1

Central Coast Ambient Monitoring Program

Central Coast Water Board

The Land to Sea Connection: Water quality impacts on watershed and ocean health

2

3

Monterey Bay

Santa Barbara Channel

CCAMP Coastal Confluence Monitoring

Measuring watershed outputs to the ocean

Santa Maria river mouth

4

Coastal Confluence trend monitoring

Santa Maria River – Nitrate (mL as N)

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

0

10

20

3040

50

60

5

Marine Protected Areas and CCAMP Coastal Confluences

Marine Protected Areas

CCAMP Coastal Confluence Sites

Data Benefits for MPAs?

6

Typical pollutants found in surface runoff to the ocean

NutrientsPathogensSedimentMetalsPesticides and PCBsPetroleum hydrocarbonsOther substances, such as phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

7

Nutrients

Nitrogen forms, phosphate, silicateLarge loads of some nutrients are discharged from agricultural river mouthsAnnual nitrate loadings can exceed a 650,000 kg; urea can exceed 20,000 kg (CCLEAN)

8

Nitrate averages (mg/l as N), north to south

CCAMP Coastal Confluences Data

9

Nitrate

% Exceedance of Drinking Water Standard

10

Nitrate on SLO Coast

% exceedance of drinking water standard

11

12

Eutrophication

Algal blooms alter habitat, create nuisanceBlue-green algal blooms implicated in recent sea otter deathsFish kills result from depressed oxygen concentrationsNitrate can be present at levels that also cause toxicity to aquatic life

13

Pseudo-nitschia has complex nutrient dynamics involving silica, iron, nitrate, urea and other nutrientsCurrent research indicates anthropogenic nitrate and urea inputs exacerbate blooms and toxicity (R. Kudela and others)

Domoic Acid Poisoning

14

It is still unclear to what extent sources from the land play an impact in marine nutrient

dynamicsLong-term Ecological Research ProgramMonterey Bay Aquarium Research InstituteU.C. Santa CruzElkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research ReserveSan Luis Obispo Science and Ecosystem Alliance (SLOSEA) Central Coast Long-term Environmental Assessment Program (CCLEAN)

15

Pesticides and other Chemicals

DPR 1999Pounds Applied Per Acre

0.00

20.00

40.00

60.00

80.00

100.00

120.00

140.00

160.00

Gaz

os C

reek

Wad

dell

Cre

ek

Sco

tt C

reek

San

Lor

enzo

Riv

er

Soq

uel C

reek

Apt

os C

reek

Paj

aro

Riv

er

Tem

blad

ero

Slo

ugh

Old

Sal

inas

Riv

er

Sal

inas

Riv

er

Car

mel

Riv

er

Big

Sur

Riv

er

Big

Cre

ek

Will

ow C

reek

Arr

oyo

de la

Cru

z C

reek

San

Sim

eon

Cre

ek

San

ta R

osa

Cre

ek

Cho

rro

Cre

ek

San

Lui

s O

bisp

o C

reek

Pis

mo

Cre

ek

Arr

oyo

Gra

nde

Cre

ek

San

ta M

aria

Riv

er

San

Ant

onio

Cre

ek

San

ta Y

nez

Riv

er

Can

ada

de la

Gav

iota

Ata

scad

ero

Cre

ek

Arr

oyo

Bur

ro C

reek

Mis

sion

Cre

ek

Fra

nklin

Cre

ek

Car

pint

eria

Cre

ek

Rin

con

Cre

ek

Ave

rag

e N

O3

(mg

/l)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Ap

pli

ed

pe

stic

ide

s (l

bs/

acr

e)avg NO3

lbs/acre

Pounds/acre applied to Coastal Confluence Watersheds, North to South

16

Toxicity in the lower Santa Maria watershed % of Samples that are toxic

17

SC

02

SC

07

SC

10

SC

15

SC

18

SC

23

ML

06 M

L 14

ML

22 M

L 26

ML

04 M

L 30

MT

08

MT

12

MT

16

MT

20

MT

24

MT

28

MB

01

MB

02

MB

03

MB

04

MB

05

MB

06

MB

07

MB

08

MB

09

MB

10

MB

11

MB

12

MB

13

MB

14

MB

15

MB

16

MB

17

MB

18

MB

19

MB

20

MB

21

MB

22

MB

23

MB

24

MB

25

MB

26

MB

27

MB

28

MB

29

MB

30

SL

01 S

L 05

SL

09 S

L 17

SL

21 S

L 25

SB

03

SB

11

SB

13

SB

19

SB

27

SB

29

Tot

al C

hlor

dane

(ng

/g)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

ERM (6 ng/g)ERL (2 ng/g)

Legacy chemicals in sedimentFrom CCAMP Harbor Report, www.CCAMP.org

18

TOTAL DDTs

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Sco

tt C

r. B

each

Ave

rage

San

ta C

ruz

Mai

n B

each

Ave

rage

Elk

hor

n S

l. M

outh

Ave

rage

Sal

inas

R.

Mou

th A

vera

ge

Car

mel

Bea

ch A

vera

ge

Por

t of

SL

O H

arb

orA

vera

ge

Avi

la B

each

Ave

rage

Sh

ell

Bea

ch A

vera

ge

Pis

mo

Bea

ch A

vera

ge

Gu

adal

up

e B

each

Ave

rage

San

ta M

aria

R.

Bea

chA

vera

ge

San

An

ton

io C

r. B

each

Ave

rage

San

ds

Bea

ch A

vera

ge

Jala

ma

Ave

rage

Gav

iota

Bea

ch A

vera

ge

Su

rf B

each

Ave

rage

Arr

oyo

Bu

rro

Bea

chA

vera

ge

San

ta B

arb

ara

Mai

nB

each

Ave

rage

DDT (ug/kg) in sand crabs

(Northern Santa Cruz County to Santa Barbara County, UCSB 2002)

19

Perfluorinated chemicals have been associated with sea otter disease (Kannon, et al, 2006)

PCBs and PBDEs have been associated with sea otter disease (CDFG, U.C. Davis and CCLEAN, 2007)

SLOSEA has found 4-nonylphenol in fish tissue in marine waters

Bioaccumulation of Bioaccumulation of ChemicalsChemicals

20

Pathogens

• Discharged from surface runoff and sewage sources

• Serve as sources of infection for humans and marine mammals

21

Beach Closures

Dry season sampling mandated on beaches with greater than 50,000 visitations per year

San Luis Obispo County Environmental Health Department monitors for fecal coliform and Enterococcus at 19 sites on a weekly basis year-round

www.healthebay.org

22

Fecal Coliform

% Exceedance of Water Body Contact Standard

23

Sea Otters and Pathogens

Sea otters are excellent sentinels of marine water quality healthRecent mortality rates have been very highRecent research has shown the proportion of sea otters dying from infectious disease has increased in recent years to over 45% Several of the diseases of concern have implications for human health

CDFG Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center and U.C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

24

Protozoal diseases

ToxoplasmaToxoplasma, , SarcocystisSarcocystis, , CryptosporidiumCryptosporidium, and , and GiardiaGiardia

Several associated with areas Several associated with areas of high freshwater inflowof high freshwater inflow

• Oocysts resistant to chlorination

• Oocysts concentrated in shellfish

• Domestic and Domestic and introduced species introduced species are sourcesare sources

25

Bacterial Diseases

Several species associated with physical symptoms and death Some strains identical to humanRisk factors for uptake by mussels include precipitation and sewage sourcesRisk factors for otters include fresh water flow and increasing population density

SalmonellaSalmonella, , VibrioVibrio, , CampylobacterCampylobacter, , and others isolated and others isolated in sea ottersin sea otters

26

What can be done about all of these problems?

27

MonitoringMonitoring

Implementation of Implementation of Management PracticesManagement Practices

EducationEducation

Central Coast Irrigated Agriculture Program

Farm PlanFarm PlanFarm PlanFarm Plan

28

Planning to use Nutrient Budget to determine

application rates

29

Chlorpyrifos applications by

Cropping Operation

30

Other new efforts

New AB 885 septic requirements

Timelines for upgrades to WWTPs with waivers of full secondary treatment

Grant funds for storm water infrastructure and maintenance of sewage infrastructure

Large grants for implementing Integrated Regional Watershed Management

New non-point source policy makes all discharges subject to regulation

31

Low Impact Development

Matt Thompson will discuss in detail…

Function more like this…

Makes this…

32

Recent Increases to CCAMP Endowment

Increased site coverageAddition of metals to monthly suiteMore comprehensive coverage of toxicity and bioassessmentRiparian health assessment“Follow-up” monitoring budget, to solve problems and learn about emerging problems

33

Other Upcoming CCAMP Work…

Linking water quality trends to land use management Long term sediment toxicity and chemistry trend monitoring Developing pollutant loading estimates to the ocean

34

`

Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

50

Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Pt. Conception

Santa Maria

Goleta

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Estimating loads from coastal confluences to ocean

Model has supported loading calculations for CCLEAN and several U.C. Davis marine mammal research projects

Collaboration with Dr. Jon Largier at U.C. Davis will improve the model (by including current and wind data)

Link impacts from watersheds to the ocean environment, and link our activities to those of folks working more directly in the ocean environment.

63

Karen Worcesterkworcester@waterboards.ca.gov

(805) 549-3333