This amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Los Angeles Region (Basin Plan) establishes a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for bacteria in Ballona Creek, Ballona Estuary, and Sepulveda Channel, based on a reference system approach which allows a set number of exceedances of the applicable bacteria objectives for wet-weather days and both summer (April 1 to October 31) and winter (November 1 to March 31) dry-weather days. Wet-weather days are defined as any day receiving 0.1 inch of rain or more and three days thereafter. There are four components of the TMDL. First, the TMDL sets numeric water quality targets equal to the updated Basin Plan water contact recreation objectives for marine and fresh waters (for Ballona Estuary and Sepulveda Channel respectively), Basin Plan objectives for limited water contact recreation (for Reach 2 of Ballona Creek), and the non-contact water recreation Basin Plan objectives for Reach 1 of Ballona Creek. Second, the TMDL applies the allowable maximum number of daily and weekly sampling days which may exceed the single sample limits for the relevant bacterial indicators, specified in the Basin Plan during summer dry-weather, winter dry-weather, and wet weather. Third, the TMDL provides that all responsible jurisdictions and agencies within a subwatershed are jointly responsible for complying with the waste load allocations and that the responsible jurisdictions for the nonpoint sources are responsible for complying with their load allocation. Fourth, the TMDL applies the allowable exceedance days, and the rolling geometric bacteria density means as specified in the Basin Plan as bacteriological water quality objectives and stipulates these objectives must be achieved within six years for the summer and winter dry weather period and within 14 years for the wet-weather period.
The amendment identifies Los Angeles County Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and the Caltrans Storm Water Permit, any future Phase II MS4 permits, general NPDES permits, general industrial storm water permits, general construction storm water permits, and the authority vested in the Executive Officer by Water Code sections 13263, 13267, and 13383, and other appropriate regulatory mechanisms as the principal regulatory tools to be used to implement the TMDL.
By July 15, 2018, the TMDL shall be re-considered to incorporate new information from technical or scientific studies, or to address revisions to water quality standards, such as adoption of revised water quality objectives based on recommendations from U.S. EPA.
This Basin Plan amendment was adopted by the Los Angeles Water Board on June 8, 2006 (Resolution No. R10-006) and approved by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) on November 15, 2006.
The Basin Plan amendment was revised by the Los Angeles Water Board on June 7, 2012 (Resolution No. R12-008), and approved by the State Water Board under Resolution No. 2013-0008 on. March 19, 2013.
Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 23, § 3939.24
2. Amendments to section summarizing amendments to basin plan filed 11-8-2013; amendments approved by State Water Resources Control Board 3-19-2013 pursuant to Resolution No. 2013-0008; amendments approved by OAL pursuant to Government Code section 11353 on 11-8-2013 (Register 2013, No. 45).
2. Amendments to section summarizing amendments to basin plan filed 11-8-2013; amendments approved by State Water Resources Control Board 3-19-2013 pursuant to Resolution No. 2013-0008; amendments approved by OAL pursuant to Government Code section 11353 on 11-8-2013 (Register 2013, No. 45).