
Objective/Criterion Reference:
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation:
Temporal Representation:
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA Info Missing
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 2476
 
Pollutant: Copper
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Not Specified
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Warm 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 2006 303(d)
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion:
Objective/Criterion Reference:
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation:
Temporal Representation:
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA Info Missing
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 2475
 
Pollutant: Trash
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Nuisance
Matrix: -N/A
Fraction: None
 
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: Volunteers removed 26.5 tons of trash from Compton Creek on Coastal Clean Up Days and Earth Days between 2002 and 2005 (Heal the Bay, 2006).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: From the Los Angeles RWQCB Basin Plan: Waters shall not contain floating materials, including solids, liquids, foams, and scum, in concentrations that cause nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Compton Creek.
Temporal Representation: Coastal Clean Up Day (September 21, 2002; September 20, 2003; September 18, 2004; September 17, 2005) and Earth Day (April 1, 2003; April 17, 2004; April 30, 2005).
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Heal the Bay.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 2474
 
Pollutant: Trash
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: -N/A
Fraction: Dissolved
 
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: Los Angeles County Department of Public Works removed 135.18 tons of trash from Compton Creek between July of 2002 and October of 2005 (Heal the Bay, 2006).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: From the Los Angeles RWQCB Basin Plan: Waters shall not contain floating materials, including solids, liquids, foams, and scum, in concentrations that cause nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Compton Creek.
Temporal Representation: Trash removed between July of 2002 and October of 2005.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 2473
 
Pollutant: Trash
LOE Subgroup: Visual
Matrix: Not Specified
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Non-Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: QUALITATIVE (EVALUATED) ASSESSMENT - UNSPECIFIED
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Photos showing large amounts of trash throughout Compton Creek. Heal the Bay states that they have been the Los Angeles County Coordinator for Coastal Clean-Up Day and Earth Day at 15 over 60 locations over the last 15 years. According to Heal the Bay, none of these other locations has ever come close to being as polluted with trash as Compton Creek.
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: From the Los Angeles RWQCB Basin Plan: Waters shall not contain floating materials, including solids, liquids, foams, and scum, in concentrations that cause nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Various locations throughout Compton Creek.
Temporal Representation: Photos taken between 2002 and 2005.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA Info Missing
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 2472
 
Pollutant: pH
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Warm 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 2006 303(d)
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion:
Objective/Criterion Reference:
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation:
Temporal Representation:
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA Info Missing
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 30224
 
Pollutant: Benthic-Macroinvertebrate Bioassessments
LOE Subgroup: Population/Community Degradation
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Warm Freshwater Habitat
Aquatic Life Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat | Preservation of Rare & Endangered Species | Wetland Habitat | Wildlife Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: The IBI scores at this site ranked in the “very poor” range (1 in 2003 and 3 in 2004).
Data Reference: Los Angeles County 1994-2005 Integrated Receiving Water Impacts Report. Section 5, Los Angeles River Watershed Management Area, pp5.1 - 5.40
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Los Angeles RWQCB Basin Plan Objectives for Toxicity which states “All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in, human, plant or animal, or aquatic life. Compliance with this objective will be determined by use of indicator organisms, analyses of species diversity, population density, growth anomalies, bioassays of appropriate duration or other appropraite methods as specified by the State or Regional Board.”
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan
  Basin Plan Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan as of 02/02/2009
 
Evaluation Guideline: The IBI is a multi-metric assessment that employs biological metrics that respond to a habitat or water quality impairment. Each of the biological metrics measured at a site are converted to an IBI score then summed. These cumulative scores are then ranked according to very good (80-56), good (41-55), fair (27-40), poor (14-26) and very poor (0-13) habitat conditions. Sites with scores below 26 are considered to have impaired conditions.
Guideline Reference: A Quantitative Tool for Assessing the Integrity of Southern Coastal California Streams. Environmental Management Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 493-504.
  Los Angeles County 1994-2005 Integrated Receiving Water Impacts Report. Section 3, Methods, pp3.1 - 3.28
  Los Angeles County 1994-2005 Integrated Receiving Water Impacts Report. Section 5, Los Angeles River Watershed Management Area, pp5.1 - 5.40
 
Spatial Representation: One site in Compton Creek was sampled, upstream
of the confluence with the Los Angeles River, at N 33º 50.784’ W 118º 12.528.
Temporal Representation: Sites were sampled in October of 2003 and October of 2004.
Environmental Conditions: Benthic macroinvertebrate populations and IBI scores may also be affected by a wide range of anthropogenic stressors.
QAPP Information: Data was collected in compliance with California Stream Bioassessment Procedure.
QAPP Information Reference(s): California Stream Bioassessment Procedure (Protocol Brief for Biological and Physical/Habitat Assessment in Wadeable Streams) California Department of Fish and Game Water Pollution Control Laboratory Aquatic Bioassessment Laboratory Revision Date - December, 2003
  Los Angeles County 1994-2005 Integrated Receiving Water Impacts Report. Section 3, Methods, pp3.1 - 3.28
 
DECISION ID
6830
 
Pollutant: Trash
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)(2006)
Revision Status Revised
Sources: Nonpoint Source
TMDL Name: Los Angeles River Trash (12)
TMDL Project Code: 365
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: 07/24/2008
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Weight of Evidence: This pollutant is being considered for removal on the section 303(d) list under sections 2.2 of the Listing Policy. Under 2.2 of the Policy, a minimum of one line of evidence is needed to assess listing status.

Four lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant.

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. There is sufficient justification to place it in the Being Addressed portion of the 303(d) list because a TMDL has been completed and adopted by the Los Angeles RWQCB and approved by USEPA, and is expected to result in attainment of the standard.
 
RWQCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should be placed on the Water Quality Limited Segments Being Addressed category of the section 303(d) list because a TMDL has been approved by USEPA, and applicable water quality standards are exceeded and a pollutant contributes to or causes the problem.
 
SWRCB Board Decision / Staff Recommendation:
 
USEPA Decision:
 
 
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 6830
 
LOE ID: 2473
 
Pollutant: Trash
LOE Subgroup: Visual
Matrix: Not Specified
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Non-Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: QUALITATIVE (EVALUATED) ASSESSMENT - UNSPECIFIED
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Photos showing large amounts of trash throughout Compton Creek. Heal the Bay states that they have been the Los Angeles County Coordinator for Coastal Clean-Up Day and Earth Day at 15 over 60 locations over the last 15 years. According to Heal the Bay, none of these other locations has ever come close to being as polluted with trash as Compton Creek.
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: From the Los Angeles RWQCB Basin Plan: Waters shall not contain floating materials, including solids, liquids, foams, and scum, in concentrations that cause nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Various locations throughout Compton Creek.
Temporal Representation: Photos taken between 2002 and 2005.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA Info Missing
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 2474
 
Pollutant: Trash
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: -N/A
Fraction: Dissolved
 
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: Los Angeles County Department of Public Works removed 135.18 tons of trash from Compton Creek between July of 2002 and October of 2005 (Heal the Bay, 2006).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: From the Los Angeles RWQCB Basin Plan: Waters shall not contain floating materials, including solids, liquids, foams, and scum, in concentrations that cause nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Compton Creek.
Temporal Representation: Trash removed between July of 2002 and October of 2005.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 30162
 
Pollutant: Trash
LOE Subgroup: Narrative Description Data
Matrix: Not Specified
Fraction: None
 
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: A TMDL has been approved for this water segment-pollutant combination. The Trash TMDL for the Los Angeles River Watershed was adopted by the Los Angeles RWQCB on August 09, 2007 and subsequently approved by USEPA. The TMDL was been integrated into the Basin Plan as Attachment A of Regional Board Resolution No. 2007-012.
Data Reference: Basin Plan Amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan Los Angeles Region R4 Basin Plan as of 02/02/2009
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion:
Objective/Criterion Reference:
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation:
Temporal Representation:
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA information unavailable.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
LOE ID: 2475
 
Pollutant: Trash
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Nuisance
Matrix: -N/A
Fraction: None
 
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: Volunteers removed 26.5 tons of trash from Compton Creek on Coastal Clean Up Days and Earth Days between 2002 and 2005 (Heal the Bay, 2006).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: From the Los Angeles RWQCB Basin Plan: Waters shall not contain floating materials, including solids, liquids, foams, and scum, in concentrations that cause nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Compton Creek.
Temporal Representation: Coastal Clean Up Day (September 21, 2002; September 20, 2003; September 18, 2004; September 17, 2005) and Earth Day (April 1, 2003; April 17, 2004; April 30, 2005).
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Heal the Bay.
QAPP Information Reference(s):