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

Supporting Information

Regional Board 6 - Lahontan Region

Water Body Name: Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County)
Water Body ID: CAL6282000020230612042572
Water Body Type: Lake & Reservoir
 
DECISION ID
170183
Region 6     
Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County)
 
Pollutant: Mercury
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 section 303(d) list under section 3.5 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.5 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess the pollutant.

COMM beneficial use (sport fish objective):
LOE 337368: 0 of 1 samples exceed the mercury objective and consist of 5 trophic level 4 fish.

WILD beneficial use (prey fish objective):
LOE 337380: 0 of 1 samples exceed the mercury objective and consist of 10 fish between 50 to 150 mm in total length.

WILD beneficial use (sport fish objective):
LOE 337378: 1 of 1 samples exceed the mercury objective and consist of 5 trophic level 4 fish.

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 in the Water Quality Limited Segments category.

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. 0 of 1 sample exceeds the prey fish objective for the WILD beneficial use. 0 of 1 sample exceeds the sportfish objective for the WILD beneficial use. 0 of 1 sample exceeds the objective for the COMM beneficial use. 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.
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: Decision written by SWRCB staff.
 
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 170183, Mercury
Region 6     
Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County)
 
LOE ID: 337380
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Tissue
Matrix: Tissue
Fraction: Fish fillet
 
Beneficial Use: Wildlife 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 SWAMP Sportfish Contamination in Lakes and Resrv data for Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County) to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of 1 sample exceeded the water quality threshold for Mercury. Monitors collected 1 composite of Bluegill composed of 10 fish. All fish collected between February and July of the same calendar year with a reported length of 50-150 mm were averaged into a single sample, independent of species or trophic level, for comparison with the objective. All 10 fish were collected in a single calendar year, which resulted in 1 independent sample.
Data Reference: Habitat, Tissue, WQ from the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life. (Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region)
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline: The Statewide Prey Fish Water Quality Objective for the protection of Wildlife Habitat comes from the Statewide Water Quality Control Plan for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California, and is 0.05 mg/Kg wet weight whole fish samples of any fish species between 50 to 150 mm in total length collected between February 1 and July 31. (SWRCB Resolution No. 2017-0027)
Guideline 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
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): 628PHP007 (Hesperia Lake).
Temporal Representation: Data for this line of evidence were collected between 2016-06-20 and 2016-06-20. When composited fish were collected over multiple days, the first day of fish collection was used as the sample date in the LOE, both for LOE writing, and for averaging period purposes.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Generic SWAMP QAPrP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Generic SWAMP QAPrP
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 170183, Mercury
Region 6     
Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County)
 
LOE ID: 337368
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Tissue
Matrix: Tissue
Fraction: Fish fillet
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
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 SWAMP Sportfish Contamination in Lakes and Resrv data for Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County) to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of 1 sample exceeded the water quality threshold for Mercury. Monitors collected 1 composite of Channel Catfish composed of 5 fish. This LOE contains data only for trophic level 4 fish. Fish collected within the same calendar year were averaged into a single sample for comparison with the objective. All 5 fish were collected in a single calendar year, which resulted in 1 independent sample.
Data Reference: Habitat, Tissue, WQ from the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life. (Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region)
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline: The Statewide Sport Fish Water Quality Objective for the protection of the Commercial and Sport Fishing beneficial comes from the Statewide Water Quality Control Plan for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California, and is 0.2 mg/Kg wet weight skinless fillet samples of trophic level 3, or trophic level 4 fish (whichever is highest in the water body) over a one year averaging period. Trophic levels of applicable fish are defined in, but not limited to those in Attachment C of the Final Regulatory Language document (Appendix A) of State Water Resources Control Board Resolution No. 2017-0027.
Guideline 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
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): 628PHP007 (Hesperia Lake).
Temporal Representation: Data for this line of evidence were collected between 2016-06-20 and 2016-06-20. When composited fish were collected over multiple days, the first day of fish collection was used as the sample date in the LOE, both for LOE writing, and for averaging period purposes.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Generic SWAMP QAPrP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Generic SWAMP QAPrP
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 170183, Mercury
Region 6     
Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County)
 
LOE ID: 337378
 
Pollutant: Mercury
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Tissue
Matrix: Tissue
Fraction: Fish fillet
 
Beneficial Use: Wildlife 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 SWAMP Sportfish Contamination in Lakes and Resrv data for Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County) to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of 1 sample exceeded the water quality threshold for Mercury. Monitors collected 1 composite of Channel Catfish composed of 5 fish. This LOE contains data only for trophic level 4 fish. Fish collected within the same calendar year were averaged into a single sample for comparison with the objective. All 5 fish were collected in a single calendar year, which resulted in 1 independent sample.
Data Reference: Habitat, Tissue, WQ from the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life. (Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region)
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline: The Statewide Sport Fish Water Quality Objective for the protection of Wildlife Habitat comes from the Statewide Water Quality Control Plan for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California, and is 0.2 mg/Kg wet weight skinless fillet samples of trophic level 3, or trophic level 4 fish (whichever is highest in the water body) over a one year averaging period. If trophic level 3 fish are used in the assessment then the Prey Fish Water Quality Objective must also be used to determine that the Sport Fish Objective is being met. Trophic levels of applicable fish are defined in, but not limited to those in Attachment C of the Final Regulatory Language document (Appendix A) of State Water Resources Control Board Resolution No. 2017-0027.
Guideline 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
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): 628PHP007 (Hesperia Lake).
Temporal Representation: Data for this line of evidence were collected between 2016-06-20 and 2016-06-20. When composited fish were collected over multiple days, the first day of fish collection was used as the sample date in the LOE, both for LOE writing, and for averaging period purposes.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Generic SWAMP QAPrP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Generic SWAMP QAPrP
 
 
DECISION ID
162959
Region 6     
Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County)
 
Pollutant: PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
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 162959, PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
Region 6     
Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County)
 
LOE ID: 337422
 
Pollutant: PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Tissue
Matrix: Tissue
Fraction: Fish fillet
 
Beneficial Use: Warm 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 SWAMP Sportfish Contamination in Lakes and Resrv data for Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County) to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of 1 sample exceeded the water quality threshold for PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls). Monitors collected 1 composite of Channel Catfish composed of 5 fish. Because no averaging period applies, this composite represents 1 independent sample.
Data Reference: Habitat, Tissue, WQ from the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life. (Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region)
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline: National Academy of Science guidelines (NAS 1972) establish a maximum total PCB concentration of 500 ug/Kg (wet weight) in tissue samples for protection of aquatic life from bioaccumulation of toxic substances.
Guideline Reference: National Academy of Sciences. Water Quality Criteria 1972. EPA-R3-73-033. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): 628PHP007 (Hesperia Lake).
Temporal Representation: Data for this line of evidence were collected between 2016-06-20 and 2016-06-20. When composited fish were collected over multiple days, the first day of fish collection was used as the sample date in the LOE, both for LOE writing, and for averaging period purposes.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Generic SWAMP QAPrP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Generic SWAMP QAPrP
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162959, PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
Region 6     
Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County)
 
LOE ID: 337420
 
Pollutant: PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Tissue
Matrix: Tissue
Fraction: Fish fillet
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
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 SWAMP Sportfish Contamination in Lakes and Resrv data for Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County) to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of 1 sample exceeded the water quality threshold for PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls). Monitors collected 1 composite of Channel Catfish composed of 5 fish. Because no averaging period applies, this composite represents 1 independent sample.
Data Reference: Habitat, Tissue, WQ from the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life. (Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region)
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline: The modified OEHHA Fish Contaminant Goal for polychlorinated biphenyls in fish tissue is 2.6 ppb. This screening level assumes an average body weight of 70 kg and a consumption rate of 32 g/day for a 30 year exposure over a 70-year lifetime. This constituent is a carcinogen therefore the risk level is set to one in a million. A cooking reduction factor of 1 is applied for skin-off fillets. (Klasing, S., and R. Brodberg, 2008)
Guideline Reference: Development of Fish Contaminant Goals and Advisory Tissue Levels for Common Contaminants in California Sport Fish: Chlordane, DDTs, Dieldrin, Methylmercury, PCBs, Selenium, and Toxaphene
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): 628PHP007 (Hesperia Lake).
Temporal Representation: Data for this line of evidence were collected between 2016-06-20 and 2016-06-20. When composited fish were collected over multiple days, the first day of fish collection was used as the sample date in the LOE, both for LOE writing, and for averaging period purposes.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Generic SWAMP QAPrP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Generic SWAMP QAPrP
 
Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 162959, PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
Region 6     
Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County)
 
LOE ID: 337421
 
Pollutant: PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls)
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Tissue
Matrix: Tissue
Fraction: Fish fillet
 
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 SWAMP Sportfish Contamination in Lakes and Resrv data for Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County) to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of 1 sample exceeded the water quality threshold for PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls). Monitors collected 1 composite of Channel Catfish composed of 5 fish. Because no averaging period applies, this composite represents 1 independent sample.
Data Reference: Habitat, Tissue, WQ from the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life. (Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region)
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline: National Academy of Science guidelines (NAS 1972) establish a maximum total PCB concentration of 500 ug/Kg (wet weight) in tissue samples for protection of aquatic life from bioaccumulation of toxic substances.
Guideline Reference: National Academy of Sciences. Water Quality Criteria 1972. EPA-R3-73-033. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): 628PHP007 (Hesperia Lake).
Temporal Representation: Data for this line of evidence were collected between 2016-06-20 and 2016-06-20. When composited fish were collected over multiple days, the first day of fish collection was used as the sample date in the LOE, both for LOE writing, and for averaging period purposes.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Generic SWAMP QAPrP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Generic SWAMP QAPrP
 
 
DECISION ID
162960
Region 6     
Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County)
 
Pollutant: Selenium
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 162960, Selenium
Region 6     
Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County)
 
LOE ID: 337433
 
Pollutant: Selenium
LOE Subgroup: Pollutant-Tissue
Matrix: Tissue
Fraction: Fish fillet
 
Beneficial Use: Commercial or recreational collection of fish, shellfish, or organisms
 
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 SWAMP Sportfish Contamination in Lakes and Resrv data for Hesperia Lake (San Bernardino County) to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of 4 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Selenium. Monitors collected 6 composites: 1 composite of Bluegill composed of 10 fish, 2 composites of Channel Catfish composed of 5 fish each, 1 composite of Green Sunfish composed of 10 fish, and 2 composites of Hitch composed of 5 fish each. Because 2 or more composites were collected within the same averaging period, these composites resulted in 4 independent samples.
Data Reference: Habitat, Tissue, WQ from the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program for the 2026 Integrated Report in Region 6
 
SWAMP Data: SWAMP
 
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: All waters shall be maintained free of toxic substances in concentrations that are toxic to, or that produce detrimental physiological responses in human, plant, animal, or aquatic life. (Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region)
Objective/Criterion Reference: Water Quality Control Plan for the Lahontan Region (as amended)
 
Evaluation Guideline: The OEHHA Fish Contaminant Goal for selenium in fish tissue is 7.4 ppm. This screening level assumes an average body weight of 70 kg and a consumption rate of 32 g/day. A background dietary consumption rate of 0.114 mg/day is applied for this micronutrient. (Klasing, S., and R. Brodberg, 2008)
Guideline Reference: Development of Fish Contaminant Goals and Advisory Tissue Levels for Common Contaminants in California Sport Fish: Chlordane, DDTs, Dieldrin, Methylmercury, PCBs, Selenium, and Toxaphene
 
Spatial Representation: Data were collected from 1 station(s). Station Code(s): 628PHP007 (Hesperia Lake).
Temporal Representation: Data for this line of evidence were collected between 2016-06-20 and 2016-06-20. When composited fish were collected over multiple days, the first day of fish collection was used as the sample date in the LOE, both for LOE writing, and for averaging period purposes.
Environmental Conditions:
QAPP Information: Generic SWAMP QAPrP
QAPP Information Reference(s): Generic SWAMP QAPrP