City of Santa Barbara - Residents - Community & Neighborhood - Creeks Restoration & Water Quality Improvement Division

Water Quality Monitoring and Research Program Fiscal Year 2008 Report

Water Quality Monitoring Program

The City has conducted an extensive water quality monitoring program since May 2001. From 2001-2003, the City focused on gathering baseline data, primarily for bacterial pollution and habitat quality. The city conducted weekly sampling for indicator bacteria at over 30 sites in Arroyo Burro, Laguna Channel, Mission, and Sycamore watersheds. Spot samples were also collected for some chemical pollutants.

In 2004 the water quality monitoring program was expanded to focus more on chemical pollutants throughout the watershed, treatment/restoration project performance, and water quality during storm events. To view the 5-year Water Quality Report Summary, click here. To view the full 5-Year Water Quality Report, click here.

Routine Watershed Assessment
Routine watershed assessment includes weekly and monthly sampling at key points in the watersheds and focuses on measuring indicator bacteria and habitat quality. The sampling program is designed to ask the following questions: Is overall water quality in our watersheds getting better over time? Are new hot spots emerging?

Restoration and Water Quality Project Monitoring
The goals of sampling at restoration and water quality improvement project sites are to attain one-year of comprehensive baseline water quality data for creeks at restoration sites; identify problem pollutants; and, track the effectiveness of specific restoration and water quality projects in reducing problem pollutants.

Storm Sampling Creeks employees collect stormwater samples.
The goals of sampling during storm events are to determine which pollutants are a problem throughout each watershed and the effectiveness of reducing pollutants during storm events. The City tries to sample two storms, including the “first flush” and one of the larger storms of the year. The sampling strategy is designed to ask: Which pollutants are seen at high levels during storm events? How do restoration/treatment projects impact water quality during storm events? How do these answers change during a storm hydrograph?

Restoration and Water Quality Project Assessment
Project assessments include collecting and analyzing water quality data before and after projects are implemented. Data is collected upstream and downstream of the potential project sites. The City collects data on indicator bacteria, habitat quality, and chemical pollutants. The sampling program is designed to answer these questions: Are the Creeks programs improving water quality at select sites with restoration project and/or water quality treatment projects? What is the baseline water quality at future restoration/treatment sites?

Water samples are collected for DNA testing at UCSB. Microbial Source Tracking Research
One of the main challenges to improving water quality is that the sources of bacterial pollution are not known. Although high levels of indicator bacteria suggest that human waste may be present, there are many other sources of indicator bacteria, including those that are native to soils. The Creeks Division participates in scientific research that uses DNA-based techniques to try and determine if high indicator bacteria levels are, in fact, coming from sources of human waste or animal waste.

The Creeks Division is funding a two-year study performed by Dr. Patricia Holden at UCSB. Her group is working to improve DNA techniques so that they work in field samples. Once the techniques are proven, the study will look at the sources, fate and transport of bacterial pollution in lower Mission Creek and Arroyo Burro Creek watersheds.

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