San Francisco Estuary Institute, Regional Monitoring Program Data

The Status and Trends sampling methodology was significantly revised in 2002. A long term plan for implementing this design, including a 20-year cycle of rotating panels, has been laid out. The new design follows the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) example of randomized design capable of addressing questions related to representative characterization of contaminant concentrations in water and sediment. Until 2001, RMP sampling stations were located in the main channel of the Estuary, augmented by a few shallow-water stations close to tributaries and two "local effects monitoring stations" funded by the cities of San Jose and Sunnyvale. In 2000 and 2001, respectively, a decision was made to incorporate fish tissue monitoring and episodic toxicity monitoring into the RMP, the fish tissue sample it conducted on a triennial basis. The episodic toxicity program has evolved and is currently investigating causes of toxicity in the bay.

Water and sediment sampling for the Status and Trends component now occurs once a year in the summer for both trace elements and trace organic contaminants, as well as concurrent ancillary water quality and sediment quality measurements. Bivalve bioaccumulation sampling also occurs in the summer. Summer has been selected for sampling because interannual variation due to natural variables, primarily freshwater inflow, is expected to be minimized during this period. In addition, the dry season is a time when low riverine inflow is less likely to dilute certain contaminants and for some contaminants dry season concentrations might reflect a worst case index period against which to compare trends in water quality over the long term.

The number of Status and Trends monitoring stations varies by segment for water and sediment measurements based on current Regional Board management priorities, statistical sample size considerations, and fiscal constraints. In addition, five historical water stations and seven historical sediment stations are sampled to maintain time series for long term trend analyses.

The RMP synthesizes and distributes Status and Trends monitoring information through peer-reviewed journals, technical reports, newsletters, the Pulse of the Estuary, and the Annual Monitoring Results.

Documentation

The links below will direct the user to the RMP Status and Trends Monitoring data (e.g., water, sediment and bivalve bioaccumulation data), RMP Status and Trends Annual Monitoring Results, QA/QC data tables for the period of 1993-2001, RMP Status and Trends Sampling methods, static tables of fish tissue and a link to the Applied Marine Science RMP Information Center. The data will be updated as needed, and major changes will be listed in an errata section.