Benefits of the Redesigned RMP to Regional Board Decision Making

Karen TaberskiKaren Taberski

Regional Water Quality Control BoardRegional Water Quality Control Board

San Francisco Bay RegionSan Francisco Bay Region

Outline of Presentation

Brief review of RMPBrief review of RMP Benefits of RMP to Regional BoardBenefits of RMP to Regional Board 5-year review5-year review RedesignRedesign

ProcessProcess ResultsResults

Added benefits of the redesigned RMP to Added benefits of the redesigned RMP to Regional BoardRegional Board

RMP Objectives (1993-1998) Obtain Obtain baseline databaseline data describing the concentration of toxic describing the concentration of toxic

and potentially toxic trace element and organic and potentially toxic trace element and organic contaminants in the water column and sediment of SF contaminants in the water column and sediment of SF EstuaryEstuary

Determine Determine seasonal and annual trendsseasonal and annual trends in water quality in water quality Develop a Develop a data setdata set to determine to determine long-term trendslong-term trends Determine whether water and sediment quality are in Determine whether water and sediment quality are in

compliance with objectivescompliance with objectives established by the Basin Plan established by the Basin Plan Provide a Provide a data basedata base on water and sediment quality which is on water and sediment quality which is

compatible with other ongoing studiescompatible with other ongoing studies in the region in the region

RMP Program Base Program (Status and Trends Base Program (Status and Trends

Monitoring)Monitoring) Pilot Studies/Special StudiesPilot Studies/Special Studies

Base Program (Status and Trends Monitoring)

Water ColumnWater Column Conventional parametersConventional parameters ChemistryChemistry ToxicityToxicity

SedimentSediment ChemistryChemistry ToxicityToxicity

Bioaccumulation (bivalves)Bioaccumulation (bivalves)

Pilot/Special Studies Episodic toxicityEpisodic toxicity Contaminants in fish tissueContaminants in fish tissue Fish consumption studyFish consumption study Benthic pilot Benthic pilot Estuary interface studyEstuary interface study Air deposition studyAir deposition study Tidal wetlands contamination Tidal wetlands contamination

General Benefits to Regional Board

Provides focusProvides focus Helps develop prioritiesHelps develop priorities Determine if WQOs are exceededDetermine if WQOs are exceeded Determine if beneficial uses are being Determine if beneficial uses are being

protectedprotected

Specific Examples of Benefits to Regional Board

Technical basis for Impaired Waterbodies List (303d list) Technical basis for Impaired Waterbodies List (303d list) and 305b report (Bay segments)and 305b report (Bay segments)

Copper and nickelCopper and nickel Fish StudiesFish Studies

Contamination – PCBs & Hg, consumption advisoryContamination – PCBs & Hg, consumption advisory Consumption – Public health educationConsumption – Public health education

Technical basis for mercury and PCB TMDLsTechnical basis for mercury and PCB TMDLs Track results of changes in pesticide usage (Episodic Track results of changes in pesticide usage (Episodic

toxicity)toxicity) Ambient Sediment GuidelinesAmbient Sediment Guidelines Background for NPDES permitsBackground for NPDES permits

5-Year Review Comments

5-year review comments5-year review comments Refine RMP objectivesRefine RMP objectives Define management and scientific questions to focus Define management and scientific questions to focus

studiesstudies Develop mass budget models to provide a context for Develop mass budget models to provide a context for

RMP resultsRMP results Evaluate sources, pathways and loadings of contaminantsEvaluate sources, pathways and loadings of contaminants Summarize, synthesize and interpret data more Summarize, synthesize and interpret data more

thoroughly including data from other programsthoroughly including data from other programs

5-Year Review and Redesign Process

Results of 5-Year Review and Redesign Revised objectivesRevised objectives

Evaluate sources, pathways and loadingsEvaluate sources, pathways and loadings Measure contaminant effects Measure contaminant effects

Developed management questionsDeveloped management questions Developing studies to evaluate sources, pathways and Developing studies to evaluate sources, pathways and

loadingsloadings Developing bioaccumulation and effects pilot studiesDeveloping bioaccumulation and effects pilot studies

Bioaccumulation at higher trophic levelsBioaccumulation at higher trophic levels Better evaluate trends in bioaccumulative Better evaluate trends in bioaccumulative

contaminantscontaminants Directly measure exposure and effects of Directly measure exposure and effects of

contaminants in higher trophic level species to more contaminants in higher trophic level species to more directly evaluate BUsdirectly evaluate BUs

Results of 5-year Review and Redesign (cont.)

Adopted new statistically random base program Adopted new statistically random base program sampling designsampling design

Developing mass balance models including Developing mass balance models including food web models as framework for RMP and food web models as framework for RMP and TMDLsTMDLs

Including additional toxic bioaccumulative Including additional toxic bioaccumulative contaminants in analyte list of base programcontaminants in analyte list of base program

New Base ProgramStatus and Trends Design

Redefines segments of the Estuary based on Redefines segments of the Estuary based on scientific datascientific data

Uses statistically random design in order to Uses statistically random design in order to have truly representative datahave truly representative data

Stations cover greater spatial extent Stations cover greater spatial extent (shallows) (shallows)

Incorporates fish monitoring and episodic Incorporates fish monitoring and episodic toxicity monitoring into base programtoxicity monitoring into base program

RMP Redesign Sampling locations & Rotating Panel Design

W=4S=8

W=10S=8

W=4S=8

Number of Randomly Allocated Samples per Segment for Water and Sediment

RiversSuisunSan Pablo

Bay

CentralBay

SouthBay

Lower SouthBay

Total Samples

water samples: 33(28 random + 5 fixed)

sediment samples: 49(40 random + 9 fixed)

W=4S=8

W=6S=8

RMP Water Sample Sites, Years 1 to 5

RiversSuisunSan Pablo

Bay

CentralBay

SouthBay

Lower SouthBay

New Pilot/Special Studies

Bioaccumulation studies in higher Bioaccumulation studies in higher trophic levels (birds, bird eggs, trophic levels (birds, bird eggs, seals) and their preyseals) and their prey

Biological effects studies tied to Biological effects studies tied to bioaccumulation and exposurebioaccumulation and exposure

Measurements of particulate bound Measurements of particulate bound loadings from the rivers/deltaloadings from the rivers/delta

Identification of contaminants of Identification of contaminants of concern for possible addition to concern for possible addition to analyte listanalyte list

Benefits of New Program

New statistically random base program designNew statistically random base program design Data will be truly representative of the Estuary Data will be truly representative of the Estuary

and segments of the Estuary which will result and segments of the Estuary which will result in better evaluation of:in better evaluation of:

whether the Estuary or segments of the Estuary whether the Estuary or segments of the Estuary exceed WQOs,exceed WQOs,

spatial patterns of contamination including spatial patterns of contamination including shallows and,shallows and,

the proportion of the estuary that is the proportion of the estuary that is contaminated and/or toxic. contaminated and/or toxic.

Benefits of New Program (cont.) Mass balance and food web models will:Mass balance and food web models will:

Form the technical basis of TMDLsForm the technical basis of TMDLs Help evaluate the effectiveness of source Help evaluate the effectiveness of source

control measures and corrective actionscontrol measures and corrective actions Act as a tool to synthesize data from the RMP Act as a tool to synthesize data from the RMP

and other programsand other programs Help identify and prioritize data gapsHelp identify and prioritize data gaps Form a framework for the RMP to increase our Form a framework for the RMP to increase our

understanding of: understanding of: sources, pathways and loadings sources, pathways and loadings the action of contaminants in physical, chemical the action of contaminants in physical, chemical

and biological processesand biological processes

Benefits of New Program (cont.) Sources and loadings studies (303d &TMDLs)Sources and loadings studies (303d &TMDLs)

Episodic toxicity-identify sources and causes of Episodic toxicity-identify sources and causes of toxicitytoxicity

Rivers studies will quantify loadings from Rivers studies will quantify loadings from Sacramento and San Joaquin RiversSacramento and San Joaquin Rivers

Bioaccumulation studiesBioaccumulation studies Determine bioaccumulation at top of food chainDetermine bioaccumulation at top of food chain Better evaluate trendsBetter evaluate trends

Biological effects studies allow us to more directly Biological effects studies allow us to more directly evaluate whether beneficial uses are being evaluate whether beneficial uses are being protectedprotected

Proactive monitoring of new chemicals of concernProactive monitoring of new chemicals of concern

Conclusions The RMP has been extremely valuable to Regional Board The RMP has been extremely valuable to Regional Board

priority setting and decision making.priority setting and decision making. Continual internal review and adjustment of the program Continual internal review and adjustment of the program

has allowed the RMP to adapt to regulatory changes and new has allowed the RMP to adapt to regulatory changes and new scientific information.scientific information.

The 5-year external review added credibility to the program The 5-year external review added credibility to the program and provided us with insights into many aspects of the and provided us with insights into many aspects of the program.program.

The redesign process was successful in: The redesign process was successful in: implementing the recommendations of the review panelimplementing the recommendations of the review panel using Regional Board management questions and scientific using Regional Board management questions and scientific

expertise to develop a program that would address these expertise to develop a program that would address these questions in a scientifically valid mannerquestions in a scientifically valid manner..

The RMP redesign has resulted in a more sophisticated The RMP redesign has resulted in a more sophisticated approach to contaminant studies that better meets the needs approach to contaminant studies that better meets the needs of the Regional Board. of the Regional Board.

The RMP is a valuable environmental monitoring program based on a unique partnership between regulatory agencies and dischargers that can serve as a model for others. Such a model for collaboration and cooperation deserves national and international recognition. Such a partnership does not, to our knowledge, exist anywhere else in the world.”

“In addition, the data from the RMP are of a very high quality and reflect, in many cases, state-of-the-art analysis for environmental parameters that is unequaled in a monitoring program of this size”

RMP 5-Year Review Committee Report (1998)