SPLWG May 6, 2010
RMP Study #
Item #3e
McKee et al
Page 1 of 2
POC LOADS MONITORING –“LAND USE” SPECIFIC LOADS MONITORING
Lester McKee, Michelle Lent, Sarah Pearce, and John Oram, SFEI, Oakland, CA
ESTIMATED COST:
OVERSIGHT GROUP:
$100,000 PER YEAR
Sources Pathways and Loading Work Group (SPLWG)
PROPOSED DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINE
Deliverable
Task 1. Project Management (write and manage sub-contracts, track budgets)
Task 2. Equipment purchase and prefabrication
Task 3. Fieldwork
Task 4. Laboratory analysis
Task 5. QAQC / data management
Task 6. Draft and final report
Due Date
Jul - Sep the following year
Jul each year
Oct – Apr each year
Nov – May each year
Jan – Jul each year
Aug – Sep each year
BACKGROUND
The PCB and Hg TMDLs for San Francisco Bay call for improved stormwater loading
information and increased application of urban Best Management Practices (BMPs) for
reducing pollutant loads and impacts. Since it is impossible to monitor all stormwater
inputs to San Francisco Bay (there are more than 250 urban watersheds presently
identified), the first report of the SPLWG recommended a combination of monitoring and
extrapolation using modeling to develop regional loads estimates (Davis et al., 2001). In
addition, Davis et al identified a need to evaluate the efficacy of the local and regional
BMPs for causing stormwater loads trends. Recently, these needs were refined in the
Small Tributaries Loading Strategy (STLS).
To estimate regional loads, the STLS recommends the development of a spreadsheet
model using the methods of Ha and Stenstrom (2008) while HSPF is being developed by
the SPLWG to assess BMPs and predict trends (Lent et al., 2009). To calibrate both kinds
of models, data must be collected on land use specific concentrations and mass
emissions. A key outcome for the RMP is that over the longer term, developing and
maintaining models will increase the success of applying BMPs at the regional scale
(therefore decrease costs) and allow us to focus and prioritize data collection for specific
analytes or specific land use or watershed types.
Such studies have been performed in Southern California by Tiefenthaler et al. (2008)
who selected eight representative land use classes based on management needs. They
found statistical differences between industrial, recreational, and open space land use
classes for suspended sediment, copper, lead, and zinc and no statistical difference
between commercial and any category of residential urban land use or transportation.
During calendar year 2010, the RMP allocated funding to scope needs for land use
specific loads monitoring. The objective was to complete a scoping effort to formally
identify the need for land use specific concentrations and mass emissions data for POCs.
Findings from this years study will directly inform design and implementation of land use
specific monitoring building on lessons learned in southern California (Tiefenthaler et al.,
2008). Work has not yet begun on this element and is planned to begin in June due to
DRAFT FOR REVIEW 05-06-10
SPLWG May 6, 2010
RMP Study #
Item #3e
McKee et al
Page 2 of 2
BASMAA and Water Board priorities focusing RMP staff effort on elements associated
with small tributaries loads monitoring sites selection and sampling design.
APPLICABLE RMP MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS
STLS Q2: What are the loads or concentrations of pollutants of concern from small
tributaries to the Bay?
STLS Q4: What are the projected impacts of management actions on loads or
concentrations of pollutants of concern from the high-leverage small
tributaries and where should management actions be implemented in the
region to have the greatest impact?
SAMPLING DESIGN / METHODS
While the details of sampling design and methods are still to be worked out through this
years element to scope needs for land use specific loads monitoring, generally sampling
will be conducted during the wet season, at sites deemed important for PCB and Hg
concentrations. The number of storms and number of samples is yet to be determined but
it will likely be 5-6 storms a year using a auto-sampling (ISCO or similar) composite
method.
PROPOSED BUDGET
Deliverable
Task 1. Project Management (write and manage sub-contracts, track budgets)
Task 2. Equipment purchase and prefabrication
Task 3. Fieldwork
Task 4. Laboratory analysis
Task 5. QAQC / data management
Task 6. Draft and final report (per MRP requirements)
Total
Estimated cost
$10,000
$20,000
$20,000
$20,000
$10,000
$20,000
$100,000
REFERENCES
Davis, J.A., Abu Saba, K., and Gunther, A.J. 2001. Technical report of the Sources Pathways and Loadings
Workgroup. San Francisco Estuary Institute, September 1999. 55pp.
Ha, S.J. and M.K. Stenstrom. 2008. Predictive Modeling of Storm-Water Runoff Quantity and Quality for a
Large Urban Watershed. J. Environ. Eng., 134(9), 703-11.
Lent, M., Oram, J., and McKee, L., 2009. Guadalupe Watershed Model: Year 1 Report. RMP Technical
Report: SFEI Contribution #564. San Francisco Estuary Institute, Oakland, CA.
Tiefenthaler, L.L., Stein, E., and Schiff, K., 2008. Watershed and land use-based sources of trace metals in
urban stormwater. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 27, 277-87.
DRAFT FOR REVIEW 05-06-10