SAN FRANCISCO More of Californias waterways…
SAN FRANCISCO— More of California’s waterways are
impaired than previously known, according to a list of polluted
waterways submitted by the state to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and finalized by the agency today. Increased
water monitoring data shows the number of rivers, streams and lakes
in California exhibiting overall toxicity have increased 170
percent from 2006 to 2010.
California has some of the most magnificent
rivers, lakes and coastal waters in the country. However, of its
3.0 million acres of lakes, bays, wetlands and estuaries, 1.6
million acres are not meeting water quality goals, and 1.4 million
acres still need a pollution clean-up plan, known as a Total
Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Of the 215,000 miles of shoreline,
streams and rivers, 30,000 miles are not meeting water quality
goals, and 20,000 miles still need a TMDL. The most common
contaminants in these waterways are pesticides and bacteria,
followed by metals and nutrients.
“Clean water is vital to California's
public health, economy, recreation and wildlife,” said Jared
Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific
Southwest. “California has done an excellent job of
increasing the amount of water monitored. Unfortunately, much of
the new data points in the wrong direction. This list of impaired
waters is a wake-up call to continue the critical local and
statewide work needed to heal California's damaged waters.
“
The Clean Water Act requires states to monitor
and assess their waterways and submit a list of impaired waters to
EPA for review. The 2010 list is based on more comprehensive
monitoring as well as new assessment tools that allow the state to
evaluate larger quantities of data.
The data showed several important trends
including:
Many more beaches, both inland and coastal, are
on the 2010 list because bacteria reached unsafe levels for
swimming. This increase is largely driven by a more extensive
review of data collected by counties.
Better reporting of trash in waters has led to
an increase in trash impairments by 76% from 2006 to 2010.
California’s statewide Trash Policy is under development and
will address trash impacts to both local wildlife and reduce
California's contribution to the Great Pacific Garbage
Patch.
The numbers of listings showing pollutants in
fish are at levels too high for safe human consumption has
increased 24% from 2006 to 2010, with the greatest increases seen
in mercury. Rather than signaling an increase in fish
contamination, this trend is due to California's recent statewide
sport fish monitoring effort. Additionally, some pollutants such as
DDT are no longer manufactured and are slowly decreasing in
concentration over time.
Waters identified as impaired by pesticides
showed a 36% increase from the prior list, likely a result of the
more thorough monitoring required under the State's Irrigated Lands
Regulatory Program. Under this program, close collaboration between
the Water Boards and the Department of Pesticide Regulation has
resulted in reduced pesticide discharges to surface and
groundwater.
Last year, California submitted to EPA for
approval its list of polluted rivers, lakes and coastal waters. EPA
added several waterways to the list, including portions of the San
Joaquin River, where increasing temperatures and salinity imperil
salmon and trout populations. Following public comment, EPA today
finalized the additions.
Today’s action will lead to the
development and adoption of hundreds of pollution clean-up plans by
California to restore waters to swimmable, fishable and drinkable
conditions. Work is already underway in California to address
hundreds of waters previously listed as impaired. EPA will continue
to work with the state to develop and implement additional TMDLs to
address the remaining waters.
The supporting documents for EPA’s listing
decision and a link to the list submitted by California are
available at EPA’s web site:
https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-9-pacific-southwest
For information on Total Maximum Daily Loads,
please visit EPA’s web site:
https://www.epa.gov/tmdl
For the full list of EPA’s added waters,
maps, and more information, please visit EPA’s media center
at: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-9-pacific-southwest
##