This feature layer contains polygons of the catchment, or\narea that drains to the water body, that contains waterbody segments where\nwater quality objectives are not being attained. The waterbodies in these catchments\nare listed under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act as impaired due to a\npollutant.<\/p>\n\n
Aluminum<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Aluminum is a naturally occurring element and is the\nmost common in the earth\u2019s crust. Aluminum is considered non-essential to\naquatic life since they do not need it to function. However, elevated levels of\naluminum can affect some species ability to regulate ions which can affect\nessential functions like breathing and can lead to death in fish species.<\/p>\n\n
Arsenic<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Arsenic is a naturally occurring semi-metallic chemical that\nhas been linked to several cancers. These include bladder, lungs, skin, kidney,\nnasal passages, liver, and prostate. Non-carcinogenic effects of arsenic\ninclude skin lesions, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive impairment.<\/p>\n\n
Benthic Community Effects<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Benthic macroinvertebrates include aquatic insect larvae,\ncrustaceans, mollusks, and worms that live at the bottom of rivers and streams.\nBecause they are ubiquitous, relatively stationary, and diverse, assessing\ntypes and numbers provides a range of responses to environmental pressures. Biological\npopulations and/or communities are compared to reference sites and may exhibit\ndegradation due to water quality or sediment concentrations. Water quality pollutants\ninclude chemical concentrations, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and trash.<\/p>\n\n
Dissolved Oxygen<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Dissolved oxygen is the amount of oxygen that is present in\nwater. Bodies of water receive dissolved oxygen from the atmosphere and aquatic\nplants. Faster waters typically hold more dissolved oxygen than still waters\nlike a pond. Dissolved oxygen levels must meet a certain threshold for aquatic\norganisms to survive.<\/p>\n\n
Indicator Bacteria<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Indicator bacteria are used to measure the potential\npresence of fecal material and associated fecal pathogens. They are bacteria\nthat are normally prevalent in the feces of warm-blooded animals including\nhumans, farm animals, pets, and wildlife. High presence of indicator bacteria\nshow that high levels of fecal matter may be in the waterbody, increasing the\nlikelihood of human illness during water contact recreation.<\/p>\n\n
Mercury<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Mercury often enters waterbodies from air sources like\ncoal-fired power plants whose particulates settle into nearby waters or from\nlegacy mining operations. Improper handling and disposal of products containing\nmercury could also release the chemical into the air and water. When a\nwaterbody is impaired for mercury, mercury can bioconcentrate in fish and other\naquatic organisms. Their consumption poses a human health risk, particularly if\nthe chemical form is methylmercury, which causes a variety of severe human\nillnesses.<\/p>\n\n
Nutrients<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are essential for\nplant growth and are fertilizer components. Excess nutrients, such as from\nagricultural runoff, can affect dissolved oxygen in waterbodies by accelerating\nthe growth of algae and aquatic plants. The subsequent decay of these organic\nmaterials quickly deplete dissolved oxygen, harming aquatic life and habitat.<\/p>\n\n
pH<\/b><\/p>\n\n
pH is an expression of hydrogen ion concentration in water.\nLow pH refers to acidic solutions, while high pH refers to basic solutions. The\npH of a water body can alter the chemical state of many pollutants, which can\nincrease the exposure of toxic metals and nutrients to aquatic plants and\nanimals. <\/p>\n\n
Sediment<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Sediment pollution refers to suspended organic and inorganic\nmatter that is largely contributed by erosion of soil. Sediment pollution can\nclog aquatic organism gills and impact their life cycle negatively. Sediment\nloads can also increase the cost of drinking water and can result in odor and\ntaste problems. Additionally, toxic chemicals become attached to sediment\nparticles that may be released into the environment.<\/p>\n\n
Temperature<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Higher than ideal temperatures can cause issues for aquatic\nlife in cold water habitats. Warmer waters also have decreased capacity for\ndissolved oxygen. Metals and other toxins are also more easily dissolved into\nwarmer waters and can increase toxicity of some substances to aquatic\norganisms.<\/p>
<\/p>
General Point of Contact: <\/b><\/p>\n\n
Lance Le, Water Resource\nControl Engineer <\/b><\/p>\n\n
Email:\nLance.Le@waterboards.ca.gov<\/b><\/p>\n\n
<\/p>\n\n
Integrated Report\nContact: <\/b><\/p>\n\n
Mary Bartholomew, Environmental\nScientist<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Email: Mary.Bartholomew@waterboards.ca.gov<\/b><\/p>\n\n
<\/b><\/p>\n\n
Description Sources:<\/b><\/p>\n\n
https://www.epa.gov/wqc<\/a><\/p>\n\n https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/plans_policies/<\/a><\/p>\n\n