HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-20 BMP Strategic Plan Annual Report2020-21 BMP Strategic Plan
Implementation Progress Report
for
Santa Ana-Delhi Channel and San Diego Creek Sub-
Watershed
and
Regional Monitoring Program
Report
November 15, 2021
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... v
1. Introduction .................................................................................................................1
2. Baseline & Source Control Activities .......................................................................3
2.1. Volume Reduction BMPs ..................................................................................3
2.2. City of Irvine .......................................................................................................3
2.3. City of Newport Beach ......................................................................................4
2.4. City of Santa Ana ...............................................................................................4
2.5. Cities of Costa Mesa and Orange .....................................................................5
2.6. Cities of Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, and Laguna Woods .............................5
2.7. City of Tustin ......................................................................................................5
2.8. Orange County Flood Control District ...........................................................5
2.9. Irvine Ranch Water District ..............................................................................6
3. Selenium and Nitrogen Reduction Projects ............................................................7
3.1. Cienega Demonstration Project .......................................................................7
3.2. IRWD Natural Treatment System....................................................................7
3.3. Peters Canyon Channel Water Capture and Reuse Pipeline Project ........11
3.4. Santa Ana-Delhi Channel Diversion Project ................................................12
4. Offset Mitigation Program Framework .................................................................14
5. BMP/Technology Evaluation .................................................................................14
6. Regional Monitoring Program ................................................................................16
6.1. Tier 0. BMP Effectiveness Monitoring ..........................................................17
6.2. Tier 1. Quarterly Water Quality Monitoring at Mass Emission Sites .......19
6.3. Tier 2. Quarterly Sediment Monitoring at Mass Emission Sites and Two
Upper Newport Bay Sites ...............................................................................21
6.4. Tier 3. Annual Sediment and Water Sampling in Conjunction with
Tissue Monitoring ............................................................................................22
6.5. Tier 4. Annual Tissue Monitoring .................................................................22
6.6. Tier 5 Ad Hoc Special Studies ........................................................................22
References ........................................................................................................................23
Appendix A. Selenium and Organochlorine Compounds in Newport Bay
Watershed Fish and Bird Eggs, 2020 (by Jacobs)
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List of Figures
Figure 1 - Newport Bay Watershed ........................................................................................... 1
Figure 2 - Natural Treatment System Locations .................................................................... 10
Figure 3 - Layout of Peters Canyon Channel Diversion Project .......................................... 11
Figure 4 - Peters Canyon Channel Diversion Project Photos. Upper left: Valencia wet
well structure; upper right: dewatering well drilling for jack and bore at Como
Channel; lower left: pipeline preparation from Warner to Moffett; lower right:
completed diversion ...................................................................................................... 12
Figure 5 - Santa Ana-Delhi Diversion Project Overview Map and Project Schematics .... 13
Figure 6 - Santa Ana-Delhi Diversion Project Construction Progress Photos ................... 13
Figure 7 - Tier 1 and Tier 2 Monitoring Stations* .................................................................. 20
Figure 8 - Long-term Water Column Selenium Concentrations in Lower San Diego Creek
(SDM) 2004-21 ................................................................................................................ 21
Figure 9 - Locations for Annual Sediment and Water Sampling in Conjunction with
Tissue Monitoring ......................................................................................................... 22
List of Tables
Table 1 - Selenium TMDL Funding Partners ............................................................................ 3
Table 2 - Dewatering Discharge and Selenium and Nitrogen Loadings from Road
Undercrossings in the City of Irvine ............................................................................. 4
Table 3 - IRWD’s Tiered Water Rates ........................................................................................ 6
Table 4 - Active NTS Facilities .................................................................................................... 8
Table 5 - 2020-21 BMP Effectiveness Data for IRWD’s NTS (including its San Joaquin
Treatment Ponds) .......................................................................................................... 18
Table 6 - Tier 1 Quarterly Water Quality Data Summary (Expressed as Annual Averages)
for Mass Emission Stations .......................................................................................... 19
Table 7 - Tier 2 Quarterly Sediment Monitoring Data for Mass Emission and Upper Bay
Sites (average) ................................................................................................................ 21
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Executive Summary
The 2020-21 BMP Strategic Plan Implementation Progress Report (Report) summarizes
the activities between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021 (2020-21) implementing the 2013
Nitrogen and Selenium Management Program (NSMP) Best Management Practice
(BMP) Strategic Plan (hereinafter referred to as BMP Strategic Plan or Plan) by the
Selenium TMDL Funding Partners (Se TMDL Funding Partners), which is a subset of the
Newport Bay TMDL Funding Partners in the Santa Ana-Delhi Channel and San Diego
Creek sub-watersheds (collectively Sub-Watersheds). The goal of the phased Plan is to
reduce nitrogen and selenium loadings and help protect beneficial uses in the Sub-
Watersheds. With the adoption of the Selenium TMDL on June 20, 2019, this report
serves to document selenium reduction progress pending approval of the revised BMP
Strategic Plan, submitted in 2019.
During the reporting period, the Se TMDL Funding Partners individually and
collaboratively implemented the following tasks in the submitted BMP Strategic Plan,
including:
x Baseline and source control activities, including volume reduction BMPs and
irrigation control programs;
x Completed construction on the Santa Ana-Delhi Channel pipeline diversion to the
sanitary sewer (discharge permit is pending approval); and
x Completed annual biota monitoring for fish tissue and bird eggs at key locations
throughout the Newport Bay Watershed.
Per the Selenium Regional Monitoring Program (Selenium RMP) submitted for approval
at the same time as the BMP Strategic Plan, monitoring for nitrogen and selenium was
conducted (see Section 6.4 and Appendix A) and the results from the 2020-21 reporting
period were as follows:
x Average annual selenium loadings in the past 5 years for the Culver, Jamboree, and
Jeffrey stations are 3.7, 0.02, and 0.02 pounds, respectively (see Section 2.2);
x The PCW Pipeline Project removed 34 pounds of selenium and 13,732 pounds of
nitrogen (see Section 3.3);
x IRWD’s San Joaquin Marsh removed 54,573 pounds of nitrogen and 126 pounds of
selenium, and IRWD’s combined NTS removed 135,277 pounds of nitrogen and 198
pounds of selenium (see Section 6.1); and
x Quarterly water quality monitoring at mass emissions sites continues to show a
decreasing trend in long-term water column selenium concentrations in Lower San
Diego Creek (see Section 6.2).
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1. Introduction
Until 2003, the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board (Santa Ana Regional
Board) regulated discharges to surface waters that posed an insignificant (de minimis)
threat to water quality through an area-wide National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permit. However, when this permit was renewed in 2003 by Order No.
R8-2003-0061, the Newport Bay watershed, as seen in Figure 1, was excluded due to
concerns that elevated levels of selenium and nitrogen in short-term groundwater-
related discharges would not comply with the toxic pollutants Total Maximum Daily
Loads (TMDLs) established by USEPA in 2002 and the nutrient TMDL established in
1998. These TMDLs were promulgated, in part, due to exceedances of applicable
selenium and nitrogen water quality standards as a result of natural and man-made
factors, one of which was the elevated concentrations of these pollutants in the shallow
groundwater associated with the historical Swamp of the Frogs (Meixner et al, 2004).
Thereafter in 2004, the Regional Board adopted Order No. R8-2004-0021 (2004 General
Dewatering Permit) for the Newport Bay Watershed and R8-2005-0079 (Irvine
Dewatering Permit) for the City of Irvine to regulate short-term and ongoing
groundwater-related discharges with specific focus on nitrogen and selenium. The 2004
General Dewatering Permit prompted the establishment of the NSMP and the NSMP
Working Group, later referred to as the Se TMDL Funding Partners, to draft and
implement a Work Plan. The tasks of the Work Plan, among others, included
development of a BMP Implementation Plan/Strategic Plan.
Figure 1 - Newport Bay Watershed
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The General Dewatering Permit was replaced by Order R8-2007-0041 (2007 General
Dewatering Permit) and was amended by Order R8-2009-0045 to include requirements
for groundwater cleanup discharges as well as dewatering. Time Schedule Order (TSO)
R8-2009-0069 (as amended by orders R8-2013-0060 and R8-2014-0025) was adopted to
provide regulatory compliance in the absence of a revised TMDL and extended the term
of the 2007 General Dewatering Permit through December 10, 2019.
The City of Irvine discharges have similarly been regulated by Order R8-2005-0079, and
TSO R8-2009-0070 (as amended by orders R8-2013-0061 and R8-2014-0026), which also
expired December 10, 2019.
On December 6, 2019, the Regional Board adopted Order R8-2019-0061 (NPDES No.
CAG918002) that regulates de minimis discharges and those previously regulated by
Orders R8-2007-0041 and R8-2005-0079 within the Newport Bay watershed. Order R8-
2019-0061 incorporated many important implementation measures outlined in the Se
TMDL. Several dischargers that were regulated previously by Orders R8-2007-0041 and
2005-0079 and related TSOs have been enrolled under this Order. These orders and
permits can all be accessed via the Regional Board’s website (SARWQCB, 2021).
Development of the 2013 BMP Strategic Plan was a requirement of the General
Dewatering Permit TSO and the City of Irvine TSO. The following tasks were
implemented pursuant to the TSO BMP Strategic Plan:
x Baseline and source control activities
x Selenium and nitrogen reduction projects
x Initial development of an Offset and Trading Program
x Investigation of new selenium treatment technologies
This report summarizes the activities and results of the above tasks for the reporting
period.
The Selenium RMP was also implemented as required separately under the General
Dewatering Permit TSO and the City of Irvine TSO.
On June 20, 2019 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved a revised TMDL
for Selenium in Freshwater, Newport Bay Watershed, Orange County, California (Se
TMDL). A new BMP Strategic Plan was developed in 2019 by the Se TMDL Funding
Partners identified in Table 1, as well as a revised Regional Monitoring Program and
Offset and Trading Program. The new BMP Strategic Plan commits to a TMDL annual
report that summarizes implementation activities each year. However, as of the
submittal date of this report, the BMP Strategic Plan, which was submitted to the
Regional Board on September 20, 2019, had not been approved. Therefore, this report
serves to document selenium reduction progress pending approval of a revised BMP
Strategic Plan. A new General Dewatering Permit was also approved in December 2019
(2019 General Dewatering Permit).
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Table 1 - Selenium TMDL Funding Partners
2. Baseline & Source Control Activities
Baseline and source control activities include the volume reduction BMPs developed in
2005 (NSMP, 2005), the recommendations formulated in the Water Balance Report for
the Swamp of the Frogs (DBSA, 2012), and the irrigation control programs that Irvine
Ranch Water District (IRWD) implements. The baseline and source control activities
prevent or minimize discharges of selenium and nitrogen in the Sub-Watersheds. Due to
a historic drought that affected the State between 2012 and 2016, and again recently,
cities and IRWD alike greatly enhanced their efforts on water conservation, including
public education and outreach; more aggressive tiered water rates; enforcement against
water-wasters, among others. As a result of these conservation efforts surface flows in
all channels decreased in both San Diego Creek and Santa Ana-Delhi Channel and have
remained low except in more recent wetter years.
2.1. Volume Reduction BMPs
Volume Reduction BMP Fact Sheets were developed in 2005 to identify feasible volume
reduction BMPs for short-term groundwater related discharges in the Newport Bay
watershed (NSMP, 2005). Five potential volume reduction BMPs were identified: 1)
discharge to land; 2) discharge to sewer; 3) evaporation ponds; 4) off-site transportation
and disposal; and 5) reinjection. Each volume-reduction BMP fact sheet describes the
capacity, cost, land, permit, and monitoring requirements as well as its applicability in
the Newport Bay watershed. Of the five volume-reduction BMPs that were evaluated,
three were identified as feasible in the Watershed: 1) discharge to land; 2) discharge to
sewer; and 3) off-site transportation and disposal.
2.2. City of Irvine
The City of Irvine maintains three permanent undercrossing dewatering stations in the
Newport Bay watershed under permit Order No. R8-2019-0061. The Culver Drive and
Jeffrey Road pump stations discharge into Como Channel, which is tributary to Peters
Canyon Channel. The Jamboree Road pump station discharges into El Modena/Irvine
Channel, which is also tributary to Peters Canyon Wash Channel. Historically, the
Culver Drive and Jamboree Road stations have discharged an average of 5,000,000 and
262,000 gallons per month and average annual selenium loadings of 12 and 0.46 pounds
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respectively. Jeffrey Road pump station began operation in July 2011 and averaged
monthly discharge of 697,000 gallons per month with average annual selenium loadings
of 1.2 pounds from 2011 to 2012.
Based on observations of operations during the removal and replacement of one pump
at the Culver Drive station (August 2012), the pumps were adjusted to reduce
discharges. Beginning in April 2013, similar adjustments were made at the Jamboree
Road station, and discharges were further reduced. From July 2013 through June 2021,
average monthly discharges for the three dewatering pump stations at Culver,
Jamboree, and Jeffrey have been reduced to approximately 1,970,000, 177,100, and 66,200
gallons per month. This is a significant reduction compared to pre-2013 levels and
reflects the operational changes and lower groundwater levels due to drought
conditions.
As a result, selenium loadings have also been reduced significantly. Average annual
selenium loadings during the same June 2013 through June 2021 for Culver, Jamboree,
and Jeffrey station are 3.7, 0.02, and 0.02 pounds. The implementation of revised pump
station operations protocols is anticipated to continue during dry weather as long as the
undercrossing stations continue to be maintained in a safe and structurally viable
manner.
For the 2020-21 reporting period, the selenium and total nitrogen concentrations,
discharge volume, and selenium loadings are summarized in Table 2.
Table 2 - Dewatering Discharge and Selenium and Nitrogen Loadings from Road
Undercrossings in the City of Irvine
2.3. City of Newport Beach
The City of Newport Beach operates one dewatering station, which is located in the
basement of the Newport Beach Central Library. The dewatering station discharges to
the sewer. This area is outside of the Sub-Watersheds but demonstrates the watershed-
wide efforts to sewer dewatering discharges. The City also operates its own sewer
collection system, so most construction sites dewater to Baker Tanks (or similar) and
discharge directly to the sewer system.
2.4. City of Santa Ana
The City of Santa has periodic discharges from potable water wells owned and operated
by the City’s Water Resources Department. Four wells are located in the Santa Ana-
Delhi Channel (F01) subwatershed, two wells are located in the Santa Ana Gardens
Channel (F02) subwatershed, and two wells are located in the Southwest Tustin Channel
(F11) subwatershed. All construction dewatering operations that take place within the
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City follow the monitoring protocols and guidelines detailed in applicable NPDES
Permits. Historically, the City’s drinking water wells have annually discharged
approximately 255,000 gallons to the Santa Ana-Delhi Channel, 1,725,000 gallons to the
Santa Ana Gardens Channel, and 65,000 gallons to the Southwest Tustin Channel (based
on data collected from 2020-21).
Additionally, the City of Santa Ana has adopted a water conservation ordinance, which
identifies permanent water conservation requirements for the City (City of Santa Ana
Ordinance No. NS-2781).
2.5. Cities of Costa Mesa and Orange
The Cities of Costa Mesa and Orange do not have coverage under the 2019 General
Dewatering Permit.
2.6. Cities of Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, and Laguna Woods
These cities are eligible to be enrolled under the 2019 General Dewatering Permit but
have had no discharges during the reporting period.
2.7. City of Tustin
The City of Tustin has implemented measures to prevent groundwater seepage into its
public storm drain system within the Tustin Legacy development (formerly MCAS
Tustin). For new public storm drainpipes, pipe joints are required to be gasketed, and
either a waterproofing admixture is to be added to the concrete or a PVC liner is
wrapped around the pipes. In certain areas a fiberglass reinforced concrete pipe is also
used. This was specified to address several groundwater issues in this area, one of which
is selenium.
The City of Tustin adopted a water efficient landscape ordinance in 2009, which requires
all planting, irrigation, and landscape-related improvements to conserve water and
prevent over irrigation. New projects are required to use California friendly plants and
irrigation systems that use devices such as smart timers or a low flow drip system to
prevent overwatering and runoff from occurring.
In 2017, the City of Tustin updated its Water Management Plan, to comply with the
State’s drought ordinance. The City enforces limits on outside watering hours and
prohibits excessive water flow or runoff in the Tustin Water Services area. The City has
also removed all turf from all medians that previously used potable water. The City
continues to advertise the Municipal Water District of Orange County’s water saving
programs and rebates on the City’s webpage and with inserts for the Tustin Water
Service water bills.
2.8. Orange County Flood Control District
Orange County Flood Control District is enrolled under the 2019 General Dewatering
Permit but had no discharges during the reporting period.
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2.9. Irvine Ranch Water District
Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) is enrolled under the 2019 General Dewatering
Permit. IRWD has implemented several volume reduction programs designed to
minimize domestic water use and to prevent over-irrigation and runoff within its service
area, which has significant overlap with the Sub-Watersheds. These programs include
the following:
x Incentives for turf removal and conversion to climate appropriate, low water use
plants and low-flow irrigation
x Conversions from spray irrigation to low-flow drip irrigation
x High efficiency irrigation nozzle incentive programs
x Customer outreach and education programs
x Performance-based irrigation upgrade program
In addition to the above, IRWD also implements a landscape performance certification
program, which has the following components:
x Weather-based irrigation controller incentive and installation programs
x Free on-site assistance
A foundational tool in IRWD’s successful water use efficiency programs is its rate
structure. Since a substantial portion of water consumption in southern California is for
outdoor irrigation, IRWD’s rate structure helps control over-irrigation and the
associated downward percolation of irrigation water and generation of nuisance runoff
that carries pollutants, including nutrients and sediment, into the receiving water.
The rate structure was instituted to promote the efficient use of water and is designed to
provide customers a significant economic incentive to use the proper amount of water
required to serve indoor, landscape, commercial/industrial and institutional demands.
This is accomplished by setting a customized “allocation” for each customer account
that is based upon a variety of factors such as irrigated area, daily weather
characteristics, number of residents, industrial or commercial business type, and other
unique characteristics. Water is then sold to customers under a four-tier structure based
upon their monthly allocation, as shown in Table 3 (IRWD, 2021).
Table 3 - IRWD’s Tiered Water Rates
Table 3a Tiered Rates for Residential Detached Dwelling
Units/Condo
Tier Rate/ccf Percent of Allocation
Low Volume $1.47 0-40
Base Rate $2.00 41-100
Inefficient $4.86 101-140
Wasteful $13.63 141+
Table 3b Tiered Rates for Apartments
Tier Rate/ccf Percent of Allocation
Low Volume $1.47 0-50
Base Rate $2.00 51-100
Inefficient $4.86 101-120
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Wasteful $13.63 121+
Table 3c Tiered Rates for Non-residential facilities
Tier Rate/ccf Percent of Allocation
Base Rate $2.00 0-100
Wasteful $13. 63 101+
Table 3d Tiered Rates for Potable Landscape Irrigation
Tier Rate/ccf Percent of Allocation
Low Volume $1.47 0-40
Base Rate $2.00 41-100
Inefficient $4.86 101-160
Wasteful $13.63 161+
Note: ccf = 100 cubic foot
Revenue from higher tier, over-allocation water use is “reinvested” to fund tailored
programs and rebates for long-term improvements in water use efficiency and to
support urban runoff source control and treatment programs.
IRWD also practices extensive water management and control at the water system level.
This includes regular meter calibration and replacement, as well as a very aggressive
and comprehensive leak detection and repair program that far exceeds the industry
standard. Similarly, IRWD has a very proactive maintenance program for its sewer
system. A flow monitoring study of the IRWD sewage collection system conducted by
Dudek and Associates in June 2006 found that IRWD has a very contained collection
system.
3. Selenium and Nitrogen Reduction Projects
A subset of members of the Se TMDL Funding Partners have implemented or are
currently planning four load reduction projects. This section describes the
characteristics, timeframe, and estimated load removal of selenium and nitrogen for
each project.
3.1. Cienega Demonstration Project
In 2007, IRWD and the City of Irvine partnered on the Cienega Demonstration Project, a
pilot-scale rock filter system adjacent to Peters Canyon Wash. The project was
constructed in 2009 and operated for six years, during which it removed a total of 73.5
pounds of selenium and 18,468.7 pounds of nitrogen. Operation of the demonstration
project was only intended to last until performance data showed that a full-scale project
should be implemented. However, due to operational and air quality permit issues,
IRWD and the City of Irvine decided not to go forward with the full-scale project, and
the demonstration project was terminated in September 2015.
3.2. IRWD Natural Treatment System
IRWD’s San Joaquin Marsh is a system of constructed treatment wetland ponds. IRWD
partnered with Irvine Company and local developers, cities, and the County of Orange
to finance to build the Natural Treatment System (NTS); cities and developers have also
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contributed property easements. IRWD maintains and operates the NTS on behalf of the
local partners. The location of the Marsh next to San Diego Creek has created unique
opportunities for IRWD to intercept and remove large amounts of nitrogen from San
Diego Creek before it reaches Upper Newport Bay (see Section 6.1, Table 6 for BMP
effectiveness monitoring data). The Marsh is the central piece of IRWD’s Natural
Treatment System (NTS, Figure 2), which is a network of constructed wetland ponds
throughout the San Diego Creek Sub-Watershed to remove nutrients and bacteria, and
potentially other contaminants and prevent these contaminants from reaching the Upper
Newport Bay. IRWD completed a NTS Master Plan to address the regional water quality
treatment needs by selecting the most strategic locations for implementation of natural
treatment systems (IRWD, 2005). Since February 2006, IRWD has implemented 45 NTS
wetlands in the San Diego Creek Sub-Watershed. Table 4 identifies the name, size,
tributary area, and status of each of the active NTS facilities as of July 1, 2021.
Performance monitoring of the active NTS facilities is conducted by IRWD; results have
demonstrated a significant reduction in nitrogen and removal of other contaminants.
More information about the NTS can be found at
https://www.irwd.com/services/natural-treatment-system.
Table 4 - Active NTS Facilities
NTS Name Size (ac) Tributary Watershed (ac) Online Status
San Joaquin Marsh 280.0 75000 Sep-97
Sand Canyon Reservoir 0.0 3,635.1 Jan-06
El Modena 6.0 1,000.3 Feb-06
Old Laguna 2.1 442.1 Feb-06
Quail Meadow 2.6 59.2 Feb-06
Quail Springs 3.2 565.8 Feb-06
Turtle Ridge 10.0 196.0 Mar-06
Forge Meadow 1.9 320.1 Jun-07
Lower Eastfoot 1.6 120.4 Jun-07
Orchard Meadow 3.0 109.6 Jun-08
Port Culver 2.4 134.8 Jun-08
Marshburn 3.3 3,623.3 Aug-08
Trabuco 2.7 1,955.9 Aug-08
Cypress Meadow A 0.9 232.51 Jan-13
Laguna Altura North 0.7 73.8 Jan-13
Laguna Altura South 3.2 68.8 Jan-13
Los Olivos Meadow 2.1 88.9 Jan-13
Cypress Meadow B 14.0 26.66 Oct-14
Cypress Meadow C 3.2 53.97 Oct-14
Cypress Meadow D 2.8 92.74 Sep-15
Portola Springs 2.3 26.7 Sep-15
District 8 - Bioretention Cell 0.8 42.05 Jun-16
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Peters Canyon - 2,728.5 Jun-16
Eastwood Meadow 1.7 90.2 Sep-16
Middle Eastfoot 0.9 379.0 Sep-16
Ridge Valley A 1.4 230.6 Jul-17
Ridge Valley B 10.9 62.3 Jul-17
Ridge Valley C 0.0 214.9 Jul-17
Eastfoot Retarding Basin 6.4 325.13 Nov-17
Upper Eastfoot 1.7 132.0 Nov-17
Floral View 4.7 64.08 Dec-17
Hidden Canyon 0.0 135.22 Dec-17
Parasol Park 0.4 100.6 Jan-18
Rattlesnake Reservoir 43.8 1,296.4 Jul-18
Twisted Oak 18.1 12.9 Dec-18
Aquila Springs 2.0 85.34 Mar-19
Iluna Springs 0.3 278.0 Mar-19
Sports Park 1.4 154 Apr-19
Marine Meadow 1.7 30.8 Nov-19
Lower Agua Chinon Basin A 2.9 111.8 May-20
Lower Agua Chinon Basin B 2.3 104.9 May-20
Lower Agua Chinon Basin C 3.1 185.3 May-20
Upper Agua Chinon Basin A 2.6 73.7 Jan-21
Upper Agua Chinon Basin B 2.5 81.5 Jan-21
Los Olivos South 2.6 109.9 Feb-21
Orchard Retarding Basin 2.1 75 Mar-21
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Figure 2 - Natural Treatment System Locations
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3.3. Peters Canyon Channel Water Capture and Reuse Pipeline Project
Lower Peters Canyon Wash Channel (PCW) is located within the historical Swamp of
the Frogs, where selenium-laden shallow groundwater enters the storm drain and
surface water system via seeps, weep holes, and through the bottom of the unlined
channel. These groundwater-associated flows also constitute the principal source of
selenium in the Sub-Watersheds.
With construction and operation assistance from IRWD, the Cities of Irvine and Tustin,
the Orange County Flood Control District, and Caltrans funded the Peters Canyon Wash
Channel Water Capture and Reuse Pipeline Project (PCW Pipeline Project) with
additional grant support. The project intercepts and diverts high selenium and nitrogen
groundwater and groundwater-supported surface flows and sends it to Orange County
Sanitation District (OC San) Plant 1 in Fountain Valley for treatment and reuse. The
flows being intercepted include the Caltrans Groundwater Treatment Facility, Como
Channel (where City of Irvine dewatering facilities drain to), Edinger Circular Storm
Drain, and Valencia Storm Drain (Figure 3 and Figure 4). The system is pressurized and
operates continuously during dry weather conditions. OC San accepts the discharge
from the PCW Pipeline Project as part of its Urban Runoff Diversion Program.
The final project construction contract amount was $11,928,000. The construction was
completed in winter 2016 and has been in full operation since that time.
The PCW Pipeline Project removed 34 pounds of selenium and 13,732 pounds of
nitrogen in 2020-21. Debris accumulation at the wet wells of the three urban runoff sites
affected performance early on in the life of the project (2016 through early 2017).
Improvements have been made but the frequency of maintenance remains significantly
higher than previously anticipated, resulting in much higher maintenance costs. The
project team continues to work on a solution.
Figure 3 - Layout of Peters Canyon Channel Diversion Project
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Figure 4 - Peters Canyon Channel Diversion Project Photos. Upper left: Valencia wet
well structure; upper right: dewatering well drilling for jack and bore at Como
Channel; lower left: pipeline preparation from Warner to Moffett; lower right:
completed diversion
3.4. Santa Ana-Delhi Channel Diversion Project
The cities of Santa Ana, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa, County of Orange, Orange
County Flood Control District, Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD), and Orange County
Water District (OCWD) are funding partners on the Santa Ana-Delhi Channel Diversion
Project (Santa Ana-Delhi Project). The Santa Ana-Delhi Project consists of a unique in-
channel diversion structure that will divert low-flow urban runoff to the sanitary sewer
for treatment by OC San and reuse via OCWD’s Groundwater Replenishment System
(GWRS).
The Santa Ana-Delhi Project has a drainage area of 17 square miles and is anticipated to
remove approximately 40 pounds of selenium and 10,200 pounds of nitrogen annually
(Figure 5). It will also reduce loadings of other pollutants to Newport Bay including
bacteria, and has an advanced trash and debris capture and removal system. The total
cost of the Santa Ana-Delhi Project is approximately $9.4M, which includes $2.573M
from an OCTA Tier 2 Environmental Cleanup Program (ECP) grant and $1M allocated
for a 20-year maintenance period.
Construction of the Santa Ana-Delhi Diversion Project began in April 2017 and is
complete (see Figure 6 for construction progress photos). The discharge permit to OC
San’s sanitary sewer system is pending and the diversion system is expected to be
brought on-line when the permit is issued.
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Figure 6 - Santa Ana-Delhi Diversion Project Construction Progress Photos
DIVERSION
STRUCTURE
Figure 5 - Santa Ana-Delhi Diversion Project Overview Map and Project Schematics
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4. Offset Mitigation Program Framework
Given the complexity of the selenium problem and the limited practicable treatment
alternatives, an Offset Mitigation Program Framework will be used to establish
regulatory compliance. A spreadsheet-based offset and trading tool has been developed
and is active. A draft Offset and Trading Program was submitted for Executive Officer
approval on September 20, 2019 and will be used for offsetting and trading of nitrogen
and selenium removal credits of the Peters Canyon Wash Pipeline Project and other
potential projects once approved.
5. BMP/Technology Evaluation
Since 2005, the Se TMDL Funding Partners, have continuously reviewed journal articles,
online references, and technical reports, and communicated with researchers and
vendors to evaluate the latest selenium and nitrogen treatment technology. For those
BMPs that appeared promising, pilot tests were conducted to confirm the performance
in the field under continuous flow conditions and to gauge the land/power
requirements, permitting, startup and shutdown procedures, and
operation/maintenance requirements and associated costs. The technologies that have
been pilot tested included reverse osmosis, iron treatment, filter media, portable
wetlands, adsorption media, and ABMet® system, a proprietary biological treatment
system owned by General Electric. Of these, the filter media concept was tested at large
scale in the Cienega Demonstration Project by IRWD and the City of Irvine (see Section
3.1.1). ABMet® was also identified to be a promising technology and was pilot tested in
2009 and in larger scale in 2010 and remains a potentially viable selenium treatment
technology.
To streamline these activities, a BMP/Technology Evaluation Committee (Committee)
was established comprised of technical staff from a subset of the Se TMDL Funding
Partners. If the Committee, after careful review and evaluation, deems a technology
viable, the vendor is invited to present its technology at a seminar or a meeting. If
confirmed by lab and bench tests, pilot testing may be planned.
On October 20 and 21, the County of Orange participated in the virtual Selenium
Summit1 hosted by the Energy and Power Research Institute in Charlotte, NC. The
summit is an annual forum for users, technologist, vendors and academics to share ideas
and current state of practices related to selenium research and treatment technologies.
The attendees of the summit were international experts on selenium treatment
technology, most of which focused on the power industry. Through attending the
conference, contacts were established with these experts and the County is kept abreast
the latest progresses in the selenium treatment technology field.
In winter 2020 to spring 2021, the Peters Canyon Wash (PCW) Widening Project
managed by the City of Tustin was completed. The project significantly widened the
channel between Irvine Center Drive/Edinger to the Como Channel confluence. At the
same time, a channel maintenance project by the Orange County Flood Control District
1 https://www.epri.com/research/programs/073222/events/E53440E6-BEC4-43AF-9072-B709BDE0EF23
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removed all vegetation in PCW and part of San Diego Creek. On April 2, 2021, County
staff took a series of water samples along Peters Canyon Wash from Barranca to the
confluence with Como Channel in an effort to establish baseline conditions before the
vegetation established in the channel bed. Future sampling at the same locations after
vegetation grows back could potentially quantify the amount of selenium that may be
removed via vegetation-mediated volatilization process.
In May 2021, the County provided a support letter to Dr. Sunny Jiang’s research
proposal, “UCI-NBNL - Selective bio-reduction of selenium by an electro-bioreactor
(INT 7.2- Precision Separations- P1a-Trace Contaminant Separation or Transformation),”
for funding consideration by the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI). The
proposed research aimed at developing new cost-effective technologies for remediating
selenium contamination and protecting our water and natural resources. Most of the
treatment-based selenium removal processes require a prior removal of nitrate, which is
orders of magnitude higher than selenium, resulting in reduced efficiency in selenium
removal. Therefore, selective separation of selenate from nitrate, as proposed in this
project, could be a key innovation for selenium removal technology. The application was
not successful, but the County is committed to continue to support future such research
efforts by its partners in both academia and industry.
Concurrent to the evaluation of the treatment BMPs, one of the volume-reduction BMPs,
discharge to sanitary sewer, has become the focus of the selenium implementation
strategy in the Sub-Watersheds as exemplified by the pipeline projects at Peters Canyon
Wash Channel and Santa Ana-Delhi Channel (see Sections 3.3 and 3.4, respectively).
Compared to most of the treatment BMPs, discharging to sewer requires low capital and
land acquisition costs, low operations and maintenance costs due to less power
requirements, no waste stream, and the ability to use OC San’s Urban Runoff Diversion
Program, which allows no-cost diversion of dry weather urban runoff in its service area.
Since the effluent from OC San’s Plant 1 in Fountain Valley is being 100% recycled by
OCWD’s GWRS, it also serves as a water conservation measure. In addition to the
existing diversion projects, assessing the feasibility of sewer diversion at various
locations in the Sub-Watershed remains an ongoing task for BMP/technology
evaluation.
Due to the significant advantage of sewer diversion over treatment BMPs, a decision tree
has not been necessary to guide the development and selection of the best selenium
reduction technologies. However, as stated above, the effort of investigating and
evaluating new BMPs has been ongoing. Once multiple BMPs have been identified to be
feasible selenium reduction options, a decision tree and associated schedule will be
developed to aid the selection and implementation of these BMPs.
Selenium reduction BMP/technology evaluation is a critical part of the adaptive
management approach included in the BMP Strategic Plan to achieve water quality
standards. The adaptive management approach is necessary due to the diffuse nature of
the groundwater-related source of selenium, the current infeasibility of treatment
technologies, and other practical constraints in the Sub-Watersheds.
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6. Regional Monitoring Program
The Selenium RMP includes multimedia monitoring activities within the entire Newport
Bay Watershed (Watershed), including Big Canyon Wash, for the distribution,
transport/ transformation, and bioaccumulation of selenium. The Selenium RMP was
designed to assess progress toward achieving the vision of the BMP Strategic Plan.
Certain elements in the Selenium RMP are designed to evaluate the effectiveness of
planned BMPs and their contribution to selenium reduction within the Newport Bay
watershed.
The Selenium RMP was designed to address the following questions:
1) What are the selenium concentrations in the surface waters in the Watershed,
and how do they compare with the California Toxics Rule (CTR) criterion and
the water quality targets specified in the TMDLs approved by the Regional
Board?
2) What are the selenium concentrations in the targeted biota, and how do they
compare with the proposed selenium tissue-based site-specific objectives (SSOs)?
3) What types of aquatic habitat exist in the Watershed, and whether/how these
habitats support various fish populations/community structures?
4) What are the trends in selenium concentrations in water, sediment, and biota?
5) How does selenium transform/cycle within different compartments, including
water, suspended particulates, bedded sediment, and biota?
6) If certain BMPs are implemented, what are the selenium reductions attributable
to the BMPs, and what are the changes observed/measured in the receiving
waters?
To address the above questions, the Selenium RMP employs a flexible, tiered, and
multimedia approach that maximizes integration with existing watershed monitoring
efforts. The regional monitoring efforts include the following tiers:
x Tier 0 (if applicable). Quarterly BMP effectiveness monitoring based on inflow
and effluent monitoring and receiving water monitoring upstream and
downstream of the BMP;
x Tier 1. Quarterly water quality monitoring at existing mass emission sites and
quarterly water quality monitoring at two existing Upper Newport Bay
monitoring sites;
x Tier 2. Quarterly sediment monitoring at existing mass emission monitoring sites
and two existing Upper Newport Bay monitoring sites;
x Tier 3. Annual water quality and sediment monitoring (including collection and
analysis of selenium in water [including selenium species], suspended
particulates, bed sediment, and algae) associated with tissue monitoring;
x Tier 4. Annual collection and analysis of fish tissue and bird eggs for selenium;
x Tier 5. Ad hoc special studies
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Using the tiered approach, the Selenium RMP focuses more intensive monitoring on
areas with high selenium levels, major drainage channels, and ecologically sensitive
areas. The locations, sampling frequencies, and monitoring parameters are intended to
be flexible and subject to adjustments depending on habitat variability, selenium levels,
and sample availability, especially for tissue samples. With review and approval from
Regional Board staff, the monitoring efforts may be scaled up or down in response to
changes in observed selenium levels in different tiers.
A revised Selenium RMP was submitted during the 2019-20 reporting period on
September 20, 2019 in response to the approval of the updated selenium TMDL and is
pending approval.
6.1. Tier 0. BMP Effectiveness Monitoring
The BMP effectiveness monitoring provides the method of accounting for selenium
loads discharged and offset in the watershed, and for reporting these data to the Santa
Ana Regional Board on a regular basis. The BMPs that are in operation during the 2020-
21 reporting period are the San Joaquin Marsh treatment ponds and other IRWD
Natural Treatment Systems. The following summarizes the operational parameters of
these BMPs.
IRWD’s San Joaquin Marsh, for the 2020-21 reporting period, removed 54,573 pounds of
nitrogen and 126 pounds of selenium. Combined, IRWD’s NTS removed 135,277 pounds
of nitrogen and 198 pounds of selenium (see Table 5), providing significant water
quality benefit to the watershed and the Upper Bay.
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Table 5 - 2020-21 BMP Effectiveness Data for IRWD’s NTS (including its San Joaquin Treatment Ponds)
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6.2. Tier 1. Quarterly Water Quality Monitoring at Mass Emission Sites
Quarterly water quality monitoring at mass emission sites is part of the countywide
NPDES monitoring effort. Coupled with the BMP effectiveness monitoring, monitoring
at these locations is expected to capture water quality improvements as a result of BMP
implementation.
Table 6 summarizes the annual average water quality data for the mass emission sites
CIC, BAR, WYL, SAD, SDC, and SDM during the 2020-21 reporting period. In addition
to selenium data, other water quality parameters are also monitored on a quarterly
basis. The locations of these sites are shown in Figure 7.
Table 6 - Tier 1 Quarterly Water Quality Data Summary (Expressed as Annual
Averages) for Mass Emission Stations
From Table 6 it is clear that selenium in surface waters, due to the impact from the
historical Swamp of the Frogs (delineated in red in Figure 7), has uneven distribution.
However, selenium concentrations remain relatively consistent within their respective
locations compared to the previous reporting period. For streams that are outside of the
Swamp, such as CIC and CMC, the concentrations can be significantly less than those
influenced by the Swamp.
Parameters Unit BAR CIC CMC SAD SDM WYL
Total Selenium ug/L 25.0 2.7 1.1 6.1 12.7 7.2
Electric Conductivity uS/cm 1571 1537 890 2193 2133 2411
Hardness as CaCO3 mg/L 594 347 204 738 642 596
Ammonia as Nitrogen mg/L 0.08 0.26 0.19 0.11 0.08 0.07
Nitrate mg/L 5.93 0.91 0.10 1.78 0.20 9.70
Total Kjedahl Nitrogen mg/L 1.2 3.2 2.8 1.8 1.8 1.2
Total Phosphorus mg/L 1.3 4.6 1.3 0.6 0.7 0.5
Total Suspended Solid mg/L 16.1 49.2 7.1 4.8 51.8 5.3
Turbidity NTU 2.1 8.4 3.3 1.0 28.3 1.3
Volatile Suspended Solid mg/L 4.1 17.0 4.2 2.8 19.3 2.8
*For data reported as ND (non-detected), one-half of reported laboratory detection limits are used in
the calculations.
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Figure 7 - Tier 1 and Tier 2 Monitoring Stations*
*The Swamp of the Frogs area is delineated by the red boundary in the central to western portion
of this watershed that surrounds the BAR station.
Figure 8 shows the historical (2004-21) data of total recoverable selenium concentrations
at the San Diego Creek at Campus site (SDM), located at the base of the watershed.
While the 2019-20 water column selenium concentrations nearly doubled from the
previous reporting period to an average of 14.5 μg/L, these increases appear to be the
direct result of a series of above-average rainfall years immediately following the
drought period from 2012-2016. In 2020-21, the annual average selenium concentration
decreased to 12.5 μg/L. The decreasing selenium concentrations correspond with the
pattern of decreasing rainfall during the drought years, and selenium concentrations
began increasing after a period of above-average rainfall in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
However, there continues to be an overall weak decreasing selenium trend (correlation
coefficient, R2 = 0.27), which may be associated with watershed hydrologic changes and
IRWD’s operations of San Joaquin Marsh Treatment Ponds.
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Figure 8 - Long-term Water Column Selenium Concentrations in Lower San Diego
Creek (SDM) 2004-21
6.3. Tier 2. Quarterly Sediment Monitoring at Mass Emission Sites and Two
Upper Newport Bay Sites
Bedded sediment is a significant sink and reservoir for selenium, and its interactions
with the water column and benthic biota impact the cycling and bioavailability of
selenium. Therefore, sediment monitoring is an important component of the Selenium
RMP as an indicator of both sediment quality and, over the long term, effectiveness of
selenium removal BMPs.
Table 7 summarizes the sediment selenium data for four channel mass emission sites
(BAR, SAD, WYL, and SDM) and two sites at the Upper Newport Bay, UNBJAM and
UNBSDC. These latter stations are located in an estuarine/marine environment. The
locations of these sites are shown in Figure 7. Both sediment selenium and total organic
carbon concentrations showed considerable variations among the channel sites (BAR,
WYL and SDM).
Table 7 - Tier 2 Quarterly Sediment Monitoring Data for Mass Emission and Upper
Bay Sites (average)
Constituents Unit UNBJAM UNBSDC BAR SAD* SDM WYL*
Selenium mg/kg 0.8 0.5 1.1 - 1.7 0.5
Total Nitrogen mg/kg 643 625 490 - 353 960
Total Phosphorus mg/kg 245 253 213 - 185 140
Total Organic Carbon % 2.22 2.22 0.74 - 0.69 3.43
**For data reported as ND (non-detected), one-half of reported laboratory detection limits are
used in the calculations.
*Due to reduced sediment WYLSED averages include only three sampling events, and no samples were
collected at SAD
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6.4. Tier 3. Annual Sediment and Water Sampling in Conjunction with
Tissue Monitoring
Tissue monitoring was conducted in March through June 2020 as scheduled, but
additional sediment and water samples were not collected due to staffing impacts from
COVID-19. Concurrent sediment and water sampling resumed in 2020-21. The data will
be used to refine Kd values and to assess selenium bioaccumulation during Phase I of the
Se TMDL to help establish site-specific objectives.
6.5. Tier 4. Annual Tissue Monitoring
Annual tissue monitoring for fish tissue and bird eggs has been conducted since 2010. In
the spring of 2020, tissue samples for fish and bird egg were collected in multiple
locations in the watershed (see Error! Reference source not found. for locations). The
2020 report is attached as Appendix A.
Figure 9 - Locations for Annual Sediment and Water Sampling in Conjunction with
Tissue Monitoring
6.6. Tier 5 Ad Hoc Special Studies
During the reporting period, there were no ad hoc special studies. Future potential
special studies will be considered as part of the implementation activities for the Se
TMDL.
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References
City of Irvine, 2021, Discharge flow and water quality data for undercrossing
dewatering operations, personal communication from Thomas Lo.
City of Santa Ana Ordinance No. NS-2781 (2009)
Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc. 2013. Groundwater-Surface Water Balance for the
Swamp of the Frogs. December 2013.
Irvine Ranch Water District (2005). Natural Treatment System Master Plan. Section 3 –
Description of NTS Facilities.
Irvine Ranch Water District (2021). Natural Treatment System webpage. Accessed in
November 2021. (https://www.irwd.com/services/natural-treatment-system)
Irvine Ranch Water District (2021). Irrigation Use and Runoff Reduction Programs.
Personal communication from Sheryl Parsons.
Meixner, T., B. Hibbs, J. Sjolin, and J. Walker, 2004, Sources of Selenium, Arsenic, and
Nutrients in the Newport Bay Watershed, Final Report, submitted to Santa Ana
Regional Water Quality Control Board
Orange County Public Works (2021). Stormwater Program, NPDES Monitoring Program
for San Diego Creek and Upper Newport Bay. Status as of June 30, 2021.
Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board (SARWQCB), 2015. Permits and
Orders R8-2004-0021; 2007-0041; 2009-0045; 2009-0069; 2009-0070; 2013-0060; 2013-0061;
2014-0025; 2014-0026, retrieved from the website
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/santaana/board_decisions/adopted_orders/index.h
tml. Accessed: November, 2021
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Appendix A.
Selenium and Organochlorine Compounds in Newport Bay Watershed Fish
and Bird Eggs, 2020