NORTHERN VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL WATERSHED PROJECT Prepared by Blue Tomorrow and Dr. Arturo Keller at the University of California, Santa Barbara On behalf of the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Blue Tomorrow would like to thank the following people for their support and assistance with the development of the Northern Ventura County Coastal Watershed Project (NVCCWP) Tim Little, Executive Director, Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment Project Sponsor ALS Environmental Laboratory Services Adeyemi Adeleye, Ph.D. Candidate, Bren School of Environmental Science and Management Field Instrument Calibration Andrew Dragos, Toxicologist, license with California Department of Public Health and National Registry of Certified Chemists Toxicology Analysis Review Christine Mosiak Potter, Master of Environmental Science and Management Technical Writing and Editing Darcy Bradley, Ph.D. Candidate, Bren School of Environmental Science and Management Statistical Graphics Randal Orton, Ph.D., Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, Resource Conservation Manager Data Sharing Jesse Hopkins, Jesse Hopkins Design Graphics Design Blue Tomorrow, LLC | www.blue-tomorrow.com | [email protected] PROJECT ELEMENTS The Northern Ventura County Coastal Watershed Project (NVCCWP) is an exploratory study that assessed water quality and identified sources, pathways, receptors, and toxicity of pollutants found in five small coastal watersheds. These watersheds drain the Rincon and San Miguelito oil fields which are located upstream of residential communities, popular beaches, and coastal habitat. Hydraulic fracturing has been documented to have occurred in one canyon, and enhanced oil recovery projects were performed in the oil fields at the time of the study. The NVCCWP includes several elements which were developed to support the objectives of the study. Though each element can be read as a stand-alone document, data, analyses, and information presented in these elements are used in a holistic approach to assessing the conditions of the study watersheds. Watershed Assessment Contains a comprehensive review of existing data in the study watersheds using relevant literature, spatial, and quantitative analyses to inform the Toxicity Analysis, Source Assessment, and Recommendations & Mitigation Strategies. Environmental Sampling Presents the methods, observations, and results from sampling and field testing activities conducted in the study watersheds from October 2013 through April 2014. Pollutant loading rates are also included in this element. Toxicity Analysis Examines the toxicity of pollutant concentrations found through the Environmental Sampling and compares results with EPA Regional Screening Levels, California Toxics Rule, and California Maximum Contaminant Levels and Public Health Goals. Source Assessment Explores potential natural and anthropogenic sources of pollutants found through the Environmental Sampling and relative contributions to detected concentrations. Recommendations & Mitigation Strategies Based on data, analyses, and other information included in Watershed Assessment, Environmental Sampling, Toxicity Analysis, and Source Assessment, recommendations and mitigation strategies were developed to address potential impacts to human and environmental health. Blue Tomorrow, LLC | www.blue-tomorrow.com | [email protected] PROJECT AUTHORS Blue Tomorrow, LLC Blue Tomorrow provided project management, water and soil sampling, field data collection, analyses, and development of the report elements for the NVCCWP. Based out of Santa Barbara, Blue Tomorrow was founded by Alex Dragos and Eric Hopkins. Blue Tomorrow combines disciplines of hydrology, environmental science, and economics to provide consulting services for the sustainable management of water resources. Working with its network of environmental scientists and professionals, Blue Tomorrow tackles a diversity of environmental problems. Existing research is paired with Blue Tomorrow generated field data (soil and water quality sampling, stream and riparian surveys, and erosion and sediment surveys) to spatially analyze land use impacts and identify sources, pathways, receptors, and toxicity of pollutants. Blue Tomorrow uses this whole basin assessment approach to develop feasible solutions to mitigate impacts from pollutants to people and the environment. Alex Dragos, Blue Tomorrow Co-founder, [email protected] Project Manager Eric Hopkins, Blue Tomorrow Co-founder, [email protected] Project Scientist Dr. Arturo Keller Dr. Arturo Keller provided review and direction in the development of the NVCCWP. Dr. Keller is known for his expertise in the fate and transport of pollutants, including nanoparticles, organic liquids (NAPLs), and persistent organic pollutants. Dr. Keller is known for his involvement in the phasing out of the gasoline additive MTBE as part of a UC-wide project; his research found MTBE to seriously affect water resources while providing only modest air quality benefits relative to other alternatives. Dr. Keller was scientific advisor and moderator of the award-winning Santa Clara River Nitrogen TMDL process. Consensus was reached through a combination of science-supported decision-making and a willingness to try out many ideas proposed by the stakeholders. He has also worked with several Regional Water Quality Control Boards on other TMDL processes, including nutrients in the Napa River, PCBs in San Francisco Bay, organophosphate pesticides in the Newport Bay watershed, and an assessment of TMDL priorities in the South Coast area of Santa Barbara County. Dr. Arturo Keller, Bren School, University of California, Santa Barbara, [email protected] External Consultant and Senior Project Scientist Blue Tomorrow, LLC | www.blue-tomorrow.com | [email protected] MASTER TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Numbers Executive Summary………………………………………… i – vii Watershed Assessment…………………………………… 1 – 169 Watershed Assessment Table of Contents……………….. 3 – 8 Environmental Sampling…………………………………. 170 – 232 Environmental Sampling Table of Contents……………... 171 – 172 Toxicity Analysis…………………………………………… 233 – 260 Toxicity Analysis Table of Contents………………………. 234 Source Assessment………………………………………… 261 – 289 Source Assessment Table of Contents……………………. 262 Recommendations & Mitigation Strategies……………. 290 – 297 Blue Tomorrow, LLC | www.blue-tomorrow.com | [email protected] EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NORTHERN VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL WATERSHED PROJECT The Northern Ventura County Coastal Watershed Project (NVCCWP) assessed water quality and identified potential sources, pathways, receptors, and toxicity of pollutants detected in samples from Madriano, Javon, Padre Juan, Line, and Amphitheater Canyons. From October 2013 through April 2014, water and sediment samples were collected from each canyon to characterize water quality and inform strategies to mitigate impacts from pollutants being discharged from the watersheds. NVCCWP Watersheds Located in northern Ventura County, California, the study watersheds are roughly 17 miles south of the city of Santa Barbara and 7 miles north of the city of Ventura, along Highway 101. Collectively, the watersheds span 9.5 square miles and the threatened California coastal scrub inhabits the majority of the area. These five watersheds drain the Rincon and San Miguelito oil fields, which are upstream of residential communities, popular beaches, and coastal habitat. Oil field infrastructure covers about 5% of the study area, and approximately 275 people live in three residential communities near the creeks. Each year, over 140,000 people visit campgrounds and 570,000 go to beaches downstream or adjacent to the watershed outlets. The watersheds discharge into coastal waters, which are home to kelp forests, marine mammals, fish, and bird species. Northern Ventura County Coastal Watershed Project | Executive Summary i The Rincon and San Miguelito oil fields have been in production since the early 20th century, and over 400 wells have been drilled in the watersheds. Oil field productivity has steadily declined since the late 1970’s. Currently, over 90% of fluid extracted from the oil fields is produced water, which contains a complex mixture of organic and inorganic constituents with high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS). As a result of declining productivity, enhanced oil recovery and well stimulation methods are used in the study watersheds. Hydraulic fracturing has been performed on at least 3 wells in Line Canyon, and roughly 9 million barrels (~380 million gallons) of produced water was injected into the oil fields in 2013 as part of water flood enhanced oil recovery projects. Oil field development has led to large areas cleared for roads and well pads. This infrastructure covers about 11% of Line Canyon and 9% of Amphitheater Canyon. Roads, well pads, staging areas, and other cleared areas influence surface runoff and water quality, as unvegetated and compacted surfaces generate unnatural quantities of surface runoff and are sources of sediment and erosion. Environmental Sampling A total of 17 water samples and 10 sediment samples were collected from the study watersheds and tested for up to 68 constituents. Additionally, three samples were collected from the Line Canyon base flow, the only creek that flowed during dry periods. The 2014 water year was one of the driest on record in the study area, and only two rain events generated enough runoff for sampling (November 21, 2013 and February 27-March 1,