Draft California 2020 Integrated Report (303(d) List/305(b) Report)

Supporting Information

Regional Board 3 - Central Coast Region

Water Body Name: Old Salinas River Estuary
Water Body ID: CAE3060001419981214143807
Water Body Type: Estuary
 
DECISION ID
131053
Region 3     
Old Salinas River Estuary
 
Pollutant: Fecal Coliform
Final Listing Decision: Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2018)
Revision Status Revised
Reason for Delisting: Applicable WQS attained; due to change in WQS
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for removal from the CWA section 303(d) List under section 4 of the Listing Policy due to a change in water quality standards.

The State Water Boards Water Quality Control Plan for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California (the ISWEBE Plan) contains two bacteria water quality objectives applicable to the REC-1 beneficial use which were adopted on August 7, 2018: where the salinity level of a waterbody is equal to or less than 1 part per thousand 95 percent or more of the time, the E. coli bacteria objective applies; and where the salinity level of a waterbody is greater than 1 part per thousand 95 percent or more of the time, the Enterococci bacteria objective applies.

These objectives supersede the fecal coliform water quality objective for water contact recreation. Consequently, the fecal coliform objective for water contact recreation is no longer applicable to this waterbody and those LOEs have been removed from this decision. Therefore, this waterbody is being removed from the CWA section 303(d) List under section 4 of the Listing Policy due to a change in water quality standards.
 
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 CWA section 303(d) List under section 4 of the Listing Policy due to a change in water quality standards.

The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.
 
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.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 131053, Fecal Coliform
Region 3     
Old Salinas River Estuary
 
LOE ID: 228057
 
Pollutant: Fecal Coliform
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Non-Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: Not Specified
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Placeholder LOE so that we can create 2020 decision to delist now that the REC1 LOEs are obsolete.
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Placeholder LOE so that we can create 2020 decision to delist now that the REC1 LOEs are obsolete.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline: Placeholder LOE so that we can create 2020 decision to delist now that the REC1 LOEs are obsolete.
Guideline Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Spatial Representation: Placeholder LOE so that we can create 2020 decision to delist now that the REC1 LOEs are obsolete.
Temporal Representation: Placeholder LOE so that we can create 2020 decision to delist now that the REC1 LOEs are obsolete.
Environmental Conditions: Placeholder LOE so that we can create 2020 decision to delist now that the REC1 LOEs are obsolete.
QAPP Information: Placeholder LOE so that we can create 2020 decision to delist now that the REC1 LOEs are obsolete.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
 
DECISION ID
78122
Region 3     
Old Salinas River Estuary
 
Pollutant: Ammonia
Final Listing Decision: Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2016)
Revision Status Original
Reason for Delisting: Flaws in original listing
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: No new data were assessed.

The pollutant name was changed to ¿Ammonia¿ in the 2014 assessment cycle. This decision replaces the pollutant unionized ammonia. This decision contains all of the LOEs from the previous decision.

This pollutant is being considered for removal from the section 303(d) list under section 4.1 of the Listing Policy.

There are two reasons to delist this segment. First, staff has recently segmented this water segment into two segments: 1) Old Salinas River, delineated between the Salinas River mouth and Potrero Road and 2) Old Salinas River Estuary, delineated between Potrero Road that Moss Landing Harbor at Sandholdt Road. The data summarized in LOE # 491 is now being assessed for the Old Salinas River segment, in LOE #9581. Second, the calculated unionized ammonia has multiple errors, and three of the exceedances should be removed from the sample count. The unionized ammonia assessment for the Old Salinas River includes the recalculated results from this monitoring location (see LOE # 9581).

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 is not applicable to this water segment (Old Salinas River Estuary) and has been re-assessed for the correct water segment (Old Salinas River).
2. The data used in the original assessment for the Old Salinas River Estuary had several incorrect calculated unionized ammonia values, including 3 incorrect exceedances.
3. 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: This is a decision previously approved by the State Water Resources Control Board and the USEPA. No new data were assessed by the Regional Board for the current cycle. The decision has not changed.

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 data used is for the wrong water segment (LOE # 491 for Old Salinas River Estuary) and has been re-assessed for the correct segment (LOE#9581 for Old Salinas River).
 
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.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 78122, Ammonia
Region 3     
Old Salinas River Estuary
 
LOE ID: 491
 
Pollutant: Ammonia (Unionized)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Estuarine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 48
Number of Exceedances: 6
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Six out of 48 samples exceeded the general water quality objective (SWAMP, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The discharge of wastes shall not cause concentrations of unionized ammonia (NH3) to exceed 0.025 mg/L (as N) in receiving waters (Region 3 Basin Plan, Section II.A.2. Objectives for All Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries, II.A.2.a. General Objectives, page III-4).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Samples were collected from two sites. Exceedances were detected in water samples collected from one (site ID #309OLD) of the two sites.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected from March 1999 to March 2003.
Environmental Conditions: The water body is located in the Salinas hydrologic unit. The sites are located at Old Salinas River at Monterey Dunes Way (309OLD) and Old Salinas River at Potrero Road (309POT).
QAPP Information: SWAMP QAPP.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
85943
Region 3     
Old Salinas River Estuary
 
Pollutant: Oxygen, Dissolved
Final Listing Decision: Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2016)
Revision Status Original
Reason for Delisting: Flaws in original listing
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: No new data were assessed.

This pollutant is being considered for removal from the section 303(d) list under section 4.2 (Conventional and Other Pollutants) of the Listing Policy.

Staff recommends delisting Old Salinas River Estuary for Low Dissolved Oxygen because the data summarized in LOE # 489 is assigned to the wrong water segment. Staff has recently segmented this water segment into two segments 1) Old Salinas River, delineated between the Salinas River mouth and Potrero Road and 2) Old Salinas River Estuary, delineated between Potrero Road that Moss Landing Harbor at Sandholdt Road. The data summarized in LOE # 489 is now being assessed for the Old Salinas River segment, in LOE #12800. This data supports the listing of the Old Salinas River segment for Low Dissolved Oxygen.

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 in the Water Quality Limited Segments category.

This conclusion is based on the staff findings that:
1. The data used is for the wrong water segment (LOE # 489 for Old Salinas River Estuary) and has been re-assessed for the correct segment (LOE# 12800 for Old Salinas River)
2. 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: This is a decision previously approved by the State Water Resources Control Board and the USEPA. No new data were assessed by the Regional Board for the current cycle. 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.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 85943, Oxygen, Dissolved
Region 3     
Old Salinas River Estuary
 
LOE ID: 489
 
Pollutant: Oxygen, Dissolved
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Estuarine Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 28
Number of Exceedances: 11
 
Data and Information Type: Not Specified
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Twenty-eight samples with 11 samples exceeding the water quality objectives (CCAMP, 2004).
Data Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: COLD: Dissolved oxygen concentration shall not be reduced below 7.0 mg/L at any time.

WARM: Dissolved oxygen concentration shall not be reduced below 5.0 mg/L at any time.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: There were two sampling sites.
Temporal Representation: Monthly sampling. Samples taken from 3/1/99 to 3/7/00 over 14 sampling dates.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: CCAMP.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
70645
Region 3     
Old Salinas River Estuary
 
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)(2016)
Revision Status Original
Sources: A Source Unknown
Expected TMDL Completion Date: 2018
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: No new data were assessed.

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: This is a decision previously approved by the State Water Resources Control Board and the USEPA. No new data were assessed by the Regional Board for the current cycle. 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.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 70645, Nutrients
Region 3     
Old Salinas River Estuary
 
LOE ID: 3974
 
Pollutant: Nutrients
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Not Recorded
 
Beneficial Use: Estuarine 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 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):
 
 
DECISION ID
70097
Region 3     
Old Salinas River Estuary
 
Pollutant: Pesticides
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)(2016)
Revision Status Original
Sources: A Source Unknown
Expected TMDL Completion Date: 2023
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: No new data are assessed this cycle. The decision has not changed.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: This is a decision previously approved by the State Water Resources Control Board and the USEPA. No new data were assessed by the Regional Board for the current cycle. 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.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 70097, Pesticides
Region 3     
Old Salinas River Estuary
 
LOE ID: 3975
 
Pollutant: Pesticides
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Not Recorded
 
Beneficial Use: Estuarine 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 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):