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

Supporting Information

Regional Board 9 - San Diego Region

Water Body Name:	Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall
Water Body ID:	CAC9013000020120705130851
Water Body Type:	Coastal & Bay Shoreline


DECISION ID	127961	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall

Pollutant:	Indicator Bacteria
Final Listing Decision:	Do Not Delist from 303(d) list (being addressed with USEPA approved TMDL)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	List on 303(d) list (being addressed by USEPA approved TMDL)(2018)
Revision Status	Revised
Sources:	A Source Unknown
TMDL Name:	Bacteria Impaired Waters I (creeks and beach shorelines)
TMDL Project Code:	169
Date TMDL Approved by USEPA:	06/22/2011
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Conclusion:	This pollutant is being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 3.2 and 3.3 of the Listing Policy. Under these sections a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. Two lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant for REC-1. Fifty-three of the 380 samples exceed the GM threshold for Enterococci. Zero of the 214 samples exceed the GM threshold for Fecal Coliform. Two lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant for SHELL. One hundred and twenty-seven out of 544 samples exceed the SHELL threshold for Total Coliform. 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 for impairment of REC-1. However, there is sufficient justification for placing this water segment-pollutant combination on the CWA section 303(d) List for impairment of SHELL. 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. Fifty-three of 380 samples exceeded the Enterococci water quality threshold and zero of 214 samples exceeded the Fecal Coliform water quality threshold for the protection of REC-1, and this does not exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.2 of the Listing Policy. One hundred and twenty-seven out of 544 exceed the SHELL threshold for Total Coliform and this does exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.2 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. While there is justification for placing this water segment-pollutant combination on the CWA section 303(d) List for impairment of SHELL, the San Diego Water Board considers this waterbody-pollutant combination lowest priority for TMDL development as the water quality objective for SHELL has been determined by the State Water Board to require updating. On December 3, 2019, the State Water Board adopted the 2019 Triennial Review of the Ocean Plan and identified as a high priority a project to consider amending the Ocean Plan to review and revise the existing shellfish harvesting total coliform objective. The State Water Board recognized that the current total coliform water quality objective may be unattainable, as exceedances of the standard were found to be common in reference-quality areas. Following the update of the water quality objective, this waterbody will be reassessed and reprioritized for TMDL development, if needed. The Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters (“Ocean Plan”) contains two bacteria water quality objectives applicable to the REC-1 beneficial use: a fecal coliform water quality objective and an enterococci water quality objective. This waterbody is being considered for placement on or removal from the CWA section 303(d) List under section 3.3 or 4.3 of the Listing Policy, as applicable, using the fecal coliform and enterococci objectives. In accordance with section 6.1.5.3 of the Listing Policy, data should be representative of the critical timing that the pollutant is expected to impact the waterbody. Indicator bacteria (total coliform, fecal coliform, E. coli, enterococci) populations may fluctuate substantially on a daily, seasonal, or yearly basis. Lacking constant inputs, they do not persist in the environment for a long period and effects are of relatively short duration. As a result, the historic levels of indicator bacteria in the waterbody may be a poor indicator of current risks to human health, particularly when more recent data are available to sufficiently assess the water quality standard. Additionally, water quality conditions in waterbodies may change as a result of management actions that have been implemented to address bacteria. Unrepresentative data may result in incorrectly placing or not placing a water body segment on the list, which could result in the unnecessary expenditure of public resources or missing a human health problem. Historic lines of evidence for data collected prior to 2010 were evaluated pursuant to these considerations and were not used to assess water quality standards attainment because they do not meet the temporal representation requirements of section 6.1.5.3 of the Listing Policy. For enterococci data, Listing Policy sections 3.3 and 4.3 instructs to use the binomial distribution table in sections 3.2 and 4.2, as applicable. To use the binomial table that uses a four percent exceedance frequency, the data must be collected from coastal beaches from April 1 through October 31 only.

Regional Board Decision Recommendation:	After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that 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.

State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:	The Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters (“Ocean Plan”) contains two bacteria water quality objectives applicable to the REC-1 beneficial use: a fecal coliform water quality objective and an enterococci water quality objective. This waterbody is being considered for placement on or removal from the CWA section 303(d) List under section 3.3 or 4.3 of the Listing Policy, as applicable, using the fecal coliform and enterococci objectives. In accordance with section 6.1.5.3 of the Listing Policy, data should be representative of the critical timing that the pollutant is expected to impact the waterbody. Indicator bacteria (total coliform, fecal coliform, E. coli, enterococci) populations may fluctuate substantially on a daily, seasonal, or yearly basis. Lacking constant inputs, they do not persist in the environment for a long period and effects are of relatively short duration. As a result, the historic levels of indicator bacteria in the waterbody may be a poor indicator of current risks to human health, particularly when more recent data are available to sufficiently assess the water quality standard. Additionally, water quality conditions in waterbodies may change as a result of management actions that have been implemented to address bacteria. Unrepresentative data may result in incorrectly placing or not placing a water body segment on the list, which could result in the unnecessary expenditure of public resources or missing a human health problem. Historic lines of evidence for data collected prior to 2010 were evaluated pursuant to these considerations and were not used to assess water quality standards attainment because they do not meet the temporal representation requirements of section 6.1.5.3 of the Listing Policy. For enterococci data, Listing Policy sections 3.3 and 4.3 instructs to use the binomial distribution table in sections 3.2 and 4.2, as applicable. To use the binomial table that uses a four percent exceedance frequency, the data must be collected from coastal beaches from April 1 through October 31 only.

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 127961, Indicator Bacteria	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall

LOE ID:

74861

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:

Not Specified

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Forty-five of the 93 geomeans exceeded the objective.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 9 Beach Watch.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The geometric mean standard for enterococcus states that the coliform 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 the 5000' South Outfall site.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected from January 2008 to January 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 127961, Indicator Bacteria	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall

LOE ID:

74862

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:

Not Specified

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Zero of the 93 geomeans exceeded the objective.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 9 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 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 the 5000' South Outfall site.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected from January 2008 to January 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 127961, Indicator Bacteria	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall

LOE ID:

74863

Pollutant:

Total Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Shellfish Harvesting

Number of Samples:

110

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed Beach Watch data for Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 15 of 110 samples exceed the criterion for Coliform, Total.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 9 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, not more than 10 percent of the samples shall exceed 230 per 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 Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall was collected at 1 monitoring site [ 5000' South Outfall]

Temporal Representation:

Data was collected over the time period 1/3/2008-1/11/2010.

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 127961, Indicator Bacteria	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall

LOE ID:

77638

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:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Twenty-four of the 92 samples exceeded the objective of 70 mpn/100ml applied as a rolling 30 day geomean.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 9 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:

The samples were collected at Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall.

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected from January 2008 through January 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 127961, Indicator Bacteria	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall

LOE ID:

74864

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:

Not Specified

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Zero of the 92 geomeans exceeded the objective.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 9 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 the 5000' South Outfall site.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected from January 2008 to January 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 127961, Indicator Bacteria	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall

LOE ID:

220113

Pollutant:

Total Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Shellfish Harvesting

Number of Samples:

544

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 36 of the 544 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Coliform, Total. The water quality threshold for shellfish is based on the median concentration of Total Coliform at each station, and is calculated as a 30-day rolling median.

Data Reference:

Coastal Counties in Region 9 including: Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles counties.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2019) states that the median total coliform density shall not exceed 70 per 100 mL.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

SWRCB. 2005. Water Quality Control Plan, Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan). California Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board. February 2, 2019

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): S-9

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2010-09-01 and 2019-06-11 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QAPP for the Orange County Beachwatch data

QAPP Information Reference(s):

QAPP for the Orange County Beachwatch data for the 2020 Integrated Report.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 127961, Indicator Bacteria	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall

LOE ID:

219944

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

104

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 26 of the 104 samples exceeded the Statistical Threshold Value (STV) water quality threshold for Enterococcus. The STV is based on a 10% exceedance rate that is calculated monthly.

Data Reference:

Coastal Counties in Region 9 including: Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles counties.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2019) states that the bacteria water quality objective to protect the REC-1 beneficial for all ocean waters for Enterococci is a statistical value threshold (STV) of 110 cfu/100 mL. The STV shall not be exceeded by more than 10 percent of the samples collected in a calendar month, calculated in a static manner.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

SWRCB. 2005. Water Quality Control Plan, Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan). California Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board. February 2, 2019

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): S-9

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2010-09-01 and 2019-06-11 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QAPP for the Orange County Beachwatch data

QAPP Information Reference(s):

QAPP for the Orange County Beachwatch data for the 2020 Integrated Report.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 127961, Indicator Bacteria	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall

LOE ID:

220111

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

544

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 5 of the 544 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Coliform, Fecal. The water quality threshold is based on a Single Sample Maximum (SSM) value that is calculated daily.

Data Reference:

Coastal Counties in Region 9 including: Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles counties.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2019) states that the Single Sample Maximum fecal coliform density not exceed 400 per 100 mL.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

SWRCB. 2005. Water Quality Control Plan, Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan). California Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board. February 2, 2019

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): S-9

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2010-09-01 and 2019-06-11 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QAPP for the Orange County Beachwatch data

QAPP Information Reference(s):

QAPP for the Orange County Beachwatch data for the 2020 Integrated Report.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 127961, Indicator Bacteria	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall

LOE ID:

219756

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

214

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 214 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Coliform, Fecal. The water quality threshold is based on a 30-Day rolling geomean.

Data Reference:

Coastal Counties in Region 9 including: Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles counties.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2019) states that the 30 day geometric mean of fecal coliform density not exceed 200 per 100 mL, calculated based on the five most recent samples from each site.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

SWRCB. 2005. Water Quality Control Plan, Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan). California Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board. February 2, 2019

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): S-9

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2010-09-01 and 2019-06-11 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QAPP for the Orange County Beachwatch data

QAPP Information Reference(s):

QAPP for the Orange County Beachwatch data for the 2020 Integrated Report.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 127961, Indicator Bacteria	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall

LOE ID:

219785

Pollutant:

Total Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Shellfish Harvesting

Number of Samples:

544

Number of Exceedances:

127

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 127 of the 544 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Coliform, Total. The water quality threshold is based on a 10% exceedance rate that is calculated for a 30-Day peroid.

Data Reference:

Coastal Counties in Region 9 including: Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles counties.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2019) states that not more than 10 percent of the total coliform samples shall exceed 230 per 100 mL.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

SWRCB. 2005. Water Quality Control Plan, Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan). California Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board. February 2, 2019

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): S-9

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2010-09-01 and 2019-06-11 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QAPP for the Orange County Beachwatch data

QAPP Information Reference(s):

QAPP for the Orange County Beachwatch data for the 2020 Integrated Report.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 127961, Indicator Bacteria	Region 9
Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall

LOE ID:

220010

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

380

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean Shoreline, Lower San Juan HSA, 5000 feet south of outfall to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 53 of the 380 samples exceeded the geomean water quality threshold for Enterococcus. This is a six week rolling geomean that is calculated weekly.

Data Reference:

Coastal Counties in Region 9 including: Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles counties.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2019) states that the bacteria water quality objective to protect the REC-1 beneficial for all ocean waters for Enterococci is a geometric mean (GM) of 30 cfu/100 mL. The waterbody GM shall not be greater that the GM magnitude in any six-week interval, calculated weekly.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

SWRCB. 2005. Water Quality Control Plan, Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan). California Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board. February 2, 2019

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): S-9

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2010-09-01 and 2019-06-11 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QAPP for the Orange County Beachwatch data

QAPP Information Reference(s):

QAPP for the Orange County Beachwatch data for the 2020 Integrated Report.