DATE: June 20, 2017
SUBJECT:
Title
PRESENTATION ON THE 2016 COPPER LOAD REDUCTION EFFORTS RELATED TO THE SHELTER ISLAND YACHT BASIN TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
In 2005, the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) set a Dissolved Copper Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Shelter Island Yacht Basin (SIYB). The TMDL required a 76 percent reduction of copper loading by 2022, with interim loading targets of 10 percent and 40 percent by 2012 and 2017, respectively. The TMDL named the District, the City of San Diego, the SIYB marinas and yacht clubs, hull cleaners, and the recreational boaters themselves, as parties responsible for reducing their copper pollution loads. On March 11, 2011, the Regional Board issued Investigative Order No. R9-2011-0036 to the District. The Investigative Order required that the District annually assess TMDL implementation progress and provide written compliance reports (herein referred to as Progress Reports) to document the District and stakeholder actions to comply with the TMDL.
The 2016 Progress Report shows that copper reduction efforts are reducing the copper loading. Water quality testing shows the basin average to be 7.1 ?g/L, a decrease from the baseline average of 8.3 ?g/L. The Progress Report also concludes that the basin water quality has been relatively consistent over the past three years. In addition, based on the vessel tracking data reported by the Shelter Island Master Leaseholders, there has been an estimated 41.6 percent (approximately 873 kg/yr) reduction of dissolved copper into SIYB when compared with the TMDL baseline of 2100 kg/yr. This meets the upcoming second interim TMDL target slightly ahead of the 2017 TMDL schedule.
In addition to the ongoing education efforts, monitoring, and BMP implementation, the District made considerable progress on the key initiatives presented at last year's annual Board update. Studies were completed to improve the scientifi...
Click here for full text