BASIN PLAN AMENDMENT TO CONTROL METHYL MERCURY IN THE SACRAMENTOSAN JOAQUIN DELTA ESTUARY

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BASIN PLAN AMENDMENT TO CONTROL METHYL MERCURY IN
THE SACRAMENTO-SAN JOAQUIN DELTA ESTUARY

• http//www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley/progra
  ms/tmdl/deltahg.html
• Chris Foe
• Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control
  Board
• 916-464-4713
• cfoe_at_waterboards.ca.gov

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OUTLINE

• CLEAN WATER ACT 303(d) list
• REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF TMDL REPORT TO THE U.S. EPA
• PORTER COLOGNE WATER QUALITY CONTROL ACT
• REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF A BASIN PLAN AMENDMENT
• SCHEDULE
• CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF METHYL MERCURY FORMATION,
  CYCLING AND TOXICITY.
• METHYLMERCURY DATA FOR BAY-DELTA ESTUARY
• AQUEOUS METHYMERCURY CONCENTRATIONS IN WATER IN
  DELTA.
• CORRELATION BETWEEN WATER AND FISH TISSUE
  CONCENTRATIONS.
• FISH TISSUE OBJECTIVES
• IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
• EMPHASIS ON WETLANDS

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• ELEMENTS OF TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD (TMDL)
  REPORT TO THE U.S. EPA
• PROBLEM STATEMENT
• TARGET
• SOURCE ANALYSIS
• LINKAGE ANALYSIS
• ALLOCATION OF LOAD REDUCTIONS

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OUTLINE

• CLEAN WATER ACT 303(d) list
• REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF TMDL REPORT TO THE U.S. EPA
• PORTER COLOGNE WATER QUALITY CONTROL ACT
• REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF A BASIN PLAN AMENDMENT
• SCHEDULE
• CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF METHYL MERCURY FORMATION,
  CYCLING AND TOXICITY.
• METHYLMERCURY DATA FOR BAY-DELTA ESTUARY
• AQUEOUS METHYMERCURY CONCENTRATIONS IN WATER IN
  DELTA.
• CORRELATION BETWEEN WATER AND FISH TISSUE
  CONCENTRATIONS.
• FISH TISSUE OBJECTIVES
• IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
• EMPHASIS ON WETLANDS

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REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF BASIN PLAN AMENDMENT

• WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVE
• IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND SCHEDULE
• MONITORING PLAN

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OUTLINE

• CLEAN WATER ACT 303(d) list
• REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF TMDL REPORT TO THE U.S. EPA
• PORTER COLOGNE WATER QUALITY CONTROL ACT
• REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF A BASIN PLAN AMENDMENT
• SCHEDULE
• CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF METHYL MERCURY FORMATION,
  CYCLING AND TOXICITY.
• METHYLMERCURY DATA FOR BAY-DELTA ESTUARY
• AQUEOUS METHYMERCURY CONCENTRATIONS IN WATER IN
  DELTA.
• CORRELATION BETWEEN WATER AND FISH TISSUE
  CONCENTRATIONS.
• FISH TISSUE OBJECTIVES
• IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
• EMPHASIS ON WETLANDS

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Median Annual MMHg InDelta Waters (ng/l)
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(No Transcript)
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(No Transcript)
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OUTLINE

• CLEAN WATER ACT 303(d) list
• REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF TMDL REPORT TO THE U.S. EPA
• PORTER COLOGNE WATER QUALITY CONTROL ACT
• REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF A BASIN PLAN AMENDMENT
• SCHEDULE
• CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF METHYL MERCURY FORMATION,
  CYCLING AND TOXICITY.
• METHYLMERCURY DATA FOR BAY-DELTA ESTUARY
• AQUEOUS METHYMERCURY CONCENTRATIONS IN WATER IN
  DELTA.
• CORRELATION BETWEEN WATER AND FISH TISSUE
  CONCENTRATIONS.
• FISH TISSUE OBJECTIVES
• IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
• EMPHASIS ON WETLANDS

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FISH TISSUE OBJECTIVES

• Average methylmercury concentrations shall not
  exceed 0.29-ppm wet weight in muscle tissue of
  trophic level 4 fish.
• Assess compliance by measuring tissue
  concentrations in a 350-mm largemouth bass.
• Average methylmercury concentrations shall not
  exceed 0.03-ppm wet weight in whole fish less
  than 50-mm.

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IMPLEMENTATION

• A key provision of the draft Plan requires
  responsible parties to characterize methyl
  mercury concentrations and loads and to develop
  management practices to reduce loads if above the
  water quality goal of 0.06-ng/l or if small or
  large fish on their facility exceed the water
  quality objective.

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Conclusions

• State and Federal law require the Regional Board
  to develop a mercury Basin Plan Amendment or
  control program.
• The Phase I Basin Plan Amendment will be
  presented to the Board in the fall of 2006.
• The Phase I Plan will require Responsible parties
  to do studies and report results annually to the
  Regional Board. Study results will be considered
  in the adoption of a Phase II mercury Basin Plan
  amendment in 2011.