Final California 2024 Integrated Report (303(d) List/305(b) Report)

Supporting Information

Regional Board 2 - San Francisco Bay Region

Water Body Name:	Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach
Water Body ID:	CAX2022101120011017111055
Water Body Type:	Coastal & Bay Shoreline


DECISION ID	148679	Region 2
Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach

Pollutant:	Indicator Bacteria
Final Listing Decision:	Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	Delist from 303(d) list (TMDL required list)(2018)
Revision Status	Revised
Reason for Delisting:	Applicable WQS attained; reason for recovery unspecified
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Conclusion:	This pollutant is being considered for removal from the CWA section 303(d) List under section 4.3 of the Listing Policy. Under section 4.3 a single line of evidence is necessary to assess listing status. Three lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this pollutant. Seven of the two hundred eighty-seven samples exceed the enterococcus geometric mean objective to protect water contact recreation. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence indicates that there is sufficient justification for removing this water segment-pollutant combination from 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. Seven of the two hundred eighty-seven samples exceed the enterococcus geometric mean objective to protect water contact recreation 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.

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

State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:

State Board Decision Recommendation:	After review of this Regional Board decision, SWRCB staff recommend the decision be approved by the State Board.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 148679, Indicator Bacteria	Region 2
Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach

LOE ID:

3441

Pollutant:

Coliform Bacteria

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:

Three of 23 sample exceeded the objective. Samples exceeding were collected during dry-weather season (SWRCB, 2003).

Data Reference:

Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Ocean Plan: Samples of water from each sampling station shall have a density of total coliform organisms less than 1,000 per 100 ml (10 per ml); provided that not more than 20 percent of the samples at any sampling station, in any 30-day period, may exceed 1,000 per 100 ml (10 per ml), and provided further that no single sample when verified by a repeat sample taken within 48 hours shall exceed 10,000 per 100 ml (100 per ml) (SWRCB, 2001).

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Placeholder reference 2006 303(d)

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Data was spatially collected.

Temporal Representation:

Data was collected from 5/2000-10/2000.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

San Mateo County Environmental Health Dept. Beach Monitoring, Surfrider data/lab QA/QC used. Data evaluation was based on USEPA guidelines for 305(b) reports, that uses a hierarchy of water quality data levels. Only data of higher overall level of information (Levels 3 and 4) were used to list a water body.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 148679, Indicator Bacteria	Region 2
Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach

LOE ID:

90780

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

277

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed BeachWatch data for Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 5 of 277 samples exceed the criterion for Enterococci.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 2 Beach Watch.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2009) states that the single sample maximum for Enterococcus shall not exceed 104 MPN/100 mL.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

California Ocean Plan Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California 2009

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach was collected at 1 monitoring site [ Rockaway Beach]

Temporal Representation:

Data was collected over the time period 1/3/2005-8/30/2010.

Environmental Conditions:

Staff is not aware of any special conditions that might affect interpretation of the data.

QAPP Information:

The samples were collected for the Beach Watch program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 148679, Indicator Bacteria	Region 2
Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach

LOE ID:

90556

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

256

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

Not Specified

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Seven of the 256 geomeans exceeded the enterococcus objective.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 2 Beach Watch.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The geometric mean standard for enterococcus states that the enterococcus density shall not exceed 35 per 100 mL. Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters 2009.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

California Ocean Plan Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California 2009

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Samples were collected at station Rockaway Beach.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected approximately once a week from January 2005 to September 2010.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

The samples were collected for the Beach Watch program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 148679, Indicator Bacteria	Region 2
Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach

LOE ID:

90818

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

277

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed BeachWatch data for Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 2 of 277 samples exceed the criterion for Coliform, Fecal.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 2 Beach Watch.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

California Ocean Plan (SWRCB 2009) states that the single sample maximum for fecal coliform shall not exceed 400 MPN/100 mL

Objective/Criterion Reference:

California Ocean Plan Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California 2009

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Data for this line of evidence for Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach was collected at 1 monitoring site [ Rockaway Beach]

Temporal Representation:

Data was collected over the time period 1/3/2005-8/30/2010.

Environmental Conditions:

Staff is not aware of any special conditions that might affect interpretation of the data.

QAPP Information:

The samples were collected for the Beach Watch program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 148679, Indicator Bacteria	Region 2
Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach

LOE ID:

90554

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

260

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

Not Specified

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Zero of the 260 geomeans exceeded the fecal coliform objective.

Data Reference:

Data for Region 2 Beach Watch.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The geometric mean standard for fecal coliform states that the fecal coliform density shall not exceed 200 per 100 mL. Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters 2009.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

California Ocean Plan Water Quality Control Plan Ocean Waters of California 2009

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

Samples were collected at station Rockaway Beach.

Temporal Representation:

Samples were collected approximately once a week from January 2005 to September 2010.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

The samples were collected for the Beach Watch program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 148679, Indicator Bacteria	Region 2
Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach

LOE ID:

300143

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

STV

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

103

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed BeachWatch_San Mateo County data for Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 15 of the 103 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:

WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 2.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The bacteria water quality objective to protect the REC-1 beneficial use in ocean waters, applies a Statistical Threshold Value to enterococcus of 110 cfu/100 mL, not to be exceeded by more than 10 percent of samples collected within in a calendar month. (Ocean Plan 2019)

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): Rockaway Beach (Rockaway Beach-Rockaway Beach, San Mateo).

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2010-09-20 and 2020-10-13 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

State Board Staff. 2021. QAPP Reference for Beach Watch Program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

QAPP Reference for Beach Watch Program

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 148679, Indicator Bacteria	Region 2
Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach

LOE ID:

300188

Pollutant:

Enterococcus

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

GeoMean

Beneficial Use:

Water Contact Recreation

Number of Samples:

287

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PATHOGEN MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed BeachWatch_San Mateo County data for Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 7 of the 287 samples exceeded the geomean water quality threshold for Enterococcus. This is a six week rolling geomean that is calculated weekly.

Data Reference:

WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 2.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The bacteria water quality objective to protect the REC-1 beneficial in ocean waters applies a six-week rolling geomean to enterococcus, not to exceed 30 cfu/100mL. (Ocean Plan 2019)

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): Rockaway Beach (Rockaway Beach-Rockaway Beach, San Mateo).

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2010-09-20 and 2020-10-13 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

State Board Staff. 2021. QAPP Reference for Beach Watch Program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

QAPP Reference for Beach Watch Program

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 148679, Indicator Bacteria	Region 2
Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach

LOE ID:

300569

Pollutant:

Fecal Coliform

LOE Subgroup:

Pollutant-Water

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

SSM

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 BeachWatch_San Mateo County data for Pacific Ocean at Rockaway Beach to determine beneficial use support and the results are as follows: 0 of the 1 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. This data is for an AB411 beach. This LOE specifically corresponds with dry weather samples and only includes samples collected between April 1 and October 31 of each year.

Data Reference:

WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 2.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The bacteria water quality objective to protect the REC-1 beneficial use in ocean waters applies a single sample maximum of fecal coliform, not to exceed 400 per 100 mL. (Ocean Plan 2019)

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): Rockaway Beach (Rockaway Beach-Rockaway Beach, San Mateo).

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the days of 2015-09-14 and 2015-09-14 .

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

State Board Staff. 2021. QAPP Reference for Beach Watch Program.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

QAPP Reference for Beach Watch Program