Tidal Transport of Bacteria between the Talbert Watershed and the Ocean Interim Report 1 for the UCI

Coastal Runoff Impact Study (CRIS)

DRAFT I
Prepared For: National Water Research Institute (NWRI) County of Orange Cities of Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Newport Beach

Prepared By: Stanley B. Grant, Ph. D Associate Professor School of Engineering University of California at Irvine and Brett F. Sanders, Ph. D Assistant Professor School of Engineering University of California at Irvine

January 21, 2000

UCI Coastal Runoff Impact Study

Interim Report 1 Draft 1 1/19/2000

1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Tidal Transport Experiment ................................................................................................................................ 4 1.2.1 Overview ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2.2. Monitoring Station ......................................................................................................................................... 5 2.0 METHODS ............................................................................................................................................................ 6 2.1 Field Methods ........................................................................................................................................................ 7 2.1.1 Water Sample Collection................................................................................................................................. 7 2.1.2 Hydrodynamic Data Collection....................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Laboratory Methods ............................................................................................................................................. 8 2.2.1 Enumeration of Bacteria in the Talbert Outlet Samples Total Coliform ......................................................... 8 2.2.2 Enumeration of Bacteria in Surfzone Samples................................................................................................ 8 2.2.3 Physical Measurements ................................................................................................................................... 8 2.3 Characterization of Pump Station Forebay Water and Discharge Volumes ................................................... 8 3.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 Tidal Transport of Total Coliform (TC) ............................................................................................................. 9 3.1.1 Pump Station Inputs of TC.............................................................................................................................. 9 3.1.2 Oscillation in Tide Range................................................................................................................................ 9 3.1.3 Concentration of TC in the Talbert Outlet....................................................................................................... 9 3.1.4 Concentration of TC in Surfzone .................................................................................................................... 9 3.1.5 Interpretation of the TC Results .................................................................................................................... 10 3.1.6 Implications of the TC Results ...................................................................................................................... 10 3.2 Tidal Transport of E.coli (EC) ........................................................................................................................... 10 3.2.1 Pump Station Inputs of EC............................................................................................................................ 10 3.2.2 Concentration of EC in the Talbert Outlet..................................................................................................... 10 3.2.3 Concentration of EC (or FC) in Surfzone...................................................................................................... 11 3.2.4 Interpretation of the EC Results Interpretation:............................................................................................. 11 3.2.5 Implications of the EC Results ...................................................................................................................... 11 3.3 Tidal Transport of Enterococcus (ENT) ........................................................................................................... 12 3.3.1 Pump Station Inputs of ENT ......................................................................................................................... 12 3.3.2 Concentration of ENT in the Talbert Outlet.................................................................................................. 12 3.3.3 Concentration of ENT in Surfzone................................................................................................................ 12 3.3.4 Interpretation of the ENT Results.................................................................................................................. 12 3.3.5 Implications of the ENT Results ................................................................................................................... 13 3.4 Vertical Structure of the Water Column .......................................................................................................... 13 3.4.1. Conductivity Data ........................................................................................................................................ 13 3.4.2. pH Data ........................................................................................................................................................ 14 3.4.3. Turbidity Data .............................................................................................................................................. 14 3.4.4. Arithmetic TC Data ...................................................................................................................................... 14 3.4.5. Log Transformed TC Data ........................................................................................................................... 14 3.4.6. Arithmetic EC Data ...................................................................................................................................... 14 3.4.7. Arithmetic ENT Data ................................................................................................................................... 14 3.4.8. Summary of Vertical Stratification Data ...................................................................................................... 14

UCI Coastal Runoff Impact Study

Interim Report 1 Draft 1 1/19/2000

4.0 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS .............................................................................................................................. 14 5.0 REFERENCES.................................................................................................................................................... 15

UCI Coastal Runoff Impact Study

Interim Report 1 Draft 1 1/19/2000

1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background The surf zone in Orange County, California, is routinely monitored for bacterial indicators of fecal pollution. During the summer of 1999, elevated levels of indicator bacteria prompted health officials to restrict public access to a nearly five mile stretch of Huntington Beach (HB). The beach closures and postings disrupted the local economy and negatively impacted beach attendance. The Coastal Runoff Impact Study (CRIS) was funded November 1, 1999 by the National Water Research Institute to investigate the impact of watershed runoff on indicator bacterial levels at HB. Matching funds and/or in-kind support was provided by the County of Orange, the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD), the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and the cities of Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley (FV), Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, and Newport Beach. In the first phase of CRIS, which was carried out between November 1, 1999 and January 8, 2000, the tide induced transport of indicator bacteria between the Talbert Watershed and the nearshore area at HB was characterized. The Talbert Watershed (TW) encompasses 12 square miles in HB and Fountain Valley (FV). The watershed contains three flood control channels, including the Talbert Channel, HB Channel, and FV Channel (Figure 1). These channels are tidally influenced, which means ocean water flows into the channels during- flood tides and back out during- ebb tides. This tide-induced transport of water in the channels may impact water quality at the beach, by acting as a mechanism for carrying watershed runoff to the nearshore. One of the primary objectives of this transport experiment was to test the validity of this hypothesis. Current land use in the TW is primarily residential in nature, although portions of the watershed are zoned for industrial or agricultural purposes. Both controlled and uncontrolled sources of runoff enter the TW flood control channels. Controlled sources drain from the street level to one of several forebays. When a forebay pump station is activated, water is transferred from the forebay to the channel network. The City of HB operates seven (7) pump stations and the Public Facilities and Resources Department of the County of Orange (PFRD) operates one (1) pump station that discharge into the channel network. The location of each pump station is noted in Figure 1. Uncontrolled sources, on the other hand, drain by gravity from street level, through closed conduit collection lines, and then into the channel network. Once runoff enters the channel network, it travels under gravitational and tidal forces toward the coast, passing through a constructed wetland (Talbert Marsh) before it enters the ocean approximately 1000 feet upcoast of the Santa Ana River (SAR) in the City of HB. 1.2 Tidal Transport Experiment 1.2.1 Overview The tidal exchange experiment was designed, organized, and carried out by Professors Stanley B. Grant and Brett F. Sanders of the University of California at Irvine (UCI). The experiment would not have been possible without the help of personnel from (in alphabetical order) the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CDPR), the City of Huntington Beach (HB), Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy, Orange County Public Facilities and Resources Department (PFRD), Orange County Sanitation Districts (OCSD), Surfrider Foundation, and UCI. The goal of the experiment was to determine if the TW is a significant source of indicator bacteria (total coliform, E.coli, and enterococcus) to the nearshore area in HB. Indicator bacteria are groups of bacteria that may indicate the presence of fecal pollution. To achieve this goal, a monitoring station was constructed at the outlet of the TW, located approximately 1000 feet up-coast of the SAR outlet (Figure 1). Over a two-week period beginning December 7, 1999, this monitoring station was used to simultaneously characterize the hydrology, bacteriology, and chemistry of water flowing in and out of the TW. Data was collected at the station every hour, 24 hours per day, for the entire two- week period. In many ways the experiment replicated the conditions that existed over the summer: (1) There was no precipitation during the two-week study;

UCI Coastal Runoff Impact Study

Interim Report 1 Draft 1 1/19/2000

(2) High levels of indicator bacteria in the surfzone prompted County officials to post portions of the beach twice during the study period; (3) The postings occurred up-coast of the TW outlet, in the same general area where beach closures occurred the previous summer; (4) Two large tidal excursions occurred during the study; a moderate excursion at the beginning of the study and an extreme excursion at the end of the study. At the outset of this study, pump stations operated by the City of HB and OC PFRD were in a diversion mode. Runoff collected at each of the stations was diverted into the sanitary sewer system and subsequently treated at OCSD facilities. This mode of operation was initiated during August of 1999 when runoff from the TW was suspected of contributing to elevated levels of bacterial pollution at HB, and diversions continued into the fall and early winter months. While the diversion mode cannot continue through storm periods when runoff volumes are considerably larger, the absence of significant precipitation this year allowed diversions to continue up to the study period. Midway through our study, on December 13, pump stations in the TW went out of diversion mode, and the discharge of runoff into the channel network resumed. The timing of the operational change allowed the exchange of bacteria between the watershed and the ocean to be characterized both with and without the contribution of controlled runoff sources. To summarize, the City of HB and OC PFRD operated their pump stations in two different modes during the study period: (1) During the first week of the study, the pump stations operated in a diversion mode. In this mode, runoff that accumulated in the pump station forebays was diverted to the sanitary sewer system; (2) During the second week of the study, the pump stations operated in a discharge mode. In this mode, runoff that accumulated in the pump station forebays was pumped directly into the flood control channels following normal operating procedures. 1.2.2. Monitoring Station With the assistance of the OC PFRD and CDPR, a monitoring station was built on the bridge that spans the Talbert Outlet at Huntington State Beach. An automated data collection system was installed inside a fenced staging area to collect water samples and simultaneously collect information about flow conditions in the Talbert Outlet. In designing the water collection system, several issues were considered: (1) Studies conducted the previous summer by OCSD suggested that the concentration of bacteria in the outlet of the Talbert and SAR channels sometimes varied with horizontal position across the channel; in particular, the bacterial concentration was sometimes high in the center of the channels and low at the edges, or vice versa. (2) The spatial pattern of beach closures over the summer prompted speculation that indicator bacteria may have been concentrated in freshwater lenses that originated when urban runoff from the Talbert and/or SAR watersheds flowed out to the ocean. If true, then the concentration of bacteria at our sampling station should vary significantly with vertical position in the water column, with the highest concentrations located near the air/water interface where freshwater lenses would be located. (3) There is substantial evidence that indicator bacteria can be associated with fine particles and sediments (1,2). Furthermore, aerial photography from the previous summer showed turbidity plumes exiting the outlets of the Talbert Channel and SAR watersheds and spreading up-coast along the area impacted by high concentrations of indicator bacteria. Considered together, these two observations suggest that high levels of indicator bacteria in the surfzone may have been particle-associated. If true, then the concentration of bacteria at our sampling station might be vertically stratified, with the highest concentrations appearing near the bottom of the water column where the particle concentration is highest. To characterize the vertical distribution of bacteria at the Talbert Outlet, the sampling station was designed to collect water from four different depths in the water column. Two of the sampling points were located a fixed

UCI Coastal Runoff Impact Study

Interim Report 1 Draft 1 1/19/2000

distance (3 and 1-3) below the air/water interface; the other two sampling points were located a fixed distance above the channel bed (1'-7" and 2'- 11). The sampling system is illustrated in Section AA' of Figure 1. Each sampling point consisted of a strainer that was connected by vinyl tubing to an ISCO sampler located in the staging area on the overhead bridge. The fixedelevation strainers were attached with brackets to a 4" stainless steel pipe supported by the bridge above, and braced against shear by a collar inserted into the sand below. The floating strainers were supported by a buoyant platform (see lower-right inset in Figure 1) that was designed to slide up and down a 1" stainless steel pipe installed parallel and approximately 3 feet away from the 4" pipe. The following numbering convention was adopted for the sampling points: Sampler 1 (S1): Fixed strainer located l'-7" above the channel bed. Sampler 2 (S2): Fixed strainer located 2'-11" above the channel bed. Sampler 3 (S3): Floating strainer located 15" below the air/water interface. Sampler 4 (S4): Floating strainer located 3" below the air/water interface. An ISCO acoustic Doppler velocimeter and pressure transducer were installed at the base of the 4" pipe to measure and record water depth, index velocity, and flow direction (ebb or flood). A YSI water chemistry sonde was also installed to measure the temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH and salinity of the water. These physical and chemical parameters were monitored and recorded every minute, 24 hours per day, for 14 days. These data were stored on site in a data logger, and then downloaded onto a portable PC for further processing. Water samples were collected from each sampling point every hour, 24 hours per day for two weeks. To obtain an "average" measure of the water quality over the hour-long sampling interval, the ISCO samplers were programmed to deposit 200 mL of water every 15 minutes. Hence, each 800 mL water sample was a composite of four 200 mL samples collected over an hour-long period from a particular depth in the water column. This sampling protocol generated a total of approximately 1,000 water samples for analysis. Standard Methods requires that all bacteriological sample analyses be carried out within 8 hours of collection, although 24 hours is allowed (3). Consequently, water samples were collected from the site every 8 hours, and transported to the Microbiology Laboratory at OCSD for analysis. At OCSD, the water samples were immediately analyzed for the following: (1) Indicator Bacteria -Total Coliform (TC), -E.coli (EC), -Enterococcus bacteria (ENT) (2) Turbidity, (3) Conductivity, and (4) pH. The samples were later analyzed for total suspended solids (TSS), and a subset of the samples were archived to permit later analysis for male-specific bacteriophage. The laboratory procedures used to carry out the water analyses are described next in the methods section.

2.0 Methods
The sampling approach adopted for this study was designed to quantify the transport of bacteria between the TW and the ocean with: (1) a sufficiently small time-resolution to capture both intra-tidal and inter-tidal variations in bacteria concentration and bacterial flow, and (2) a sufficiently small vertical resolution through the water column to characterize the vertical variation in bacterial concentration. The study period encompassed a two-week period beginning December 7 and ending December 21, 1999. Methods were employed to obtain hourly measurements of water level, index velocity, concentration of three indicator bacteria, and four physical water properties. Water samples were collected 24 hours a day during the study period at four y elevations within the water column.

UCI Coastal Runoff Impact Study

Interim Report 1 Draft 1 1/19/2000

2.1 Field Methods 2.1.1 Water Sample Collection The timing and number of water samples associated with this study necessitated an automated approach for water sample collection in the field. The monitoring station consisted of four ISCO programmable samplers (three model3700 and one model-6700) connected to " vinyl tubing that reached into the channel water and terminated in either a fixed-elevation or floating strainer, as described earlier and illustrated in Figure 1. Two fixed-elevation strainers were set 1-7 and 2'-11" above the initial bed elevation. The elevation of the bed was estimated to be -2'-8" (MSL) at the outset of the experiment; however, sediment scouring, around our sampling equipment resulted in a lowering of the channel bed as the experiment progressed. Two floating-strainers were suspended 3" and 1'-3" below the water surface. A detailed sketch of the floating strainer apparatus is presented in the lower portion of Figure 1. The ISCO samplers were filled with ice to keep the water samples near 4C until a servicing crew arrived. Crews serviced the automated samplers at 6:00, 14:00, and 20:00 each day and transported the samples to OCSD for immediate analysis. Hourly water samples from each strainer were composited into a single bottle using the strategy described earlier. To minimize the potential for cross-contamination between samples, a purge cycle was executed before and after each sampling event. Because of the configuration of the ISCO samplers relative to the tubing, the purge cycle did not completely remove all water from the tubing line. However, a small (<5 mL) volume of cross-contamination was deemed acceptable for this study. The four ISCO samplers were set on the landward (Northeast) edge of the bridge spanning the Talbert Channel at Huntington State Beach (HSB) and connected to a 110V AC power hook-up installed by the Califorriia Department of Parks and Recreation. The HSB bridge is situated approximately 15 feet from the Pacific Coast Highway bridge, and provided a staging area that was free from the danger associated with highway traffic. A 4" stainless steel pipe suspended from the bridge and braced at the channel bed with a 6" pipe anchored in the sediment served to support the two fixed-elevation strainers. The floating strainer apparatus was guided by a 1" stainless steel pipe set parallel and approximately 3' from the 4" pipe. The tubing connecting the strainers with the ISCO samplers was either covered with foam insulation or fed through the 4" pipe to avoid exposure to light which could lead to the growth of algae within the vinyl tubing. 2.1.2 Hydrodynamic Data Collection Index velocity and water level were measured and recorded using an ISCO 4250 Area Velocity Flow Meter. The ISCO 4250 uses Doppler technology to measure the average velocity over a representative cross-section of the channel. Because the ISCO 4250 samples only a portion of the channel cross-section, the velocity it records is termed an index" velocity. Both positive and negative index velocities are registered by the meter. A pressure transducer integrated into the ISCO 4250 is used to measure water level. The ISCO 4250 was mounted at the bottom of the 4" pipe, 1-2" above the initial bed elevation, and connected to the ISCO 6700 water sampler which logged the data. The zero level was set as the bed elevation at the onset of the experiment The ISCO 4250 was programmed to take one measurement per minute. These data were post-processed to obtain estimates for the time-average index velocity and water level associated with each one-hour sampling period. To track time, the same convention was adopted for all data collected during this project: each time mark represented the average over the following hour. For example, the average water level reported for 6:00 AM corresponds to the average of all level data measured from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM. For one-hour periods when a flow reversal occurred, the index velocity was set to zero. Water level and index velocity at the monitoring station were estimated for the period between 10:00 on 12/16/1999 and 9:00 on 12/17/1999, when the power supply for the ISCO 6700 failed and velocity and level data were not recorded. As will be shown in Section 3.1.2 of the report, the water level at the monitoring station closely tracks the tide level predicted by WXTide 32 (copyright Michael Hopper, 1999). Hence, the timing and magnitude of the water level at the Talbert Outlet was estimated from WXTide 32, except during low tides. During low tides, the flow conditions at the monitoring station are hydraulically isolated from the ocean level. Consequently, at low tide the water level at the monitoring station was estimated from records of water volume collected from each sampling point in the water column; i.e., one or both of the fixed samplers were above the water at the low point in the tide

UCI Coastal Runoff Impact Study

Interim Report 1 Draft 1 1/19/2000

cycle. Intermediate values were interpolated by hand recognizing that the day-to-day tidal variations are remarkably similar. Index velocity was estimated by using the tide levels and the recorded velocity data for the following day (12/17/1999-12/18/1999). 2.2 Laboratory Methods Water samples were analyzed for three indicator bacteria: Total Coliform, E.coli and Enterococcus; samples were also analyzed for four physical characteristics including pH, Conductivity, Turbidity and Total Suspended Solids (TSS). 2.2.1 Enumeration of Bacteria in the Talbert Outlet Samples Total Coliform (TC) and E.coli (EC) were quantified using the IDEXX Colilert-18 test. Enterococcus (ENT) counts were determined using the IDEXX Enterolert test. Sample processing followed manufacturer's recommendations. Briefly, the Colilert tests were incubated 18 hours at 35C and Enterolert tests were incubated for 24 hours at 41C. For comparison purposes, 10% of all samples were analyzed in parallel using the multiple tube fermentation method for TC (3). The MTF data were not available as of the date of this report, but these data will be included in a later version. 2.2.2 Enumeration of Bacteria in Surfzone Samples Surfzone samples were collected at 18 stations up- and down-coast of the Talbert Outlet once per day, and these samples were analyzed for bacteria at either OCSD or the OC Health Care Agency (OCHCA). The multiple tube fermentation (MTF) procedure (3) was used to analyze surfzone samples for TC at both OCHCA and OCSD. OCHCA used the IDEXX Colilert-18 test and the Enterolert test to analyze for EC and ENT. OCSD, on the other hand, used an MTF procedure to analyze for fecal coliform (FC), and a membrane filtration (MF) technique to analyze for ENT. A recent study compared these different methodologies for detecting indicator microorganisms, and found that their results were intercomparable (4). Specifically, MTF estimates of FC are comparable to Colilert18 estimates of EC, and MF estimates of ENT are comparable to Enterolert estimates of ENT. 2.2.3 Physical Measurements Upon arrival at the laboratory, the volume of each sample was recorded and a 200 mL aliquot was poured off for physical characterization. 100 mL of the aliquot was used to measure conductivity, pH, and turbidity, which were carried out immediately. Another 100 mL was stored at 4C for later TSS analysis. Water pH and conductivity were measured using, respectively, an Orion SA520 pH meter and an Orion 160 Conductivity meter. Water turbidity was measured using a HACH 21000N. TSS was measured by filtering a well mixed portion of the sample through a Whatman 934-AH glass fiber filter disc. The filter disc was dried at 103-105C for one hour, and TSS was calculated from the increase in weight and the volume of the sample used. Some of the water samples were not processed for TSS within the 10 day window specified for NPDES monitoring. The TSS data were not available as of the date of this report, but these will be included in a later version. 2.3 Characterization of Pump Station Forebay Water and Discharge Volumes During the study period, the City of HB contracted Truesdail Laboratores, Inc (Tustin, CA.) to characterize forebay water from each of the City's seven pump stations in the TW. Water samples were collected once per day from each of the pump station forebays operated by the City, and these samples were subsequently analyzed for physical properties (pH, conductivity, turbidity) and bacteriology (TC, EC, and ENT) using the same procedures described above for the Talbert Outlet samples (Sections 2.2.1 and 2.2.3). In addition, the City of HB recorded the timing of each pump station event, and provided an estimate of the total volume of runoff that was discharged into the channel. The discharge volumes were calculated from time histories of the water level recorded for each forebay.

3.0 Results and Discussion

The results are organized as follows. The tidal exchange data for the three indicator bacteria (TC, EC, and ENT) are presented first. This is followed by an analysis of the vertical distribution of bacteria and physicochemical parameters in the water column.

UCI Coastal Runoff Impact Study

Interim Report 1 Draft 1 1/19/2000

3.1 Tidal Transport of Total Coliform (TC) 3.1.1 Pump Station Inputs of TC The tidal exchange data for TC are graphically summarized in Figure 2. The top panel indicates the timing, location, and magnitude of pump station discharges of runoff into the channel network. The circles in this plot are color coded to indicate the pump station (see Figure 1 for the geographic location of each pump station). The vertical position of the circles indicates the volume of runoff discharged into the channel; the diameter of the circles indicates the concentration of TC in the forebay water prior to the discharge event. For example, just after midnight on Monday (12/13), the Indianapolis Street pump station discharged approximately 1 million gallons of stored runoff into the Talbert channel, and the concentration of TC in that water was between 104 and 105 most probable number (MPN) per 100 mL of sample. Altogether, over 11 million gallons (or 33 acre-feet) of runoff was discharged into the channel network in the second week of the study, and the majority of that runoff had TC concentrations exceeding 105 MPN per 100 ml. For comparison purposes, the total watershed encompasses an area of approximately 7,700 acres. 3.1.2 Oscillation in Tide Range The next panel in Figure 2 displays the water level recorded by our instrumentation at the Talbert Outlet (black line) and the tide level predicted for the Balboa Pier (red line) by the computer program WXTide32 (copyright, Michael Hopper, 1999). Because southern California has markedly asymmetrical semidiurnal tides (mixed tides) (Emery and Aubery, 1991), the tide range oscillates over time with a fairly long (~2 week) period. This oscillation in the tide range can be clearly seen in the second panel of Figure 2: the tide range is large at the onset of the study, small at the beginning of the second week, and large again at the end of the study. The water elevation at the Talbert Outlet is relatively constant (~ l'-10" above channel bed) at the low tide mark, even when the water elevation predicted for the Balboa Pier is much lower. This is because, during a low tide, a critical flow section exists between the monitoring station and the surfzone. This critical flow section leaves the TW hydraulically isolated from the tide level during low-tide periods. 3.1.3 Concentration of TC in the Talbert Outlet The third panel in Figure 2 shows the depth-averaged concentration of TC measured at the Talbert Outlet. To indicate which direction the water was flowing, the TC concentrations were multiplied by a +1 if the water was flowing from the watershed into the ocean (ebb tide), and a -1 if the water was flowing from the ocean into the watershed (flood tide). TC concentrations at the Talbert Outlet were fairly low (<500 MPN/100 mL) from the beginning of the study until the middle of the second week. On 12/18 and 12/19 two large pulses of TC left the watershed during the ebb tide (peak, concentrations of 4,000 and 3,000 MPN/100 ml, respectively) and then appeared to come back into the watershed at the beginning of the following flood tide. The flow of TC back into the watershed is probably a consequence of the geometry of the Talbert Outlet in the vicinity of the sampling station (see Figure 1). At the end of the ebb tide, water that flowed past the sampling station traveled approximately 1000 additional feet before arriving at the surfzone. When the tide reverses, bacteria trapped in the portion of the channel between the sampling station and the surfzone travel back into the watershed, passing the sampling station for a second time. These trapped bacteria are probably responsible for the negative excursions at the end of both TC pulses. The probable source of the TC pulses can be identified by comparing the depth-averaged TC data with the water elevation at the Talbert Outlet and the depth-averaged conductivity data. This comparison, which is shown in Figure 3, indicates that both of the large TC pulses peaked at the end of the ebb tide (when the tide level was reaching a minimum) and both pulses are strongly associated with a decrease in conductivity. This set of observations suggest that the large TC pulses are associated with a fresh water source located relatively far upstream in the Talbert Watershed. 3.1.4 Concentration of TC in Surfzone The fourth panel in Figure 2 shows the concentration of TC bacteria measured in the surfzone at 10 different stations located up-coast of the Talbert Outlet. Surfzone data are also available for stations located down-coast of the Talbert Outlet; these additional data will be included in subsequent revisions of this report. Overall, the surfzone concentration of TC was remarkably low (<200 MPN/100 mL) during the study period. It should be noted that the

UCI Coastal Runoff Impact Study

Interim Report 1 Draft 1 1/19/2000

large pulses of TC on 12/18 and 12/19 left the watershed during periods of time when no surfzone samples were collected. Hence, the impact of these pulses on TC levels in the surfzone cannot be determined from this data set. 3.1.5 Interpretation of the TC Results Interpretation: Runoff discharged from pump stations markedly increases the nearshore loading of TC from the TW, but only at the end of the ebb tide and when the tide range is large (>2.5'). Evidence: (1) The pump station discharges contributed significant levels of TC to the channel network. Discharge volumes routinely exceeded 105 gallons and TC concentration in forebay water was routinely greater than 105 MPN/100 mL. (2) The TC pulses occurred after the pump stations began discharging, and they coincided with the end of the ebb tide and a decrease in conductivity, implying an upstream freshwater origin. This set of observations is consistent with a pump station source of TC. 3.1.6 Implications of the TC Results The diversion of runoff to the sewer system has a positive impact on beach water quality, by reducing the loading of TC to the nearshore. However, the TC concentrations leaving the watershed during the study period never exceeded 4,000 MPN/100 mL. These values are significantly below the California ocean water standard for single samples of 10,000 MPN/100 mL (California AB 411). When runoff is not diverted, the time at which the TC pulses leave the TW for the nearshore may be predictable; namely, the peak concentrations occur at the end of the ebb tide when the tide range is large. Because the tide levels can be predicted far in advance, it may be possible to forecast when TC pulses are likely to impair beach water quality. Further analysis and studies are necessary to address this issue. Finally, these results suggest that the timing and magnitude of bacterial pulses flowing out of the TW are controlled by the tide range. When the tide range is small (e.g., 12/12-12/17) there is little tidal exchange of water in the channels, and the addition of runoff leads to an accumulation of contaminants in the channels. As the tide range picks up, tidal exchange of the channel water causes a sudden release of bacteria to the nearshore, as observed in the early morning hours on 12/18 and in the afternoon on 12/19. This "tidal pumping" of contaminants out of low lying urban watersheds could be a significant source of coastal pollution not accounted for in standard models of watershed hydrology. 3.2 Tidal Transport of E.coli (EC) 3.2.1 Pump Station Inputs of EC The tidal exchange data for EC are graphically summarized in Figure 4. Comparing the top panels in Figures 4 and 6, we find that the EC concentration in the forebays is about 100 times lower than the TC concentration. Hence, the discharge of runoff from pump stations should have a proportionally smaller impact on the concentration of EC in the channel water. The California ocean water standards for fecal coliform (FC)which is a group of bacteria that includes ECare much more stringent than the standards for TC. For example, the single sample standard for FC is 400 MPN/100 mL, while the single sample standard for TC is 10,000 MPN/100 mL. Consequently, the level of EC detected in the forebay water, while much lower than TC, is still significant relative to current ocean water standards. 3.2.2 Concentration of EC in the Talbert Outlet The depth-averaged concentration of EC at the Talbert Outlet is illustrated in the third panel of Figure 4. While EC appears to be flowing primarily from the watershed to the ocean (i.e., there is more red than blue in Figure 4), the EC concentrations are generally low (<100 MPN/100 mL). At one point in the second week of the study (12/19), a pulse of EC left the watershed with a peak value near 200 MPN/100 mL. By comparing Figures 3 and 5, this EC pulse coincides with the TC pulse that left the watershed on the same day. The EC pulse also coincides with a dip in conductivity at the end of the ebb tide (see Figure 5), implying that it came from an upstream freshwater source.

UCI Coastal Runoff Impact Study

Interim Report 1 Draft 1 1/19/2000

In general, all of the depth-averaged EC values recorded at the Talbert Outlet were below the California single sample standard for FC (400 MPN/100 mL) and below the geometric mean standard for FC (200 MPN/ 100 mL). 3.2.3 Concentration of EC (or FC) in Surfzone As described earlier (see Section 2.2.2), different methodologies were employed to analyze the surfzone samples, depending on whether they were analyzed at OCHCA or OCSD. Specifically, OCHCA reported Colilert estimates of EC, while OCSD reported multiple tube fermentation (MTF) estimates of FC. A recent study (4) found that there was not a statistically significant difference between the bacterial concentrations estimated by these two techniques. In this report we have pooled the data from OCHCA and OCSD into one data set that we refer to below as "EC (or FC)". The EC (or FC) concentration detected in the surfzone (bottom panel of Figure 4) was high several times during the study period: once at Station 2N on 12/8 (368 MPN/100 mL) and two times at stations ON-4N on 12/18 and 12/20 (approximately 200 MPN/100 mL). However, the depth-averaged EC concentration leaving the watershed on 12/8 was much lower (<100 MPN/100 mL) than the EC (or FC) concentration measured in the surfzone at Station 2N (368 MPN/100 mL. This result suggests the existence of another source of EC (or FC) outside the TW. A non-TW source of EC (or FC) would also explain why pulses of EC flowed from the ocean into the watershed several times during the study period (e.g., the afternoon on 12/16, see Figure 5). 3.2.4 Interpretation of the EC Results Interpretation: Interpretation: Runoff discharged from pump stations does not appear to significantly increase the nearshore loading of EC from the TW. There was one relatively small oceanward pulse of EC (on 12/19) that appears to have originated from runoff. Evidence: (1) The pump station discharges contributed moderate levels of EC to the channel network. While discharge volumes routinely exceeded 105 gallons, the EC concentration was rarely greater than 103 MPN/100 mL. (2) The concentration of EC did not significantly increase after pump station discharges began. (3) A pulse of EC left the watershed during the second week of the study (on 12/19). This pulse coincides with: (i) one of the large oceanward pulses of TC (see Section 3.1), (ii) a decrease in conductivity, and (iii) the end of the ebb tide. Together, these data imply that the pulse is from an upstream freshwater source, consistent with a pump station origin. Interpretation: The Talbert Marsh appears to be the source of relatively small pulses of EC that flow out of the watershed on a daily basis. Evidence: (1) Small pulses of EC flow out of the TW into the ocean on a daily basis (e.g., see 12/10-12/16 in Figure 5) (2) The timing of these pulses coincides with the beginning of the ebb tide, implying their source is immediately upstream of the sampling station, in the general vicinity of the Talbert Marsh. Interpretation: The Talbert Watershed is not the only source of EC (or FC) in the nearshore. Evidence: (1) The peak EC (or FC) in the surfzone (368 WN1100 mL) was significantly higher than the EC concentrafions observed at the Talbert outlet around the same time (<100 MPN/100 mL). 3.2.5 Implications of the EC Results The diversion of runoff to the sanitary sewer system did not appear to have a significant impact on the nearshore loading of EC from the TW. There was a single pulse of EC that appears to be of runoff origin, but the peak value of this pulse (200 MPN/100 mL) is less than the California ocean water standard for single samples (400 MPN/100

UCI Coastal Runoff Impact Study

Interim Report 1 Draft 1 1/19/2000

mL). Indeed, all of the EC concentrations recorded in this study fell below the California ocean water standard for single samples. 3.3 Tidal Transport of Enterococcus (ENT) 3.3.1 Pump Station Inputs of ENT The tidal exchange data for ENT are graphically summarized in Figure 6. Comparing the top panels in Figures 4, 6 and 8, we find that the ENT concentration in the forebays is about the same as the EC concentration. Furthermore, the forebay concentration of both ENT and EC are about 100 times lower than the forebay concentration of TC. Hence, the discharge of runoff from pump stations should have approximately the same impact on the concentration of EC and ENT in the channel water. 3.3.2 Concentration of ENT in the Talbert Outlet The depth-averaged concentration of ENT at the Talbert Outlet (third panel in Figure 6) reveals that two large pulses of ENT flowed out of the watershed during the study period: one in the afternoon on 12/10 and another in the late evening on 12/16. Importantly, the first large pulse of ENT left the watershed before the pump stations began discharging runoff. Hence, the source of this first ENT pulse is not related to pump station discharges. Insight into the probable source of these two large ENT pulses can be obtained by comparing the depth-averaged ENT data with the water elevation and depth-averaged conductivity measured at the Talbert Outlet (Figure 7). Focusing on the afternoon of 12/10, the onset of the pulse begins immediately after the start of the ebb tide. This implies that the source of the ENT is immediately upstream of the sampling station, most likely in the Talbert Marsh (see Figure 1). The peak concentration of this ENT pulse (650 MPN/100 mL) is significantly higher than the California ocean water standard for a single sample of 104 MPN/100 mL. The second event in the evening of 12/16 begins with an ENT pulse flowing into the watershed from the ocean (peak concentration 300 MPN/100 mL). This is followed by a ENT pulse that flows from the watershed back to the ocean (peak concentration 420 MPN/100 mL). It is possible that these two pulses are actually a single plume of ENT that was advected into the watershed during the flood tide, and advected back out to the ocean during the following ebb tide. 3.3.3 Concentration of ENT in Surfzone The spatiotemporal patterns of ENT and EC in the surfzone are very similar. The surfzone concentration was high for both groups of bacteria twice during the study period: once at Station 2N on 12/8, and later at Stations ON-4N on 12/18 through 12/20. The surfzone concentration of ENT recorded during these events exceeded the California standards for ocean water, and prompted the OC Health Care Agency to post the beach. Importantly, the concentration of ENT detected in the surfzone at Station 2N on 12/8 (990 MPN/100 mL) was significantly higher than the concentration of ENT leaving the TW during same period of time (<100 MPN/100 mL), implying that there must be another source of ENT outside the TW. 3.3.4 Interpretation of the ENT Results Interpretation: Runoff discharged from pump stations does not significantly increase the nearshore loading of ENT from the TW. Evidence: (1) The pump station discharges contributed moderate-to-low levels of ENT to the channel network. While discharge volumes routinely exceeded 105 gallons, the ENT concentration in the forebays was usually less than 103 MPN/1 00 mL. (2) A large pulse of ENT left the watershed during the first week of the study when the pump stations were in a diversion mode. Therefore, the pump station discharges could not have been the primary source of ENT passing through the TW. (3) The high concentration of ENT observed in the surfzone at Station 2N came from outside the TW, and occurred during week 1 when runoff was not discharged to the channels.

UCI Coastal Runoff Impact Study

Interim Report 1 Draft 1 1/19/2000

Interpretation: The Talbert Marsh is the source of the large ENT pulse that left the TW on 12/10. Evidence: (1) The large pulse of ENT that left the TW on 12/10 coincided with the beginning of the ebb tide, implying that the source of the ENT was immediately upstream of the sampling station in the general vicinity of the Talbert Marsh. Interpretation: The Talbert Marsh is not the only source of ENT in the nearshore. Evidence: (1) The peak ENT concentration in the surfzone (990 MPN/100 mL) was significantly higher than the ENT concentrations observed at the Talbert Outlet around the same time (<200 MPN/100 mL). 3.3.5 Implications of the ENT Results The diversion of runoff to the sewer system had no measurable effect on the nearshore loading of ENT from the TW. However, two significant pulses of ENT flowed out of the watershed during the study period, and at least one of these (on 12/10) came from a source located in or near the Talbert Marsh. It is not clear what role, if any, wildlife in the Talbert Marsh plays in the release of ENT from the TW. The timing of the two ENT pulses does not appear to be correlated with tidal conditions. While it may be possible to predict when TC pulses are likely to flow out of the TW, the same cannot be said for ENT. 3.4 Vertical Structure of the Water Column An objective of this component of the study was to characterize the vertical structure of the water column relative to physical, chemical, and biological parameters. As discussed in the introduction to this report, vertical variability could arise in several different ways. Examples include the stratified flow of urban runoff over the top of ocean water, or the association of bacteria with fast sinking particles in the water column. The vertical structure of the water column could yield important insight into the mechanism responsible for the elevated bacterial counts that were observed in the surfzone over the previous summer. The data could also shed light on the practical utility of "depth-averaged" quantities, like the depth-averaged concentrations of bacteria discussed in the previous sections. 3.4.1. Conductivity Data The vertical structure of the conductivity data is presented in Figure 8. In the top panel, the conductivity data for each of the four samplers are plotted together (see the Introduction for the naming convention used for the samplers). The data reveal a daily drop in conductivity at the Talbert Outlet which is associated with the end of the ebb tide. Importantly, the conductivity is roughly the same at each of the four levels sampled in the water column, implying that the salinity is uniform over the depth. The same data set is represented differently in the second panel of Figure 8. Here, the magnitude of conductivity is denoted by a color scale, and the elevation of the water surface (thick black line) and the vertical position of the four samplers (small black crosses) are noted. An interpolation algorithm was used to generate the distribution of color in this plot, and this procedure sometimes generated apparent stratification that was not real. This caveat aside, this color presentation is a powerful way of visualizing how the vertical structure of a parameter (in this case conductivity) varies with time. The data presented in the second plot in Figure 8 leads to the following set of conclusions: (1) Water at the Talbert Outlet has a conductivity resembling ocean water (approximately 51 mS/cm) when the water elevation is greater than 2'. (2) The conductivity decreased when the water level fell below 2', and the magnitude of this decrease varied over the study period.

UCI Coastal Runoff Impact Study

Interim Report 1 Draft 1 1/19/2000

(3) There is no evidence of vertical stratification at any point in the tide cycle. The absence of vertical stratification in conductivity would appear to rule out the existence of fresh water lenses. Also of interest is the fact that diurnal declines in conductivity were recorded during the first week of the study when runoff in the pump stations was being diverted to OCSD. The source of this fresh water signal is currently not known. One possible source of fresh water is the uncontrolled runoff entering the channel network. Alternatively, there may be a significant source of groundwater input into the TW, perhaps through the earthen bottom of the Talbert Marsh. 3.4.2. pH Data The vertical structure of the pH data is presented in Figure 9. There is an abrupt change in the pH of the water after 12/9, from approximately pH 8.4 to 7.8. This change in pH is not corroborated by in situ measurements of pH obtained from the YSI sonde (data not shown). Therefore, this change in pH is most likely a laboratory artifact (laboratory workers report that the pH meter used at the outset of the experiment may not have been reliable and was therefore replaced). There is no evidence of vertical stratification in the pH data. 3.4.3. Turbidity Data The vertical structure of the turbidity data is presented in Figure 10. These data reveal that the turbidity of the water is maximum when the water level is low, and is minimum when the water level is high. Surprisingly, there is no evidence of vertical stratification in turbidity. Presumably, the turbulent eddies at the Talbert Outlet are sufficiently strong to keep particles suspended and well mixed over the depth. 3.4.4. Arithmetic TC Data The vertical structure of the TC data is presented in Figure 11. In this figure, the TC data are plotted arithmetically to accentuate the large events. These data do not reveal any significant vertical stratification. Some vertical variability in the TC concentration can be observed on 12/18 at an elevation of about 2' (middle panel); however, close examination reveals that this apparent stratification is an artifact of the interpolation procedure used to generate the plot. 3.4.5. Log Transformed TC Data The vertical structure of the log-transformed TC data is presented in Figure 12. The color representation of the TC data appears mottled during the first week of the study due to the normal sample-to-sample variability that occurs when the TC concentration dips below 100 MPN/ 100 mL. The large TC events beginning on 12/17 are uniformly distributed over the depth. Also note that the baseline level of TC appears to increase about the same time that the large pulses of TC left the watershed. 3.4.6. Arithmetic EC Data The vertical structure of the EC data is presented in Figure 13. Because the EC concentrations observed at the Talbert Outlet were generally small (<100 MPN/100 mL), there was significant sample-to-sample variability in the EC concentration. This variability in the EC concentration gives rise to the same mottled appearance observed for during the first week of the study (middle panel of Figure 13). Otherwise, these data reveal no clear trends. 3.4.7. Arithmetic ENT Data The vertical structure of the ENT data is presented in Figure 14. The pulse of ENT that left the watershed on 12/10 was uniformly distributed over the depth. (The patchy pattern of blue against purple that appears at the high tide mark on the morning of 12/10 is an artifact of the interpolation algorithm). There may be vertical structure to the ENT event on 12/17. In this case the highest concentration is located near the bottom of the water column. 3.4.8. Summary of Vertical Stratification Data These results show that, by and large, the water at the Talbert Outlet is well-mixed over the depth. No evidence for the existence of freshwater lenses was found, and the bacteria were not consistently concentrated at either the top or bottom of the water column.

4.0 Summary of Findings

UCI Coastal Runoff Impact Study

Interim Report 1 Draft 1 1/19/2000

The primary findings of this study are summarized as follows: (1) Pump station discharges increased the nearshore loading of TC during the study period. The timing and magnitude of the nearshore loading appears to be affected by tidal conditions, pump station release times, discharge volumes, and discharge concentrations. (2) While pump station discharges increased the nearshore loading of TC during this study, the peak TC concentrations at the Talbert Outlet were. below the California standard for single samples of ocean water. (3) The Talbert Marsh appears to be a significant source of episodic nearshore loading of ENT. The ENT pulse that left the watershed on 12/10 had a peak concentration well above the California standard for single samples of ocean water. Therefore, ENT loading from the Talbert Marsh was a significant source of nearshore pollution during the study period. (4) The TW is not the only source of EC and ENT. Other sources may account for the elevated surfzone concentration of these bacteria observed during the study period. (5) The water at the Talbert Outlet is well mixed over the depth. There is no evidence for the existence of freshwater lenses, and bacteria did not appear to be concentrated near the top or bottom of the water column during the study period.

5.0 References
1. Gannon, J.J. et al. (1983) Wat. Res. 11: 1595 2. Mitchell R., Chamberlin, C. (1978) in Indicators of Viruses in Water and Food (Berg, G., Ed.), pp. 15-37. Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor, MI. 3. APHA/AWWA/WPCF 1995 Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 19th Edition, American Public Health Association, Washington D.C. 4. McGee, C.D., Leecaster, M.K., Vainik, P.M., Noble, R.T., Walker, K.O., and Weisberg, S.B. Comparison of Bacterial Indicator Measurements Among Southern California Marine Monitoring, Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Annual Report, 1997-1998, pp. 187-198. 5. Emery K.O., Aubrey, D.G. (1991) Sea levels, land levels, and tide gauges. Springer-Verlag, New York, pg. 16.