This project reviewed bioaccumulation monitoring data generated under three historic State Board programs (the Toxic Substances Monitoring Program, the State Mussel Watch Program, and the Coastal Fish Contamination Program) and other major bioaccumulation studies from 1969-2003.
The SWAMP Sport Fish Contamination project sampled more than 200 of the most popular fishing lakes in the state and also conducted a random sampling of 50 of California’s other 9,000 lakes to provide a statistical statewide assessment. This Survey is a preliminary screening of contamination in sport fish from these lakes. The species selected for sampling are known to accumulate high concentrations and be good indicators of contamination problems. Fish tissue concentrations were analyzed for methyl mercury, PCBs, dieldrin, DDTs, chlordanes, and selenium.
SWAMP Stream Pollution Trends
California streams are affected by pollution generated by multiple and changing land-use activities within their watersheds, and by management actions designed to improve water quality. The Stream Pollution Trends (SPoT) Monitoring Program is SWAMP’s statewide program to measure trends in contaminants and their effects, and to link these trends to land use and resource management activity. The SPoT program measures contaminant concentrations and toxicity in fine-grained sediment collected annually from depositional areas at one integrator site near the base of each of 100 large watersheds throughout California. Sites are selected in conjunction with local and regional monitoring programs to provide a statewide network of sites that provide statewide perspective to local assessments and visa versa.
80 stations were visited state wide in California estuaries. Samples included sediment grabs which yielded benthic infauna, sediment toxicity, and sediment chemistry. Trawls were conducted at each station where fish and invertebrates were collected for community analysis. Additionally fish were collected for tissue chemistry analysis.
