| Water Body Name: | Iron Gate Reservoir |
| Water Body ID: | CAL1053702320020720133707 |
| Water Body Type: | Lake & Reservoir |
DECISION ID |
13973 |
Region 1 |
Iron Gate Reservoir |
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| Pollutant: | Cyanobacteria hepatotoxic microcystins |
| Final Listing Decision: | Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list) |
| Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | New Decision |
| Revision Status | Revised |
| Sources: | Agriculture | Dam Construction | Drainage/Filling Of Wetlands | Flow Alteration/Regulation/Modification | Habitat Modification | Hydromodification | Internal Nutrient Cycling (primarily lakes) | Source Unknown |
| Expected TMDL Completion Date: | 2019 |
| Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: | Pollutant |
| Regional Board Conclusion: | This pollutant was added to the Section 303(d) List on May 29, 2008, by the US EPA as part of the 2006 303(d) List Update process, which applies to the mainstem Klamath River in the Klamath River Hydrologic Unit, Middle Klamath River Hydrologic Area, Oregon to Iron Gate reach, excluding the riverine reach from the Oregon border downstream to the beginning of Copco 1 Reservoir (i.e., the mainstem Klamath River from the beginning of Copco 1 Reservoir to Iron Gate Dam). This listing applies to the Iron Gate Reservoir.
This pollutant is being considered for removal from the Section 303(d) List under Section 4.11 of the Listing Policy. Two lines of evidence are available in the administrative record. The LOE for microcystin toxin in the water column (LOE 26006) has an evaluation guideline (WHO 2003) that meets the requirements of the Listing Policy. The LOE for microcystin toxin in tissue (LOE 25755) has an evaluation guideline (Alexeff 2008) that State Water Board staff believes does not meet the requirements of the Listing Policy, due to the fact that the guideline has not been peer-reviewed or published in an official OEHHA agency document. Therefore, only data from LOE 26006 for microcystin in the water column were utilized to assess this pollutant. Data from LOE 25755 on microcystin in tissue are as follows, but were not utilized to assess this pollutant: Eight out of 25 tissue microcystin toxin samples exceeded the evaluation guideline (Alexeff 2008). Based on the readily available data and information, the situation-specific weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against removing this water segment-pollutant combination from the Section 303(d) List in the Water Quality Limited Segments category (i.e., sufficient justification to not delist). This conclusion is based on the staff findings that: (1) On May 29, 2008, the US EPA identified the portion of the "Klamath River Hydrologic Unit (HU), Middle HA Hydrologic Area (HA), from Oregon to Iron Gate [reservoir]" that is impaired due to microcystin toxins as the area including the Copco 1 and 2 reservoirs, Iron Gate Reservoirs, and waters in between. (2) Seven out of 14 water column microcystin toxin samples exceed the evaluation guideline used to interpret the water quality objective. (3) Any exceedance of the evaluation guidelines indicates non-attainment of standards. In compliance with Section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, a water segment shall not be removed from the Section 303(d) List if the weight of evidence indicates non-attainment. (4) The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of Section 6.1.4 of the Policy. (5) The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of Section 6.1.5 of the Policy. (6) Pursuant to Section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are met. |
| Regional Board Decision Recommendation: | After review of the available data and information, North Coast 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. |
| 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): | USEPA approved the listing of this water body as a water quality limited segment requiring a TMDL for this pollutant. |
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| LOE ID: | 25755 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Cyanobacteria hepatotoxic microcystins | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Tissue | ||||
| Matrix: | Tissue | ||||
| Fraction: | Fish whole body | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 25 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 8 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | Fish tissue analysis | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Eight out of 25 microcystin samples collected from fish tissue from Iron Gate Reservoir and Iron Gate Hatchery exceed the evaluation guideline. Sample concentrations range from 0.00 to 229.37 ng/g. Tissue samples were collected from 22 yellow perch fillet samples from Iron Gate Reservoir and from 3 yearling fall Chinook liver, stomach, and fillet samples from Iron Gate Hatchery. It is appropriate to include the Iron Gate Hatchery samples as the Chinook raised at the Hatchery were raised in water directly from Iron Gate Reservoir. Fish samples were collected by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and analyzed for microcystin by the CDFG Fish and Wildlife Water Pollution Control Laboratory in Rancho Cordova, CA. Data are summarized by Kann (2008). The presence of the toxin microcystin in fish and mussels in the Klamath River has the potential to impair the Native American Culture (CUL) and Subsistence Fishing (FISH) beneficial uses, as well as the Commercial and Sport Fishing (COMM) beneficial use listed above. | ||||
| Data Reference: | Technical Memorandum. Microcystin Bioaccumulation in Klamath River Fish and Freshwater Mussel Tissue: Preliminary 2007 Results. Prepared by Jacob Kann, Ph.D. of Aquatic Ecosystem Sciences LLC. Prepared for Karuk Tribe of California. | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Per the Basin Plan (North Coast RWQCB 2007): All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, 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 appropriate methods as specified by the Regional Water Board. | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) - North Coast Region (Region 1) | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | Per the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) (Alexeeff 2008): The upper bound of the Advisory Tissue Level range for the one serving (8 oz. uncooked fish, 6 oz. cooked, equal to 32 g/day) per week category is 26 ng total microcystins per gram of fish (26 ng/g). This Advisory Tissue Level applies to a composite of 3 or more individual samples of edible tissue. | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | Letter of August 6, 2008, to Randy Landolt, Managing Director, Pacificorp Energy, from George V. Alexeeff, Ph.D, DABT, Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, regarding information related to the occurrence of microcystin in the tissues of Klamath River biota | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | Yellow perch samples were collected from Iron Gate Reservoir. Chinook tissue samples were collected from Iron Gate Hatchery. | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Samples from Iron Gate Reservoir were collected September 6 to 7, 2007. Samples from the Hatchery were collected on July 13, 2007. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | There are no known environmental conditions (e.g., seasonality, land use practices, fire events, storms, etc.) that are related to these data. | ||||
| QAPP Information: | Samples were collected and analyzed in accordance with the quality assurance procedures described in the "Technical Memorandum. Microcystin Bioaccumulation in Klamath River Fish and Freshwater Mussel Tissue: Preliminary 2007 Results" (Kann 2008). | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | Technical Memorandum. Microcystin Bioaccumulation in Klamath River Fish and Freshwater Mussel Tissue: Preliminary 2007 Results. Prepared by Jacob Kann, Ph.D. of Aquatic Ecosystem Sciences LLC. Prepared for Karuk Tribe of California. | ||||
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| LOE ID: | 26006 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Cyanobacteria hepatotoxic microcystins | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | None | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Water Contact Recreation | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 14 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 7 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Seven of the 14 microcystin samples collected in Iron Gate Reservoir exceed the evaluation guideline. Additionally, ten of the 14 microcystin samples exceeded the Blue Green Algae Work Group (2008) guideline for microcystin toxin of 8 ug/L to protect the recreational exposure of a child. Microcystin concentrations range from non-detect to 1,600 ug/L. Samples were collected and summarized by the Karuk Tribe of California (Karuk 2008 - data). | ||||
| Data Reference: | Cyanobacteria in California Recreational Water Bodies. Providing Voluntary Guidance about Harmful Algal Blooms, Their Monitoring, and Public Notification. Draft. September 2008. Blue Green Algae Work Group of the State Water Resources Control Board, Department of Public Health, and Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment | ||||
| Karuk Tribe 2008 BGA Data (KR TOX Table 2008). Data for Blue Green Algae in the Klamath River, July 2008 to September 2008 | |||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Per the Basin Plan (NCRWQCB 2007, p. 3-4.00): All water shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, 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 appropriate methods as specified by the Regional Water Board. | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) - North Coast Region (Region 1) | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | Per the World Health Organization (WHO 2003): The recommended guideline for microcystin toxin in recreational waters associated with a moderate probability of adverse health effects is 20 ug/L. | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | World Health Organization. 2003. Guidelines for Safe Recreational Water Environments: Volume 1 Coastal and Freshwaters. | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | Samples were collected from 6 locations in Iron Gate Reservoir as follows: (1) in the open water near the dam, (2) at the Camp Creek Recreation Area, (3) at the Jay Williams Boat Dock, (4) at the Narrows, (5) in the open water scum, and (6) at the Spring Hill Boat Ramp. | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Grab samples were collected in Iron Gate Reservoir on 14 occasions between July 8, 2008 and September 2, 2008. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | There are no known environmental conditions (e.g., seasonality, land use practices, fire events, storms, etc.) that are related to these data. | ||||
| QAPP Information: | Samples were collected according to the procedures summarized in the "Draft Klamath River Nutrient, Periphyton, Phytoplankton and Algal Toxin Sampling Analysis Plan" (Karuk 2008-MonitoringPlan). | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | Draft Mid-Klamath River Nutrient, Periphyton, Phytoplankton and Algal Toxin Sampling Analysis Plan (SAP). Karuk Tribe of California Water Quality Program. | ||||