Water Quality Considerations for Marine Protected Areas MLPA Science Advisory Team September 2005 SAT Review Draft

Road Map For Today Water quality briefing Sources of potential pollutants Categories of pollutants Potential effects Important considerations for interpreting water quality impacts Water quality design factors of interest to the BRTF

Sources of Potential Pollutants Sources are typically broken into two categories Point sources Publicly owned treatment works Industrial facilities Power generating stations Nonpoint sources Urban and agricultural runoff Dredged material disposal Atmospheric deposition Boating and shipping

Los Angeles

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS Category of Pollutant Example Constituents Potential Effects Nutrients Nitrogen, Phosphorous Eutrophication Toxics Metals, pesticides, herbicides Acute or Chronic toxicity, bioaccumulation Pathogens Fecal indicator bacteria, Virus, Protists Gastrointestinal illnesses, other illnesses/infections, non-target diseases Emerging Chemicals Endocrine disruptors, PBDE Hormone mimicry Nontraditional pollutants Sediments Habitat alteration, light attenuation

Nutrient Concentrations from Central Coast Rivers (data from: K. Worcester, RWQCB)

Enteromorpha intestinalis bloom: Upper Newport Bay 2000 (photo credit K. Kamer)

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS Category of Pollutant Example Constituents Potential Effects Nutrients Nitrogen, Phosphorous Eutrophication Toxics Metals, Pesticides, Herbicides Acute or chronic toxicity, bioaccumulation Pathogens Fecal indicator bacteria, Virus, Protists Gastrointestinal illnesses, other illnesses/infections, non-target diseases Emerging Chemicals Endocrine disruptors, PBDE Hormone mimicry Nontraditional pollutants Sediments Habitat alteration, light attenuation

(From: Bay and Schiff 2003)

Surface Layer Toxicity -118.52 -118.48 -118.44 Longitude (°E) 33.88 33.90 33.92 33.94 33.96 33.98 34.00 34.02 L a t i u d e ( ° N ) Surface Layer Toxicity December 10, 1996 90 80 Percent Fertilization 70 60 50 40 30

Total DDT in Sediments of the So Calif Bight (From: Schiff 2000)

(From: Schiff and Allen 2001)

Total DDT (ug/kg) in Sand Crabs From Central Coast Beaches (data from: K. Worcester, RWQCB)

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS Category of Pollutant Example Constituents Potential Effects Nutrients Nitrogen, Phosphorous Eutrophication Toxics Metals, Pesticides, Herbicides Acute or chronic toxicity, bioaccumulation Pathogens Fecal indicator bacteria, Virus, Protists Gastrointestinal illnesses, other illnesses/infections, non-target diseases Emerging Chemicals Endocrine disruptors, PBDE Hormone mimicry Nontraditional pollutants Sediments Habitat alteration, light attenuation

Microbial Water Quality Exceedences: Summer in the Southern California Bight Shoreline Mile-Days (%) Type of Beach Daily Threshold Monthly Threshold High use sandy Low use sandy 7.8 4.1 9.6 0.0 High use rocky Low use rocky 2.4 2.1 2.8 9.4 Ephemeral outlets Perennial outlets 7.3 10.9 6.7 13.5 Point zero 40.0 58.3 All SCB 4.9 5.7 From: Noble, et al 2000

Comparison of Dry and Wet Weather

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS Category of Pollutant Example Constituents Potential Effects Nutrients Nitrogen, Phosphorous Eutrophication Toxics Metals, Pesticides, Herbicides Acute or chronic toxicity, bioaccumulation Pathogens Fecal indicator bacteria, Virus, Protists Gastrointestinal illnesses, other illnesses/infections, non-target diseases Emerging Chemicals Endocrine disruptors, PBDE Hormone mimicry Nontraditional pollutants Sediments Habitat alteration, light attenuation

Plot of Estrogen in Male Fish Bullet List

TYPES OF POLLUTANTS Category of Pollutant Example Constituents Potential Effects Nutrients Nitrogen, Phosphorous Eutrophication Toxics Metals, Pesticides, Herbicides Acute or chronic toxicity, bioaccumulation Pathogens Fecal indicator bacteria, Virus, Protists Gastrointestinal illnesses, other illnesses/infections, non-target diseases Emerging Chemicals Endocrine disruptors, PBDE Hormone mimicry Nontraditional pollutants Sediments Habitat alteration, light attenuation

Satellite View of Turbidity Bullet List

Interpreting Water Quality Impacts Not all constituents are anthropogenic - Nutrients - Fecal indicator bacteria - Metals Not all anthropogenic discharges result in impacts Dispersion Dilution Transformation Exposure

Important Water Quality Design Factors Proximity to current discharges What’s in it? Receiving water dynamics? Proximity to historical and future discharges Long lived pollutants can bioaccumulate Future growth and emerging chemicals of concern Areas of swimming advisories and closures Storm drains and creeks Areas of seafood advisories and closures