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

Supporting Information

Regional Board 8 - Santa Ana Region

Water Body Name:	Herkey Creek
Water Body ID:	CAR8022200020110809101415
Water Body Type:	River & Stream


DECISION ID	133694	Region 8
Herkey Creek

Pollutant:	Temperature, water
Final Listing Decision:	Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	New Decision
Revision Status	Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Conclusion:	Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available

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. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.

State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:

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 it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 133694, Temperature, water	Region 8
Herkey Creek

LOE ID:

237673

Pollutant:

Temperature, water

LOE Subgroup:

Ancillary Line of Evidence

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Not Recorded

Beneficial Use:

Warm Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed Water Quality Monitoring Program data for Herkey Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Temperature.

Data Reference:

Field, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 8.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The temperature of waters designated WARM shall not be raised above 90 degrees F June through October or above 78 degrees F during the rest of the year as a result of controllable water quality factors (Water Quality Control Plan, Santa Ana Basin, Chapter 4 Water Quality Objectives, Inland Surface Waters).

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan, Santa Ana River Basin

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: HRKCR1 (Herkey Creek).

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-12-22 and 2014-12-22

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

SWRCB. 2020. The data included in this LOE does not have a QAPP, but was collected after the QAPP requirements had been developed, and thus was assessed as an ancillary line of evidence..

QAPP Information Reference(s):

The data included in this LOE does not have a QAPP, but was collected after the QAPP requirements had been developed, and thus was assessed as an ancillary line of evidence.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 133694, Temperature, water	Region 8
Herkey Creek

LOE ID:

234899

Pollutant:

Temperature, water

LOE Subgroup:

Ancillary Line of Evidence

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Not Recorded

Beneficial Use:

Warm Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Water Board staff assessed US Forest Service, San Bernardino National Forest (California) data for Herkey Creek to determine beneficial use support and results are as follows: 0 of 1 samples exceeded the water quality threshold for Temperature.

Data Reference:

WQ data from the federal Water Quality Portal (WQP) assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 8.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan, Santa Ana River Basin

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SANBERNARDINONATIONALFOREST-HRKCR1 (Herkey Creek).

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-12-22 and 2014-12-22

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

SWRCB. 2020. The data included in this LOE does not have a QAPP, but was collected after the QAPP requirements had been developed, and thus was assessed as an ancillary line of evidence..

QAPP Information Reference(s):

The data included in this LOE does not have a QAPP, but was collected after the QAPP requirements had been developed, and thus was assessed as an ancillary line of evidence.


DECISION ID	133695	Region 8
Herkey Creek

Pollutant:	Total Dissolved Solids
Final Listing Decision:	Do Not List on 303(d) list (TMDL required list)
Last Listing Cycle's Final Listing Decision:	New Decision
Revision Status	Revised
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Conclusion:	Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.

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. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.

State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:

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 it cannot be determined if applicable water quality standards are not being exceeded.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 133695, Total Dissolved Solids	Region 8
Herkey Creek

LOE ID:

240229

Pollutant:

Total Dissolved Solids

LOE Subgroup:

Ancillary Line of Evidence

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Not Recorded

Beneficial Use:

Warm Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Data Reference:

WQ data from the federal Water Quality Portal (WQP) assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 8.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Site-Specific Objective: The concentration of Total Dissolved Solids shall not exceed 150 mg/L in this waterbody (Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin).

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan, Santa Ana River Basin

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site (SANBERNARDINONATIONALFOREST-HRKCR1)

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-12-22 and 2014-12-22

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

USFS WQmonitoring - NWQMP

QAPP Information Reference(s):

The data included in this LOE does not have a QAPP, but was collected after the QAPP requirements had been developed, and thus was assessed as an ancillary line of evidence.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 133695, Total Dissolved Solids	Region 8
Herkey Creek

LOE ID:

239887

Pollutant:

Total Dissolved Solids

LOE Subgroup:

Ancillary Line of Evidence

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

Dissolved

Beneficial Use:

Warm Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Data Reference:

Field, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 8.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Site-Specific Objective: The concentration of Total Dissolved Solids shall not exceed 150 mg/L in this waterbody (Water Quality Control Plan for the Santa Ana River Basin).

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan, Santa Ana River Basin

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site (HRKCR1)

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-12-22 and 2014-12-22

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

USFS WQ monitoring

QAPP Information Reference(s):

The data included in this LOE does not have a QAPP, but was collected after the QAPP requirements had been developed, and thus was assessed as an ancillary line of evidence.


DECISION ID	133693	Region 8
Herkey Creek

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

Regional Board Conclusion:	Insufficient information is available to determine beneficial use support for this waterbody-pollutant combination with the statistical power and confidence required by the Listing Policy. Beneficial use support will be reassessed in a future cycle, if more data are available.

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. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.

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 133693, pH	Region 8
Herkey Creek

LOE ID:

234880

Pollutant:

LOE Subgroup:

Ancillary Line of Evidence

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Warm Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Data Reference:

WQ data from the federal Water Quality Portal (WQP) assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 8.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

The pH of inland surface waters shall not be raised above 8.5 or depressed below 6.5 as a result of controllable water quality factors (The Water Quality Control Plan, Santa Ana Basin, Chapter 4 Water Quality Objectives, Inland Surface Waters).

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan, Santa Ana River Basin

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: SANBERNARDINONATIONALFOREST-HRKCR1 (Herkey Creek).

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-12-22 and 2014-12-22

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

SWRCB. 2020. The data included in this LOE does not have a QAPP, but was collected after the QAPP requirements had been developed, and thus was assessed as an ancillary line of evidence..

QAPP Information Reference(s):

The data included in this LOE does not have a QAPP, but was collected after the QAPP requirements had been developed, and thus was assessed as an ancillary line of evidence.

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 133693, pH	Region 8
Herkey Creek

LOE ID:

237274

Pollutant:

LOE Subgroup:

Ancillary Line of Evidence

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Warm Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL MONITORING

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

Data Reference:

Field, WQ data from the California Environmental Data Exchange Network assembled for the 2024 Integrated Report in Region 8.

SWAMP Data:

Non-SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan, Santa Ana River Basin

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Spatial Representation:

The samples were collected at 1 monitoring site: HRKCR1 (Herkey Creek).

Temporal Representation:

The samples were collected between the dates of 2014-12-22 and 2014-12-22

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

SWRCB. 2020. The data included in this LOE does not have a QAPP, but was collected after the QAPP requirements had been developed, and thus was assessed as an ancillary line of evidence..

QAPP Information Reference(s):

The data included in this LOE does not have a QAPP, but was collected after the QAPP requirements had been developed, and thus was assessed as an ancillary line of evidence.


DECISION ID	98164	Region 8
Herkey Creek

Pollutant:	Benthic Community Effects
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)(2016)
Revision Status	Original
Impairment from Pollutant or Pollution:	Pollutant

Regional Board Conclusion:	Benthic Community Effects is being considered for placement on the CWA section 303(d) List under sections 3.9 and 3.1 of the Listing Policy. Under section 3.9, an additional line of evidence associating Benthic Community Effects with a water or sediment concentration of pollutant(s) is necessary to assess listing status. Two lines of evidence are available in the administrative record to assess this indicator. One of the 2 benthic macroinvertebrate samples exceed (fall below) the California Streams Condition Index (CSCI) threshold for likely altered biological condition. The water segment does not have associated pollutant(s) samples that exceed water quality objectives. Based on the readily available data and information, the weight of evidence provides sufficient justification for not placing Benthic Community Effects in this water segment 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. Pursuant to section 3.9 of the Listing Policy, the water segment exhibits significant degradation in biological populations and/or communities as compared to reference site(s) using the California Stream Condition Index. 4. Pursuant to section 3.9 of the Listing Policy, the water segment does not have associated pollutant(s) samples that exceed water quality objectives. 5. Pursuant to section 3.11 of the Listing Policy, no additional data and information are available indicating that standards are not being met. The California Stream Condition Index is a new scoring tool for bioassessment data that is applicable statewide, accounts for a much wider range of natural variability, and provides equivalent scoring thresholds in all regions of the state. The CSCI has been used in some assessments this reporting cycle and will be used in the future for water quality assessment purposes statewide over the regional indices of biologic integrity (IBIs). If CSCI scores have not been calculated for data and only IBI scores are available, IBI scores will still be used to interpret the data.

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. The readily available data and information is insufficient to determine, with the power and confidence of the Listing Policy, the applicable beneficial use support rating.

State Board Review of Regional Board Conclusion and Recommendation:	The California Stream Condition Index is a new scoring tool for bioassessment data that is applicable statewide, accounts for a much wider range of natural variability, and provides equivalent scoring thresholds in all regions of the state. The CSCI has been used in some assessments this reporting cycle and will be used in the future for water quality assessment purposes statewide over the regional indices of biologic integrity (IBIs). If CSCI scores have not been calculated for data and only IBI scores are available, IBI scores will still be used to interpret the data.

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 98164, Benthic Community Effects	Region 8
Herkey Creek

LOE ID:

96024

Pollutant:

Benthic-Macroinvertebrate Bioassessments

LOE Subgroup:

Population/Community Degradation

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Cold Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

The sample collected had a CSCI score of 1.081406 and therefore this water body is meeting the water quality objective for the aquatic life beneficial use. This water body passed several screening criteria and was identified as a reference water body for the purposes of developing the CSCI. Reference sites where human disturbance is absent or minimal are used to set benchmark expectations for healthy streams. A large set of nearly 600 reference sites representing the broad diversity of natural stream types found across California was used to develop the CSCI.

Data Reference:

Region 8 CSCI scores and data.

Complete data set for all CSCI reference sites for the entire State.

Data for Various Pollutants in the Streams of Region 8, 2009.

SWAMP Data:

SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Inland surface water communities and populations, including vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant species, shall not be degraded as a result of the discharge of waste. Degradation is damage to an aquatic community or population with the result that balanced community no longer exists. The concentrations of toxic pollutants in the water column, sediments or biota shall not adversely affect beneficial uses.

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan, Santa Ana River Basin

Evaluation Guideline:

The California Stream Condition Index (CSCI) is a biological scoring tool that helps aquatic resource managers translate complex data about benthic macroinvertebrates found living in a stream into an overall measure of stream health. The CSCI score is calculated by comparing the expected condition with actual (observed) results (Rehn, A.C. et al., 2015). CSCI scores range from 0 (highly degraded) to greater than 1 (equivalent to reference). CSCI scoring of biological condition are as follows (per the scientific paper supporting the development of the CSCI scoring tool): greater than or equal to 0.92 = likely intact condition, 0.91 to 0.80 = possibly altered condition, 0.79 to 0.63 = likely altered condition, less than or equal to 0.62 = very likely altered condition. Sites with scores below 0.79 are considered to have exceeded the water quality objective for the aquatic life beneficial use.

Guideline Reference:

A Quantitative Tool for Assessing the Integrity of Southern Coastal California Streams. Environmental Management. Volume 35, number 1 (2005): pp. 1-13

Guideline Reference:

Bioassessment in complex environments: designing an index for consistent meaning in different settings

Spatial Representation:

The sample was collected at station 802WE0794.

Temporal Representation:

The sample was collected on 5/10/2001.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Samples were collected for the RWB8's Probabilistic Stream Survey CY2007 following SWAMP protocols. Data is from Region 8 CSULB database and formatted in SWAMP format.

QAPP Information Reference(s):

Line of Evidence (LOE) for Decision ID 98164, Benthic Community Effects	Region 8
Herkey Creek

LOE ID:

81528

Pollutant:

Benthic-Macroinvertebrate Bioassessments

LOE Subgroup:

Population/Community Degradation

Matrix:

Water

Fraction:

None

Beneficial Use:

Warm Freshwater Habitat

Number of Samples:

Number of Exceedances:

Data and Information Type:

Benthic macroinvertebrate surveys

Data Used to Assess Water Quality:

One sample was collected to assess benthic macroinvertebrates. The CSCI score for this site is 0.75. This site is below the 0.79 threshold and therefore exceeds the water quality objective for the aquatic life beneficial use.

Data Reference:

Data for Various Pollutants in the Streams of Region 8, 2009.

Region 8 CSCI scores and data.

SWAMP Data:

SWAMP

Water Quality Objective/Criterion:

Objective/Criterion Reference:

Water Quality Control Plan, Santa Ana River Basin

Evaluation Guideline:

Guideline Reference:

Bioassessment in complex environments: designing an index for consistent meaning in different settings

Spatial Representation:

The sample was collected at station 802HYC267 (SMCR8_267).

Temporal Representation:

The sample was collected in June 2006.

Environmental Conditions:

QAPP Information:

Samples were collected for the RWB8's Probabilistic Stream Survey CY2006 following SWAMP protocols. Data is from Region 8 CSULB database and formatted in SWAMP format.

QAPP Information Reference(s):