Our study evaluated the efficacy of strategic management alternatives designed to reduce the level of toxicity in urban runoff being discharged within the Newport Bay Watershed, in Orange County, California. We first identified the key pollutants responsible for the aquatic toxicity in freshwater and saltwater environments, which were determined to be two organophosphate (OP) pesticides, Diazinon and Chlorpyrifos. We traced the major contributors of these pesticides to a corresponding landuse and developed export rate coefficients for each pesticide over coarse landuse classes. Model-based predictions were then used to evaluate the persistence of these pollutants over an array of scenarios, simulating base-case, policy-related usage restrictions and management practices aimed at improving water quality. Our watershed modeling analysis established that after the phase-out Diazinon would persist in all stormflow events in exceedance of the numeric criteria for aquatic toxicity while Chlorpyrifos concentrations appeared to be more moderate with respect to the criterion limits. Based on the results of our cost-effective analysis, we recommend the installation of several infiltration basins in conjunction with supplemental public education programs as a means to reduce the OP pesticiderelated toxicity. In order to maintain and restore the ecological integrity of the Bay, we also recommend further usage restrictions on both pesticides throughout the watershed.
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