benefits of the redesigned rmp to regional board decision making karen taberski regional water...
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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)