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

Supporting Information

Regional Board 8 - Santa Ana Region

Water Body Name: Bear Creek (below Big Bear Lake)
Water Body ID: CAR8017100020110720153729
Water Body Type: River & Stream
 
DECISION ID
94958
Region 8     
Bear Creek (below Big Bear Lake)
 
Pollutant: Chloride
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 Original
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under section three (3) of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.1, a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

One (1) line of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Zero (0) of one (1) sample exceeds the Objective.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against placing this water segment-pollutant combination on the CWA 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. Zero (0) of one (1) sample exceeded the Objective and this sample size is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating. A minimum of 16 samples are needed to determine if a beneficial use is fully supported using table 3.1.
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 94958, Chloride
Region 8     
Bear Creek (below Big Bear Lake)
 
LOE ID: 81220
 
Pollutant: Chloride
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: The sample collected did not exceed the site-specific objective.
Data Reference: Data for Various Pollutants in the Streams of Region 8, 2009.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The site-pecific objective for Chloride at Bear Creek according to table 4-1 of the Santa Ana Basin plan is 10 mg/L.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan, Santa Ana River Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Data was collected from the SMCR8_184 station.
Temporal Representation: Data was collected on the following dates: 7/7/2009
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: The data was analyzed by CSULB and follows California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program protocols. No QAPP provided.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
94959
Region 8     
Bear Creek (below Big Bear Lake)
 
Pollutant: Sulfates
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 Original
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under section three (3) of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.1, a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

One (1) line of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. One (1) of the one (1) sample exceed the Objective.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against placing this water segment-pollutant combination on the CWA 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. One (1) of one sample (1) exceeded the Objective and this sample size is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating. A minimum of 16 samples are needed to determine if a beneficial use is fully supported using table 3.1.
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 94959, Sulfates
Region 8     
Bear Creek (below Big Bear Lake)
 
LOE ID: 81221
 
Pollutant: Sulfates
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Numeric data generated from 1 sample collected had 1 exceedence of the site-specific objective.
Data Reference: Data for Various Pollutants in the Streams of Region 8, 2009.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The objectives listed in Table 4-1 shall not be exceeded as a result of controllable water quality factors. The site-specific objective for Sulfates at Bear Creek (below Big Bear Lake) according to table 4-1 of the Santa Ana Basin plan is 4 mg/L.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan, Santa Ana River Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: Data was collected from the SMCR8_184 station.
Temporal Representation: Data was collected on the following dates: 7/7/2009.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: The data was analyzed by CSULB and follows California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program protocols. No QAPP provided.
QAPP Information Reference(s):
 
 
DECISION ID
87438
Region 8     
Bear Creek (below Big Bear Lake)
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
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 Original
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: This pollutant is being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under section 3.6 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.6 at least one line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status for toxicity.

One line of evidence is available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Zero of 1 sample exhibits water toxicity.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against placing this water segment-pollutant combination on the CWA 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. Zero of 1 sample exhibits water toxicity and this sample size is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating. A minimum of 16 samples is needed to determine if a beneficial use is fully supported using table 3.1.
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 87438, Toxicity
Region 8     
Bear Creek (below Big Bear Lake)
 
LOE ID: 81222
 
Pollutant: Toxicity
LOE Subgroup: Toxicity
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: TOXICITY TESTING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: One sample was collected to test for toxicity. None of the samples exhibited statistically significant toxicity. The toxicity tests included survival and reproduction of Ceriodaphnia dubia.
Data Reference: Data for Various Pollutants in the Streams of Region 8, 2009.
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Toxic substances shall not be discharged at levels that will bioaccumulate in aquatic resources to levels which are harmful to human health. The concentrations of toxic substances in the water column, sediments or biota shall not adversely affect beneficial uses.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan, Santa Ana River Basin
 
Evaluation Guideline: Toxicity is defined as a statistically significant effect in the sample exposure compared to the control using EPA-recommended hypothesis testing (parametric Dunnett's Test or non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis or Wilcoxon Two-sample Test). The t-test is used to determine if there is a statistically significant decrease in organism response in the sample as compared to the control.
Guideline Reference: Short-term Methods for Estimating the Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms. Fourth Edition. Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, D.C. EPA-821-R-02-013
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at Bear Creek (below Big Bear Lake).
Temporal Representation: The sample was collected in July 2009.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: The data was analyzed by CSULB and follows California's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program protocols.
QAPP Information Reference(s):