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The water quality monitoring program was mandated by the State Water
Resources Control Board in a water right permit issued to the State Department of
Water Resources and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for operation of the State Water
Project and Central Valley Project respectively. The field program consists of discrete sampling for a variety of physical, chemical
and biological parameters at a network of sites from San Pablo Bay to Freeport and
Vernalis on the Sacramento and San Joaquin River respectively. Sampling is conducted
from both a laboratory vessel and mobil lab van. Some analyses are completed on site
with the remaining samples prepped and transported to land based laboratories.
If anomalies in water quality patterns are observed during the routine sample
collection, then a special follow-up study is initiated to document and track the
course of the event. The field program is supplemented by a network of automated,
multi-parameter recorders strategically placed at shoreline locations throughout the
study area. Selected data is telemetered real-time to the coordinated SWP/CVP
operations center in Sacramento. The purpose of the program is to
provide information that will:
- determine compliance with established standards
- measure success of water quality objectives presented in the Bay/Delta W.Q.
Control Plan to protect beneficial uses
- identify meaningful changes in ecological trends potentially related to SWP
and CVP operations
- develop and improve predictive modeling tools
- establish a comprehensive base of information which can be
accessed by project operators and resource regulators for prudent management of the estuary.
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PROGRAM:
- Detection and assessment of introduced exotic species to the benthos community
- Tracking of major phytoplankton blooms including those reaching nuisance levels throughout the study area. Documentation includes magnitude, identification of dominant species, rate of spread and determination of total area involved
- Establishment of seasonal trends for significant water quality parameters including turbidity, dissolved oxygen, macro-nutrients, Ph, salinity, water temperature and organic/inorganic suspended solids.
- Establishment of seasonal trends for climatological parameters including air temperature, wind speed/direction, solar radiation
- Determining key factors controlling the dissolved oxygen dynamics in the Stockton Ship Channel and lower San Joaquin River.
- Maintaining inventory lists of all phytoplankton and benthic species observed during 20 year period of record
- Installation of a continuously recording, multi- parameter, telemetered network of robot monitors measuring water quality and climatological parameters
- Organization and management of an extensive data base compiled over period of record that reflects the basic characteristics of this estuary and is utilized for compliance purposes, trend analyses, impact evaluations, special study planning and management decisions
- Providing prototype data for the development and advancement of predictive modeling tools
For more information about this program element contact:
Harlan Proctor, California Department of Water Resources
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