Causal assessment study launched in San Luis Rey River watershed

SCCWRP and its partners have launched a causal assessment study in the San Luis Rey River watershed in San Diego County to help managers evaluate the likely vs. unlikely causes of the degraded biological health of the watershed.

The study, kicked off in December in partnership with the City of Oceanside and the County of San Diego, will utilize the new Rapid Screening Causal Assessment (RSCA) tool that was co-developed by SCCWRP to rapidly identify likely stressors affecting the health of the watershed’s biological communities. This screening-level assessment will be followed by a detailed causal assessment to provide additional insights and improve management confidence in the stressors responsible for biological degradation.

San Luis Rey River watershed managers intend to use the study’s findings to inform directions for the watershed’s Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP).

For SCCWRP, the study will mark the first time the RSCA will be used to evaluate if altered stream flows could be a likely cause of impaired stream health. Other stressors that the RSCA already evaluates include altered habitat, elevated conductivity, elevated temperature and eutrophication.