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

Supporting Information

Regional Board 8 - Santa Ana Region

Water Body Name:	Grout Creek
Water Body ID:	CAR8017100019990208145402
Water Body Type:	River & Stream


DECISION ID	7226	Region 8
Grout Creek

Pollutant:	Metals
Final Listing Decision:	Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2006)
Revision Status	Revised
Reason for Delisting:	Flaws in original listing
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Conclusion:	This pollutant is being considered for removal from the section 303(d) list under section 4 and 3.1 of the Listing Policy. Under section 4, listings of water segments shall be removed from the section 303(d) list if the listing was based on faulty data, and it is demonstrated that the listing would not have occurred in the absence of such faulty data. Under section 3.1 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. Grout Creek was originally listed for metals based on elevated metal concentration in a study conducted with shellfish tissue. No native shellfish exists in Grout Creek and shellfish harvesting is not a beneficial use in Grout Creek and this line of evidence does not meet the requirement for listing purposes. Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. None of the samples exceeded the applicable water quality objectives. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification for 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. None of the samples (one sediment sample and two water samples) exceeded the water quality objectives and this does not exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.1 of the Listing Policy. 4. Shellfish tissue data is not appropriate for evaluating water quality objectives in Grout Creek. 5. Pursuant to section 4.11 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 be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant 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 be removed from the section 303(d) list because there was a flaw in the original listing and applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are not exceeded.

USEPA Action (if applicable):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 7226, Metals	Region 8
Grout Creek

LOE ID:

7754

Pollutant:

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Sediment

Matrix:

Sediment

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Only one sample was collected and it did not exceed the guidelines.

Data Reference:

Big Bear Lake Metals 303(d) Delisting Proposal

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Santa Ana Regions Basin Plan Narrative Objective: The concentrations of toxic pollutants in the water column, sediments or biota shall not adversely affect beneficial uses.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin

Evaluation Guideline:

Probable Effect Concentration: arsenic: 33 mg/kg dw; cadmium: 4.98 mg/kg dw; chromium: 111 mg/kg dw; copper: 149 mg/kg dw; lead: 128 mg/kg dw; mercury: 1.06 mg/kg dw; nickel: 48.6 mg/kg dw; zinc: 459 mg/kg dw.

Guideline Reference:

Development and evaluation of consensus-based sediment quality guidelines for freshwater ecosystems. Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 39: 20-31

Spatial Representation:

The sample was collected at one station in Grout creek.

Temporal Representation:

The sample was collected on 4/1/92.

Environmental Conditions:

The sample represented the dry season.

QAPP Information:

The data's quality assurance is deemed appropriate since the data was collected under the auspices of the U.S. EPA's Clean Lakes Study.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 7226, Metals	Region 8
Grout Creek

LOE ID:

7752

Pollutant:

Arsenic | Zinc

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Total

Beneficial Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Aquatic Life Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Of the two samples collected, none exceeded the criteria.

Data Reference:

Big Bear Lake Metals 303(d) Delisting Proposal

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Santa Ana Regions Basin Plan Narrative Objective: The concentrations of toxic pollutants in the water column, sediments or biota shall not adversely affect beneficial uses.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin

Evaluation Guideline:

California Toxics Rule Acute Criteria is as follows: Arsenic 5/29/92 and 4/19/93:340 ug/l; Zinc 5/29/92: 61.81 ug/l and 4/19/93: 26.11 ug/l.

Guideline Reference:

Water Quality Standards 2000. Establishment of numeric criteria for priority toxic pollutants for the State of California: Rules and regulations. Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 97. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Protection Agency

Spatial Representation:

The samples were taken at one location in Grout Creek.

Temporal Representation:

The samples were taken on 5/29/92 and 4/19/93.

Environmental Conditions:

The samples were collected during the dry season.

QAPP Information:

The data's quality assurance is deemed appropriate since the data was collected under the auspices of the U.S. EPA's Clean Lakes Study.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 7226, Metals	Region 8
Grout Creek

LOE ID:

31401

Pollutant:

Metals

LOE Subgroup:

Narrative Description Data

Matrix:

-N/A

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Aquatic Life Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

QUALITATIVE (EVALUATED) ASSESSMENT - UNSPECIFIED

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

The listing for metals in 1994 was based on shellfish (Corbicula) tissue data that was used in a Regional Board study of metals in Grout Creek. The criteria used for listing was based on protection for aquatic life and for human health. Shellfish is not part of the aquatic life found in Grout Creek and shellfish harvesting is not a beneficial use for Grout Creek.

Data Reference:

Big Bear Lake Metals 303(d) Delisting Proposal

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Santa Ana Regions Basin Plan Narrative Objective: The concentrations of toxic pollutants in the water column, sediments or biota shall not adversely affect beneficial uses.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Temporal Representation:

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Monitoring was conducted in accordance with Regional Board procedures.

QAPP Information Reference(s):


DECISION ID	15928	Region 8
Grout Creek

Pollutant:	Copper
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 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 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. One of two samples exceeded the California Toxics Rule 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 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.

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 15928, Copper	Region 8
Grout Creek

LOE ID:

7753

Pollutant:

Copper

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Not Recorded

Beneficial Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Aquatic Life Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Of the two samples taken, only one exceeded the criteria.

Data Reference:

Big Bear Lake Metals 303(d) Delisting Proposal

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Santa Ana Regions Basin Plan Narrative Objective: The concentrations of toxic pollutants in the water column, sediments or biota shall not adversely affect beneficial uses.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin

Evaluation Guideline:

California Toxics Rule Acute Criterion as follows: 5/29/92 and 4/19/93: 2.53 ug/l.

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at one station.

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected on 5/29/92 and 4/19/93.

Environmental Conditions:

The samples were collected during the dry season.

QAPP Information:

The data's quality assurance is deemed appropriate since the data was collected under the auspices of the U.S. EPA's Clean Lakes Study.

QAPP Information Reference(s):


DECISION ID	7227	Region 8
Grout Creek

Pollutant:	Nutrients
Final Listing Decision:	List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2006)
Revision Status	Original
Sources:	Unknown Nonpoint Source
Expected TMDL Completion Date:	2008
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Conclusion:	303(d) listing decisions made prior to 2006 were not held in an assessment database. The Regional Boards will update this decision when new data and information become available and are assessed.

Regional Board Decision Recommendation:	No new data were assessed for 2008. The decision has not changed.

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.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 7227, Nutrients	Region 8
Grout Creek

LOE ID:

4410

Pollutant:

Nutrients

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Not Recorded

Beneficial Use:

Warm Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

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):