Report outlines strategy for protecting coastal wetlands Coastal resources managers have an opportunity to increase the total size of Southern California’s coastal wetlands in the coming decades even as rising sea levels permanently submerge existing wetland areas, ... More |
Science workshop to jump-start planning for microplastics monitoring in California Leading international experts on aquatic microplastic pollution will convene at SCCWRP this spring to begin exploring how California could monitor microplastic particles in drinking water and the coastal ocean, a ... More |
New modeling tool to help speed up causal assessment work SCCWRP and its partners have developed a statistical modeling tool for conducting causal assessments that could help shave a year or more off the time required to narrow down potential ... More |
Puget Sound study shows coastal estuaries could be impacted by acidification SCCWRP and its partners have shown in a set of preliminary analyses of Washington’s Puget Sound that coastal estuary environments have the potential to be impacted by ocean acidification (OA) ... More |
Scoring tool developed to quantify habitat condition SCCWRP and its partners have developed a statewide scoring tool for quantifying the condition of a stream’s physical habitat, enabling watershed managers for the first time to readily interpret and ... More |
Science tools for proposed stream biointegrity-biostimulatory policy released in draft form The State Water Board has published draft versions of a suite of technical reports, journal manuscripts and tools co-authored by SCCWRP that will serve as the technical foundation for the ... More |
New workgroup to standardize DNA-based methods for routine aquatic monitoring The California Water Quality Monitoring Council has formed a statewide workgroup to be led by SCCWRP that will examine how to bring greater consistency and standardization to DNA-based analysis methods ... More |
Environmental flows study to determine impacts of diverting discharges from L.A. River Water-quality managers that work in the Los Angeles River watershed have initiated a two-year study to determine the potential ecological and recreational effects of diverting treated wastewater effluent and runoff ... More |
Ephemeral stream scoring tools being transitioned to management use A new set of tools co-developed by SCCWRP to assess the condition of ephemeral streams when they are dry is being transitioned to pilot testing by the end-user management community. ... More |
Effort launched to develop West Coast DNA barcoding library for marine invertebrates The Smithsonian Institute has partnered with SCCWRP, the Southern California Bight 2018 Regional Monitoring Program and the Western Association of Marine Labs to begin developing a DNA barcoding library that ... More |
Agreement reached on DNA processing, analysis methods for stream food webs study The technical advisory group for a study examining how ecological stress alters the complexity and interconnectedness of stream food webs has reached agreement on the DNA processing and analysis methods ... More |
Santa Margarita River study examining how to develop ‘climate-ready’ eutrophication targets SCCWRP and its partners have begun investigating how climate change could influence efforts to reduce eutrophication in the Santa Margarita River watershed, part of a five-year study exploring how to ... More |
Expert panel convened to develop acidification thresholds for echinoderms SCCWRP has convened a nine-member panel of leading experts on sea stars, urchins and other echinoderms to reach agreement on how to use these organisms to track ocean acidification’s biological ... More |
Acidification modeling effort being expanded to toxic marine algal blooms Researchers working to develop a West Coast computer model that predicts how land-based nutrient sources influence coastal ocean acidification and hypoxia are expanding the effort to examine the potential role ... More |
Advisory committee to review workplan for study revisiting copper TMDL in Marina del Rey Harbor A technical advisory committee in December is scheduled to review the draft workplan for a study examining whether existing regulatory targets for dissolved copper in Marina del Rey Harbor ... More |
SCCWRP and its partners in October completed the second and final round of field sampling for a study investigating whether legacy contaminants found in the tissue of San Diego Bay ... More |
SCCWRP and its partners have launched a three-year study to evaluate potentially cheaper, more precise sampling and analysis methods for tracking cyanotoxin levels in streams and lakes in the Los ... More |
SCCWRP and its partners have initiated a year-long study to investigate whether fecal contamination at Imperial Beach near the U.S.-Mexico border can be linked to primary-treated effluent being released into ... More |
Field sampling completed for Bight ’18 Sediment Quality element Participants of the Southern California Bight 2018 Regional Monitoring Program’s Sediment Quality element have finished collecting seafloor sediment samples from about 400 sites across the Southern California Bight. The field ... More |
Bight ’18 HABs element developing method to track impacts of cyanotoxins in coastal waters The Harmful Algal Blooms element of the Southern California Bight 2018 Regional Monitoring Program has begun working to develop an assessment method for tracking the ecological impacts of freshwater cyanotoxins ... More |
Participants of the Southern California Bight 2018 Regional Monitoring Program’s Microbiology element have begun laboratory training for a study that will evaluate the relevance and reliability of using coliphage viruses ... More |
Effort launched to develop prototype causal assessment screening tool SCCWRP and its partners in October began developing a management tool for rapidly narrowing down potential causes of degraded ecological condition in California streams and coastal waters, part of an ... More |
SCCWRP and its partners have completed the first round of field sampling for a two-year study investigating whether legacy contaminants found in the tissue of San Diego Bay fish are ... More |
Framework approved to assess sediment’s impacts on humans The State Water Board has approved a standardized sediment assessment framework intended to better protect the health of humans who consume seafood caught in California’s enclosed bays and estuaries, the ... More |
Coastal vulnerability to storm surge being documented at 10 sites SCCWRP and its project partners have begun using camera stations and water-level loggers set up at 10 Southern California sites to collect data on how El Nino storm surges this ... More |
Workgroup for San Diego flow ecology study begins meeting SCCWRP in November facilitated the inaugural meeting of a San Diego-area workgroup that will be working to ascertain the minimum flow requirements necessary to sustain the ecological health of streams ... More |
SMC conducting trash surveys in watersheds to support Bight ’18 The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) has launched trash sampling surveys in wadeable streams across coastal Southern California to support the Southern California Bight 2018 Regional Monitoring Program’s efforts ... More |
Bight ’18 field sampling underway to assess sediment quality The sampling window for the Southern California Bight 2018 Regional Monitoring Program opened July 1, with participants starting to collect seafloor sediments to evaluate the chemical, toxicological and biological health ... More |
Sampling underway for study examining uniqueness of microbial community inside sewer vs. storm drain SCCWRP and its partners have begun collecting samples from San Diego-area sanitary sewer and storm drain systems for a study investigating whether a unique microbial community is found inside each ... More |
First large-scale CEC screening study targeting marine environment incorporated into Bight ’18 Bioanalytical cell screening assays and non-targeted chemical analysis are being used for the first time to screen for CECs across the Southern California Bight as part of an expanded Bight ... More |
Discussions underway on how to implement proposed recycled water policy Water recycling agencies and State Water Board staff have begun discussing how to implement a proposed statewide policy that would require recycled water to be monitored using bioanalytical cell screening ... More |
Preliminary modeling tool unveiled to predict sea level rise’s impacts on wetlands SCCWRP and its partners have developed a preliminary computer modeling tool that enables coastal resources managers to predict how low-lying wetlands in Upper Newport Bay and the Tijuana River Estuary ... More |
SCCWRP and its partners have completed a two-year study showing that pteropods, or sea snails, experience cellular and physiological stress as a result of multiple stressors exposure related to climate ... More |
Study evaluating potential of kelp forests to offset impacts of coastal ocean acidification West Coast researchers have completed the first year of field work for a three-year study examining whether planted kelp forests in Washington’s Puget Sound could help protect vulnerable shell-forming organisms ... More |
Effort launched to develop acidification thresholds for echinoderms SCCWRP and its partners have launched an effort to develop expert consensus on biologically relevant thresholds at which sea stars, urchins and other echinoderms can be expected to experience adverse ... More |
Signs of shell dissolution detected in Dungeness crab larvae Researchers have detected signs of dissolution in the carapace, or external shell, of Dungeness crab larvae in response to ocean acidification in the natural environment, the first such documentation that ... More |
Member agencies provide feedback to improve West Coast acidification model’s accuracy SCCWRP’s member agencies provided feedback in June to a team of West Coast ocean modelers on how to assess uncertainty in a computer model that predicts how the region’s coastal ... More |
Environmental flow targets developed to protect Santa Clara River Estuary A scientific review panel that includes participation by SCCWRP has completed an analysis of the environmental flow needs of the Santa Clara River Estuary. The flow target analysis, completed in ... More |
Stream geomorphology data being collected to aid watershed managers in setting flow targets SCCWRP and its partners have begun field sampling at coastal stream sites across California to collect data on geomorphic structure, part of an ongoing effort to develop a standardized framework ... More |
SCCWRP and its partners have shown in a proof-of-concept study that a flow classification tool that can rapidly distinguish intermittent streams from ephemeral streams in the Pacific Northwest is feasible ... More |
Study exploring how to dramatically streamline stream causal assessments SCCWRP and its partners have begun test-driving a novel approach to assessing stream health that has the potential to shave a year or more off the time required to determine ... More |
Study sheds light on how to improve DNA sequencing analysis methods to ID organisms SCCWRP and its partners have completed a two-year study shedding light on best-practices approaches for analyzing raw DNA sequencing data to identify the organisms present in an environmental sample, the ... More |
Stream food webs to be examined in study to better integrate stream assessment tools SCCWRP and its partners have launched a three-year effort to better integrate stream condition assessment tools in California by examining how ecological stress alters the complexity and interconnectedness of stream ... More |
Study launched to develop standardized approaches for tracking trash in watersheds SCCWRP and its partners have kicked off a three-year study to develop standardized statewide approaches for tracking the levels and types of trash found in watersheds. Researchers’ goal is to ... More |
Management impacts of stream biointegrity policies explored in new SMC report The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) has released a comprehensive new report chronicling how the region’s stream management community will potentially be impacted by new and proposed changes to ... More |
Effort launched to better characterize linkage between bioassays and biological impacts in fish SCCWRP and its partners are launching a new round of exploratory work on bioanalytical cell screening technology to better understand how these assays can be adapted to provide early evidence ... More |
Bight ’18 keeps focus on key issues of management concern More than 80 environmental agencies will examine new and emerging developments in water-quality science and management during the 2018 cycle of the Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program, which initiates ... More |
New study probes origins of legacy sediment contaminants that bioaccumulate in fish SCCWRP and its partners have launched a two-year study to investigate whether legacy contaminants that occur in the tissue of fish in San Diego Bay are coming exclusively from contaminated ... More |
CEC panel informs proposed update to recycled water policy The State Water Board will consider updating California’s policy on monitoring contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in recycled water as early as this year based on the findings of an ... More |
Resolution of West Coast acidification model being increased to improve accuracy West Coast researchers working to develop a computer model that predicts how the region’s coastal waters will be affected by ocean acidification and hypoxia (OAH) have decided to increase the ... More |
Researchers assessing biological impacts of ocean acidification in the Salish Sea SCCWRP and its partners have launched an effort to assess the vulnerability of marine calcifying communities in the Pacific Northwest’s Salish Sea to ocean acidification, including whether land-based pollution sources ... More |
Set of models built for establishing nutrient loading targets for Santa Margarita River SCCWRP and its partners have finished assembling an integrated toolkit of mechanistic computer models and empirical statistical models that water-quality managers can use to optimally protect biological integrity and human ... More |
Study to explore optimal methods for monitoring cyanotoxins SCCWRP and its partners will seek to develop more robust field methods for monitoring cyanotoxins in aquatic environments during a new study kicking off this summer in the Los Angeles ... More |
Science tools for proposed biointegrity-biostimulatory policy to be released this summer SCCWRP and its partners will begin soliciting public comments this summer on a series of new scientific tools and synthesis reports that will form the technical backbone for a proposed ... More |
EPA Pacific Northwest stream tool being tested in Southwest SCCWRP and its partners have launched a study to investigate whether a stream management tool that can rapidly distinguish intermittent streams from ephemeral streams in the Pacific Northwest is feasible ... More |
Algae-based stream scoring tool to be finalized this fall An assessment tool that will score the ecological health of California wadeable streams by analyzing algal communities is scheduled to be finalized and published as early as this fall. The ... More |
New interactive mapping app helps visualize chances of improving stream condition SCCWRP and its partners have developed a web-based interactive mapping program to help stream managers visualize where in the San Gabriel River watershed they are more vs. less likely to ... More |
Causal assessment tools being tested in pair of case studies SCCWRP and its partners have initiated a pair of case studies to demonstrate a set of new causal assessment tools designed to rapidly narrow potential causes of degraded ecological condition ... More |
Effort launched to adapt ephemeral stream bioassessment tools for oil spill monitoring SCCWRP and its partners have kicked off a study examining whether bioassessment tools being developed to assess the health of ephemeral streams also can be used to assess ecological damage ... More |
Researchers using Bight data to evaluate accuracy of ocean acidification model Researchers working to develop a West Coast computer model that predicts how land-based sources of nutrients influence ocean acidification in nearshore coastal waters have begun using field data collected from ... More |
Expert panel updates recommendations for monitoring CECs in recycled water An expert advisory panel convened by SCCWRP on behalf of the State Water Board to update recommendations for monitoring CECs in recycled water has released its final draft report. The ... More |
Study offers guidance for optimizing TIE study design SCCWRP and its partners have completed a two-year study examining how to optimize the design of toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) studies to improve confidence in the results. The project, published ... More |
Model being developed to predict acidification’s impacts on Dungeness crab A group of researchers, including SCCWRP, has launched a three-year project to develop a model that predicts impacts on the Pacific Northwest Dungeness crab industry from ocean acidification. The project, ... More |
Pteropod health to be evaluated to track ocean acidification SCCWRP has teamed up with Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans to examine whether pteropods in the Beaufort Sea are showing signs of shell dissolution triggered by ocean acidification. The ... More |
Study launched to optimize kelp yields, explore approach to combatting ocean acidification A group of researchers, including SCCWRP, has launched a study to identify areas in the San Pedro Basin that are ideal for cultivating kelp, as well as the environmental conditions ... More |
Microbes in sewer pipes to be studied to glean insights about origins of fecal contamination SCCWRP and its partners have launched a study investigating whether the microbial community that grows inside sanitary sewer pipes could provide insights into the origins of human fecal contamination found ... More |
Study launched to revisit copper TMDL for Marina del Rey Harbor SCCWRP has launched a two-year study examining whether existing regulatory targets for dissolved copper in Marina del Rey Harbor should be modified to more accurately reflect the ecological threat posed ... More |
Technical foundation created for ephemeral stream tools SCCWRP and its partners have completed a pair of studies that establish a technical foundation for building watershed management tools for Southern California streams that run dry for much of ... More |
Models being built to establish nutrient loading targets for Santa Margarita River SCCWRP and its partners have begun assembling a suite of models to support development of scientifically defensible nutrient loading targets for reducing eutrophication in the lower Santa Margarita River watershed. ... More |
20 years of nutrient input data compiled for acidification model SCCWRP and its partners have compiled a series of data sets reflecting the contributions of major sources of nutrients to the Southern California Bight over the past 20 years, part ... More |
Environmental flows workgroup organizes under California Water Quality Monitoring Council A group of technical experts working to coordinate environmental flow management programs statewide was officially recognized in November as a workgroup of the California Water Quality Monitoring Council. The recognition ... More |
DNA sequencing used to identify larval fish SCCWRP and its partners have completed a proof-of-concept study showing that DNA sequencing methods can be used to identify communities of ichthyoplankton, or the eggs and larvae of fish, collected ... More |
Stream assessment tool under development to score physical habitat condition SCCWRP and its partners have developed a preliminary version of a stream assessment tool that can quantitatively score the condition of physical habitat using field data collected during routine monitoring ... More |
UAS to be used to develop protocols for quantifying trash in waterways SCCWRP and its partners have kicked off a three-year project to develop standardized methods for quantifying trash in California waterways, including using imagery collected from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to ... More |
SMC open-data portal under development to streamline data management The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) has begun developing a comprehensive data management system intended to streamline data submission, quality-control checks and data analysis. Built on the Esri ArcGIS ... More |
Bight ’18 kicks off with five study elements Participants of the Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program have developed five main study elements for the program’s 2018 cycle that will explore different facets of how human activities have ... More |
Laboratory-based passive-sampling method used to measure sediment contamination SCCWRP and its partners have successfully used prototype passive-sampling methods in a laboratory to measure the freely dissolved concentrations of organic contaminants in sediment. Unlike previous applications of passive-sampling technology ... More |
Initial testing completed for using bioanalytical assays to screen for CECs SCCWRP and its partners have shown in a pair of initial studies that bioanalytical screening tools have the potential to be used to screen receiving waters across California for CECs. ... More |
International expert panel convened to develop acidification thresholds for pteropods A 10-member panel made up of leading global experts on pteropods, or sea snails, convened at SCCWRP in September to develop consensus around biologically relevant thresholds at which these ubiquitous ... More |
Draft framework unveiled for assessing human health impacts of contaminated sediment SCCWRP and its partners have completed development of a standardized sediment assessment framework intended to better protect the health of humans who consume seafood caught in enclosed bays and estuaries ... More |
Bight ’18 kickoff brings together dozens of agencies A collaboration involving dozens of environmental organizations will examine how human activities have affected the ecological health of Southern California’s coastal waters during the sixth cycle of the Southern California ... More |
Study launched to document fate of algal toxin in sediment SCCWRP and its partners have initiated a study examining whether an algal toxin known as domoic acid can linger in seafloor sediment following a harmful algal bloom (HAB) event. The ... More |
Effort launched to adapt UAS to monitor HABs in lakes SCCWRP and its partners have launched an effort to adapt commercially available unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for routine monitoring of lakes susceptible to ecologically disruptive cyanobacteria blooms. UAS technology – ... More |
Bioretention soil media being tested to compare effectiveness at treating stormwater SCCWRP and its partners in October launched a year-long project to test the performance of six types of bioretention soil media designed to remove pathogens, indicator bacteria, nutrients, metals and ... More |
Passive samplers retrieved from Channel Islands for international oceanic pollutants study SCCWRP and its partners in August successfully retrieved two sets of passive sampling arrays that were deployed over a two-month period near the Channel Islands to help establish baseline concentrations ... More |
Fish exposed to flowing river water to monitor for biological changes SCCWRP and its partners exposed fish to flowing Los Angeles River water for two weeks in September as part of a pilot study examining potential biological impacts from exposure to ... More |
Ocean acidification model development moves into second validation phase West Coast researchers working to develop a computer model that predicts how the region’s coastal waters will be affected by ocean acidification and hypoxia have advanced to a second phase ... More |
Field data collection completed for Santa Margarita River nutrient management study SCCWRP and its partners have completed field data collection for a three-year project seeking to establish scientifically defensible nutrient loading targets for reducing eutrophication and improving biological integrity in the ... More |
Utah officials trained on HABs monitoring techniques at SCCWRP SCCWRP in August trained representatives from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food on techniques for monitoring harmful algal blooms (HABs) in irrigation systems in Utah, part of an effort ... More |
Microbial contamination detection device to undergo more R&D after malfunction A field-portable instrument prototype designed to improve the speed at which beach water can be analyzed for microbial contamination did not perform reliably during an initial field test and will ... More |
Preliminary testing completed for L.A. River fish flow-through study SCCWRP and its partners have completed preliminary testing for a field study that involves exposing fish to flowing river water in real time to study potential biological impacts from exposure ... More |
First phase of sediment TIE optimization study wraps up SCCWRP has completed the first phase of a two-year project exploring how to optimize the design of toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) studies to improve confidence in the results. The project, ... More |
Novel sediment management strategies to be explored for protecting coastal wetlands SCCWRP and its partners have launched a four-year study exploring how innovative sediment management strategies could be used to prepare low-lying coastal areas for the impacts of sea level rise ... More |
Effort launched to develop biologically relevant thresholds for tracking ocean acidification SCCWRP and its partners have launched a two-year initiative to develop a scientific foundation for using the health of marine organisms to track the biological impacts of ocean acidification (OA). ... More |
Accuracy of QMRA health risk modeling approach validated with epidemiology data SCCWRP and its partners have shown that a health risk modeling approach known as Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) can be used to accurately estimate illness rates for beachgoers who ... More |
Field testing underway to explore monitoring applications for recently acquired UAS SCCWRP and its partners have initiated a series of field experiments examining how a pair of recently acquired unmanned aerial systems (UAS) could be used to improve the speed and ... More |
POTWs embark on study documenting antibiotic-resistant bacteria, genes in effluent SCCWRP and its four wastewater treatment member agencies have initiated a year-long study examining whether viable antibiotic-resistant bacteria – and the genes that code for antibiotic resistance – are being ... More |
Bioassays show promise for CEC screening in SMC study SCCWRP and its partners have demonstrated in a proof-of-concept study that commercially available bioanalytical tools have the potential to cost-effectively screen Southern California waterways for the presence of bioactive contaminants ... More |
New Bight ’18 tools to improve data management workflows SCCWRP has developed a series of new tools and automations for the 2018 cycle of the Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program designed to streamline and enhance data management. Known ... More |
Effort underway to clean up, standardize historical Bight monitoring data SCCWRP and its member agencies have initiated a project to clean up and standardize decades of data they’ve collected from across the Southern California Bight during routine environmental monitoring. The ... More |
CEC advisory panel reconvened to update recommendations for recycled water monitoring SCCWRP has reconvened an expert advisory panel at the behest of the State Water Board to develop an updated set of recommendations for monitoring CECs in recycled water. During a ... More |
Project laying groundwork to develop flow-ecology assessment tools SCCWRP and its partners have begun laying the groundwork to develop a suite of assessment tools that illuminate how the ecological health of Southern California streams is impacted by alterations ... More |
Condition bioindicators to be developed for ephemeral streams SCCWRP and its partners are launching a three-year project to develop bioindicators for ephemeral streams in California and Arizona, following the successful completion of a proof-of-concept study showing that these ... More |
Initial development work completed for algae-based stream scoring tool SCCWRP and its partners have completed initial development work on an assessment tool that will score the ecological health of California wadeable streams by analyzing the condition of in-stream algal ... More |
POTW labs to start training for study examining antibiotic-resistant bacteria, genes in effluent SCCWRP and its POTW member agencies in May will begin practicing collection and analysis techniques for a year-long study examining whether viable antibiotic-resistant bacteria – and the genetic material that ... More |
Passive sampling method for measuring sediment contaminants validated in laboratory SCCWRP and its partners have completed the validation phase of a two-year study that aims to adapt commercially available passive sampling devices to measure the freely dissolved concentration of CECs ... More |
International passive sampling study to examine persistent organic pollutants in Channel Islands SCCWRP in June will deploy a series of passive sampling arrays in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary to measure persistent organic pollutants (POPs), part of an international effort to ... More |
Human health assessment framework for embayment sediment quality being finalized SCCWRP and its partners are wrapping up a final round of updates to a draft statewide assessment framework that evaluates how contaminated sediment affects the health of humans who consume ... More |
SCCWRP and its partners have completed a comprehensive investigation into the potential causes of degraded sediment quality in Marina del Rey Harbor, a study that has underscored the need for ... More |
San Diego Bay study examines fish consumption habits among local anglers SCCWRP and its partners have completed a comprehensive, two-year study illuminating the fish consumption habits of San Diego Bay anglers who catch fish that could potentially be contaminated. The San ... More |
International passive sampling study to examine persistent organic pollutants in Channel Islands SCCWRP in June will deploy a series of passive sampling arrays in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary to measure persistent organic pollutants (POPs), part of an international effort to ... More |
SCCWRP and its partners have completed a comprehensive investigation into the potential causes of degraded sediment quality in Marina del Rey Harbor, a study that has underscored the need for ... More |
San Diego Bay study examines fish consumption habits among local anglers SCCWRP and its partners have completed a comprehensive, two-year study illuminating the fish consumption habits of San Diego Bay anglers who catch fish that could potentially be contaminated. The San ... More |
Model evaluates vulnerability of 104 wetlands to sea level rise SCCWRP and its partners have developed a vulnerability index model that predicts how Southern California coastal wetlands of all types and sizes could be impacted by sea level rise over ... More |
Special journal issue chronicles how Bight ecosystems influenced by diversion of wastewater effluent SCCWRP and its partners have developed a vulnerability index model that predicts how low-lying coastal wetlands across Southern California, including Los Peñasquitos Lagoon in San Diego, above, will be impacted ... More |
SCCWRP begins documenting persistence of eDNA in stream environments SCCWRP has completed a pilot study examining how long the environmental DNA signal of an organism lingers in a stream following the removal of the source organism, part of an ... More |
SCCWRP exploring expanded use of extrapolation modeling technique for stream condition assessments SCCWRP and its partners are exploring how to expand use of a modeling technique for extrapolating bioassessment results to unmonitored stream reaches, following the completion of a pilot study that ... More |
SCCWRP begins documenting persistence of eDNA in stream environments SCCWRP has completed a pilot study examining how long the environmental DNA signal of an organism lingers in a stream following the removal of the source organism, part of an ... More |
Researchers using Bight data to evaluating accuracy of ocean acidification model Researchers working to develop a West Coast computer model that predicts how land-based sources of nutrients influence ocean acidification in nearshore coastal waters have begun using field data collected from ... More |
SMC kicks off Year 3 field sampling for second cycle of stream monitoring program The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition in March kicked off Year 3 of field sampling for the second five-year cycle of its regional stream monitoring program. The SMC Regional Watershed ... More |
Bight ’13 CIA element publishes integrated summary reports The integrated findings of the Contaminant Impact Assessment (CIA) element of Bight ’13 have been published in a final assessment report and an accompanying, 12-page executive summary intended for a ... More |
POTW labs to start training for study examining antibiotic-resistant bacteria, genes in effluent SCCWRP and its POTW member agencies in May will begin practicing collection and analysis techniques for a year-long study examining whether viable antibiotic-resistant bacteria – and the genetic material that ... More |
Human fecal contamination sources identified at Inner Cabrillo Beach during QMRA study A SCCWRP-led effort to use a health risk modeling approach known as Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) at Inner Cabrillo Beach in Los Angeles County has turned up evidence that ... More |
Human health assessment framework for embayment sediment quality being finalized SCCWRP and its partners are wrapping up a final round of updates to a draft statewide assessment framework that evaluates how contaminated sediment affects the health of humans who consume ... More |
SCCWRP-developed CEC monitoring framework highlighted at State Water Board meeting State Water Board members explored multiple approaches being taken to improve CEC monitoring statewide during an informational meeting agenda item in February. Some of the presentations they heard at the ... More |
EPA workshop focuses on science-informed solutions for managing HABs About 150 water-quality managers from across the nation discussed the state of knowledge about harmful algal blooms (HABs) and best-practices solutions and strategies for combatting them during a management-focused workshop ... More |
SCCWRP research featured at S.D. Regional Board workshop on monitoring technologies Next-generation environmental monitoring technologies being developed by SCCWRP and its research partners were featured at an April workshop hosted by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board that focused ... More |
New stream flow targets aid in watershed planning decisions SCCWRP and its partners have published a comprehensive study outlining how to use a suite of newly developed flow-ecology modeling tools to optimally protect the in-stream biological communities of more ... More |
SMC kicks off Year 3 field sampling for second cycle of stream monitoring program The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition in March kicked off Year 3 of field sampling for the second five-year cycle of its regional stream monitoring program. The SMC Regional Watershed ... More |
Bight ’13 CIA element publishes integrated summary reports The integrated findings of the Contaminant Impact Assessment (CIA) element of Bight ’13 have been published in a final assessment report and an accompanying, 12-page executive summary intended for a ... More |
Pilot study shows potential of UAS for remote environmental monitoring applications SCCWRP and its partners have demonstrated in a pilot study that traditional and multispectral cameras mounted to an unmanned aerial system (UAS) can be used to produce high-resolution, 3D mapping ... More |
ELAP one-year follow-up review finds accrediting body back on track An expert advisory panel convened by SCCWRP in 2015 to evaluate the state’s accrediting body for environmental laboratories has completed a one-year follow-up review of the program, concluding that it ... More |
Analysis underway for Inner Cabrillo Beach health risk modeling study A SCCWRP-facilitated advisory committee is reviewing water-quality sampling data collected from Inner Cabrillo Beach to determine whether high fecal indicator levels at the Los Angeles County beach are indicative of ... More |
Study design being finalized to examine antibiotic-resistant bacteria, genes in effluent SCCWRP and its POTW member agencies are finalizing the design of a study that will examine whether viable antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the genetic material that codes for antibiotic resistance are ... More |
Suitcase-sized microbial detection device to begin field-testing in spring SCCWRP this spring will begin field-testing a suitcase-sized prototype instrument that could revolutionize the speed at which beach ocean water is analyzed for microbial contamination. The droplet digital PCR (polymerase ... More |
Macroalgal work being used to draft updated nutrient TMDL for Santa Margarita River Estuary A SCCWRP-led investigation into how to set scientifically defensible macroalgal biomass and nutrient loading targets in the Santa Margarita River Estuary is serving as the basis of a proposed alternative ... More |
Demonstration maps reveal extrapolation limits of stream condition scores SCCWRP has generated a series of maps that reveal the geographical extent to which ecological condition scores calculated for stream sampling sites may be extrapolated to unsampled reaches upstream and ... More |
Sediment samples being analyzed to test CEC monitoring framework SCCWRP and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County have begun analyzing sediment samples collected from across two regions of California for a pilot study that will test-drive a new, ... More |
Promising passive sampling device developed to detect fipronil in receiving waters SCCWRP and its partners have identified a promising, cost-effective passive sampling method for detecting the ubiquitous pesticide fipronil in receiving waters. The passive sampling method for this problematic, high-priority CEC ... More |
Field sampling kicks off for linking freshwater HABs to marine impacts SCCWRP and its partners have launched the field sampling for a study that will examine how freshwater toxins influence downstream waterbodies along the California coast. The goal is to understand ... More |
First phase wraps up for West Coast acidification model development West Coast researchers working to develop a computer model that predicts how the region’s coastal waters will be affected by ocean acidification and hypoxia have successfully completed the first phase ... More |
SMC completes analysis of bioassessment scores for engineered channels The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition has completed a comprehensive analysis of the range of ecological condition scores obtained when engineered channels across coastal Southern California are scored using existing ... More |
Flow-through units being deployed along L.A. River to study CECs’ impacts on fish SCCWRP and its partners will expose fish to flowing Los Angeles River water in real time this spring as part of an on-site study examining potential biological impacts to fish ... More |
Experts create gradient for interpreting stream scores A 16-member expert panel convened to interpret bioassessment scores for wadeable streams statewide has reached consensus on how the scores correspond to various ranges of ecological condition. The Biological Condition ... More |
Analysis underway for Inner Cabrillo Beach health risk modeling study A SCCWRP-facilitated advisory committee is reviewing water-quality sampling data collected from Inner Cabrillo Beach to determine whether high fecal indicator levels at the Los Angeles County beach are indicative of ... More |
Study design being finalized to examine antibiotic-resistant bacteria, genes in effluent SCCWRP and its POTW member agencies are finalizing the design of a study that will examine whether viable antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the genetic material that codes for antibiotic resistance are ... More |
Promising passive sampling device developed to detect fipronil in receiving waters SCCWRP and its partners have identified a promising, cost-effective passive sampling method for detecting the ubiquitous pesticide fipronil in receiving waters. The passive sampling method for this problematic, high-priority CEC ... More |
Field sampling kicks off for linking freshwater HABs to marine impacts SCCWRP and its partners have launched the field sampling for a study that will examine how freshwater toxins influence downstream waterbodies along the California coast. The goal is to understand ... More |
Marina del Rey stressor identification rules out possible causes of degraded sediment quality SCCWRP and its partners have ruled out some potential causes of degraded sediment quality in Marina del Rey Harbor, part of an ongoing stressor identification study aimed at understanding why ... More |
Year 1 field sampling wraps up for developing intermittent stream bioindicators SCCWRP and its partners have completed Year 1 of field sampling for a study investigating the feasibility of using terrestrial arthropods, riparian insects and bryophytes (e.g., mosses) to assess the ... More |
Workshop highlights need for improved science to manage ‘climate-ready’ bar-built estuaries SCCWRP in September helped kick-start a wide-ranging discussion with California water-quality and natural resource managers about how to more effectively manage a common type of coastal estuary known as a ... More |
SCCWRP has teamed up with the geospatial software firm Esri to create a computer game-like re-creation of the Tijuana River estuary that will enable users to travel through the habitat ... More |
Prototype image processing system could provide early warnings for HAB events SCCWRP has partnered with Ohio’s NASA Glenn Research Center and Wright State University to build a prototype computer system that can autonomously analyze aerial photos of water bodies susceptible to ... More |
Summer sampling completed to support health risk modeling study SCCWRP and its partners have completed an initial round of sampling at Inner Cabrillo Beach for a study that aims to ascertain whether high fecal indicator levels at the Los ... More |
SCCWRP is collaborating with its member agencies to design a study examining whether viable antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the genetic material that codes for antibiotic resistance are being discharged into the ... More |
Analysis of ocean acidification conditions across Bight wraps up SCCWRP and its partners have completed a synoptic analysis of ocean acidification conditions across the Southern California Bight continental shelf, the first phase of a multi-part Bight ’13 study documenting ... More |
SCCWRP assembles expert panel to help set eutrophication indicator ranges for California streams SCCWRP has assembled a 16-member panel of experts to place stream sites across California into different classes based on the ecological health of their algae and bottom-dwelling macroinvertebrate communities, a ... More |
Year 2 sampling of toxic algae wraps up for 2 recreational lakes SCCWRP and its partners have finished the second year of sampling in two Riverside County lakes for a study chronicling the proliferation of toxic algae through the bloom season. During ... More |
Scientists, managers lay foundation for developing acidification criteria at workshop Scientists and coastal managers from across the West Coast began laying the groundwork for the development of ecologically relevant criteria for coastal ocean acidification during a two-day workshop in October ... More |
Bioaccumulation study informs health risks from sediment SCCWRP and its partners have completed a comprehensive investigation into how sediment contamination is transferred through Southern California marine food webs, a study that has enabled scientists to close key ... More |
Prototype image processing system could provide early warnings for HAB events SCCWRP has partnered with Ohio’s NASA Glenn Research Center and Wright State University to build a prototype computer system that can autonomously analyze aerial photos of water bodies susceptible to ... More |
Summer sampling completed to support health risk modeling study SCCWRP and its partners have completed an initial round of sampling at Inner Cabrillo Beach for a study that aims to ascertain whether high fecal indicator levels at the Los ... More |
SCCWRP has teamed up with the geospatial software firm Esri to create a computer game-like re-creation of the Tijuana River estuary that will enable users to travel through the habitat ... More |
Sampling completed for L.A.-area evaluation of bioassay effectiveness for CEC screening SCCWRP and its partners have completed sampling of river water in the Los Angeles region for a study assessing the effectiveness of cell-based bioassays to screen for CECs. Water samples ... More |
Sediment toxicity database expanded to improve availability of high-quality data SCCWRP, in association with the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), has completed a major expansion of a publicly accessible database designed to improve environmental managers’ access to high-quality ... More |
SCCWRP is collaborating with its member agencies to design a study examining whether viable antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the genetic material that codes for antibiotic resistance are being discharged into the ... More |
Marina del Rey stressor identification rules out possible causes of degraded sediment quality SCCWRP and its partners have ruled out some potential causes of degraded sediment quality in Marina del Rey Harbor, part of an ongoing stressor identification study aimed at understanding why ... More |
Analysis of ocean acidification conditions across Bight wraps up SCCWRP and its partners have completed a synoptic analysis of ocean acidification conditions across the Southern California Bight continental shelf, the first phase of a multi-part Bight ’13 study documenting ... More |
SCCWRP assembles expert panel to help set eutrophication indicator ranges for California streams SCCWRP has assembled a 16-member panel of experts to place stream sites across California into different classes based on the ecological health of their algae and bottom-dwelling macroinvertebrate communities, a ... More |
Study shows watershed managers how to apply new flow-ecology modeling tools SCCWRP and its partners in the San Diego River Watershed have completed a demonstration study showing how to use a newly developed suite of flow-ecology modeling tools to optimally manage ... More |
Year 1 field sampling wraps up for developing intermittent stream bioindicators SCCWRP and its partners have completed Year 1 of field sampling for a study investigating the feasibility of using terrestrial arthropods, riparian insects and bryophytes (e.g., mosses) to assess the ... More |
Expert panel weighs in on extrapolation limits of stream condition scores SCCWRP and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife convened an expert panel in September to review how far stream condition scores calculated for a given stream sampling site can ... More |
Sampling completed for ichthyoplankton project SCCWRP and two of its member agencies completed field sampling in June for a project that will evaluate DNA-based methods for identifying ichthyoplankton, which are the eggs and larvae of ... More |
Arthropods, bryophytes being developed as condition bioindicators for intermittent streams SCCWRP and California State University, Monterey Bay, in June launched a study to investigate the feasibility of using terrestrial arthropods and bryophytes (e.g., mosses) to assess the biological condition of ... More |
Study: Cell bioassays could be effective at screening for potential harm in fish SCCWRP and its partners at the University of Florida have demonstrated in a proof-of-concept study that biological assays built with engineered human cells have the potential to be effective at ... More |
Method comparison study seeks to assess utility of using DNA to identify stream algae SCCWRP and its partners have launched a first-of-its-kind study to determine whether DNA-based methods can reliably be used to identify algae in wadeable streams across California, a finding that could ... More |
Surfer rainfall study helps focus water-quality discussion SCCWRP and its partners have completed a three-year epidemiological study examining the health impacts of entering coastal waters during and shortly after rainfall, a study that has raised important public ... More |
Santa Margarita River study offers insights on reducing nutrient loading to estuaries SCCWRP and its partners have completed the first phase of a five-year study exploring how water-quality managers can set appropriate, scientifically defensible targets for reducing nutrient loading in the Santa ... More |
Study to investigate extrapolation limits of stream condition scores SCCWRP and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in August will launch a study seeking to clarify how far stream condition scores calculated for a single stream site can ... More |
SMC kicks off second-year sampling with new program elements The Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition kicked off second-year sampling in March for the second cycle of its Regional Watershed Monitoring Program. New program elements being incorporated into the second ... More |
Framework developed for establishing Southern California stream flow thresholds SCCWRP and its partners have completed development of a framework that can be used to establish ecologically relevant flow targets for stream sites across Southern California. The framework, which relates ... More |
SCCWRP-facilitated design charrette helps create priorities for estuary restoration SCCWRP has submitted to the California State Coastal Conservancy a report outlining how the design charrette process can be used to develop restoration goals and priorities for small coastal estuaries ... More |
SCCWRP to launch field testing of suitcase-sized microbial detection device this summer SCCWRP this summer will begin field-testing a suitcase-sized instrument prototype designed to rapidly detect microbial contamination in beach ocean water. The droplet digital PCR (polymerase chain reaction) instrument, developed by ... More |
SMC samples advance to nontargeted analysis phase of CEC monitoring framework SCCWRP and its collaborators have advanced some of the 31 water samples collected by the Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) to the nontargeted phase of chemical analysis, a recognition ... More |
Field sampling wraps up for OAH study examining influence of wastewater nutrients in coastal waters SCCWRP and its member agencies have finished collecting two years of field sampling data for a study that will assess the relative influence of anthropogenic vs. natural sources of nutrient ... More |
SCCWRP completes data collection for fish consumption study SCCWRP has completed a year-long effort to interview more than 1,600 San Diego Bay anglers about their fish consumption habits for a study that will ascertain whether local anglers and ... More |
San Diego Bay bioaccumulation study nearing completion A three-year study that quantifies how sediment contamination in San Diego Bay is transferred through various levels of the marine food web has completed its first phase of data analysis ... More |
SCCWRP unveils algaeMetrics tool to simplify algae-based bioassessment calculations SCCWRP has created a free online tool to help Southern California stream managers and scientists automatically generate stream bioassessment scores using raw algae data collected from wadeable streams. The algaeMetrics ... More |
Bight ’13 regional monitoring wrapping up major elements Three of the five elements of the Southern California Bight 2013 Regional Monitoring Program are winding down as a series of final assessment reports is published over the next few weeks. ... More |
Human fecal contamination sources identified at Inner Cabrillo Beach during QMRA study A SCCWRP-led effort to use a health risk modeling approach known as Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) at Inner Cabrillo Beach in Los Angeles County has turned up evidence that ... More |
SCCWRP to test new EPA health risk model at Inner Cabrillo Beach SCCWRP in May will launch a first-of-its-kind study aimed at ascertaining whether high fecal indicator bacteria Ievels at Inner Cabrillo Beach in the Los Angeles Harbor area are indicative of ... More |
First phase wraps up for West Coast acidification model development West Coast researchers working to develop a computer model that predicts how the region’s coastal waters will be affected by ocean acidification and hypoxia have successfully completed the first phase ... More |
SCCWRP to present preliminary results for source tracking study SCCWRP in February will present the preliminary findings of a microbial source tracking study intended to gauge the relative degradation rates of pathogens, fecal indicator bacteria and source-associated markers in ... More |
Water-quality model calibrated for Santa Margarita River estuary SCCWRP and its partners have completed calibrating a new water-quality model that will be used to study nutrient loading in the Santa Margarita River estuary in northern San Diego County. ... More |
SCCWRP, partners seeking comments on framework for assessing nutrient overenrichment in S.F. Bay SCCWRP and its partners are seeking public comment on a draft of a scientific assessment framework that will be used for assessing the effects of nutrient overenrichment in San Francisco ... More |
Likely causes of cyanobacterial blooms, nuisance vegetation in Bay Delta chronicled in new reports SCCWRP and its partners have completed a comprehensive review of the likely causes of cyanobacterial blooms and nuisance vegetation in the San Francisco Bay Delta, concluding that nutrient loading likely ... More |
SCCWRP working to adapt passive sampling technology to monitor CECs in sediment SCCWRP in January launched a two-year effort to adapt commercially available passive sampling devices to measure the freely dissolved concentration (Cfree) of CECs in sediment. Passive sampling devices consist of ... More |
SCCWRP-developed sediment bioaccumulation model being tested in L.A./Long Beach Harbors SCCWRP and the Harbor Technical Work Group, which is working to address a TMDL (total maximum daily load) in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors, launched an effort in November ... More |
San Diego Bay bioaccumulation study working to quantify DDTs, PCBs SCCWRP and its partners in December began analyzing and interpreting data collected from more than 300 San Diego Bay sediment and animal-tissue samples as part of a two-year study that ... More |
Draft study plan released for planned Marina del Rey copper bioavailability study SCCWRP in January released a draft study plan for an upcoming Marina del Rey Harbor study that will seek to measure the influence of harbor water characteristics and environmental variations ... More |
Sediment stressor identification study launched in Marina del Rey SCCWRP in late January kicked off a study that seeks to determine the cause of sediment toxicity and benthic community impairment in Marina del Rey Harbor. The study involves using ... More |
SCCWRP hosts kickoff meeting to develop statewide algae assessment program SCCWRP hosted a day-long kickoff meeting with state, federal and local agencies in January to begin developing a statewide freshwater bioassessment program that uses algae as the indicator of waterbody ... More |
SCCWRP works toward predicting causes, impacts of West Coast acidification SCCWRP and its partners have begun work on a predictive model that will offer managers key insights about the extent to which anthropogenic nutrients introduced to coastal waters affect ocean ... More |
Gene expression patterns of fish change in response to pollutant exposure, study shows SCCWRP has found that the gene expression patterns of the hornyhead turbot change as they are exposed to different chemical pollutants at different concentrations, a proof-of-concept finding that reveals how ... More |
SCCWRP transitioning new stream condition scoring tool to managers SCCWRP and its partners have launched a series of outreach and training exercises to teach watershed managers how to use a new scoring tool for evaluating the biological health of ... More |
Expert panel evaluates SCCWRP nutrient science plan A four-member expert review panel tasked with reviewing a science plan supporting the State Water Board’s effort to develop nutrient objectives for California wadeable streams has concluded that SCCWRP’s approach ... More |
XPRIZE-developed pH sensors being tested as Bight profilers SCCWRP and its four POTW member agencies have kicked off a year-long effort to evaluate whether ocean pH monitoring instruments developed through an international XPRIZE competition can be used effectively ... More |
SCCWRP to test suitcase-sized microbial detection device A suitcase-sized instrument that could revolutionize the speed at which beach ocean water is tested for microbial contamination is being prepared for an initial round of testing and calibration at ... More |
SCCWRP models flow patterns at 850 stream sites for ELOHA study SCCWRP in October finished modeling hydrological flow patterns for about 850 ungaged bioassessment stream sites across Southern California, a milestone in a three-year project that aims to use a scientific ... More |
Scientists to track El Niño’s physical impacts to coastal lagoons this winter To better understand how sea level rise may impact Southern California’s vulnerable coastal lagoons, SCCWRP is launching a study this month to observe how predicted El Niño-fueled storm surges this ... More |
Massive 3-year sampling effort for San Diego Bay bioaccumulation study wraps up Scientists have finished collecting and analyzing more than 260 animal samples from San Diego Bay in one of the most comprehensive Southern California investigations ever conducted into how contamination is transferred ... More |
Panel proposes reforms to ELAP following review A five-member advisory panel convened by SCCWRP to evaluate the state’s Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) has published a report outlining its Year 1 findings and recommendations, the culmination of ... More |
CTAG user groups delve into next-gen tech projects at first meetings Two new CTAG user groups that will pool together resources and expertise from SCCWRP’s member agencies to tackle next-generation data acquisition and visualization technology projects met for the first time ... More |
Standard protocols for estuary assessments published in manual The Santa Monica Bay Foundation and its partners, including SCCWRP, have completed a draft guidance document that establishes standard protocols for monitoring and assessing coastal lagoons and intertidal estuaries in ... More |
Case study for flow-ecology framework kicks off in San Diego SCCWRP and its partners kicked off a case study in May that aims to demonstrate the utility of using a scientific framework known as the Ecological Limits of Hydrologic Alteration ... More |
Bight ’13 toxicity data suggest sediment quality is improving Sediment toxicity testing conducted as part of the 2013 Southern California Bight Regional Monitoring Program has revealed evidence of continuing improvement to sediment quality, according to the findings of the ... More |
SCCWRP applies bioassessment index to streams statewide A new scoring tool that was developed to assess the biological condition of California’s wadeable streams has been applied for the first time to all wadeable streams statewide, with the ... More |
SCCWRP hosts transcontinental stormwater management workshop in India Leading stormwater scientists from across three continents came together at a SCCWRP-facilitated forum in India in March to discuss more effective ways to capture and use rainfall runoff in drought-prone ... More |
Pilot study launched to test SCCWRP’s new CEC monitoring framework statewide SCCWRP has launched a three-year pilot study to evaluate its newly developed CEC monitoring framework across Southern California watersheds, an effort to understand how to effectively apply the framework to ... More |
HAB experts develop statewide strategy for responding to toxic cyanobacterial blooms A group of scientific experts on harmful algal blooms in California has developed a statewide strategy for responding to HABs and mitigating their impacts in water bodies across California. The ... More |
Expert panel urges action on West Coast ocean acidification Global carbon dioxide emissions are triggering fundamental changes to ocean chemistry along the North American West Coast that should be addressed through immediate and decisive management actions, including development of ... More |
SCCWRP testing utility of remote sensing to assess hydromodification risk SCCWRP has partnered with Orange County Public Works and the manufacturer of a professional-grade unmanned aerial system equipped with sensors to begin conducting high-resolution mapping of waterways susceptible to hydromodification. ... More |
SCCWRP, partners launching outreach campaign for OAH modeling A team of scientists that is developing a predictive model examining how the West Coast is impacted by ocean acidification and hypoxia (OAH) will launch a public outreach campaign in ... More |
Harmful algae conference focuses on research, strategy Researchers and environmental managers working to understand and address the threat of harmful algal blooms (HABs) across the nation coalesced in Long Beach in November for a five-day national scientific ... More |
Stream survey tracks biological degradation across Southern California A five-year monitoring study of Southern California’s perennial wadeable streams has found that 75% of the region’s 4,300 miles of streams are degraded, with no discernable improvements in the health ... More |