Water Body Name: | Crowley Lake |
Water Body ID: | CAL6031009019980806103521 |
Water Body Type: | Lake & Reservoir |
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 6900 |
LOE ID: | 737 |
Pollutant: | Nitrogen |
LOE Subgroup: | Narrative Description Data |
Matrix: | Not Specified |
Fraction: | None |
Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat |
Number of Samples: | 0 |
Number of Exceedances: | 0 |
Data and Information Type: | Not Specified |
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Nutrient concentrations, sources and limnological information are based on data collected under contract between the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory (SNARL) and the Lahontan RWQCB (Contract numbers 9-175-265-0 and 0-196-160-0). SNARL provided the results of their work in two reports (Jellison and Dawson 2003, Jellison et al., 2003). The sampling program consisted of lake and tributary sampling programs performed in 2000 and 2001.At the time Crowley Lake was placed on the 303(d) list, it was considered impaired by nutrient inputs based on observations of seasonal algae blooms. Land uses such as grazing, fish hatcheries, and residential development were thought to have the potential to be contributing excess nutrients that caused the perceived impairment. However, current studies and evaluation revealed that the lake is naturally eutrophic and that controllable, man-induced nutrient inputs are not significantly affecting the trophic state of the lake and are not impairing beneficial uses. Seasonal occurrences of algae blooms will likely persist in the lake, but they are natural conditions of the lake due to its environmental setting. The nutrient levels are not a result of the treatment or disposal of wastes. |
Data Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d) |
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | From the Basin Plan: Biostimulatory Substances: Waters shall not contain biostimulatory substances in concentrations that promote aquatic growths to the extent that such growths cause nuisance or adversely affect the water for beneficial uses.
Basin Plan: Nuisance is defined as "Anything [that] ... occurs during or as a result of the treatment or disposal of waste." (Basin Plan page 3-15) |
Objective/Criterion Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d) |
Evaluation Guideline: | |
Guideline Reference: | |
Spatial Representation: | Crowley Lake and its seven major tributaries. |
Temporal Representation: | Historic (1950-1975) and current (1997; 2000-2001). |
Environmental Conditions: | Available historical information on Crowley Lake water quality conditions was reviewed to help assess whether the eutrophic state of the lake is related to anthropogenic sources or is naturally occurring. Information reviewed included that published in the late 1950s and early 1960s by E. P. Pister of the California Department of Fish and Game, the USEPA (1978), based on data collected in 1975, and a 1997 Fisheries Management Plan prepared by Department of Fish and Game. |
QAPP Information: | QA Info Missing |
QAPP Information Reference(s): |
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 6759 |
LOE ID: | 738 |
Pollutant: | Phosphorus |
LOE Subgroup: | Narrative Description Data |
Matrix: | Not Specified |
Fraction: | None |
Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat |
Number of Samples: | 0 |
Number of Exceedances: | 0 |
Data and Information Type: | Not Specified |
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Nutrient concentrations, sources and limnological information are based on data collected under contract between the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory (SNARL) and the Lahontan RWQCB (Contract numbers 9-175-265-0 and 0-196-160-0). SNARL provided the results of their work in two reports (Jellison and Dawson, 2003; Jellison et al., 2003). The sampling program consisted of lake and tributary sampling programs performed in 2000 and 2001.At the time Crowley Lake was placed on the 303(d) list, it was considered impaired by nutrient inputs based on observations of seasonal algae blooms. Land uses such as grazing, fish hatcheries, and residential development were thought to have the potential to be contributing excess nutrients that caused the perceived impairment. However, current studies and evaluation revealed that the lake is naturally eutrophic and that controllable, man-induced nutrient inputs are not significantly affecting the trophic state of the lake and are not impairing beneficial uses. Seasonal occurrences of algae blooms will likely persist in the lake, but they are natural conditions of the lake due to its environmental setting. The nutrient levels are not a result of the treatment or disposal of wastes. |
Data Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d) |
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | From the Basin Plan: Biostimulatory Substances: Waters shall not contain biostimulatory substances in concentrations that promote aquatic growths to the extent that such growths cause nuisance or adversely affect the water for beneficial uses.
Basin Plan: Nuisance is defined as "Anything [that] ... occurs during or as a result of the treatment or disposal of wastes." |
Objective/Criterion Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d) |
Evaluation Guideline: | |
Guideline Reference: | |
Spatial Representation: | Crowley Lake and its seven major tributaries. |
Temporal Representation: | Historic (1950-1975) and current (1997; 2000-2001). |
Environmental Conditions: | Available historical information on Crowley Lake water quality conditions was reviewed to help assess whether the eutrophic state of the lake is related to anthropogenic sources or is naturally occurring. Information reviewed included that published in the late 1950s and early 1960s by E. P. Pister of the California Department of Fish and Game, the USEPA (1978), based on data collected in 1975, and a 1997 Fisheries Management Plan prepared by Department of Fish and Game. |
QAPP Information: | QA Info Missing |
QAPP Information Reference(s): |
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 6311 |
LOE ID: | 740 |
Pollutant: | Ammonia |
LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water |
Matrix: | Water |
Fraction: | Total |
Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat |
Number of Samples: | 38 |
Number of Exceedances: | 7 |
Data and Information Type: | Not Specified |
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Thirty-eight total ammonia samples from Crowley Lake and its outlet are available (Jellison et al., 2003).
None of the samples exceeded the one-hour criteria. Every sample collected during the summer months exceed the 4-day criteria, for total of seven exceedances. These data characterize the summer season as the critical condition. |
Data Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d) |
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | Ammonia concentrations shall not exceed the values listed for the corresponding conditions in Tables 3-1 to 3-4 of the Basin Plan. The ammonia objective is a function of temperature and pH. |
Objective/Criterion Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d) |
Evaluation Guideline: | |
Guideline Reference: | |
Spatial Representation: | Several stations. |
Temporal Representation: | Data were collected in 2000 and 2001. |
Environmental Conditions: | The occurrence of elevated ammonia and depressed dissolved oxygen concentrations are associated with the natural eutrophic condition (elevated nutrient levels) of Crowley Lake. |
QAPP Information: | QA Info Missing |
QAPP Information Reference(s): |
Lines of Evidence (LOEs) for Decision ID 6775 |
LOE ID: | 739 |
Pollutant: | Oxygen, Dissolved |
LOE Subgroup: | Pollutant-Water |
Matrix: | Water |
Fraction: | Dissolved |
Beneficial Use: | Cold Freshwater Habitat |
Number of Samples: | 112 |
Number of Exceedances: | 36 |
Data and Information Type: | Not Specified |
Data Used to Assess Water Quality: | Jellison and Dawson (2003) showed that during the summer months at depths below approximately 10 meters, Crowley Lake does not meet the objective. Of 112 samples collected from various in-lake locations, 36 depth-averaged dissolved oxygen measurements were less than 5 mg/L (Jellison et al., 2003). |
Data Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d) |
Water Quality Objective/Criterion: | The Basin Plan water quality objective for dissolved oxygen in water bodies designated as COLD and SPWN is an instantaneous concentration minimum of 5 mg/L. |
Objective/Criterion Reference: | Placeholder reference 2006 303(d) |
Evaluation Guideline: | |
Guideline Reference: | |
Spatial Representation: | Several locations. |
Temporal Representation: | Data collected in 2000 and 2001. |
Environmental Conditions: | The occurrence of elevated ammonia and depressed dissolved oxygen concentrations are associated with the natural eutrophic condition (naturally high nutrient concentrations) of Crowley Lake. |
QAPP Information: | QA Info Missing |
QAPP Information Reference(s): |