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TIDINGS
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

February, 2001
VOLUME IV
ISSUE II

"Zero" Trash Limit Set For Los Angeles River
On January 25th, 2001 the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board set a Total Maximum Daily Limit (TMDL) of zero (0) for trash in the Los Angeles River!!! The limit is to be reached in 10% increments over 10 years. More than two dozen cities that drain into the river must comply with the regulation. This TMDL is one of 92 that are scheduled for adoption pursuant to a consent decree between the US EPA. Heal the Bay. Santa Monica Bay keeper and Terry Tamminen.

The Federal Clean Water Act requires TMDLs for water bodies which are impaired (such as Lake Merritt) and which exceed water quality objectives. For trash, these objectives are:

º Waters shall not contain floating materials, including solids, liquids, foams, and scum, in concentrations that cause nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses.
º Waters shall not contain suspended or settable material in concentrations that cause nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses.

TMDL's for trash or any other pollutant have not been required for Lake Merritt, but this is a possibility. The City water quality committee is working on plans to improve oxygen and trash conditions so that such limits arc not required. If the City plans fail, TMDL's could be required. The fact that zero limits arc being required elsewhere provides an incentive for efforts to keep the watershed, and its mirror, (Lake Merritt) free from urban runoff. For more information: check out the website at:

http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/rwqcb4/html/meetings/TMDL/LAR_TMDL.html

City Submits Grant Applications
The City of Oakland has submitted two applications for funding by water bonds that were passed last year. The first proposal is to develop a "Lake Merritt Owner's Manual" that would: Expand partnerships with the community: assess the watershed and create a geographical information system map; and evaluate / implement solutions to the sources of urban runoff. The second proposal would (among other things) be for the installation of a large storm drain filter on outfall # 7 at the Embarcadero. The Institute is included as a cooperating agency in both proposals to provide technical assistance, and to help in developing a work plan for the educational component.

Thank you Ellen Tauscher
Representative Tauscher has been busy on behalf of Lake Merritt. As a member of a committee on Natural Resources, she included a project that would allow the US Army Corps of Engineers to complete a stuck on the Lake. The study is not funded yet, but a request will be made to appropriate money in the budget for FY 2002, which begins in October of this year.

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