§ 3924. Total Maximum Daily Load (Tmdl) for Pathogens in Morro Bay, Including Chorro and Los Osos Creeks.

Establishes a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for pathogens in Morro Bay, Chorro and Los Osos Creeks to address impairment of the beneficial uses of Shellfish Harvesting, Contact Recreation and Non-contact Recreation by excessive levels of bacterial indicator organisms. The numeric target in the Bay is equal to the California Department of Health Service's standard, and the numeric targets for the Creeks are equal to the existing water quality objectives. An implicit margin of safety was incorporated into the TMDL through the use of conservative numeric targets.

The Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) will rely on self-determined actions and actions required by existing regulatory authority (National Pollutant Discharge Eliminations Systems permits for stormwater discharges and Waste Discharge Requirements [WDRs] for treated sewage discharges) for a ten-year implementation period to achieve the TMDL. The Regional Board will monitoring water quality for compliance with the numeric targets for fecal coliform and/or other appropriate bacterial indicator organisms and will track implementation progress. Any future revision of the TMDL or the numeric targets will be considered through the Basin Plan amendment process. If future revision to the implementation strategy is recommended, the revision will be considered through the Basin Plan amendment process and/or on a case-by-case basis through existing regulatory authority (e.g., additional WDRs).

HISTORY

1. New section filed 11-19-2003; operative 11-19-2003. Resolution No. R3-2002-0117 adopted by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board 5-16-2003; Resolution No. 2003-060 adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board 9-16-2003. Approved by OAL pursuant to Government Code section 11353 (Register 2003, No. 47).