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Development of Sediment Quality Objectives for California Bays and Estuaries

Development of sediment quality objectives for California bays and estuaries, including database development, benthic indices, sampling methods, toxicity methods, and assessment tools.

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Development of Sediment Quality Objectives for California Bays and Estuaries

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  1. Development of Sediment Quality Objectives for California Bays and Estuaries Steven Bay Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) steveb@sccwrp.org Project Update

  2. Project Activities

  3. Science Team • Contracts and work initiated with most of the key technical partners • San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) • Database development, benthic indices • Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML) • Benthic indices, sampling methods • Marine Pollution Studies Laboratory (MPSL) • Toxicity methods • EXA Data and Mapping • Database development • Other consultants will be added for specific elements

  4. Scientific Steering Committee • Dr. Todd Bridges, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ERDC • Dr. Dan Dauer, Old Dominion University • Tom Gries, Washington Dept. of Ecology • Chris Ingersoll, U.S. Geological Survey • Dr. Scott Ireland, U.S. EPA, Office of Water • Dr. Peter Landrum, NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab • Edward Long, ERL Environmental • Donald D. MacDonald, MacDonald Environmental Services • Gail Sloane, Florida Department of Environmental Protection • Dr. Dominic DiToro, Hydroqual Inc. • Dr. Paul Dayton, Scripps Inst. of Oceanography

  5. Direct Effects • Sediment quality database development • Chemical effects analysis • Toxicity method comparison • Benthic community assessment tool development • Integration of triad into objectives

  6. Database • Revised data format to accommodate bioaccumulation data and simplify structure • Incorporating additional data • San Diego Bay • Newport Bay • San Francisco Bay (RMP & others) • EMAP 1999 & 2000 • Inventoried additional San Francisco Bay data for inclusion (SFEI) • Dredging studies • Military base clean up studies • Richmond Harbor and airport expansion studies • Updated inventory will be distributed for comment in February

  7. Benthic Community Assessment Tool Development • Refine Benthic Response Index (BRI) • Improve effects gradient data for Southern California • Additional index validation • Investigate applications for San Francisco Bay • Investigate alternative assessment tools for other regions of State • San Francisco Bay approach • RIVPACS • Compare/standardize sampling methods • Sampling gear • Sieve sizes

  8. Benthic Community Assessment Tool Development • Refine Benthic Response Index • Sampled 20 “high impact” sites in summer 2003 • Joint project with SFEI to examine BRI utility for SF Bay

  9. Benthic Community Assessment Tool Development • Investigate alternative tools • Joint effort with SFEI to examine SF Bay approach • Joint effort with TetraTech to examine RIVPACS approach • Evaluation of community zonation along Pacific Coast

  10. Benthic Community Assessment Tool Development • Comparison of sampling methods • Comparison of sieve sizes underway • Over 100 samples from multiple habitats • Planning for sampling gear comparison • Compare grab types and cores • Sampling planned for summer 2004

  11. Toxicity Method Comparison • Evaluation of candidate chronic sediment toxicity test methods • 15 stations from So. Calif. and S.F. Bay • 6 methods will be compared to acute amphipod toxicity, chemistry, and benthos • Amphipod growth and reproduction • Polychaete growth • Copepod reproduction • Juvenile clam growth • Oyster embryo cell integrity • Mussel embryo development • Data from first phase testing received • Subsequent studies will depend upon results

  12. Indirect Effects • Evaluation of models for sediment-fish transfer • Identify most useful approaches • Understand data needs and uncertainty • Case study to link sediment contamination to human/predator risk • Site-specific data for selected contaminants and receptors • Identify methods and data needs for application in other areas • Working with SFEI to develop scope and workplan

  13. Method Manuals • Field sampling • Benthic sampling method comparisons • Chemical contamination • Toxicity • Chronic test comparison • Bioaccumulation potential • Benthic community impact • Assessment tool development • Information management

  14. Assessment • Sediment Quality Summary • Describe extent and magnitude of impacts in bays and estuaries • Assessment based on draft objectives Toxicity • Requires representative data • EMAP, NOAA, Bight surveys

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