1. SMR Nutrient Initiative Group Background Information Review
January 23, 2019
Matt Yeager, D.Env
Senior Flood Control Planner
Riverside County Flood Control
and Water Conservation District

2. Archive Slide from Aug 2012
What is our Goal?
Goals:
Stakeholder Driven Nutrient Management Program
Address 303(d) listing regulatory requirements
Better manage water resources and attain beneficial uses
And so our goal is to develop a comprehensive, stakeholder driven, watershed scale approach to nutrient management for the Santa Margarita Watershed that will addresses the current 303(d) nutrient listings for the estuary, river and tributaries and also allows us to clearly identify what is necessary to protect beneficial uses; and in turn, allows us to make smarter decisions about how to manage water resources.

3. SMR Nutrient Impairment
Santa Margarita River Estuary
Listed for “Eutrophic” in 1986
Expected attainment date 2027
Part of “Lagoon Order” in 2006 (R )
Required Monitoring Workplan
Monitoring and Reporting
SM River Mainstem Listings
TMDL Alternative for River Mainstem?
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Upper
Lower
Date Listed
2014
2002
2010
Scheduled TMDL Date
2025
2019
2021

4. Monitoring Pre-1998? SWAMP Report (1998 – 2005)
Mazor & Schiff 2008
Lagoon Order Monitoring ( )
Mclaughlin et.al, 2013
Bight Monitoring ( ??)
Lagoon Monitoring
CDM-Smith ( )
SPAWAR ( )

5. Where are we starting? Use SB469 Guidance Phase 1: Phase 2(unfunded):
Archive Slide from Aug 2012
Where are we starting?
Use SB469 Guidance
Phase 1:
SMR Estuary
Causal and Response Targets
Inland Waters
Data Collection
Phase 2(unfunded):
SMR River and Tributaries
We believe that the first step to effectively managing nutrients in the Santa Margarita Watershed and address 303(d) listings is to evaluate the current water quality standards, consistent with the methods and guidance defined in the State Board’s SB469 Impaired Receiving Waters Guidance document.
This evaluation will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will focus on setting causal and response targets for eutrophication of the Santa Margarita Estuary. We will also initiate data collection for future evaluation of nutrient objectives of the Santa Margarita River and its tributaries. However, the evaluation of causal and response targets for the Santa Margarita River and tributaries will not occur until phase 2 of the effort.

6. Science (Prop 84 Grants) Technical Advisory Committee
Led by SCCWRP
Phase I and II Reports
Baseline Data Report
Modeling Report
Science Report
Recommended Targets for Estuary

7. Regulatory and Policy Investigative Order Estuary Now on the 4b list
Addressed by actions other than a TMDL
Regional Board Staff Report
Reviews regulatory requirements
Evaluates data reports
Provides load calculations and allocations
Establishes estuary WQ targets
Monitoring recommendations
Investigative Order
Monitoring requirements
Reporting requirements

8. Where are we at now? Formed a stakeholder group
Archive Slide from Aug 2012
Where are we at now?
Secured Prop 84 IRWM Implementation Grant funding
Supports new data collection in River and estuary modeling
Includes $35K (~300 hours) in funding for RWQCB staff
Formed a stakeholder group
Established a charter
Developing MOUs governing cost-sharing
Developing a project work plan
Technical components governing new data collection and modeling
Specifies policy and regulatory elements to be addressed
To date, the initiative group has procured proposition 84 funding, which has provided the seed money to establish a charter and initiate MOUs and cooperative agreements. It has also allowed us to draft a project work plan, monitoring plan and QAPP for consideration by Regional Board staff.

9. River Approach (TMDL Alternative?)
Phase III Monitoring?
Data required
Modeling?
Loads?
Regional Board Expectations
Develop targets for river
Ongoing monitoring?
Investigative Order?
MS4 Permittees
Agricultural Operators

10. Questions/Discussion