Final California 2010 Integrated Report (303(d) List/305(b) Report)

Supporting Information

Regional Board 3 - Central Coast Region

Water Body Name: Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach
Water Body ID: CAC3095004220041214171644
Water Body Type: Coastal & Bay Shoreline
 
DECISION ID
4624
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach
 
Pollutant: Enterococcus
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2006)
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under section 3.3 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.3 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

Six lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant at Spanish Bay Beach. Four lines of evidence summarize the data and information used in the 2006 assessment. Those data are summarized here. One of 61 sample geomeans were in exceedance of the Objective for Water Contact Recreation, 2 of 110 samples were in exceedance of the single sample Objective for Water Contact Recreation for Enterococcus. Neither of these exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.1 of the Listing Policy. Nine advisories/warnings were posted from 1999 to 2003. Rain Advisories for all beaches in the county were posted on 15 occasions from 2000 to 2004.

Two additional Lines of evidence summarize more recent weekly data collected between February 2005 and October 2006. One of the 61 samples samples were in exceedance of the single sample Objective for Water Contact Recreation for Enterococcus and none of the 16 sample geomeans were in exceedance of the Objective for Water Contact Recreation. Based on section 3.3 the site does not have significant bacterial contamination.

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 Assembly Bill 411 criteria used complies with the requirements of section 6.1.3 of the Policy.
2. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy.
3. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy.
4. Based on section 3.3 the site does not have significant bacterial contamination.
5. Pursuant to section 3.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met.
 
Regional Board 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.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are not exceeded.
 
USEPA Action (if applicable):
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 4624, Enterococcus
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach
 
LOE ID: 19984
 
Pollutant: Enterococcus
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 61
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Central Coast Regional Board Staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 1 of 61 samples exceed the criterion for Enterococci.
Data Reference: AB 411 Data for 2004
  AB 411 Data for 2005
  AB 411 Data for 2006
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2005) states that the single sample maximum for Enterococcus shall not exceed 104 MPN/100 mL.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California. California Ocean Plan 2005. Sacramento, CA: State Water Resources Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach was collected at one AB411 monitoring site (Spanish Bay)
Temporal Representation: Data was collected over the time period 2/1/2005 - 10/30/2006. This includes weekly AB411 monitoring between April 1 and October 31 of each year.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA information not available
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 4624, Enterococcus
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach
 
LOE ID: 19983
 
Pollutant: Enterococcus
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 16
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Central Coast Regional Board Staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 16 samples exceed the criterion for Enterococci.
Data Reference: AB 411 Data for 2004
  AB 411 Data for 2005
  AB 411 Data for 2006
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2005) states that the geometric mean for Enterococcus shall not exceed 35 MPN/100 mL.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California. California Ocean Plan 2005. Sacramento, CA: State Water Resources Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach was collected at one AB411 monitoring site (Spanish Bay)
Temporal Representation: Data was collected over the time period 2/1/2005 - 10/30/2006. This includes weekly AB411 monitoring between April 1 and October 31 of each year.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA information not available
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 4624, Enterococcus
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach
 
LOE ID: 364
 
Pollutant: Enterococcus
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 75
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Monterey County collected 110 bacteria samples from 2001 through 2004 at Spanish Bay Beach. 30-day mean concentrations of Enterococcus were calculated. None of 75 sample means were in exceedance of the criteria (CCRWQCB, 2004d).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion:
Objective/Criterion Reference:
 
Evaluation Guideline: AB411: Based on the mean of the logarithms of the results of at least five weekly samples during any 30-day sampling period, the density of Enterococcus in water from any sampling station at a public beach or public water contact sports area, shall not exceed 35 MPN/100 ml.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Spanish Bay Beach is between rocky outcropping separating Spanish Bay from Asilomar Beach and Bird Rock Road in the community of Pebble Beach.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected from 4/2/2001 through 6/7/2004. As an AB411 beach, Spanish Bay Beach was sampled weekly April 1 - October 31 and monthly November 1 - March 30.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Monterey County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 4624, Enterococcus
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach
 
LOE ID: 365
 
Pollutant: Enterococcus
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 110
Number of Exceedances: 2
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Monterey County collected 110 bacteria samples from 2001 through 2004 at Spanish Bay Beach. Two of 110 samples were in exceedance of the single sample criterion for Enterococcus (CCRWQCB, 2004d).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion:
Objective/Criterion Reference:
 
Evaluation Guideline: AB411: The single sample maximum criterion for Enterococcus in marine waters = 104 MPN/100 ml.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Spanish Bay Beach is between rocky outcropping separating Spanish Bay from Asilomar Beach and Bird Rock Road in the community of Pebble Beach.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected from 4/2/2001 through 6/7/2004. As an AB411 beach, Spanish Bay Beach was sampled weekly April 1 - October 31 and monthly November 1 - March 30.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Monterey County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 4624, Enterococcus
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach
 
LOE ID: 362
 
Pollutant: Enterococcus
LOE Subgroup: Health Advisories
Matrix: Not Specified
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: Not Specified
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Monterey County posted Rain Advisories for all beaches in the county on 15 occasions from 2000 to 2004. Each advisory was posted for several days surrounding rain events in the county (CCRWQCB, 2004d).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Assembly Bill 411:
Weekly monitoring is required from April to October at all beaches with more than 50,000 annual visitors or at beaches located in areas adjacent to storm drains that flow during the summer. Some counties continue testing year round. Weekly samples must be tested for three indicator organisms: total coliform, fecal coliform, and enterococcus. Beaches that fail to meet the state's criteria for any one of the three indicators are to be posted with conspicuous warning signs to notify the public of health risks associated with swimming in these areas. Closings and advisories are issued on a discretionary basis. AB 411 requires the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to post monthly beach data from coastal counties throughout the state. The surveys list beach warnings, beach closures, and rain advisories resulting from bacterial contamination.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The rain advisories are issued for all beaches in Monterey County, including Spanish Bay Beach (between rocky outcropping separating Spanish Bay from Asilomar Beach and Bird Rock Road in the community of Pebble Beach).
Temporal Representation: Rain advisories for the beaches were issued from February 2000 through November 2004.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Monterey County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 4624, Enterococcus
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach
 
LOE ID: 363
 
Pollutant: Enterococcus
LOE Subgroup: Health Advisories
Matrix: Not Specified
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: Not Specified
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Monterey County posted a total of 9 advisories/warnings for Spanish Bay Beach from in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2004. The warnings were for high bacteria (fecal coliform and enterococcus). Additionally, there was one closure for a sewage spill (possible broken pipe) in 2000 (CCRWQCB, 2004d).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Assembly Bill 411:
Weekly monitoring is required from April to October at all beaches with more than 50,000 annual visitors or at beaches located in areas adjacent to storm drains that flow during the summer. Some counties continue testing year round. Weekly samples must be tested for three indicator organisms: total coliform, fecal coliform, and enterococcus. Beaches that fail to meet the state's criteria for any one of the three indicators are to be posted with conspicuous warning signs to notify the public of health risks associated with swimming in these areas. Closings and advisories are issued on a discretionary basis. AB 411 requires the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to post monthly beach data from coastal counties throughout the state. The surveys list beach warnings, beach closures, and rain advisories resulting from bacterial contamination.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Spanish Bay Beach is between rocky outcropping separating Spanish Bay from Asilomar Beach and Bird Rock Road in the community of Pebble Beach.
Temporal Representation: Postings and closures are for 1999-2001 and 2004.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Monterey County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
12155
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach
 
Pollutant: Escherichia coli (E. coli)
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 Conclusion: This water segment-pollutant combination is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under section 3.3 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.3 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

Two lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this water segment-pollutant combination. Zero of three samples exceeded the single sample maximum criterion and zero of three geomean assessments exceeded the geomean criterion.

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 three samples exceeded the single sample maximum criterion and zero of three geomean assessments exceeded the geomean criterion 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 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.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
USEPA Action (if applicable):
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 12155, Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach
 
LOE ID: 19986
 
Pollutant: Escherichia coli (E. coli)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Central Coast Regional Board Staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 3 samples exceed the criterion for Escherichia coli.
Data Reference: AB 411 Data for 2004
  AB 411 Data for 2005
  AB 411 Data for 2006
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: USEPA Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria -1986.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria - 1986. EPA440/5-84-002
 
Evaluation Guideline: Single sample maximum allowable density for E. coli in freshwater is 235 MPN/100mL (as stated in Table 4, page 15)
Guideline Reference: Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria - 1986. EPA440/5-84-002
 
Spatial Representation: Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach was collected at one AB411 monitoring site (Spanish Bay)
Temporal Representation: Data was collected over the time period 2/1/2005 - 10/30/2006. This includes weekly AB411 monitoring between April 1 and October 31 of each year.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA information not available
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 12155, Escherichia coli (E. coli)
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach
 
LOE ID: 19985
 
Pollutant: Escherichia coli (E. coli)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Central Coast Regional Board Staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 3 samples exceed the criterion for Escherichia coli.
Data Reference: AB 411 Data for 2004
  AB 411 Data for 2005
  AB 411 Data for 2006
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: USEPA Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria -1986.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria - 1986. EPA440/5-84-002
 
Evaluation Guideline: Steady State Geometric Mean Indicator Density is 126 MPN/100mL (as stated in Table 4, Page 15).
Guideline Reference: Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria - 1986. EPA440/5-84-002
 
Spatial Representation: Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach was collected at one AB411 monitoring site (Spanish Bay)
Temporal Representation: Data was collected over the time period 2/1/2005 - 10/30/2006. This includes weekly AB411 monitoring between April 1 and October 31 of each year.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA information not available
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
12156
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach
 
Pollutant: Fecal Coliform
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 Conclusion: This water segment-pollutant combination is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under section 3.3 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.3 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

Two lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this water segment-pollutant combination. Water Board staff assessed one data set against two different evaluation criteria (i.e. single sample maximum and geomean). Zero of 60 samples exceeded the single sample maximum criterion and zero of 16 geomean assessments exceeded the geomean criterion.

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 60 samples exceeded the single sample maximum criterion and zero of 16 geomean assessments exceeded the geomean criterion 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 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.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation: After review of this Regional Board decision, SWRCB staff recommend the decision be approved by the State Board.
 
USEPA Action (if applicable):
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 12156, Fecal Coliform
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach
 
LOE ID: 19973
 
Pollutant: Fecal Coliform
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 60
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Central Coast Regional Board Staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 60 samples exceed the criterion for Coliform, Fecal.
Data Reference: AB 411 Data for 2004
  AB 411 Data for 2005
  AB 411 Data for 2006
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2005) states that the single sample maximum for fecal coliform shall not exceed 400 MPN/100 mL.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California. California Ocean Plan 2005. Sacramento, CA: State Water Resources Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach was collected at one AB411 monitoring site (Spanish Bay)
Temporal Representation: Data was collected over the time period 2/1/2005 - 10/30/2006. This includes weekly AB411 monitoring between April 1 and October 31 of each year.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA information not available
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 12156, Fecal Coliform
Region 3     
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach
 
LOE ID: 19972
 
Pollutant: Fecal Coliform
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 16
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Central Coast Regional Board Staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 16 samples exceed the criterion for Coliform, Fecal.
Data Reference: AB 411 Data for 2004
  AB 411 Data for 2005
  AB 411 Data for 2006
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2005) states that the 30-day geometric mean for fecal coliform shall not exceed 200 MPN/100 mL.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California. California Ocean Plan 2005. Sacramento, CA: State Water Resources Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach was collected at one AB411 monitoring site (Spanish Bay)
Temporal Representation: Data was collected over the time period 2/1/2005 - 10/30/2006. This includes weekly AB411 monitoring between April 1 and October 31 of each year.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QA information not available
QAPP Information Reference(s):