The California Department of Fish and Game and the State Water Resources Control Board (through Regional Board #3, Central Coast) entered into an agreement whereby Department biologist-divers conducted a subtidal ecological

investigation of the marine environment in the vicinity of the city of Goleta ocean outfall. The objective of the study was to provide the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) with data to assist them in evaluating the

effects of the discharge on the marine environment at four 

stations selected by the RWQCB around the outfall terminus (Figure 1). One additional physical data station, (G-4), was occupied for temperature and dissolved oxygen 

determinations.

The determinations made by biologist-divers included: (i) the number and diversity of animal life; (ii) substrate 

characteristics; and (iii) physical parameters, including water temperature, clarity, and dissolved oxygen. Additionally, benthic samples were obtained both by the divers and by a Ponar grab at each station.

The State Water Resources Control Board partially reimbursed the Department for expenses incurred during this study. The work was performed by California Department of Fish and Game biologists from the Department's research vessel KELP BASS. (15pp.

Odenweller, Dan B.

English

Aquatic Commons

Mass Landlry; " , . 
STATE OF C&IFOKNIh F. 
THE RESOURCES AGENCY &SS Lit1 i ~ t i -  . . . 
DEPARTFENT OF FISII AT3 GA$E 
KLLRINE RESQCRCES REGION 
A SURVEY OF THE PbUINE ENVIROKMENT 
NEAR THE CITY OF GOLETA OCEAN OUTFALL 
by Dan B . O d e n w e l l e r  
STATE WATER PSSOURCES COSTROT, BOARD 
CONTRACT (P&G S-904) 
MARINE RESOURCES REGION 
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e  R e p o r t  73-1 
J a n u a r y  1973 
A SURVEY OF TEE !URINE ENVIRONMENT 
1/ NXAR THE cIm OF GOLETA OCEAN OUTFALL - 
by Dan B. Odenweller 
INTRODUCTION 
The C a l i f o r n i a  Department of F i s h  2nd Game and t h e  S t a t e  Water Resources 
Control  Board ( through Regional Board #3,  Cen t ra l  Coast) en t e red  i n t o  a n  
agreement whereby Department b io log i s t -d ive r s  conducted a s u b t i d a l  e c o l o g i c a l  
i n v e s t i g a t i o n  of t h e  marine environment i n  t h e  v i c i ~ ~ i t y  of t h e  c i t y  of Goleta  
ocean o u t f a l l .  The o b j e c t i v e  of t h e  s tudy  w a s  t o  provide  t h e  Regional Water 
Quz1j . t~  Control  Board (RWQCB) wi th  d a t a  t o  a s s i s t  them i n  eva lua t ing  t h e  
e f f e c t s  of t h e  d i scha rge  on t h e  marine environment a t  f o u r  s t a t i o n s  s e l e c t e d  
by t h e  WQCB around t h e  o u t f a l l  terminus (F igure  1 ) .  One a d d i t i o n a l  p h y s i c a l  
da t a  s t a t i o n ,  (G-4), w a s  occupied f o r  temperature and d i s so lved  oxygen 
de termina t ions  . 
The de termina t ions  made by b io log i s t -d ive r s  included: ( i )  t h e  number 
and d i v e r s i t y  of animal l i f e ;  ( i i )  s u b s t r z t e  c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ;  and ( i i i )  
phys i ca l  parameters ,  inc luding  water  temperature,  c l a r i t y ,  and d i s so lved  
oxygen. Addi t iona l ly ,  benth ic  samples were obta ined  both  by t h e  d i v e r s  and 
by a  Ponar grab a t  each s t a t i o n .  
The S t a t e  Water Resources Control  Board p a r t i a l l y  reimbursed t h e  
Department f o r  expenses i ncu r red  dur ing  t h i s  s tudy .  The work was performed 
by Ca l i fo rn i a  Department of F ish  and Game b i o l o g i s t s  from t h e  Department 's 
r e sea rch  v e s s e l  KELP BASS. 
AREA DESCRIPTION 
The City of Goleta ocean o u t f a l l  i s  loca t ed  i n  t h e  Santa  Barbara Channel, 
approx3.nately one m i l e  south of t h e  Goleta P i e r ,  and approximately t h r e e  
1/ Prepared a t  Ca l i fo rn i a  S t a t e  F i s h e r i e s  Laboratory, Marine Resources Region, 
- 
350 Golden Shore, Long Beach, Ca l i fo rn i a  90802. 

q u a r t e r s  of a  mi le  due e a s t  of Goleta Po in t .  The o u t f a l l  terminus i s  l o c a t e d  
a t  a depth of approximately 100 f e e t ,  on a  mud--sand bottom. The gene ra l  a r e a  
of c o a s t l i n e  i n  which t h e  City of Goleta o u t f a l l  i s  l o c a t e d  can be cha rac t e r -  
i z e d  a s  sandy beach i n t e r r u p t e d  by rocky headlands wi th  cobble bottom p r e s e n t  
immediately of fshore .  Extensive ke lp  beds (Macrocystis sp . )  occur  between 
t h e  o u t f a l l  terminus and t h e  beach, gene ra l ly  ou t  t o  depths of approximately 
60 f e e t .  
The s t a t i o n s  occupied by t h e  b io log i s t -d ive r s  f e l l  on two gene ra l  sub- 
s t r a t e  types .  S t a t i c n  G-2 was l o c a t e d  ad jacen t  t o  t h e  o u t f a l l  p i p e  500 f e e t  
i n sho re  from t h e  terminus on a  cobble bottom. S t a t i o n  (2-3 was 500 f e e t  e a s t  
and G-5 500 f e e t  west of t h e  d ischarge  t e r a i n u s ,  whi le  S t a t i o n  G-6 was l o c a t e d  
2,000 f e e t  e a s t  of t h e  d ischarge  p o i n t  t o  s e r v e  as a  c o n t r o l .  These l a s t  
t h r e e  s t a t i o n s  were a l l  on a s i l t - s a n d  s u b s t r a t e .  
METHODS 
The genera l  methods used i n  t h i s  survey a r e  described i n  r e p o r t s  of pre-  
v ious  i n v e s t i g a t i o n s  (Turner,  Eber t  and Given, 1968).  F i e l d  ope ra t ions  were 
conducted by Department b i o l o g i s t s  on December 7 and 8,  1971, from t h e  
Department's 92-foot research  v e s s e l ,  KELP BASS. 
Temperature and d isso lved  oxygen de termina t ions  were made wi th  a  Martek 
Model DOA I n  S i t u  Dissolved Oxygen Monitor. 
The s t a t i o n s  s e l e c t e d  by t h e  KWQCB were loca t ed  u t i l i z i n g  informat ion  
from both radar  and fathometer .  The presence of a  s u r f a c e  "boi l"  marking 
t h e  end of t he  o u t f a l l  w a s  noted, and t h i s  f a c i l i t a t e d  s t a t i o n  l o c a t i o n .  The 
sampling s i t e  was marked wi th  a n  anchor and buoy, and t h e  v e s s e l  was anchored 
a t  t h e  s i t e .  Each s t a t i o n  was then sampled, from t h e  s u r f a c e ,  u t i l i z i n g  a  
1/20 m2 Ponar grab, and by b io log i s t -d ive r s .  
Each benth ic  sampling s i t e  was def ined  by a t t a c h i n g  a  3.1 m l i n e  t o  t h e  
s t a t i o n  marker and i n s c r i b i n g  an a r c  enccmpassing approximnately 30 m2. 
Bio logis t -d ivers  i d e n t i f i e d  and enumerated a l l  macroscopic animals  w i t h i n  
t h e  a r c s  and c o l l e c t e d  a l l  v i s i b l e  forms w i t h i n  a  114 m2 quadra t  randomly 
placed wi th in  t h e  a r c .  Water temperatures ,  d i sso lved  oxygen l e v e l s  and 
v i s i b i l i t y  e s t i m a t e s  were taken a t  10-foot intervz1.s from t h e  s u r f a c e  t o  t h e  
bottom a t  each s t a t i o n .  General bottom condi t ions  noted  inc luded  s u b s t r a t e  
desc r ip t ion ;  h e i ~ h t ,  per iod  and d i r e c t i o n  of r i p p l e  marks; and t h e  presence 
of suspended organic  m a t e r i a l  ( l e p t o p e l )  i n  t h e  water  co l~ lmi  znd oil t h e  
bottom. 
The ben th i c  grab  samples c o l l e c t e d  by t h e  d i v e r s  and t h e  Ponar g r a b  
samples were s i f t e d  through a 0.5 mrn sc reen ,  and preserved  i n  502 i sop ropy l  
a l c o h o l  p r i o r  t o  s o r t i n g .  A l l  s o r t i n g  was performed i n  t h e  l a b o r a t o r y  under 
ci issect ing microscopes. 
RESULTS - PHYSICAL 
Two gene ra l  s u b s t r a t e  types were encountered dur ing  t h i s  survey.  The 
f i r s t ,  found a t  S t a t i o n  G-2, was a  cobble bottom wi th  sand i n t r u s i o n  l o -  
ca t ed  no r th  of t h e  o u t f a l l  p ipe  terminus i n  water  65 f e e t  deep. The rock 
cobble may have been p a r t  of t he  r i p r a p  placed around t h e  d i scha rge  p i p e  
t o  hold i t  i n  p l ace .  The second s u b s t r a t e  type,  a s i l t y  sand bottom, was 
found a t  t h e  remaining t h r e e  s t a t i o n s .  These s t a t i o n s  ranged i n  depth from 
80 t o  100 f e e t  (Table 1 ) .  The s u b s t r a t e  a t  t h e s e  s t a t i o n s  n e a r  t h e  o u t f a l l  
were gene ra l ly  covered wi th  organic  d e t r i t u s  which was e a s i l y  d i s t u r b e d  by 
t h e  d ive r s ,  however, no s ludge  d e p o s i t s  were i d e n t i f i e d .  
V i s i b i l i t y  on t h e  bottom ranged from 6 t o  1 5  f e e t ,  wh i l e  bottom tem- 
p e r a t u r e s  ranged from 10.5 C t o  10.8 C (Table 1). L i t t l e  l e p t o p e l  was noted  
i n  t h e  water  column a t  t h e  f o u r  d iv ing  s t a t i o n s .  
Temperature and d isso lved  oxygen p r o f i l e s  were taken wi th  t h e  Martek DOA. 
TABLE 1. C i t y  of G o l e t a  Ocean Out fa l .1  S t a t i o n  Data 
Bottom Bottom 
S t a t i o n  Date  Depth Temp. (C) V i s . ( F t . )  C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s  
G-2 12-7-71 65' 1 0 . 8  6  ' Cobble bot tom,  4-6" diam- 
e t e r .  S t a t i o n  l o c a t e d  
a d j a c e n t  t o  p i p e .  Core: 
114" s i l t ,  8" brown-grey 
sand ,  s t r o n g  H2S odor .  
Quadrat  i n  SW q u a r t e r  . 
S i l t y  sand  bottom. Core: 
2 112" l i g h t  brown s a n d ,  
6 112'' d a r k  brown s i l t y  
s a n d .  S t r o n g  H S odor .  
R i p p l e  marks E-6, 4" 
p e r i o d  114-1/2" h i g h .  
No q u a d r a t  t aken .  
S i l t y  sand bottom. Core: 
1 112" brown sand ,  4" 
i n t e m e d i a t e ,  3'' b l a c k  
s i l t y  sand  and mud. Moder- 
a t e  H,S odor .  No r i p p l e  
L 
m a r k s ,  Quadrat i n  NW 
q u a r t e r  . 
S i l t y  s a n d  bottom. Core: 
112'' s i l t ,  2 112'' f i n e  
grey-brown sand  wlmica, 
7" d a r k e r  brown ( b l a c k )  
sand  wlmica.  S t r o n g  H2S 
o d o r .  R i p p l e  marks 
E-W, 4" p e r i o d ,  1" h i g h .  
Quadra t  i n  NW q u a r t e r .  
Sampled f o r  v e r t i c a l  
p r o f i l e  o n l y .  
Dissolved oxygen l e v e l s  ranged from a high of 7.8 ppm a t  t h e  s u r f a c e  a t  
S t a t i o n  G-6 t o  a low of 6 . 1  ppm nea r  t h e  bottom a t  S t a t i o n  G-5 (Table 2 ) .  
One a d d i t i o n a l  s t a t i o n  (6-4)  was occupied i n  120 f e e t  of water ,  t o  compare 
wi th  d isso lved  oxygen readings  taken near  t h e  o u t f a l l .  
Core samples taken by d i v e r s  a t  S t a t i o n s ,  G-2, G-3, G-5 and G-6 a l l  
contained moderate t o  s t r o n g  H S odor (Table 1 ) .  2  
RESULTS BIOLOGICAL 
The b i o t a  observed by t h e  b io log i s t -d ive r s  was t y p i c a l  f o r  t h e  two 
genera l  h a b i t a t  types encountered (Table 3 ) .  The i n v e r t e b r a t e s  observed 
t o  be most common a t  t h e  s t a t i o n s  w i t h  a s i l t - s a n d  bottom were tube anemones 
(Cer ian th idae) ,  sea  pens ( S t y l a t u l a  e longa ta ) ,  tube  polychae tes  (Diopatra  sp.)  
and sand s t a r s  (Astropecten spp . ) .  The only f i s h  observed were oanddabs 
(C i tha r i ch thys  sp.)  and one u n i d e n t i f i e d  c o t t i d ,  
The cobble-sand bottom ( S t a t i o n  G-2) contained a  more d i v e r s e  f a u n a l  
assemblage w i t h  animals t y p i c a l  of bo th  rocky and s o f t  bottom h a b i t a t s .  The 
most common i n v e r t e b r a t e s  observed were aggrega t ing  anemones (Corynact is  
-
c a l i f o r n i c a ) ,  sea  pens, tube  polychaetes  (Diopatra s p . ) ,  whelks ( K e i l e t i a  
k e l l e t i i ) ,  abalone j i n g l e s  (Pododesmus c e p i o ) ,  and s e a  s t a r s  ( P i s a s t e r  spp.).  
F i s h  were more abundant than a t  t h e  s i l t - s a n d  s t a t i o n s  and a g a i n  inc luded  
those  a s soc i a t ed  wi th  s o f t  bottoms a s  w e l l  a s  those  a s s o c i a t e d  wi th  rocky 
h a b i t a t s .  
F ive  s p e c i e s  of f i s h  were observed i n  t h e  a r c  a r e a ,  t h e  most common be ing  
sanddabs, and j u v e n i l e  b lue  r o c k f i s h  (Sebastes  - mystinus) . Seve ra l  o the r  f i s h  
s p e c i e s  were observed e x t r a l i m i t a l l y  a long  the  p ipe  and r i p r a p  (Table 3 ) .  
I n v e r t e b r a t e s  observed e x t r a l i m i t a l l y  along t h e  o u t f a l l  p ipe  inc lude  a 
gorgonian (Lophogorgia - c h i l e n s i s ) ,  aggrega t ing  anemones (Corynact is  c a l i f o r n i c a ) ,  
t h e  s o l i t a r y  c o r a l  (Paracyathus s t e a r n s i i ) ,  and t h e  nudibranchs Triopha c a r p e n t e r i  
TABLE 2 .  City of Goleta  Ocean O u t f a l l  Temperature, 110, and V j . s i b i l i t y  
P r o f i l e s .  
S t a t i o n  G-2 S t a t i o n  G-3 
Depth T(C) DO(ppm) -. 
--
Depth T(C) DO(pPm) V i s e  
-- -- 
S t a t i o n  G - 4  
Depth T(C) D ~ ( P P ~ )  
__e -
S t a t i o n  G-5 
S t a t i o n  G-6 
Depth T(C) DO(ppm) V i s .  
p- -
Remarks 
7.8 10' 
7.5 15 '  
7.8 1 5 '  Leptopel  P re sen t  
7.6 1 5 '  20-30 f o o t  dep ths  
7.8 1 5 '  
7.8 15' 
7.7 1 5 '  
7.8 1 5 '  
7.4 1 5 '  
6.2 15 ' 
V i s  . 
-- 
TABLE 3 ,  L i s t  of Animals Recorded During t h e  City of Goleta  Ocean O u t f a l l  
Survey, December 7 and 8, 1971. 
S c i e n t i f i c  name 
COELENTERATA 
Ag Zacphenia s p  . 
Cer ian th idae  (unident . )  
Corynactis caZi fomica  
Hydrozoa (unident . )  
Lophogorgia ch i l en s i s  
Pur~acyathus s t ea rns i i  
Siy ZatuZa elongata 
NEEfATODA (uniden t . ) 
NEMERTEA (unident  .) 
POLY LW-ETA 
Ampharetidae (unident . )  
Transect  and abundance * 
G-2 G-3 G-5 6-6 
ArabeZla sp. 
Arabel l idae  (uniden t . ) 
Asy chis  disparidentata 
C a p i t e l l i d a e  (unident . )  (1) 
C i r r a t u l i d a e  (unident .  ) (3) (3) 
Diopatra s p .  C (8) 2 4 C (3) 70 
Drilonereis Zonga 
GZycera branchiopoda (3) 
Glycera sp  . (1) 
GZy cinde armigera ( 5 )  (4)  (6) 
Goniada brwznea (1) 
Goniadidae (unident . )  
TABLE 3 - Continued 
S c i e n t i f i c  name 
HapZos copo Zos e longatus 
Laonice c i r ra ta  
Lumbrineridae ( u n i d e n t . )  
Lm~br iner i s  cr~zens.I:s 
Lwnbrineris sp  , 
Mage Zona saccuZata 
MageZona s p .  
Maldanidae ( u n i d e n t  .) 
Me Zinna ocuzata 
Nephtys s p .  
Nere idae  (uni-dent . ) 
Nothria s p .  
Owenia co Z Zaris 
Pectinaria caZiforniensis  
Pherusa s p .  
, - P h y l l o d o c i d a e  ( u n i d e n t . )  
P o l y c h a e t a  (un iden t  .) 
PoZydora s p  . 
Polyno idea  ( u n i d e n t  . ) 
Prionosp<o mahgreni  
Prionospio pinnata 
S a b e l l i d a e  (un iden t  . ) 
SaZrnaeina tribranchiata 2 
scozop 20s s p  . 
Spiophanes missionensis 
T r a n s e c t  and abundance * 
C11 
(3)  
(1) 
(1) 
c o l o n i e s  
(1) 
(1) 
TABLE 3 - Continued 
S c i e n t i f i c  name 
Stemaspis  fossor 
StheneZais sp . 
Sthene ZmeZ Za unifomnis 
T e r e b e l l i d a e  ( u n i d e n t . )  
Tarebe ZZides s troemii 
Thmyx muZtif iZis 
Thurgx s p .  
MOLLU S CA 
Gastropoda 
Acteocina sp. 
Acteon pmctocaeZatus 
Bi t t iwn s p .  
CyZichna s p .  
Cypraea spadicea 
Dendrodoris s p  , 
Epitoniuv sp  . 
FZabeZZinopsis iodinea 
Gastropoda ( u n i d e n t . )  
Ke ZZetia keZZeti i  
Qphiodeme ZZa s p  . 
Triopha carpanteri 
Trophcmopsis sp  . 
VoZvueZZa s p .  
Pelecypoda 
E p i  Zudna sp  . 
T r a n s e c t  and abundance * 
G-3 G-5 
TABLE 3 - Continued 
S c i e n t i f i c  name 
Himi tes  muZtirugosus 
NUCUZUYUZ S p .  
Pododesmus cepio 
Spat  (unident  . ) 
Te ZZina sp  . 
CRUSTACEA 
Ostracoda (unident  .) 
Malacostraca 
Cumacea (unident .) 
Isopoda (uni.dent . ) 
Amphipoda 
Gammaridae (unident  . ) 
Decapoda (unident  .) 
SIPUNCULIDA (unident  .) 
BRYOZOA 
Diaperoecia ca l i fomica  
Bryozoa (unident  .) 
BRAalIOPODA 
GZottidia a Zbida 
ECIIINODERMATA 
A s  t ero idea  
Astropecten armatus 1 
As tropecten verr i  Z Z i  
Astropecten s p  . 
Transect  and abundance * 
G-3 G-5 G -6 
TABLE 3 - Continued 
S c i e n t i f i c  name 
G--3 
Patiria miniata (0')) 
Pisas t e r  brevispinus 1 ( (PI ) 
Pisaster giganteus 4 ( (P I )  
Ophiuroidea 
Antphiodia sp .  
Ophiuroidea (unident . )  C CC] 1 
Holothuroidea (unident  .) 
CHORDP.Th 
Ascidiacea (unident .  ) S CS] 
Ver t eb ra t a  
Agoncpsis s ter le tus  1 ((1) ) 
C<tharichthys C 
Coryph~p terus nicho Zsi i  3 
Cot t i d a e  (unident .) 
Cymatogaster aggregata ( (P) ) 
Para Zabrax nebuZi fer ( (PI 1 
Phcmerodon furcatus ((P) ) 
Rathbune Z Z a  s p  . ((PI) 
Sebastes auriculatus ( (p))  
Transect  and abundance * 
G - 3  G-5 
S.  carnutus 1 
S .  Mystinus C j u v e n i l e  
S. vexiZZuris ((PI) 
T U L E  3 - Continued 
* Abundance symbols 
A = Abundant, numerous and evenly d i s t r i b u t e d  throughout t h e  a r e a .  
C = Common, unevenly p re sen t  throughout a r c  and only occas iona l ly  
numerous 
P = Presen t ,  no abundance e s t i m a t e  made 
S = Sparse,  widely s c a t t e r e d  throughout a r c  b u t  nowhere numerous 
[I  = Occurrence w i t h i n  a quadra t  0,25 m on a s i d e  
() = Ponar grab  
(())= E x t r a l i m i t a l  
and F l a b e l l i n o p s i s  i od inea ,  One g i a n t  ke lp  p l a n t  (Macrocystis p y r l f e r a )  was 
-- -
observed growing a t t zched  t o  t h e  o u t f a l l  p ipe  wi th  whi tebe l ly  r o c k f i s h  
(Sebastes  v e x i l l a r i s )  and brown r o c k f i s h  (Sebastes  a u r i c u l a t u s )  a s s o c i a t e d  
---
with i t .  
Analysis  of t h e  m a t e r i a l  c o l l e c t e d  wi th  t h e  Ponar grab f a i l e d  t o  r e v e a l  
any s i g n i f i c a n t  d i f f e r e n c e  between t h e  f o u r  s t a t i o n s  (Table 3). However, 
s i n c e  no r e p l i c a t e  samples were taken,  and no background d a t a  a r e  a v a i l a b l e ,  
no conclusions can be made based on t h e  l i m i t e d  d a t a  presented  he re .  
CONCLUSIONS 
The q u a l i t a t i v e  impressions of t h e  b io log i s t -d ive r s  sugges t  t h e  s t a t i o n  
a r e a s  surveyed near  t h e  o u t f a l l  terminus a r e  suppor t ing  a normal b i o t a  f o r  
t h e  a r ea .  Analysis  of t h e  microfauna f a i l s  t o  show any s i g n i f i c a n t  d i f f e r e n c e s  
between t h e  s t a t i o n s ,  A survey of t h i s  n a t u r e  is  n o t  conclus ive ,  and wi thou t  
a more comprehensive and d e t a i l e d  s tudy ,  t hese  r e s u l t s  should be used with 
cau t ion .  
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
I wish t o  thank Daniel  Gotsha l l ,  Robert Hardy, Mi t che l l  G i l l i s ,  and t h e  
Captain and crew of  t h e  r e sea rch  v e s s e l  KELP BASS f o r  t h e i r  a s s i s t a n c e  i n  
conducting t h e  f i e l d  work. My thanks t o  Brad Myers, Richard Dixon, and Cynthia 
Klepadlo f o r  s o r t i n g  t h e  specimens and t o  Robert Hardy f o r  t h e  polychae te  
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s ,  
REFERENCES 
Turner,  C.  H. ,  E. E. Eber t ,  and R. R. Given. 1968. The marine environment 
o f f s h o r e  from Po in t  Loma, San Diego County. C a l i f .  F i s h  and Game, 
F i s h  Bul l . ,  (140) : 1-85. 


A survey of the marine environment near the city of Goleta ocean outfall

http://aquaticcommons.org/190/1/Marine_Resources_Administrative_Report_No._73-1.pdf

A survey of the marine environment near the city of Goleta ocean outfall

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Aquatic Commons