Difference between revisions of "Lower Salinas River Watershed Nutrient TMDL - Implementation and Monitoring Progress"

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[[Image:Lowsal nut TMDL.JPG|600px|thumb|Lower Salinas River Watershed: Nutrient TMDL Project Area]]
 
[[Image:Lowsal nut TMDL.JPG|600px|thumb|Lower Salinas River Watershed: Nutrient TMDL Project Area]]
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==Background==
 
==Background==
 
Pollution of surface and groundwaters from nitrate and unionized ammonia has been a long standing problem for the lower Salinas Valley. Monitoring data in the Lower Salinas River Watershed indicate excessive levels of nitrate, unionized ammonia, and associated nutrient-related problems including, excessive orthophosphate, low dissolved oxygen, toxicity and excess algal biomass.<ref name'"RWQCB Lower Salinas TMDL Staff report"> [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralcoast/water_issues/programs/tmdl/docs/salinas/nutrients/sal_nuts_tmdl_staffrpt.pdf RWQCB Lower Salinas River Watershed Nutrient TMDL Staff Report]</ref> Nitrate loading from the Salinas River has been identified as a potential driver of algal blooms occurring immediately after "first flush" events, the first rain after a period of drought <ref name="Ag order"> [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralcoast/water_issues/programs/ag_waivers/docs/ag_order/final_agorder_atta_032612.pdf Conditional waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Lands]</ref>. The California [[Central Coast Water Board]] is required under the Federal and State [[Clean Water Act]] to protect and regulate beneficial uses of these waters. The Lower Salinas Valley Watershed has a wide range of beneficial uses which are not being supported including aquatic habitat, drinking water supply, groundwater recharge, agricultural supply, and water contact recreation. Water Supply and aquatic habitat constitute the most sensitive applicable beneficial uses requiring the most stringent water quality standards.<ref name'"Lower Salinas Nutrient TMDL Factsheet1"> [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralcoast/water_issues/programs/tmdl/docs/salinas/nutrients/sal_nuts_tmdl_factsheet1_final.pdf TMDL for Nitrogen Compounds and Orthophosphate in the Lower Salinas River Watershed Factsheed #1]</ref> Development of the Lower Salinas Valley Watershed Nutrient TMDL was intended to reduce and eventually eradicate nitrate pollution for the purpose of human health, the Central Coast Water Board's top priority. The numeric targets, report summaries and further information regarding the LSRW can be found at the [[TMDL for Nutrients in Lower Salinas River Watershed, Monterey County, California]] page.
 
Pollution of surface and groundwaters from nitrate and unionized ammonia has been a long standing problem for the lower Salinas Valley. Monitoring data in the Lower Salinas River Watershed indicate excessive levels of nitrate, unionized ammonia, and associated nutrient-related problems including, excessive orthophosphate, low dissolved oxygen, toxicity and excess algal biomass.<ref name'"RWQCB Lower Salinas TMDL Staff report"> [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralcoast/water_issues/programs/tmdl/docs/salinas/nutrients/sal_nuts_tmdl_staffrpt.pdf RWQCB Lower Salinas River Watershed Nutrient TMDL Staff Report]</ref> Nitrate loading from the Salinas River has been identified as a potential driver of algal blooms occurring immediately after "first flush" events, the first rain after a period of drought <ref name="Ag order"> [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralcoast/water_issues/programs/ag_waivers/docs/ag_order/final_agorder_atta_032612.pdf Conditional waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Lands]</ref>. The California [[Central Coast Water Board]] is required under the Federal and State [[Clean Water Act]] to protect and regulate beneficial uses of these waters. The Lower Salinas Valley Watershed has a wide range of beneficial uses which are not being supported including aquatic habitat, drinking water supply, groundwater recharge, agricultural supply, and water contact recreation. Water Supply and aquatic habitat constitute the most sensitive applicable beneficial uses requiring the most stringent water quality standards.<ref name'"Lower Salinas Nutrient TMDL Factsheet1"> [http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralcoast/water_issues/programs/tmdl/docs/salinas/nutrients/sal_nuts_tmdl_factsheet1_final.pdf TMDL for Nitrogen Compounds and Orthophosphate in the Lower Salinas River Watershed Factsheed #1]</ref> Development of the Lower Salinas Valley Watershed Nutrient TMDL was intended to reduce and eventually eradicate nitrate pollution for the purpose of human health, the Central Coast Water Board's top priority. The numeric targets, report summaries and further information regarding the LSRW can be found at the [[TMDL for Nutrients in Lower Salinas River Watershed, Monterey County, California]] page.

Revision as of 19:49, 8 April 2016

A watershed-related topic examined by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

Lower Salinas River Watershed: Nutrient TMDL Project Area

Background

Pollution of surface and groundwaters from nitrate and unionized ammonia has been a long standing problem for the lower Salinas Valley. Monitoring data in the Lower Salinas River Watershed indicate excessive levels of nitrate, unionized ammonia, and associated nutrient-related problems including, excessive orthophosphate, low dissolved oxygen, toxicity and excess algal biomass.[1] Nitrate loading from the Salinas River has been identified as a potential driver of algal blooms occurring immediately after "first flush" events, the first rain after a period of drought [2]. The California Central Coast Water Board is required under the Federal and State Clean Water Act to protect and regulate beneficial uses of these waters. The Lower Salinas Valley Watershed has a wide range of beneficial uses which are not being supported including aquatic habitat, drinking water supply, groundwater recharge, agricultural supply, and water contact recreation. Water Supply and aquatic habitat constitute the most sensitive applicable beneficial uses requiring the most stringent water quality standards.[3] Development of the Lower Salinas Valley Watershed Nutrient TMDL was intended to reduce and eventually eradicate nitrate pollution for the purpose of human health, the Central Coast Water Board's top priority. The numeric targets, report summaries and further information regarding the LSRW can be found at the TMDL for Nutrients in Lower Salinas River Watershed, Monterey County, California page.

Location

The geographic scope of the TMDL encompasses approximately 405 square miles in the Lower Salinas Valley. Agriculture is the dominant land use in the watershed although urbanized areas are increasing.

The Lower Salinas River Watershed Nutrient TMDL applies to the following 303(d) listed water bodies:

  • Lower Salinas River & Tributaries:
    • Blanco Drain
    • Esperanza Creek
    • Chualar Creek
    • Quail Creek
  • Tembladero Slough & Tributaries:
    • Merrit Ditch
    • Reclamation Canal
    • Alisal Slough
    • Espinosa Slough
    • Santa Rita Creek
    • Gabilan Creek
    • Natividad Creek
    • Alisal Creek
  • Old Salinas River
  • Moro Cojo Slough

Summary

The TMDL for Lower Salinas River Nitrogen Compounds and Orthophosphate was first approved March 14, 2013 via a vote by the Central Coast Water Board to amend the Water Quality Control Plan for the Central Coastal Basin. At this point, 72 monitoring sites were established. The numeric targets, report summaries and further information regarding the LSRW can be found at the TMDL for Nutrients in Lower Salinas River Watershed, Monterey County, California page. Lower Salinas River Watershed water quality is monitored through the Central Coast Ambient Monitoring Program (CCAMP).

Action Taken since TMDL Approval

Initial Implementation

The TMDL is implemented through the Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Lands (Ag Order) which clearly requires dischargers implement, and where appropriate update or improve, management practices, which may include local or regional control, treatment practices and changes in farming practices to control discharges, meet water quality standards and achieve compliance. If the discharer fails to address water quality they may be subject to progressive enforcement and possible monetary liability. [2] More information regarding dischagers requirements and expectations can be found on the Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Lands (Ag Order) page.

Water Quality Monitoring

The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (CCRWQCB) has designated Central Coast Water Quality Preservation, Inc (Preservation, Inc.) as the main non-profit entity to conduct the Cooperative Monitoring Program in compliance with the Ag Order (Order no. R3-2012-0011). Under this order every enrolled grower may conduct their own surface water quality monitoring, or participate in the Cooperative Monitoring Program (CMP). Over 99% of growers have opted to participate in the CMP.

CCAMP The Central Coast Ambient Monitoring Program conducts monthly monitoring in the Lower Salinas Watershed in order to conduct trend analysis and detect emerging water quality problems.

Status of Nitrate

The Old Salinas River at Monterey Dunes Way is the only monitoring site in the Lower Salinas River Watershed that has decreasing levels of Nitrate

Salinas River at Davis Rd & Tembladero Slough at Monterey Dunes Way have shown an increasing trend of Nitrate

Levels of Nitrate

Geometric mean of Nitrate levels in water bodies regulated by the Lower Salinas River Watershed Nutrient TMDL, data retrieved from CCAMP Central Coast Data Navigator.


Status of Un-ionized Ammonia

CCAMP has identified a monotonic decreasing trend of Ammonia levels at Tembladero Slough at Haro rd.

Ammonia levels have decreased in the Salinas River at Chualar Bridge and the Gonzales River Road Bridge as well as Chualar Creek at Chualar River Road.

Ammonia levels have increased in the Old Salinas River at Monterey Dunes Way.

Unionized Ammonia Levels in the Lower Salinas River Watershed

Geometric mean of un-ionized ammonia levels in water bodies regulated by the Lower Salinas River Watershed Nutrient TMDL, data retrieved from CCAMP Central Coast Data Navigator.

Status of Orthophosphate

CCAMP has identified a monotonic decreasing trend of Orthophosphate levels at Tembladero Slough at Haro rd.

Over the past year, Orthophosphate levels have decreased in the Salinas River at Chualar Bridge and Chualar Creek at Chualar River Road.

Orthophosphate levels have increased in the past year in the Old Salinas River at Monterey Dunes Way

Levels of Orthophosphate

Geometric mean of un-ionized ammonia levels in water bodies regulated by the Lower Salinas River Watershed Nutrient TMDL, data retrieved from CCAMP Central Coast Data Navigator.

Links

References

  1. RWQCB Lower Salinas River Watershed Nutrient TMDL Staff Report
  2. 2.0 2.1 Conditional waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Discharges from Irrigated Lands
  3. TMDL for Nitrogen Compounds and Orthophosphate in the Lower Salinas River Watershed Factsheed #1

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.