Water-Quality Inventory Pesticides in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area Completed
In 1998, all urban creeks in the San Francisco Bay Area were added to the Clean Water Act Section 303d list due to known or suspected diazinon impairment. Diazinon is an organophosphorus insecticide used on lawns, and fruit and vegetables. This pesticide has since been "phased out" and has not been available for purchase since late 2004. Diazinon use is declining and is being replaced by other pesticides such as pyrethroids.
There are currently seven pyrethroid pesticides that are the new focus of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board's "Water Quality Attainment Strategy" /Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Strategy for Pesticide-related TMDLs. These pyrethroids include bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, esfenvalerate, lambda-cyhalothrin and permethrin. This information is based on urban pesticide market/water quality evaluations indicating that these are of the greatest concern for urban surface water quality.
In the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, there is concern regarding pesticide use within parklands. These pesticides can be harmful to aquatic life including threatened species. Pesticides have been tested in soils, sediments, surface water, and groundwater in some areas within the park through the Presidio remediation program; however, pesticides have not been tested in many surface waters within Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Knowledge of the baseline condition of streams related to pesticides is a critical need for resource management.
Based on the Baseline Water Quality Data Inventory and Analysis Reports required under NPS-75 - Natural Resources Inventory and Monitoring Guideline, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Presidio have been targeted to collect "Level 1" water quality data in answer to these concerns.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Level 1 water-quality inventory of baseline levels of pesticides in urban creeks: Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Presidio of San Francisco, California
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
In 1998, all urban creeks in the San Francisco Bay Area were added to the Clean Water Act Section 303d list due to known or suspected diazinon impairment. Diazinon is an organophosphorus insecticide used on lawns, and fruit and vegetables. This pesticide has since been "phased out" and has not been available for purchase since late 2004. Diazinon use is declining and is being replaced by other pesticides such as pyrethroids.
There are currently seven pyrethroid pesticides that are the new focus of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board's "Water Quality Attainment Strategy" /Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Strategy for Pesticide-related TMDLs. These pyrethroids include bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, esfenvalerate, lambda-cyhalothrin and permethrin. This information is based on urban pesticide market/water quality evaluations indicating that these are of the greatest concern for urban surface water quality.
In the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, there is concern regarding pesticide use within parklands. These pesticides can be harmful to aquatic life including threatened species. Pesticides have been tested in soils, sediments, surface water, and groundwater in some areas within the park through the Presidio remediation program; however, pesticides have not been tested in many surface waters within Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Knowledge of the baseline condition of streams related to pesticides is a critical need for resource management.
Based on the Baseline Water Quality Data Inventory and Analysis Reports required under NPS-75 - Natural Resources Inventory and Monitoring Guideline, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Presidio have been targeted to collect "Level 1" water quality data in answer to these concerns.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Level 1 water-quality inventory of baseline levels of pesticides in urban creeks: Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Presidio of San Francisco, California
To characterize baseline water-quality levels of pesticides in Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Presidio of San Francisco, the U.S. Geological Survey collected and analyzed surface-water and bed-sediment samples at 10 creeks during February, April, and July 2006. Pesticide data were obtained using previously developed methods. Samples from sites in the Presidio were analyzed only for pAuthorsMichelle Hladik, James L. Orlando - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.