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Water Quality in San Francisco Bay. J.A. Davis (jay@sfei.org) San Francisco Estuary Institute. San Francisco Estuary Institute. www.sfei.org Non-profit scientific organization Programs: Contaminant Monitoring and Research Program Regional Monitoring Program
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Water Quality in San Francisco Bay J.A. Davis (jay@sfei.org) San Francisco Estuary Institute
San Francisco Estuary Institute • www.sfei.org • Non-profit scientific organization • Programs: • Contaminant Monitoring and Research Program • Regional Monitoring Program • Aquatic Pesticide Monitoring Program • Regional Watershed Science Program • Regional Wetlands Monitoring Program • Biological Invasions
Regional Monitoring Program • Innovative partnership between government, dischargers, and scientists • Work closely with the Regional Board • $ 3 million/year of stable funding • Began in 1993 • World class monitoring • Major change in direction beginning in 2002
RMP Objectives • Compare monitoring information to relevant water quality objectives and other guidelines • Describe patterns and trends in contaminant concentration and distribution • Describe general sources and loading of contamination to the Estuary • Measure contaminant effects on selected parts of the Estuary ecosystem • Synthesize and distribute information from a range of sources to present a more complete picture of the sources, distribution, fates, and effects of contaminants in the Estuary ecosystem
RMP Components • Water Chemistry • Aquatic Toxicity • Sediment Chemistry • Sediment Toxicity • Bivalve Bioaccumulation • Fish • Pilot Studies • Special Studies
303(d) Listed Chemicals • Draft list from 11/01 • High Priority • Mercury, PCBs • Medium • Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrin, Diazinon • Low • Selenium, Dioxins, Furans, Dioxin-like PCBs
303(d) “B” Listed Chemicals • Draft list from 11/01 • Copper • Nickel • PAHs • PBDEs • Sediment Toxicity
PCB Concentrations in San Francisco Bay Fish Fillets, 2000
Mercury Concentrations in San Francisco Bay Fish Fillets, 2000
New Contaminants of Concern: Flame Retardants TetraBDE PentaBDE Triphenylphosphate HexaBDE Sources: textiles, household and industrial products Use: reduces flame capacity of materials Max level: ppt (ng/L) Sacramento River water Concern: endocrine system disruption, bioaccumulation
My Water Quality Report Card for the Bay • Getting Better • DDT, chlordane • Sloooow improvement • PCBs • Staying the Same • Hg • Getting Worse • PBDEs (?), Pyrethroids (?)