Fish consumption survey to inform L.A. Regional Board deliberations about potential new beneficial use designation for urban lakes

SCCWRP has launched a two-year study to inform deliberations by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board about whether one or more urban lakes in Los Angeles County should receive a regulatory designation known as a Subsistence Fishing beneficial use based on the consumption habits of people who eat fish caught in the lakes.

During the study, which kicked off in January, researchers will survey anglers at four urban lakes – Alondra Park Lake, Magic Johnson Lake, Legg Lake and Peck Road Park Lake – to document what types of fish they catch and how often they consume these fish.

The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board intends to use the findings to evaluate whether to add a Subsistence Fishing beneficial use designation to one or more of these lakes; the goal of taking this regulatory action would be to direct more focus and resources toward protecting the health of individuals who rely on catching fish from these lakes to supplement their diet.

Study findings will also be used to estimate fish consumption rates, which will then be compared to existing fish consumption advisory guidelines developed by California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).