Coordinated Monitoring Program

Overview December 17, 2013

Coordinated Monitoring Program
Safeguarding water quality in our two iconic rivers

To protect and enhance the health of the Sacramento and American rivers, Regional San and the Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership joined forces in 1991 to create a Coordinated Monitoring Program (CMP). The fundamental purpose of the CMP is to develop high-quality data to aid in the development and implementation of water quality policy and regulations in the Sacramento area. With the help of Regional San’s Environmental Laboratory, river-water data is collected and tested for a variety of constituents.The CMP identifies water quality conditions, trends and influences that are invaluable in defining the health of the river system in a cost-effective manner.

CMP-partnering agencies support many area programs committed to safeguarding river water quality in the Sacramento and American rivers. Data from the program is shared with a wide group of stakeholders, including regulatory and other public agencies, nonprofit organizations, private companies and the general public.

What does the CMP monitor?

The CMP monitors a variety of pollutants, including the following:

Pesticides and herbicides, such as diazinon, chlorpyrifos and Roundup®
Bacteria (E.coli, fecal and total coliform)
Mercury
Metals, such as copper, arsenic, lead and aluminum
pH, temperature, turbidity and dissolved oxygen

The CMP monitors five sites along the Sacramento and American rivers. These sites include Veterans Bridge, Freeport Bridge, River Mile 44 and Discovery Park on the Sacramento River and Nimbus Dam on the American River. Each water sample is tested for approximately 70 parameters with an additional 250 parameters analyzed during expanded events that occur throughout the year.