Prioritized Sites for Amphipod

TIE Study

Identify 12 potentially toxic inter-tidal sites

Sample four sites at a time to find two suitable sites for amphipod TIE development

- Perform phased TIE to characterize, identify, and confirm causes of observed toxicity

- Analyze sediment quality and chemistry at the TIE sites to help with TIE interpretation

2007-2008: Causes of Sediment Toxicity Study

Group 1Group 2Group 3

Sediment Effects in San Francisco Bay

Management Context

Current Status

Important Work to Date

Sediment Toxicity

Benthic Pilot Study/SQO

RMP Objectives and Management Questions Addressed

Five-Year Plan

EEPS WG Sep. 2007

Management Context

Sediment toxicity is persistent in the Estuary and we need to investigate the causes

Narrative toxicity objectives outlined in the Basin Plan are employed by the Water Board to list water bodies

Sediment Quality Objectives for bays and estuaries are proposed and will be promulgated soon

Current Status

Persistent toxicity in Estuary sediments Toxicity in higher in the winter than the summer Toxicity in more prevalent in the margins than channels Benthic indices have been developed for some benthic

assemblages, and some benthic community impacts are seen based on contamination

(However salinity and TOC were strong correlates as well) Benthic impacts are more prevalent in margins than

channels

Important Work to Date RMP Status and Trends continues to characterized

sediment toxicity conditions in the Estuary Complex mixtures and specific contaminant groups have

been correlated to sediment toxicity observed in the S&T program

Bivalve and Amphipod TIEs are useful tools to separate contaminant causes of toxicity

Benthic Assemblages have been characterized for the Estuary

Benthic Indices developed within some of these assemblages are employed by the SQO for bays and estuaries

RMP Management Objectives Addressed

Objective 4. Characterize ecological and human health risk due to pollution of the Estuary ecosystem

Objective 5. Use monitoring information to compare to relevant regulatory guidelines (and to establish new guidelines)

Page 8 of the draft workplan

Specific Questions to be Addressed in Next Five-Years

In order of priority:

1. What are the causes of sediment toxicity?

2. Are Estuary sediments toxic?

3. Are the benthos impacted by pollutants?

4. Is the SQO method a valid way evaluate ecological condition in this Estuary?

5. What are the causes of benthic impacts?

Page 8 of the draft workplan

Toxicity Workgroup Recommendations:

Evaluate toxicity during Winter near potential sources

Follow the most relevant matrix (sediment)

Investigate causes of persistent sediment toxicity

Develop LC50s for estuarine species

Integrate this study with Benthic work and other SQO work that is planned

We have begun to address these questions

Causes of Sediment Toxicity

Causes of Benthic Impacts

Primary ObjectiveUnderstand the Causes of Ecological Effects in Sediments of the San

Francisco Estuary

Amphipod Dose Response

ExperimentsMQ 4.1

SQ 1, 2, 3 & 5

Amphipod TIE’s MQ 4.1

SQ 1 & 2

ID Benthic Assemblages

MQs 4.2, 5.1, 5.2SQ 3 & 4

Multi-metric Benthic Response IndicesMQs 4.2, 5.1, 5.2

SQ 3, 4 & 5

Bivalve TIE’s MQ 4.1

SQ 1 & 2Multivariate analyses

to ID stressorsMQs 4.2, 5.1, 5.2

SQ 1, 2, 3 & 5

Intensive triad studies at gradient sites

to investigate stressorsMQs 4.1, 4.2SQ 1,2,4 & 5

Develop TIE “toolbox” to address causes

MQ 4.1SQ 1 & 2

Experimental studies to understand benthic

community effectsMQs 4.1, 4.2

SQ 3 & 5

Dose-response studies of both resident and lab estuarine species using contaminant of concern

MQ 4.1SQ 1, 2, 3 & 5

MQs = Management Questions addressed by the study

SQ = Specific Question Addressed by the Sediment Effects Studies

See Page 8 of the draft workplan

Graphic is a modified version of

Figure 1 on Page 21

SQO for bays and

estuariesMQs 4.2, 4.4, 5.1, 5.2

Five-Year WorkplanSummary, Cost Estimates, and MQs

Annual Cost Estimate ($K)

Element Description 08 09 10 11 12 Management Questions Addressed

RMP Status & Trends

(Add SQO)

Add benthic sampling at all sediment toxicity stations sample by the S&T program

65S

36W

66S

55W

67S

4.2 – ecological risks of sediment contamination4.3 – effect of management actions to reduce risk5.1 – % of Bay impaired5.2 – impairment of segments

Causes of Sediment Toxicity Study

- Complete Current Study- Focus on contaminated areas in winter, identify gradients, sample toxicity, chemistry, and benthos

10 65 56 58 60

4.1 – identify chemicals posing ecological risk4.2 – ecological risks of sediment contamination4.3 – effect of management actions to reduce risk5.1 – % of Bay impaired5.2 – impairment of segments

Benthic Community Assessment Studies

Field and lab experiments to investigate benthic community effects

5 30 70 15 704.2 – ecological risks of sediment contamination5.2 – impairment of segments

Table 4 of the draft workplan

On Page 18

Five-Year WorkplanTask 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Benthos /Toxicity Work-group oversight

WG Charge:07+08- Review Workplan- Exchange

Experience- Provide Guidance

Annual meeting: Provide oversight and information exchange.

Annual meeting: Provide oversight and information exchange.

Annual meeting: Provide oversight and information exchange.

Annual meeting:Provide oversight and information exchange.

RMP S&T Sediment

Add SQO(Benthos)

S&T Sediment Cruise

(Summer 2008): 27 sites

S&T Sediment Cruise

(Winter2009): 14 sites

S&T Sediment Cruise

(Summer 2010): 27 sites

S&T Sediment Cruise

(Winter 2011): 14 sites(3-Yr Sum. Rpt)

S&T Sediment Cruise

(Summer 2012): 27 sites

Causes of Sediment Toxicity Studies

-Complete 2007/08 tasks- Identify good gradient sites to conduct additional toxicity, chemistry and TIE studies.

-Implement the TRIAD gradient studies using laboratory test species. (Archive Benthos unless…)-Continue TIE Dev.- Consider Dose-response studies with Lab/Res spp.

- Continue TRIAD gradient studies - Further refine TIE tools to develop “TIE toolbox”- Develop new proposal to further goal of relating sediment toxicity to benthic impacts.

- Contribute interpretation of causes of sediment toxicity in technical report summarizing gradient and experimental results

- Plans pending results from previous years of work

Benthic Community Studies.

Develop options for lab and field experiments

- Process benthic gradient samples - Experimental study on community attributes

-Experimental study on community attributes-Evaluate progress towards understanding Lab vs. Benthic Indicators

Summarize results of gradient and experimental studies

Build off previous years work to develop future work

Table 5 of the draft workplan

On Page 19