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<p>This feature layer contains lines representing waterbody
segments where water quality objectives are not being attained. The segments
are listed under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act as impaired due to a
pollutant. </p>
<p><b>Alkalinity/Hardness</b></p>
<p>Alkalinity measures the capacity of water to neutralize
acids. High alkalinity increases ammonia toxicity by shifting ionized ammonia
to un-ionized ammonia, which can cause stress, disease, and death in fish.
Hardness measures the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in water. High
hardness values result in high pH, which causes scale buildup in pipes and
residential appliances and increase toxic ammonia, which stresses fish. Low
hardness values result in low pH, which is corrosive to metal pipes and increases
metal toxicity to aquatic life. </p>
<p><b>Aluminum</b></p>
<p>Aluminum is a naturally occurring element and is the
most common in the earth’s crust. Aluminum is considered non-essential to
aquatic life since they do not need it to function. However, elevated levels of
aluminum can affect some species ability to regulate ions which can affect
essential functions like breathing and can lead to death in fish species.</p>
<p><b>Biostimulatory Conditions</b></p>
<p>Biostimulatory conditions (also referred to as
biostimulatory substances), are water quality conditions that facilitate
unwanted growth of aquatic plants, algae, and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).
Factors that affect biostimulatory conditions include nutrient loads, organic
matter loads, light availability, temperature, physical habitat alteration and
hydromodification. Harmful algal blooms of cyanobacteria can result from
biostimulatory conditions and can cause harm to humans and animals through the
production of cyanotoxins. Excess aquatic growth, commonly known as
eutrophication, can dramatically alter oxygen levels in water and harm aquatic
life. </p>
<p><b>Boron</b></p>
<p>Boron is a non-metallic naturally occurring element
found in rocks, soil and water. Boron can enter water bodies from both
naturally occurring and human processes. Acute exposure can cause a variety of
health impacts in humans and animals.</p>
<p><b>Copper</b></p>
<p>Copper is a naturally occurring element found in the earth’s
crust. It is also found in mining operations and agricultural runoff. Dissolved
copper in waterbodies binds to particulate matter to reduce bioavailability. Low
pH and low hardness increase copper leaching from pipes. Increased
bioavailability leading to high copper causes gill damage, reduces growth, and
increases death in fish.</p>
<p><b>Cyanobacteria</b></p>
<p>Cyanobacteria hepatotoxic microcystins are a class of
cyanotoxins that mainly affect the liver. Acute health effects from incidental
ingestion or inhalation of microcystins include abdominal pain, headache, sore
throat, vomiting and nausea, dry cough, diarrhea, liver inflammation and
hemorrhage, and pneumonia. Cyanotoxins can also cause rashes, blisters, and
other irritation through contact with the skin. Some scientific studies have
implicated cyanotoxins with tumor growth promotion.</p>
<p><b>Dissolved Oxygen</b></p>
<p>Dissolved oxygen is the amount of oxygen that is
present in water. Bodies of water receive dissolved oxygen from the atmosphere
and aquatic plants. Faster waters typically hold more dissolved oxygen than
still waters like a pond. Dissolved oxygen levels must meet a certain threshold
for aquatic organisms to survive.</p>
<p><b>Indicator Bacteria</b></p>
<p>Indicator bacteria are used to measure the potential
presence of fecal material and associated fecal pathogens. They are bacteria
that are normally prevalent in the feces of warm-blooded animals including
humans, farm animals, pets, and wildlife. High presence of indicator bacteria show
that high levels of fecal matter may be in the water body, increasing the
likelihood of human illness during water contact recreation.</p>
<p><b>Manganese</b></p>
<p>Manganese is a naturally occurring element that is an
essential nutrient for humans and animals. Although it is an essential nutrient
in low doses, chronic exposure to high doses can be harmful. These health
effects depend on a variety of factors including the exposure pathway; chemical
form; and the age and nutritional status of an exposed individual. In most
cases high manganese concentration affects the human nervous system.</p>
<p><b>Mercury</b></p>
<p>Mercury often enters waterbodies from air sources like
coal-fired power plants whose particulates settle into nearby waters or from
legacy mining operations. Improper handling and disposal of products containing
mercury could also release it into the air and water. When a waterbody is
impaired for mercury, mercury can bioconcentrate in fish and other aquatic
organisms. Their consumption poses a human health risk, particularly if the
chemical form is methylmecury, which causes a variety of severe human illnesses.</p>
<p><b>Nickel</b></p>
<p>Nickel is a commonly occurring metal in surface waters.
Certain conditions in the waterbodies may chemically alter nickel into a state
that is toxic to living things. In this toxic state, nickel can affect tissue
membranes like the gills of fish.</p>
<p><b>Pesticides</b></p>
<p>Pesticides—chemicals used to control insects, weeds, and fungi—can enter surface and groundwater through agricultural runoff, urban stormwater, and leaching from treated areas. In water systems, they often persist as both parent compounds and biologically active degradation products, threatening drinking water supplies and aquatic ecosystems by disrupting organism health and biodiversity. </p><p><b>pH</b></p>
<p>pH is an expression of hydrogen ion concentration in water.
Low pH refers to acidic solutions, while high pH refers to basic solutions. The
pH of a water body can alter the chemical state of many pollutants; this can
increase exposure to and toxicity of metals and nutrients to aquatic plants and
animals.</p>
<p><b>Phosphorus</b></p>
<p>Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant growth.
Phosphorus is bound to sediment and can enter waterbodies from erosion.
Excessive phosphorus load into waterbodies can cause increased growth of
cyanobacteria, algae, and aquatic plants which can result in decreased levels
of oxygen, which harms aquatic organisms. High levels of phosphorus can also
lead to harmful algal blooms of cyanobacteria that can have negative impacts on
human and animal health.</p>
<p><b>Sediment</b></p>
<p>Sediment pollution refers to suspended organic and inorganic
matter that is largely contributed by erosion of soil. Sediment pollution can
clog aquatic organism gills and impact their life cycle negatively. Sediment
loads can also increase the cost of drinking water and can result in odor and
taste problems. Additionally, toxic chemicals become attached to sediment
particles that may be released into the environment.</p>
<p><b>Sodium</b></p>
<p>Sodium is a highly reactive and generally highly water-soluble
metal that occurs in compounds with other elements in mineral deposits.
Increased sodium may mobilize contaminants such as metals and nutrients, which
can increase toxicity for aquatic life. High sodium concentrations in water can
cause stress and death in fish.</p>
<p><b>Specific Conductivity</b></p>
<p>Specific conductivity is a measure of the ability of water
to pass an electrical current. Because dissolved salts and other inorganic
chemicals conduct electrical current, conductivity increases as salinity
increases. Conductivity is also affected by temperature: the warmer the water,
the higher the conductivity.</p>
<p><b>Temperature</b></p>
<p>Higher than ideal temperatures can cause issues for aquatic
life in cold water habitats. Warmer waters also have decreased capacity for
dissolved oxygen. Metals and other toxins are also more easily dissolved into
warmer waters and can increase toxicity of some substances to aquatic
organisms.</p>
<p><b>Total Dissolved Solids</b></p>
<p>Total dissolved solids are dissolved solids that may include
organic and inorganic materials such as metals, minerals, salts, and
ions. A high concentration of total dissolved solids may affect water
treatment and have adverse effects upon consumption. Levels of total solids
that are too high or too low can also reduce the efficiency of wastewater
treatment plants, as well as the operation of industrial processes that use raw
water.</p>
<p style='margin-bottom:0in;'> </p>
<p style='margin-bottom:0in;'><b>General Point of Contact: </b></p>
<p style='margin-bottom:0in;'><b>Lance Le, Water Resource
Control Engineer </b></p>
<p style='margin-bottom:0in;'><b>Email:
Lance.Le@waterboards.ca.gov</b></p>
<p style='margin-bottom:0in;'> </p>
<p style='margin-bottom:0in;'><b>Integrated Report
Contact: </b></p>
<p style='margin-bottom:0in;'><b>Mary Bartholomew, Environmental
Scientist</b></p>
<p style='margin-bottom:0in;'><b>Email: Mary.Bartholomew@waterboards.ca.gov</b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>Description Sources:</b></p>
<p style='margin-bottom:0in;'><a href='https://www.epa.gov/wqc' target='_blank'>https://www.epa.gov/wqc</a></p>
<p style='margin-bottom:0in;'><a href='https://www.epa.gov/wqc' target='_blank'>https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/plans_policies/</a></p>
<p style='margin-bottom:0in;'><a href='https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/water_quality_assessment/' target='_blank'>https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/water_quality_assessment/</a></p> |