Project Summary:

For more than eight years, Great Ecology and Project Manager Nick Buhbe have conducted biological and hydrological investigations of Lake San Marcos, a 303(d)-listed nutrient-impaired water body in Southern California, in fulfillment of Investigative Order. No. R9-2011-0033 (Order).

Great Ecology staff have worked closely with the lake owner, Regional Water Quality Control Board (RB), public agency defendants, and the lake homeowner community to characterize the site through field sampling and laboratory analyses. We used this data to develop a lake management strategy to address both water and nutrient-associated issues. Additionally, Great Ecology developed the Investigation Work Plan, Sampling and Analysis Plan (SAP), Quality Assurance Program Plan (QAPP), and Health and Safety Plan (HASP) associated with the Order and subsequently approved by the RB in 2012.

More recently, Great Ecology developed extensive watershed modeling to support outside experts and identified potential habitat restoration sites within the watershed. Several Great Ecology staff have also served as expert witnesses in ongoing litigation.