Download RMP2003Cloern

Water-Quality Measurements in San
Francisco Bay – a component of
~ 40,000
measurements
per year
Why Monitoring?
San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau Photo
Effluent Ammonia (mg/L)
20
10
0
Bottom DO (mg/L)
15
USGS
SERL
10
5
USGS-RMP
0
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
#1 – Measures Benefits of Actions to Improve Water Quality
“Nutrient over-enrichment is a significant problem for
the coastal regions of the United States…
Of 139 coastal sites .. 44 experiencing symptoms
such as low dissolved oxygen, nuisance and toxic
algal blooms…
National Coastal Nutrient Management strategy … to
provide local decision-makers and those
responsible for implementing management activities
with the information they will need to
determine appropriate source reduction goals
and methods at the local level.”
NRC (2000)
Effluent Nitrate (mg/L)
Chlorophyll (g/L)
20
10
0
60
40
20
0
1980
1990
2000
#2 – Measures Environmental Condition so Management Priorities can be Established
But … continued monitoring is essential because ….
Dinophysis acuminata
Pseudonitzschia delicastissima
http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/hab/anatomy.htm
wwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov/tracel/data
Copper in Macoma (g/g)
500
400
300
200
100
0
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
#3 – Measures Benefits of Reducing Point-Source Inputs of Contaminants
#4 – Identifies Changes in Contaminant Sources
Then, point-source inputs
Now, urban runoff
Interagency Ecological Program and USGS
#5 – Measures Disturbance by Alien Species
303(d) LIST FOR SAN FRANCISCO BAY
Exotic Species
Mercury
Copper
Diazinon
PCB’s
Selenium
Nickel
“The ecological impacts of the Potamocorbula invasion are as
dramatic as any documented in the literature, and provided the
impetus for the Board’s 303(d) listing decision.”
Monitoring of the Bay is not complete
• Nutrients
• Phytoplankton Community
• Zooplankton
• Ecosystem Processes
• Benthos