RESOURCES

San Diego Region - Rainbow Creek Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus TMDLs

Click here to See Public Documents

Introduction

The California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Diego Region (Regional Board) has adopted Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus to address water quality impairments in Rainbow Creek. A TMDL allocates pollution control responsibilities among pollution sources in a watershed, and is the basis for taking the actions needed to restore a water body.

Rainbow Creek was placed on the 303(d) list of "water quality limited" water bodies in 1996 because data indicated that beneficial uses in the creek were impaired. Nutrient concentrations in Rainbow Creek did not meet the objective for nitrates in a municipal supply or the numeric goals for biostimulatory substances (total nitrogen and total phosphorus) contained in the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, Water Quality Control Plan for the San Diego Basin (9) (Basin Plan). Elevated nutrient concentrations have caused excessive algal growth in portions of the creek.

The staff report, titled "Basin Plan Amendment and Technical Report for Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus Total Maximum Daily Loads for Rainbow Creek", includes a problem statement, numeric targets, source analysis, load allocations, linkage between numeric targets and pollutants, a margin of safety, a discussion of seasonal variation and critical conditions, and an implementation plan and monitoring strategy. The staff report also addresses CEQA requirements (including the Environmental Checklist and Draft Certificate of Fee Exemption) and economic considerations.

On February 9, 2005, the Regional Board conducted a public hearing and adopted the amendment to the Basin Plan to include the Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus TMDLs and implementation plan. The State Water Resources Control Board, on November 16, 2005, and Office of Administrative Law, on February 1, 2006, subsequently approved the Basin Plan amendment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granted final approval of the TMDLs on March 22, 2006.

Public Documents

(All Documents are in PDF format unless otherwise noted)

Date Posted	Description
1-31-2007	RainbowCreek Nutrient TMDLs Transfer Plan
2-09-2005	Final Documents Resolution R9-2005-0036 Attachment A - Basin Plan Amendment
2-09-2005	Final Technical Report and Appendices for the Rainbow Creek TMDL Technical Report Appendices
2-09-2005	San Diego Regional Board Hearing - February 9, 2005. Powerpoint Presentation (PDF) Errata Sheet No. 1 Attachment No. 1 Errata Sheet No. 2
01-28-2005	Revised Technical Report for Rainbow Creek TMDL Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F - Load Allocations Nitrogen Appendix F - Load Allocations Phosphorus Appendix G Appendix H Appendix I Appendix J Appendix K Appendix L - Public Comment Letters Appendix M Appendix N Response to Comments from December 2004 Board Meeting
01-28-2005	Comment letters from: Caltrans - 12-07-2004 California Avocado Commission - 12-27-2004 California Avocado Commission - 12-1-2004 County of San Diego (Supplemental) - 12-28-2004 Section 8 Section 9 Section 10 County of San Diego - 12-08-2004 Farm Bureau - 12-23-2004 Farm Bureau - 11-24-2004 Hines Nursery - 12-29-2004 Hines Nursery - 12-01-2004 Richard Watson and Associates - 12-08-2004 US EPA - 12-03-2004
12-13-2004	Rainbow Creek Board Hearing Presentation on December 08, 2004.
12-08-2004	November 17, 2004 Public Workshop Workshop Agenda Workshop Presentation
10-21-2004	Documents related to November 17th, 2004 Workshop and December 8th, 2004 Public Hearing. Public Review Draft Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F - Load Allocations Nitrogen Appendix F - Load Allocations Phosphorus Appendix G Appendix H - Title Page Appendix H - Master Appendix H - Summary Appendix H - Statistics Appendix H - Total Costs Appendix I Appendix J Appendix K Appendix L - Public Comment Letters County of San Diego Hines Nurseries Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 USEPA San Diego County Farm Bureau Appendix M Appendix N
10-08-2004	Public Notice for Workshop and Public Hearing
3-26-2002	Documents related to May 8, 2002 Public Hearing Notice of Public Hearing - Basin Plan Amendment to include Rainbow Creek Nutrient TMDLs Draft Resolution No. R9-2002-0108 Draft Basin Plan Amendment Staff Report for Nutrient TMDLs for Rainbow Creek Attachment A - Figures Attachment B - Tables Attachment C - Photos Attachment D - List of Events Attachment E - Environmental Checklist Attachment F - Scientific Peer Review Attachment G - Response to Peer Review Comments
1-10-2000	Map of Rainbow Creek Watershed - (in JPG format)

For Additional Information

Implementing of the Rainbow Creek TMDLs is being overseen by the Northern Watershed Unit under the lead of Tony Felix. Please contact Mr. Felix with your questions or comments regarding the TMDLs at (858) 636-3134 or by email at TFelix@waterboards.ca.gov. You can also send postal mail to his attention at 9174 Sky Park Court, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92123-4340.