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

Supporting Information

Regional Board 1 - North Coast Region

Water Body Name: Wages Creek Beach
Water Body ID: CAC1131202220081013235948
Water Body Type: Coastal & Bay Shoreline
 
DECISION ID
75302
Region 1     
Wages Creek Beach
 
Pollutant: Indicator Bacteria
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2016)
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Fecal indicator bacteria (which includes enterococcus and fecal coliform) are being considered for placement on the Section 303(d) list under Section 3.3 of the Listing Policy. Under this section a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. Two LOEs are available in the administrative record to assess indicator bacteria: two for enterococcus and one for fecal coliform.

Data from LOE 25314 were re-evaluated with LOEs 133717 and 133657.

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". All data were from this date range, therefore a 4% exceedance rate is used for assessing REC-1 standards. LOE 133657 was not used, because it was assessed at a 10% exceedance rate.

The following summary presents the total number of exceedances and total sample count: 1) 0 of 1 sample exceed the statistical threshold value (STV) for enterococcus and 2) 0 of 3 samples exceed the single sample maximum objective for fecal coliform.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is insufficient justification for 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) None of the enterococcus or fecal coliform samples exceed the water quality objectives, however this sample size is insufficient to determine with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy if standards are not met per Section 3.3 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 placed on the section 303(d) list. 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 75302, Indicator Bacteria
Region 1     
Wages Creek Beach
 
LOE ID: 133657
 
Pollutant: Enterococcus
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Beachwatch_Mendocino County data for Wages Creek Beach to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the Statistical Threshold Value (STV) water quality standard for Enterococcus. The STV is based on a 10% exceedance rate that is calculated monthly.
Data Reference: Mendocino County Beachwatch data reformatted and renamed to match CEDEN fields.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The bacteria water quality objective to protect the REC-1 beneficial for all waters where the salinity is equal to or greater than 10 ppth 95 percent or more of the time, is a Statistical Threshold Value (STV) of 110 cfu/100 mL not to be exceeded more than 10 percent of the time (calculated monthly).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries Plan. Part 1: Trash Provisions; Part 2: Tribal Subsistence Beneficial Uses and Mercury Provisions; Part 3: Bacteria Provisions and Variance Policy
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): Wages Creek
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the days of 2006-05-17 and 2006-05-17 .
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Data exempt from QAPP requirement. Draft QAPP for Mendocino County Beachwatch data used instead. Represents data collection procedure prior to development of a formal QAPP.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Draft QAPP for Mendocino County Beachwatch. Represents data collection procedure prior to development of a formal QAPP.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 75302, Indicator Bacteria
Region 1     
Wages Creek Beach
 
LOE ID: 133717
 
Pollutant: Enterococcus
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Beachwatch_Mendocino County data for Wages Creek Beach to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the Statistical Threshold Value (STV) water quality standard for Enterococcus. The STV is based on a 10% exceedance rate that is calculated monthly. This data is for an AB411 beach. This LOE specifically corresponds with dry weather samples and only includes samples collected between April 1 and October 31 of each year.
Data Reference: Mendocino County Beachwatch data reformatted and renamed to match CEDEN fields.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The bacteria water quality objective to protect the REC-1 beneficial for all waters where the salinity is equal to or greater than 10 ppth 95 percent or more of the time, is a Statistical Threshold Value (STV) of 110 cfu/100 mL not to be exceeded more than 10 percent of the time (calculated monthly).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries Plan. Part 1: Trash Provisions; Part 2: Tribal Subsistence Beneficial Uses and Mercury Provisions; Part 3: Bacteria Provisions and Variance Policy
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): Wages Creek
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the days of 2006-05-17 and 2006-05-17 .
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Data exempt from QAPP requirement. Draft QAPP for Mendocino County Beachwatch data used instead. Represents data collection procedure prior to development of a formal QAPP.
QAPP Information Reference(s): Draft QAPP for Mendocino County Beachwatch. Represents data collection procedure prior to development of a formal QAPP.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 75302, Indicator Bacteria
Region 1     
Wages Creek Beach
 
LOE ID: 25314
 
Pollutant: Enterococcus
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: None of the 3 single samples of enterococcus collected at Wages Creek Beach exceed the objective. Additionally, none of the 3 30-day geomean values exceed the objective. The single sample and geomean values are two different matrices used Mendocino County Division of Environmental Health in accordance with AB411 (Chapter 765, Statutes of 1997) requirements. Data is maintained by the State Water Board's Beach Watch program. Data is summarized by the North Coast Regional Water Board (North Coast RWQCB 2007).
Data Reference: North Coast Beach Watch Data. Bacteria data collected by Del Norte County, Humboldt County, Mendocino County Environmental Health Division, Sonoma County Division of Environmental Health, and Marin County in accordance with AB411. Data managed by the State Water Resources Control Board's Beach Watch program at beachwatch.waterboards.ca.gov. Includes data from 2004 to 2006
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Per the Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2005): The following bacterial objectives shall be maintained throughout the water column. The following standard is based on the 30-day geometric mean of the 5 most recent samples from each site: Enterococcus density shall not exceed 35 MPN per 100ml. The following standard is for the single sample maximum: Enterococcus density shall not exceed 104 per 100 ml. *Note: MPN is the most probable number of coliform units.
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 at Wages Creek Beach.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected weekly in May, June and August 2006.
Environmental Conditions: Samples were collected during the dry season. Otherwise, there are no known environmental conditions (e.g., land use practices, fire events, storms, etc.) that are related to these data.
QAPP Information: Samples were collected and analyzed in accordance with the Sampling and Analysis Plan and the Laboratories and Laboratory Analyses procedures described in the "Draft Guidance for Salt Water Beaches" (DHS 2006).
QAPP Information Reference(s): Draft Guidance for Salt Water Beaches. Last Update: April 10, 2006. Initial Draft: November 1997. Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management, California Department of Health Services
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 75302, Indicator Bacteria
Region 1     
Wages Creek Beach
 
LOE ID: 25313
 
Pollutant: Fecal Coliform
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Water Contact Recreation
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PATHOGEN MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: None of the 3 single samples of fecal coliform collected at Wages Creek Beach exceed the objective. Additionally, none of the 3 30-day geomean values exceed the objective. The single sample and geomean values are two different matrices used Mendocino County Division of Environmental Health in accordance with AB411 (Chapter 765, Statutes of 1997) requirements. Data is maintained by the State Water Board's Beach Watch program. Data is summarized by the North Coast Regional Water Board (North Coast RWQCB 2007).
Data Reference: North Coast Beach Watch Data. Bacteria data collected by Del Norte County, Humboldt County, Mendocino County Environmental Health Division, Sonoma County Division of Environmental Health, and Marin County in accordance with AB411. Data managed by the State Water Resources Control Board's Beach Watch program at beachwatch.waterboards.ca.gov. Includes data from 2004 to 2006
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Per the Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2005): The following bacterial objectives shall be maintained throughout the water column. The following standard is based on the 30-day geometric mean of the five most recent samples from each site: Fecal coliform density shall not exceed 200 MPN per 100 ml. The following standard is for the single sample maximum: Fecal coliform density shall not exceed 400 per 100ml. *Note: MPN is the most probable number of coliform units.
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 at Wages Creek Beach.
Temporal Representation: Samples were collected weekly in May, June and August 2006.
Environmental Conditions: Samples were collected during the dry season. Otherwise, there are no known environmental conditions (e.g., land use practices, fire events, storms, etc.) that are related to these data.
QAPP Information: Samples were collected and analyzed in accordance with the Sampling and Analysis Plan and the Laboratories and Laboratory Analyses procedures described in the "Draft Guidance for Salt Water Beaches" (DHS 2006).
QAPP Information Reference(s): Draft Guidance for Salt Water Beaches. Last Update: April 10, 2006. Initial Draft: November 1997. Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management, California Department of Health Services