9. Tables - Defining ecosystem reference levels

Species Indicator

Target

Achieved

Reference

Bald eagle

Equilibrium population abundance is ~6,000 individuals in WA state

Yes

[303]

Harbor seal

Carrying capacity of 10,000-13,000 individuals (WA inland waters)

Yes

[304]

Peregrine falcon

Delisting criteria: 30 reproductive pairs in WA state; 1.5 young/territorial pair per year for a 5-year period

Yes

[305]

Pinto abalone

Achieve >0.15 individuals m^-2 to avoid Allee effects due to reproductive failure

No

[117]

Southern Resident killer whale

Delisting criteria: Sustained average population growth of 2.3% per year for 28 years

No

[249]

Habitat indicator

Target

Reference

Riparian habitat

% of riparian habitat with a lateral extent >30m

70-80%

[306]

% of riparian habitat with a  lateral extent >100m

40-50%

[306]

% of riparian habitat with a lateral extent <10m (encroachment)

10-20%

[306]

Corridor continuity (road crossings/km)

1-2

[306]

% natural forest or wetland cover

75-90%

[306]

% mature vegetation or wetland

75-90%

[306]

Buffer width for 75% effective nitrogen removal

25m

[307]

Aggregation/deposition zones

Deposition rate

>0.32cm

yr^-1

[328-331]

Parameter

Categories for Freshwater Aquatic Life

Ref.

Notes

River- Char Spawning and Rearing

River – Core Summer Salmonid Habitat

River – Salmonid Spawning, Rearing, and

River – Salmonid Rearing and Migration only

River – Non-anadromous interior Redband Trout

River – Indigenous Warm Water Species

River - Other

Lakes

Dissolved Oxygen

(Lowest 1-Day Min.)

9.5 mg/L

9.5 mg/L

8.0 mg/L

6.5 mg/L

8.0 mg/L

6.5 mg/L

Not less than 0.2 mg/L below natural conditions

[92, 130]

Temperature

7-day average of the daily max temp (7-DADMax)

12°C

(53.6°F)

16°C

(60.8°F)

17.5°C

(63.5°F)

17.5°C

(63.5°F)

18°C

(64.4°F)

20°C

(68°F)

Not more than 0.3°C above natural conditions

[93, 130, 308]

a)

pH

6.5-8.5, human-variation less than 0.2 units

6.5-8.5, human-caused variation less than 0.5 units

[130]

b)

Total Dissolved Gas

Less than 110% of saturation

[130]

Turbidity

5 NTU increase when the background is 50 NTU or less, or a 10% increase when the background is 50 NTU or more.

10 NTU (<50 NTU); 20% inc. (>50 NTU)

5 NTU (<50 NTU); 10% inc. (>50 NTU)

10 NTU (<50 NTU); 20% inc. (>50 NTU)

[130]

Notes: a) Special protection per Ecology publication 06-10-038. 7-DADMax = 9°C (48.2°F) at the initiation of spawning and at fry emergence for char. 7-DADMax = 13°C (55.4°F) at the initiation of spawning and at fry emergence for salmon and trout.

b) See [309] for a non-compliance analysis

Parameter

Categories for Marine Water Aquatic Life

Ref.

Notes

Extraordinary quality

Excellent quality

Good quality

Fair quality

Other

Dissolved Oxygen

(Lowest 1-Day Min.)

7.0 mg/L

6.0 mg/L

5.0 mg/L

4.0 mg/L

Not less than 0.2 mg/L below natural conditions

[92, 131]

Temperature

(1-Day Max)

13°C

(55.4°F)

16°C

(60.8°F)

19°C

(66.2°F)

22°C

(71.6°F)

Not more than 0.3°C above natural conditions

[93, 131]

a)

pH

7-8.5; human-caused var. <0.2 units

7-8.5; human-caused var. <0.5 units

6.5-9; human-caused var. <0.5 units

[131]

Total Dissolved Gas

Turbidity

5 NTU increase when background is 50 NTU or less; or

A 10% increase when the background is 50 NTU or more

10 NTU increase when background is 50 NTU or less; or

A 20% increase when the background is 50 NTU or more

Notes: a) Criteria for other marine water is based on 7-day average of maximum daily temperature (7-DADMax)

Trophic State

Ambient Total Phosphorus (µg/L)

Criteria

Ref.

Ultra-oligotrophic

0-4

<4

[136, 308]

Oligotrophic

4-10

<10

[136, 308]

Lower mesotrophic

10-20

<20

[136, 308]

Action Value

>20

[136, 308]

Freshwater

Marine Water

Substance

Acute^a

Chronic^b

Acute^a

Chronic^b

Aldrin/Dieldrin^e

2.5

0.0019

0.71

0.0019

Ammonia (unionized NH₃)^hh

f,c

g,d

0.233^h,c

0.035^h,d

Arsenic^dd

360.0^c

190.0^d

69.0^c,ll

36.0^d,cc,ll

Cadmium^dd

i,c

j,d

42.0^c

9.3^d

Chlordane

2.4

0.0043

0.09

0.004

Chloride (Dissolved)^k

860.0^h,c

230.0^h,d

Chlorine (Total Residual)

19.0^c

11.0^d

13.0^c

7.5^d

Chlorpyrifos

0.083^c

0.041^d

0.011^c

0.0056^d

Chromium (Hex)^dd

15.0^c,l,ii

10.0^d,jj

1,100.0^c,l,ll

50.0^d,ll

Chromium (Tri)^gg

m,c

n,d

Copper^dd

o,c

p,d

4.8^c,ll

3.1^d,ll

Cyanide^ee

22.0^c

5.2^d

1.0^c,mm

d,mm

DDT (and metabolites)

1.1

0.001

0.13

0.001

Dieldrin/Aldrin^e

2.5

0.0019

0.71

0.0019

Endosulfan

0.22

0.056

0.034

0.0087

Endrin

0.18

0.0023

0.037

0.0023

Heptachlor

0.52

0.0038

0.053

0.0036

Hexachlorocyclohexane (Lindane)

2.0

0.08

0.16

Lead^dd

q,c

r,d

210.0^c,ll

8.1^d,ll

Mercury^s

2.1^c,kk,dd

0.012^d,ff

1.8^c,ll,dd

0.025^d,ff

Nickel^dd

t,c

u,d

74.0^c,ll

8.2^d,ll

Parathion

0.065^c

0.013^d

Pentachlorophenol (PCP)

w,c

v,d

13.0^c

7.9^d

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

2.0^b

0.014^b

10.0^b

0.030^b

Selenium

20.0^c,ff

5.0^d,ff

290^c,ll,dd

71.0^d,x,ll,dd

Silver^dd

y

1.9^ll

Toxaphene

0.73^c,z

0.0002^d

0.21^c,z

0.0002^d

Zinc^dd

aa,c

bb,d

90.0^c,ll

81.0^d,ll

NOTES:

a.

An instantaneous concentration not to be exceeded.

b.

A 24 hour average not to be exceeded.

c.

A 1-hour average concentration not to be exceeded more than once every three years on the average.

d.

A 4-day average concentration not to be exceeded more than once every three years on the average.

e.

Sum of Aldrin and Dieldrin concentrations.

f.

Shall not exceed the numerical value in total ammonia (mg N/L) given by:

g.

Shall not exceed the numerical concentration calculated as follows:

Unionized ammonia concentration for waters where salmonid habitat is an existing or designated use:

Total ammonia concentrations for waters where salmonid habitat is not an existing or designated use and early life stages are absent:

Applied as a thirty-day average concentration of total ammonia nitrogen (in mg N/L) not to be exceeded more than once every three years on average. The highest four-day average within the thirty-day period should not exceed 2.5 times the chronic criterion.

Total ammonia concentration for waters where salmonid habitat is not an existing or designated use and other fish early life stages are present:

Applied as a thirty-day average concentration of total ammonia nitrogen (in mg N/L) not to be exceeded more than once every three years on the average. The highest four-day average within the thirty-day period should not exceed 2.5 times the chronic criterion.

h.

Measured in mg/L.

i.

≤ (0.944)(e(1.128[ln(hardness)]-3.828)) at hardness = 100. Conversion factor (CF) of 0.944 is hardness dependent. CF is calculated for other hardnesses as follows: CF = 1.136672 - [(ln hardness)(0.041838)].

j.

≤ (0.909)(e(0.7852[ln(hardness)]-3.490)) at hardness = 100. Conversions factor (CF) of 0.909 is hardness dependent. CF is calculated for other hardnesses as follows: CF = 1.101672 - [(ln hardness)(0.041838)].

k.

Criterion based on dissolved chloride in association with sodium. This criterion probably will not be adequately protective when the chloride is associated with potassium, calcium, or magnesium, rather than sodium.

l.

Salinity dependent effects. At low salinity the 1-hour average may not be sufficiently protective.

m.

≤ (0.316)(e^{(0.8190[ ln(hardness)] 3.688)})

n.

≤ (0.860)(e^{(0.8190[ ln(hardness)] 1.561)})

o.

≤ (0.960)(e^{(0.9422[ ln(hardness)] - 1.464)})

p.

≤ (0.960)(e^{(0.8545[ ln(hardness)] - 1.465)})

q.

≤ (0.791)(e^{(1.273[ ln(hardness)] - 1.460)}) at hardness = 100. Conversion factor (CF) of 0.791 is hardness dependent. CF is calculated for other hardnesses as follows: CF = 1.46203 - [(ln hardness)(0.145712)].

r.

≤ (0.791)(e^{(1.273[ ln(hardness)] - 4.705)}) at hardness = 100. Conversion factor (CF) of 0.791 is hardness dependent. CF is calculated for other hardnesses as follows: CF = 1.46203 - [(ln hardness)(0.145712)].

s.

If the four-day average chronic concentration is exceeded more than once in a three-year period, the edible portion of the consumed species should be analyzed. Said edible tissue concentrations shall not be allowed to exceed 1.0 mg/kg of methylmercury.

t.

≤ (0.998)(e^{(0.8460[ ln(hardness)] 3.3612)})

u.

≤ (0.997)(e^{(0.8460[ ln(hardness)] 1.1645)})

v.

≤ e^{[1.005(pH) - 5.290]}

w.

≤ e^{[1.005(pH) - 4.830]}

x.

The status of the fish community should be monitored whenever the concentration of selenium exceeds 5.0 ug/ l in salt water.

y.

≤ (0.85)(e^{(1.72[ln(hardness)] - 6.52)})

z.

Channel Catfish may be more acutely sensitive.

aa.

≤ (0.978)(e^{(0.8473[ln(hardness)] 0.8604)})

bb.

≤ (0.986)(e^{(0.8473[ln(hardness)] 0.7614)})

cc.

Nonlethal effects (growth, C-14 uptake, and chlorophyll production) to diatoms (Thalassiosira aestivalis and Skeletonema costatum) which are common to Washington's waters have been noted at levels below the established criteria. The importance of these effects to the diatom populations and the aquatic system is sufficiently in question to persuade the state to adopt the USEPA National Criteria value (36 µg/L) as the state threshold criteria, however, wherever practical the ambient concentrations should not be allowed to exceed a chronic marine concentration of 21 µg/L.

dd.

These ambient criteria in the table are for the dissolved fraction. The cyanide criteria are based on the weak acid dissociable method. The metals criteria may not be used to calculate total recoverable effluent limits unless the seasonal partitioning of the dissolved to total metals in the ambient water are known. When this information is absent, these metals criteria shall be applied as total recoverable values, determined by back-calculation, using the conversion factors incorporated in the criterion equations. Metals criteria may be adjusted on a site-specific basis when data are made available to the department clearly demonstrating the effective use of the water effects ratio approach established by USEPA, as generally guided by the procedures in USEPA Water Quality Standards Handbook, December 1983, as supplemented or replaced by USEPA or ecology. Information which is used to develop effluent limits based on applying metals partitioning studies or the water effects ratio approach shall be identified in the permit fact sheet developed pursuant to WAC 173-220-060 or 173-226-110, as appropriate, and shall be made available for the public comment period required pursuant to WAC 173-220-050 or 173-226-130(3), as appropriate. Ecology has developed supplemental guidance for conducting water effect ratio studies.

ee.

The criteria for cyanide is based on the weak acid dissociable method in the 19th Ed. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 4500-CN I, and as revised (see footnote dd, above).

ff.

These criteria are based on the total-recoverable fraction of the metal.

gg.

Where methods to measure trivalent chromium are unavailable, these criteria are to be represented by total-recoverable chromium.

hh.

The listed fresh water criteria are based on un-ionized or total ammonia concentrations, while those for marine water are based on un-ionized ammonia concentrations. Tables for the conversion of total ammonia to un-ionized ammonia for freshwater can be found in the USEPA's Quality Criteria for Water, 1986. Criteria concentrations based on total ammonia for marine water can be found in USEPA Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Ammonia (Saltwater)-1989, EPA440/5-88-004, April 1989.

ii.

The conversion factor used to calculate the dissolved metal concentration was 0.982.

jj.

The conversion factor used to calculate the dissolved metal concentration was 0.962.

kk.

The conversion factor used to calculate the dissolved metal concentration was 0.85.

ll.

mm.

The cyanide criteria are: 2.8µg/l chronic and 9.1µg/l acute and are applicable only to waters which are east of a line from Point Roberts to Lawrence Point, to Green Point to Deception Pass; and south from Deception Pass and of a line from Partridge Point to Point Wilson. The chronic criterion applicable to the remainder of the marine waters is l µg/L.

Parameters

Water Use Category

Extraordinary Primary Contact Recreation

Primary Contact Recreation

Secondary Contact Recreation

Shellfish Harvest

Ref.

Freshwater

Fecal Coliform (geometric mean)

50 col./100 mL

100 col./100 mL

200 col./100 mL

[130]

Fecal Coliform (maximum)

100 col./100 mL

200 col./100 mL

400 col./100 mL

[130]

Marine Water

Fecal Coliform (geometric mean)

14 col./100 mL

70 col./100 mL

14 col./100 mL

[131]

Fecal Coliform (maximum)

43 col./100 mL

208 col./100 mL

43 col./100 mL

[131]

Water Quantity Indicator

Target

Achieved

Reference

Instream flow rules

Instream flow rules have been established for several streams and rivers in the Puget Sound watershed.

No¹

[311-313]

Flood Stage

River Flood Stage

No

[314]

Per Capita Water Use

Municipal Water Law requires efficiency programs for suppliers

Yes

[315]

Notes – see Status and Trends of Violations of Instream Flow Rules