| Water Body Name: | Eel River HU, Middle Fork HA, Wilderness and Black Butte HSAs |
| Water Body ID: | CAR1117401120090128173104 |
| Water Body Type: | River & Stream |
DECISION ID |
16171 |
Region 1 |
Eel River HU, Middle Fork HA, Wilderness and Black Butte HSAs |
||
| Pollutant: | Sediment |
| Final Listing Decision: | Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL) |
| Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | New Decision |
| Revision Status | Revised |
| Reason for Delisting: | Applicable WQS attained; reason for recovery unspecified |
| TMDL Name: | Middle Fork Eel River |
| TMDL Project Code: | 82 |
| Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: | 12/31/2003 |
| Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: | Pollutant |
| Regional Board Conclusion: | The entire Middle Fork Eel River Watershed was listed as sediment-impaired in 1994. The USEPA approved the "Middle Fork Eel River Total Maximum Daily Loads for Temperature and Sediment" in December 2003. For the 2008 303(d) List, the watershed was divided into an upper and lower section. The upper section includes the Wilderness HSA and the Black Butte River HSA. The lower section includes the Eden Valley HSA and the Round Valley HSA. This division was made in order to consider sediment data specific to individual HSAs.
Sediment in the Wilderness HSA and the Black Butte River HSA of the Middle Fork Eel River Watershed 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 to assess this pollutant. 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 (i.e., sufficient justification to delist). This conclusion is based on the staff findings that: (1) The Middle Fork Eel River Total Maximum Daily Loads for Sediment and Temperature found that sediment TMDLs are equal to existing conditions in the Wilderness and Black Butte River HSAs, and load allocations are being achieved. The TMDLs are the estimate of the total amount of sediment that can be delivered to streams in the Middle Fork Eel River Watershed without exceeding applicable water quality standards. Therefore, the weight of evidence demonstrates that sediment-related water quality objectives are attained. (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) Pursuant to Section 4.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not attained. |
| Regional Board Decision Recommendation: | After review of the available data and information, North Coast 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 being attained. |
| 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): | |
|
|||||
| LOE ID: | 26725 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Sedimentation/Siltation | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | None | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Cold 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) | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| 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: | 26729 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Sediment | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | -N/A | ||||
| Fraction: | None | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat | ||||
| Aquatic Life Use: | Fish Migration | Fish Spawning | Preservation of Rare & Endangered Species | Unknown | Warm Freshwater Habitat | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 1 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 0 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | Sediment analysis | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Per the Middle Fork Eel River TMDLs for Sediment and Temperature (USEPA 2003), existing sediment loads within the Wilderness Hydrologic Subarea (HSA) and the Black Butte River HSA are equal to the TMDL, and load allocations are being achieved in these watersheds. Specifically, the existing sediment load of the Wilderness HSA is 420 tons/sq. mi/yr, which is the TMDL for the watershed. The existing sediment load of the Black Butte River HSA is 740 tons/sq. mi/yr, which is the TMDL for the watershed.
These estimates are based on the TMDLs sediment source analysis which combined information from (1) a landslide assessment based on aerial photograph analysis with some field-based quality control, and (2) a small sediment source survey primarily based on field assessments and rate estimates developed from other studies. |
||||
| Data Reference: | Middle Fork Eel River Total Maximum Daily Loads for Temperature and Sediment. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Per the Basin Plan (North Coast RWQCB 2007): The suspended sediment load and suspended sediment discharge rate of surface waters shall not be altered in such a manner as to cause nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses. | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Water Quality Control Plan (Basin Plan) - North Coast Region (Region 1) | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | Per the Middle Fork Eel River Total Maximum Daily Loads for Sediment and Temperature (USEPA 2003): The sediment TMDL is set equal to the loading capacity of the Middle Fork Eel River. It is the estimate of the total amount of sediment, from both natural and human-caused sources, that can be delivered to streams in the Middle Fork Eel River Watershed without exceeding applicable water quality standards. In the Upper Middle Fork Eel River Watershed (also known as the Wilderness Hydrologic Subarea), the TMDL is set at the existing load of 420 tons/sq. mi/yr. In the Black Butte River Watershed (also known as the Black Butte River Hyrdologic Subarea), the TMDL is set at the existing load of 740 tons/sq. mi/yr. | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | Middle Fork Eel River Total Maximum Daily Loads for Temperature and Sediment. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | The landslide assessment studied the entire Middle Fork Eel River Watershed. The small sediment source analysis was initially conducted on USFS lands only, then expanded to private lands in round Valley, Elk Creek, and the Williams/Thatcher watersheds. | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | The landslide assessment utilized aerial photographs taken in 1952, 1969, 1979, 1981, 1993, and 1998. The small sediment source analysis was conducted in 2003. | ||||
| 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: | The sediment source analysis used to estimate sediment delivery in the Middle Fork Eel River Watershed is found in the TMDL (USEPA 2003). | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | Middle Fork Eel River Total Maximum Daily Loads for Temperature and Sediment. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX | ||||
DECISION ID |
16172 |
Region 1 |
Eel River HU, Middle Fork HA, Wilderness and Black Butte HSAs |
||
| Pollutant: | Temperature, water |
| Final Listing Decision: | Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL) |
| Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: | New Decision |
| Revision Status | Revised |
| Sources: | Nonpoint Source | Removal of Riparian Vegetation |
| TMDL Name: | Middle Fork Eel River |
| TMDL Project Code: | 82 |
| Date TMDL Approved by USEPA: | 12/31/2003 |
| Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: | Pollutant |
| Regional Board Conclusion: | The entire Middle Fork Eel River Watershed was listed as temperature-impaired in 1994. The USEPA approved the "Middle Fork Eel River Total Maximum Daily Loads for Temperature and Sediment" in December 2003. For the 2008 303(d) List, the watershed was divided into an upper and lower section. The upper section includes the Wilderness HSA and the Black Butte River HSA. The lower section includes the Eden Valley HSA and the Round Valley HSA. This division was made in order to consider sediment data specific to individual HSAs. The temperature data described in LOE 26726 (which is a copy of LOE 1681 that was developed in 2006) was applied to the entire Middle Fork Eel River Watershed in 2006 and remains applicable to both sections of the watershed (i.e., all four HSAs) for the 2008 303(d) List.
This pollutant is being considered for removal from the Section 303(d) List under Section 4.2 of the Listing Policy. Under this section a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. One line of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess temperature consistent with the Listing Policy Section 6.1.5.9. A large number of samples exceed the water quality objective. 321 of 339 temperature measurements (total) exceeded the 14.8°C coho guideline and 17.0°C steelhead evaluation guidelines. 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. 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 were 321 of 339 temperature samples that exceeded the 14.8°C coho and 17.0°C steelhead evaluation guidelines and this exceeds the allowable frequency calculated from the equation in Table 4.2 of the Listing Policy. 4. 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: | No new data were assessed for 2008. The decision has not changed except to explain the division of the Middle Fork Eel River Watershed into two waterbodies. |
| 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): | |
|
|||||
| LOE ID: | 26726 | ||||
| Pollutant: | Temperature, water | ||||
| LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water | ||||
| Matrix: | Water | ||||
| Fraction: | Total | ||||
| Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat | ||||
| Number of Samples: | 339 | ||||
| Number of Exceedances: | 321 | ||||
| Data and Information Type: | Not Specified | ||||
| Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | The data submitted was for the Middle fork of the Eel River. Three sampling locations were provided. There were a total of 339 samples taken at the three sampling locations from May 27 to September 16, 2003. 321 temperature samples exceeded the 14.8°C coho guideline and 17.0°C steelhead evaluation guideline (North Coast RWQCB, 2003c). | ||||
| Data Reference: | Eel River water quality data. (also Cable Creek) (e-file). Redding, CA: North Coast RWQCB | ||||
| SWAMP Data: | Non-SWAMP | ||||
| Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Basin Plan: Temperature objectives for COLD interstate waters, WARM interstate waters, and Enclosed Bays and Estuaries are as specified in the "Water Quality Control Plan for Control of Temperature in the Coastal and Interstate Waters and Enclosed Bays of California" including any revisions thereto. A copy of this plan is included verbatim in the Appendix Section of this Plan. In addition, the following temperature objectives apply to surface waters: The natural receiving water temperature of intrastate waters shall not be altered unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Regional Water Board that such alteration in temperature does not adversely affect beneficial uses. At no time or place shall the temperature of any COLD water be increased by more than 5 degrees F above natural receiving water temperature. At no time or place shall the temperature of WARM intrastate waters be increased more than 5 degrees F above natural receiving water temperature. | ||||
| Objective/Criterion Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d) | ||||
| Evaluation Guideline: | The guideline used was from Sullivan et al. (2000) Published Temperature Thresholds-Peer Reviewed Literature which includes reviewed sub-lethal and acute temperature thresholds from a wide range of studies, incorporating information from laboratory-based research, field observations, and risk assessment approaches. This report calculated the 7-day mean (maximum value of the 7-day moving average of the daily mean temperature) upper threshold criterion for coho salmon as 14.8°C and for steelhead trout as 17.0°C. The risk assessment approach used by Sullivan et al. (2000) suggests that the 7-day average upper threshold of a 14.8°C for coho and a 17.0°C for steelhead will reduce average growth 10% from optimum. | ||||
| Guideline Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d) | ||||
| Spatial Representation: | There were 3 sampling locations in the Middle Fork Eel River. These locations were: Middle Fork Eel near the mainstream at Rowland Bar, Middle Fork at Cable Creek, and Middle Fork near Dos Rios Bridge. | ||||
| Temporal Representation: | Samples were collected hourly over the period of May 27 to September 16, 2003. | ||||
| Environmental Conditions: | The Middle Fork of the Eel River is currently listed for temperature. | ||||
| QAPP Information: | No QAPP provided. Data collected from the Mendocino County Water Agency. | ||||
| QAPP Information Reference(s): | |||||