Pollutant Loads to the Bay: Measuring the L in TMDL Lester McKee Sources Pathways and Loadings Workgroup and Watershed Program Manager SFEI RMP Annual Meeting, May 10 th 2005

SPLWG Achievements 13 technical reports over the past 5 years including reports on urban drainage, atmospheric inputs, and sediment loads 13 technical reports over the past 5 years including reports on urban drainage, atmospheric inputs, and sediment loads Developed conceptual models and designed evaluation strategies for monitoring Hg, PCBs and OC pesticides in stormwater runoff Developed conceptual models and designed evaluation strategies for monitoring Hg, PCBs and OC pesticides in stormwater runoff Implemented stormwater monitoring studies at Mallard Is. and Guadalupe R. Implemented stormwater monitoring studies at Mallard Is. and Guadalupe R. SPLWG - The leading source of loads information SPLWG - The leading source of loads information Forum for discussion Forum for discussion RMP Annual Meeting 2005

SPLWG - Systematic Plan A.Watershed Characterization B.Conceptual Model Development C.Develop Evaluation Strategies D.Establish Regional Network of Observation Watersheds E.Extrapolate to Other Watersheds RMP Annual Meeting 2005 Davis et al., 1999, 2000

The Pathways of L… Loads enter the Bay from 5 main pathways: Loads enter the Bay from 5 main pathways: 1. Urban stormwater 2. New Almaden mining area 3. Atmospheric deposition 4. Urban and industrial wastewater 5. Large Rivers RMP Annual Meeting Total Mercury Inputs

Why Else Study Loads? Improve understanding of variation (both spatial and temporal) Improve understanding of variation (both spatial and temporal) Estimate loads in unmeasured places (extrapolation and modeling) Estimate loads in unmeasured places (extrapolation and modeling) Measure change over time in relation Measure change over time in relation to management activities RMP Annual Meeting 2005

Recent SPLWG Highlights Completed technical reports on the Mallard Is. and Guadalupe River field studies Completed technical reports on the Mallard Is. and Guadalupe River field studies Submitted three papers to scientific journals Submitted three papers to scientific journals Began discussions on how to choose a location for another small tributaries loading study Began discussions on how to choose a location for another small tributaries loading study Received 6 special and pilot studies proposals Received 6 special and pilot studies proposals Initiated the development of a new 5-year work plan Initiated the development of a new 5-year work plan RMP Annual Meeting 2005

Special and Pilot Studies Proposals #1: Small Tributaries Loading study (number two) #2: Design of a watershed RMP #3: Improving Bay Area hydrography for characterization and modeling stormwater flow modeling stormwater flow #4: Storm drain outfall sediment characterization #5: Determining the ability for loadings studies to observe change change #6: Enhanced isohyetal analysis of the SF Bay Area RMP Annual Meeting 2005

SPLWG 5-Yr Work Plan ( ) RMP Annual Meeting 2005

SPLWG 5-Yr Work Plan ( ) RMP Annual Meeting 2005 Activity Funding Sources Workgroup meetings and external coordinationRMP ASASASASAS $22k Mallard Island Large River Loadings StudyRMP$51k$60kContingency$120k Guadalupe Small Tributaries Loadings Study CEP, RMP, USACE, SCVURPPP$173k$50k??? Reconnaissance Survey of Loading Study SitesRMP$7.5k Additional small tributaries loadings studies???In-kind???? Extrapolations / regional loading estimates??? ??? Development of the next five- year planRMP $10k

SPLWG 5-Yr Work Plan ( ) RMP Annual Meeting 2005 Activity Funding Sources Workgroup meetings and external coordinationRMP ASASASASAS $22k Mallard Island Large River Loadings StudyRMP$51k$60kContingency$120k Guadalupe Small Tributaries Loadings Study CEP, RMP, USACE, SCVURPPP$173k$50k??? Reconnaissance Survey of Loading Study SitesRMP$7.5k Additional small tributaries loadings studies???In-kind???? Extrapolations / regional loading estimates??? ??? Development of the next five- year planRMP $10k

SPLWG 5-Yr Work Plan ( ) RMP Annual Meeting 2005 Activity Funding Sources Workgroup meetings and external coordinationRMP ASASASASAS $22k Mallard Island Large River Loadings StudyRMP$51k$60kContingency$120k Guadalupe Small Tributaries Loadings Study CEP, RMP, USACE, SCVURPPP$173k$50k??? Reconnaissance Survey of Loading Study SitesRMP$7.5k Additional small tributaries loadings studies???In-kind???? Extrapolations / regional loading estimates??? ??? Development of the next five- year planRMP $10k

SPLWG 5-Yr Work Plan ( ) RMP Annual Meeting 2005 Activity Funding Sources Workgroup meetings and external coordinationRMP ASASASASAS $22k Mallard Island Large River Loadings StudyRMP$51k$60kContingency$120k Guadalupe Small Tributaries Loadings Study CEP, RMP, USACE, SCVURPPP$173k$50k??? Reconnaissance Survey of Loading Study SitesRMP$7.5k Additional small tributaries loadings studies???In-kind???? Extrapolations / regional loading estimates??? ??? Development of the next five- year planRMP $10k

SPLWG 5-Yr Work Plan ( ) RMP Annual Meeting 2005 Activity Funding Sources Workgroup meetings and external coordinationRMP ASASASASAS $22k Mallard Island Large River Loadings StudyRMP$51k$60kContingency$120k Guadalupe Small Tributaries Loadings Study CEP, RMP, USACE, SCVURPPP$173k$50k??? Reconnaissance Survey of Loading Study SitesRMP$7.5k Additional small tributaries loadings studies???In-kind???? Extrapolations / regional loading estimates??? ??? Development of the next five- year planRMP $10k

SPLWG 5-Yr Work Plan ( ) RMP Annual Meeting 2005 Activity Funding Sources Workgroup meetings and external coordinationRMP ASASASASAS $22k Mallard Island Large River Loadings StudyRMP$51k$60kContingency$120k Guadalupe Small Tributaries Loadings Study CEP, RMP, USACE, SCVURPPP$173k$50k??? Reconnaissance Survey of Loading Study SitesRMP$7.5k Additional small tributaries loadings studies???In-kind???? Extrapolations / regional loading estimates??? ??? Development of the next five- year planRMP $10k

SPLWG 5-Yr Work Plan ( ) RMP Annual Meeting 2005 Activity Funding Sources Workgroup meetings and external coordinationRMP ASASASASAS $22k Mallard Island Large River Loadings StudyRMP$51k$60kContingency$120k Guadalupe Small Tributaries Loadings Study CEP, RMP, USACE, SCVURPPP$173k$50k??? Reconnaissance Survey of Loading Study SitesRMP$7.5k Additional small tributaries loadings studies???In-kind???? Extrapolations / regional loading estimates??? ??? Development of the next five- year planRMP $10k

Next Steps and Philosophy Receive written comments on the draft work plan Receive written comments on the draft work plan Revise work plan to reflect oral and written comments Revise work plan to reflect oral and written comments Systemically update the work plan as new information is generated (i.e. a living document) Systemically update the work plan as new information is generated (i.e. a living document) RMP Annual Meeting 2005

Field Studies WY 2005 Highlights Mallard Island Large Rivers Loading Study Mallard Island Large Rivers Loading Study Guadalupe River Small Tributaries Loading Study Guadalupe River Small Tributaries Loading Study

The Mallard Island Study SFEI: Management/sampling assistance/report SFEI: Management/sampling assistance/report USGS SSC/turbidity data collection USGS SSC/turbidity data collection RWQCBX-section variability RWQCBX-section variability UCSC Sample collection/Hg and SSC analysis UCSC Sample collection/Hg and SSC analysis AXYS Organic contaminant analysis AXYS Organic contaminant analysis RMP Annual Meeting 2005 Funding: RMP

The Mallard Island Study Location Map RMP Annual Meeting 2005

Suspended Sediment Loads RMP Annual Meeting Mt

Sampling for Trace Contaminants RMP Annual Meeting 2005

Total Mercury Loads RMP Annual Meeting 2005

Total Mercury Loads RMP Annual Meeting kg

PCB Loads RMP Annual Meeting 2005

The Guadalupe Small Tributaries Loads Study SFEIManagement/trace contaminant sampling/report SFEIManagement/trace contaminant sampling/report USGSSuspended sediment and bed loads USGSSuspended sediment and bed loads MLMLTrace element analysis of water and sediment MLMLTrace element analysis of water and sediment AXYSOrganic contaminant analysis AXYSOrganic contaminant analysis RMP Annual Meeting 2005 Funding: RMP, CEP, USACE/SCVWD, SCVURPPP

The Guadalupe Small Tributaries Loads Study SFEI WY 2005 field team SFEI WY 2005 field team Nicole David Nicole David Jennifer Hayworth Jennifer Hayworth Jennifer Hunt Jennifer Hunt Kristen Larned Kristen Larned Jon Leatherbarrow Jon Leatherbarrow Aroon Melwani Aroon Melwani Sarah Pearce Sarah Pearce 51% Samples collected outside of work time

The Guadalupe Small Tributaries Loads Study Location Map RMP Annual Meeting 2005

Suspended Sediment Load RMP Annual Meeting 2005 Preliminary

Sampling for Trace Contaminants RMP Annual Meeting 2005

Total Mercury Loads RMP Annual Meeting 2005 Max annual: 900 – 1,100 kg 5-yr mean: 6 – 440 kg

PCB Loads RMP Annual Meeting 2005

Closing Comments SPLWG efforts over the past 5 years has had a profound influence our perceptions of Bay functions SPLWG efforts over the past 5 years has had a profound influence our perceptions of Bay functions This emerging understanding has strongly influenced the development of the mercury and PCB TMDLs This emerging understanding has strongly influenced the development of the mercury and PCB TMDLs To complete the circle, the TMDL recommendations are now influencing the planning process for new SPLWG studies To complete the circle, the TMDL recommendations are now influencing the planning process for new SPLWG studies Without the dedicated field team at SFEI, much of this information would not have been generated Without the dedicated field team at SFEI, much of this information would not have been generated RMP Annual Meeting 2005