Riverkeeper's Hudson Water Quality Report - June 2012

 

View as webpage  SHARE!     Hudson River Water Quality Report: June 11 through June 16, 2012 Our July water quality data has been posted to www.riverkeeper.org. Here is a summary of our June Patrol. Highlights Of 74 sampling locations:   3 (4%) were "unacceptable" 11 (15%) were "possible risk" 60 (81%) were "acceptable" Continued moderately dry weather resulted in findings very similar to May. So far this year is turning out to be quite unlike prior years – from 2006 through 2011 the average number of "unacceptable" samples was 24% (18 of 74 sites). In June we found even fewer "unacceptable" sites than in May (3 vs. 9). We're getting a glimpse at the water quality we COULD have if wet weather overflows were eliminated. The only whopper of the whole patrol was the Mohawk River sample (see day # 5) NY Harbor (day 1-6/11): There has been no rain in this area for days. All sites, except two, were "acceptable" – including Newtown Creek and Gowanus sites. In NYC and other Cities, rain events overload sewers and trigger Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), when there is no rain the city's sewage infrastructure works well. And if there is no rain for a number of days the microbes released during the last wet weather die and we achieve good water quality. We'll have to keep after NYC to reduce and eliminate CSOs - that's where the problem, and the challenge, lies.  Kids on the little beach in Brooklyn between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges – wherever there is a beach children always get in the water English Kills, Newtown Creek. Even though fecal contamination was very low on 6/11 it wouldn't be a good idea to swim there Yonkers to Peekskill (day 2 – 6/12): Steady rain started mid-day and continued overnight. Still, we saw no "unacceptable" counts at any sites although several were elevated to level of "possible risk." There is a lag between the start of rain and increased contamination in the River. The lag interval varies by location. Bear Mountain to Port Ewen (day 3 – 6/14): We skipped a day before continuing north. No "unacceptable" samples again today. Dry weather.   Kingston to Catskill (day 4 – 6/15): No rain overnight or today, fine weather. Nice water quality. All tributaries were low turbidity, low flow and low fecal contamination. The Kingston sewer plant outfall was "unacceptable' but only by a hair.  Family swimming from boat Rondout Creek and Kingston Point Beach Another family on west side of Stockport Middle Ground, north of Hudson Hudson to Waterford (day 5 – 6/16): There was no rain again last night or today. We found really nice water quality, even in the Capitol District, which is often a mess. The only whopper of the whole patrol was the Mohawk River sample - 1023 Entero per 100ml (the federal guideline for swimming in fresh water is 61). There was low flow from the Mohawk, moderate flow from Hudson headwaters. The holding tank pump out system for visiting yachts was broken at the Waterford Visitor's Center. Fifteen or so yachts with 2 to 5 people living aboard each one. I'm not saying that was the cause BUT…300 yards away, around the corner on the Hudson side, the Entero count was 10 per 100ml. That's a big difference. Maybe, just maybe, this should say "Please do not feed people or cruisers" June 2012 Sampling Data For River Mile 0 to River Mile 44, the following standards apply: For River Mile 45 north, the following standards apply: To learn more about Riverkeeper's Water Quality Program, and to view historic sampling data, please visit www.riverkeeper.org/water-quality/hudson. View other monthly water quality reports, June 2010 to present View sampling data sorted historically by individual sampling location. © Riverkeeper 2012
Riverkeeper is a member-supported watchdog organization dedicated to defending the Hudson River and its tributaries and protecting the drinking water supply of nine million New York City and Hudson Valley residents. Contribute to this vital work, become a member today. Forward this message  -  Log in to update your profile -  Unsubscribe If you have received this e-mail from a friend, sign up now and receive Riverkeeper news in your in box!

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Supreme Court to Consider EQUAL FOOTING DOCTRINE, NAVIGABILITY, PROPERTY, FEDERALISM - PPL Montana, LLC v. Montana (10-218)

I received this from a friend, fellow paddler, HRWA member, and lawyer(!). 
I find it fascinating and thought others might as well.
Should be interesting to follow through the Supreme Court.
NB

<<This may bore you to tears but, I suspect, it may impact discussions for some of you on those creeks and bayous that you call home for the clubs. It will be argued before the US Supreme Court on December 7. So, keep an ear open for any commentary about it. Feel free to forward or to circulate.

Best wishes, Richard Clifford

PPL Montana, LLC v. Montana (10-218)

Oral argument: Dec. 7, 2011

Appealed from: Montana Supreme Court (Mar. 30, 2010)

EQUAL FOOTING DOCTRINE, NAVIGABILITY, PROPERTY, FEDERALISM

After a lawsuit against hydroelectric company PPL Montana was dismissed in federal court, PPL Montana sought a declaratory judgment in state court to determine the ownership of riverbeds along three Montana rivers. The State of Montana asserted that it owned the riverbeds under the equal footing doctrine, and sought compensation for PPL Montana's use of the land. The Montana Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's grant of summary judgment to Montana, holding that the State of Montana owned the riverbeds and that PPL Montana owed the State of Montana $40,956,180. The issue of title largely turns upon whether the river is "navigable." PPL Montana argues that navigability for title purposes should be determined by looking at individual segments of rivers and the actual commercial use of rivers at the time statehood was obtained. Montana contends that the proper navigability test is the susceptibility of travel through longer river stretches, which can be informed by current uses. The Supreme Court's decision may affect rivers' public benefits and the reliance interests of riverbed owners.

continues...

--   Richard C. Clifford, Esq. Attorney at Law 

Nov 30: Riverkeeper presentation: Hows's the Water?

How’s the Water – and How Can We Improve It? A Joint Presentation by Riverkeeper and Clearwater, sponsored by the Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club and the Hudson River Watertrail Association

Photo courtesy Greg Porteus

When:

November 30, 2011: 6:30PM to 8:00PM

Where:

Beczak Environmental Education Center, 35 Alexander St. – two blocks north of the train station in Yonkers, NY map

The public is invited to join representatives from Riverkeeper’s Patrol Boat Program and the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater’s Green Cities program for presentations about water quality in the Hudson River and its tributaries, and what we can do to improve it.
The Hudson River has long defined the character and quality of life in our communities. In recent decades the Hudson has enjoyed a revival with increasing numbers of people wanting to live near it and recreate in it. However, our management of the river has not kept pace with its new role as a popular recreational destination.
For six years, Riverkeeper’s Patrol Boat and its scientific partners have been testing the water for sewage contamination and reporting the findings to the public. Riverkeeper will present data from its Water Quality Testing Program, and discuss opportunities to improve public notification of sewage discharges and Hudson River water quality for safer swimming, boating and fishing.
Because the cities of the Hudson River Valley drive regional economic development and have high concentration of diverse people and environmental concerns, Clearwater has developed the Green Cities Initiative. Clearwater will present its Green Cities programs, which include working with underserved communities in waterfront cities to include principles of sustainability – such as watershed protection, green infrastructure practices, environmental justice, and climate justice – into all phases of municipal and community planning.
Questions and discussion will follow the presentations.
This event is sponsored by the Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club and the Hudson River Watertrail Association, and made possible by a grant from the Westchester Community Foundation. Attendees will be asked for a suggested donation of $5 to benefit Beczak Environmental Education Center.

DEP and DEC reach draft agreement on Green Infrastructure for CSO control

From DEP's press release:

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection reached a draft agreement to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSO) into area water bodies, the agencies announced today. The agreement modifies New York City's approach to improving harbor water quality, under which the city will invest an estimated $187 million in green infrastructure projects by 2015, part of a planned $2.4 billion public and private investment over the next 20 years. The city will also complete work on approximately $1.6 billion in gray infrastructure projects. A public comment period on the proposal begins today and runs through November 18.

Go to October 19, 2011 ENB Notice for a summary of major changes to the CSO Consent Order, or fidn the entire document at 2011 CSO Order Modification.

Public Comment Period: The comment period commences on October 19, 2011 and concludes on November 18, 2011. Comments will be accepted by Gary Kline, NYS DEC – Division of Water, 625 Broadway, 4th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-3506 , Phone: (518) 402-9655, Fax: (518) 402-9029, E-mail: gekline@gw.dec.state.ny.us.

 —–>Public Meeting: A public meeting will be held at the NYS DEC – Region 2, Annex Building, 11-15 47th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101, on November 9, 2011 starting at 6:00 p.m.<—–

CITIZENS' WATER QUALITY TESTING PILOT starts this week

NYCWTA (nycwatertrail.org) is pleased to announce that we are ready to start a pilot program of Citizens' Water Quality Testing.

In partnership with The River Project (riverproject.org), we have purchased EPA-approved enterococcus testing kits from IDEXX Laboratories, the same system used by RiverKeeper and other community groups.  Enterococcus is a good indicator of the presence of human sewage, especially in brackish waters like those of the Hudson River estuary.
 
For the next six weeks, volunteers from NYCWTA member groups will be collecting water samples every Thursday at a half dozen locations on the west side of Manhattan, right at their launch sites, and delivering them to The River Project on pier 40, where the staff will conduct the testing. We will chart the results in order to establish a set of baseline data that can be compared with DEP and RiverKeeper data, and correlated with local rainfall totals.  If everything runs smoothly this fall, our hope is to secure funding for a season-long program next year that will gather near-shore water quality information at as many NYCWTA launch sites as is practical.

FAQs:
about the program:
• who is paying for the pilot program?  the pilot program is being funded by NYCWTA and The River Project.  If you'd like to help, any amount you wish to contribute would be appreciated.  You can make a donation through google at the NYCWTA website's Support page.
• which bacteria are you testing for, and why?  Enterococcus - Enterococci are commonly found in the feces of human and warm-blooded animals, and their presence in water--particularly brackish water as in the Hudson River estuary--is considered a reliable indicator of fecal pollution.
• where are samples being collected?  samples are being collected at  launch sites on the Hudson River and include:  pier 25, pier 40, pier 66, pier 96, west 72nd street,  west 133rd street, Inwood Canoe Club near Dyckman Street, and at the Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club. 
• how long will it take for results from a given sample?  24 hours is the standard time a sample is allowed to cure in  an incubator to be counted.
• how do i get involved?  if you'd like to help collect and transport samples form one of our sites, or would like your launch to be added to our list, please contact us back-channel at info at nycwatertrail.org  We can't promise that we will be able to add sites to this fall's pilot program but we hope to expand our network in the spring.

for participants:
• when can i drop off my samples?  Thursday between 10am and 12pm at The Rover Project offices, room 224 on the second floor of pier 40 at the end of West Houston Street.  Please ask for Chris or Nina.
• how much water do you need, by volume, per sample?  At least one cup (8 fluid ounces / half a pint / 240 mL), taken one foot below the surface right at your launch site.
• is there a special vessel i need to use to collect the sample?  No, any clean jar with a lid will do. 
• is there a temperature above or below which the samples needs to be kept?  Samples should be kept kept as close to river temperature as possible and delivered no more than two hours after being taken from river.
• what information must i provide with my sample when i drop it off?  collection site, date and time of collection, your name and phone (in case there are questions). 

Thanks and we look forward to sharing the data with the community as it becomes available.

State Senate Hearing 10-14-2011, NYCWTA's Rob Buchanan's testimony

Good morning and thank you for convening this meeting.

My name is Rob Buchanan, and I am here on behalf of the Steering Committee of the New York City Water Trail Association, an umbrella group that aims to represent the common interests of the human-powered boating community and the more than 20 community boating organizations that now populate the harbor.

I am also a board member of two of those organizations--the Village Community Boathouse, a community rowing group based on Pier 40 in lower Manhattan, and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse, which offers free public kayaking and rowing on the Brooklyn waterfront.

The Water Trail Association's mission is to promote the safe use of the Water Trail that was established by the NYC Parks Department in 2007; to foster maritime education in, and environmental stewardship of, the harbor and the estuary; and to advance awareness of the public ownership of our urban waterways. One thing that sometimes gets overlooked in discussions about the harbor is that it is a public space, and, by far, our biggest Commons.

NYCWTA on NPR

Last week NYCWTA testified at the NY State Senate Hearing concerning the Right to Know law being proposed by Senators Adriano Espaillat and Mark Grisandi which would require public notification of accidental and planned releases of sewage into public waterways and Rob and I were interviewed by NPR news.
The newsblog is below or here:
http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/wnyc-news-blog/2011/oct/14/calls-better-information-after-hudson-river-spills/
In the next few days we will post our testimony here along with that from RiverKeeper's Tracy Brown and John Liscombe, and our colleagues at Queens College and SWIM coalition.