River Monitoring
CCLEAN’s monitoring of contaminant loads from Salinas and Carmel rivers was ceased in 2007 so that program participants would not be required to fund sampling of constituents that they could not control. In 2021, all sampling in Carmel River was ceased due to the very small annual contaminant loads discharged to nearshore waters.
Expanded PCB Analysis
To better identify sources of high PCB concentrations in Monterey Bay, CCLEAN expanded its analysis from 71 to 209 PCB congeners in 2012, providing a more comprehensive understanding of PCB pollutant sources.
Sediment Sampling
Due to the longer time needed to detect trends in biological communities relative to pollutant concentrations, annual sediment sampling was reduced in 2009 to six of the eight historic stations, while benthic infauna sampling frequency was reduced to every five years.
Implementation of Modified EPA Assay
A modified EPA assay was implemented in 2009 to measure specific reproductive endocrine disrupting activity in effluent wastewater, providing more detailed insights into the effects of wastewater discharges.
Effluent Pollutant Data for Estimation of Annual Loads Pyrethroids, Fipronils, and Neonicotinoids added
CCLEAN’s effluent pollutant data are used to calculate annual loads of pollutants discharged to Monterey Bay. In 2014, new analytes were added to the program’s assessment to provide a more complete inventory of pollutants entering the Bay.
Reduced Mussel Sampling
In 2007, mussel tissue sampling was reduced from twice per year to annual wet-seasonindex period, optimizing resources while maintaining data quality.
Stream Sampling Adjustments
Beginning in 2006, CCLEAN’s monthly sampling of 10 coastal streams was discontinued following the implementation of monthly sampling by the Central Coast Water Board as part of its Coastal Confluences Ambient Monitoring Program (CCAMP).
