TMDL for Nutrients in Lower Salinas River Watershed, Monterey County, California
A watershed-related issue examined by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.
Contents
Summary
The Salinas River Watershed, which includes the Nacimiento River, San Antonio River, Estrella River, and Arroyo Seco River, encompasses approximately 4,600 square miles. It supplies water for cities on the Central Coast of California, from San Luis Obispo to Salinas (including some of the most productive agricultural valleys in the United States). The river flows into one of one of the world's most diverse marine ecosystems, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). The Salinas River is designated by the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) as one of the most critical watersheds in California due to degrading habitats and non-point pollution impacts on water quality. The anthropogenic addition of nutrients to the Salinas River is of particular concern, given the amount of agricultural land use within the watershed.
Nutrient TMDLs in the Lower Salinas Watershed
The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Nutrients in the Lower Salinas River Watershed (LSRW), Monterey County, California is determined by the Regional Water Quality Control Board Central Coast Region (CCRWOBC). The TMDL for nutrients for the LSRW has been an issue for many years, and a preliminary draft project report for the LSRW and the Moro Cojo Slough subwatershed was completed in 2012.
2010 TMDL Report
The CCRWQCB presented a progress report in June 2010 that contains background information, provisional nutrient targets, and a compilation of water quality data for water bodies in the region. The 2010 progress report identifies potential nutrient load sources. A draft source analysis portion of the TMDL project is available from the 2012 draft TMDL document[1] (UPDATE).
The 2010 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies is the current and active list for the California Central Coast. In 2010, the CCRWQCB presented an updated list in its 2010 Integrated Report, but this report has not yet been approved by the US EPA[2].
The TMDL progress report did not address the “critical” environmental factor for nutrient loading in the Lower Salinas River Watershed, in which a slight change could lead to exceeding the water quality objectives (ELABORATE...). However, the progress report does specify some indicators that can impair the beneficial uses of the regional water bodies.
Data analysis for the June 2010 California Regional Water Board Progress Report included:
- A delineation of watershed boundaries
- A list of subwatersheds
- Stream classification, which revealed in general low gradient streams on the valley floor were perennial, and many headwater streams tended to be ephemeral.
- An assessment of groundwater as baseflow. For the TMDL project area baseflow index values for groundwater ranged from 38 to 26 percent.
- An assessment of mean groundwater nitrate concentrations for the project area. Values reported ranged from 0.1-10.0 mg/l to 100.1-200.0 mg/l of nitrate.
- An assessment of mean annual precipitation for the project area. For the project area values ranged between 11.1 inches to 33.5 inches on average annually.
- An analysis of land use and land cover. In the project area, land uses include approximately 34% farmland, 31% grazing land, 8% urban, and 26% undeveloped/forested/restricted.
2012 TMDL Report
The 2012 CCRWQCB project report draft of TMDL for nutrients in the Lower Salinas River Watershed (LSRW) (Monterey County, CA)[1] is titled: Total Maximum Daily Loads for Nitrogen Compounds and Orthophosphate for the Lower Salinas River and Reclamation Canal Basin, and the Moro Cojo Slough Subwatershed, Monterey County, California AND WAS COMPLETED/FILLED DATE. Nutrients are defined as biologically-accessible nitrogen compounds and orthophosphate loading into waterways of the LSRW.
This draft report indicates a proposed geographic scope of around 405 acres in the Lower Salinas Valley of northern Monterey County, focused on the two major drainages, the Reclamation Canal Drainage and the Lower Salinas River Drainage (pictured at right). The Moro Cojo subwatershed is identified as a subwatershed in the report.
The ultimate receiving body (drainage) of both waterways and tributaries is the Monterey Bay and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Pollutants addressed by the proposed 2012 TMDL draft are nitrate, un-ionized ammonia, and orthophosphate. Reductions in pollutants are expected to target 303(d)-listed impairments from low dissolved oxygen (DO) and chlorophyll-a within the project area. These impairments relate to the biostimulatory effects of nitrate and orthophosphate on freshwater systems.
According to the draft TMDL report (2012):
"Discharges of nitrogen compounds and orthophosphate are occurring at levels in surface waters which are impairing a wide spectrum of beneficial uses and, therefore, constitute a serious water quality problem. The municipal and domestic drinking water supply (MUN, GWR) beneficial uses and the range of aquatic habitat beneficial uses are currently impaired; potential or future beneficial uses of the agricultural irrigation water supply (AGR) for sensitive crops may be impaired. A total of 34 waterbody/pollutant combinations are impaired due to exceedances of water quality objectives. The pollutants addressed in this TMDL are nitrate, un-ionized ammonia, and orthophosphate. Orthophosphate is included as a pollutant due to biostimulatory impairments of surface waters. Reducing these pollutants is also anticipated to address several 303(d)-listed dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a impairments in the TMDL project area. As a result of these conditions, beneficial uses are not being protected." and
"By developing TMDLs for the aforementioned pollutants, the water quality standards violations being addressed in this TMDL include:
- Violations of drinking water standard for nitrate
- Violations of the Basin Plan general toxicity objective for inland surface waters and estuaries (violations of un-ionized ammonia objective)
- Violations of the Basin Plan narrative general objective for biostimulatory substances in inland surface waters and estuaries (as expressed by excessive nutrients, chlorophyll a, algal biomass, and low dissolved oxygen)"
According to the CCWRQCB draft TMDL nutrient report (2012):
"There does not appear to be a significant geologic reservoir in the project area that could contribute to elevated nitrogen loads to surface waters."
Eutrophication of waterways may occur when excess nutrients are present and environmental conditions promote algal growth. Biologically-accessible nitrogen and phosphorus are limiting nutrients in many ecosystems (CITE). In general, sources of nutrients in watersheds include: urban runoff, fertilizers, groundwater, livestock, wastewater treatment plants, and septic systems. Specifically for the Lower Salinas River Watershed (Anderson et al. 2003) [3] identified irrigated agriculture as the dominant source of nutrients in watersheds in the region.
According to the SWRCB-contracted UC Davis report[4] (Harter and Lund 2012) on nitrate in California's Drinking Water for the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), nitrates are reducing quality of drinking water from shallow wells. The report concludes that: "Most nitrate in drinking water wells today was applied to the surface decades ago."
The report is part of a contracted study for the SWRCB as part of the Senate-mandated Groundwater Nitrate Project as part of biannual reporting on initial studies into nitrate effects on drinking water in the Tulare Basin and Salinas Valley. The report also cites agriculture as the estimated source of 96% of nitrate loading to groundwater--200 Gg/yr (1 Gg = 1100 tons) within these regions, with the next largest (estimated) source (wastewater treatment and food processing wastes) loading 3.2 Gg nitrate/yr to groundwater.
![](/wiki/images/thumb/f/f1/Majordrain_TMDL_projarea.png/325px-Majordrain_TMDL_projarea.png)
![](/wiki/images/thumb/4/43/TMDL_Impairment_Map.png/275px-TMDL_Impairment_Map.png)
Nutrient Pollutants
Nutrient pollutants are of concern because of both their direct and indirect effects on freshwater aquatic habitats and groundwater stores.
The June 2010 California Regional Water Board Nutrient TMDL Progress Report acknowledges that the presence of excess nutrients does not directly impair waterways, rather, indirect impacts associated with the presence of excess nutrients diminish beneficial uses of waterways.
Secondary indicators of eutrophication ("biostimulation") such as nuisance algal blooms, drastic diel swings in dissolved oxygen concentrations, and loss of habitat must also be monitored and documented as they are more directly linked to the beneficial uses of waterways than nutrient concentrations alone.
The following table details impaired water bodies within the Salinas Watershed, and the justification for nutrient-related listing in the 2006, 2010, and 2012 (unapproved draft) impairment list:
(No data reported past March 2010)
Water Body | 2006 Listed Impairment | 2010 Listed Impairment | 2012 Listed Impairment (Proposed) |
---|---|---|---|
Alisal Creek | Nutrient | Chlorophyll-a, Nitrate | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Chlorophyll-a |
Alisal Slough | Not Listed | Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate | Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate (biostimulatory*) |
Blanco Drain | Not Listed | Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate | Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate (biostimulatory) |
Chualar Creek | Not Listed | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Nitrate | Nitrate (drinking water) |
Esperanza Creek | Not Listed | Nitrate | Nitrate (drinking water), (NO DATA on un-ionized ammonia) |
Espinosa Slough | Not Listed | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Nitrate | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Nitrate (drinking water) |
Gabilan Creek | Nitrate | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Nitrate | Nitrate (drinking water) |
Lower Reclamation Canal | N/A | N/A | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate (biostimulatory) |
Lower Salinas River | N/A | N/A | Nitrate (biostimulatory) |
Merrit Ditch | Not Listed | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate (biostimulatory) |
Moro Cojo Slough | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen |
Natividad Creek | Nitrate | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate (biostimulatory) |
Old Salinas River | Not Listed | Chlorophyll-a, Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate | Chlorophyll-a, Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate (biostimulatory) |
Old Salinas River Estuary | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nutrients | Nutrients | N/A (not in 2012 report?) |
Quail Creek | Nutrients | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Nitrate (drinking water) |
Salinas Reclamation Canal | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate (biostimulatory) |
Salinas River (lower, estuary near Gonzales Rd. Crossing) | Nitrate, Nutrients | Nitrate | Nitrate (biostimulatory) |
Salinas River Lagoon (North) | Nutrients | Nutrients | N/A (not in 2012 report?) |
Santa Rita Creek | Nitrate | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Low Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate (drinking water) |
Tembladero Slough | Ammonia (Un-ionized), Nutrients | Chlorophyll-a, Nitrate, Nutrients | Chlorophyll-a, Nitrate (biostimulatory), Nutrients |
- Nitrate is divided into biostimulatory impairment concentrations and drinking water impairment concentrations of 1.7-6.4 and 10 mg/L respectively.
Beneficial Uses (BUs) Associated with Waterways Listed for Nutrient Impairments Beneficial uses of waterways and water quality objectives are vital to determining water quality standards and goals.
- Municipal and Domestic supply (MUN)
- Agriculture (AGR)
- Industrial Process (PRO)
- Industrial Service (IND)
- Ground Water Recharge (GWR)
- Water Contact Recreation (REC1)
- Non-Contact Water Recreation (REC2)
- Cold Freshwater Habitat (COLD)
- Warm Freshwater Habitat (WARM)
- Estuarine Habitat (EST)
- Wildlife Habitat (WILD)
- Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species (RARE)
- Migration of Aquatic Organisms (MIGR)
- Spawning, Reproduction, and/or Early Development (SPWN)
- Biological Habitats of Special Significance (BIOL)
- Shellfish Harvesting (SHELL)
- Commercial and Sport Fishing (COMM)
- Freshwater replenishment (FRESH)
Waterbody | MUN | AGR | PRO | IND | GWR | REC1 | REC2 | WILD | COLD | WARM | MIGR | SPWN | BIOL | RARE | EST | FRESH | COMM | SHELL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Old Salinas River Estuary | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
Salinas River Lagoon (North) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
Tembladero Slough | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||
Espinosa Slough | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Salinas Reclamation Canal | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Alisal Creek | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
Blanco Drain | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||
Salinas River, down stream of Spreckels Gage | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||
Salinas River,Chualar to Spreckles | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
Quail Creek | X | X | X | X |
Numeric Targets
The water quality objective for nitrogen for the beneficial use MUN (defined above) is 10 mg/L. Currently, the numeric targets for nitrogen in the Lower Salinas River watershed are being developed. CCRWQCB staff prepared a progress report that summarized the development of provisional and preliminary numeric targets for total nitrogen.
The progress report described that one uniform nutrient target may not be sufficient in light of the large variability of stream morphology and hydraulics in the waterbodies contributing to the Lower Salinas River. The report explored a variety of ways to define a range of numeric targets. Final nutrient targets can be developed based on either calculations or estimations. The percentile based approach calculates the numeric target by using either the 25th percentile of nutrient data from reference streams or the 75th percentile of all nutrient data for the project area streams. The nutrient numeric endpoints (NNE) approach estimates in-stream benthic algal response to ambient stream conditions.
Based on these approaches, the provisional and preliminary numeric targets for total nitrogen listed in the progress report range from 1.4-2.2 mg/L depending on waterbody type. That range is consistent with established nutrient TMDLs on Malibu Creek and Rainbow Creek in Southern California.
Source Analysis
A draft source analysis for nutrients in the Lower Salinas River watershed has not been completed as of March 2012. The report uses STEPL (Spreadsheet Tool for Estimating Pollutant Load) to calculate nutrient loads (nitrogen and phosphorus--N and P) from various characteristics including watershed area, and nutrient loads (based on land use and land cover--LULC). These estimates are made at the project-area scale (405 acres), and can be recalculated for individual subwatersheds. The report cites a 1999 US EPA report and states, "both nitrogen and phosphorus reach surface waters at an elevated rate as a result of human activities."
This analysis reports estimates for urban annual N Load (lb/yr) and P Load (lb/yr) at 138,391 and 21,796 respectively.
Cropland estimates of N and P loading at 2,211,230 and 629,492 lbs/year by far made up the greatest proportion of source loads identified in the project area. Total N and P loading (lbs/year) were 2,911,676 and 793,236 respectively. This means that agriculture represents 76% of N and 79% of P loading in the area.
Grazing (209,521; 123,412) and forest (27,649; 11,327) also make contributions as well.
Because shallow groundwater acts as a reservoir for elevated concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the regionCite error: Closing </ref>
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tag suggested steps:
- identify key questions
- evaluate monitoring options and
- implement the monitoring program.
Irrigated agriculture has been identified as the dominant source contributing to the issue of nutrients in the Lower Salinas River Watershed. Therefore, the monitoring plan for the LSRW should focus on quantifying agricultural nutrient sources. Monitoring may follow the requirements outlined in the Ag Waiver and then staff can evaluate the results to ensure that agricultural best practices are adequate to reduce nutrient levels.
Urban stormwater runoff is another important source of nutrients in the watershed. As the City of Salinas has already implemented a Storm Water Monitoring Program it would be advisable for water board staff to evaluate their results to ensure the Storm Water Management Program is effective at reducing nutrient effluent and has implemented Best Management Practices.
The MOS for the Lower Salinas River Watershed is dependent on the assumptions put into the INN benthic biomass modeler.
In establishing TMDL allocations in the Lower Salinas River Watershed for nutrients, the Regional Water Quality Control Board could approach the allocations in a similar fashion as that taken in the Pajaro River Nitrate TMDL. By setting the load allocations as a concentration at or below the numeric target for all sources, future growth and changes in land use will not lead to an exceedance of the TMDL. This will also eliminate the need for setting critical conditions based on changes in flow rate, which would absolutely be required if allocations were set as loads given in mass.
Nitrate example
![](/wiki/images/thumb/6/6f/Nitrate_Map_2012TMDLDraftReport.png/350px-Nitrate_Map_2012TMDLDraftReport.png)
A recent (March 2012) preliminary draft project report by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, (CRWQCB) Central Coast Region (CCRWQCB) on TMDLs for nutrients in the Lower Salinas River Watershed[1]Link to Waterboard TMDLs for Nutrients in the Lower Salinas Watershed [4]</ref>.
In this document, the work group identifies multiple beneficial uses (BUs) as impaired, including those for drinking water supply, livestock watering, and aquatic habitat BUs.
From the 2012 preliminary draft TMDL document[1]:
"Problem Statement: "Discharges of nitrogen compounds and orthophosphate are occurring at levels in surface waters which are impairing a wide spectrum of beneficial uses and, therefore, constitute a serious water quality problem. The municipal and domestic drinking water supply (MUN, GWR) beneficial uses and the range of aquatic habitat beneficial uses are currently impaired; potential or future beneficial uses of the agricultural irrigation water supply (AGR) for sensitive crops may be impaired..."
"A total of 34 waterbody/pollutant combinations are impaired due to exceedances of water quality objectives. The pollutants addressed in this TMDL are nitrate, un-ionized ammonia, and orthophosphate – orthophosphate is included as a pollutant due to biostimulatory impairments of surface waters. Reducing these pollutants is also anticipated to address several 303(d)-listed dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a impairments in the TMDL project area."
Implementation
Irrigated agriculture has been identified as the dominant source contributing to the issue of nutrients in the Lower Salinas Watershed. Regulations can follow those set forth in the Ag Waiver. It is also advisable for Water Board staff to incorporate educational outreach programs to encourage the adoption of Best Management Practices on all croplands.
Public Participation
Due to the large number of stakeholders that will be affected by the implementation of Lower Salinas River Watershed Nutrient TMDL, it is advisable to schedule at least three or more public hearings and collaborative stakeholder meetings during different stages of the process.
The development of this TMDL will affect many stakeholders regulated by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), therefore staff should be prepared to respond to any related questions or comments during public meetings.
During the development of the Fecal Coliform TMDL report for the Lower Salinas River Watershed (2010 Report), Water Board staff conducted stakeholder outreach efforts throughout the process. Water Board staff made several presentations to engage stakeholders and results were presented in newspapers and television media. In addition, a CEQA stakeholder scoping meeting was held in June of 2007 and another stakeholder meeting was held in August of 2009. A formal Central Coast Water Board public hearing was also held and public comments were solicited prior to the hearing.
Stakeholders included:
- The City of Salinas
- CCRWQCB [5]
- California Coastkeeper Alliance [6]
- Central Coast Agricultural Task Force
- Central Coast Water Quality Preservation, Inc. (CCWQPI)
- Commercial Ranches
- Commercial Farms
- Grower-Shipper Association of Central California [7]
- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office
- Monterey County Farm Bureau
- Monterey County Cattlemen’s Association
- Monterey County Department of Environmental Health
- Monterey County Water Resources Agency
- NMFS [8]
- Resource Conservation District of Monterey County
- State of California Department of Health Services
- United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association
- United States Department of Agriculture
- United States Food and Drug Administration
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Link to Central Coast Water Quality Control Board's draft TMDLs for Nutrients in the Lower Salinas Watershed [1]
- ↑ SWRCB list of US EPA approved and effective TMDLs for California [2]
- ↑ Anderson T, Watson F, Newman W, Hager J, Kozlowski D, Casagrande J, Larson J. 2003. Nutrients in surface waters of the southern Monterey Bay watersheds. Central Coast Watershed Studies
- ↑ UC Davis contract study report on the Tulare Valley and Lower Salinas Watershed addressing nitrates in the California's drinking water [3]
Links
- The 303d list of Impaired Waterbodies in the Monterey Bay Region
- Beneficial uses
- Lower Salinas River Watershed
- TMDL
- TMDLs in the Monterey Bay Region of California
- TMDL for Chlorpyrifos and Diazinon in Lower Salinas River Watershed, Monterey County, California
- Central Coast Ambient Monitoring Program
- Central Coast Watershed Studies Team
- Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board 303(d) Investigations and TMDL Projects
- July 2000 EPA Nutrient Criteria Technical Guidance Manual for Rivers and Streams
- Tetratech Final California Nutrient Numeric Endpoints (NNE) Report 2006
Disclaimer
This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.