Annual Receiving Waters Monitoring Report for the South Bay Ocean Outfall (South Bay Water Reclamation Plant) 2006 City of San Diego Ocean Monitoring Program Metropolitan Wastewater Department Environmental Monitoring and Technical Services Division Annual Receiving Waters Monitoring Report for the South Bay Ocean Outfall (South Bay Water Reclamation Plant) 2006 Prepared by: City of San Diego Environmental Monitoring and Technical Services Division Laboratory Metropolitan Wastewater Department Environmental Monitoring and Technical Services Division Ocean Monitoring Program June 2007 Table of Contents CREDITS ............................................................................................................................................... iii OCEAN MONITORING PROGRAM STAFF AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..............................iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................1 CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................7 Regular Fixed Grid Monitoring .............................................................................................................8 Random Sample Regional Surveys ........................................................................................................8 Literature Cited ......................................................................................................................................9 CHAPTER 2. OCEANOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS .........................................................................11 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................11 Materials and Methods .......................................................................................................................11 Results and Discussion .......................................................................................................................12 Summary and Conclusions ..................................................................................................................20 Literature Cited ...................................................................................................................................23 CHAPTER 3. MICROBIOLOGY .......................................................................................................25 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................25 Materials and Methods .......................................................................................................................25 Results and Discussion .......................................................................................................................27 Summary and Conclusions ..................................................................................................................37 Literature Cited ...................................................................................................................................40 CHAPTER 4. SEDIMENT CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................................43 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................43 Materials and Methods .......................................................................................................................43 Results and Discussion .......................................................................................................................45 Summary and Conclusions ...................................................................................................................51 Literature Cited ...................................................................................................................................52 CHAPTER 5. MACROBENTHIC COMMUNITIES ........................................................................55 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................55 Materials and Methods .......................................................................................................................55 Results and Discussion .......................................................................................................................56 Summary and Conclusions ..................................................................................................................64 Literature Cited ...................................................................................................................................66 CHAPTER 6. DEMERSAL FISHES and MEGABENTHIC INVERTEBRATES .........................69 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................69 Materials and Methods .......................................................................................................................69 Results and Discussion ........................................................................................................................70 Summary and Conclusions ..................................................................................................................76 Literature Cited ...................................................................................................................................79 CHAPTER 7. BIOACCUMULATION OF CONTAMINANTS IN FISH TISSUES ......................81 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................81 Materials and Methods .......................................................................................................................81 Results and Discussion ........................................................................................................................83 Summary and Conclusions ...................................................................................................................87 Literature Cited ...................................................................................................................................90 i Table of Contents (continued) CHAPTER 8. SAN DIEGO REGIONAL SURVEY- SEDIMENT CHARACTERISTICS ............93 Introduction .........................................................................................................................................93 Materials and Methods .......................................................................................................................93 Results and Discussion .......................................................................................................................95 Summary and Conclusions .................................................................................................................102 Literature Cited .................................................................................................................................104 CHAPTER 9. SAN DIEGO REGIONAL SURVEY- MACROBENTHIC COMMUNITIES ......107 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................107 Materials and Methods .....................................................................................................................107 Results and Discussion .....................................................................................................................108 Summary and Conclusions .................................................................................................................114 Literature Cited .................................................................................................................................117 GLOSSARY .........................................................................................................................................119 APPENDICES Appendix A: Supporting Data — Oceanographic Conditions Appendix B: Supporting Data — Microbiology Appendix C: Supporting Data — Sediment Characteristics Appendix D: Supporting Data — Demersal Fishes and Megabenthic Invertebrates Appendix E: Supporting Data — Bioaccumulation of Contaminants in Fish Tissues Appendix F: Supporting Data — San Diego Regional Survey-Sediment Characteristics ii Credits Technical Editors Dean Pasko Tim Stebbins Production Editors Data Management & Reporting staff GIS Graphics Dawn Olson Diane O’Donohue Executive Summary Dean Pasko Chapter 1. General Introduction Dean Pasko Chapter 2. Oceanographic Conditions Dan Ituarte Chapter 3. Microbiology David James Chapter 4. Sediment Characteristics Dean Pasko Chapter 5. Macrobenthic Communities Nick Haring Chapter 6. Demersal Fishes & Megabenthic Invertebrates Ami Groce Robin Gartman Chapter 7. Bioaccumulation of Contaminants in Fish Tissues Ami Groce Chapter 8. San Diego Regional Survey- Sediment Characteristics Dean Pasko Dan Ituarte Chapter 9. San Diego Regional Survey- Macrobenthic Communities Nick Haring iii CITY OF SAN DIEGO OCEAN MONITORING PROGRAM Alan C. Langworthy Deputy Metropolitan Wastewater Director Environmental