Due to the recent comments about water quality at San Juan on boof.com and the fact that there have been big trucks and drilling rigs doing “environmental” tests in the El Manto parking lot I spent some time today researching water quality issues on the Lower American River. (PS This is just what I gleaned from a few articles. I am no expert and really know very little about the validity of this info.)

I found this by the Sacramento Coordinated Monitoring Program published in June 2003:

“The Sacramento Coordinated Monitoring Program (CMP) has found that, for the Lower American River, the water quality supports the river’s beneficial uses, including aquatic life habitat, swimming, fishing, other recreational uses, and municipal, agricultural, and industrial water supplies. The only constituent of concern has been coliform organisms (as indicators of potential pathogens) that sometimes occur at threshold levels. There are many potential sources for increasing levels of coliform organisms detected by the CMP, including sewage treatment plants, septic systems, domestic animals, and wildlife. The CMP has also found levels of concern in tributary creeks to the lower American River of common lawn chemicals, primarily organophosphate pesticides. Homeowners can help improve urban creek water quality by limiting the amount of pesticides applied to lawns and gardens and by avoiding applying pesticides when rain is in the forecast. Additional information (including tips on pollution prevention programs) is available on the CMP partners’ websites at: www.sactostormwater.org, www.sacstormwater.org,and www.srcsd.org.”

If your worried about bacteria and pesticides its probably best to avoid the hole for a bit after the first big rain!

On the “environmental” testing side here is some info from various sources:

The trucks were testing for ground water contamination related to the Aerojet Superfund Site. The basic background is that Aerojet produced some nasty chemicals and dumped them on or injected them into their property south of Highway 50 during the 1950’s through the early 80’s. Among them are super nasties like perchlorate and trichloroethylene. These have leached into the groundwater in Rancho Cordova and many wells have been shut down. The area of contamination is spreading and has moved west-southwest and in places north under the American River. Because the river is a “losing river” (in hydro-language) the ground water does not (theoretically anyways) move into the river instead some of the surface water moves into the aquifer.

In 2001 the US EPA said the contamination is limited to ground water (i.e. well water in the area). From a kayaker’s perspective (or that of a salmon, trout, osprey, or heron) it is more the surface water we are directly worried about. The EPA in 2001 said because it is limited to ground water the Aerojet mess poses no risk to ecological systems.

As part of a deal with the EPA Aerojet pumps ground water out of the aquifers and treats them to meet federal and/or state standards and then discharges 3,000- 7,000 gallons per minute of this water into Buffalo Creek which flows into the American just a ½ mile upstream of the San Juan Hole (The creek is near the Sunrise Bridge). The water released should be up to the standards but where is the data????

I think we as boaters should try to find out if the water below Buffalo is safe to kayak/ swim in and on the occasion inadvertently swallow.

It would be great to find out what the American River water level is at the SJ hole. Does anybody know anybody who has this info or where we can get it? If not should we pool some money and get a test done? CCK want to chip in?

Carlos,
To get the water level go to http://www.rivervilla.com/flows/
Am.river Nimbus out flow there's a dayly and hourly flow's

So how much would it cost to test the water???

I'll pitch in some money in.

Darrick

Regarding the Aerojet Superfund. Aeorjet works closely with its customers and Sacramento in cleaning up the groundwater. I do not belive that there is any great cause for alarm today. One thing that the Government does not do, and that is specify what is safe or unsafe measure. For the Aerojet contaminants, the parts per quantity measure is very small. If a "contaminant" is found the area or water is simply presented as "contaminated." There is more danger from raw sewage and other conatiminates during times of runoff. Most of these contiminates occur in the winter and spring. As posted, these come from people who use lawn and garden chemicals to control pests.

I do not believe private testing is needed. There is plenty of information available from Government agencies. As noted by Aerojet, below, there are good sources available if you are concerned.


All of the surface water on plant is characterized and reported to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) under our NPDES permit.

In addition, Aerojet samples the effluent from our groundwater treatment plants before discharging the water to Buffalo Creek. The results of this sampling is provided in written and electronic data format monthly to the RWQCB, as well as US EPA and California EPA-Department of Toxic Substances. The American River is sampled and analyzed periodically up- and downstream of the point where Buffalo Creek enters the river and is reported to the same three agencies. The sampling frequency on the American River varies depending on the flow in the river, but typically averages about four times per year.

If anyone wants to view the data, they can call any of the three agencies listed above and ask for the project manager associated with the Aerojet Sacramento Superfund Site. That person will be able to provide them with all of the sampling results.