San Diego Region - TMDLs for Impaired Lagoons, Adjacent Beaches, and Agua Hedionda Creek
Background
As shown on the following table, several lagoons and Agua Hedionda Creek are on the Section 303(d) List of Water Quality Limited Segments for water quality impairments due to nutrients/eutrophication, bacteria, sediment/siltation, total dissolved solids (TDS), or a combination of these pollutants. The Pacific Ocean shorelines (i.e., beach segments) adjacent to Loma Alta Slough, Buena Vista Lagoon, and San Elijo Lagoon, are also on the 303(d) List for bacteria impairments. The water quality limited segments and their impairing pollutants are shown in the table below.
Water Quality Limited Segments and Impairing Pollutants
| Hydrologic Unit | Water Quality Limited Segment | Nutrients/ Eutrophication | Sedimentation/ Siltation | TDS | Bacteria | Staff Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Margarita Hydrologic Unit (902.00) | Santa Margarita Lagoon (902.11) | Yes |
Lark Starkey |
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| Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit (904.00) | Loma Alta Slough (904.10) | Yes |
Yes |
Jody Ebsen |
||
| Pacific Ocean Shoreline at Loma Alta Creek Mouth (904.10) | Yes |
Jody Ebsen |
||||
| Buena Vista Lagoon (904.21) | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Cynthia Gorham |
||
| Pacific Ocean Shoreline adjacent to Buena Vista Lagoon (904.20) | Yes |
Cynthia Gorham |
||||
| Lower Agua Hedionda Creek (904.31) | Yes |
Cynthia Gorham |
||||
| San Elijo Lagoon (904.61) | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Cynthia Gorham |
||
| Pacific Ocean Shoreline at San Elijo Lagoon (904.60) | Yes |
Cynthia Gorham |
||||
| Penasquitos Hydrologic Unit (906.00) | Los Penasquitos Lagoon (906.10) | Yes |
Melissa Corona |
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| San Diego Hydrologic Unit (907.00) | Famosa Slough & Channel (907.11) | Yes |
Jody Ebsen |
The San Diego Water Board is addressing the water quality impairments in these waterbodies and will develop or have adopted appropriate regulatory actions for each impairing pollutant in each listed waterbody. These actions may include the adoption of a total maximum daily load (TMDL), a TMDL Alternative, or re-classification of the 303(d) listing. The San Diego Water Board has adopted a TMDL for the Los Penasquitos Lagoon Sediment, and TMDL Alternatives for Loma Alta Slough and Famosa Slough Eutrophication impairments. Links are provided below for additional information on these two actions.
The San Diego Water Board's Investigation Order No. R9-2006-0076 requires dischargers of pollutants to these waterbodies or their tributaries to submit monitoring reports to assess the water quality impairments in the waterbodies. The results are used to develop the appropriate regulatory approach to address the impairment and restore the beneficial uses of these waterbodies.
TMDL and TMDL Alternative Adopted by the Regional Board
TMDLs/TMDL Alternatives for two waterbodies listed above have been adopted by the Regional Board. Links to additional information on these are provided below:
Email Lists for TMDLs
To subscribe to an email list for TMDLs in the San Diego Region, please see our email list subscription webpage. You may also obtain information at your convenience from our website or by appointment at the San Diego Water Board office.
Public Documents
The following documents are available for review at the San Diego Water Board Office. To request a file review please contact the Regional Board receptionist at (619) 516-1990, or email rb9_records@waterboards.ca.gov
Lagoon Monitoring Orders, Addendum, Technical Report, and Monitoring Workplan
- Investigation
Order No. R9-2006-0076
- Addendum 3 to Investigation Order No. R9-2006-0076
- Addendum 2 to Investigation Order No. R9-2006-0076
- Addendum 1 to Investigation Order No. R9-2006-0076
- San Diego Lagoons TMDL Monitoring Workplan
- Technical Report for Investigation Order No. R9-2006-0076
Lagoon Monitoring Reports
- Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit Lagoon Monitoring Report (includes Lagoons within the Carlsbad Hydrologic Unit)
- Santa Margarita River Lagoon Monitoring Report
- Los Penasquitos Lagoon Monitoring Report
- Famosa Slough Monitoring Report
For Additional Information
Ms. Cynthia Gorham by phone at (619) 521-3921 or by email at Cynthia.Gorham@waterboards.ca.gov
Ms. Jody Ebsen by phone at (619) 521-3965 or by email at Jody.Ebsen@waterboards.ca.gov
