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HomeMy WebLinkAbout120717_OC_pest_approach_citySAN DIEGO CREEK, UPPER AND LOWER NEWPORT BAY ORGANOCHLORINE TMDL Shelly Anghera, Ph.D. December 7, 2017 1 TMDL FACTS Includes multiple limits for organochlorine pesticides in Upper and Lower Newport Bay DDTs, PCBs, toxaphene, chlordane Water, sediment, fish tissue Requires monitoring and special studies Final compliance is due December 31, 2020 County is lead agency and the City has been contributing financially 2 NEWPORT BAY CURRENT CONDITION Numeric Targets DDTs PCBs Chlordane Toxaphene Sediments X √√√ Water X X √na Tissue X X √na New Sediment Quality Objectives DDTs PCBs Chlordane Toxaphene Sediment X X X X Tissue √√√√ 3 Overall the sediment, water and tissue concentrations are lower than ever before. DDT IN SEDIMENT 4 Policy recommends 85% of samples must be assessed as meeting standard Upper Bay: 5 out of 7 samples (71%) meets sediment quality objectives Lower Bay: 6 out of 19 samples (32%) meets sediment quality objectives SEDIMENT QUALITY OBJECTIVES Green = meets standards for benthic health Policy recommends 85% of area must be assessed as meeting standard Upper Bay: 1 out of 6 samples (17%) meets sediment quality objectives Lower Bay: 6 out of 9 samples (67%) meets sediment quality objectives 5 LNRHIRLNBRIN LNBTUB UNBSDC UNBJAM UNBNSB UNBCHB SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE TOXICITY DATA Organochlorine pesticides not at levels that cause toxicity RECOVERY Fish tissue declining Sources declining Regional trends declining 7 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Ja n u a r y - 0 8 Ju l y - 0 8 Fe b r u a r y - 0 9 Au g u s t - 0 9 Ma r c h - 1 0 Oc t o b e r - 1 0 Ap r i l - 1 1 No v e m b e r - 1 1 Ma y - 1 2 De c e m b e r - 1 2 Ju l y - 1 3 Ja n u a r y - 1 4 Au g u s t - 1 4 TO T A L D D T ( P P B ) SAMPLE DATE TOTAL DDT TREND LOWER NEWPORT BAY LNRHIR LNBTUB LNBRIN LNRHIRLNBRIN LNBTUB REDUCTION OF LEGACY CONTAMINANTS IS OCCURRING THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND NEWPORT BAY Total DDTs in Mussels Total PCBs in Mussels Year Year Decline rate 100 ppb/yr Decline rate 18 ppb/yr 9 REGIONAL BACKGROUND: FISH TISSUE IS HIGHER EVERYWHERE ELSE Wh i t e C r o a k e r T o t a l P C B s ( µ g / k g ) Notes: Data shown were collected within the top 16 cm and between 1998 and 2012. Non-detects set to half the method detection limit. Aroclor samples excluded if congeners were synoptically analyzed. Maximum concentration show for co-located samples. REGIONAL BACKGROUND: FISH TISSUE IS HIGHER EVERYWHERE ELSE Wh i t e C r o a k e r T o t a l P C B s ( µ g / k g ) Notes: Data shown were collected within the top 16 cm and between 1998 and 2012. Non-detects set to half the method detection limit. Aroclor samples excluded if congeners were synoptically analyzed. Maximum concentration show for co-located samples. PROPOSED APPROACH Determine methods to demonstrate compliance – targets, SQO or combination Show progress to support effectiveness of past and current management actions, gain credit Focus on regional trends for these pollutants coupled with stakeholder actions to demonstrate current level of effort is sufficient and harbor will get to compliance for OC pesticides in future without any additional actions Extend TMDL timeline to allow regional sources and natural (active) recovery of legacy pollutants in the system and in the region 12 CONTINUED INVESTMENT BY CITY Need to get engaged with Regional Board Support revisions through scientific justification Situation vulnerable to 3rd parties if it appears like “no action” Develop monitoring program to track and defend (justify) approach and extended timeline for TMDL compliance 13