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

Supporting Information

Regional Board 9 - San Diego Region

Water Body Name:	Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach
Water Body ID:	CAC9011400020090505124705
Water Body Type:	Coastal & Bay Shoreline


DECISION ID	16822	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

Pollutant:	Enterococcus
Final Listing Decision:	Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	New Decision
Revision Status	Revised
Reason for Delisting:	Applicable WQS attained; reason for recovery unspecified
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Conclusion:	In 2006, 'Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA' was listed for Indicator Bacteria. For 2008, the 2006 Dana Point HSA segment has been split into smaller segments and each represents an area near the sampling location of the data being assessed. 'Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach' is one of the sampling locations for Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA and is considered to be part of the original listing. For this 2008 assessment, the Regional Board has chosen to replace the 'indicator bacteria' listing with separate assessments of the specific indicator bacteria, such as coliform, fecal coliform, and enterococcus, for removal or non-removal from the 303(d) list. This pollutant is being considered for removal from the section 303(d) list under section 4.1 of the Listing Policy. Under this section, a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Twenty-six of the 938 samples exceed the Basin Plan single sample maximum water quality objective for enterococcus. This water body segment is identified as an AB411 beach and data collected during the time frame of April 1st to October 31st (dry weather) is assessed using a four percent exceedance percentage (section 4.3 of Listing Policy). There is one additional line of evidence for dry weather geometric mean calculation. Zero of 56 geo-metric mean calculations exceeded the geo-metric mean criteria. In LOE 29191, the Regional Board calculated exceedances for samples taken only during storm events. This information was not used in determining listing decisions, but is of interest to the Regional Board and has been included as additional anecdotal information. 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 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. Twenty-six of the 938 samples exceed the Basin Plan single sample maximum water quality objective for enterococcus and this does not exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.2 of the Listing Policy. 4. Zero of 56 geo-metric mean calculations exceeded the recreational use geo-metric mean criteria. This does not exceed the allowable limit listed in Table 4.2 (at a four percent exceedance percentage AB411) of the Listing Policy. 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 be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are being me.

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 16822, Enterococcus	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

31078

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PWS pathogen monitoring (ambient water)

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Orange County collected Beach monitoring data within the time period from January 1999 through December 2006.
A total of 56 monthly geomeans were calculated for data collected during the time frame of April 1st to October 31st (AB411 data) within the aforementioned time period. Of the 56 geomeans zero exceeded the geomean water quality objective.

Data Reference:

Ocean Bacteriological Data Evaluation for City of Laguna Beach, 1999 through 2006, Final Report

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Geomean: Enterococcus density shall not exceed 35 per 100 ml within any 30 day period (SWRCB, 2005).

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:

Samples were collected from Thousand Steps Beach, station id S4, in the Dana Point HSA. Lat/Long: 33.49756/-117.74138.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected at least once a week within the time period from January 1999 through December 2006.
The data assessed is AB411 data which is data collected during the time frame of April 1st to October 31st (summer months) within the aforementioned time period.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality control for the bacteria analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the County of Orange Quality Assessment/Quality Control document.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

County of Orange. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual, February 2004 Bacteria specific

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 16822, Enterococcus	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

29191

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PWS pathogen monitoring (ambient water)

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Beach monitoring data was collected by the County of Orangefrom January 1999 through December 2007. There were 938 individual samples collected. Between March 2002 and December 2007, 51 samples were associated with storm events. From the 51 samples, 11 exceeded the water contact recreation single sample maximum water quality objective for enterococcus. This information will not be used in determining a listing decision, but is of interest to the Regional Board and has been included here as additional anecdotal information.

Data Reference:

Ocean Bacteriological Data Evaluation for City of Laguna Beach, 1999 through 2006, Final Report

National Weather Service Forecast Office, San Diego, California, Chronological Regional Temperature and Precipitation Listings by Station

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Single Sample Maximum: Enterococcus density shall not exceed 104 per 100 ml;

Geomean: Enterococcus density shall not exceed 35 per 100 ml (SWRCB, 2005).

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:

Samples were collected from Thousand Steps Beach, station id S4, in the Dana Point HSA. Lat/Long: 33.49756/-117.74138.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected weekly from January 1999 through December 2007; however, rainfall data is only available from March 2002 through December 2007.

Environmental Conditions:

Comparisons were made for all data and data associated with storm events. A storm event was defined as 0.2 inches of rainfall within a 72 hour period.

Analyzing only storm water bacteria data is important because the majority of beach monitoring data covers the months of April through October. The data may not capture the full impacts of seasonal storm events and high bacteria levels due to storm water runoff because much of the wet season for Southern California occurs in November through March.

QAPP Information:

Quality control for the bacteria analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the County of Orange Quality Assessment/Quality Control document.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

County of Orange. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual, February 2004 Bacteria specific

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 16822, Enterococcus	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

29193

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

938

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PWS pathogen monitoring (ambient water)

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Beach monitoring data was collected by the County of Orange from January 1999 through December 2007. There were 938 individual samples collected with 26 exceeding the water contact recreation single sample maximum water quality objective for enterococcus.

Data Reference:

Ocean Bacteriological Data Evaluation for City of Laguna Beach, 1999 through 2006, Final Report

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Single Sample Maximum: Enterococcus density shall not exceed 104 per 100 ml;

Geomean: Enterococcus density shall not exceed 35 per 100 ml (SWRCB, 2005).

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:

Samples were collected from Thousand Steps Beach, station id S4, in the Dana Point HSA. Lat/Long: 33.49756/-117.74138.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected weekly from January 1999 through December 2007; however, rainfall data is only available from March 2002 through December 2007.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality control for the bacteria analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the County of Orange Quality Assessment/Quality Control document.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

County of Orange. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual, February 2004 Bacteria specific

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 16822, Enterococcus	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

29192

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

108

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PWS pathogen monitoring (ambient water)

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Beach monitoring data was collected by the County of Orange from January 1999 through December 2007. There were 938 individual samples collected and 108 monthly geomeans were calculated. From the 108 geomeans, none exceeded the water contact recreation geomean water quality objective for enterococcus.

Data Reference:

Ocean Bacteriological Data Evaluation for City of Laguna Beach, 1999 through 2006, Final Report

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Single Sample Maximum: Enterococcus density shall not exceed 104 per 100 ml;

Geomean: Enterococcus density shall not exceed 35 per 100 ml (SWRCB, 2005).

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:

Samples were collected from Thousand Steps Beach, station id S4, in the Dana Point HSA. Lat/Long: 33.49756/-117.74138.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected weekly from January 1999 through December 2007; however, rainfall data is only available from March 2002 through December 2007.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality control for the bacteria analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the County of Orange Quality Assessment/Quality Control document.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

County of Orange. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual, February 2004 Bacteria specific

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 16822, Enterococcus	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

30295

Pollutant:

Indicator Bacteria

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Not Recorded

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Unspecified--This LOE is a placeholder to support a 303(d) listing decision made prior to 2006.

For the 2008 assessment , the 2006 listed coastline 'Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA' was split into smaller segments that each represent an area near the sampling location of the data being assessed. This segment 'Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach' is one of the sampling locations. This LOE is a copy of the 2006 listing placeholder LOE for Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA and is considered by the Regional Board to be applicable to this more specific segment formed from the split.

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:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Temporal Representation:

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Unspecified

QAPP Information Reference(s):


DECISION ID	16823	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

Pollutant:	Fecal Coliform
Final Listing Decision:	Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	New Decision
Revision Status	Revised
Reason for Delisting:	Applicable WQS attained; reason for recovery unspecified
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Conclusion:	In 2006, 'Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA' was listed for Indicator Bacteria. For 2008, the 2006 Dana Point HSA segment has been split into smaller segments and each represents an area near the sampling location of the data being assessed. 'Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach' is one of the sampling locations for Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA and is considered to be part of the original listing. For this 2008 assessment, the Regional Board has chosen to replace the 'indicator bacteria' listing with separate assessments of the specific indicator bacteria, such as coliform, fecal coliform, and enterococcus, for removal or non-removal from the 303(d) list. This pollutant is being considered for removal from the section 303(d) list under section 4.1 of the Listing Policy. Under this section, a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. One of the 930 samples exceed the Basin Plan single sample maximum water quality objective for fecal coliform. This water body segment is identified as an AB411 beach and data collected during the time frame of April 1st to October 31st (dry weather) is assessed using a four percent exceedance percentage (section 4.3 of Listing Policy). There is one additional line of evidence for dry weather geometric mean calculation. Zero of 56 geo-metric mean calculations exceeded the geo-metric mean criteria. In LOE 29202, the Regional Board calculated exceedances for samples taken only during storm events. This information was not used in determining listing decisions, but is of interest to the Regional Board and has been included as additional anecdotal information. 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 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 the 930 samples exceed the Basin Plan single sample maximum water quality objective for fecal coliform and this does not exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.2 of the Listing Policy. 4. Zero of 56 geo-metric mean calculations exceeded the recreational use geo-metric mean criteria. This does not exceed the allowable limit listed in Table 4.2 (at a four percent exceedance percentage AB411) of the Listing Policy. 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 be removed from the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are being met.

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 16823, Fecal Coliform	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

29202

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PWS pathogen monitoring (ambient water)

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Beach monitoring data was collected by the County of Orange from January 1999 through December 2007. There were 930 individual samples collected. For the period between March 2002 and December 2007, 51 samples were correlated with storm event samples and none exceeded the water contact recreation single sample maximum water quality objective for fecal coliform. This information will not be used in determining a listing decision, but is of interest to the Regional Board and has been included here as additional anecdotal information.

Data Reference:

Ocean Bacteriological Data Evaluation for City of Laguna Beach, 1999 through 2006, Final Report

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Single Sample Maximum: Fecal coliform density shall not exceed 400 per 100 ml;

Geomean: Fecal coliform density shall not exceed 200 per 100ml (SWRCB, 2005).

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:

Samples were collected from Thousand Steps Beach, station id S4, in the Dana Point HSA. Lat/Long: 33.49756/-117.74138.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected weekly from January 1999 through December 2007; however, rainfall data is only available from March 2002 through December 2007.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality control for the bacteria analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the County of Orange Quality Assessment/Quality Control document.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

County of Orange. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual, February 2004 Bacteria specific

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 16823, Fecal Coliform	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

31077

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PWS pathogen monitoring (ambient water)

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Data Reference:

Ocean Bacteriological Data Evaluation for City of Laguna Beach, 1999 through 2006, Final Report

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Geomean: Fecal coliform density shall not exceed 200 per 100ml within any 30 day period (SWRCB, 2005).

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:

Samples were collected from Thousand Steps Beach, station id S4, in the Dana Point HSA. Lat/Long: 33.49756/-117.74138.

Temporal Representation:

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality control for the bacteria analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the County of Orange Quality Assessment/Quality Control document.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

County of Orange. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual, February 2004 Bacteria specific

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 16823, Fecal Coliform	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

29199

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

108

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PWS pathogen monitoring (ambient water)

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Shoreline beach monitoring data was collected by the County of Orange from January 1999 through December 2007. The number of samples included 930 individual bacteria samples and 108 monthly geomeans were calculated. From the 108 geomeans, none exceeded the water contact recreation geomean water quality objective for fecal coliform.

Data Reference:

Ocean Bacteriological Data Evaluation for City of Laguna Beach, 1999 through 2006, Final Report

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Single Sample Maximum: Fecal coliform density shall not exceed 400 per 100 ml;

Geomean: Fecal coliform density shall not exceed 200 per 100ml (SWRCB, 2005).

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:

Samples were collected from Thousand Steps Beach, station id S4, in the Dana Point HSA. Lat/Long: 33.49756/-117.74138.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected weekly from January 1999 through December 2007; however, rainfall data is only available from March 2002 through December 2007.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality control for the bacteria analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the County of Orange Quality Assessment/Quality Control document.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

County of Orange. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual, February 2004 Bacteria specific

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 16823, Fecal Coliform	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

29229

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

930

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PWS pathogen monitoring (ambient water)

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Shoreline beach monitoring data was collected by the County of Orange from January 1999 through December 2007. The number of samples included 930 individual bacteria samples and 108 monthly geomeans were calculated. From the 930 samples, only one exceeded the water contact recreation single sample maximum water quality objective for fecal coliform.

Data Reference:

Ocean Bacteriological Data Evaluation for City of Laguna Beach, 1999 through 2006, Final Report

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Single Sample Maximum: Fecal coliform density shall not exceed 400 per 100 ml;

Geomean: Fecal coliform density shall not exceed 200 per 100ml (SWRCB, 2005).

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:

Samples were collected from Thousand Steps Beach, station id S4, in the Dana Point HSA. Lat/Long: 33.49756/-117.74138.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected weekly from January 1999 through December 2007; however, rainfall data is only available from March 2002 through December 2007.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality control for the bacteria analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the County of Orange Quality Assessment/Quality Control document.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

County of Orange. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual, February 2004 Bacteria specific

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 16823, Fecal Coliform	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

30295

Pollutant:

Indicator Bacteria

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Not Recorded

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

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:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Temporal Representation:

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Unspecified

QAPP Information Reference(s):


DECISION ID	16824	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

Pollutant:	Total Coliform
Final Listing Decision:	Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	New Decision
Revision Status	Revised
Reason for Delisting:	Applicable WQS attained; reason for recovery unspecified
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Conclusion:	In 2006, 'Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA' was listed for Indicator Bacteria. For 2008, the 2006 Dana Point HSA segment has been split into smaller segments and each represents an area near the sampling location of the data being assessed. 'Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach' is one of the sampling locations for Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA and is considered to be part of the original listing. For this 2008 assessment, the Regional Board has chosen to replace the 'indicator bacteria' listing with separate assessments of the specific indicator bacteria, such as coliform, fecal coliform, and enterococcus, for removal or non-removal from the 303(d) list. This pollutant is being considered for removal from the section 303(d) list under section 4.1 of the Listing Policy. Under this section, a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. Five lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Thirty-six of the 930 samples exceed the Basin Plan single sample maximum shellfish harvesting water quality objective for total coliform. In LOEs 29133 and 29239, the Regional Board calculated exceedances for samples taken only during storm events. This information was not used in determining listing decisions, but is of interest to the Regional Board and has been included as additional anecdotal information. 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 in the Water Quality Limited Segments category. The coastal beach at this water segment is identified as an AB411 beach. To comply with the requirements of AB411 the dry weather data collected during the time frame of April 1st to October 31st is assessed using a four percent exceedance percentage, as described in section 3.3 (and 4.3) of the Listing Policy. An assessment for dry weather geometric mean calculation was conducted and one additional line of evidence is available in the administrative record. One of 56 geometric mean calculations exceeded the criteria for recreational use and this does not exceed the allowable limit based on the application of a four percent exceedance percentage (AB411) to section 4.3 of the Listing Policy. 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. Thirty-six of the 930 samples exceed the Basin Plan single sample maximum shellfish harvesting water quality objective for total coliform and this does not exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 4.2 of the Listing Policy. 4. One of 56 dry weather geometric mean calculations exceeded the total coliform criteria for recreational use and this does not exceed the allowable limit (at a four percent exceedance percentage - AB411) in section 3.3 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 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 are being met.

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 16824, Total Coliform	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

29243

Pollutant:

Total Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

108

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PWS pathogen monitoring (ambient water)

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Shoreline monitoring data was collected by the County of Orange from January 1999 through December 2007. Beach monitoring data was collected by the County of Orange. There were 930 individual samples collected with 108 monthly geomeans calculated. From the 108 monthly geomeans, none exceeded the water contact recreation geomean water quality objective for total coliform.

Data Reference:

Ocean Bacteriological Data Evaluation for City of Laguna Beach, 1999 through 2006, Final Report

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

From the Ocean Plan the objectives are:

Single Sample Maximum: Total coliform density shall not exceed 10,000 per 100ml;

Geomean: Total coliform density shall not exceed 1,000 per 100ml (SWRCB, 2005).

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:

Samples were collected from Thousand Steps Beach, station id S4, in the Dana Point HSA. Lat/Long: 33.49756/-117.74138.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected weekly from January 1999 through December 2007; however, rainfall data is only available from March 2002 through December 2007.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality control for the bacteria analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the County of Orange Quality Assessment/Quality Control document.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

County of Orange. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual, February 2004 Bacteria specific

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 16824, Total Coliform	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

29239

Pollutant:

Total Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PWS pathogen monitoring (ambient water)

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Shoreline beach monitoring data was collected by the County of Orange from January 1999 through December 2007. A total of 930 individual bacteria samples were collected. From March 2002 to December 2007, 51 samples were correlated with storm events. Of the 51 storm event samples, none exceeded the water contact recreation single sample maximum water quality objective for total coliform. This information will not be used in determining a listing decision, but is of interest to the Regional Board and has been included here as additional anecdotal information.

Data Reference:

Ocean Bacteriological Data Evaluation for City of Laguna Beach, 1999 through 2006, Final Report

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

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:

Samples were collected from Thousand Steps Beach, station id S4, in the Dana Point HSA. Lat/Long: 33.49756/-117.74138.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected weekly from January 1999 through December 2007; however, rainfall data is only available from March 2002 through December 2007.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality control for the bacteria analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the County of Orange Quality Assessment/Quality Control document.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

County of Orange. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual, February 2004 Bacteria specific

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 16824, Total Coliform	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

29240

Pollutant:

Total Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

930

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PWS pathogen monitoring (ambient water)

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Shoreline monitoring data was collected by the County of Orange from January 1999 through December 2007. The number of samples collected was 930 individual samples. Of the 930 samples, none exceeded the water contact recreation single sample maximum water quality objective for total coliform.

Data Reference:

Ocean Bacteriological Data Evaluation for City of Laguna Beach, 1999 through 2006, Final Report

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

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:

Samples were collected from Thousand Steps Beach, station id S4, in the Dana Point HSA. Lat/Long: 33.49756/-117.74138.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected weekly from January 1999 through December 2007; however, rainfall data is only available from March 2002 through December 2007.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality control for the bacteria analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the County of Orange Quality Assessment/Quality Control document.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

County of Orange. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual, February 2004 Bacteria specific

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 16824, Total Coliform	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

31076

Pollutant:

Total Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PWS pathogen monitoring (ambient water)

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Data Reference:

Ocean Bacteriological Data Evaluation for City of Laguna Beach, 1999 through 2006, Final Report

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

From the Ocean Plan the objective is:
Geomean: Total coliform density shall not exceed 1,000 per 100ml within any 30 day period (SWRCB, 2005).

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:

Samples were collected from Thousand Steps Beach, station id S4, in the Dana Point HSA. Lat/Long: 33.49756/-117.74138.

Temporal Representation:

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality control for the bacteria analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the County of Orange Quality Assessment/Quality Control document.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

County of Orange. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual, February 2004 Bacteria specific

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 16824, Total Coliform	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

29133

Pollutant:

Total Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Shellfish Harvesting

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PWS pathogen monitoring (ambient water)

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Shoreline monitoring data was collected by the County of Orange from January 1999 through December 2007. The number of samples collected was 930 individual samples. For the period between March 2002 and December 2007, 51 samples were associated with storm events. Of the 51 storm event samples, 16 exceeded the single sample maximum water quality objective. This information will not be used in determining a listing decision, but is of interest to the Regional Board and has been included here as additional anecdotal information.

Data Reference:

Ocean Bacteriological Data Evaluation for City of Laguna Beach, 1999 through 2006, Final Report

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

From the Ocean Plan, the median total coliform density shall not exceed 70 per 100 ml, and not more than 10 percent of the samples shall exceed 230 per 100 ml (SWRCB, 2005).

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:

Samples were collected from Thousand Steps Beach, station id S4, in the Dana Point HSA. Lat/Long: 33.49756/-117.74138.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected weekly from January 1999 through December 2007; however, rainfall data is only available from March 2002 through December 2007.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality control for the bacteria analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the County of Orange Quality Assessment/Quality Control document.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

County of Orange. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual, February 2004 Bacteria specific

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 16824, Total Coliform	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

29138

Pollutant:

Total Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Shellfish Harvesting

Number of Samples:

930

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PWS pathogen monitoring (ambient water)

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Shoreline monitoring data was collected by the County of Orange from January 1999 through December 2007. The number of samples collected was 930 individual samples. From the 930 samples, 36 exceeded the single sample maximum water quality objective for shellfish harvesting.

Data Reference:

Ocean Bacteriological Data Evaluation for City of Laguna Beach, 1999 through 2006, Final Report

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

From the Ocean Plan, the median total coliform density shall not exceed 70 per 100 ml, and not more than 10 percent of the samples shall exceed 230 per 100 ml (SWRCB, 2005).

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:

Samples were collected from Thousand Steps Beach, station id S4, in the Dana Point HSA. Lat/Long: 33.49756/-117.74138.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected weekly from January 1999 through December 2007; however, rainfall data is only available from March 2002 through December 2007.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Quality control for the bacteria analysis portion of this study was conducted in accordance with the County of Orange Quality Assessment/Quality Control document.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

County of Orange. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual, February 2004 Bacteria specific

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 16824, Total Coliform	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Dana Point HSA, at Thousand Steps Beach

LOE ID:

30295

Pollutant:

Indicator Bacteria

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Not Recorded

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

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:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Temporal Representation:

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Unspecified

QAPP Information Reference(s):