Objective: One tool that managers use to evaluate potential risk in the Southern California Bight (SCB) is to estimate mass emissions of constituents of concern. Managers use this tool to compare mass emissions among sources. Managers also use this tool to compare mass emissions over time from the same source to assess if discharges are increasing or decreasing in magnitude relative to other sources. In addition, managers can use this data to assess cumulative impacts in the SCB though the use of a mass balance model. Estimates of historical mass emissions can be compared to estimates of contaminant mass presently residing in the SCB developed as part of the SCB regional monitoring program (see 2003 REGIONAL MONITORING SURVEY).

SCCWRP has conducted mass emissions from a variety of sources at periodic intervals dating back to 1970. Estimates of mass emissions from large publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) have been conducted annually for the last 30 years. Estimates from other sources, such as small POTWs, industrial dischargers, dredged material disposal, urban runoff, oil platforms, vessel discharges, and aerial deposition have been conducted at a lesser frequency, but approximately every five years. SCCWRP’s last effort to characterize all sources occurred in 2000. The goal of this project is to once again estimate mass emissions from all sources for the 2005-2006 time period to: (1) assess the total mass emissions to the Southern California Bight; (2) determine the relative contribution of each source; and (3) evaluate trends in mass emissions from each source over the last 30 years.

Tasks: Data acquisition. Data will be acquired directly from annual, semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly effluent summaries reported to Regional Water Quality Control Boards. The data acquired will include flow, laboratory methods, and constituent concentrations. These self-monitoring results will be checked for adherence to quality assurance and comparability, then entered into our mass emissions database. Some sources are not monitored under an NPDES permit. These sources will be evaluated independently.

Data reduction and report preparation. Data reduction will involve mass loading calculations including estimates of uncertainty. These estimates will be prepared for each of the targeted sources. For the monitored point sources, we will calculate these estimates based upon flow and concentration. The smallest time intervals available (i.e., monthly) will be used and then summed for annual loads. Tables of mean annual concentration and total mass for the 2005-06 time period will be prepared. Report preparation will compare mass emissions among sources and assess changes in emissions over time from 1971 to 2005.

Project Status: This is an ongoing project. This year, we will compile discharge data from all sources over the past five years and assess the relative contribution of each source to total emissions to the SCB. In addition, we will begin the process of updating our mass emission database with 2005-06 discharge data for small POTWs and industrial dischargers.

Collaborators: There currently are no collaborators for this project.

Objectives: As pasturelands have been converted to cities, streams have been dammed, channelized, and diverted for water conservation and flood control purposes over the last 200 years, Southern California’s coastal watersheds have undergone dramatic transformations. In reaction to the highly altered nature of southern California’s urban watersheds, numerous watershed plans are currently being developed that include proposals to enhance and restore streams and wetlands to improve habitat quality, recreation opportunities, and water quality.

For restoration plans to be successful they must be based on an understanding of natural baseline or reference conditions, including the historic extent and condition of streams and floodplain wetlands. Currently, this information is not readily accessible to environmental managers, scientists, and the public, but it is vitally important for answering a range of key questions about the restoration potential of the watershed. Examples of key questions include where to restore streams, recommended native vegetation landscaping palette, effect of major stressors, and context for development of monitoring and assessment programs.

This project will begin filling the data gap on baseline conditions by examining the historic extent and distribution of wetlands in the San Gabriel Watershed and several proximate coastal estuaries. The objectives of this project are to develop a framework and infrastructure for compiling sentinel data sets on historic condition, and to use these data to evaluate how the distribution of wetlands have changed over time in response to key changes in land use or stream management.

Tasks: Develop historical data archive and database. A collection of existing studies, documents, maps, and related information pertaining to historical conditions, will be developed to serve as the foundation for an authoritative historical ecological analysis in the Project Area. This will result in a bibliography cataloging historical data sources, and substantial archives housed at a selected site in the watershed and at USC/Green Visions Project. The data collection phase will also contribute to public awareness and understanding of the project.

Develop historical land use maps and timeline. The ecological and geomorphic processes presently shaping the San Gabriel River watershed represent a combination of both natural factors and human activities. A functional understanding of the system requires knowledge about the specific history of land use activities and natural events (e.g., watershed-scale floods and fires) that have significantly impacted overall system function. In this task, we will identify both the time period and spatial extent of major management activities, including clearing, grazing, channelization, mining, and others, concentrating on the period of 1890-1930, but also providing land use change information through present day.

Digitize and georectify key historical data sets. Some of the most important historical data sources exhibit a high degree of spatial accuracy and thus have the potential to be directly useful for local science and planning. For example, the mapping of wetland features in 19th-century US Coast Survey maps can have a greater level of horizontal control than many standard modern maps (Grossinger 1995). In this task, we will create high-resolution digital scans and use several tested approaches to accurately georectify the selected historical maps and early aerial photography to modern coordinates. These products will provide the basis for GIS mapping in this project and will also have much broader utility for a wide range of applied uses including environmental management, agricultural management, and operations and maintenance. The digital scans will also provide a wealth of images for use by local resource managers, environmental organizations, and educators

Map historical wetlands and riparian areas. In this task, relevant priority data sources will be used to map wetland and riparian habitat present in the Project Area during key index periods. The habitats will be mapped using methods and classification systems that facilitate comparison with contemporary NWI maps to the extent possible given limitations in the historic data. These maps will be used to provide a landscape profile of wetland and riparian habitat distribution for the Project Area. A landscape profile is a term used to describe how the habitats are distributed across the watershed or geographic areas of interest. The results of an inventory are displayed by histograms or tables approximate area by categories of interest, such as subcatchment, political boundaries, stream order, habitat type, etc.

Research distribution of riparian vegetation community types and/or species. This task will provide information on the spatial distribution of riparian vegetation community types and species on representative geomorphic sections of the Project Area.

Communication and Outreach. The purpose of this task is to communicate the results of the project to stakeholder groups and the interested public through presentations and a final project report.

Project Status: This is the first year of a two-year project.

Collaborators: This project is being conducted in collaboration with the University of Southern California, California State University Northridge, San Francisco Estuary Institute, and the Los Angeles and San Gabriel River Watershed Council. The project is funded by grants from the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy and from USC Sea Grant.

Objectives: The US EPA is currently working with the State Water Resources Control Board to develop nutrient criteria that can be used as endpoints to protect the State’s waters from nutrient over enrichment. Nutrient criteria must be placed within the context of the Clean Water Action Plan to meet its primary goal of maintaining nutrient levels that support the health of aquatic systems and limit the excessive growth of macrophytes or phytoplankton, potentially harmful algal blooms leading to oxygen declines, imbalance of aquatic species, public health threats, and a general decline in aquatic resources.

The EPA Region IX nutrient criteria development program was initiated in 1999 and has focused primarily on fresh water systems including streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. While estuaries and coastal lagoons are an important resource, less progress has been made on developing a conceptual approach and defining nutrient criteria for these waterbodies.

The goals of this project are to provide technical support for the development of nutrient criteria in estuaries and lagoons. Specific objectives include: 1) develop a conceptual model for estuarine nutrient criteria development, 2) identify current research on nutrient related issues in southern California estuaries, 3) identify data gaps, and 4) draft a research plan to address those data gaps. Ultimately, these projects will lead to a multi-disciplinary research program with the aim of developing quantitative numeric nutrient criteria.

Tasks: Review Research on Nutrient Cycling in California Estuaries. Literature will be reviewed and a conceptual model will be developed that illustrates estuarine nutrient cycle pathways. This conceptual model will be used as a tool to identify potential secondary indicators of estuarine eutrophication. These indicators will provide the basis for the types of research and data that will be gathered for this task. SCCWRP will provide input on the conceptual model and classification system for estuaries. Based on the indicators illustrated in the conceptual model, SCCWRP will identify estuarine water quality and watershed data sources for each estuary located along Southern California’s Coast within the jurisdiction of Regional Boards 4, 8, and 9. Metadata on existing data sources will be collected using a 3-tiered, hierarchical approach. These three tiers are (1) existing monitoring data, (2) data from on-going projects, and (3) data from special studies. Potential data sources could include two types of data: “hard” data from water bodies as well as “soft” data acquired via modeling scenarios. Additionally, geospatial topographic and watershed land cover data will also be compiled.

Develop Estuarine Nutrient Criteria Research Plan. Data from Task 1 will be reviewed to identify data gaps and key uncertainties, as well as to refine the initial risk models and endpoints to make them more relevant to linking nutrient loads and use impairment. An estuarine nutrient criteria research plan will be developed to address these data gaps.

Project Status: This is first year of a one-year project.

Collaborators: This work is being conducted in collaboration with the TetraTech Inc. and is partially funded by US EPA Region IX.

Objectives: Newport Bay is the second largest estuarine embayment in southern California and provides critical natural habitat for terrestrial and aquatic species. The Lower Bay is a regionally important recreational area, with one of the largest pleasure craft harbors in the United States. The upper portion of the Bay is a state ecological reserve and provides refuge, foraging areas, and breeding grounds for a number of threatened and endangered species. The Bay is also a significant spawning and nursery habitat for commercial and non-commercial fish species. However, beneficial uses of the Bay are threatened by numerous sources of pollutant loading either directly, or by tributaries of its watershed. The watershed is rapidly converting from orchards and farms to an urban environment. High nutrient loads from the surrounding watershed have resulted in excessive growth of macroalgae (Enteromorpha and Ulva spp.) and impairment of the Bay’s designated beneficial uses. As a result, the RWQCB adopted a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Bay for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in 1998.

The large macroalgal blooms resulting from nutrient over-enrichment often adversely impact a number of aquatic system beneficial uses through reduction in water column dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations. To help protect beneficial uses, the spatial and temporal extent of hypoxic/anoxic events needs to be better understood and the link between algal blooms and reductions in DO levels in the Bay needs to be investigated. Monitoring of DO in the Bay to date has been insufficient to determine these linkages.

The goal of this study is to characterize the DO and macroalgae regimes of Upper Newport Bay (UNB). First, the spatial and temporal extent of hypoxia/anoxia in UNB will be determined through continuous monitoring of DO in surface and bottom waters. Second, macroalgal abundance will be estimated using remote sensing techniques during the period of DO sensor deployment to determine if there is a quantitative relationship between intertidal macroalgal abundance and the frequency of hypoxic events. The estimated abundance of macroalgae at points closest to the DO sensors will be used to help interpret the observed patterns in DO and any hypoxic episodes that occur. This interpretation will assist the Santa Ana RWQCB in development of DO criteria as a water quality management tool.

Tasks: Continuous monitoring of dissolved oxygen. Three buoys, each equipped with two multi-parameter sondes, will be deployed in UNB from May through December 2005 to determine the spatial and temporal extent of hypoxia in UNB (weather permitting). The sondes will measure DO, pH, temperature and conductivity continuously at 30 minute intervals at both the surface and near the bottom of the bay.

Macroalgal bloom time series remote sensing. To determine if there is a quantitative relationship between intertidal macroalgal abundance and the frequency of hypoxic events, macroalgal abundance will be estimated using aerial imaging techniques during the period of deployment of DO sensors in UNB. Quantitative field measurements of macroalgal abundance will be conducted coincident with the remote sensing. The in Bay data will serve as the true value to which the estimates made from aerial images will be compared.

Data analysis and reporting. Dissolved oxygen data will be analyzed for seasonal, diurnal, tidal, and spatial (lateral and vertical) patterns. Overall macroalgal abundance in discrete areas near sondes will be used in regression analysis to determine if there is a reliable, predictable relationship between macroalgal biomass and the occurrence of hypoxia. A report will be drafted summarizing the spatial and temporal patterns in DO and macroalgae and discussing the utility of using remote-sensing to measure macroalgal abundance.

Project Status: This is the second year of a two-year project. The first year focused on collection of field data and aerial images. The second year will complete data analysis and image interpretation.

Collaborators: This project is being conducted in collaboration with the Orange County Resources and Development Management Department, Irvine Ranch Water District and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (Dr. Krista Kamer). This project is partially funded with a Proposition 13 grant to the County of Orange.

Objectives: Upper Newport Bay (UNB), similar to many estuaries, contains sediments contaminated with a variety of chlorinated and organophosphorous pesticides including chlorpyrifos, diazinon, chlordane, oxychlordane, dieldrin, DDT, and toxaphene. The problem is especially of concern in UNB because this estuary is home to several rare or endangered species that may become a receptor for these toxic and/or bioaccumulative contaminants. Unfortunately, the sources for many of these pesticides are still unclear and this makes implementation of management actions to control and reduce sediment concentrations in UNB difficult.

The primary constraints that limit UNB managers from quantifying sources of the target pesticides are technological. First, many constituents are found at low levels, making measurement of these constituents difficult and costly. Second, many target constituents are subject to widespread use. For example, the organophosphate pesticides have commercial, agricultural, and homeowner applications. Third, several of the target constituents are legacy pesticides where the sources are no longer application, but vectors of redistribution. The sources may not be specific land uses or businesses, but instead may be transport mechanisms such as atmospheric deposition, contributions from erosional processes, or resuspension of bed sediments.

This project will employ two relatively new analytical methods to help identify the sources and fates of the targeted chlorinated and organophosphorous pesticides in UNB. The two new techniques are chiral gas chromatography (CGC) and compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA), which can provide new information that conventional methods are incapable of obtaining. Both CGC and CSIA will be applied to samples of wet and dry weather flows into UNB and atmospheric concentrations over UNB to generate enantiomeric fractions (EFs) of alpha- and gamma-chlordanes, oxychlordane, o,p’-DDT and DDD and selected toxaphenes, and the compound-specific stable carbon isotope ratios (IRs) of the target analytes. The EFs and IR fingerprints will be used to apportion the above-indicated transport mechanisms into various source categories for pesticide inputs, such as discharge from agricultural, commercial or household uses, resuspension of historically deposited pesticide-containing sediments, and long-range transport via the atmosphere.

Tasks: Determination of pollutant concentrations in stormwater and receiving water samples. Dissolved and suspended particulate phase samples during wet weather storm events will be collected and analyzed for TMDL regulated organic pollutants (DDTs, chlordanes) using GC-ECD and GC-MS. Following the wet season, bed sediments in the Bay at the mouth of the river will also be analyzed.

Contaminant source tracking and modeling. Organic pollutants that are elevated in concentration (e.g., p,p’-DDE) or exhibit chirality (e.g., o,p’-DDT, pyrethroids) will be analyzed by GC-C-IRMS] to quantify stable isotopic and by enantioselective GC to determine EFs. These measurements will be compared among stations and incorporated into a source apportionment model.

Project Status: This is the third year of a three-year study. The first and second years focused on field sampling and laboratory analysis. The third year will complete these activities and focus on reporting.

Collaborators: This project is being conducted in collaboration with University of California, Riverside (Dr. Jay Gan) and is partially funded by a joint State Water Resources Control Board/Department of Pesticide Regulation PRISM grant.

Objectives: Newport Bay is the largest wetland in Orange County and represents an important habitat for resident and migratory birds, including several threatened or endangered species (e.g., brown pelican, least tern, and osprey). It is also an important site for recreational fishing. Despite its ecological and recreational importance, portions of the bay are contaminated by chlorinated pesticides (DDTs, chlordane, dieldrin), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and trace metals. Elevated levels of DDT and PCB may also pose cancer risks to humans.

As a result of the potential water quality impairments from these contaminants, regulators have prompted the development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for this water body. The many species of birds that nest or feed in Newport Bay are important receptors for contaminants. A key step in estimating contaminant exposure risk to birds is to determine contaminants in their diet. Dietary uptake can be one of the major sources of exposure for wildlife and humans, particularly for bioaccumulative compounds like DDTs, PCBs, and selenium. Recent SCCWRP research has shown that most fishes examined in the Bay had levels of DDT above wildlife health-risk guidelines, many had elevated levels of PCB, and some had elevated levels of selenium.

The objective of this study is to assess the transfer of organochlorines and trace metals in food chain pathways in Newport Bay leading to threatened/endangered bird species or humans. We will measure several components of the diet for both pathways, focusing on invertebrates eaten by fish that are eaten by birds. Understanding the pathways of bioaccumulation will help managers assess the risk of these constituents in Newport Bay. In addition, we hope to identify fish species that could be used as surrogates for assessing ambient water quality relative to wildlife and human protection.

Tasks: Sampling and analysis of fish consumption. Samples of fish will be collected using beach seine and then their stomach contents will be examined. Stomach content analysis will be used to prioritize which prey species will need to be sampled and analyzed

Conduct chemical analysis of fish tissue samples. This task focuses on chemical analysis of composite samples of whole fish species that are eaten by piscivorous bird species in Newport Bay. Analysis will focus on PCBs, pesticides, and trace metals that may be detrimental to higher order predators.

Conduct chemical analysis of fish prey and sediment samples. Important prey items of fish species consumed by birds of concern as well as sediments will be analyzed for the same PCBs, pesticides, and trace metals found in the fish species.

Data analysis and reporting. Data will be analyzed to assess the potential flow of contaminants from sediments, to fish prey, to fish, to birds of concern. Descriptions of contaminant levels in separate trophic levels and several foodweb pathways leading to birds of ecological concern will be conducted. Ultimately, the data analysis will identify fish species that could be used as surrogates for assessing ambient water quality relative to wildlife protection.

Project Status: This is the third year of a three-year study. The first year focused on sampling logistics and production of a quality assurance plan. The second year focused on collection of fish for tissue analysis, fish stomach content analysis, and collection of fish prey and sediments. Chemical analysis of fish tissue, food organisms, and sediment was also begun in this year. The third year will complete chemical analysis of existing samples, data will be analyzed, and a draft and final report will be produced.

Collaborators: This project is being conducted in collaboration with California State University, Long Beach (Dr. Zed Mason) and University of California, Riverside (Dr. Daniel Schlenk), and Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board. It is partially funded by the State Water Resources Control Board through a Proposition 13 grant.

Objectives: With the increasing urbanization of coastal watersheds throughout southern California, discharges of nonpoint source pollution has increased dramatically. Requirements for municipal control of runoff quantity and quality have created a demand for wetlands as effective, low-cost best management practices (BMPs) to improve surface water quality and attenuate storm flows. Concurrent with this need, wetlands and riparian areas have been rapidly disappearing from the landscape, and those that remain are often highly degraded. As a result, there is increasing pressure to restore, enhance and create natural or artificial wetlands with a goal to offset loss of habitat.

As a result of a demand for water quality treatment and the need for habitat restoration, wetland projects are being proposed with multiple objectives. State and Federal agencies are soliciting proposals (i.e., Proposition 12, 13, 40, and 50 funds) to create wetlands that will support habitat, treat nonpoint sources of pollution, attenuate floods, and create recreational opportunities. However, there is virtually no information on the compatibility of these multiple uses. Scientists and managers alike are unsure if these proposals to use wetlands will comply with requirements of their Nonpoint Source goals or NPDES permits. As a result, there is an increasing need for more information on: 1) effectiveness of treatment wetlands as a BMP for urban runoff, 2) circumstances where wetland BMPs for urban runoff are not compatible with wildlife beneficial uses, 3) modifications to siting, design or management criteria that will mitigate adverse impacts to wildlife, and 4) minimum recommended criteria to monitor treatment effectiveness and impacts to wildlife.

The goal of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of wetlands for use as urban runoff BMPs, and their compatibility with wildlife beneficial uses in Southern California. Treatment wetland effectiveness and compatibility with wildlife beneficial use will be assessed in several stages. First, current and future planned projects will be inventoried and all relevant technical and project monitoring data will be compiled. Second, a baseline habitat survey will be conducted to evaluate wildlife beneficial use in a variety of treatment wetland system types. Results of the project evaluation and baseline habitat survey will be used to recommend interim guidance on minimal monitoring criteria and siting, design and management criteria. These criteria will help to improve BMP effectiveness and mitigate risk to wildlife. Third, a detailed study of treatment wetland effectiveness and compatibility with wildlife beneficial use will be conducted for at least one class/type of treatment wetland.

Tasks: Produce an inventory and GIS database of water quality wetlands in project area. This task will define “water quality wetland” projects to be included in the inventory, conduct a census of water quality wetland projects in the study area, and develop a GIS-compatible database of water quality wetland projects. Inventory data will consist of project technical data such as project type, size of treatment area, size of catchment basin, and treatment objectives. Monitoring data for the projects will be reviewed and a summary of each project’s monitoring program will be made, including indicators, sampling design, frequency, hydraulic and contaminant loading rates, treatment effectiveness, and impacts on or use by wildlife. In addition, project documentation will be reviewed and, where feasible, interviews with treatment system personnel will be conducted in order to review siting and design specifications, and maintenance procedures that can influence ability of treatment wetland to improve water quality and support wildlife.

Baseline Treatment Wetland Habitat Survey. The purpose of the habitat survey is to describe baseline biological conditions of sampling activities will describe baseline biological condition. Tier I sampling, which consists of habitat mapping and evaluation of general habitat condition using a rapid assessment method, will be used to describe the range and general condition of habitats found at 30-40 treatment wetlands and their reference sites. Tier II sampling represents more intensive evaluation of habitat condition and will be conducted on a subset of the sites (approximately 24 sites). Indicators of habitat condition used in this intensive survey include plant community composition, composition of benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI), fish, bird and herpetofaunal communities, and analysis of sediments, BMI and fish tissues for contaminants. This information will be used to evaluate the quality of habitat as well as the overall risk to wildlife that utilize these sites. In addition, it will also serve as the basis to prioritize a set of research questions that will drive the focus of a more intensive research study in the third task.

Study of treatment effectiveness and habitat value in a representative treatment systems. Based on the survey of wetland types/classes, targeted sampling will be conducted at a limited number of sites to determine treatment effectiveness and evaluation of wildlife beneficial use. It will assess important elements quantifying the magnitude of risk to wildlife relative to treatment efficiency and habitat value. Equally important, this task will help identify specific monitoring questions and designs for monitoring all treatment wetlands relative to wildlife risk.

Project Status: This is the third year of a four-year project. The first two years focused on compiling the inventory/database of treatment wetlands in southern California and designing the detailed sampling program with the project’s technical advisory committee. The third year will evaluate selected sites in terms of habitat quality, effectiveness, and potential ecological risk.

Collaborators: This project is being conducted in collaboration with the Los Angeles, Santa Ana and San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Boards, the California State Coastal Conservancy, and member agencies from the Southern California Wetland Recovery Project. This project is partially funded by the State Water Resources Control Board through a Proposition 13 grant.

Objectives: Current approaches to the assessment of wetland condition in southern California focus on site-specific questions, usually to address permit requirements or status of site-specific restoration work. These site-specific efforts are poorly coordinated and the absence of a consistent evaluation methodology precludes comparisons among sites or assessment of regional wetland condition.

The Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project (WRP) Science Advisory Panel has endorsed the need for a comprehensive southern California regional monitoring program to address these problems. They have suggested that implementation of a comprehensive regional monitoring program for southern California wetlands should include several components including: 1) assessment of ambient conditions of a range of wetland classes; 2) evaluation of progress towards regional restoration and ecosystem recovery goals; and 3) assess the effect of anthropogenic stressors that constrain recovery of individual wetlands or portions of entire watersheds.

The first step in achieving these objectives is to update and expand the existing inventory of wetland and riparian resources in Southern California. The second step is to develop an easy to use, cost-effective tool for site-specific wetland assessments that will complement landscape-scale assessment approaches. The development of a standardized methodology to evaluate wetland ecosystem structure and function would facilitate regional assessments and would streamline reporting of monitoring data, making them more accessible for routine evaluation of restoration and management techniques.

The goal of this project is to develop tools and initiate the development of a comprehensive regional monitoring program for southern California wetlands. There are two major objectives: 1) update and expand present-day and historical wetland inventories, making data layers GIS-compatible, incorporating additional data such as surrounding land use and infrastructure to allow analysis of anthropogenic stressors on wetland condition; 2) develop and verify rapid assessment methods to cost-effectively assess wetland condition as a function of anthropogenic stress and restoration progress; and 3) develop information management tools and regional capacity to track the net change in wetland acreage by habitat type from wetland projects (hereto referred as project tracking).

Tasks: Update/create present-day and historic inventories of wetland and riparian resources. SCCWRP staff will collaborate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) to create resource maps based on the Cowardin classification scheme. Additional attributes describing the hydrogeomorphic setting will be developed for use by NWI in their habitat mapping. An inventory of historic wetland acreage will also be established using U.S. Coast Survey maps (1850-1900). The historic wetland acreage will also be delineated, to the extent practicable, by habitat type. This information will be utilized by the WRP to guide regional restoration priorities identified in this assessment.

Develop and verify a rapid field methodology (CRAM) for assessment of wetland condition. The purpose of this task is to develop the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) to assess the condition of wetlands for use in a regional monitoring and assessment program. The method will be designed so that it can identify major stressors to the resource, evaluate ambient conditions, evaluate progress of restoration for multiple wetland classes throughout the State of California. Field metrics will be selected and scaled to address hydrology, biotic and abiotic structure. A provisional assessment will be completed to verify the draft CRAM.

Calibrate the CRAM for at least two wetland classes. The field verified version of CRAM will be calibrated for at least two priority wetland classes. Calibration will consist of collecting or compiling quantitative field data on wetland function or condition that can be used to develop scaling for CRAM metrics and attributes. Additionally, we will develop a consistent database for use by CRAM teams in southern California as well as other parts of the state for compilation and analysis of statewide data on wetland conditions.

Develop information management tools and regional capacity to for wetland project tracking. One central component of the WRP Integrated Regional Wetland Assessment Program is the evaluation of the net change in wetland acreage by habitat type. This evaluation is accomplished by 1) periodic region-wide updates in wetland and riparian habitat inventories and 2) tracking of projects (restoration, mitigation, etc.) that impact wetland habitat. This task consists of coordinating with state and federal agencies to create a process for update of Tracker databases through agency funding or permit conditions and developing data forms and information management infrastructure to implement project tracking in the region.

Project Status: This is the fifth year of a five-year project. The draft CRAM was developed and field verified during the first two years of this project. During the third and fourth years we calibrated CRAM for two wetland classes, initiated several demonstration projects, and initiated development of several information management tools. The fifth year will focus on completing the demonstration/pilot projects, developing a “landscape development (stressor) index, and coordinating with federal, state, and local agencies to develop strategies and tools for future implementation of CRAM. Development of appropriate information management vehicles to initiate project tracking activities in the region will also be completed during this year.

Collaborators: This project is being conducted in collaboration with the Southern California Wetland Recovery Project, California State Coastal Conservancy, San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), California Coastal Commission, Moss Landing Marine Laboratory, and the US EPA – Region IX and Office of Research and Development and is funded by the EPA Office of Water.

Objectives: Southern California coastal wetlands and watersheds have been dramatically altered or destroyed by human activities over the past 150 years, with riparian habitat reduced by 90-95%. Development pressure in coastal wetlands and watersheds continues to be intense, with a doubling of the 1995 population expected by 2020. Preservation and restoration of the remaining riparian habitat is critical for ecosystem management. However, with limited funding available for restoration, it is imperative that regional priorities are established to maximize the benefit of the resources expended on selected restoration projects

To set priorities for the preservation and restoration of riparian habitat, managers need to assess the location and relative condition of the remaining habitat. One reason this has not occurred already is because the variety, size, and extensive geographic scope of riparian areas in Southern California necessitates a tool that allows relatively rapid evaluation of the general condition of riparian resources at a broad spatial scale. Remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) technologies offer attractive options for achieving this goal in a more efficient manner than traditional “on-the-ground” assessments. These landscape-scale assessment techniques have the potential to be both fast and accurate for the needs of riparian ecosystem managers.

The objectives of this project are to: 1) develop the methodology to perform a landscape-scale assessment of ecological integrity of southern California coastal riparian resources, 2) evaluate the relative cost and benefit of using existing land use cover versus higher resolution (e.g., IKONOS, Quickbird) data to map riparian vegetation; and 3) apply these landscape-scale assessment techniques in five pilot watersheds in southern California. This work will form the scientific foundation for a decision support tool to identify riparian conservation and restoration priorities by the Southern California Wetland Recovery Project (WRP).

Tasks: Methods development. A methodology for conducting landscape-scale assessment of riparian ecological integrity at southern California spatial scales will be developed. Method development includes two steps: 1) development of assessment framework including selection of indicators and development of metrics to measure them; and 2) computer programming of assessment framework metrics to conduct analysis in five watersheds.

Evaluation of relative cost and benefit of remote sensing technologies for riparian mapping. This task will first acquire and process high-resolution (e.g., IKONOS, EMERGE) remote sensing data to map riparian vegetation a pilot watershed. Next, the cost and utility of using this high resolution data will be compared to using existing land use cover to map riparian vegetation. The comparison will be used to formulate a strategy to map riparian resources at a regional scales and will be coordinated with statewide efforts to generate wetland and riparian maps for the State of California.

Field evaluation. Application and evaluation of the landscape-scale assessment methodology will be conducted in five pilot watersheds (one from each of the five coastal southern California counties). Field verification of the assessment methodology will include comparison of results with more intensive assessments conducted during watershed planning feasibility studies (where available), and consultation with local experts. The results of the field evaluation will be used to refine the assessment methodology.

Reporting. Following the field verification exercise, a report will be prepared describing the rationale, structure, and application of the methodology and summarizing the results of the pilot application. Results will also be made available in a GIS format via the SCCWRP web site.

Project Status: This is the fourth year of a four-year project. Method development was completed during the first year. The second and third years focused on compilation of the remaining source data sets and the method was tested/refined in five southern California pilot watersheds. Final verification, pilot testing and reporting will be completed in the fourth year.

Collaborators: This work is being conducted in collaboration with the Southern California Wetland Recovery Project, the California State Coastal Conservancy and the Conception Coast Project, with funding from the NOAA Coastal Services Center.

Objectives: Southern California has experienced one of the highest proportional loss of wetlands relative to any state in the country. Both the Federal and State governments have expressed goals of short-term, no-net loss and long-term, net gain of wetlands. However, coordination of a comprehensive wetland protection and recovery strategy in California has been hindered by the fact that 17 Federal and State agencies share jurisdiction and responsibility for wetland stewardship, leading to administrative and bureaucratic challenges.

In 1997, the 17 Federal and State wetland management agencies formed the Southern California Wetland Recovery Project (WRP) with a goal of increasing regional coordination of wetland preservation, restoration and management. The WRP is now a partnership of Federal and State agencies working in concert with local government, environmental organizations, and scientists to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for preserving and restoring the region’s wetlands. The WRP consists of a Board of Governors and three standing committees: The Wetlands Managers Group (WMG) is responsible for drafting the regional restoration plan and advising the Governing Board on regional acquisition, restoration, and enhancement priorities; the Public Advisory Committee that represents community and interest group views to the Governing Board; and the Science Advisory Panel (SAP) that ensures that the best available science is incorporated into the decision-making processes of the WRP.

At the request of Board of Governors, SCCWRP staff provides technical assistance to the Science Advisory Panel, with the ultimate goal of improving the regional planning of wetland conservation, restoration, and management in southern California. SCCWRP staff provide technical assistance to the WRP by 1) developing and administering an extramurally-funded research program on the constraints to wetland restoration in Southern California, 2) procuring funding and technical assistance to implement the development of condition assessment, decision support, and other tools to aid the WRP in prioritizing and evaluating preservation and restoration projects, and 3) procuring funding and provide technical assistance to develop a regional wetlands monitoring program.

Tasks: Assist in the development of a region-wide WRP monitoring program. Development of a monitoring program is a logical extension of the goal development process, as monitoring should help quantify progress towards achieving goals. This process, carried out in conjunction with SCCWRP’s parallel project Integrated Wetland Regional Assessment Program, will include updating resource inventories, developing and validating landscape assessment and rapid assessment methodologies, guiding the selection of appropriate monitoring indicators, and exploring partnerships with other organizations interested in monitoring Southern California wetlands. As a part of this process, SCCWRP staff will collaborate on a WRP Science Panel position paper outlining in detail the conceptual framework for a comprehensive wetlands monitoring program.

Assist in the development of decision support tools for wetland preservation and restoration. SCCWRP staff is currently working with NOAA Coastal Services Center (CSC), the WRP Managers Group, and WRP Task Forces to develop a decision support tool for prioritizing funding of preservation and restoration activities in riparian corridors. As part of this process, SCCWRP will work to procure funding and facilitate the identification of data gaps and the development of the data infrastructure necessary to support project implementation.

Meeting support. This task includes conducting literature searches, preparing advisory reports, facilitating coordination among SAP members, and serving as a liaison between the SAP and the WRP Managers group.

Project Status: This is an ongoing project. Activities in previous years has included development of wetland regional monitoring and assessment tools, creating a plan for implementing the suite of tools for regional assessments of estuaries, and support for the Ballona Wetlands restoration effort. This year, activities will focus on a riverine wetlands regional assessment plan, developing detailed monitoring protocols and implementation strategy for regional estuarine assessment, and continued support of the Ballona wetlands restoration.

Objectives: Environmental managers often need to evaluate the significance of sediment contamination as part of water quality assessments, dredged material evaluations, or sediment cleanup activities. Many managers use sediment quality guidelines for these activities, which traditionally have been chemical specific values that try to predict the biological significance of sediment contaminant concentrations. A variety of sediment quality guidelines have been developed by various federal agencies and other states, but these guidelines differ from one another in the methods and data used to generate the values. In some applications, multiple lines of evidence, including biology, toxicology and chemistry, are used for sediment quality assessments. In the end, no consistent policy exists for the use of sediment quality guidelines for the assessment and regulation of sediments. As a result, the application of sediment quality guidelines is used inconsistently for environmental management decision-making.

The State of California intends to develop sediment quality objectives (SQOs) as an assessment tool for sediment contamination. The SQOs will include narrative descriptions of the condition to be protected and the associated analytical methods needed to determine whether the condition has been attained. The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) issued a plan in 1991 for the development of SQOs, but this workplan was never implemented. The SWRCB has renewed its pledge to develop SQOs and are committed to developing and incorporating SQOs into SWRCB policy. Because of advances in methods to assess sediment quality and an improved understanding of the relationship between chemical contamination and biological effects, the 1991 SQO workplan is no longer appropriate. A SQO development program is needed that reflects the current requirements of environmental managers in California, utilizes improved techniques for sediment quality assessment, and is applicable to local contamination patterns.

The goal of this project is to conduct the technical studies necessary for development and implementation of SQOs for California’s enclosed bays and estuaries. The project consists of four major elements. The objective of the first element is to evaluate the relationships between contamination and direct effects on the benthic macrofauna community. This element includes establishing a sediment quality database, developing tools for interpreting chemistry data and measuring toxicity and benthic community responses, and integrating the tools into objectives that utilize a multiple line of evidence approach. The second element includes studies to investigate the relationship between sediment contamination and risks to humans and wildlife related to contaminant bioaccumulation (indirect effects). The third element involves developing guidance for use of tools (e.g., chemistry and biological analyses) for implementing SQOs in the context of existing State of California programs. The fourth study element will include a summary and assessment of sediment quality in California bays and estuaries that will incorporate the draft objectives developed in this project. Each element will be conducted in two phases. Phase I includes the development of tools for assessing direct effects in marine embayments. Phase II includes the development of tools for assessing direct effects in estuaries and the development of tools for assessing indirect effects in marine and estuarine habitats.

Tasks: Revise SQO development workplan. The 1991 SWRCB workplan for the development of sediment quality objectives will be revised and updated to reflect recent developments in the field of sediment quality assessment. A Scientific Steering Committee (SSC), composed of scientists from government agencies, universities, and research organizations, will be established to help guide the SQO development process. Meetings with a Sediment Quality Advisory Committee composed of stakeholder groups and an Agency Coordinating Committee composed of key state and federal agencies that use sediment quality guidelines will also be held in order to assist the state in identifying and resolving issues related to developing and implementing SQOs.

Establish statewide sediment quality database. Relevant and reliable sediment quality data from the entire state will be compiled and integrated into a relational database to support the SQO development and verification activities. This database will include all of the recent (i.e., last 10 years) available data on sediment contamination, toxicity, and benthic community impacts for marine and estuarine areas of California. The types of studies that will comprise the database will include the SWRCB Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup studies, EMAP and other regional monitoring studies, NPDES monitoring, and site-specific dredging and TMDL studies. A database user’s manual will also be produced that describes the structure of the database and provides instructions for exporting information and adding new records.

Refine benthic community assessment tools. Statistically-based indices for assessing benthic community impacts have recently been developed for the Southern California Bight. These indices will be refined and analyses conducted to develop similar tools that are applicable to other regions of the state. Existing benthic community data from areas north of Point Conception will be analyzed to determine the adequacy of the data for index development in that portion of the state. Samples will be collected from selected locations in California bays and estuaries and analyzed for benthic community composition, contamination, and toxicity. These data will be used to develop improved tools to identify benthic community impacts from stress due to anthropogenic factors. This task will be conducted in parallel with additional benthic community assessment tool development projects at SCCWRP.

Assess relationships between contamination and effects. Analyses of the statewide database will be conducted to identify relationships among sediment contamination, habitat characteristics, and biological responses. The influence of differences in contamination patterns, sediment physical characteristics, and benthic community assemblages on response to contamination will be investigated. The efficiency, sensitivity, and specificity of selected sediment guidelines developed for other programs to predict biological effects in California will be evaluated.

Develop tools for assessing aquatic life impacts. The results of analyses conducted in prior tasks will be used to select methods for assessing three lines of evidence (i.e., benthic community health, toxicity, and sediment chemistry) that will be used to determine whether the narrative sediment quality objectives established by the State for direct effects have been met. Numeric thresholds that describe the level of impact present will be established for each line of evidence.

Develop tools for assessing bioaccumulation-related risks. The performance of various models to predict the accumulation of contaminants (i.e., the biota-sediment accumulation factor or BSAF) in the tissue of California sediment-associated fish and invertebrates will be investigated. Case studies in San Francisco Bay, Newport Bay, and the San Francisco Bay Delta will be conducted in an effort to evaluate methodologies for relating sediment contamination to exceedence of risk-based tissue thresholds in fish or shellfish consumed by humans or wildlife. The case studies will incorporate the application of bioaccumulation models and develop a data integration framework that identifies the process and factors necessary to assess whether sediment quality objectives for bioaccumulation-related impacts have been met.

Develop implementation program. Frameworks for integrating data from multiple lines of evidence and assessing impacts from direct and indirect effects will be developed. These frameworks will identify procedures to integrate data from multiple analyses that result in a categorical assessment of each station relative to the degree of impact present. Guidance manuals will be developed that describes appropriate procedures for the collection and analysis of sediment samples for chemical contamination, toxicity, benthic community condition, and bioaccumulation potential. Descriptions of methods to identify the cause of toxicity that are based on related SCCWRP research will be included (see Development of Methods to Characterize Sediment Toxicity in the Southern California Bight). The implementation program will also describe procedures for the use of SQOs in various activities, such as assessment of impaired habitats, cleanup of impacted areas, and monitoring. Different procedures may be developed for different types of applications.

Summarize sediment quality in bays and estuaries. A summary report will be prepared that describes the quality of sediments within California’s enclosed bays and estuaries. The report will summarize recent information on the extent of contamination and biological impacts, and also evaluate sediment quality using the SQOs developed under this program.

Project Status: This is the fifth year of a nine-year project. The development of work plans for various project elements, establishment of advisory and steering committees, compilation of sediment quality data and initiation of data analysis, and sampling to refine benthic indices for Phase I were completed during the first three years. The third and fourth years focused on data analyses, selection of tools for each line of evidence, and development of an assessment framework for implementing Phase I of the SQO program. The fifth year will focus on completing the implementation guidance and sediment quality assessment for Phase I, as well as planning for the Phase II activities.

Collaborators: This project is being conducted in collaboration with numerous regulated, regulatory and non-governmental organizations and is funded by the SWRCB.

Objectives: Sediment toxicity tests from regional monitoring in 1998 and 2003 showed significant toxicity to amphipods in both offshore, estuary, and Bay/Harbor areas. Identification of the cause(s) of toxicity is needed before the toxicity results from regional surveys, or other studies, can be used to guide management or regulatory responses, such as cleanup or TMDLs. Conventional toxicity tests and chemical analyses are rarely sufficient to identify the cause of toxicity because elevated concentrations of multiple contaminants are usually present in a toxic sample, along with changes in other important factors such as sediment organic carbon content or grain size. Focused toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) studies are needed to help determine the cause of toxicity.

An essential step in a TIE is characterization, in which experiments are conducted to determine the general classes of toxicants (e.g., metals, nonpolar organics) present. Standardized characterization methods are available for water samples (e.g., effluents) and usually consist of the addition of substances designed to remove or neutralize specific classes of toxicants. In contrast, toxicity characterization methods are rarely applied to sediments and no standard methodology has been developed. SCCWRP has been developing methods for southern California and initial results are promising. Still, insufficient information is available to allow the selection of those methods that are best able to discriminate among the complex mixture of chemicals often present in sediment samples.

The goal of this project is to further refine sediment toxicity characterization strategy for use in southern California. We will investigate chemical manipulations of bulk sediment and or interstitial water to alter contaminant bioavailability. In particular, we will focus on manipulations that will identify organic contaminants, such as pesticides, as potential toxicants of concern.

Tasks: Examination of bulk sediment and porewater TIE methods. Sediments from Newport Bay, San Diego Bay, and other locations will be tested using TIE methods to characterize the types of toxicants present in both bulk sediment and porewater. The results will be compared to determine whether each type of method identifies similar toxicant types (e.g., metals or nonpolar organics) as being present.

Development of methods to identify pesticide toxicity. The metabolic inhibitor piperonyl butoxide (PBO) has been successfully used to characterize organophosphate (op) pesticide toxicity in water samples, but the utility of this treatment for sediment is unknown. The efficacy of using PBO to eliminate sediment toxicity due to op pesticides will be examined using sediments spiked with diazinon or chlorpyrifos. Additional methods to identify toxicity due to pyrethroid pesticides will be investigated. Changes in toxicity will be measured using the amphipod Eohaustorius estuarius.

Evaluate sediment fractionation methods. Standard methods for extracting metal or organic contaminants from sediments are highly disruptive, nonspecific, and have limited compatibility with toxicity test procedures. Two methodologies for extracting toxicants from sediments for subsequent fractionation will be investigated. The first method will use the addition of resins designed to have an affinity for particular classes of contaminants to the sediment. The second method will use supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) for selectively extracting contaminants from sediments. Experiments will be conducted to determine whether these methods are compatible with sediment toxicity test procedures and whether variations in resin composition or SFE operating parameters are useful in characterizing or identifying sediment toxicants.

Investigate TIE accuracy and reproducibility. An interlaboratory comparison to document the comparability of sediment toxicity characterization procedures will be conducted. Toxic field and spiked sediments will be tested by multiple laboratories experienced in sediment TIE methods. Each lab will use similar TIE methods and the results will be compared to determine if the same types of toxicants are identified.

Project Status: This is the second year of a three-year study. Initial experiments to investigate methods to identify pesticide toxicity and extract sediments for fractionation were conducted in the first year. The second year will focus on refining the candidate extraction methods and evaluating the effectiveness of additional methods for identifying pesticide toxicity.

Collaborators: This study is being conducted in coordination with the U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory in Narragansett (Rhode Island) and the UC Davis Environmental Toxicology Department.

Objectives: The State of California is rapidly progressing towards the development of sediment quality objectives (SQO) (). Measurements of the bioavailable fraction of pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), PCBs and chlorinated pesticides in contaminated estuarine sediments are key in the development and evaluation of SQOs.

Currently, measuring the dissolved, or bioavailable, fractions of trace organic contaminants is difficult and expensive. Frequently, existing methods lack the sensitivity needed to determine concentrations that can lead to aquatic life impairments. Passive methods that measure the dissolved phase fraction of sediment-associated pollutants offer clear advantages over traditional, costly and time-consuming ex situ techniques. However, passive methods to date have suffered from several challenges including predictive ability, reproducibility, and durability. SCCWRP has recently developed a new passive in situ sampler called solid phase microextraction (SPME) that are simple and inexpensive yet possess the sensitivity needed to address biological impacts. Previous deployments found trace organics in the water column overlying contaminated sediments.

The goal of this study is to develop and test an in situ sediment porewater sampler for hydrophobic organic pollutants based on SPME technology. Specifically, we will perform experiments to calibrate SPME fibers for a suite of environmentally relevant PAH, optimize the design and configuration of the SPME-based sampler, and determine the conditions under which the sampler can be deployed in laboratory assays as well under field conditions.

Tasks: Prototype sampler testing in sediment-water systems. A prototype sampler will be evaluated in sediment-water microcosms. Comparison of dissolved phase concentrations as measured by the SPME sampler with those determined by conventional techniques (i.e., porewater extractions) will be made over a range of sediment characteristics and pollutant concentrations. Predictions of SPME sampler performance using a theoretical model developed in Year 1 will be validated using sediment column experiments.

Comparing SPME bioavailability with invertebrate bioaccumulation. The prototype sampler will be co-exposed with live benthic organisms to native and radiolabeled HOCs amended into replicated bedded sediment-water microcosms using standard bioaccumulation test protocols. The effectiveness of the SPME sampler as a “biomimic” will be determined using the relationship between SPME-sorbed and tissue concentrations of model pollutants for different test species; spiked sediments with varying organic carbon content; and pristine and contaminated field-collected sediments.

Laboratory and data analysis. Loaded SPME fibers will be analyzed by thermal desorption GC/MS. Total pollutant mass sorbed by SPME fibers will be related to aqueous (porewater) concentrations and regressed against other measures of bioavailability (e.g., invertebrate body burdens). The expanded list of target analytes will include PAH, PCBs, DDTs, chlordanes and various other chlorinated hydrocarbon legacy contaminants.

Duration: This is the second year of a four-year study. Sampler prototypes were optimized in the first year. The second year will initiate prototype bioavailability testing.

Collaborators: This project is conducted in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and is partially funded by the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Technology (CICEET).

Objectives: Many of southern California’s creek mouths have relatively high levels of contamination, particularly those at the mouths of highly urbanized watersheds. As a result, urban creek mouths (i.e., Ballona Creek, Dominguez Channel, San Diego Creek, Chollas Creek, etc.) have been placed on the State of California’s list of impaired waterbodies. To restore these urban waterways, the State of California is developing total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) to minimize/reverse their impact on beneficial uses. To generate defensible TMDL targets, however, all major sources and transport pathways within a given waterbody must be characterized.

Because many classes of toxic compounds (e.g. metals, PAHs) are associated with erosional sediments and/or urban runoff, most effort to date has focused on quantifying pollutant loading during wet weather events. For persistent contaminants, including most legacy toxic organics (e.g., chlordanes, DDT, PCBs), present day loading due to wet weather events may be small compared with historic in situ sources such as bedded sediments. Thus, the contribution of dissolved and particulate-bound pollutant sources originating upstream relative to those originating from in situ sources are needed to apportion loading contributions. However, few if any of these measurements are made because they are logistically and technically difficult to accomplish. For example, the sensitivity of many methods is insufficient to achieve water column concentrations that are meaningful for estimating flux.

The objectives of this study are: 1) test and compare passive in situ water column samplers for measuring trace organics contaminants; 2) measure bedded sediment and water column concentrations of trace organic contaminants during low flow conditions; and 3) quantify source loading and flux through a coastal waterbody, including in-stream and bedded sediment sources, using a box model approach. New methods are becoming available and hold much promise (see In situ measurement of toxic organic compounds in sediment porewater), but comparisons among samplers are relatively untested. In this study, we will compare two of these new sampling techniques (solid phase microextraction vs. polyethylene extraction devices). Ultimately, this study will determine the relative importance of watershed vs. bedded sediment sources to the water column contributions of these trace organic contaminants.

Tasks: Compare performance of SPME and polyethylene devices (PEDs) for in situ measurements of organic pollutants. Using laboratory microcosms, calibration parameters for TMDL regulated organic pollutants (PAH, PCBs, DDTs, chlordanes, dieldrin) for both SPME fibers and PEDs will be catalogued. Sampler detection limits and precision for each device will be estimated under a range of environmental conditions (temperature, salinity, total suspended solids) expected in situ.

Site selection. Historical data on organic pollutants in the water column and sediments of Ballona Creek will be reviewed to determine sites for in situ SPME measurements and sediment grain size and metals analysis. A minimum of four sites in the Ballona Creek estuary will be selected for sampler deployment, with one site each located at the far upper (freshwater member) and lower (ocean member) reach of the estuary.

SPME deployment and sediment collection. During stable low flow conditions, SPME water column samplers will be deployed at multiple depths for up to 30 d. Discharge will be recorded over the deployment period so that dry-season loadings may be estimated.

Sediment and water column grain size/particle analysis. Bedded sediment grabs in depositional areas will be collected and analyzed for grain size, organic and trace metal pollutants in support of Year 2 partitioning and flux modeling. The particle size distribution of resuspended sediment will be characterized in situ (using a LISST 100X particle-size analyzer) near sediment collection stations.

Duration: This is the first year of a two-year study.

Collaborators: This project is conducted in collaboration with Loyola Marymount University (Dr. Rachel Adams) and is partially funded by the City of Los Angeles and the USC Sea Grant Program.