SCCWRP 2010-2011 Research Plan

Approved by SCCWRP Commission - June 2010

Note: Quarterly project updates are available in the SCCWRP Director's Report.

Research Plan 2010-2011

INTRODUCTION

The Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Authority (SCCWRP) is a research institute studying the coastal ecosystems of southern California, from watersheds to the ocean. SCCWRP’s primary mission is to enhance the scientific understanding of linkages among human activities, natural events, and the health of the Southern California coastal environment; to communicate this understanding to decision makers and other stakeholders; and to suggest strategies for protecting the coastal environment for this and future generations. Each year, a Research Plan is prepared for the SCCWRP Commission (SCCWRP’s governing board) detailing anticipated research activities for the upcoming fiscal year. The Research Plan provides an overview of SCCWRP’s various research foci, as well as project descriptions, goals, expected outcomes, and collaborators. In addition, SCCWRP releases a Director’s Report on a quarterly basis, which contains updates on the current status and progress toward completing each project. Both the Research Plan and Director’s Reports can be accessed year-round on the SCCWRP website (www.sccwrp.org).

When SCCWRP was formed in 1969, its main research focus was monitoring and assessing the impacts of contaminants in coastal marine systems. More than 40 years later, SCCWRP continues to maintain prominent research programs in this area. However, SCCWRP has evolved and changed over the last four decades to tackle new research areas that address the growing needs of environmental managers. In this Research Plan, SCCWRP scientists address topics such as beach bacteria, stormwater quality and hydromodification, nutrients and eutrophication, freshwater and marine bioassessments, wetland monitoring and restoration, method development and independent evaluations of new technology, as well as environmental data management and information systems.

The 2010-11 Research Plan contains 54 projects, over 90% of which involve outside collaborators. These collaborators are a key part of SCCWRP’s success. Partners bring the added expertise, and in some cases resources, necessary to complete and interpret studies. SCCWRP is well known for its research, but another primary aim is to facilitate transition of science into effective management applications. Partnership with other organizations facilitates development of the scientific consensus necessary to achieve that goal.

This plan is organized by research themes, grouping together projects that answer similar questions or address similar management concerns. Some projects have characteristics of more than one research theme; however, each is placed under the theme with which it is most closely tied. Each project write-up includes the background, justification, goals, tasks, status, and collaborators/funders. Finally, contact information for the lead scientist on each project is provided. Readers are encouraged to contact SCCWRP scientists to obtain more details about any of the listed projects.

A. CONTAMINANTS

Extensive population expansion and urban development has placed increasing stress on the marine and freshwater environments of southern California, partly through an increase in the number of pollution sources. Some pollution sources are closely controlled and tracked through mechanisms such as the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting system. However, many of the more diffuse “non-point” sources are monitored little or not at all. Even where sources are well monitored, there is less information about the transport and fate of these pollutants once they enter the environment. Additionally, there are new pollutants continually emerging for which the environmental occurrence, fate, and risk of biological effects are not well understood. These issues challenge the development of effective management programs to steward southern California’s marine and aquatic natural resources.

Over its history, SCCWRP has undertaken a number of projects that quantify sources, fates and effects of contaminants in southern California’s marine and aquatic environments. These include studies of mass emissions and historical contaminant deposition. They have also developed and refined many new methods for field sampling, chemistry-, toxicity-, or biology-based assessments. One recent example is a standardized framework for assessing sediment quality, which integrates methodologies for chemistry, toxicity, and biological community assessment into one unified evaluation. This framework was adopted by the State of California for sediment quality objectives in marine bays, the first such criteria to be developed for any state in the nation.

In this section, the first group of projects deals with efforts to track pollutant mass emissions to the Southern California Bight (SCB). The second group focuses on measurement, fate, and bioavailability of potential pollutants. The third group of studies is centered on improving the knowledge of emerging contaminant occurrence and effects, a group of potential pollutants for which very little is known. The fourth group integrates the study of pollutant fate and effects within the context of sediment quality assessment. These research topics cumulatively produce a more complete picture of the pollution stressors affecting southern California’s ecosystems.

1. Coastal Emissions

SCCWRP’s Southern California Bight (SCB) mass emissions database is one of the longest-running continuous databases in the United States that addresses pollutant sources to the coastal ocean. SCCWRP has been compiling effluent data on most major point sources of pollution to the SCB since 1970, including publicly owned treatment works (POTWs), industrial discharges, oil platforms, power generating stations, and dredged material disposal. These data have been used to estimate relative pollutant loading from various sources and to assess trends in pollutant emissions relative to changes in regulations and management practices over time.

This year’s Research Plan includes three ongoing projects that focus on estimating contaminant sources to the SCB. The first project updates analysis of mass emissions from large POTWs, where regular effluent monitoring is performed. The second project was begun recently to estimate stormwater mass emissions to the SCB. The third project continues to update and analyze data on emissions from other (smaller) point source dischargers.

a. Mass Emissions from Large Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities

Pollutant mass emissions from the four largest publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) have historically been the largest source of contaminant input to the SCB. However, contaminant loads from these sources have declined by more than 95% over the last 40 years as a result of increased effluent treatment, source control, industrial pretreatment, and reclamation.

For this project, each POTW’s effluent is characterized based on their discharge monitoring reports, and then mass emission estimates are calculated. These calculations continue the time series of annual mass emission estimates dating back to 1972. This is an ongoing project. This year staff will compile the annual monitoring reports from 2008-09, update SCCWRP’s existing database, and then investigate emerging and ongoing trends in the data.

Lead Investigator: Martha Sutula (marthas@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Orange County Sanitation District, City of San Diego

External Funding Support: None at this time

b. Stormwater Mass Emissions to the Southern California Bight

The focus on regulating point source discharges, including POTWs, has been very effective at reducing concentrations and mass emission rates based on long-term discharge monitoring. As a result, nonpoint source discharges (such as stormwater runoff) have become a proportionately greater contributor to overall pollutant loading to the ocean. Stormwater runoff, especially in wet years, may likely be the predominant source of many coastal pollutants. Stormwater can discharge immense volumes comingled with pollutants accumulated over large spatial scales making critical assessments of runoff associated pollutant inputs relatively coarse. Regulated stormwater agencies, however, have recently begun standardizing monitoring approaches and methods in order to estimate concentrations and loads. Even so, regulated stormwater agencies still do not have an integrated data management system making compilation of monitoring data difficult. Overcoming these challenges are important since regulated stormwater agencies are now spending more effort, and more fiscal resources, than ever before to reduce concentrations and loads. Without compiled monitoring information, it will be extremely difficult to make track improvements over time.

The goal of this project is to compile, standardize, and analyze stormwater flow and concentration data from major rivers that discharge to the SCB. These data will be used to assess the status and trends in stormwater discharges to the SCB. These steps will also facilitate transfer of the data to the California Environmental Data Exchange Network (see project Southern California Regional Data Center), which will be used for statewide water quality assessments.

This is an ongoing project.

Lead Investigator: Martha Sutula (marthas@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition

External Funding Support: None at this time

c. Comparative Mass Emissions to the Southern California Bight

One tool used to estimate the risk of environmental impairment is estimation of mass emissions for constituents of concern. Mass emission estimates enable comparisons among different sources to assess relative risk. Comparison of mass emissions over time from a single source helps assess whether discharges are increasing or decreasing. SCCWRP has conducted mass emission comparisons from a variety of sources at periodic intervals dating back to 1970. Estimates of mass emissions from large publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) have been made annually for the last 38 years. Estimates from other sources (such as small POTWs, industrial dischargers, dredged material disposal, urban runoff, oil platforms, vessel discharges, and aerial deposition) have been conducted at frequencies of about every five years. SCCWRP’s last effort to comprehensively characterize all sources occurred in 2000.

The goal of the current project is to once again estimate mass emissions from all sources for the 2005-2006 time period in order to determine: 1) combined mass emissions; 2) relative contribution of each source; and 3) trends in mass emissions from each source over the last 38 years. This is an ongoing project. This year will focus on compilation of discharge data from industrial dischargers, and power generating stations.

Lead Investigator: Martha Sutula (marthas@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: None at this time

External Funding Support: None at this time

2. Measurement, Fate, and Bioavailability

Regulatory controls on environmental contaminants are often intended to protect the potential receptors of contamination, including wildlife and humans. Thus, to understand the full range of pollutant effects, contaminant levels need to be measured not only at the source, but also in the environment and within organisms, such as invertebrates and fish. Since its inception, SCCWRP has been developing contaminant measurement methodologies for quantifying trace constituents (e.g., DDT, PCB, PAH, lead, mercury, copper) at low levels in hard-to-analyze media (e.g., seawater, sediments, tissues). Analytical protocols developed and/or improved at SCCWRP have frequently become the “standard method” used in routine monitoring laboratories throughout the SCB. One recent successful example of this technology development is the use of in situ passive water column sampling devices based on solid phase microextraction (SPME). SPMEs enable cost-effective measurement of trace organic contaminants at ultra-low levels. SCCWRP’s current efforts are focused on the emerging fields of molecular technology and genomics. While a significant challenge, the development of new molecular methods promises the ability to determine which contaminants affect biological processes, and to what degree.

This year’s Research Plan highlights four projects that develop new methods for measuring chemistry, toxicity, genetic, and biomolecular responses. The first project develops analytical methods for toxaphene. The second will develop and refine toxicity identification methods for current use pesticides in marine sediments. The third evaluates a new molecular technique for accomplishing toxicity identification. The fourth investigates genetic responses of fish to contaminant exposure.

a. Development of Analytical Methods for Toxaphene

Toxaphene is the generic name of a complex organochlorine pesticide mixture that was used extensively during the last half of the 20th century. Banned in the 1980s, residues of toxaphene are of concern due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential for toxic effects. However, the environmental fate and behavior of toxaphene is complex and poorly understood, even though it is named as a cause for impairment to several 303(d) listed water bodies within California. The standard analytical methods used to generate environmental toxaphene data (e.g., US EPA Method 8081) suffer from poor selectivity and specificity for toxaphene. The utility of approved methods is further compromised by profound changes in residue congener profiles in the environment. In recent years, the application of new instrumental techniques and the availability of purified standards have allowed analysts to better characterize toxaphene contamination. Development and acceptance of these updated methods is crucial for confirming reports of toxaphene contamination in impaired waterways.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a new determinative method for identification and quantification of toxaphene residues in organic extracts of environmental samples. Matrices of interest for this method include natural waters, aquatic sediments, and biological tissue. This is the third year of a three-year study. In the first year, analytical protocols for processing and analyzing environmental samples (including fish tissue) for residues of toxaphene were developed, validated, and documented. In the second year, SCCWRP focused on the preparation of control materials for laboratory intercalibration of proposed analytical protocols. In year three, researchers will coordinate and participate in the aforementioned laboratory intercalibration exercise.

Lead Investigator: Keith Maruya (keithm@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: US Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute of Standards and Technology (Dr. John Kucklick), Ashland Chemical (Tim Hassett)

External Funding Support: Ashland Chemical

b. Development of Toxicity Identification Methods for Current Use Pesticides

Identifying the specific constituents responsible for the toxicity observed in sediment toxicity tests is a complex task. Because most environmental samples contain mixtures of contaminants, conventional chemical analyses are rarely sufficient to identify the culpable constituents. Identification of the constituents responsible for toxicity is an important management endpoint for activities like site remediation, sediment quality objective compliance, and total maximum daily load establishment. Toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) refers to a sequence of laboratory investigations used to help determine the cause of toxicity. This sequence includes laboratory methods to first characterize the general classes of toxicants present (e.g., metals), then identify and confirm the specific constituents causing the effects (e.g., copper). Standardized characterization and identification methods are available for water samples, but fewer methods are available for sediments. Moreover, reliability and specificity of the sediment methods are poorly understood.

The goal of this project is to develop and refine toxicity identification methods for current use pesticides in marine sediments. This goal will be addressed through three types of activities: 1) method development studies with spiked water and sediment samples; 2) application of the methods to field sites containing toxic sediments; and 3) collaborative studies with other research institutions.

This is the fourth year of a four-year study. The first and second years focused on adapting existing methods for freshwater sediments and surface water to marine samples and investigate the utility of the methods with field samples. The third year included spiked sediment and water experiments to define threshold effect levels for legacy and current use pesticides, further refinement of TIE treatments for pesticides, and establishment of a statewide workgroup to improve collaboration and coordination of TIE development activities among research organizations. Research during the fourth year will include development of effect thresholds for additional contaminants, investigation of TIE methods for additional pesticides (e.g., fipronil), and development of guidance for stressor identification in marine sediments.

Lead Investigator: Steve Bay (steveb@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: City of Los Angeles, San Francisco Estuary Institute (Sarah Lowe), and UC Davis Marine Pollution Studies Laboratory (Bryn Phillips)

External Funding Support: City of Los Angeles

c. Molecular Tools for Toxicity Identification Evaluation

The toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) process is used to determine the causal agents in sediment samples found to be toxic in laboratory tests. This process uses a variety of chemical/physical separation methods and treatments to remove one or more toxicant classes, coupled with toxicity testing following each manipulation. The time and cost associated with conducting a TIE in this manner can be substantial. These approaches have generally been successful in differentiating broad classes of toxicants in sediments, but less successful for identifying individual pollutants. Because sediment TIE approaches rely on acute toxicity testing, they are not applicable to sediments with low-level toxicity that causes sublethal effects. In addition, separation approaches cannot consider synergistic or antagonist effects associated with contaminant mixtures. For all these reasons, sediment TIEs (or other toxicant identification methods) are often not implemented, forcing environmental managers to rely on incomplete or inaccurate information to determine the constituents responsible for impaired sediment quality. Improved TIE methods are needed that can cost-effectively provide more detailed information applicable to a variety of contaminant types and concentrations. Recent advances in molecular biotechnology may allow development and application of such methods.

The goal of this project is to develop a new suite of TIE tools based on genomics (e.g., analysis of gene expression or protein production). This goal will be addressed through three types of activities: 1) gene sequencing and microarray development for marine invertebrates; 2) development of gene expression profiles for target contaminants; and 3) comparison of toxicant identification based on gene expression results to conventional TIE methods.

This is the second year of a five-year study. The first year completed preliminary sequencing of RNA from marine amphipods exposed to a variety of contaminant stressors, and developed a prototype microarray. Research in the second year will include development of a gene expression profiles for selected contaminants, and evaluation of the ability of gene expression analysis to correctly identify the type of toxicant in sediment samples.

Lead Investigator: Steve Bay (steveb@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, San Francisco Estuary Institute, UC Davis (Brian Anderson), UC Berkeley (Dr. Chris Vulpe)

External Funding Support: Environment Canada, San Francisco Estuary Institute

d. Molecular Tools for Assessing Contaminant Exposure and Effects

Several indicators of endocrine disruption, including elevated vitellogenin and atypical hormone concentrations, have been detected in male fish collected from areas near large POTWs (see project Emerging Contaminant Effects on Coastal Fish). However, it is not known whether the observed effects are caused by legacy contamination, ongoing effluent and/or nonpoint discharges of emerging contaminants, other factors, or a combination thereof. Both the source and identity of the endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) need to be determined before appropriate management actions can be taken. Unfortunately, the tools for determining the nature and source of contaminant exposure are limited and expensive. Rapid advances in biotechnology have resulted in new tools that have the potential to measure changes in gene expression using microarray technology to investigate the response of organisms to environmental stressors. These gene microarrays may provide a rapid and comprehensive evaluation of an organism’s response to contaminants.

The goal of this project is to develop and apply a gene microarray tool for investigating contaminant exposure and identifying impacts on sentinel organisms in the coastal marine environment. This project is comprised of four tasks: 1) develop and refine microarrays for use with southern California fish species; 2) compare gene expression measurements to other environmental assessment methods; 3) investigate the correspondence between molecular changes (e.g., gene expression, endocrine disruption) in fish and exposure from POTW effluent or nonpoint (runoff) discharges; and 4) develop molecular tools for other sentinel species.

This is the fourth year of a five-year study. Research in the first three years focused on developing a targeted gene microarray for use with multiple species of fish. This microarray was used to analyze liver gene expression in fish collected from offshore POTW-influenced sites, wetlands, reference sites, and also fish exposed to POTW effluent in the laboratory. Research in the fourth year will continue data analysis of the gene expression results in order to compare results among species, exposure types, and biological endpoints. Development of a more comprehensive high density microarray for flatfish will also be initiated.

Lead Investigator: Steve Bay (steveb@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: UC San Diego (Dr. Michael Baker), UC Riverside (Dr. Dan Schlenk), UC Davis (Dr. Gary Cherr), CSU Long Beach (Dr. Kevin Kelley), Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Orange County Sanitation District, City of San Diego, City of Los Angeles

External Funding Support: EPA Region IX, Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Orange County Sanitation District, City of San Diego, City of Los Angeles

3. Emerging Contaminants

During the first three decades of SCCWRP’s existence, much was learned about priority legacy pollutants such as DDT, PCBs, mercury, and lead. Currently, less is known about the sources, fates, and effects of newly developed chemicals, particularly those only recently manufactured and used in a widespread manner. These so-called “contaminants of emerging concern” (CECs) number in the thousands and can be classified into four major categories: pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), current use pesticides (CUPs), natural and/or synthetic hormones, and industrial and commercial chemicals (ICCs). Examples of emerging contaminants are oxybenzone (active ingredient in sunscreen), fipronil (an insecticide used to combat termites and fire ants), ethinyl estradiol (active ingredient in birth control pills), and PBDEs (a flame retarding additive in electronics and clothing). Presence of these chemicals in the environment has not been extensively evaluated, often due to the lack of available measurement methods, and therefore the risk they pose is unknown. Limited studies suggest that some emerging contaminants can exert toxic effects at relatively low concentrations.

This year’s Research Plan contains five continuing projects geared toward developing a better understanding of the occurrence and effects of emerging contaminants. Two of the projects are focused on refinement of CEC measurement capabilities, while another two projects are focused on occurrence and effects of CECs in resident biota. The last project helps provide technical guidance to managers on how to best address CECs in California.

a. Analytical Methods for Emerging Contaminants

The list of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) is long and increasing. In most cases, though, levels of CECs found in the environment are very low (e.g., parts per billion or less). While existing analytical methods may be appropriate for some target compounds, standardized intercalibrated methods are not yet available for the vast majority of emerging contaminants. Another complicating factor is that a myriad of environmental toxicants are likely to co-occur in the environment. Sampling and analysis of these multiple chemical classes currently requires substantial expertise, cost, and labor. As a result, little to no effort has been taken to measure these constituents, or to match chemical concentrations with biological effects data.

The goal of this project is to develop and evaluate analytical methods for detection and quantification of specific classes of emerging contaminants in various matrices (e.g., water, sediment, and biological tissues) at environmentally relevant levels. The initial focus of this study will be on the more hydrophobic contaminant classes that accumulate in sediment and biological tissues, including current use pesticides, brominated flame retardants and commercial phenolic compounds. A secondary objective is to incorporate cost-effective passive sampling devices (PSDs) into these methodologies.

This is the third year of a five-year study. The first year resulted in the development and validation of analytical methods for pyrethroid pesticides and PBDEs in sediment and tissue samples. The second year resulted in the successful calibration of passive sampling devices for selected emerging contaminants, including pyrethroid pesticides. The third year will validate the developed methods via laboratory intercalibration comparisons and field trials, and will also evaluate the feasibility of incorporating additional analytical techniques, like time-of flight-mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) and advanced PSDs, to further improve the methods. One example might be supplementing SPME with electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry (ECNI-MS). Methods for additional classes of emerging contaminants will be developed during years four and five.

Lead Investigator: Keith Maruya (keithm@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: United States Geological Survey (Kelly Smalling), Loyola Marymount University (Dr. Rachel Adams), University of Southern California (Dr. James Haw), Duke University (Dr. Lee Ferguson), California State University Long Beach (Richard Gossett), National Institute of Standards and Technology (Dr. John Kucklick), California State University San Diego (Dr. Euhna Hoh), San Francisco Estuary Institute (Dr. Susan Klosterhaus)

External Funding Support: USC Sea Grant

b. Occurrence and Fate of Emerging Contaminants in Coastal Habitats

Recent studies have suggested that emerging contaminants in coastal regions of the SCB may affect wildlife. Sediment toxicity in embayments has been linked to the occurrence of current use pesticides (see Development of Toxicity Identification Methods for Current Use Pesticides), while levels of brominated flame retardants found in SCB wildlife are among the highest in the nation. Initial efforts to determine likely sources and/or causative chemical agents in each of these cases, though, have focused on regulated, “legacy” contaminants and have been largely inconclusive. A variety of factors have prevented measurement of these constituents in SCB ecosystems, particularly where they are matched with biological effects data (see Analytical Methods for Emerging Contaminants).

The goal of this project is to assess the input, occurrence, and levels of emerging contaminants throughout the SCB. This project will identify those classes of emerging contaminants that are being discharged into the marine environment, particularly those that persist and accumulate in sediments and biota. Ultimately, SCCWRP aims to gain a better understanding of the relative source input, environmental distribution, and potential for chemically mediated effects due to emerging contaminants.

This is the fourth year of a five-year study. The first year identified and measured several classes of emerging contaminants in POTW effluent, receiving seawater, marine sediment and fish. The second year documented levels of PBDEs in marine mammal tissue collected from coastal locations throughout the SCB. The third year focused on documenting PBDE levels in sediment and fish tissue throughout the SCB. The fourth and fifth years will focus on targeted evaluation of the occurrence of high priority CECs, and examine the input history of emerging contaminants. This includes examination of selected classes of CECs in marine surface sediments and dated sediment cores, ambient receiving water and stormwater, as well as biological tissues.

Lead Investigator: Keith Maruya (keithm@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Drs. Gunnar Lauenstein, Tony Pait, John Christensen, Tracy Collier, Tracy Rowles and Dave Weller), United States Geological Survey (Dr. Edward Furlong), University of California Riverside (Dr. Daniel Schlenk), California State University Long Beach (Richard Gossett), Southern Nevada Water Authority/University of Arizona (Dr. Shane Snyder), Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Bight ‘08 Regional Monitoring participants

External Funding Support: David and Lucile Packard Foundation, State Water Resources Control Board, San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

c. Southern California Mussel Watch

To characterize the spatial extent and temporal trends in coastal contaminant levels nationwide, the NOAA Mussel Watch Program has collected and analyzed bivalve species since 1986. Representative samples of locally abundant species are collected from fixed sites during the winter in order to assess long-term temporal trends in trace metal and organic contaminant levels. The program established 21 “Mussel Watch” sites in the SCB, with most located along the open coast. This data set has provided unparalleled information on the declines of biological exposure to contaminants associated with source control and increased effluent treatment over the last 20 years. It has also demonstrated that local hot spots still exist in the SCB and it provides a point of comparison between the SCB and the rest of the country. Finally, as new chemicals are released to the environment, the NOAA sentinel sites provide a mechanism to monitor the fate of these potential contaminants.

The goals of this study are to: 1) increase spatial coverage of NOAA’s National Status and Trends (NS&T) Program in the Southern California region; 2) provide Mussel Watch contaminant data at Areas of Special Biological Significance and Marine Protected Areas; 3) compare results of passive sampling devices (PSDs) with bivalve accumulation; and 4) identify contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) that warrant inclusion in the NS&T program. To achieve these goals, an additional 13 sites have been established in the SCB. Local agencies collect the bivalves and then contaminant burdens are measured at NOAA’s analytical laboratory. A collaborative effort to select priority CECs for future assessment is also planned as a part of this project.

This is the fourth year of a five-year project. The first year was devoted to establishing new sites and conducting sampling activities. Bivalve and SPME samples were collected and analyzed for trace constituents in year two. The third year focused on: 1) a second round of bivalve collection; and 2) planning for a pilot evaluation of CEC analytes and co-deployment of PSDs to measure the occurrence of CECs in the water column. The fourth and fifth years will be devoted to sample and data analysis for CECs in bivalve tissue samples and PSDs collected in the pilot study. It will also involve refining the list of CECs to be included in future NS&T cycles.

Lead investigator: Keith Maruya (keithm@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Gunnar Lauenstein), State Water Resources Control Board, Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network (Dr. Jack Engle), United States Geological Survey (Kelly Smalling, Dr. Ed Furlong, Dr. David Alvarez), San Francisco Estuary Institute (Dr. Susan Klosterhaus)

External Funding Support: None at this time

d. Emerging Contaminant Effects on Coastal Fish

A variety of CECs have been found on the coastal shelf and in embayments of the Southern California Bight. Some CECs can disrupt the endocrine system of non-target organisms after being released to the environment, since they mimic or interfere with the action of reproductive hormones such as estrogen or testosterone. In the SCB, indicators of estrogen exposure such as egg yolk protein production and egg development in male flatfish on the coastal shelf have been observed, but the cause and significance of these effects is unknown. Virtually no information is available on endocrine disruption in embayment and/or wetland fish species. Moreover, little is known about the background levels and natural variability of these biological responses, making it difficult to determine the environmental significance of endocrine disruption due to emerging contaminants.

The goals of this project are to: 1) determine which groups of emerging contaminants fish are exposed to; 2) determine whether coastal and wetland fish show evidence of endocrine disruption or other impacts associated with emerging contaminant exposure; and 3) determine whether effects on fish are associated with POTW effluent or nonpoint source discharges.

This is the sixth year of a six-year study. In the first four years, methods were developed to assess endocrine disruption and other biological effects by measuring vitellogenin, hormones, and gonad condition. Preliminary experiments were also conducted to construct and validate a gene microarray (see also Molecular Tools for Assessing Contaminant Exposure and Effects) and field studies were initiated to measure the effects of endocrine response in flatfish living near POTW outfalls. Laboratory exposures of fish to POTW effluent were conducted. Field sampling to determine baseline conditions in reference flatfish and to investigate CEC effects in wetlands were also conducted. Sample and data analyses from a coastal shelf field study were completed in the fifth year. Research in the sixth year will focus on data analyses to compare responses among habitats and species, along with publication of findings.

Lead Investigator: Steve Bay (steveb@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Orange County Sanitation District, City of San Diego, City of Los Angeles, City of Oxnard, University of California San Diego (Dr. Michael Baker), University of California Riverside (Dr. Dan Schlenk), University of California Davis (Dr. Gary Cherr), California State University Long Beach (Dr. Kevin Kelley), Ocean Institute, 2008 Bight Regional Monitoring participants

External Funding Support: Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Orange County Sanitation District, City of San Diego, City of Los Angeles, EPA Region IX, Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, State Water Resources Control Board

e. Science Advisory Panel for the State of California

In early 2009, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted their Recycled Water Policy, part of which addresses constituents/contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Since regulatory requirements for protection of human and ecological health must be based on the best available peer-reviewed science, the Policy mandated the convening of an expert advisory panel to assess the current state of scientific knowledge regarding CEC risks to the general public and the environment. Among the specific issues to be addressed by the panel are questions such as: 1) what are the appropriate constituents to be monitored in recycled water?; 2) what toxicological information is available for these constituents?; and 3) what levels of CECs should trigger enhanced monitoring in recycled, ground, or surface waters? Recommendations by the expert panel will be used by the Water Board and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to make informed policy decisions on CEC issues. Since many of the same questions are germane to coastal and marine waters that receive treated wastewater effluent and stormwater discharges, a similar approach was initiated in late 2009 to inform future management decisions for the ambient environment.

The goal of this project is to recruit, convene, and support a panel of scientific experts that can provide the State with recommendations for addressing CEC issues associated with recycled water applications and coastal and marine ecosystems. The panel will formulate recommendations based on state-of-the-science information. SCCWRP will then collate and synthesize these for the Water Board, CDPH, and the California Ocean Protection Council in two corresponding written reports (one for recycled water and one for ecosystems).

This is the second year of a three-year project. The first year focused on engaging the panel members in a series of meetings to introduce and address the Recycled Water Policy and ambient environment issues. The second year will focus on formulation and documentation of the Panel recommendations for the Recycled Water Policy, and continued discussions with the coastal and marine systems panel. Finally, the third year will focus on formulation and documentation of the recommendations for coastal and marine ecosystems.

Lead Investigator: Keith Maruya (keithm@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: The panel members: NOAA (Dr. Tracy Collier), University of Florida (Dr. Nancy Denslow), Colorado School of Mines (Dr. Jörg Drewes), EOA, Inc. (Dr. Adam Olivieri), UC Riverside (Dr. Daniel Schlenk), Arcadis-U.S./Boston University (Dr. Paul Anderson), Total Environmental Solutions, Inc. (Dr. Shane Snyder)

External Funding Support: State Water Resources Control Board, David & Lucile Packard Foundation

4. Sediment Quality Assessment Framework

Many chemical contaminants that enter coastal waters are deposited in sediment where they can accumulate to harmful concentrations and may adversely impact sediment-dwelling organisms, as well as fish and wildlife that consume contaminated prey. Sediments can also be a significant source of contaminants to the overlying water bodies. Thus, the assessment and management of sediment quality is an important component of many monitoring and regulatory programs. Because a number of complex processes influence the bioavailability of sediment contaminants to marine life, a multifaceted approach is needed to assess their impact on ecosystems or human and wildlife health. SCCWRP has developed tools for the assessment of three key components that influence sediment quality: sediment chemistry, sediment toxicity, and benthic macrofauna community condition. This work has resulted in the development of new approaches for the interpretation of sediment quality data.

The three projects in this section seek to provide further guidance for the State on the multifaceted framework for assessing both the direct and indirect effects of sediment contamination in marine bays and estuaries. Direct effects impact organisms living on or in the sediment. Indirect effects occur in higher level consumers of prey that contains bioaccumulated sediment contaminants.

a. Guidance for Implementation of a Sediment Quality Assessment Framework for Marine Bays

Marine bays in southern California are highly developed regions that support many uses, including recreation, commerce and shipping. These uses and their proximity to urban areas permit a wide variety of contaminant inputs, sometimes resulting in contaminated sediment. Environmental managers often need to evaluate the significance of sediment contamination as part of water quality assessments or sediment cleanup activities. Historically, those assessments have differed from project to project in which parameters were used and which thresholds were meaningful for each parameter. The State of California recently adopted sediment quality objectives (SQOs) for marine bays based largely on SCCWRP research. The SQO assessment framework integrates multiple lines of evidence (i.e., sediment chemistry, toxicity, and benthic infauna) to provide a stronger scientific foundation than only a single line of evidence would offer.

The State now faces the challenge of providing the training and guidance necessary for successful implementation of the SQO assessment framework. The goal of this project is to assist the State in developing such guidance materials.

This is the fourth year of a four-year project. The first three years focused on production of publications that provided the underlying scientific foundation for the SQOs. Several data analysis tools and workshops were also developed to provide training in use of the SQO methods. The fourth year will see continued activities to assist users of the SQO methodology, by providing additional training on assessment and stressor identification, and refinement of data analysis tools.

Lead Investigator: Steve Bay (steveb@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: State Water Resources Control Board; numerous regulated, regulatory and non-governmental organizations

External Funding Support: State Water Resources Control Board

b. Development of a Sediment Quality Assessment Framework for Estuaries

Estuaries represent the interface between marine and freshwater habitats, adding a layer of physical complexity to sediment assessments. Sediment quality assessment tools developed for marine bay habitats may not be appropriate in estuaries for many reasons, such as different biological communities, salinity differences that affect the chemical form or bioavailability of contaminants, different types of contaminants, and different methods to measure toxicity. There has also been less sediment quality monitoring of estuaries as compared to marine bays. As a result, there is currently insufficient information available to support development of assessment tools. Such tools are needed, though, because the State of California intends to develop sediment quality objectives (SQOs) for estuaries.

The goal of this project is to develop a framework for assessing sediment quality in California’s estuaries. The project consists of four major elements: 1) compiling data on estuarine sediment quality; 2) developing and calibrating methods for evaluating sediment contaminant exposure, toxicity, and benthic community alterations; 3) developing a framework for data integration and interpretation; and 4) developing guidance and tools to assist managers in conducting estuarine sediment quality assessments.

This is the sixth year of a six-year project. Previous work included the compilation of existing sediment quality data and analyses to identify the characteristics of estuarine benthic assemblages. This research also involved new surveys of sediment quality in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Delta. Research during the fifth year focused on additional data analysis and development of methods for chemistry, toxicity, and benthic community data in two estuarine habitat types: the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Delta and the mesohaline portion of San Francisco Bay. Activities during the sixth year will include potential revisions of the SQO data integration framework to accommodate the new assessment tools, and development of user guidance and journal publications that describe the technical aspects of the methods.

Lead Investigator: Steve Bay (steveb@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: State Water Resources Control Board, San Francisco Estuary Institute, numerous regulated, regulatory and non-governmental organizations

External Funding Support: State Water Resources Control Board

c. Framework to Assess Indirect Impacts from Sediment Contaminant Bioaccumulation

Sediment quality assessment tools developed to date by SCCWRP have focused on effects on organisms living in the sediment. Sediment contamination can also indirectly impact organisms that do not reside in sediments when they are exposed to sediment contamination through the food chain. Key targets for these effects are marine birds, fish, and humans. Bioaccumulation impacts to organisms consumed by humans and wildlife are often a driving factor in ecological risk assessments, especially with respect to impacts from DDTs, PCBs, and mercury. Still, the assessment of indirect effects due to sediment contamination is more complex and requires a different conceptual approach than that used to assess direct effects on benthic communities. The potential for indirect effects on an organism is influenced by several factors, including the fraction of sediment contaminants that are biologically available to prey species, the complexity of the food web, movements of the receptor organisms, food consumption rate, and species-specific variations in chemical sensitivity. No consistent framework exists among California’s environmental management agencies to assess sediment quality with respect to these indirect impacts, limiting the ability of managers to fully and fairly evaluate sediment quality data.

The goal of this project is to develop an assessment framework based on a multiple line of evidence approach for evaluating the indirect effects of sediment contamination on human health. The project consists of three major elements: 1) developing a conceptual framework for data integration and interpretation; 2) developing bioaccumulation models and other tools for data analysis; and 3) evaluating the assessment framework for various case scenarios that represent a range of applications.

This is the fifth year of a six-year project. The development of a work plan and draft conceptual approach for the project, establishment of advisory and steering committees, and examination of case studies were conducted during the first three years. The fourth year focused on development of data analysis tools and evaluation of the framework and tools within selected scenarios. Research during the fifth year will include refinement of data analysis tools in response to external review, and preparation of guidance documents and journal publications that provide a technical foundation for the assessment methods.

Lead Investigator: Steve Bay (steveb@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: State Water Resources Control Board, San Francisco Estuary Institute (Ben Greenfield), numerous regulated, regulatory and non-governmental organizations

External Funding Support: State Water Resources Control Board

B. NUTRIENTS

Nutrient over-enrichment is one of the leading causes of impairment to water bodies in the United States. Excessive nutrient loading causes eutrophication, which is an increase in the production of organic matter in the form of algae and aquatic plants. The direct effects of eutrophication may include harmful algal blooms, a decrease in aquatic species diversity, hypoxia (low dissolved oxygen levels), poor aesthetics, odor, altered food webs, and loss of critical habitat. In coastal areas, the upstream ecological changes caused by nutrient enrichment can have far-reaching consequences downstream, such as lowered fishery production, loss or degradation of seagrass and kelp beds, smothering of benthic organisms, nuisance odors, and impacts on human and marine mammal health. Though eutrophication may create significant economic and social costs, the extent and magnitude of eutrophication has not been well characterized in southern California aquatic ecosystems. Data gaps exist with respect to identification and estimation of nutrient loads from various sources. Unlike most contaminants that transform slowly, nutrients are dynamic, changing forms rapidly and transferring among media (e.g., sediments, water, air) with numerous mechanisms for active biological uptake and release. In addition, the factors that control the biological response to high nutrient loads are not well understood.

SCCWRP has developed a research agenda that addresses these data gaps by studying nutrient sources, transport, transformations, and biological responses, as well as developing assessment tools and models to improve eutrophication management. Studies on the extent of eutrophication and its causal factors will help define critical pathways that regulators can use for controlling nutrient-related impacts. Ultimately, this research should aid policy-makers in developing critical nutrient threshold levels for restoring and maintaining healthy ecosystems.

This portion of the Research Plan features five projects of two general types. The first and second projects conduct research that addresses regulatory nutrient criteria. The remaining three projects track nutrient sources, utilizing natural radioisotopes, atmospheric deposition measurements, and analysis of the sediment-water interface.

a. Technical Support for Nutrient Numeric Endpoints in California Estuaries

In 2007, the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), EPA Region IX, and SCCWRP adopted a technical approach and framework for developing numeric nutrient endpoints (NNEs) for California estuaries. Their approach is based on two fundamental principles: 1) biological response indicators provide a more direct risk-based linkage to beneficial uses than nutrient concentrations alone; and 2) a weight of evidence approach with multiple indicators will produce NNEs with greater scientific validity. Current candidate indicators for numeric endpoints include dissolved oxygen, a range of primary producer variables, such as macroalgal and microalgal biomass, nuisance submerged aquatic vegetation, toxin-forming harmful algal blooms, and general indicators such as water clarity, poor aesthetics and/or odors. While the conceptual approach provides a sound platform for developing NNEs, there are several data gaps that need to be filled before NNEs become a reality. Most importantly, scientists need to define the linkage among nutrient loading, primary production, and impacts to the management endpoints of concern. Without the knowledge of linkages among the major stressor-response components of estuaries at risk for eutrophication, it is impossible to develop the predictive tools necessary to manage and regulate water quality.

The goal of this project is to address the data gaps that preclude a better understanding of nutrient loading and biogeochemical cycling, as well as primary producer extent and distribution in California estuaries. This research will: 1) support the development of consistent statewide standards; 2) provide clear linkages between science-based criteria and impacted estuarine beneficial uses; and 3) provide regionally-specific data for better-performing models to help manage eutrophication.

This is the third year of a four-year study. The first year focused on creating technical teams, initiating stakeholder advisory groups, reviewing the conceptual framework and work plan, and developing detailed study plans to guide technical support activities, including support of the Bight ‘08 Eutrophication Assessment. Year two focused on identifying a target population of estuaries, proposing a classification scheme, conceptual model development, and conducting reviews of literature to support indicator selection. Year three will be dedicated to synthesizing information to create an assessment framework, conducting a study to quantify the impacts of macroalgae on benthic infauna, and summarizing available information (i.e., numeric endpoints for dissolved oxygen and other indicators) for the SWRCB and advisory groups to review and select.

Lead Investigator: Martha Sutula (marthas@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: State Water Resources Control Board, EPA Region IX, UC Davis (Dr. John Largier), UCLA (Dr. Peggy Fong), EPA Office of Research and Development (Dr. Naomi Dettenbeck, Dr. Jim Kaldy), 2nd Nature (Dr. Nicole Beck), Entrix Corp. (Dr. Camm Swift), San Francisco Estuary Institute (Dr. Lester McKee)

External Funding Support: State Water Resources Control Board

b. Modeling Interactions among Nutrients, Stream Algae, and Aquatic Life Use in California

Management of eutrophication requires an understanding of the factors controlling biological response to nutrient loads. For example, increased stream algal biomass is one symptom of eutrophication, which is influenced by nutrient concentrations as well as a variety of other factors, such as sunlight and herbivory. To account for these complex relationships and limit the adverse effects of eutrophication on ecosystem services, the US EPA has begun creating a Nutrient Numeric Endpoint (NNE) framework for freshwater streams. The NNE framework utilizes “benthic biomass spreadsheet tools” that relate ambient nutrient concentrations to algal biomass, while accounting for physical factors such as stream flow velocity and canopy cover. However, opportunities to validate the tool have been limited, particularly in arid regions such as southern California. In addition, no work has yet been done to explicitly explore the linkage between algal biomass and indicators of aquatic life use (e.g., community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates) and to identify “tipping points” associated with the effects of higher nutrient concentrations on algal and macroinvertebrate response.

The goals of this project are to: 1) validate spreadsheet tools using existing data sets for southern California and other regions of the State, 2) improve empirical models linking nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), algal biomass (the basis for measuring the criteria), and algal and benthic macroinvertebrate taxonomic composition (the basis for measuring aquatic life use and habitat- or biodiversity-related ecosystem services), and 3) determine under what conditions it is advisable to use dynamic empirical simulation models versus the NNE spreadsheet tools. Data will be compiled from multiple sources including targeted projects and existing regional and statewide monitoring programs. This is the first year of a three-year project. The first year will initiate discussions with stakeholders to define the workplan. Technical activities will begin in fall 2010.

Lead Investigator: Martha Sutula (marthas@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development (Dr. Naomi Dettenbeck), TetraTech Inc.

External Funding Support: County of San Diego, US Environmental Protection Agency

c. Using Stable Isotope Tracers to Identify Relative Contributions of Nutrient Sources

An important component of addressing eutrophication is identifying and tracing specific nutrient sources to impaired water bodies. In any given system, there can be multiple point and non-point sources of nutrients; nutrients may also be cycled in situ. Stable isotopes of key elements, such as 14N and 15N, show promise as a means to track nutrient sources and cycling. Different substrates (e.g., soil nitrogen, atmospheric nitrogen, chemical fertilizers, manure, and sewage) have unique isotopic signatures, much like fingerprints, that can potentially be used to identify the sources of nutrients to aquatic systems. Studies using stable isotopes to estimate relative composition of nutrients are uncommon in Southern California. TMDLs and other ongoing monitoring efforts in Rainbow Creek (located in the Santa Margarita River watershed), the Santa Margarita Estuary, the Santa Clara River Estuary, and San Elijo Lagoon provide a valuable opportunity to study relationships between nutrient sources and eutrophication and pilot the use of stable isotopes for nutrient source tracking.

The goal of this project is to identify the isotopic composition of nitrate, ammonium, and phosphate entering each of these four water bodies, and to begin tracing their sources and transformation processes. Data from this study will shed light on the utility of stable isotope geochemistry tools for nutrient source tracking and TMDL development, refinement, and implementation.

This is the second year of a three-year project. The first year, in coordination with the Bight ‘08 Estuaries and Coastal Wetlands component, developed and implemented study design, identified sites, and initiated field sampling at the three estuary sites. The second year will focus on data analysis for the three estuary sites, as well as implementing the study design and field sampling for the Rainbow Creek watershed.

Lead Investigator: Karen McLaughlin (karenm@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: UC Santa Cruz Institute of Marine Sciences (Dr. Adina Paytan)

External Funding Support: County of San Diego

d. Atmospheric Deposition of Nutrients to Coastal Watersheds

Recent data from the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) Regional Stream Monitoring Program indicated that excessive algal cover (>30%) was present at sites with predominantly undisturbed catchments, suggesting that atmospheric deposition may be a significant source of nutrients to streams in southern California. While previous SCCWRP research has shown that atmospheric deposition can be a large source of trace metals to southern California watersheds, only limited data exists on atmospheric deposition of nutrients and its contribution to water quality impairments in this region. One reason for the lack of data is that there are no standardized techniques for direct measurement of atmospheric nutrient deposition. Inferential methods, which have been frequently used in other regions, are expensive and time-consuming. Surrogate surfaces offer a simple, inexpensive method for direct measurement of atmospheric nutrient deposition, but they have not been tested in the semi-arid conditions of southern California.

The goals of this project are to: 1) develop reliable measurement techniques for atmospheric nutrient deposition in southern California’s arid environment; and 2) estimate rates of atmospheric nutrient deposition for a subset of watersheds in our region. Establishing sound measurement techniques is a first step toward characterizing and understanding the impact of atmospheric nutrient deposition on water quality. Several alternative approaches will be tested including active (i.e., pumped) samplers, passive samplers, and surrogate surfaces. The best performing (or best performing combination) of samplers will be used to make estimates of nutrient atmospheric deposition. Estimates will then be compared to other sources of nutrients in these watersheds to determine the atmosphere’s relative contribution to nutrient loading.

This is the first year of a three-year project. The first year will focus on method development and validation in order to refine sampling techniques for atmospheric nutrient deposition. Year two will initiate a sampling campaign to assess nutrient loading. Year three will focus on data analysis and reporting.

Lead Investigator: Karen McLaughlin (karenm@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: US Forest Service (Pamela Padgett), Bight ‘08 Water Quality participants

External Funding Support: County of San Diego, US Environmental Protection Agency

e. Quantifying the Role of Sediments in Nutrient Cycling in Southern California Lagoons

Southern California estuaries and lagoons are heavily influenced by their urbanized watersheds. Watershed runoff, coupled with reduced tidal influence from restricted inlets, has resulted in nutrient-related impairments in many systems, like excessive algal growth and low dissolved oxygen. Most existing management strategies focus on nutrient inputs during the growing season (i.e., summer dry weather inputs) because that is when eutrophication effects are most noticeable. Recent SCCWRP research, however, has indicated that sediments represent an important (sometimes primary) nutrient loading input during the growing season. Sediment nutrients are deposited following storm events and re-suspended during the summer, providing a continuous nutrient source for algal blooms. This two-part cycle that disconnects inputs from effects is just one example of several potential pathways that complicate management of southern California estuaries (see project Technical Support for Nutrient Numeric Endpoints in California Estuaries).

The goal of this project is to further understand the mechanisms and processes that control nutrient cycling in southern California lagoons. While previous SCCWRP research has indicated that sediment can be a particularly important pathway in some systems, differences in inputs, hydrology, and estuarine morphology preclude extrapolation to all estuaries. Ultimately, the goal is to extend this research to build dynamic computer simulation models that will link various sources of nutrients (including sediments) with algal growth, algal biomass, and dissolved oxygen within lagoons.

This is the fourth year of a four-year project. The first year focused on development of a conceptual framework to guide the collection of monitoring and special studies data. Year two focused on field sampling and data analysis. The third year focused on interpretation of data for model development. The fourth year will involved final reporting, facilitation of a stakeholder group discussion identifying important management endpoints, and technical support for model development in the Loma Alta Slough TMDL.

Lead Investigators: Martha Sutula (marthas@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: University of California Los Angeles (Dr. Peggy Fong), Louisiana State University (Dr. Jaye Cable)

External Funding Support: San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

C. SHORELINE MICROBIOLOGY

California’s beaches are among the most popular and the most extensively monitored coastal waters in the world. Each year, hundreds of millions of people visit the state’s beaches while many thousands of water quality measurements are taken to prevent exposure to pathogens. A great deal of expense goes into these monitoring efforts, but the existing system is not optimal for several reasons. First, monitoring programs typically use bacterial enumeration methods that require 24 hours to obtain results, precluding same-day warnings in the event of poor water quality. Second, standard bacterial measurement methods are unable to differentiate among sources of bacteria, including whether the sources are natural or anthropogenic. Currently in California, the predominant sources of bacteria to beaches are from diffuse nonpoint (and possibly nonhuman) sources, rather than the predominately sewage sources for which the indicators were originally developed. Because of this, standard bacterial indicators are not always well-correlated with human pathogen concentrations in receiving waters.

SCCWRP research has helped produce new candidate methods for measuring microbial water quality based on recent advances in molecular biology and immunochemistry. These may provide beach monitoring programs with tools that more accurately assess public health risk in a timely manner. New testing methods can also enable the user to track fecal bacteria back to a source organism and determine if it came from wildlife, pet waste, or a sewage spill, for example. Efforts to record extensive epidemiological information in conjunction with both older and newer water quality testing methods will provide improved insight as to the health risk associated with specific bacterial indicator levels. SCCWRP’s coordination, stakeholder training, and data management activities enable real-life application of this research.

The Shoreline Microbiology section of the Research Plan draws together studies on rapid indicator method development, beach epidemiology surveys, bacterial source tracking and source identification, and bacterial standards for shellfish harvesting areas.

a. Rapid Bacterial Indicator Development

Current growth-based methods used to enumerate indicator bacteria (i.e., multiple tube fermentation, membrane filtration, and chromogenic substrate) are too slow to effectively evaluate risk of swimmers’ exposure to waterborne pathogens. These methods require an 18-24 hour period for laboratory incubation of samples, during which time the public may be exposed to contaminated water. This time lag also makes it difficult to track sources of microbiological contamination since most sources of contamination are intermittent and last less than a day. Lacking a more rapid method, investigators are unable to follow the trail of contamination back to its origin. Rapid measurement techniques would allow for near-real time tracking of sewage spills and speed the reopening of non-contaminated beaches.

The goal of this project is to develop rapid methods that can augment or replace the existing methods for one or more types of indicator bacteria. The objective is to develop a method that will detect and quantify viable indicator organisms (or a molecular substructure of the organism) in less than two hours.

This is the third year of a four-year project. The first year included side-by-side testing of rapid methods and traditional growth-based methods for over 400 environmental samples. The second year focused on method performance testing including identification of locations, times, and substances that lead to problematic issues such as inhibition, persistence of DNA from non-living cells in the environment, or data/information transfer to beach decision-makers. This third year will support a demonstration project in which public health officials will use rapid methods on beach samples collected and run by local agencies to make same day decisions about issuing and canceling beach postings.

Lead Investigator: John Griffith (johng@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: Orange County Sanitation District (Charles McGee), Orange County Public Health Department (Joe Guzman, Larry Honeybourne), South Orange County Wastewater Authority (Ann Harley), University of North Carolina (Dr. Rachel Noble)

External Funding Support: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act via USEPA and the State Water Resources Control Board.

b. Epidemiology of Nonpoint Source Impacted Beaches

Epidemiology studies are used at beaches to determine whether swimmers are at risk of developing illnesses based on water contact recreation. Over the last 40 years, there have been roughly three dozen such studies around the world. Of these, less than half were conducted at marine beaches and virtually all were at beaches with known human fecal contamination sources. Current beach pollution in southern California, though, is predominantly associated with nonpoint sources of unknown, and at least partly nonhuman, origin. Previous epidemiology studies have demonstrated that when human point sources exist, quantifiable relationships between the frequency of illness and levels of fecal indicator bacteria (e.g., Enterococcus, total coliforms, fecal coliforms and E. coli). However, some studies have documented that relationships between fecal indicator bacteria and human pathogens are not well-correlated at beaches impacted by nonpoint sources.

The goal of this project is to conduct epidemiological studies to assess the risk of swimming-related illness following exposure to nonpoint source contaminated waters. If the risk of illness increases at nonpoint source impacted beaches, then SCCWRP will examine whether traditional fecal indicator bacteria are predictive of illness. Finally, staff will also examine whether nontraditional methods of microbial detection, including human specific markers and pathogens, are better predictors of illness than the traditional indicator bacteria.

This is the fourth year of a five-year study. The first three years targeted data collection at three different beaches; Doheny State Beach, Malibu Surfrider Beach, and Avalon Bay. More than 4,000 sample analyses were conducted incorporating 36 different measurement methods across 24 different laboratories. In addition, over 24,000 beachgoers were recruited into the study to quantify the frequency of health effects in the swimming population. The fourth and fifth years will focus on data analysis and reporting. Based on all of the data collected, more than 175,000 different indicator-swimmer combinations exist and this extensive data set requires careful interpretation before conclusions can be reached. The findings of this study will be presented to both the US EPA and the State of California for use in the development of new beach water quality standards.

Lead Investigator: Ken Schiff (kens@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: University of California Berkeley (Dr. Jack Colford), the Orange County Sanitation District (Charles McGee), Heal the Bay (Dr. Mark Gold)

External Funding Support: US Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute of Health, State Water Resources Control Board, Cooperative Institute of Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology, City of Dana Point, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works

c. Bacterial Source Tracking

The State of California initiated the Clean Beaches Initiative (CBI) Grant Program in 2001, aimed at protecting and restoring coastal beach water quality. The CBI has helped to improve water quality at many beaches by funding nearly $100M in management measures, such as diverting storm drains to reduce runoff flows, repairing aging sewer lines, and creating natural filtration areas. Despite these successes, a number of beaches with poor water quality remain, primarily because the source of contamination is unknown. A variety of molecular methods designed to distinguish among fecal sources have been developed over the last several years, but the last comprehensive examination of such source-tracking methods was conducted nearly a decade ago. Thus, water quality managers are unsure about which methods are most reliable for their specific application, forestalling mitigation efforts.

The goal of this project is to coalesce a team of water quality experts experienced in source identification methods to create a source identification manual, implement selected protocols at several beaches of high interest to the State, and then transition source identification capabilities to local laboratories to ensure their continuing use after the project is complete.

This is the first year of a three-year study. The first year will focus on assessing which source identification methods are optimal for differentiating fecal sources, and incorporating them into a source identification protocol for the State. The second year will involve applying the protocol at a series of beaches where the State would like to invest CBI funds to accomplish improved water quality. The third year will focus on transitioning the technologies and protocols to local agencies.

Lead Investigator: John Griffith (johng@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: Stanford University (Dr. Ali Boehm), UC Santa Barbara (Dr. Jenny Jay), UC Los Angeles (Dr. Jenny Jay), Heal the Bay (Dr. Mark Gold), Orange County Sanitation District (Charles McGee)

External Funding Support: State of California Water Resources Control Board, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works

d. Shellfish Beneficial Use

Shellfish harvesting is one of the beneficial uses designated in the California Ocean Plan. The current definition of shellfish harvesting used by the Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCBs) is broad, encompassing recreational harvesting for consumption, harvesting for bait, and commercial aquaculture. The breadth of this definition reduces flexibility to apply the most appropriate water quality standards for each of these applications in specific areas. The current regulations also do not allow for exclusions to regulatory threshold exceedences caused by natural sources of contaminants at commercial or recreational shellfish harvesting areas. Without a more focused definition of the “shellfish harvesting” beneficial use, management efforts could be misdirected.

The purpose of this project is to collect the information necessary for the State to consider re-evaluating bacteria standards at recreational shellfish harvesting areas, based on natural reference conditions. The objectives are to: 1) identify commercial and recreational shellfish harvesting areas on the coast and in enclosed bays/estuaries of California; and 2) characterize the frequency of shellfish harvesting water quality exceedences at reference beaches.

This is the third year of a three-year study. Tasks in this year will include identifying currently used and historical shellfish beds, as well as providing refinements to the analyses requested by the State.

Lead Investigator: Steve Weisberg (stevew@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: None at this time

External Funding Support: State Water Resources Control Board

D. STORMWATER / HYDROMODIFICATION

Watershed development can alter the quantity and quality of surface runoff. Because watershed development results in more paved impervious area, rainfall runs off rather than soaking into the more natural, pervious ground cover. As a result, the watershed will experience increased runoff volume and higher peak flows in adjacent rivers and creeks, often in a shorter amount of time. This process of change to the water cycle is termed hydromodification. In streams, the increased flows associated with hydromodification can cause stream bank erosion, alteration of aquatic habitats, and impacts to biota. To make matters worse, watershed development often introduces a greater number of pollutant sources, which are transported more directly into receiving waters via impervious drainage systems, without filtration by soils or natural wetland systems.

Natural changes to the watershed can also alter runoff quantity and quality. Changes in climate cycles or episodic events such as wildfires can dramatically affect runoff volume and composition. This represents an enormous challenge to stormwater managers who must distinguish the natural from anthropogenic alterations before effective improvements to the system can be implemented. The goal of SCCWRP’s stormwater research program is to enhance understanding of the natural versus anthropogenic processes associated with stormwater runoff, and to develop tools that can be used by managers to guide decisions about effective stormwater management.

This year’s Research Plan covers two general areas of emphasis for stormwater. The first three projects examine stormwater physical/chemical processes, including particle transport and deposition, wildfires, and hydromodification. The last two projects examine the potential biological effects of changes related to hydromodification or water toxicity.

a. Dynamics and Partitioning of Stormwater Particles

Stormwater is known to contain high levels of several contaminants of concern, including metals and organic compounds. Most of these constituents are preferentially associated with specific particle size fractions. Moreover, particle density and size distribution can change dramatically over the course of a storm. The dynamics of metal and organic contaminants associated with various particle sizes over the course of a storm have not been well described in southern California or elsewhere. Such information would allow managers to link particle-associated contaminant sources to estuaries, where they may settle out and degrade sediment quality. It also promotes development of watershed models that accurately predict particle loading and associated contaminants for use in BMP design.

The objective of this project is to characterize the particle size distribution within stormwater discharge and to quantify the differential partitioning of pollutants of concern to various particle size fractions.

This is the fourth year of a four-year project. During the first year, SCCWRP scientists focused on developing and testing methods for continuous quantification of particle size distributions in stormwater. During the second year, the method was finalized and field-validated. During the third year, the methods were applied to begin evaluating stormwater particle dynamics and pollutant partitioning to specific particle size fractions. This effort will conclude this year with additional field sampling and analysis.

Lead Investigator: Eric Stein (erics@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: Loyola Marymount University (Dr. John Dorsey), California State University Long Beach (Richard Gossett)

External Funding Support: State Coastal Conservancy

b. Effects of Regionwide Fires on Deposition, Runoff, and Emissions to the SCB

Fire is a natural component of Mediterranean ecosystems, such as those found in southern California. Due to loss of plant cover, severe burns have been shown to increase runoff and sediment generation to downstream areas. Constituents associated with the increased runoff have the potential to affect water quality in downstream receiving waters and the near-shore coastal environment. This may be especially problematic for streams that are already impaired. Most research on post-fire water quality has focused on nutrient and sediment enrichment in relatively natural areas. However, post-fire runoff also has the potential to increase loadings of carbon, organic compounds such as PAHs, and trace metals. Constituent loadings may occur by several mechanisms over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Potential loading mechanisms include direct runoff, debris flows, or atmospheric deposition of ash followed by storm runoff. Investigating the magnitude and duration of fire effects in downstream and/or adjacent watersheds is critical to accounting for its influence on cumulative water quality impacts and attaining water quality standards.

This goal of this project is to investigate the fate of water quality constituents resulting from southern California wildfires in order to quantify the effects of post-fire runoff on downstream metals and organic constituent concentrations and loads. Both direct effects of runoff from burn areas and indirect effects associated with ash fallout will be investigated as part of this project.

This is the fourth year of an ongoing project. The first year focused on monitoring of burned and unburned watersheds to begin assessing the relative contribution of post-fire runoff to downstream constituent loading. During the second year, a workshop was convened to synthesize the science on contaminant loading associated with fires, and to develop a regional post-fire water quality response plan. During the third year, researchers collected stormwater runoff samples from the Station Fire burn area in Los Angeles County. This year’s work will begin with bioassessment of burned and unburned (control areas). Additional stormwater sampling in burn areas may occur depending on what transpires during the 2010 burn season.

Lead Investigator: Eric Stein (erics@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition, UCLA (Dr. Terri Hogue)

External Funding Support: Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, National Science Foundation (through a grant to UCLA)

c. Assessment and Management of Hydromodification Effects

The process of urbanization has the potential to affect stream courses by altering watershed hydrology. Development and redevelopment can increase the amount of impervious surfaces on formerly undeveloped landscapes. This reduces the capacity of the remaining pervious surfaces to capture and infiltrate rainfall so that, as a result, a larger percentage of rainfall becomes runoff during any given storm. In addition, runoff reaches the stream channel much more efficiently, so peak discharge rates post-development are higher compared to pre-development for an equivalent rainfall event. This phenomenon is termed hydromodification.

The goal of this project is to develop a series of tools supporting implementation of hydromodification management measures that could be used to better protect the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of streams and their associated beneficial uses. This project will provide tools to answer the following questions: 1) which streams are at the greatest risk of hydromodification effects?, 2) what are the anticipated effects in terms of increased erosion, sedimentation, or habitat loss with increases in impervious cover?, and 3) what are some potential management measures that could be implemented to offset hydromodification effects and how effective are they likely to be?

This is the fifth year of a five-year project. The first two years focused on collection of geomorphic data from a range of stream sites. During the third and fourth years, screening tools were developed to rank the relative susceptibility of streams to hydromodification effects. During the fourth year, we initiated development of predictive model-based tools to assess expected stream channel response to hydromodification and development of a framework for regional monitoring and assessment of hydromodification management efforts. These efforts will conclude during the upcoming year.

Lead Investigator: Eric Stein (erics@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: Colorado State University (Dr. Brian Bledsoe), Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition, Stillwater Sciences (Dr. Derek Booth)

External Funding Support: State Water Resources Control Board, County of San Diego

d. Effect of Hydromodification on Beneficial Uses

Hydromodification can result in degradation of streams and associated loss of beneficial uses. The physical effects of hydromodification (e.g., channel incision and widening) have been well documented (see project Assessment and Management of Hydromodification Effects), but the effect of hydromodification on beneficial uses (i.e., biota) has received less attention. Ultimately, physical habitat alterations can affect beneficial uses as much, or more than, water quality. These physical alterations may be particularly pronounced for direct hydromodification effects that include in-stream structures such as bank armoring or drop structures. Finally, using well-established biologically-based assessment tools may provide the nexus to previously evaluated management targets.

The goal of this project is to explore potential biological metrics that can be used to measure the direct impact of hydromodification on beneficial uses. The project consists of three tasks: 1) inventory of channel modifications in the Los Angeles Region; 2) assessment of biological condition at study sites experiencing direct hydromodification; and 3) a restoration case study to determine if the biological metrics identified under Task 2 respond to stream restoration actions.

This is the first year of a one-year project. Site selection, sample collection, and analysis will all take place over the course of this year.

Lead Investigator: Eric Stein (erics@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: UC Berkeley (Dr. Matt Kondolf), CSU Stanislaus (Dr. Matt Cover), CSU Northridge (Drs. Shawna Dark and James Hayes), UCLA (Dr. Richard Ambrose)

External Funding Support: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding via USEPA and the State Water Resources Control Board

e. Stormwater Toxicity Implementation Guidance

Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) tests are used to monitor the aggregate effects of toxicants through the exposure of sensitive aquatic organisms to discharges or receiving waters. These tests estimate the potential effects of discharge on the survival, growth and reproduction of endemic species and are used to determine compliance with the toxicity objectives established in California’s Regional Water Quality Control Plans (Basin Plans). The State Water Resources Control Board is currently revising the toxicity control provisions established in the Policy for Implementation of Toxics Standards for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries of California. The proposed changes include standardization of WET provisions for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permittees and other applicable dischargers. Implementation of the new toxicity control provisions will require several types of technical support, such as adaptation of data analysis methods to west coast test species. While much of this technical support has been focused on point source discharges, greater information needs are necessary for regulated stormwater discharges.

The goal of this project is to assist the SWRCB in developing training and technical guidance materials to support implementation of the revised WET policy. The project includes three main objectives: 1) obtain test performance data for WET species; 2) develop implementation guidance for application to stormwater discharge permits; 3) provide implementation support including technical review of documents and training on new methods. The largest of these is the implementation guidance for stormwater discharge permits.

This is the first year of a one-year project. The first year will include compilation of California test species data to support data analysis and method refinement. SCCWRP will assist SWRCB and Stormwater Dischargers with crafting suitable monitoring and reporting guidelines. Document review and training assistance will also be provided as needed.

Lead Investigator: Steve Bay (steveb@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition

External Funding Support: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding via USEPA and the State Water Resources Control Board

E. BIOASSESSMENT

Biological assessment or “bioassessment” measures the health of an ecosystem by examining the organisms that live within it. Unlike chemical monitoring that only predicts biological effects, biological communities provide a direct measure of the health of the local environment. Although more complex to interpret, biological monitoring yields richer data than monitoring chemical or physical parameters alone. Unlike static chemical monitoring, biological organisms integrate exposure over time and respond to cumulative stressors. Moreover, organism assemblages typically have differential sensitivity to stressors, enabling early detection of potential degradation.

SCCWRP research in this area is based largely on developing assessment tools for interpreting biological monitoring data. These assessment tools take complex biological community data and simplify them into a single index or number that describes environmental health. When placed on a scale of 1 to 100, with thresholds that describe impact to the biological community, these assessment tools prove to be very effective for communicating risk to managers and the public. SCCWRP has developed marine benthic indices appropriate to southern California, and has worked to correlate these with indices used along the rest of the west coast, the Atlantic and gulf coasts, and even Europe. If sufficiently vetted and tested, biological assessment tools (often in combination with other measures) can provide a technical foundation for establishment of regulatory biological criteria or “biocriteria”.

This section of the SCCWRP Research Plan features projects to develop or improve bioassessment tools and provide guidance for adoption of regulatory biocriteria. There are five projects that are divided into two groups based on freshwater or marine habitat.

1. Freshwater

In southern California, SCCWRP coordinates many collaborative regional monitoring programs. These historically initiated in marine environments, but now encompass freshwater streams as well. SCCWRP scientists have also been involved in several statewide and national efforts to monitor water quality in streams, rivers, and freshwater wetlands. Availability of bioassessment tools that accurately assess local conditions is vital to the success of those efforts. Biological communities may differ significantly, and thus require adaptation, in different parts of the country or regions of the state. Correctly gauging the health of freshwater ecosystems is an essential step in ensuring that they are able to meet their designated uses, including maintenance of biological integrity.

The first project in this section provides technical support for the State’s effort to establish freshwater biological objectives in California. The second aims to develop a new assessment tool that can judge the degree of anthropogenic disturbance in streams based on periphyton (benthic algae and diatom) communities. The third is targeted at refining bioassessment tools in nonperennial streams that, although extensive in southern California, are presently unmonitored.

a. Developing a Technical Foundation for Freshwater Biological Objectives

California’s streams are regulated through a variety of programs across multiple State and Federal agencies. A common element of every program is the need for objective assessment endpoints that can be used to gauge success or compliance. Direct measures of biological condition are increasingly preferred as assessment endpoints because they are more closely linked to the beneficial uses or functions that are the focus of protection and management. In contrast, chemistry- or toxicity-based assessment endpoints require inferences about their relationship with the ecological integrity of natural systems. Biological indicators have the added advantage of integrating condition over space and time, thus providing a more comprehensive assessment than traditional indicators.

The goal of this project is to develop the technical foundation for biologically-based thresholds or bio-objectives. The technical foundation will require at least five tasks before bio-objectives can be created. These tasks include creating maps of the stream and wetland resources that currently exist, identifying and quantifying reference condition, creating or enhancing biological assessment tools such as indices of biological integrity (IBI), defining a stressor gradient to identify biological expectations for the mapped resources, and setting thresholds of concern for biological condition. This project will begin by focusing on biological objectives for California’s perennial wadeable streams and their associated riverine/riparian wetlands. Similarly, the project will initially focus on benthic macroinvertebrates (BMI) and the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) since data for BMIs and CRAM currently exist for much of the state. Ultimately, the project will develop an approach for integrating multiple biological indicators like benthic algae and physical habitat assessment.

This is the first year of a five-year project. The first year will focus on developing a detailed study approach and initial data collection.

Lead Investigators: Ken Schiff (kens@sccwrp.org) and Eric Stein (erics@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: California Department of Fish and Game (Dr. Pete Ode), State Water Resources Control Board, Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition, California Coastal Commission (Ross Clark)

External Funding Support: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding via USEPA and the State Water Resources Control Board

b. Development of a Periphyton Bioassessment Tool for Southern California Streams

As primary producers, algae occupy the base of aquatic ecosystem food webs and are therefore a crucial component of healthy, highly functional streams. There are many factors that control algal growth, distribution, and community composition, such as exposure to light, water temperature, current speed, water chemistry, presence of grazers, substrate types, and channel morphology. Therefore, changes to a multitude of anthropogenic and natural factors can affect streams, as mediated through algae. Many southern California streams exhibit modified hydrology, are channelized, and are devoid of natural canopy. Such factors can contribute to excessive algal growth that, in turn, may impact many beneficial uses. Because of complex factors that influence algal growth in the variety of stream types and environmental conditions in California, causal relationships among these factors are not fully understood. An enhanced knowledge of stream algal dynamics can help with developing the tools necessary to determine when algal communities transition from their role as important components of a healthy ecosystem to that of a threat to beneficial uses.

The goal of this project is to produce tools utilizing benthic soft-bodied algae and diatom (collectively called “periphyton”) assemblages for bioassessment of stream condition, anthropogenic disturbance, and nutrient impairment. This will be accomplished by: 1) compiling a data set of algal assemblage, water chemistry, physical habitat, and landscape parameters for southern California coastal streams across condition gradients; and 2) using this dataset to develop a Periphyton Index of Biotic Integrity (PIBI). Ultimately, the PIBI will be transferred to managers and practitioners through release of the user support materials, training workshops, and demonstration of its application in a watershed survey.

This is the third year of a three-year project. The first and second years were focused on developing protocols for periphyton collection, field sampling, and laboratory processing to begin creating a robust nutrient/periphyton reference dataset. In addition, during the second year, work began on developing comprehensive taxonomic resources for PIBI end-users, including a guide to regional flora of diatoms and soft-bodied algae, a georeferenced photo-library of specimens, and taxonomic keys. The third year will focus on developing and screening candidate metrics and testing combinations into a draft PIBI.

Lead Investigator: Betty Fetscher (bettyf@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: University of Colorado (Dr. Patrick Kociolek), California State Universities at San Marcos (Dr. Robert Sheath) and Monterey Bay (Dr. Marc Los Huertos)

External Funding Support: State Water Resources Control Board

c. Non-perennial Stream Bioassessment

Non-perennial streams in southern California that do not have year-round flow are often overlooked as a beneficial use resource, even though they make up two-thirds of the stream miles throughout southern California. Moreover, assessment tools to determine if biological communities are healthy or impaired have been developed almost exclusively in perennial streams; their applicability in non-perennial streams has not been calibrated or validated.

The goal of this project is to adapt bioassessment techniques to non-perennial stream conditions. This will require overcoming several barriers, including identifying the locations of non-perennial streams, quantifying successional changes in the benthic Macroinvertebrate (BMI) fauna in non-perennial streams, documenting the performance of existing bioassessment tools (IBIs and OE models) in non-perennial streams, and determining whether there are anthropogenic stressors specific to intermittent streams over the yearly cycle of flooding and drying. Ultimately, an attempt will be made to identify the factors, such as critical flow conditions, that most influence BMI communities in non-perennial streams.

This is the fourth year of a four-year study. The first year focused on mapping non-perennial stream reaches and saw a GIS map produced. The second and third years involved intensive temporal sampling of non-perennial stream reaches beginning at the conclusion of the wet season and continuing into the summer drying cycle. Tasks in the fourth year will include data analysis, assessment tool evaluation, and reporting.

Lead Investigator: Raphael Mazor (raphaelm@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: California Department of Fish and Game (Dr. Pete Ode), Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition

External Funding Support: San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board

2. Marine

Benthic (bottom-dwelling) invertebrates are often used to assess sediment quality because they live in sediments and adapt to site-specific conditions. Interpreting impacts to benthic infaunal assemblages is challenging because of the biological community complexity: hundreds of species and tens of thousands of individuals can be found in one square meter of ocean floor. Benthic indices that interpret these data can be used by managers to prioritize impacted sites, track trends over time, or correlate benthic biological responses with data about stressors, such as chemical contaminant concentrations.

SCCWRP has long been involved in efforts to develop appropriate benthic indices for marine sediments and interpretive tools that aid managers in understanding site comparisons. Traditional benthic assessment methods, though, have several drawbacks including the degree of time, cost, and expertise needed to accurately process samples. SCCWRP’s recent efforts involve emerging techniques that may allow a more rapid and cost-efficient assessment to be applied in select instances of marine monitoring. These studies aim to supplement the suite of tools available to environmental managers, rather than provide a “one size fits all” approach.

The first project in this section aims to improve and expand on our current set of assessment tools for benthic infauna communities. The two remaining projects aim to develop innovative techniques for sediment quality assessment through photographic or genetic analysis of benthic communities.

a. Development of Benthic Macrofauna as Indicators for Sediment Quality Assessment

Benthic indices remove much of the complexity associated with data interpretation by communicating complex biological information to environmental managers and the public using a single number that ranks sites on a scale from “good” to “bad”. The benthic index value can be used by managers to prioritize impacted sites, track trends over time or correlate benthic biological responses with stressor data. Unfortunately, benthic indices have only been developed for a subset of marine habitats, inhibiting application to large spatial scale assessments. Furthermore, where they have been developed for different habitats, few studies have calibrated multiple indices against each other to ensure that index scores across habitats indicate similar levels of impact.

The goal of this project is to develop intercalibrated marine and estuarine benthic indices for multiple habitats. The development of intercalibrated benthic indices will be accomplished through three tasks: 1) compile new and existing data with synoptic benthic infaunal and environmental data; 2) evaluate traditional and novel benthic index approaches for use in California bays and estuaries; and 3) assist the EPA with evaluating traditional and novel benthic index approaches for use in west coast bays and estuaries.

This is the third year of a three-year study. The first year focused on assembling data and evaluating benthic indices. The second year focused on defining habitat-related benthic assemblages and the third year will focus on intercalibrating benthic indices for the habitat-related benthic assemblages.

Lead Investigator: Ananda Ranasinghe (anandar@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: US Environmental Protection Agency Pacific Coast Ecology Branch (Dr. Henry Lee, Dr. Melanie Frazier), USGS Pacific Coast Ecosystem Information System (Deborah Reusser), State of Washington Department of Ecology (Margaret Dutch)

External Funding Support: US Environmental Protection Agency, State of Washington Department of Ecology

b. Sediment Profile Imaging for Evaluating Benthic Community Condition

Traditional measures of benthic infauna involve identifying and counting organisms, which is time-consuming and labor intensive. The goal of this project is to investigate an alternate method of measuring benthic community condition: sediment profile imagery (SPI). The SPI is a field-deployed digital camera that captures cross-sectional images of soft-bottom environments. These images reveal important benthic morphology such as burrows, tubes of infaunal organisms, and the redox potential discontinuity.

This is the third year of a four-year study. The first year focused on data collection. Side-by-side comparisons between SPI and traditional benthic assessments were taken at 74 sites in Los Angeles Harbor, Long Beach Harbor, and San Diego Bay in coordination with the Bight ‘08 Regional Marine Monitoring Program. To assess the ability of SPI to track known gradients of impact, images were also collected at 39 sites near the mouth of Chollas Creek, an urban watershed in San Diego Bay that is the subject of contaminated sediment TMDL. During the second and third years, the images will be processed and the infaunal samples will be identified. The fourth year will focus on evaluating SPI performance.

Lead Investigator: Ananda Ranasinghe (anandar@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development (Giancarlo Cicchetti), Bight ‘08 participating laboratories

External Funding Support: None at this time

c. DNA Barcoding for Assessing Benthic Infauna Communities

Assemblages of benthic species are used to assess environmental conditions. However, traditional methods for identifying and counting benthic infauna as indicators of sediment quality can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. This project addresses that challenge by examining a new molecular tool for rapidly identifying species within benthic community assemblages. DNA barcoding espouses the idea that all biological species can be identified using a short gene sequence from a standardized position in the genome – a “DNA barcode” – analogous to the black stripes of the Universal Product Code used to distinguish commercial products. The first step to barcoding is building a library of sequences from known reference specimens. After that, unknown specimens can be identified by ‘looking up’ their sequences in the reference library. Thus, building a library of benthic invertebrate species barcodes may enable rapid assessment of the species composition for benthic infauna samples, which can be interpreted to correspond with other benthic indices. Additionally, examination of barcode data could reveal instances where a reassessment of a morphologically-defined species is warranted, thus helping to clarify the catalog of benthic marine invertebrate species taxonomy for southern California.

The goal of our DNA barcoding project is to assess the efficacy of barcoding for rapidly identifying benthic invertebrate species in samples from the Southern California Bight. The project will involve three steps: 1) establish a DNA barcode reference library of voucher reference specimens that have been identified using traditional taxonomic methods and have also been genetically sequenced to identify their unique genetic barcode; 2) develop protocols for sample processing, including suitable fixatives that do not degrade genetic material; and 3) determine how to correlate barcode data with quantitative environmental indices.

This is the second year of a three-year study. During the first year, partnerships were established with the Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding and the USEPA to perform barcoding molecular analyses on voucher specimens provided by SCCWRP. Protocols were developed for sample collection, voucher specimen handling, molecular analysis, and data recording in the Barcode of Life Database. During the second year we will focus on establishing the barcode reference library for benthic marine invertebrate species in the SCB.

Lead Investigator: Peter Miller (peterm@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: US Environmental Protection Agency (Dr. Erik Pilgrim), Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding, SCCWRP Member Agencies

External Funding Support: None at this time

F. REGIONAL MONITORING

A variety of environmental agencies and stakeholder groups in southern California collectively spend over $30 million annually to assess the status of streams, estuaries, beaches, and marine environments in southern California. Approximately three-quarters of this amount are spent by regulated parties to comply with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. However, the NPDES program focuses on monitoring near permitted discharges, leading to a lack of spatial coverage and regional data integration. Thus, less than 7% of the southern California marine environment is actually monitored through that mechanism on an ongoing basis. A complete monitoring approach for southern California must encompass not only compliance, but also regional and investigative monitoring.

Conducting large-scale regional assessments has many benefits to regulatory and regulated agencies alike. Regulated agencies benefit by gaining a regional perspective. Rather than making comparisons to a small number of control sites that may or may not be similar to their discharge site, they are able to compare local results to the entire breadth of natural variability inherent to the ecosystem, also known as the regional reference condition. Regulatory agencies benefit by being able to compare the relative impacts of various dischargers and assess the effects of cumulative emissions. These types of comparisons allow regulators to target resources where management actions are most needed.

Since the 1990s, SCCWRP’s regional monitoring research has centered on the Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program, and it accordingly forms the first component of this section. The next components are related to freshwater and wetland regional assessments. Another of SCCWRP’s major research foci, monitoring design, is discussed in the last component.

1. Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program

Regional marine monitoring programs have been a focal point of SCCWRP’s activities since the 1970s. Originating with the 60-m survey conducted in 1977, then the reference surveys of the 1980s, and finally the Bight Pilot Project in 1994, SCCWRP has committed to understanding large-scale impacts to the ocean environment. SCCWRP currently coordinates a bi-decadal Bight Regional Monitoring Program that, in total, involves nearly 100 different stakeholder organizations. The Bight programs have been especially useful in establishing regional reference conditions, developing new environmental assessment tools, and standardizing data collection approaches in southern California.

This section of the Research Plan describes the six components of the 2008 Regional Monitoring Program (Bight ‘08). Three of them, Coastal Ecology, Offshore Water Quality, and Shoreline Microbiology, were also a part of past Bight Programs. The other three, Rocky Subtidal Habitat, Areas of Special Biological Significance, and Estuaries and Coastal Wetlands, were added in 2008.

a. Bight ‘08 Coastal Ecology

Bight ‘08 is an integrated and collaborative regional monitoring program that follows a line of regional monitoring programs taking place approximately every five years since 1994. Bight ‘08 is conducted by a consortium of 65 local organizations working together, each contributing a small part toward a condition assessment of the whole southern California Bight (SCB). In this way, no single agency controls the fate of the program, but instead it is fed by interaction and communication. The result is a regional program that has widespread appeal, serves the needs of local agencies, and delivers information directly to managers for improved decision making.

The Coastal Ecology portion of Bight ‘08 addresses three primary questions: 1) what are the extent and magnitude of impacts in the SCB (and how does this impact vary by habitat)? 2) what are the trends in SCB environmental condition? and 3) what are the levels of contaminants in organisms that may be harvested for seafood? These questions are addressed by measuring numerous indicators of environmental condition (e.g., habitat quality, sediment contamination, toxicity, infaunal communities, fish communities) at nearly 400 sites spread across 13 different habitats ranging from estuaries to the deep ocean basins.

This is the fourth year of a five-year study. The first year was spent planning and conducting QA exercises to ensure data comparability among participating agencies. The second and third years were spent sampling and conducting laboratory analyses. The fourth and fifth years will be spent analyzing data, making Bight-wide assessments, and completing reports.

Lead Investigator: Ken Schiff (kens@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: 65 participating organizations

b. Bight ‘08 Offshore Water Quality

The Offshore Water Quality component of the Southern California Bight (SCB) Regional Monitoring Program focuses on assessing the condition of waters in the coastal ocean. This was one of the original elements of the Bight Regional Monitoring Program, initially implemented as part of the 1994 Pilot Project. The Pilot Project led to formation of the Central Bight Water Quality group, a collection of four large wastewater treatment agencies that now coordinate conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) surveys between Ventura and Orange Counties on a quarterly basis. SCCWRP’s Bight Regional Monitoring Program, conducted once every five years, builds from this existing collaboration by bringing in new partners, and expanding the variety of parameters measured and questions addressed. New components of this year’s investigation are nutrient source characterization and harmful algal blooms (HABs). HABs are a potentially serious consequence of nutrient over-enrichment in the coastal ocean, which can cause water column hypoxia, fish kills, or release of planktonic neurotoxins like domoic acid.

The overall goals of this study are to: 1) quantify the major nutrient sources to the Southern California Bight; and 2) characterize the extent, magnitude, and ecological characteristics of algal blooms, with an emphasis on HABs. It will involve three primary tasks: 1) establishing the relative nutrient contributions (nitrogen, phosphorus, silica) of four major sources to the SCB (upwelling, POTW discharge, atmospheric deposition, terrestrial coastal runoff) and estimating anthropogenic versus natural nutrient loading to the SCB; 2) characterizing the spatial and temporal patterns of algal blooms, as well as the effects of these blooms, with an emphasis on HABs and specifically Pseudo-nitzschia and domoic acid; and (3) identifying the specific water quality conditions associated with bloom events. Nutrient loading data will be used to assess the timing and magnitude of nutrient delivery to the coastal ocean relative to remotely-sensed and field observations of algal blooms. Ultimately, these relationships will help to discern the mechanisms and conditions that lead to both nearshore and offshore algal blooms and HABs.

This is the fourth year of a five-year study. The first year was spent planning and conducting QA exercises to ensure data comparability among participating agencies. The second through fourth years will involve sampling and conducting laboratory analyses. The fifth year will be spent analyzing data, making Bight-wide assessments, and completing reports.

Lead Investigator: Meredith Howard (meredithh@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: 24 participating organizations

c. Bight ‘08 Shoreline Microbiology

Previous regional surveys found that 95% of southern California beaches meet the State’s quality standards for water contact recreation. The remaining 5% are mostly located near urban runoff outlets. Several studies have suggested that some of the indicator bacteria emanating from these outlets may come from re-growth within the drain systems, rather than human fecal sources.

The goal of the Bight ‘08 Shoreline Microbiology Component is to identify the principal sources of fecal indicator bacteria at chronically problematic beaches in the Southern California Bight. The first task will be to determine what percentage of chronically problematic beaches has human sources of fecal indicator bacteria. At those beaches without human sources, the second task will be to identify the non-human sources of fecal indicator bacteria. Non-human sources may include sloughing of storm drain biofilms, or re-growth on beach wrack, beach sand, or sediment. These sources will be quantified using traditional fecal indicator bacteria, speciation of enterococcus, and new measurement technologies including those that differentiate between human and nonhuman sources of fecal contamination. Another key element in this study will be the development of new methods. This will involve developing standardized protocols for measuring fecal indicator bacteria in sand and beach wrack.

This is the fourth year of a five-year study. The first year was used to design the regional program. The second year was used for development of measurement protocols for fecal indicator bacteria in sand. The third year featured a pilot study to test the new sand protocols and to develop measurement methods for bacteria in storm drain biofilms. The fourth year will involve sampling and analysis at more than 15 different problematic beaches. The fifth year will be used for data assessment and interpretation.

Lead Investigator: John Griffith (johng@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: 18 participating organizations

d. Bight ‘08 Areas of Special Biological Significance

Areas of Special Biological Significance (ASBS) are state Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) where the discharge of waste is prohibited. There are 34 ASBS throughout the State of California; 14 are located in southern California. Nearly 1,700 outfalls have been identified in ASBS statewide that could carry waste from nonpoint sources, especially in wet weather. Since zero waste discharge is allowed to ASBS, typical regulatory limits (i.e., effluent limits) do not apply. Instead, state regulatory statute stipulates the maintenance of “natural water quality.” Maintaining this objective is challenging due to the mix of natural and anthropogenic wastes during wet weather events, compounded by the large variability in natural contributions due to changing hydrologic and geologic conditions, among other factors. Thus, little information exists on what constitutes “natural water quality” in ASBS.

The goal of this study is to answer three questions: 1) what is the range of natural water quality at reference locations? 2) how does water quality along ASBS coastlines compare to natural water quality at reference locations? and 3) how does the extent of natural quality compare among ASBS with and without discharges? The first question will produce reference thresholds, while the third question will examine the status of ASBS regionally to determine if these marine protected areas are impacted and, if so, the extent of the impact relative to non-ASBS areas.

This is the fourth year of a five-year study. The first year was used to design the regional program. The second and third years were used for sampling and analysis. Nearly 400 samples were collected by over 10 different organizations during the 2008-09 wet season. An additional two-dozen intertidal sites were quantitatively sampled for biological assemblages. The third and fourth years are being used for data analysis, assessments, and reporting.

Lead Investigator: Ken Schiff (kens@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Boards 4, 8 and 9, ASBS regulated stakeholders

e. Bight ‘08 Rocky Subtidal Habitat

Rocky habitat provides some of the SCB’s most spectacular underwater scenery. Giant forests of the kelp Macrocystis pyrifera represent some of the most productive marine habitats on earth. California’s Marine Life Protection Act calls for an interrelated regional network of Marine Protected Areas that would preserve these habitats. However, no unified maps of hard bottom habitat currently exist; nor do regional assessments of fish, invertebrate, and macro-algal densities in these habitats. Despite some intensive rocky habitat/kelp forest monitoring programs, there is little data integration among researchers.

The goal of the Bight ‘08 Rocky Habitat component is to answer three questions: 1) what is the distribution of hard bottom habitats in the SCB? 2) what is the range of natural biological conditions in these reef assemblages? and 3) how do these conditions overlay or correlate with anthropogenic factors? A reef index of health will be developed in response to the third question, as this is critical to various resource management concerns and needs.

This is the fourth year of a five-year study. The first year was used to design the regional program, and the second year was used for sampling and analysis. Fifteen organizations sampled more than 60 reefs from San Diego to Point Conception, including the Channel Islands. The third and fourth years will be used for data analysis, assessments, and reporting.

Lead Investigator: Ken Schiff (kens@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: 15 participating organizations, Occidental College (Dr. Daniel Pondella)

f. Bight ‘08 Estuaries and Coastal Wetlands

Eutrophication is the increased production of organic matter through excessive aquatic algae and plant growth, caused in part by increased nutrient loading to coastal waters. The effects of nutrient loading on estuaries and coastal waters have not been well monitored in California, with the notable exception of San Francisco Bay. California lacks consistent, statewide water quality standards to manage the effects of nutrient over-enrichment and eutrophication in estuaries. One fundamental data gap is better articulation of regional differences in biological response to nutrient loads.

The Estuaries and Coastal Wetlands portion of Bight ‘08 will address three major questions: 1) what is the extent and magnitude of eutrophication in SCB estuaries? 2) do differences exist among estuarine classes (e.g., protected embayments, perennially tidal lagoons, seasonally tidal lagoons, non-tidal lagoons, river mouth estuaries) with respect to their biological response to nutrient loads? and 3) how does muting of the tidal forcing within an estuary impact the biological response to nutrient loads? These questions will be answered through an assessment of eutrophication status at 30 sites in 25 estuaries.

This is the fourth year of a five-year study. The first year was spent planning and conducting QA exercises to ensure comparability among participating agencies. The second year was spent sampling and conducting laboratory analyses. The third and fourth years are to be spent analyzing data and completing reports.

Lead Investigator: Martha Sutula (marthas@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: 41 participating agencies

2. Regional Freshwater Assessments

Southern California’s burgeoning population imparts a large number of potential stressors to coastal watersheds, rivers, and streams. Habitat alteration, hydromodification, flood control measures, water diversion, discharge of treated wastewaters, and pollutants in urban runoff can all result in impairments to aquatic beneficial uses. There are a number of monitoring efforts to assess the health of southern California’s rivers and streams, but most of this is located near in-stream discharges where monitoring is required by NPDES permits to assess discharge effects. These programs cover only 29% of the stream miles in southern California and present a biased picture of aquatic health because the sites are located near known areas of concern. Like Bight Regional Monitoring, regional assessments of freshwater systems are valuable for assessing the spatial extent of cumulative effects, providing comparative reference values, standardizing monitoring approaches, and promoting data sharing.

This year’s Research Plan highlights SCCWRP’s main regional monitoring project for freshwater in-stream habitats. This program integrates existing monitoring efforts into a comprehensive regional program that parallels the Bight Regional Monitoring Program.

a. Regional Watershed Monitoring

In-stream bioassessment monitoring in southern California is currently conducted by over a dozen different organizations. Each of these organizations has disparate programs that vary in design, frequency, and the indicators selected for measurement. Even where designs are similar, the field techniques, laboratory methods, and quality assurance requirements are often not comparable, making cumulative assessments impossible. Another challenge is the lack of an integrated information management system that allows data sharing among programs.

The goal of this project is to implement a large-scale regional monitoring program for southern California’s coastal streams and rivers. A comprehensive monitoring plan that integrates elements of several individualized monitoring programs was designed by the southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC). The plan establishes comparability in the field and the laboratory, performance-based quality assurance guidelines, and an information management system for sharing data. This integrated regional monitoring program is collaborative, so that each participating group can assess its local geography, and then contribute a small portion to the whole regional assessment. In this way, the program can address large-scale management needs and provide answers to the public about the health of southern California’s streams and rivers.

This is the third year of a five-year study. The first year involved the development of the monitoring infrastructure including comparability and QA evaluations. The next years will focus on sampling, laboratory analysis, and assessment reports.

Lead Investigator: Ken Schiff (kens@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition, State Water Resources Control Board’s Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program, Regional Water Quality Control Boards 4, 8 and 9

External Funding Support: Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition, State Water Resources Control Board

3. Regional Wetland Assessments

Southern California’s wetland and riparian areas have experienced dramatic losses over the last two hundred years, estimated at greater than 90% of the historical extent. As a result, approximately 19 state and federal agencies, as well as many local and non-profit organizations, sponsor programs aimed at conserving and managing wetlands. Implementation and coordination of these programs, though, is complicated by lack of basic information on the extent, distribution, and condition of both historical and contemporary wetlands. Further barriers are presented by the lack of standardized mapping and assessment tools that are necessary to compile such data.

SCCWRP’s wetlands research has included efforts to map the present extent and condition of wetlands throughout California, allowing managers to both assess the degree of wetland loss or impairment and monitor future changes. Along these same lines, SCCWRP scientists have examined historical data in order to aid managers in designing effective wetland restoration strategies. Most recently, SCCWRP research has provided much of the technical foundation for emerging statewide wetland programs and policies. The current research agenda focuses on regional assessments of wetland condition, both past and present, that integrate recently developed wetland assessment tools.

The first project in this section will improve systematic monitoring of wetlands across the state. The second project focuses on southern California. The third seeks to develop a network of reference sites for targeted classes of coastal wetlands. Reference sites are often used as a component of monitoring programs, offering a valuable point of comparison to distinguish natural from anthropogenic effects. The last project seeks to gain an important historical base of reference for monitoring southern California wetlands.

a. Status and Trends in the Extent of California’s Wetlands

Billions of dollars have been invested over the last 20 years into the protection and restoration of wetlands and riparian areas in California. The effectiveness of these investments is uncertain, though, because California’s wetlands are not systematically monitored. The existing State Wetland Inventory system is inadequate for several reasons: 1) patchwork base imagery dates and resolutions, 2) inaccuracy of mapping with limited ground-truthing, and 3) cost of comprehensively mapping the state with sufficient frequency to provide an up-to-date analysis of trends. Acknowledging these difficulties, the US Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetland Inventory (NWI) adopted a probability-based survey approach to assess trends in wetland acreage on a national level. According to the new system, wetlands within a statistically sampled four square-mile grid will be mapped with remote sensing data in combination with an adequate degree of ground-truthing, in order to determine the degree of recent wetland change (presented as “status and trends (S&T) plots”). Because of improved resolution in mapping, trends in wetland change can be detected earlier. The new S&T design is currently being incorporated into the EPA’s 2011 National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA). The 2011 NWCA presents an opportunity for California to further the investment in probability-based assessments of wetland extent and condition by: 1) intensifying the number of S&T plots in California, and 2) conducting an intensification of assessment of wetland condition consistent with NWCA methodologies.

The goal of this project is to increase state capacity for implementing a probability-based approach for monitoring the status and trends in wetland extent and condition. Specific tasks include: 1) create a statewide strategy for how to monitor the extent of California wetlands, which incorporates the use of census and probability-based approaches; 2) develop a probability-based design, standard operating procedures, and costs for wetland extent S&T mapping; 3) train and inter-calibrate regional mapping center partners in mapping methods; 4) remap/reclassify existing NWI S&T plots to set up a basic California S&T system; and 5) demonstrate a probability-based assessment of wetland extent and condition. This project will provide a way for state and federal agencies to assess the net effect of their policies and programs on wetland extent.

This is the first year of the three-year project. The first year will focus on creating the statewide strategy and developing a sampling design for the S&T assessment.

Lead Investigator: Eric Stein (erics@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: California Resources Agency, California Department of Fish and Game, San Francisco Estuary Institute, California State University Northridge, US Environmental Protection Agency, and US Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory

External Funding Support: US Environmental Protection Agency

b. Regional Monitoring/Assessment Program for Southern California Wetlands

Wetland monitoring most often occurs at the project/site scale in response to regulatory or permit requirements. In any given year, hundreds of individual wetland projects may be monitored. Nevertheless, it is difficult to compile results from these projects to provide an overall regional assessment of wetland condition. The main obstacles to such an assessment have been the lack of consistent assessment tools and the lack of an integrated regional monitoring framework. In 1997, several agencies involved with wetland stewardship formed the Southern California Wetland Recovery Project (WRP) with a goal of increasing regional coordination of wetland preservation, restoration and management. The WRP (working in concert with local governments, environmental organizations, and scientists from SCCWRP and other agencies) aims to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for preserving and restoring the region’s wetlands. Over the past several years, SCCWRP and the Wetlands Recovery Project Science Advisory Panel (WRP SAP) have developed both the tools and the regional framework for wetland assessment. To date, monitoring frameworks have been completed for estuaries, coastal lagoons, and riverine wetlands. More recently, SCCWRP and other statewide partners have facilitated formation of the California Wetlands Monitoring Workgroup (CWMW). The CWMW functions as a subcommittee of the State Water Quality Monitoring Council and is focused on developing approaches and infrastructure for statewide wetland monitoring assessment and data dissemination.

The objective of this project is to work with the WRP and the CWMW to implement a regional wetland assessment program. This program will involve updating resource inventories, developing and validating landscape assessment and rapid assessment methodologies, guiding the selection of appropriate monitoring indicators, and exploring partnerships with other organizations interested in monitoring southern California wetlands.

This is an ongoing project. Activities in the current year will focus on: 1) development of standard definition, classification and mapping procedures for wetlands; 2) support and population of the State’s recently launched Wetlands Portal and wetland project tracking system (www.waterboards.ca.gov/mywaterquality/aquatic_ecosystem_health/); 3) initial development of an ambient monitoring program for depressional wetlands; and 4) development of new assessment tools for arid streams. Implementation of the riverine wetland regional monitoring program began last year as an element of the Stormwater Monitoring Coalition’s (SMC) regional assessment for wadeable streams (see Regional Watershed Monitoring); this effort will continue.

Lead Investigator: Eric Stein (erics@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: Southern California Wetland Recovery Project, California Wetlands Monitoring Workgroup

External funding support: California Coastal Conservancy, California Natural Resources Agency via the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP)

c. Development of a Statewide Network of Reference Wetlands for California

Interpretation of regional monitoring data requires context to better understand status and trends information, as well as the relationship of specific sites or projects to regional conditions. Reference sites can provide such context. Defining reference conditions provides a scientifically defensible basis upon which to measure the inherent natural variability of wetlands. Reference wetlands can also help define appropriate expectations or targets for management actions that affect wetland condition, including restoration and mitigation projects. This project represents an important first step toward the development of a wetland reference network for California, which currently does not exist.

The goals of this project are to: 1) establish a conceptual approach to the development of a statewide network of reference wetlands; and 2) to select reference sites for targeted wetland classes in selected regions (e.g., Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, Sierra bioregions) using the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM). This project will also help to establish a formal process for refinement of CRAM training and quality assurance practices via a network of regional audit teams. These audit teams will support CRAM implementation within state and federal monitoring and regulatory programs.

This is the third year of a four-year project. The first year focused on drafting a concept white paper about how a reference wetland network will be developed for California. The second year focused on initial site selection and assembling audit teams for the Central Valley and Sierra bioregions. The third year will focus on implementation of base statewide assessments with selected bioregion intensification.

Lead Investigator: Chris Solek (chriss@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: San Francisco Estuary Institute (Dr. Josh Collins), Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District (Dr. Chad Roberts), Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (Ross Clark)

External Funding Support: US Environmental Protection Agency

d. Historical Ecology of Coastal Watersheds

The overall goal of this project is to provide new understanding about baseline conditions of streams and wetlands in the Ballona Creek, Ventura River, and Santa Clara River watersheds based on information from the mid- to late-19th century through the early 20th century. This information is not readily accessible to environmental managers, scientists, and the public at present, but could answer a range of key questions about the restoration potential of each watershed, such as where to leave streams accessible to daylight, or how to lay out a landscaping palette of native vegetation for restoration projects. This project requires the acquisition, georeferencing, digitizing, and interpretation of historic coastal topographic maps (t-sheets). However, much more information is also gathered to help fill in data gaps, cross-reference facts, and make estimations for interim time periods. Specifically, information on wetland and riparian habitat is needed, especially in relation to natural events and management activities within the watershed, such as floods, fires, agriculture, channel modifications, and water diversions and impoundments.

The goals of this project are to develop a framework and infrastructure for compiling sentinel data sets on historic condition, and to use these data to evaluate how the distribution of wetlands has changed over time, specifically in response to key changes in land use or stream management. The changes to be examined include distribution of wetland and riparian habitat in the watershed during the period from 1850-1910, structure and composition of riparian habitat, riparian structure of the floodplain in wet vs. dry years, and spatial distribution of wetland and riparian vegetation community types and wildlife species.

This is the third year of an ongoing watershed historical ecology program. Previously, a historical analysis was completed for the San Gabriel River. This year will focus on the lower Ventura River, lower Santa Clara River, and Ballona Creek watersheds and on completing analysis of historical coastal survey (t-sheet maps).

Lead Investigator: Eric Stein (erics@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: San Francisco Estuary Institute (Robin Grossinger), California State University Northridge (Dr. Shauna Dark), University of Southern California (Dr. Travis Longcore), Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission (Dr. Shelley Luce), Stillwater Sciences (Dr. Peter Downs)

External Funding Support: Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission, Coastal Conservancy, US Fish and Wildlife Service

4. Monitoring Design

SCCWRP scientists have lent expertise to monitoring program design since the 1970s. Initial designs monitored the area around POTW outfalls, but these designs expanded and changed as larger regionally-focused programs came into being. SCCWRP conducted several surveys from the late 1970s to 1990 that examined transects of the Southern California Bight (SCB). As the Bight Regional Monitoring Program was developed starting in the mid-1990s, stratified random sampling designs were relied upon to extrapolate data and estimate conditions in the SCB as a whole. Monitoring designs for the Bight program have since been refined to maximize availability of meaningful data while minimizing needed effort and expense. SCCWRP’s current research agenda continues to improve upon monitoring designs to balance these goals and meet the needs of environmental managers.

This section of the Research Plan houses three projects aimed at improving monitoring designs using spatial, probabilistic, and multi-variate statistical analysis tools.

a. Spatial Sampling Designs for Mapping

Maps are useful tools for understanding the marine environment. Using maps, resource managers can quickly locate disturbances, evaluate cumulative effects resulting from multiple sources or types of disturbance, weigh risks to neighboring areas, and assess the relative magnitude and spatial extent of contamination. Perhaps most importantly, maps are an effective and efficient media for communicating information to the public. Despite these benefits, there has been little success in developing statistically-defensible maps of environmental quality and aquatic resources in coastal regions. Sparse sampling grids and simple interpolation methods may not reliably predict environmental conditions at non-sampled locations, and do not provide estimates of precision.

The goal of this project is to provide general guidelines to monitoring programs on how to capture the necessary spatial information for constructing scientifically-defensible maps of environmental impact. This project will apply the kriging method of interpolation to predict chemical and biological parameters associated with non-sampled locations. SCCWRP will also investigate practical and cost-efficient sampling strategies for augmenting existing monitoring designs, with a focus on estimating spatial correlation and building sound predictions. In particular, a variogram will be used to model spatial variability and to translate this information into cost-efficiency curves (prediction error vs. sampling density) for enhancing future surveys. Such curves will allow resource managers to weigh the relative benefit in increased accuracy from contributing additional samples to the map.

This is the fourth year of a five-year project. Previously, SCCWRP helped develop a sophisticated monitoring design, implement sampling, and apply intensive iterative analysis using robust spatial statistics surrounding San Diego’s two ocean discharge sites. Last year, a similar mapping study was initiated with the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD). The fourth and fifth years will focus on both regions in order to create statistically defensible maps of their respective continental shelf habitats. Activities will include additional sampling, variogram modeling, cost-efficiency analysis for monitoring approaches, and creation of statistically defensible maps of the continental shelf near both OCSD and San Diego’s ocean outfalls.

Lead Investigator: Kerry Ritter (kerryr@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: City of San Diego, Colorado State University (Dr. Scott Uruqhart), Orange County Sanitation District

External Funding Support: Orange County Sanitation District

b. Improving Probabilistic Surveys of Environmental Condition to Include Trend Detection

Most regulatory-based environmental monitoring programs focus on going to the same sites repeatedly over time. While this type of sampling design provides tremendous information about temporal trends, it provides little information on the condition of the area beyond those sites. Over the last 15 years, SCCWRP has led an effort to integrate probability-based survey designs into the Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Programs. Probability-based designs provide invaluable information about the spatial extent of environmental condition, such as “how many acres of marine habitat are impacted?” or “how many stream miles are impaired?” Still, they are not optimized for trend detection. The goal of this project is to create a survey design that can be used to effectively describe both spatial extent and temporal trends. This should address the needs of environmental decision-makers to detect increases (or decreases) in the magnitude of disturbance over time. While some work has been conducted to optimize spatial extent and trends in a single sampling design, this has rarely been done in southern California, particularly in marine ecosystems. This project will focus on estimating the variability between sites and sampling periods (up to 10 years), as well as the magnitude of change. This information will be used to perform a cost-efficiency analysis to optimize allocation of sampling effort.

This is the second year of a three-year project. The first and second years focused on estimating the temporal components of variability relative to the overall variability for Bight ‘08 data. In the third year, the temporal variability estimates will be used to confirm trends in spatial extent as well as optimizing different sampling allocations across time/space for assessing trends in future Bight Regional Monitoring Programs.

Lead Investigator: Kerry Ritter (kerryr@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: Bight ‘08 Regional Monitoring participants

External Funding Support: None at this time

c. Water Quality Compliance Assessment for Offshore Outfalls

Compliance with water quality objectives must be based on a standardized, scientifically-grounded approach to collecting and interpreting data. In southern California, publically owned treatment works (POTWs) that discharge treated effluent via offshore outfalls are required to assess whether their discharge results in deviation from water quality objectives as stated in California’s Ocean Plan. While the POTWs in southern California have collaborated effectively over the last thirty years to implement a regional monitoring program that provides the data necessary to make these assessments, they have not yet developed a shared approach for interpreting whether these monitoring data demonstrate compliance with the Ocean Plan. The regional monitoring program consists of extensive quarterly surveys that measure water quality parameters at more than 300 sites along fixed transects near discharges and at farfield reference areas from Oxnard to San Diego. These surveys provide depth-continuous measurements of conductivity, temperature, depth, dissolved oxygen, pH, transmissivity, and chlorophyll and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) fluorescence, collectively known as CTD+. CTD+ measurements are also coupled with static water sampling at a subset of sites for parameters not measured by the CTD sampling device (e.g., nutrients, enteric bacteria).

The goal of this project is to provide a scientific foundation for development of a shared compliance assessment framework for coastal southern California POTWs. The project consists of three tasks. The first is to determine the extent to which CTD+ parameters can be used to define the spatial extent of outfall plumes. Currently, plume extent is derived from parameters measured by static water sampling, which is costly and spatially limited. More promising methods involve continuous measurement by CTD+ casts of CDOM fluorescence in combination with other parameters. On the basis of these data, a multi-metric index will be developed and compared to traditional methods. The second task involves quantifying instrument-related variability associated with the parameters of interest. To accomplish this, field-based experiments and statistical analysis of the existing dataset will be carried out to quantify variability associated with instrument calibration, post-calibration drift, and small-scale spatial variability. The third task seeks to define “reference” conditions, in which a reference envelope will be developed in the context of spatial (e.g., cross-shelf, along-shelf, depth) and temporal (e.g., seasonal, interannual) variability.

This is the second year of a two-year project. The first year consisted of project planning and preliminary data analysis. The second year will be spent answering the proposed questions.

Lead Investigator: Nikolay Nezlin (nikolayn@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Sanitation District, Orange County Sanitation District, City of San Diego, State Water Resources Control Board

External Funding Support: None at this time

G. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

A major ongoing challenge for environmental assessments is attempting to collate and standardize various monitoring data sets. These data sets, which may be large in number, often exist in multiple forms including paper, spreadsheets, reports, and databases. Even for those datasets that are stored electronically, there are a multitude of formats for access, export, and analysis. Many of SCCWRP’s projects, such as the Bight program, have spurred the development of standardized data transfer formats that enable collation of large data sets. This and other SCCWRP projects have provided a model for successful data sharing.

This year’s Research Plan first includes data management projects that strengthen SCCWRP’s role as a regional data center in southern California. The first provides data management assistance for the State’s main ambient monitoring program. The second assists a national effort by the EPA to monitor coastal regions. The third and fourth projects focus on management of beach water quality data in California. The last project will improve accessibility of all data related to SCCWRP’s research.

a. Southern California Regional Data Center

The State of California and the US EPA are charged with evaluating the status of beneficial uses for water bodies within the State of California every three years. One important component of this assessment is the creation of the 303(d) list, or list of impaired water bodies. This assessment is also the foundation for reports to legislature on the status of water quality and success of water quality management programs. One method of obtaining data for these assessments is through the State’s Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP), one of the largest ambient monitoring data repositories in the State of California. However, this database is growing rapidly and the old centralized system cannot keep up with the demands of data users. The State is attempting to overcome these challenges through use of the California Environmental Data Exchange Network (CEDEN). CEDEN is a network of federal, state, county, and private organizations interested in the exchange and sharing of water quality and other environmental data from California. To facilitate participation by a rapidly growing number of agencies, CEDEN will be fed data via a system of distributed data centers. The Southern California Regional Data Center (SCRDC) will be housed at SCCWRP.

The overall goal of creating the distributed data center model is to improve data sharing between existing monitoring programs and CEDEN in order to effectively and efficiently provide data for assessment of water bodies statewide. Three objectives will be targeted: 1) facilitate development of the CEDEN data structures with data users and the other regional data centers; 2) recruit regional participants and load environmental data into the CEDEN system; 3) develop information tools to support CEDEN output; and 4) provide technical support to data users. Specifically, SCCWRP will offer users technical assistance with a web-based data submission tool, and will work to provide web-based access to SWAMP data by creating user-friendly queries to extract data and other information.

This is an ongoing project. In the next year, SCCWRP will collaborate with CEDEN and other Data Center partners to develop data visualization and extraction tools. In addition, staff will work on the technical task of connecting the SCRDC to the CEDEN server.

Lead Investigator: Shelly Moore (shellym@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (Rusty Fairey, Mark Pranger), State Water Resources Control Board, San Francisco Estuary Institute (Dr. John Oram, Cristina Grosso), University of California Davis (Dr. Michael Johnson, Melissa Turner), Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition, and a number of citizen-monitoring groups

External Funding Support: State Water Resources Control Board

b. National Coastal Assessment Data Management

EPA’s National Coastal Assessment is a nationwide effort to answer broad-scale questions on environmental conditions. One of the largest components of the program is the coastal effort, in which EPA has partnered with coastal States to develop a nationally integrated monitoring network. EPA uses the data from the national monitoring network to prepare a periodic report to congress called the National Coastal Condition Report series. Collaborating with EPA on these assessments not only ensures that California is accurately represented, but also enables SCCWRP to compare the Southern California Bight to the rest of nation.

The goal of this project is to provide data management for the 2010 National Coastal Assessment field and laboratory efforts in California. Data will be placed in a relational database, for which the structure was established in cooperation with EPA. SCCWRP will review submitted data to ensure that they are complete and have been formatted correctly. SCCWRP will also integrate the individual data sets and transmit final data sets to the EPA.

This is the first year of a one-year project. SCCWRP will work with data-collecting agencies in California to develop a data structure, submission requirements, and submission checking protocol.

Lead Investigator: Shelly Moore (shellym@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

External Funding Support: US Environmental Protection Agency

c. Beach Watch Data Management

Historically, storage of data collected by county environmental health departments in California for beach water quality has been disparate and unconnected. To maximize consistency of data used to determine compliance with AB411 requirements, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) enlisted SCCWRP’s assistance in creating a standardized data transfer system. From 1999 through 2001, SCCWRP created and implemented a database system designed to make data transfer from California county health agencies to the SWRCB simple and consistent. In addition, special features were included in the database system to make data easier to input, and to allow for simple data analysis and reporting. This system was initially deployed for southern California county health departments, but its successful use in southern California led to its implementation in the rest of California by 2006. Due to the success of this project, the State Water Resources Control Board decided to enlist SCCWRP’s assistance in all aspects of data management for beach water quality programs in California. In addition to providing database support, SCCWRP designed and implemented a new web-based data submission system over the course of the next year for all California coastal environmental health agencies. Data submitted to SCCWRP’s system will then be made available through the Water Quality Monitoring Council’s website (see project Clean Beach Initiative Website).

The goal of this project is for SCCWRP to provide continued database support to coastal environmental health departments and data management to the State Water Resources Control Board, to ensure successful submission and storage of beach water quality data.

This is an ongoing project. SCCWRP will be developing a new web portal system for data submissions, as well as continuing to assist environmental health agencies with data submissions, maintaining their local databases, and fulfilling unique data requests (e.g., creating specialized data reports).

Lead Investigator: Shelly Moore (shellym@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: City of Long Beach, 15 coastal county health departments

External Funding Support: State Water Resources Control Board

d. Clean Beach Initiative Website

California’s Clean Beach Initiative (CBI), created in 2001, has provided millions of dollars in grant funds to projects aimed at reducing loads of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) impacting some of California’s most polluted beaches. The CBI uses data generated through these grant projects to determine the effectiveness of the various source control projects. This data, usually from beach water quality samples, are collected and reported to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), but there is no standard data transfer formats or central location to submit and/or retrieve data. Because these data are not easily available or viewable, these data cannot be used to its full advantage for answering questions posed by other organizations and the public about beach safety. Consequently, the California Water Quality Monitoring Council wants to develop a website that will provide a centralized location to find beach water quality data and information.

The goal of this project is to create an interface for the Clean Beach Initiative Program that will allow grant agencies to upload their beach water quality monitoring data. SCCWRP staff will work with the SWRCB to develop a system for submitting data and making it available through the California Water Quality Monitoring Council website (www.waterboards.ca.gov/mywaterquality). The website will focus on answering the question “Is it safe to swim?”

This is the first year of a one-year project. SCCWRP will work with SWRCB to develop and implement a web based data submission system to allow grant agencies to submit their data.

Lead Investigator: Shelly Moore (shellym@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: State Water Resources Control Board

External Funding Support: State Water Resources Control Board

e. Web Data Services

SCCWRP provides the scientific community public access to its data sets and associated metadata through the SCCWRP website. Although the data is available, it is stored and served to the data user on a by-project basis, typically in compressed text files. Many users would prefer to download data across projects and have the option of different formats to view the data. New sophisticated web-based tools for downloading and viewing data have been developed that allow users to access data more easily and efficiently. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) coupled with relational databases permit drag and drop or preformatted queries for extracting data by location, time, and/or constituent. The queries might generate thematic maps, tables, and graphs, or download the portions of data sets of specific interest to the user. New tools have also been developed to allow users to make “on the fly” graphics to view the data.

The goal of this project is to develop and maintain browser-based data discovery and visualization tools that will be available over the SCCWRP website. These tools will allow for customized data extraction, data analysis, and presentation.

This is an ongoing project. SCCWRP is currently in the process of investigating many new data visualization tools. Over the next year, staff will begin developing and implementing these tools.

Lead Investigator: Shelly Moore (shellym@sccwrp.org)

Collaborators: None at this time

External Funding Support: None at this time

SCCWRP 2010-2011 Research Plan

Approved by SCCWRP Commission - June 2010

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

A. CONTAMINANTS

1. Coastal Emissions

2. Measurement, Fate and Bioavailability

3. Emerging Contaminants

4. Sediment Quality Assessment Framework

B. NUTRIENTS

C. SHORELINE MICROBIOLOGY

D. STORMWATER / HYDROMODIFICATION

E. BIOASSESSMENT

1. Freshwater

2. Marine

F. REGIONAL MONITORING

1. Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program

2. Regional Freshwater Assessments

3. Regional Wetland Assessments

4. Monitoring Design

G. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Research Plan 2010-2011

INTRODUCTION

A. CONTAMINANTS

1. Coastal Emissions

2. Measurement, Fate, and Bioavailability

3. Emerging Contaminants

4. Sediment Quality Assessment Framework

B. NUTRIENTS

C. SHORELINE MICROBIOLOGY

D. STORMWATER / HYDROMODIFICATION

E. BIOASSESSMENT

1. Freshwater

2. Marine

F. REGIONAL MONITORING

1. Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program

2. Regional Freshwater Assessments

3. Regional Wetland Assessments

4. Monitoring Design

G. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT