1. Monitoring and Research:
Coastal Ocean
Monitoring and Research:
A Local Agency’s View
3rd largest wastewater treatment system west of the Mississippi River
~50 years we have safely collected, treated and disposed of OC’s wastewater
today service more than two million people living
OCSD discharges ~240 MGD of treated wastewater onto the San Pedro Shelf
Discharge ~4.5 miles offshore in 200 feet of water
Discuss evolution from point source monitoring to understanding San Pedro Shelf  multiple source inputs and large scale oceanographic conditions
We are a data producer and data user  open and free dissemination of data
George Robertson, Senior Scientist
Orange County Sanitation District

2. Outfall located on southern portion of San Pedro Shelf
Study area incorporates most of the shelf
Note. Regional inputs include LAR, SGR, SAR, NH + LACSD and LA City

3. Discuss hydrographic and current meter surveys
Note. ADD Current Meters
Conducting monitoring since the early 70’s
sampling area of ~40 sq. miles from surfzone to >1000 feet deep (sample within the top 100 m)
Since 1985 :
have spent an average of ~$1.6 million/year
taken >1000 CTD casts

4. Why Am I Here Today? Environmental managers need good science Relevant
Timely
Complete
Mission critical information  Swimable and fishable waters
Need information today, not in 6 mos.
Need temporally and spatially coherent data

5. Ocean.US Objectives
Detecting and forecasting oceanic components of climate variability
Facilitating safe and efficient marine operations
Ensuring national security
Managing resources for sustainable use
Preserving and restoring healthy marine ecosystems
Mitigating natural hazards
Ensuring public health

6. Ocean.US Objectives
Detecting and forecasting oceanic components of climate variability
Facilitating safe and efficient marine operations
Ensuring national security
Managing resources for sustainable use
Preserving and restoring healthy marine ecosystems
Mitigating natural hazards
Ensuring public health
At least four of these objectives match OCSD mission

7. Ocean Observations Systems
Fill data gaps
Integrate data
Provide new data products
Provide additional expertise
Data gaps examples -- ocean currents, sediment transport and deposition, on-shore impacts to coastal environment (USE HB AS AN EXAMPLE)
Data integration -- satellite imagery with coastal ocean monitoring; need to correlate higher resolution local monitoring with lower resolution satellite images
New data products -- modeling, large scale to local; can’t do an adequate job of modeling local or small scale areas without the external driving forces from larger scale models
Expertise will help advance the science of managing wastewater

8. No Lone Rangers Need Apply
Experience has taught . . .
Multiple public and private groups needed to tackle the “big” problems
Integrate and leverage
Huntington Beach Shoreline Contamination
USGS, NPS, SIO, UCI, USC, Sea Grant, RWQCB, OCHCA, SAIC and others
Other Examples re: regional monitoring
1994 SCBPP, Bight’98, Bight’03
Field & lab method development, data anlaysis & reporting
While each project is separate, the regional effort has continued uninterupted since 1993

9. Southern California Example Central Bight Water Quality Program

10. Salinity: OCSD OCSD (Routine) August 2001
Individually we are just a piece in the puzzle . . .
OCSD (Routine)
August 2001

11. Salinity: OCSD
OCSD (Extended)
August 2001

12. Salinity: LACSD
LACSD
August 2001

13. Salinity: LA City
LA City
August 2001

14. Salinity: Oxnard
Oxnard
August 2001

15. Salinity: Central Bight WQ Group
Put together, the data provides important information on regional processes affecting our more localized areas
August 2001

16. What Next? Incorporate new technology
Link on-shore with off-shore processes
Improve both spatial and temporal monitoring
Better data integration
Provide dynamic, near real-time coastal modeling
Improve dissemination of data and information products
(1) Need to integrate our offshore monitoring data with onshore sources data; Example = SGR, SAR/TM HB closure
(2) OCSD needs to continue to show that plume does not impact coastal waters  nutrient sensors
(3) Data and the interpretation of that data needs to be relayed rapidly to to environmental managers and public. Data needs to be credible, supportable, timely, and mission relevant
(4) Need real time high resolution (time and space) data
What Can OCSD Bring to the Table?
OCSD is a major player on the west coast
Conduct extensive ocean monitoring  Available and knowledgeable staff
Provide a stable operations base with consistent funding  30 years and counting
(4) Existing co-operative relationships
e.g., SCCWRP, universities, federal research groups

17. Questions ?