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appendix b final 2008 biological surveys of los angeles and long ...

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2.0 Water Quality<br />

Outer Harbor area shall be 6 mg/L or higher. Thus, some <strong>of</strong> the measured DO concentrations<br />

were below the water quality objective.<br />

2.3.6 Transmissivity<br />

Transmissivity (i.e., water clarity) in surface, mid-depth <strong>and</strong> bottom waters ranged from 37.5 to<br />

76.5 percent transmittance (%), 45.1 to 78.1 %, <strong>and</strong> 14.4 to 75.0 %, respectively (Table 2.3-2).<br />

Generally, water clarity in mid-depth waters was relatively higher than surface <strong>and</strong> bottom<br />

waters. Water clarity at the surface (i.e., 1 m below the surface) was between 30% <strong>and</strong> 50%<br />

lower than mid-depth waters. Surface water clarity may have reflected the presence <strong>of</strong><br />

plankton. The lower transmissivity values associated with bottom waters likely are attributable<br />

to resuspension <strong>of</strong> bottom sediments due to currents or turbulence from propeller wash. Station<br />

LA8 in the Seaplane Anchorage (4 m depth) had the lowest overall water clarity (i.e., 37.5 %<br />

[surface] <strong>and</strong> 14.4 % [bottom]), which likely reflected resuspension <strong>of</strong> bottom sediment by wave<br />

motions <strong>and</strong> natural turbulence at this shallow-water site.<br />

The Basin Plan does not provide a numerical water quality objective for transmissivity. Instead,<br />

the Basin Plan states that waters shall be free <strong>of</strong> changes in turbidity that cause a nuisance or<br />

adversely affect beneficial uses. The magnitude <strong>of</strong> the transmissivity values measured during<br />

the July <strong>2008</strong> is not expected to cause a nuisance or adversely affect beneficial uses.<br />

2.4 SPATIAL VARIATIONS<br />

Water quality characteristics in the harbor<br />

complex did not exhibit pronounced spatial<br />

trends during the July <strong>2008</strong> survey. For<br />

example, the ranges in measured salinity,<br />

density, <strong>and</strong> pH values were small, indicating<br />

relatively uniform conditions across all <strong>of</strong> the<br />

water quality sampling locations. The ranges<br />

in measured temperature, transmissivity, <strong>and</strong><br />

DO concentrations were comparatively larger<br />

than for salinity, density, <strong>and</strong> pH. Overall,<br />

there did not appear to be consistent patterns<br />

related to location (e.g., inner versus outer<br />

harbor) or water depth. However, a few<br />

examples <strong>of</strong> depth-related variations were<br />

noted <strong>and</strong> are discussed below.<br />

Surface water temperatures at two <strong>of</strong> the shallow water sites (LA8 <strong>and</strong> LA7) were several<br />

degrees warmer (22.7 to 23.5 °C) than surface water temperatures in other portions <strong>of</strong> the<br />

harbor. The higher surface water temperatures at these sites were probably due to decreased<br />

vertical mixing <strong>and</strong> reduced circulation in inner harbor areas, <strong>and</strong> they are typical for this<br />

location <strong>and</strong> season.<br />

Slightly lower salinity water (e.g., 32 ppt) occurred within the upper 2 m <strong>of</strong> the water column at<br />

stations a<strong>long</strong> the Main Channel, including West Basin <strong>and</strong> Consolidated Slip (Stations LA14<br />

<strong>and</strong> LA6). This lower salinity layer may reflect freshwater inputs from Dominguez Channel.<br />

Similar conditions were encountered during dry weather water quality sampling associated with<br />

the Dominguez Channel Estuary Modeling Study in 2004 (Everest International Consultants<br />

2007). Additionally, reduced salinities were detected in surface waters at Station LB1 in the<br />

Long Beach Outer Harbor area (Figure 2.4-1). The lower salinity surface layer at these<br />

locations could reflect discharges from the Terminal Isl<strong>and</strong> Waste Treatment Plant discharge<br />

2–4 <strong>2008</strong> Biological Surveys <strong>of</strong> Los Angeles <strong>and</strong> Long Beach Harbors<br />

April 2010

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