Draft California 2026 Integrated Report (303(d) List/305(b) Report)

Supporting Information

Regional Board 6 - Lahontan Region

Water Body Name: Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
Water Body ID: CAR6341003020230503052440
Water Body Type: River & Stream
 
DECISION ID
168670
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
Pollutant: Ammonia
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available
 
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 the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 168670, Ammonia
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 338065
 
Pollutant: Nitrogen, ammonia (Total Ammonia)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 3 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Ammonia as N.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The total ammonia water quality objective to protect aquatic life in freshwater is temperature and pH dependent and is calculated according to the equation for the four-day criterion defined in Chapter 3 of The Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-00 (Bijou Creek at Mouth).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2005-05-21 and 2019-05-18
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 168670, Ammonia
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 338197
 
Pollutant: Ammonia (Unionized)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Dissolved
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 3 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Ammonia as N, Unionized.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The un-ionized ammonia water quality objective to protect aquatic life in freshwater is temperature and pH dependent and is calculated according to the equation for the four-day criterion defined in Chapter 3 of The Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-00 (Bijou Creek at Mouth).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2005-05-21 and 2019-05-18
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
 
DECISION ID
162804
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
Pollutant: Chloride
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available
 
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 the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162804, Chloride
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 347706
 
Pollutant: Chloride
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: 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: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows:
1 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Chloride
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan objective for Chloride in this water body is 3 (mg/L), (as a Mean).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: Bijou Creek at Mouth (SLT-BJCR-00)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2019-05-18 and 2019-05-18
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
 
DECISION ID
168707
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
Pollutant: Indicator Bacteria
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available
 
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 the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 168707, Indicator Bacteria
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 336790
 
Pollutant: Escherichia coli (E. coli)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: STV
 
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 League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 samples exceeded the Statistical Threshold Value (STV) water quality threshold for E. coli. The STV is based on a 10% exceedance rate that is calculated monthly.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The bacteria water quality objective to protect the REC-1 beneficial use in waters other than Lake Thaoe, where the salinity is less than 1 parts per thousand 95 percent or more of the time applies a statistical threshold value to E. coli of 320 cfu/100 mL, not to be exceeded by more than 10 percent of samples within a calendar month (ISWEBE 2018).
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): SLT-BJCR-00 (Bijou Creek at Mouth).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the days of 2019-05-18 and 2019-05-18 .
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
 
DECISION ID
169389
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
Pollutant: Nitrogen, Nitrate
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available
 
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 the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 169389, Nitrogen, Nitrate
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 338946
 
Pollutant: Nitrate as Nitrate (NO3)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Not Recorded
 
Beneficial Use: Municipal & Domestic Supply
 
Number of Samples: 1
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Nitrate as NO3.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The California Maximum Contaminant Level for Nitrate incorporated by reference in the Water Quality Control Plan, Lahontan Region is 45000 ug/L (Water Quality Control Plan, Lahontan Region).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-01 (Bijou Creek at Fairway Drive).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2003-05-10 and 2003-05-10
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 169389, Nitrogen, Nitrate
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 338956
 
Pollutant: Nitrate as Nitrate (NO3)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Not Recorded
 
Beneficial Use: Municipal & Domestic Supply
 
Number of Samples: 4
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 4 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Nitrate as NO3.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The California Maximum Contaminant Level for Nitrate incorporated by reference in the Water Quality Control Plan, Lahontan Region is 45000 ug/L (Water Quality Control Plan, Lahontan Region).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-00 (Bijou Creek at Mouth).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2003-05-10 and 2011-05-14
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
 
DECISION ID
162805
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
Pollutant: Oxygen, Dissolved
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
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 3.2 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.2 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. One of the six samples exceeds the objective for dissolved oxygen concentration.

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 of 6 samples exceeds the objective, and this does not 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.
 
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:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162805, Oxygen, Dissolved
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 339195
 
Pollutant: Oxygen, Dissolved
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
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: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Oxygen, Dissolved.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: For waters with the beneficial uses of COLD, COLD with SPWN, WARM, and WARM with SPWN, the minimum dissolved oxygen concentration shall not be less than that specified in Table 3-6. (Water Quality Control Plan, Lahontan Region)
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-02 (Bijou Creek above Pioneer Trail).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2006-05-20 and 2006-05-20
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162805, Oxygen, Dissolved
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 339296
 
Pollutant: Oxygen, Dissolved
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
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: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Oxygen, Dissolved.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: For waters with the beneficial uses of COLD, COLD with SPWN, WARM, and WARM with SPWN, the minimum dissolved oxygen concentration shall not be less than that specified in Table 3-6. (Water Quality Control Plan, Lahontan Region)
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-01 (Bijou Creek at Fairway Drive).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2007-05-12 and 2007-05-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162805, Oxygen, Dissolved
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 339183
 
Pollutant: Oxygen, Dissolved
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 4
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 1 of 4 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Oxygen, Dissolved.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: For waters with the beneficial uses of COLD, COLD with SPWN, WARM, and WARM with SPWN, the minimum dissolved oxygen concentration shall not be less than that specified in Table 3-6. (Water Quality Control Plan, Lahontan Region)
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-00 (Bijou Creek at Mouth).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2004-05-22 and 2019-05-18
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
 
DECISION ID
168631
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
Pollutant: Specific Conductivity
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available
 
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 the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 168631, Specific Conductivity
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 340626
 
Pollutant: Specific Conductivity
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Municipal & Domestic Supply
 
Number of Samples: 6
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 6 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for SpecificConductivity.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Water designated as MUN shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) or secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) based upon drinking water standards specified in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations (Water Quality Control Plan, Lahontan Region).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline: California Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) apply to ambient waters under the Lahontan Basin Plan's 'Chemical Constituents' objective. The California Secondary MCL for specific conductivity is 900 uS/cm.
Guideline Reference: California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 15. Domestic Water Quality and Monitoring
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-00 (Bijou Creek at Mouth).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2003-05-10 and 2019-05-18
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 168631, Specific Conductivity
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 340398
 
Pollutant: Specific Conductivity
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Municipal & Domestic Supply
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 3 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for SpecificConductivity.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Water designated as MUN shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) or secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) based upon drinking water standards specified in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations (Water Quality Control Plan, Lahontan Region).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline: California Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) apply to ambient waters under the Lahontan Basin Plan's 'Chemical Constituents' objective. The California Secondary MCL for specific conductivity is 900 uS/cm.
Guideline Reference: California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 15. Domestic Water Quality and Monitoring
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-02 (Bijou Creek above Pioneer Trail).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2002-05-04 and 2005-05-21
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 168631, Specific Conductivity
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 340351
 
Pollutant: Specific Conductivity
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Municipal & Domestic Supply
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 1 of 3 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for SpecificConductivity.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Water designated as MUN shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) or secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) based upon drinking water standards specified in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations (Water Quality Control Plan, Lahontan Region).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline: California Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) apply to ambient waters under the Lahontan Basin Plan's 'Chemical Constituents' objective. The California Secondary MCL for specific conductivity is 900 uS/cm.
Guideline Reference: California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 15. Domestic Water Quality and Monitoring
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-01 (Bijou Creek at Fairway Drive).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2003-05-10 and 2007-05-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
 
DECISION ID
162806
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
Pollutant: pH
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution: Pollutant
 
Regional Board Conclusion: Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.
 
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:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162806, pH
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 339982
 
Pollutant: pH
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 5 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for pH. The objective for this pollutant requires background information that is currently unavailable, and therefore an assessment of water quality thresholds could not be made.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Lahontan Basin Plan's regionwide objective for pH states: 'In fresh waters with designated beneficial uses of COLD or WARM, changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.5 pH units. For all other waters of the region, the pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.5 units. The Regional Board recognizes that some waters of the Region may have natural pH levels outside of the 6.5 to 8.5 range. Compliance with the pH objective for these waters will be determined on a case-by-case basis.'
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-02 (Bijou Creek above Pioneer Trail).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2002-05-04 and 2008-05-10
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162806, pH
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 339740
 
Pollutant: pH
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Municipal & Domestic Supply
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 5 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for pH. The objective for this pollutant requires background information that is currently unavailable, and therefore an assessment of water quality thresholds could not be made.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Lahontan Basin Plan's regionwide objective for pH states: 'In fresh waters with designated beneficial uses of COLD or WARM, changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.5 pH units. For all other waters of the region, the pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.5 units. The Regional Board recognizes that some waters of the Region may have natural pH levels outside of the 6.5 to 8.5 range. Compliance with the pH objective for these waters will be determined on a case-by-case basis.'
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-02 (Bijou Creek above Pioneer Trail).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2002-05-04 and 2008-05-10
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162806, pH
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 339857
 
Pollutant: pH
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Municipal & Domestic Supply
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 2 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for pH. The objective for this pollutant requires background information that is currently unavailable, and therefore an assessment of water quality thresholds could not be made.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Lahontan Basin Plan's regionwide objective for pH states: 'In fresh waters with designated beneficial uses of COLD or WARM, changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.5 pH units. For all other waters of the region, the pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.5 units. The Regional Board recognizes that some waters of the Region may have natural pH levels outside of the 6.5 to 8.5 range. Compliance with the pH objective for these waters will be determined on a case-by-case basis.'
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-01 (Bijou Creek at Fairway Drive).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2003-05-10 and 2005-05-21
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162806, pH
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 339613
 
Pollutant: pH
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 2 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for pH. The objective for this pollutant requires background information that is currently unavailable, and therefore an assessment of water quality thresholds could not be made.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Lahontan Basin Plan's regionwide objective for pH states: 'In fresh waters with designated beneficial uses of COLD or WARM, changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.5 pH units. For all other waters of the region, the pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.5 units. The Regional Board recognizes that some waters of the Region may have natural pH levels outside of the 6.5 to 8.5 range. Compliance with the pH objective for these waters will be determined on a case-by-case basis.'
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-01 (Bijou Creek at Fairway Drive).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2003-05-10 and 2005-05-21
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162806, pH
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 340191
 
Pollutant: pH
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 6 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for pH. The objective for this pollutant requires background information that is currently unavailable, and therefore an assessment of water quality thresholds could not be made.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Lahontan Basin Plan's regionwide objective for pH states: 'In fresh waters with designated beneficial uses of COLD or WARM, changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.5 pH units. For all other waters of the region, the pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.5 units. The Regional Board recognizes that some waters of the Region may have natural pH levels outside of the 6.5 to 8.5 range. Compliance with the pH objective for these waters will be determined on a case-by-case basis.'
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-00 (Bijou Creek at Mouth).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2003-05-10 and 2019-05-18
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162806, pH
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 340164
 
Pollutant: pH
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Municipal & Domestic Supply
 
Number of Samples: 0
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 6 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for pH. The objective for this pollutant requires background information that is currently unavailable, and therefore an assessment of water quality thresholds could not be made.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Lahontan Basin Plan's regionwide objective for pH states: 'In fresh waters with designated beneficial uses of COLD or WARM, changes in normal ambient pH levels shall not exceed 0.5 pH units. For all other waters of the region, the pH shall not be depressed below 6.5 nor raised above 8.5 units. The Regional Board recognizes that some waters of the Region may have natural pH levels outside of the 6.5 to 8.5 range. Compliance with the pH objective for these waters will be determined on a case-by-case basis.'
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-00 (Bijou Creek at Mouth).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2003-05-10 and 2019-05-18
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
 
DECISION ID
168936
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
Pollutant: Nitrogen
Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Priority: Low
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 3.1 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.1 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. 2 of the 2 samples exceed the objective.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification in favor of 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. Two of 2 samples exceed the objective and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.1 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 be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are exceeded and a pollutant contributes to or causes the problem.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 168936, Nitrogen
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 347813
 
Pollutant: Total Nitrogen as N
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
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: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows:
1 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Nitrogen, Total
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan objective for Nitrogen, Total in this water body is 0.15 (mg/L), (as a Mean).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: Bijou Creek at Mouth (SLT-BJCR-00)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2019-05-18 and 2019-05-18
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 168936, Nitrogen
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 347812
 
Pollutant: Total Nitrogen as N
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Not Recorded
 
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: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows:
1 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Nitrogen, Total
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan objective for Nitrogen, Total in this water body is 0.15 (mg/L), (as a Mean).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: Bijou Creek at Mouth (SLT-BJCR-00)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2005-05-21 and 2005-05-21
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
 
DECISION ID
168919
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
Pollutant: Phosphorus
Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Priority: Low
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 3.1 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.1 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. 7 of the 7 samples exceed the objective.

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification in favor of 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. 7 of the 7 samples exceed the objectiver and this exceeds the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.1 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 be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are exceeded and a pollutant contributes to or causes the problem.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 168919, Phosphorus
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 347885
 
Pollutant: Phosphorus
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 5
Number of Exceedances: 5
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows:
5 of 5 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Phosphorus as P
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan objective for Phosphorus as P in this water body is 0.008 (mg/L), (as a Mean).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: Bijou Creek at Mouth (SLT-BJCR-00)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2003-05-10 and 2011-05-14
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 168919, Phosphorus
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 347888
 
Pollutant: Phosphorus
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
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: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows:
1 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Phosphorus as P
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan objective for Phosphorus as P in this water body is 0.008 (mg/L), (as a Mean).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: Bijou Creek at Fairway Drive (SLT-BJCR-01)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2003-05-10 and 2003-05-10
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 168919, Phosphorus
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 347886
 
Pollutant: Phosphorus
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
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: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows:
1 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Phosphorus as P
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan objective for Phosphorus as P in this water body is 0.008 (mg/L), (as a Mean).
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline:
Guideline Reference:
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: Bijou Creek above Pioneer Trail (SLT-BJCR-02)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2006-05-20 and 2006-05-20
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
 
DECISION ID
162807
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
Pollutant: Turbidity
Final Listing Decision: List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Revised
Sources: A Source Unknown
TMDL Priority: Low
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 3.2 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.2 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status.

Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. 6 of the 11 samples exceed the objective (MCL).

Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification in favor of 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. Six of 11 samples exceed the objective and this exceeds 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.
 
Regional Board Decision Recommendation: After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are exceeded and a pollutant contributes to or causes the problem.
 
State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:
 
State Board Decision Recommendation:
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162807, Turbidity
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 340841
 
Pollutant: Turbidity
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Municipal & Domestic Supply
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 3
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 3 of 3 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Turbidity.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Water designated as MUN shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) or secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) based upon drinking water standards specified in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. The Lahontan Basin Plan also has regionwide turbidity objective for other beneficial uses that states: Waters shall be free of changes in turbidity that cause nuisance or adversely affect the water for beneficial uses. Increases in turbidity shall not exceed natural levels by more than 10%.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline: California Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) apply to ambient surface waters under the Lahontan Basin Plan's 'Chemical Constituents' objective. The Secondary MCL for turbidity is 5 NTU. Calculation of a numeric objective for other beneficial uses requires comparison with upstream or other background data which may not be available as part of the data used for water quality assessment.
Guideline Reference: California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 15. Domestic Water Quality and Monitoring
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-01 (Bijou Creek at Fairway Drive).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2003-05-10 and 2007-05-12
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162807, Turbidity
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 340931
 
Pollutant: Turbidity
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Municipal & Domestic Supply
 
Number of Samples: 3
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 1 of 3 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Turbidity.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Water designated as MUN shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) or secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) based upon drinking water standards specified in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. The Lahontan Basin Plan also has regionwide turbidity objective for other beneficial uses that states: Waters shall be free of changes in turbidity that cause nuisance or adversely affect the water for beneficial uses. Increases in turbidity shall not exceed natural levels by more than 10%.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline: California Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) apply to ambient surface waters under the Lahontan Basin Plan's 'Chemical Constituents' objective. The Secondary MCL for turbidity is 5 NTU. Calculation of a numeric objective for other beneficial uses requires comparison with upstream or other background data which may not be available as part of the data used for water quality assessment.
Guideline Reference: California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 15. Domestic Water Quality and Monitoring
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-02 (Bijou Creek above Pioneer Trail).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2002-05-04 and 2005-05-21
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162807, Turbidity
Region 6     
Bijou Creek (El Dorado County)
 
LOE ID: 340970
 
Pollutant: Turbidity
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Municipal & Domestic Supply
 
Number of Samples: 5
Number of Exceedances: 2
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D data for Bijou Creek (El Dorado County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 2 of 5 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Turbidity.
Data Reference: Field, WQ from the Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: Water designated as MUN shall not contain concentrations of chemical constituents in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) or secondary maximum contaminant level (SMCL) based upon drinking water standards specified in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. The Lahontan Basin Plan also has regionwide turbidity objective for other beneficial uses that states: Waters shall be free of changes in turbidity that cause nuisance or adversely affect the water for beneficial uses. Increases in turbidity shall not exceed natural levels by more than 10%.
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline: California Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) apply to ambient surface waters under the Lahontan Basin Plan's 'Chemical Constituents' objective. The Secondary MCL for turbidity is 5 NTU. Calculation of a numeric objective for other beneficial uses requires comparison with upstream or other background data which may not be available as part of the data used for water quality assessment.
Guideline Reference: California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 15. Domestic Water Quality and Monitoring
 
Spatial Representation: The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SLT-BJCR-00 (Bijou Creek at Mouth).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2003-05-10 and 2019-05-18
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Tahoe Truckee Snapshot QAPP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Lahontan Water Board - TahoeTruckeeSnapshotQAPP - League to Save Lake Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Snapshot D - 402634