Proposal to Conduct and Environmental DNA (eDNA) Pilot Study for the Phase IIa Freshwater Mussel Collaborative Study for Wastewater Treatment Plants

Dear Ms. Webster:

Robertson-Bryan, Inc. (RBI) is pleased to present this proposal to provide services to conduct an environmental DNA (eDNA) pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of using eDNA to make defensible presence/absence determinations regarding freshwater mussels in POTW’s receiving waters. This work would be conducted as “Phase IIa” of the Freshwater Mussel Collaborative Study for Wastewater Treatment Plants. As you know, Phase I examined the current state of knowledge regarding freshwater mussels in water bodies of the Central Valley, identified the field methods for determining if mussels are present or absent in a water body, and provided guidance on the regulatory options for compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) 2013 ammonia criteria.