Data Gap Studies

The Trustees have conducted or are in the process of conducting studies to provide additional data to enhance their ability to make sound restoration planning decisions. These studies include:

Northern Channel Bald Eagle Feasibility Study

Levels of DDTs and PCBs in the Southern California Bight have declined since the Montrose discharge was controlled in the 1970s, but persist at levels that continue to cause reproductive problems in bald eagles reintroduced onto Santa Catalina Island in the 1980s. Since bald eagles have not naturally recolonized other Channel Islands , the Trustees released a Feasibility Study/Environmental Assessment in 2002 proposing a 5-year study to determine the feasibility of recolonizing the northern Channel Islands given the continued presence of DDT in the marine ecosystem.

The Feasibility Study consists of the following actions:

• From 2002 to 2006, the Institute for Wildlife Studies released approximately 12 wild nestlings per year onto Santa Cruz Island.
• Biologists carefully monitor the released birds, along with any other birds that appear on the northern Channel Islands, in an effort to assess breeding behavior and whether or not breeding pairs are successful.
• Biologists also monitor contaminant levels in released birds, their eggs, and their food to determine whether DDTs and PCBs may be affecting the ability of the eagles to reproduce successfully.

From 2002-2006, 62 bald eagle chicks have been released on Santa Cruz Island. The birds have dispersed among the northern Channel Islands and inhabit not only Santa Cruz , but San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Anacapa Islands as well. At least one bird has been sighted to the south on Santa Catalina Island, and several have made the crossing to the mainland.

In 2006, two nests were documented on Santa Cruz Island, marking the first successful breeding attempts in the northern Channel Islands in over 50 years. The survival and succesful fledging of the two chicks in 2006 is a significant milestone for bald eagle recovery on the Channel Islands. Find out more.

In 2009, we anticipate up to 6 active bald eagle nests on the northern Channel Islands.There are currently 5 territories on Santa Cruz Island and 1 territory on Santa Rosa Island.Biologists will continue to monitor bald eagles on the islands, collecting data from multiple nests over multiple years. The results of this study will be used to evaluate further bald eagle restoration options on the Channel Islands

Santa Catalina Island Peregrine Falcon Survey

The Trustees funded a survey of Santa Catalina Island in 2004 to determine whether peregrine falcons were successfully breeding. The survey results indicated that two pairs of peregrine falcons have established territories and are nesting on Santa Catalina Island; however, no successful hatching or fledging of chicks was observed on the Island.

Angler Study

In 2002 and 2003, the MSRP and EPA interviewed 2,441 shore-based anglers at numerous sites from Malibu to Newport Beach to gather information on fishing and fish consumption practices from people who fish in coastal waters in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The resulting data filled information gaps that have not been the focus of other recreational fishing studies, such as:

• Ethnic and language issues, current awareness of fishing advisories and how anglers obtain that awareness;
• Catch preferences, parts of the fish consumed, and different ways people prepare fish for eating;
• Fishing preferences (types of fish and locations) that may assist in planning restoration projects to increase the availability of opportunities to fish for less contaminated fish

A final report on the angler survey was issued in 2004. The Trustees will use the information from the angler study to plan restoration projects that increase opportunities to fish for cleaner fish and to help guide the development of more effective public outreach and education programs that reduce public exposure to DDTs and PCBs from fish.

Fish Contamination Survey

From Fall 2002 to Spring 2004, MSRP and EPA collected over 3,000 fish from 28 locations in the Southern California coastal waters, representing a wide variety of fish often caught by local recreational and commercial anglers. Approximately 900 were analyzed for DDTs, PCBs, dieldrin, chlordane, and mercury, to provide a comprehensive assessment of current levels of contamination across the different species and locations.

These data will be used to plan restoration projects to restore fishing opportunities that were lost due to fish consumption advisories, and to enhance the effectiveness of public outreach and education programs. The data are being used by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to update existing fish consumption advisories, and by the California Department of Fish and Gave to evaluate existing bag limits, and the commercial catch ban on white croaker. Finally, EPA is using the data to evaluate current and future risks and potential cleanup action for the Palos Verdes Shelf Superfund investigation.

A fact sheet about this study is available and the full report is below.

2002-2004 Southern California Coastal Marine Fish Contaminants Survey.

Full Report
Attachment 1-Sampling and Analysis Plan
Attachment 2-Laboratory Quality Assurance Project Plan
Attachment 3-Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Attachment 4-Field SOPs and Audit Reports
Attachment 5-Data Quality Assurance-Organochlorines
Attachement 6-Data Quality Assurance-Mercury
Summary