Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program - (BPTCP)

Sediment Quality Objectives

Sediments in bays and estuaries are often contaminated with a variety of pollutants stemming from sources including industrial and agricultural discharges, municipal wastewater treatment plants and stormwater. Exposure to contaminated sediments can have a significant effect on the health, diversity and abundance of invertebrates such as clams and worms. Foraging fish and birds may also be exposed by ingesting contaminated invertebrates or sediments. In turn, those organisms consuming contaminated fish may be exposed to toxic pollutants. These effects underscore the need to develop sediment quality objectives that protect aquatic ecosystems and human health.

The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) intends to develop and adopt sediment quality objectives (SQOs) for enclosed bays and estuaries. This process will require approximately four years to complete. This page contains links to information on the State Water Board's progress.

• State Water Board Preliminary Draft Phase II Sediment Quality Objectives Proposal.
  
  

Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California - Water Quality Control Plan
The State Water Board will hold a public hearing November 19, 2007 to seek comments on the proposed Water Quality Control Plan for Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California, Sediment Quality Objectives. 

• Revised Notice of Public Hearing
  • Public Comments- Deadline extended to November 30, 2007 (Noon)
• Notice of Public Hearing
• Public Hearing Presentations
  • Staff Presentation
  • Single LOE versus MLOE Presentation
    

Draft Staff Report and Draft Water Quality Control Plan for Enclosed Bays and Estuaries - -
Part 1 Sediment Quality

• Revised Staff Report

• Revised Appendix A - Draft Water Quality Control Plan for Enclosed Bays and Estuaries - -Part 1 Sediment Quality
• Revised Appendix B - Environmental Checklist
• Revised Appendix C - Example Problem
• SQO Technical Reports
  • Evaluation of Methods for Measuring Sediment Toxicity in California Bays and Estuaries, SCCWRP Technical Report 503
  • Level of Agreement Among Experts Applying Best Professional Judgment to Asses the Condition of Benthic Infaunal Communities, SCCWRP Technical Report 523
  • Evaluation of Five Benthic Indicators of Benthic Community Condition in Two California Bay and Estuary habitats. SCCWRP Technical Report 524.
  • Evaluating the Consistency of Best Professional Judgment in the Application of a Multiple Lines of Evidence Sediment Quality Triad, SCCWRP Final Draft Technical Report.
  • SQO Database and Users Guide
  • Framework for Interpreting Sediment Quality Triad Data, SCCWRP Draft Final Report
  • Sediment Quality in Bays and Estuaries of California, SCCWRP Draft Final Report
  • Comparison of National and Regional Sediment Quality Guidelines for Predicting Sediment Toxicity in California, SCCWRP Draft Final Report
    
  • Development and Evaluation of Sediment Quality Guidelines Based on Benthic Macrofauna Response SCCWRP Draft Final Report
• Peer Review Request
  • John P. Knezovich
  • Linda C. Schaffner
  • David L. Sedlak
  • Dominic M. Di Toro
    
    
• Revised Economic Analysis

• Status Report Workshops and Public Scoping Meetings
  The State Water Board will  hold status report workshops and public scoping meeting on Sediment Quality Objectives for Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California.  The purpose of these workshops and public scoping meetings is to seek input on the scope and content of the environmental information to be included in the draft environmental document prepared to support the proposed sediment quality objectives and implementation policy.
  
  • Supplemental Agreement and Stipulated Further Order, dated March 19 2007
  • Staff CEQA Scoping Document - Development of Sediment Objectives for Enclosed Bays and Estuaries
    • Public Notice
    • Comments - Deadline extended to: November 28, 2006 at 5:00 p.m.
  • Workshops/Meetings
    • November 28, 2006 - Sacramento
    • November 8, 2006 - San Francisco
    • October 23, 2006 - San Diego
      
      
• Stakeholders Meeting: Sediment Quality Objectives Development within the Delta, April 13, 2006
  • Meeting Agenda
    
    
• Annual Status Report, State Water Board Workshop: July 6, 2005
  
  
• 2004 Sediment Quality Objectives Program Status Report Workshop Presentation: July 7, 2004
  
  
• Revised Workplan
  • Revised Workplan to Develop Sediment Quality Objectives - As amended at the May 6, 2003 Workshop, and approved at the May 21st Board Meeting.
  • Responses to Comments - Draft Revised Workplan for the Development of Sediment Quality Objectives for Enclosed Bays and Estuaries of California, dated March 19, 2003

• Committee Pages
  • Agency Coordination Committee
  • Sediment Quality Objectives Advisory Committee
  • SQO Scientific Steering Committee (updated 7/17/07)

• Indicator Research Proposals
  
  
• Technical Information and Links

For more information, contact Chris Beegan at (916)341-5577 or cbeegan@waterboards.ca.gov.

[ updated 6/30/08 ]