BENEFITS OF THE RMP AND CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE Regulated Community Perspective David W. Tucker City of San Jose

A Historical Perspective? The Beginning

Implementation of the Regional Monitoring Program Resolution …….April 15, 1992 Resolution …….April 15, 1992 EO to implement the RMP A coordinated multi-media regional monitoring program

Implementation of the Regional Monitoring Program Section Request…….June 12, 1992 Section Request…….June 12, 1992 Program to be phased-in to limit cost increases Reduction of routine effluent and receiving water monitoring

Implementation of the Regional Monitoring Program RB Correspondence……..August 5, 1992 RB Correspondence……..August 5, 1992 Payment to the Aquatic Habitat Institute constitutes compliance MOU includes development of San Francisco Estuary Institute

Sombrero Nebula

BENEFITS OF THE RMP

Evolved into a collaborative, stakeholder- based approach. Evolved into a collaborative, stakeholder- based approach. Collects high-quality data on chemical contaminants and toxicity Collects high-quality data on chemical contaminants and toxicity RMP Information facilitates data-driven decision-making. RMP Information facilitates data-driven decision-making.

BENEFITS OF THE RMP Evolved into a collaborative, stakeholder- based approach. Evolved into a collaborative, stakeholder- based approach. Collects high-quality data on chemical contaminants and toxicity RMP Information facilitates data-driven decision-making.

COLLABORATIVE MONITORING PROGRAM

BENEFITS OF THE RMP Evolved into a collaborative, stakeholder- based approach. Evolved into a collaborative, stakeholder- based approach. Collects high-quality data on chemical contaminants and toxicity Collects high-quality data on chemical contaminants and toxicity RMP Information facilitates data-driven decision-making. RMP Information facilitates data-driven decision-making.

BENEFITS OF THE RMP Evolved into a collaborative, stakeholder- based approach. Collects high-quality data on chemical contaminants and toxicity Collects high-quality data on chemical contaminants and toxicity RMP Information facilitates data-driven decision-making.

QUALITY INFORMATION Developed Quality Assurance Program Plan for trace level measurements. Collected 10 years of unparalleled monitoring information for the Estuary. Collected 10 years of unparalleled monitoring information for the Estuary. Measured more than 61,000 water quality parameters for the Estuary.

QUALITY INFORMATION Water and sediment in the Estuary meet cleanliness guidelines for most contaminants. A few contaminants are found widespread. PCBs, PAHs & mercury account for most of the guideline exceedances.

QUALITY INFORMATION Water and sediment in the Estuary meet cleanliness guidelines for most contaminants. Contaminants that commonly exceed their guideline include DDT, chlordane, arsenic, chromium, copper, mercury and nickel.

BENEFITS OF THE RMP Evolved into a collaborative, stakeholder- based approach. Evolved into a collaborative, stakeholder- based approach. Collects high-quality data on chemical contaminants and toxicity Collects high-quality data on chemical contaminants and toxicity RMP Information facilitates data-driven decision-making. RMP Information facilitates data-driven decision-making.

BENEFITS OF THE RMP Evolved into a collaborative, stakeholder- based approach. Collects high-quality data on chemical contaminants and toxicity RMP Information facilitates data-driven decision-making. RMP Information facilitates data-driven decision-making.

DECISION MAKING What is the degree of contamination in the Estuary? Is the contamination getting better or is it getting worse? Is the contamination getting better or is it getting worse? Are contaminants in the Estuary having a harmful effect on wildlife?

DECISION MAKING What is the degree of contamination in the Estuary? Most water quality guidelines met but a few problem contaminants widespread Is the contamination getting better or is it getting worse? Is the contamination getting better or is it getting worse? Are contaminants in the Estuary having a harmful effect on wildlife?

DECISION MAKING What is the degree of contamination in the Estuary? Is the contamination getting better or is it getting worse? Is the contamination getting better or is it getting worse? Clearly better than decades earlier however no clear indication of continued improvement Are contaminants in the Estuary having a harmful effect on wildlife?

DECISION MAKING What is the degree of contamination in the Estuary? Is the contamination getting better or is it getting worse? Is the contamination getting better or is it getting worse? Are contaminants in the Estuary having a harmful effect on wildlife? Unanswered at this time – more work needed

DECISION MAKING What is the degree of contamination in the Estuary? Most water quality guidelines met but a few problem contaminants widespread Is the contamination getting better or is it getting worse? Is the contamination getting better or is it getting worse? Clearly better than decades earlier however no clear indication of continued improvement Are contaminants in the Estuary having a harmful effect on wildlife? Unanswered at this time – more work needed

Butterfly Nebula

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE Improve coordination / collaboration with outside researchers, agencies, etc. Improve coordination / collaboration with outside researchers, agencies, etc. Become the Estuary’s environmental clearinghouse for scientific information. Become the Estuary’s environmental clearinghouse for scientific information. Programmatic integration with the Clean Estuary Partnership Programmatic integration with the Clean Estuary Partnership

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE Improve coordination / collaboration with outside researchers, agencies, etc. Improve coordination / collaboration with outside researchers, agencies, etc. Economic uncertainty, good business Become the Estuary’s environmental clearinghouse for scientific information. Become the Estuary’s environmental clearinghouse for scientific information. Programmatic integration with the Clean Estuary Partnership Programmatic integration with the Clean Estuary Partnership

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE Improve coordination / collaboration with outside researchers, agencies, etc. Improve coordination / collaboration with outside researchers, agencies, etc. Become the Estuary’s environmental clearinghouse for scientific information. Become the Estuary’s environmental clearinghouse for scientific information. One-place scientific shopping Programmatic integration with the Clean Estuary Partnership Programmatic integration with the Clean Estuary Partnership

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE Improve coordination / collaboration with outside researchers, agencies, etc. Improve coordination / collaboration with outside researchers, agencies, etc. Become the Estuary’s environmental clearinghouse for scientific information. Become the Estuary’s environmental clearinghouse for scientific information. Programmatic integration with the Clean Estuary Partnership Programmatic integration with the Clean Estuary Partnership Focus mission and activities

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE Improve coordination / collaboration with outside researchers, agencies, etc. Improve coordination / collaboration with outside researchers, agencies, etc. Economic uncertainty, good business Become the Estuary’s environmental clearinghouse for scientific information. Become the Estuary’s environmental clearinghouse for scientific information. One-place scientific shopping Programmatic integration with the Clean Estuary Partnership Programmatic integration with the Clean Estuary Partnership Focus mission and activities Focus mission and activities

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE Enhance communication and outreach efforts Enhance communication and outreach efforts Re-evaluate program funding structure Re-evaluate program funding structure

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE Enhance communication and outreach efforts Enhance communication and outreach efforts Tell folks what we have learned! Re-evaluate program funding structure Re-evaluate program funding structure

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE Enhance communication and outreach efforts Enhance communication and outreach efforts Re-evaluate program funding structure Re-evaluate program funding structure Equity and fairness

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE Enhance communication and outreach efforts Enhance communication and outreach efforts Tell folks what we have learned! Re-evaluate program funding structure Re-evaluate program funding structure Equity and fairness

Supernova

BENEFITS OF THE RMP AND CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE Regulated Community Perspective David W. Tucker City of San Jose