Total Maximum Daily Load for Indicator Bacteria in Pillar Point Harbor and Venice Beach

VIDEO. Discussion from the San Mateo County Pillar Point Harbor meeting 10/21/2020.

The California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region is proposing amendments to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay Basin to establish a Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load and Implementation Plan for Pillar Point Harbor and Venice Beach.

Written comments are due no later than 5:00 PM on December 1, 2020, with a public hearing scheduled for February 10, 2021:

Please contact Barbara Baginska at Barbara.Baginska@waterboards.ca.gov

Background

On October 13, 2020 the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region filed a draft substitute environmental document supporting a proposed amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay Basin (Basin Plan) to: “Establish a Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load and Implementation Plan for Pillar Point Harbor and Venice Beach and Update Bacteria Objectives for Protecting Water Contact Recreation in the Basin Plan.” Pursuant to the notice, the “proposed Basin Plan amendment will establish a TMDL on the discharge of bacteria into Pillar Point Harbor and Venice Beach to reasonably protect contact recreation beneficial uses, as well as a program of implementation to achieve the TMDL.” “The Water Board is considering the Basin Plan amendment in accordance with a certified regulatory program exempt under section 21080.5 of the Public Resources Code from the requirement to prepare an environmental impact report under the California Environmental Quality Act. (Pub. Res. Code, §§ 21000 et seq.) The draft Staff Report serves as the substitute environmental documentation required under the Water Board’s certified regulatory program (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 23, §§ 3775 et seq.) and includes the required environmental analyses of the proposed Basin Plan amendment.” (See attached Notice)

Written comments are due no later than 5:00 PM on December 1, 2020, with a public hearing scheduled for February 10, 2021. Specifically, the Amendment calls for the District to:

1. Begin or enhance “no dumping” education efforts to vessel owners.

2. Submit a plan and implementation schedule, acceptable to the Executive Officer, listing steps to:

a. Evaluate effectiveness and proper performance of sewage collection systems (sewage dump stations, sewage pump out stations, sewer lines, etc.) for the harbor marina and harbor amenities.

b. Inspect sewer and stormwater laterals and all other components connecting facilities at Pillar Point Harbor to the sanitary sewer system. c. Prioritize sewer system repairs and public restrooms repairs in the harbor. d. Establish and implement a protocol to enhance efforts to identify and correct illicit sewage dumping from boats in inner and outer harbor. e. Begin or boost existing actions to control runoff from loading docks, dumpsters, food service and refuse areas.

3. The SMCHD would also be responsible to develop and implement a monitoring plan in coordination with the other implementing parties to assess compliance with the numeric targets.

Staff, in consultation with the San Mateo County Resource Conservation District, will prepare DRAFT written comments for the Board’s consideration at the November 2020 meeting, prior to the December 1, 2020 submission deadline.

Recommendation: For information only. Staff will return next month with draft comments in response to the proposed amendments to the Basin Plan.

10/2020 CALIFORNIA REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD SAN FRANCISCO BAY REGION COMPLETE REPORT:

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Indicator Bacteria in Pillar Point Harbor and Venice Beach

CALIFORNIA REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD SAN FRANCISCO BAY REGION

1515 Clay Street, Suite 1400, Oakland, CA 94612

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/

To request copies of the Basin Plan Amendment and draft Staff Report, please contact Barbara Baginska at Barbara.Baginska@waterboards.ca.gov

Documents also are available at our website: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sanfranciscobay/water_issues/programs/TMDLs/PPH_TMDL.html

Venice Beach

Pillar Point Harbor