DRAFT-FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY
Summary of Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Issues
There are multiple known or potential NPS pollution issues in the MC watersheds that can threaten water quality and have impacts on the Reserve’s coastal resources. The following condensed list of issues has been identified through research, stakeholder meetings, a site visit of the MC watersheds (June 2005), and personal interviews and e-mail correspondence with local agency staff and individuals. Overall potential or known NPS issues and sources include: (1) Bacteria (2) Excessive Nutrients, Nitrates (3) Sedimentation/Erosion (4) Pesticides, herbicides (5) Stream flow, groundwater (6) Urban runoff (development, storm drains, inadequate setbacks) (7) Invasive/non-native species (8) Degraded wetlands or riparian areas (9) Trash Each of these is briefly described below: (1) Bacteria: San Vicente Creek is included on the State’s 2002 303(d) list for High Coliform Count due to NPS. The Pacific Ocean at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is also listed for High Coliform due to NPS. Both of these have a low Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) priority. Although not on the 303(d) list, bacteria may also be an issue for other MC watersheds including Denniston Creek, Pillar Point Harbor (one area of which adjacent to Capistrano Avenue has a permanent posting), Sunshine Valley/Dean Creek, possibly Montara Creek. San Mateo County Environmental Health and/or Surfrider sample weekly for bacteria at various ocean locations within these watersheds (except Montara Creek). Sewage/Septic The San Mateo County Environmental Health Department. continues to make efforts to ensure that sewage and septic system effluent do not contaminate waters of the state, including the Reserve. Environmental Health noted the primary source of bacteria that are an indication of pathogens is sewage (public and private). Environmental Health visited all septic systems in the area about 3 years ago and oversaw the repair of all septic systems that were found to have problems. Environmental Health directed staff to inspect every septic system in this area within the next six months (by December 2006) indicating that any system found to be failing will either be repaired of destroyed (connected to public sewer). Environmental Health staff believes that the Public Sewer may be the main potential significant source of pathogens in urban areas. The Public Sewer can contaminate storm drainages, creeks, ditches, groundwater and the ocean where there are leaks or intermittent failures or clogs. Environmental Health recommends that a plan should be implemented with Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside, Granada Sewer District, and Montara Water and Sanitary District to eliminate all infiltration and
DRAFT-FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY exfiltration, by such methods as checking all sewer mains and laterals that come within a designated distance of storm drain catch basin, creeks or ditches, for leaks via smoke and video, and/or other appropriate methods. Stables and other animal enclosures All stables and other animal enclosures represent a source of fecal contamination – although the environmental and health significance of this contamination is unclear according to County Environmental Health. Environmental Health reviews manure management practices with respect to the County Ordinance: Confined Animals (04074) and conducts onsite inspection of stables that have been permitted through the Planning Department to ensure the management does not constitute a nuisance. (2) Excessive Nutrients, Nitrates For Denniston Creek, groundwater testing shows increased nitrate, PAH, TCP that could be the result of either past agricultural uses or solvents, septics at the airport. Nutrients can come from many sources such as agricultural and urban fertilizer, septics, horse waste/equestrian facilities, pet waste, wildlife, etc. According to the Resource Assessment, San Vicente Creek may also be contributing excessive nutrients to the Reserve. Additionally, the 2002 Master Plan indicates that nutrient loading in the form of nitrate and ammonia from upstream equestrian facilities is likely to be occurring due to the location of facilities and waste storage in close proximity to the creek, upstream of Etheldore Road. The Master Plan also indicates that quantitative information regarding the transport of fertilizers and nutrients from these uses is lacking, and the potential effects on local freshwater and inter-tidal habitats are not documented. It is not known the extent that excessive nutrients and nitrates may be a problem for the Mid-Coast. (3) Sedimentation/Erosion This may a problem in multiple watersheds in the Mid-Coast including Denniston Creek, San Vicente Creek, Sunshine Valley/Dean Creek, Montara Creek, Farallone, Martini Creek. Sources include plugged culverts, crumbling or poorly managed hiking and biking trails, stabling operations, new development/construction-e.g., road base and construction debris, agricultural activities, and rural or urban roads. (4) Pesticides, herbicides Whether this is a problem in the Mid-Coast watersheds is unknown, but some do not think it would be significant. It was cited in the Hydrology Section of the Master Plan for the Reserve (2002) that there is a lack of data on the transport of fertilizers and nutrients from equestrian facilities. Further, the Resource Assessment (Nov 2004) cites pesticides, herbicides from fertilizers as sources of contamination that may remain. There have been extensive efforts by the RCD, Farm Bureau, Division of Agriculture, UC Extension and others to hold workshops, trainings/short courses on farm water quality, including pesticide use, for agricultural growers. There may be a need to conduct outreach and education to the urban sector of pesticide users, especially creekside residents in the MidCoast, on proper use and disposal of ag chemicals, for example, partner with Our Water Our World campaign, etc. (5) Stream Flow and Groundwater
DRAFT-FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY Drainage, groundwater overdraft and stream flow have been identified as issues in at least three watersheds: Sunshine Valley/Dean Creek, Pillar Point Marsh and Montara Creek. For Pillar Point Marsh, there is concern over groundwater overdraft, airport runoff and drainage and other adjacent land use drainage (e.g., mobile home park). For Sunshine Valley/Dean Creek, drainage has been identified from houses against or on top of creek. For Montara, drainage, debris, flow, water diversions, flooding, wells, etc. have been identified. (6) Urban runoff-development, storm drains, inadequate buffer zones There are 28 direct discharges by which urban runoff flows into the ocean, primarily from the residential area along the bluffs adjacent to the northern portion of the State Water Quality Protection Area. (Residential discharge pipes not installed by County Parks) Runoff from houses: currently the runoff is discharged through pipes right to the Moss Beach area. State Board will not permit discharge to an ASBS. There may be issues with infiltration because of steep slopes and difficulties routing to a storm drain system. Urban runoff may be an issue in all of the MC watersheds. Additionally, inadequate buffer zones may also be an issue. The Resource Assessment points to input from storm drains as an additional source of contamination. (7) Invasive/non-native species This has been identified as needing more research to determine whether it is a problem in some of the MC watersheds including San Vicente Creek, Sunshine Valley Creek, Martini Creek. (8) Degraded wetlands or riparian areas It is unclear whether this is a problem in the MC watersheds. Inadequate buffer zones and development around riparian corridors could have negative impacts. This needs to be further explored. Many areas include sensitive habitats, corridors, etc. According to the Master Plan, the three primary potential sources of degraded water quality in Pillar Point Marsh are: 1) sediment transported from the airport drainage ditch network, roadside ditches and grading and development in the Princeton area; 2) urban runoff from the airport and Princeton; and 3) agricultural chemicals used by local growers on the Half Moon Bay Terrace. Urban runoff and nonpoint sources of pollution related to the airport and local automobiles, mainly hydrocarbons for fuel and heavy metals, are not documented for the Marsh. (9) Trash This issue was identified at a recent Pilot CCA Subcommittee meeting. More research is needed to determine in which watersheds trash may be an ongoing problem, but in general, the more urban areas tend to accumulate debris and trash from many different sources. Environmental Health has identified further issues that may warrant consideration, including: underground fuel tank leaks, storm drainage contamination by businesses and homeowners, and farm contamination.