Final California 2012 Integrated Report( 303(d) List/305(b) Report)

Supporting Information

Regional Board 1 - North Coast Region

Water Body Name:	Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth)
Water Body ID:	CAC1091001120110712113517
Water Body Type:	Coastal & Bay Shoreline


DECISION ID	30529	Region 1
Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth)

Pollutant:	Indicator Bacteria
Final Listing Decision:	List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	New Decision
Revision Status	Revised
Sources:	Source Unknown
Expected TMDL Completion Date:	2025
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Conclusion:	Fecal indicator bacteria (which includes enterococcus, fecal coliform, and total coliform) are being considered for removal from the Section 303(d) list under Section 4.3 of the Listing Policy. Under this section a single line of evidence (LOE) is necessary to assess listing status. Four LOEs are available in the administrative record to assess indicator bacteria in this water body for the attainment of contact recreation standards: two for fecal coliform and two for enterococcus. In addition two LOEs are available for total coliform for the attainment of shell fish harvesting standards. It should be noted that an additional three LOEs for total coliform data were not utilized in this decision because these bacteria are widespread in nature and occur in non-fecal sources such as soil and submerged wood and are not a good measure for the protection of contact recreation beneficial uses. However, the California Ocean Plan has specific total coliform objectives for waters designated for shellfish harvesting. 114 out 131 samples exceeded the total coliform objective of 70 MPN/100ml expressed as a 30 day rolling geometric mean. 91 of 171 samples exceeded the single sample SHELL objective of 230 MPN/100mL, both of which are above the exceedance threshold iterated in section 3.3 of the Listing Policy. The data assessed in this decision are ocean beach bacteria data collected in accordance with AB411 (Chapter 765, Statutes of 1997) requirements. In accordance with Section 3.3 of the Listing Policy, a 4% exceedance rate shall be used to add waters to the List "if water quality monitoring was conducted April 1 through October 31 only". However, the data assessed in this decision include data collected during months outside the April - October range. Therefore, this pollutant is being considered for placement on the section 303(d) list under section 3.2 of the Listing Policy, using a 10% exceedance rate. Neither the enterococcus nor the fecal coliform samples (both single samples and geomean values) violate the allowable 10% exceedance rate. While the Contact Recreation beneficial use appears to be protected, the Shellfish harvesting beneficial use is impaired. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against adding this water segment-pollutant combination to the Section 303(d) list (i.e., sufficient justification to not list). This conclusion is based on the staff findings that: (1) The data used satisfy the data quality requirements of Section 6.1.4 of the Policy. (2) The data used satisfy the data quantity requirements of Section 6.1.5 of the Policy. (3) Enterococcus and fecal coliform samples do not exceed the objectives more than the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.2 of the Listing Policy. (4) Total coliform samples related to the SHELL beneficial use exceed the objectives more that the allowable frequency identified in section 3.3 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 not be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.

State Board Staff Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:

State Board Decision Recommendation:	After review of this Regional Board decision, SWRCB staff recommend the following changes to the decision: 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 for protection of the SHELL beneficial use.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 30529, Indicator Bacteria	Region 1
Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth)

LOE ID:

44701

Pollutant:

Total Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

155

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

1 of 155 samples exceed the criterion for Total Coliform.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 1 Beach Watch.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (2009) single sample maximum states that total coliform density shall not exceed 10,000 MPN/100 mL

Objective/Criterion Reference:

California Ocean Plan Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California 2009

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Data for this line of evidence for Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth) was collected at 1 monitoring site [ North Mad River Mouth]

Temporal Representation:

Data was collected over the time period 1/2/2007-8/24/2010.

Environmental Conditions:

Staff is not aware of any special conditions that might affect interpretation of the data.

QAPP Information:

The samples were collected for the Beach Watch program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 30529, Indicator Bacteria	Region 1
Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth)

LOE ID:

32704

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

119

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

Not Specified

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Six of the 119 geomeans exceeded the objective.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 1 Beach Watch.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The geometric mean standard for entercoccus states that the entercoccus density shall not exceed 35 per 100 mL. Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters 2009.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

California Ocean Plan Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California 2009

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Samples were collected at Clam Beach near Mad River mouth.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected approximately once a week from 2007 to 2010.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

The samples were collected for the Beach Watch program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 30529, Indicator Bacteria	Region 1
Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth)

LOE ID:

32705

Pollutant:

Total Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

119

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

Not Specified

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Four of the 119 geomeans exceeded the objective.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 1 Beach Watch.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The geometric mean standard for total coliform states that the coliform density shall not exceed 1000 per 100 mL. Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters 2009.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

California Ocean Plan Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California 2009

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Samples were collected at Clam Beach near Mad River mouth.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected approximately once a week from 2007 to 2010.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

The samples were collected for the Beach Watch program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 30529, Indicator Bacteria	Region 1
Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth)

LOE ID:

32706

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

119

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

Not Specified

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Zero of the 119 geomeans exceeded the objective.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 1 Beach Watch.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The geometric mean standard for fecal coliform states that the coliform density shall not exceed 200 MPN per 100 mL. Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters (SWRCB 2009).

Objective/Criterion Reference:

California Ocean Plan Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California 2009

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Samples were collected at Clam Beach near Mad River mouth.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected approximately once a week from 2007 to 2010.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

The samples were collected for the beach watch program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 30529, Indicator Bacteria	Region 1
Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth)

LOE ID:

47624

Pollutant:

Total Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Shellfish Harvesting

Number of Samples:

118

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

51 of 118 samples exceed the objective of 70 MPN/100mL applied as a rolling 30 day geomean for Total Coliform.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 1 Beach Watch.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The California Ocean Plan states that at all areas where shellfish may be harvested for human consumption, the median total coliform density shall not exceed 70 per 100 mL. Staff applied the objective as a rolling 30 day geometric mean consistent with other state bacteria objectives and with guidance from the National Shellfish Sanitation Program from which the objectives were taken.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

California Ocean Plan Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California 2009

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Data for this line of evidence for Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth) was collected at 1 monitoring site [North Mad River Mouth]

Temporal Representation:

Data was collected over the time period 1/2/2007-8/24/2010.

Environmental Conditions:

Staff is not aware of any special conditions that might affect interpretation of the data.

QAPP Information:

The samples were collected for the Beach Watch program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 30529, Indicator Bacteria	Region 1
Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth)

LOE ID:

47623

Pollutant:

Total Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Shellfish Harvesting

Number of Samples:

155

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

55 of 155 samples exceed the objective of 230 MPN/100mL applied as a single sample maximum for Total Coliform.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 1 Beach Watch.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The California Ocean Plan states the following: At all areas where shellfish may be harvested for human consumption, the following bacterial objectives shall be maintained throughout the water column: Ten percent of the samples collected during any 30-day period shall not exceed 230 MPN/100mL.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

California Ocean Plan Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California 2009

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Data for this line of evidence for Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth) was collected at 1 monitoring site [North Mad River Mouth]

Temporal Representation:

Data was collected over the time period 1/2/2007-8/24/2010.

Environmental Conditions:

Staff is not aware of any special conditions that might affect interpretation of the data.

QAPP Information:

The samples were collected for the Beach Watch program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 30529, Indicator Bacteria	Region 1
Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth)

LOE ID:

44623

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

155

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

3 of 156 samples exceed the criterion for Fecal Coliform.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 1 Beach Watch.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2009) states that the single sample maximum for fecal coliform shall not exceed 400 MPN/100 mL

Objective/Criterion Reference:

California Ocean Plan Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California 2009

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Data for this line of evidence for Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth) was collected at 1 monitoring site [ North Mad River Mouth]

Temporal Representation:

Data was collected over the time period 1/2/2007-8/24/2010.

Environmental Conditions:

Staff is not aware of any special conditions that might affect interpretation of the data.

QAPP Information:

The samples were collected for the Beach Watch program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 30529, Indicator Bacteria	Region 1
Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth)

LOE ID:

44432

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

154

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

11 of 154 samples exceed the criterion for Enterococci.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 1 Beach Watch.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2009) states that the single sample maximum for Enterococcus shall not exceed 104 MPN/100 mL.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

California Ocean Plan Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California 2009

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Data for this line of evidence for Clam Beach (near Mad River mouth) was collected at 1 monitoring site [ North Mad River Mouth]

Temporal Representation:

Data was collected over the time period 1/2/2007-8/24/2010.

Environmental Conditions:

Staff is not aware of any special conditions that might affect interpretation of the data.

QAPP Information:

The samples were collected for the Beach Watch program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):