Cooperative Monitoring Program nutrient monitoring results

Cooperative Monitoring Program nutrient monitoring results Nutrient Water Quality Symposium, Santa Maria Central Coast Water Quality Preservation, Inc. Executive Director: Kirk Schmidt (831-750-5449, kschmidt@ccwqp.org) Program Manager: Sarah Greene (831-331-9051, sgreene@ccwqp.org) November 6, 2008

Water Quality Constituents Hydrolab instrument (image from www.hydrolab.com) Water temperature ph Dissolved Oxygen Conductivity Salinity Turbidity Chlorophyll Dissolved Solids Water samples to lab (image from www.co.water.usgs.gov) Nitrogen Nitrate Ammonia Ammonium Phosphorus Orthophosphate Toxicity Water (4x/yr) Sediment (1x/yr) Organophosphate pesticides Lower Salinas & Santa Maria only 4x only

Components of Ag Runoff Fertilizer (nitrate, ammonium, phosphate) Pesticides (toxicity) Sediment (turbidity) Effects of Ag Runoff Algae growth (Chlorophyll, % algal cover) Low oxygen (dissolved oxygen)

San Luis Obispo Area Sites = core CMP, monthly since 2005 No 2008 Follow-up sites

Santa Maria Watershed Sites = core CMP, monthly since 2005 = 2008 Follow-up, monthly in 08 * Continuous Flow Summer, 2008 * Continuous Flow Summer, 2008 * Continuous Flow Summer, 2008

Santa Ynez River = core CMP, monthly since 2006 = 2008 Follow-up, monthly in 08 Not shown: Santa Ynez R @ Buellton

Santa Barbara Creeks = core CMP, monthly since 2006 = 2008 Follow-up, monthly in 08

Bradley Canal, Santa Maria Santa Ynez River, Lompoc Oso Flaco Creek

Green Valley Orcutt Hwy1 Franklin Creek L. Oso Flaco Oso Flaco Sta Maria Hwy1 Orcutt dwnstm Bradley Cyn Crk Sta Maria Estuary Bell Creek Warden Creek Main St. Dtch Bradley Canal Glen Annnie Prefumo Creek Los Berros Creek Sta Ynez Floradale Chorro Creek Sta Ynez Vandenburg Arroyo Grande Arroyo Paradon Sta Ynez River Pk Nitrate Concentration (ppm as N) 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Water Quality Objectives Cooperative Monitoring results are compared with existing regulatory criteria, set by the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). Different criteria apply, depending on the Beneficial Uses of the water body. The Beneficial Uses are also set by the RWQCB. For example, most water bodies have the beneficial use Municipal and Domestic Supply, which says the water quality must be suitable for a potential drinking water source. Basin Plan criteria for Municipal/Domestic Water Supply: <10 ppm

60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Monthly nitrate results from three SLO/SB sites in 2006 Arroyo Grande Orcutt-Solomon Santa Ynez @ Floradale Nitrate Concentration (ppm as N) Jan-06 Feb-06 Mar-06 Apr-06 May-06 Jun-06 Jul-06 Aug-06 Sep-06 Oct-06 Nov-06 Dec-06

Un-Ionized Ammonia Results, SLO & SB Sites (averages of all monthly samples, Jan 05 or 06 Dec 07) 0.150 0.125 0.100 0.075 0.050 0.025 StaMaria/OsoFlaco Sta Ynez & SB Creeks SLO Creeks Numeric objective for protection of aquatic life < 0.025 ppm 0.000 Bradley Channel Main St. Dtch Green Valley Bradley Cyn Crk Orcutt Hwy1 Oso Flaco Orcutt @ Dunes Pk Sta Maria Estuary Sta Ynez Floradale Arroyo Grande Sta Ynez River Pk Franklin Creek L. Oso Flaco Sta Maria Hwy1 Chorro Creek Bell Creek Arroyo Paradon Los Berros Creek Glen Annnie Prefumo Creek Warden Creek ta Ynez Vandenburg Un-Ionized Ammonia (ppm)

Un-ionized Ammonia Ammonia is found in water in several forms. The water s ph and temperature affect the balance between ionized (NH4+) and un-ionized ammonia (NH3), which are both dissolved, inorganic forms of ammonia. NH 4 + NH 3 Higher ph = More un-ionized ammonia (NH3), which is toxic to fish. Water quality objective is < 0.025 ppm NH3-N.

0.30 0.25 Monthly un-ionized ammonia results from two SLO/SB sites in 2007 0.31 0.94 Main St. Ditch Sta Ynez @ Floradale 0.20 0.15 Numeric objective for protection of aquatic life < 0.025 ppm 0.10 0.05 0.00 Unionized Ammonia (ppm as N) Jan-07 Feb-07 Mar-07 Apr-07 May-07 Jun-07 Jul-07 Aug-07 Sep-07 Oct-07 Nov-07 Dec-07 No data

Monthly un-ionized ammonia results from Green Valley (Green Canyon) at Simas, 2005-2007 0.25 0.33 2.4 0.20 0.15 0.10 Numeric objective for protection of aquatic life < 0.025 ppm 0.05 0.00 Unionized Ammonia (ppm) Mar-05 Apr-05 May-05 Jun-05 Jul-05 Aug-05 Sep-05 Oct-05 Nov-05 Dec-05 Jan-06 Feb-06 Mar-06 Apr-06 May-06 Jun-06 Jul-06 Aug-06 Sep-06 Oct-06 Nov-06 Dec-06 Jan-07 Feb-07 Mar-07 Apr-07 May-07 Jun-07 Jul-07 Aug-07 Sep-07 Oct-07 Nov-07 Dec-07 No data No data No data Not detected Not detected

Main St. Dtch Sta Ynez Floradale Bradley Cyn Crk Sta Ynez Vandenburg Bradley Channel Los Berros Creek Chorro Creek Orcutt Hwy1 Orcutt @ Dunes Pk Sta Maria Estuary Oso Flaco Arroyo Grande Green Valley Warden Creek L. Oso Flaco Franklin Creek Prefumo Creek Sta Maria Hwy1 Sta Ynez River Pk Glen Annnie Bell Creek Arroyo Paradon 5 4 3 2 1 0 Phosphate Results, SLO & SB Sites (averages of all monthly samples, Jan 05 or 06 Dec 07) StaMaria/OsoFlaco Sta Ynez & SB Creeks SLO Creeks Phosphate Concentration (ppm)

Indirect Effects of Nutrients in Runoff: Low (and high) Dissolved Oxygen 300 250 Numeric objective for protection of aquatic life >85% 200 150 100 50 0 Jan-05 Mar-05 May-05 Jul-05 Sep-05 Nov-05 Jan-06 Mar-06 May-06 Jul-06 Sep-06 Nov-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 May-07 Jul-07 Sep-07 Nov-07 Jan-08 Dissolved Oxygen Saturation (%)

Take Home Points Fertilizers in farm runoff can lead to high nitrate, phosphate, and/or ammonia levels in streams. Some Cooperative Monitoring sites have consistently high levels of nutrient-related constituents Others do not. Direct effects of nutrients in streams: Toxicity to fish from high un-ionized ammonia Water not suitable as drinking water source, due to potential illness from night nitrates Indirect effects of nutrients in streams: Stimulation of aquatic algae, which affects dissolved oxygen levels, which affects habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms All of these constituents can come from non-ag sources too. The only way to know if your operation is contributing is to test the runoff.