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

Supporting Information

Regional Board 6 - Lahontan Region

Water Body Name: Silver Creek (Placer County)
Water Body ID: CAR6352001020230502033663
Water Body Type: River & Stream
 
DECISION ID
169949
Region 6     
Silver Creek (Placer 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.

Two lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this parameter: 1 which assesses dissolved oxygen concentration data and 1 which assesses dissolved oxygen percent saturation data. One of 10 samples is below the objective for minimum dissolved oxygen concentration. One of 8 samples is below the objective for minimum dissolved oxygen percent saturation.

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 10 samples is below the objective for minimum dissolved oxygen concentration. One of 8 samples is below the objective for minimum dissolved oxygen percent saturation. 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 169949, Oxygen, Dissolved
Region 6     
Silver Creek (Placer County)
 
LOE ID: 351234
 
Pollutant: Oxygen, Dissolved
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 8
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Truckee River Watershed Council data to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows:
1 of 8 samples fell below the minimum water quality threshold for Oxygen, Dissolved
Data Reference: Benthic, Field, Habitat, WQ from the Truckee River Watershed Council for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan objective for Oxygen, Dissolved in this water body is 80 (%), (as a Min).
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: Silver Creek (TRWC) (MTRSILV)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2018-05-18 and 2020-10-03
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QAPP for Truckee River Monitoring Plan
QAPP Information Reference(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Truckee River Monitoring Plan.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 169949, Oxygen, Dissolved
Region 6     
Silver Creek (Placer County)
 
LOE ID: 351360
 
Pollutant: Oxygen, Dissolved
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
Number of Samples: 10
Number of Exceedances: 1
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Truckee River Watershed Council data to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows:
1 of 10 samples fell below the minimum water quality threshold for Oxygen, Dissolved
Data Reference: Benthic, Field, Habitat, WQ from the Truckee River Watershed Council for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan objective for Oxygen, Dissolved in this water body is 7 (mg/L), (as a Min).
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: Silver Creek (TRWC) (MTRSILV)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-07-22 and 2020-10-03
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QAPP for Truckee River Monitoring Plan
QAPP Information Reference(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Truckee River Monitoring Plan.
 
 
DECISION ID
170374
Region 6     
Silver Creek (Placer 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 170374, Specific Conductivity
Region 6     
Silver Creek (Placer County)
 
LOE ID: 340610
 
Pollutant: Specific Conductivity
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: None
 
Beneficial Use: Municipal & Domestic Supply
 
Number of Samples: 9
Number of Exceedances: 0
 
Data and Information Type: PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: Water Board staff assessed Truckee River Watershed Council data for Silver Creek (Placer County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 9 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for SpecificConductivity.
Data Reference: Benthic, Field, Habitat, WQ from the Truckee River Watershed Council 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: MTRSILV (Silver Creek (TRWC)).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-07-22 and 2020-10-03
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QAPP for Truckee River Monitoring Plan
QAPP Information Reference(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Truckee River Monitoring Plan.
 
 
DECISION ID
162817
Region 6     
Silver Creek (Placer 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 162817, pH
Region 6     
Silver Creek (Placer County)
 
LOE ID: 340127
 
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 Truckee River Watershed Council data for Silver Creek (Placer County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 9 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: Benthic, Field, Habitat, WQ from the Truckee River Watershed Council 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: MTRSILV (Silver Creek (TRWC)).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-07-22 and 2020-10-03
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QAPP for Truckee River Monitoring Plan
QAPP Information Reference(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Truckee River Monitoring Plan.
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162817, pH
Region 6     
Silver Creek (Placer County)
 
LOE ID: 340205
 
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 Truckee River Watershed Council data for Silver Creek (Placer County) to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 9 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: Benthic, Field, Habitat, WQ from the Truckee River Watershed Council 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: MTRSILV (Silver Creek (TRWC)).
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-07-22 and 2020-10-03
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QAPP for Truckee River Monitoring Plan
QAPP Information Reference(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Truckee River Monitoring Plan.
 
 
DECISION ID
163833
Region 6     
Silver Creek (Placer County)
 
Pollutant: Turbidity
Final Listing Decision: Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision: New Decision
Revision Status Original
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 163833, Turbidity
Region 6     
Silver Creek (Placer County)
 
LOE ID: 343468
 
Pollutant: Turbidity
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Water
Matrix: Water
Fraction: Total
 
Beneficial Use: Cold Freshwater Habitat
 
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 Truckee River Watershed Council data to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows:
0 of 4 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Turbidity
Data Reference: Benthic, Field, Habitat, WQ from the Truckee River Watershed Council for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: Non-SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: The Basin Plan objective for Turbidity in this water body is 3 (NTU), (as a MOMM).
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: Silver Creek (TRWC) (MTRSILV)
Temporal Representation: The samples were collected between the dates of 2017-05-20 and 2020-10-03
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: QAPP for Truckee River Monitoring Plan
QAPP Information Reference(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Truckee River Monitoring Plan.