Draft California 2020 Integrated Report (303(d) List/305(b) Report)

Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California. California Ocean Plan 2005. Sacramento, CA: State Water Resources Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2005) states that the single sample maximum for Enterococcus shall not exceed 104 MPN/100 mL.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach was collected at one AB411 monitoring site (Spanish Bay)

Temporal Representation:

Data was collected over the time period 2/1/2005 - 10/30/2006. This includes weekly AB411 monitoring between April 1 and October 31 of each year.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QA information not available

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 129527, Enterococcus	Region 3
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach

LOE ID:

365

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

110

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Monterey County collected 110 bacteria samples from 2001 through 2004 at Spanish Bay Beach. Two of 110 samples were in exceedance of the single sample criterion for Enterococcus (CCRWQCB, 2004d).

Data Reference:

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Evaluation Guideline:

AB411: The single sample maximum criterion for Enterococcus in marine waters = 104 MPN/100 ml.

Guideline Reference:

Data file of Region 3 Beachwatch Data. Includes data from all coastal counties in Region 3 including: , Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Ventura, and San Mateo counties.

Spatial Representation:

Spanish Bay Beach is between rocky outcropping separating Spanish Bay from Asilomar Beach and Bird Rock Road in the community of Pebble Beach.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected from 4/2/2001 through 6/7/2004. As an AB411 beach, Spanish Bay Beach was sampled weekly April 1 - October 31 and monthly November 1 - March 30.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Monterey County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health QAPP

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 129527, Enterococcus	Region 3
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach

LOE ID:

217981

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

182

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 3 of the 182 samples exceeded the geomean water quality threshold for Enterococcus. This is a six week rolling geomean that is calculated weekly.

Data Reference:

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2019) states that the bacteria water quality objective to protect the REC-1 beneficial for all ocean waters for Enterococci is a geometric mean (GM) of 30 cfu/100 mL. The waterbody GM shall not be greater that the GM magnitude in any six-week interval, calculated weekly.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

SWRCB. 2005. Water Quality Control Plan, Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan). California Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board. February 2, 2019

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): SPB

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2010-09-07 and 2019-06-10 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QAPP for 2020 Monterey County Beachwatch data.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Data file of Region 3 Beachwatch Data. Includes data from all coastal counties in Region 3 including: , Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Ventura, and San Mateo counties.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 129527, Enterococcus	Region 3
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach

LOE ID:

217912

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

102

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 7 of the 102 samples exceeded the Statistical Threshold Value (STV) water quality threshold for Enterococcus. The STV is based on a 10% exceedance rate that is calculated monthly.

Data Reference:

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2019) states that the bacteria water quality objective to protect the REC-1 beneficial for all ocean waters for Enterococci is a statistical value threshold (STV) of 110 cfu/100 mL. The STV shall not be exceeded by more than 10 percent of the samples collected in a calendar month, calculated in a static manner.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

SWRCB. 2005. Water Quality Control Plan, Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan). California Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board. February 2, 2019

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): SPB

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2010-09-07 and 2019-06-10 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QAPP for 2020 Monterey County Beachwatch data.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 129527, Enterococcus	Region 3
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach

LOE ID:

362

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Health Advisories

Matrix:

Not Specified

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

Not Specified

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Monterey County posted Rain Advisories for all beaches in the county on 15 occasions from 2000 to 2004. Each advisory was posted for several days surrounding rain events in the county (CCRWQCB, 2004d).

Data Reference:

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Assembly Bill 411:
Weekly monitoring is required from April to October at all beaches with more than 50,000 annual visitors or at beaches located in areas adjacent to storm drains that flow during the summer. Some counties continue testing year round. Weekly samples must be tested for three indicator organisms: total coliform, fecal coliform, and enterococcus. Beaches that fail to meet the state's criteria for any one of the three indicators are to be posted with conspicuous warning signs to notify the public of health risks associated with swimming in these areas. Closings and advisories are issued on a discretionary basis. AB 411 requires the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to post monthly beach data from coastal counties throughout the state. The surveys list beach warnings, beach closures, and rain advisories resulting from bacterial contamination.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The rain advisories are issued for all beaches in Monterey County, including Spanish Bay Beach (between rocky outcropping separating Spanish Bay from Asilomar Beach and Bird Rock Road in the community of Pebble Beach).

Temporal Representation:

Rain advisories for the beaches were issued from February 2000 through November 2004.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Monterey County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health QAPP

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 129527, Enterococcus	Region 3
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach

LOE ID:

363

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Health Advisories

Matrix:

Not Specified

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

Not Specified

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Monterey County posted a total of 9 advisories/warnings for Spanish Bay Beach from in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2004. The warnings were for high bacteria (fecal coliform and enterococcus). Additionally, there was one closure for a sewage spill (possible broken pipe) in 2000 (CCRWQCB, 2004d).

Data Reference:

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Spanish Bay Beach is between rocky outcropping separating Spanish Bay from Asilomar Beach and Bird Rock Road in the community of Pebble Beach.

Temporal Representation:

Postings and closures are for 1999-2001 and 2004.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Monterey County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health QAPP

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 129527, Enterococcus	Region 3
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach

LOE ID:

19983

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Central Coast Regional Board Staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 16 samples exceed the criterion for Enterococci.

Data Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California. California Ocean Plan 2005. Sacramento, CA: State Water Resources Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2005) states that the geometric mean for Enterococcus shall not exceed 35 MPN/100 mL.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach was collected at one AB411 monitoring site (Spanish Bay)

Temporal Representation:

Data was collected over the time period 2/1/2005 - 10/30/2006. This includes weekly AB411 monitoring between April 1 and October 31 of each year.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QA information not available

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 129527, Enterococcus	Region 3
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach

LOE ID:

364

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Monterey County collected 110 bacteria samples from 2001 through 2004 at Spanish Bay Beach. 30-day mean concentrations of Enterococcus were calculated. None of 75 sample means were in exceedance of the criteria (CCRWQCB, 2004d).

Data Reference:

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Evaluation Guideline:

AB411: Based on the mean of the logarithms of the results of at least five weekly samples during any 30-day sampling period, the density of Enterococcus in water from any sampling station at a public beach or public water contact sports area, shall not exceed 35 MPN/100 ml.

Guideline Reference:

Data file of Region 3 Beachwatch Data. Includes data from all coastal counties in Region 3 including: , Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Ventura, and San Mateo counties.

Spatial Representation:

Spanish Bay Beach is between rocky outcropping separating Spanish Bay from Asilomar Beach and Bird Rock Road in the community of Pebble Beach.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected from 4/2/2001 through 6/7/2004. As an AB411 beach, Spanish Bay Beach was sampled weekly April 1 - October 31 and monthly November 1 - March 30.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Monterey County Health Department, Division of Environmental Health QAPP

QAPP Information Reference(s):


DECISION ID	129531	Region 3
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach

Pollutant:	Fecal Coliform
Final Listing Decision:	Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2018)
Revision Status	Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Conclusion:	This pollutant is being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under section 3.2 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.2 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. Four lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Zero of the 106 SSM samples and 0 of the 9 GM samples exceed the REC-1 fecal coliform water quality objective. Due to an insufficient number of GM samples, the decision will be based on the SSM samples. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification against placing this water segment-pollutant combination on the CWA section 303(d) List. This conclusion is based on the staff findings that: 1. The data used satisfies the data quality requirements of section 6.1.4 of the Policy. 2. The data used satisfies the data quantity requirements of section 6.1.5 of the Policy. 3. Zero of the 106 SSM samples exceed the REC-1 fecal coliform water quality objective and this does not exceed the allowable frequency listed in Table 3.2 of the Listing Policy. 4. Pursuant to section 3.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not met. The Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters (“Ocean Plan”) contains two bacteria water quality objectives applicable to the REC-1 beneficial use: a fecal coliform water quality objective and an enterococci water quality objective. This waterbody is being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under section 3.3 of the Listing Policy, as applicable, using the fecal coliform objective. In accordance with section 6.1.5.3 of the Listing Policy, data should be representative of the critical timing that the pollutant is expected to impact the waterbody. Indicator bacteria (total coliform, fecal coliform, E. coli, enterococci) populations may fluctuate substantially on a daily, seasonal, or yearly basis. Lacking constant inputs, they do not persist in the environment for a long period and effects are of relatively short duration. As a result, the historic levels of indicator bacteria in the waterbody may be a poor indicator of current risks to human health, particularly when more recent data are available to sufficiently assess the water quality standard. Additionally, water quality conditions in waterbodies may change as a result of management actions that have been implemented to address bacteria. Unrepresentative data may result in incorrectly placing or not placing a water body segment on the list, which could result in the unnecessary expenditure of public resources or missing a human health problem. Historic lines of evidence for data collected prior to 2010 were evaluated pursuant to these considerations and were not used to assess water quality standards attainment because they do not meet the temporal representation requirements of section 6.1.5.3 of the Listing Policy. For fecal coliform data, Listing Policy sections 3.3 and 4.3 instructs to use the binomial distribution table in sections 3.2 and 4.2, as applicable. To use the binomial table that uses a four percent exceedance frequency, the data must be collected from coastal beaches from April 1 through October 31 only.

Regional Board Decision Recommendation:	After review of the available data and information, RWQCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.

State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:	The Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters (“Ocean Plan”) contains two bacteria water quality objectives applicable to the REC-1 beneficial use: a fecal coliform water quality objective and an enterococci water quality objective. This waterbody is being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under section 3.3 of the Listing Policy, as applicable, using the fecal coliform objective. In accordance with section 6.1.5.3 of the Listing Policy, data should be representative of the critical timing that the pollutant is expected to impact the waterbody. Indicator bacteria (total coliform, fecal coliform, E. coli, enterococci) populations may fluctuate substantially on a daily, seasonal, or yearly basis. Lacking constant inputs, they do not persist in the environment for a long period and effects are of relatively short duration. As a result, the historic levels of indicator bacteria in the waterbody may be a poor indicator of current risks to human health, particularly when more recent data are available to sufficiently assess the water quality standard. Additionally, water quality conditions in waterbodies may change as a result of management actions that have been implemented to address bacteria. Unrepresentative data may result in incorrectly placing or not placing a water body segment on the list, which could result in the unnecessary expenditure of public resources or missing a human health problem. Historic lines of evidence for data collected prior to 2010 were evaluated pursuant to these considerations and were not used to assess water quality standards attainment because they do not meet the temporal representation requirements of section 6.1.5.3 of the Listing Policy. For fecal coliform data, Listing Policy sections 3.3 and 4.3 instructs to use the binomial distribution table in sections 3.2 and 4.2, as applicable. To use the binomial table that uses a four percent exceedance frequency, the data must be collected from coastal beaches from April 1 through October 31 only.

State Board Decision Recommendation:	After review of the available data and information, SWRCB staff concludes that the water body-pollutant combination should not be placed on the section 303(d) list because applicable water quality standards for the pollutant are not exceeded.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 129531, Fecal Coliform	Region 3
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach

LOE ID:

217992

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 9 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Coliform, Fecal. The water quality threshold is based on a 30-Day rolling geomean.

Data Reference:

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2019) states that the 30 day geometric mean of fecal coliform density not exceed 200 per 100 mL, calculated based on the five most recent samples from each site.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

SWRCB. 2005. Water Quality Control Plan, Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan). California Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board. February 2, 2019

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): SPB

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2015-09-15 and 2019-06-10 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QAPP for 2020 Monterey County Beachwatch data.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Data file of Region 3 Beachwatch Data. Includes data from all coastal counties in Region 3 including: , Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Ventura, and San Mateo counties.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 129531, Fecal Coliform	Region 3
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach

LOE ID:

217994

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

106

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 106 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Coliform, Fecal. The water quality threshold is based on a Single Sample Maximum (SSM) value that is calculated daily.

Data Reference:

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2019) states that the Single Sample Maximum fecal coliform density not exceed 400 per 100 mL.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

SWRCB. 2005. Water Quality Control Plan, Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan). California Environmental Protection Agency, State Water Resources Control Board. February 2, 2019

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site(s), station(s): SPB

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2015-09-15 and 2019-06-10 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QAPP for 2020 Monterey County Beachwatch data.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 129531, Fecal Coliform	Region 3
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach

LOE ID:

19973

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Central Coast Regional Board Staff assessed data for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 60 samples exceed the criterion for Coliform, Fecal.

Data Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California. California Ocean Plan 2005. Sacramento, CA: State Water Resources Control Board, California Environmental Protection Agency

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2005) states that the single sample maximum for fecal coliform shall not exceed 400 MPN/100 mL.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach was collected at one AB411 monitoring site (Spanish Bay)

Temporal Representation:

Data was collected over the time period 2/1/2005 - 10/30/2006. This includes weekly AB411 monitoring between April 1 and October 31 of each year.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

QA information not available

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 129531, Fecal Coliform	Region 3
Pacific Ocean at Spanish Bay Beach

LOE ID:

19972

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Data Reference: