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Tilted Tsuga canadensis (Eastern Hemlock) were cored on the Bowman Creek slump (N 42.80306, W -74.25895) and the tree-ring analysis allows reconstruction of periods of slope instability. During ground movement, trees tilted due to the stress of movement, and conifers respond by growing eccentrically with larger rings with reaction wood on the downslope side of the tree, and smaller rings on the upslope side. The difference on ring width can be ascribed to tree tilting. The slump is complex and it has three “steps” that likely correspond to where slip surfaces intersect the surface, and the lowest part slipped about 0.5 to 1.0 m in July 2008. The following chronology of tree tilting and ring asymmetry that is likely related to ground movement is recognized: 1) Recent movement is well recorded across the slump and some trees are currently the most eccentric rings that have grown in the last 175 yr. Tree A6 grew thick rings of reaction wood three years prior to failure in 2008, which suggests ground deformation preceded slip. All trees on the upper part of the slump (C) have wildly eccentric rings (2005-P), which suggest slip is imminent if the same pattern follows (to A6), and this overall recent activity is likely related to the fact that the area is experiencing enhanced precipitation. 2) All tilted trees across the slump show eccentric growth in annual rings beginning in 1970, with a recovery phase from this event lasting until 1990. Very high regional precipitation in the 1970’s is likely related to this period of landsliding and slope instability. The data from this interval suggest that after the movement of the slump was initiated at the bottom (A), the motion of flow slowly propagated upslope until the upper portions of the slump, (B) and then (C) had motion that followed successively over a period of 6-10 yr. 3) 1942-1946 appears to be a single, short-lived event that is also recognized in the Plotterkill Preserve. 4) 1873-1880 may have been when a slip occurred that caused a canopy gap recorded in rapid release from suppression growth from c. 1880 to 1910. 5) 1828-1833 may have been a time of instability on the slope as indicated by only a single tree (B4), which shows eccentric growth and reaction wood. This research is crucial for regional and local planners, because the main result suggest that we have entered a period of enhanced slope instability. It is important, to map and understand urban settings that might be affected by potential slope failures during this period of enhanced precipitation.
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Abstract
The 14th Mohawk Watershed Symposium offers an exciting and diverse set of presentations on water quality, fisheries and habitats, flooding and resilience, and recreation and stewardship. The 2021-2026 Mohawk River Basin Action Agenda, our critical guiding document, focuses on conserving, preserving, and restoring the Mohawk River Watershed while helping to manage the ecosystem services for a sustainable future. Much of the defining discussion by stakeholders occurs at the annual Mohawk Watershed Symposium, and given this watershed blueprint and ongoing environmental change, we see that the challenge ahead is enormous. We are experiencing a firehose of environmental change. This last year (2023) was globally the warmest year on record. Winter in the Mohawk Watershed and in the Northeast US was also the warmest on record. The Great Lakes - a source of moisture to the Mohawk Watershed - have the lowest levels of ice cover ever recorded, which affects lake-effect precipitation. The North Atlantic - another source of moisture for the Watershed - is warming remarkably quickly. The Northeast has experienced the largest increase in extreme precipitation in the nation. There are important warning signs that we may be at a key inflection point. Changes have already occurred in the Watershed, and there is widespread recognition by the public that a response is needed. We as stakeholders need to understand quickly how these changes manifest themselves in the Watershed, and we also need to develop and implement strategies to build resilience and adaptation. The firehose of change affects water quality and drinking water, fisheries, flooding, and infrastructure. If we layer on problems with our aging pipes, bridges, and dams, it is not hard to see that the problems are acute. If we proceed at a business-as-usual pace, we will fail. A critical question is how we respond to these changes and how fast we can respond. Key players in all of this are the stakeholders in the basin who can direct and shape the response. Flooding remains a central concern of many stakeholders. Flood dynamics are changing in a significant way due to warmer winters and an increase in extreme weather events. The release of the Upstate NY Flood Mitigation task force report in July 2023 was welcome because it illuminated the flood hazard and mitigation options here in the Mohawk Watershed and in the adjacent Oswego Watershed. One thing this report did was highlight the vulnerability of our infrastructure to damaging floods. The report stressed the need for a numerical watershed model for the Mohawk, which will be critically important for understanding flood events and how the channels and floodplains are modified by extreme weather events. The task force report also highlighted the need to address sedimentation in the main stem that is driven by erosion in tributaries; this will be a major challenge. Water quality remains a central issue in the Watershed. and a large number of stakeholders are focused on improving water quality. For a healthy and vibrant ecosystem and the ecosystem services that the River provides, we need clean water, including drinking water. Fortunately, the quality of drinking water in the Watershed is receiving more and more scrutiny due to legislation associated with the EPA Lead and Copper Rule, lead-testing in schools, and PFAS testing. Road salt is causing considerable damage to our aquatic ecosystems and drinking water supplies. In September 2023 the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force released its long-awaited report on assessment and recommendations for salt reduction in the Adirondacks. There is hope that this report will pave the way for a statewide approach to reducing salt, because, as the report shows, the most severe problems are outside the Blue Line, and this is especially true in urban areas in the Mohawk Watershed. A critical piece of the task force report is a much-needed discussion of the regulatory standard for chloride in surface waters. Our understanding of aquatic organisms and pollution has advanced in remarkable ways in part due to the ability to identify genetic material in water. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is being used to track invasive species that are accessing the Mohawk Watershed through the Erie Canal, and to understand how dams are keeping some native migratory fish from accessing the Watershed. Water-quality monitoring benefits from dramatic reduction in cost, and in addition the source of bacteria in polluted waters can be pinpointed using host-specific genetic markers in water samples (qPCR) using Microbial Source tracking (MST). Molecular methods are also being coupled with nutrient sampling to explore microbial populations in the Mohawk and the potential for formation of toxic algal blooms. Therefore we are at a point where we are addressing old problems with new analytical tools, and addressing new problems with those same tools. A major concern are threats to ecosystem integrity in the Mohawk Watershed from aquatic invasive species (AIS). As we have seen in the past few years, the invasive pressure is primarily west to east, and mainly along the Erie Canal Corridor. We have watched the stunning success of the Round Goby, which entered the Mohawk and worked its way into the Hudson River. With such a high density of invasive species in the Great Lakes due to dumping of ballast water, there is pressure to stem the flow of AIS that are entering the Hudson-Mohawk from the west. This is complicated and difficult, and involves multiple levels of stakeholder engagement. Hopefully we are entering a new era of increased communication and stakeholder engagement in the Mohawk Watershed. Stewardship and education at the community level are a critical piece of effective watershed management. Youth education programs centered on water quality and ecosystem health ensure that all our waterways pass into the hands of the next generation with active, engaged, and knowledgeable stewards in place.
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DigitalDocument
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Copyright Information: © 2024 Geosciences Department, Union College, Schenectady NY. All rights reserved. No part of the document can be copied and/or redistributed, electronically or otherwise, without written permission from the Geosciences Department, Union College, Schenectady, NY, 12308, U.S.A.Digital Publisher
Geology Department, Union College
Abstract
This abstract volume contains the program and extended abstracts for 39 presentations at the Annual Mohawk Watershed Symposium. The focus this year is on water quality.This is the 9th annual Mohawk Watershed Symposium and over the years the meeting has taken on an important role in unifying and galvanizing stakeholders in the Basin. Building and sustaining a coalition of concerned and invested stakeholders allow us to be informed about important issues that affect water quality, recreation opportunities, and other developments in the basin. This was a big year in the Watershed with a number of exciting and interesting developments. The NYS Canal System was designated a National Historic Landmark and this designation places the currently operating canal system among the premier historic sites in the United States. In addition, this year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Canal, it is important to think about how the canal has affected NY State and the watershed. Earlier in 2016, the Erie Canal, which is a big part of the State Canal Corp, was taken over by the NY Power Authority (NYPA). Since 1992 it was under the Thruway Authority, and this new transfer is certainly an interesting development as the Canal struggles with costs, some of which are a hangover from Irene in 2011. This last summer was a pretty dry, and drought and near drought conditions affected much of the basin. In the early part of summer 2016, the Canal Corporation directed the NYPA to reduce releases from Hinckley Reservoir according to the 2012 Operating Diagram. The newly completed Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook Bridge in Amsterdam was funded through the 2005 Rebuild and Renew New York Transportation Bond, and this development is part of an effort to look to the River for economic and cultural transformation in river-lining cities on the Mohawk. Water contamination, brownfields, and water quality are intricately intertwined. PCBs, PFOS and PFOA, Pb, microplastics, and other toxins in our environment and our drinking water dominated this past year's headlines. Locally we are making progress: Schenectady had one of the more contaminated brownfields in the basin, and the important remediation effort allowed this river-lining property to be developed into the new Rivers Casino, which opened in February of 2017. This is an important lesson in cleaning brownfields, and development of urban areas in communities that are along the River. Our infrastructure needs attention because its failure is affecting water quality. One of the sad stories of the past year is the sewage leak in Amsterdam where millions of gallons of raw sewage has dumped into the Mohawk. Discovered in July 2016, the spill continues (March 2017), and this has become symbolic of the struggle to fix our aging infrastructure and its impact on water quality in the Basin. Amsterdam will receive millions from the state Water Infrastructure Improvement Act and loans from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Some positive news from the upper part of the watershed as money and work has gone into improving the sewage system in Utica / Oneida county. Once done, the project will reduce the amount of sewage that flows into the Mohawk River by reducing the reliance on Combined Sanitary and Sewer outfalls. There is hope that our aging infrastructure, and thus water quality, is being addressed at the State and Federal level. The Water Infrastructure Improvements act passed the U.S. House of Representatives and was subsequently signed by President Obama. The bill included Representative Tonko's AQUA Act and legislation updating the Safe Drinking Water Act. There has been considerable activity in the State, one highlight was the recent introduction of the Safe Water Infrastructure Action Program (SWAP) bill (S.3292/A.3907) introduced by Senator Tedisco and Assemblyman Steck in February 2017, which is designed to fund and maintain our local infrastructure including water, sewer, and storm water. We are making progress in the Mohawk Watershed, and the Symposium will highlight much of the new and exciting work that has happened over the last year. We are seeing money flow in the basin to address watershed science and education, and some of that money has gone directly to water quality studies. The NY Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) awarded more than $155,000 in Mohawk River Basin Program grants for four projects in the Mohawk River Basin Watershed. Results from these four projects will be presented this year as part of the invited presentations at the 2017 Symposium. We are indebted to our sponsors NYSDEC for their continued support, which helps to make each Symposium a success. We appreciate support from Cornell and from the Union College Geology Department. This year we have 39 presentations to shape the discussion and dialog. Some of these presentations are a direct result of funding from the new grants program at the NYSDEC that is aimed at fostering the five items on the Mohawk Basin Action agenda. We continue to see new ideas, many of them presented by students from a number of different educational institutions, this growth in student participation is both exciting, and a welcome sign of continued progress. By the end of the day, the Mohawk Watershed Symposium series will have been the forum for 281 talks, posters, and special presentations since inception in 2009.
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DigitalDocument
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Abstract
The 12th Mohawk Watershed Symposium was cancelled due to Covid-19. This abstract volume, which was essentially complete at the time of cancellation, is the record of the meeting that did not happen. Over the years this Symposium has taken on an important role in unifying and galvanizing stakeholders in the watershed. A coalition of invested stakeholders allows us as a group to tackle important issues that affect water quality, recreation opportunities, flood mitigation, and other basin-wide issues. By all measures, 2019 was a big year in the watershed. The historic 2019 Halloween Storm caused significant damage in the upper part of the watershed, especially in the West Canada Creek, East Canada Creek, and a number of smaller tributaries. Aid from FEMA for individual assistance was denied and this has caused considerable distress for those with damaged homes. A major effort this year was the work of the Reimagine the Canal task force. This task force took on a number of issues related to the entire Erie Canal, which was divided into Western, Central, and Mohawk sections. Issues included water for irrigation, invasive species, flooding, and ice jamming. The Mohawk was perhaps the most complicated because the Canal and the main stem of the Mohawk need to co-exist despite change in the watershed. The task force effort included the Mohawk Flood Assessment aimed at evaluating benefits from a number of flood mitigation strategies along the length of the River. It also acted on a separate report on ice jamming in the Schenectady Pool in front of the Vischer Ferry Dam, at Lock E7. The Vischer Ferry Dam (VFD) on the lower Mohawk has been under the spotlight for years - in part for its suspected role in causing ice jams that then can flood the Stockade of Schenectady. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license is coming up, so NYPA, the dam owner, started the renewal process last year for both the VFD and the Crescent Dam, just downstream. The FERC review process can force significant environmental review of the ways in which dams integrate into the local ecosystem and relate to river hydrology. Meanwhile, the City of Schenectady continues formulating its ambitious plan to use FEMA funds to mitigate flooding in Stockade. The plan moving forward may involve elevating or perhaps moving homes in a managed retreat. This plan is intertwined with mitigation efforts for ice jamming at the VFD because jamming causes back-up flooding that can affect the Stockade. Water quality remains a central issue in the watershed and a growing number of stakeholders are involved in this effort. For a healthy and vibrant ecosystem we need clean water. The health of our waters can only be assessed from hundreds of measurements taken across the watershed by students, educators, and dedicated professionals from SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Polytechnic in Utica, Union College, Cornell, Schoharie River Center, Riverkeeper, DEC, USGS, and others who have been addressing water quality through research. These critical measurements include quantifying the distribution, source, and fate of environmental contaminants including fecal bacterial, microplastics, nitrogen, phosphorus, and others. Stewardship and education are a critical piece of effective watershed management. Stakeholder meetings such as the Mohawk Watershed Symposium, and local water advocates (including West Canada Creek Alliance, Riverkeeper, and Dam Concerned Citizens) play a key role in identifying problems, educating the public, and effecting change where it is most needed. Youth education programs centered on water quality and ecosystem health, such as the Environmental Study Teams at both the Schoharie River Center and Fort Plain High School, insure that all our waterways pass into the hands of the next generation of active, engaged, and knowledgeable stewards. The meeting this year would have featured approximately 30 presentations covering a wide range of topics. We were delighted to see so many familiar names and we welcome those new to the Mohawk Watershed Symposium. We will be back as soon as possible. Abstracts include: Reimagining the Erie Canal / Mohawk River as flood risk mitigation resource K. Avery, B. Juza . S. 6893 Flood Buyout Bill M. Buttenschon, J. Griffo Detection, quantification and identification of enteric bacteria in the upper Hudson River - a pilot study J. Cohen, N. Geier, K. Songao, O. Spencer, A. LoBue, W. Quidort Algal community dynamics in the lower Mohawk River A. Conine, M. Schnore Relating microbial diversity to nitrogen cycling in the Mohawk River and diverse freshwater ecosystems J. Damashek, A. Dautovic, C. Garrett Stockade resilience: adaptive preservation on the Mohawk River, Schenectady, New York K. Diotte Increasing fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) counts in the Mohawk River and elsewhere in the Hudson watershed since 2015 J. Epstein, B. Brabetz, A. Juhl, C. Knudsen, N. Law, J. Lipscomb, G. O'Mullan, S. Pillitteri, C. Rodak, D. Shapley Notes from a Watershed - The Mohawk River J. Garver The Halloween flood of 2019 in the Mohawk River watershed C. Gazoorian Streamflow capture along the Mohawk River: determining transit time to municipal well-field J. Gehring, M. Stahl, D. Gillikin, A. Verheyden-Gillikin Eastward expansion of invasive Round Goby towards the Hudson River S. George, B. Baldigo, C. Rees, M. Bartron Pervious concrete offers a prospective solution to contaminated runoff threatening water quality A. Ghaly The swinging environmental pendulum: how policies and attitudes shift with changes in US administration A. Ghaly eDNA methods help reveal barriers to American Eel (Anguilla rostrate) migration into the Mohawk River, New York H. Green, M. Wilder, H. Miraly, C. Nack, K. Limburg Naturalizing the Mohawk River: navigating the political challenges of change S. Gruskin Plastic Pollution: Nurdles and the Coleco Connection" Utilizing digital storytelling by youth to educate the public about emergent environmental concerns in their community K. Hensley F. Staley C. Cherizard A. Francisco L. English D. Carlson P. Munson J. McKeeby S. Hadam E. McHale Numerical modeling of breakup ice dynamics in the lower Mohawk River F. Huang H. Shen J. Garver A five-year series of snap-shots: Data and observations of Enterococci and Escherichia coli levels from a Mohawk River water quality project as it enters Year Six of a longitudinal study N. Law B. Brabetz K. Boulet A. Giacinto C. Rodak J. Epstein J. Lipscomb D. Shapley A flood insurance analysis of Schenectady's Stockade district W. Nechamen Potential opportunities for tributary reconnections within the Erie Canal and Mohawk River A. Peck K. France R. Shirer Exploring baseline water quality conditions in the Mohawk River: Observations of fecal indicator bacteria during the Fall of 2018 and Summer of 2019 C. Rodak E. Haddad Mohawk River watershed modeling in SWAT M. Schnore A. Conine Microplastic pollution in Mohawk River tributaries: likely sources and potential implications for the Mohawk Watershed J. Smith E. Caruso N. Wright Is there a Corps of Engineer/State Flood Control role in the Mohawk Basin? R. Wege Climate related discoveries 62 years of daily CO2 measurements and the Keeling Curve F. Wicks Enterococci levels in the Hans Groot Kill and Mohawk River Schenectady NY E. Willard-Bauer J. Smith J. Garver D. Goldman B. Newcomer Incorporating ice jam flooding into regulatory base flood elevations at the historic Schenectady Stockade J. Woidt J. Rocks"
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DigitalDocument
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Abstract
The 13th Mohawk Watershed Symposium has been delayed by two years due to the pandemic, but we are excited to finally get back together and concentrate on the issues that affect the Mohawk River Watershed. Over the years the Symposium has taken on an important role in unifying and galvanizing stakeholders. Since the last meeting in 2019, the Mohawk River Basin Program has updated and released the 2021-2026 Mohawk River Basin Action Agenda, which is a critical guiding document for the Mohawk River Watershed. The program mission is conserving, preserving, and restoring the environmental quality of the Mohawk River while helping to manage the Watershed’s resources for a sustainable future. Mitigation of ice jamming on the lower Mohawk River behind the Vischer Ferry dam was targeted by the Reimagine the Canals task force. Since 2020, the Canal Corporation and New York Power Authority (NYPA) have initiated ice-breaking procedures to lessen the impact of ice-jamming with an overall goal of reducing the flood hazard in the Historic Stockade of Schenectady. There, and elsewhere in the basin, communities are implementing flood mitigation projects that include riparian restoration, channel restoration, and building resilience into a system where the hydrology appears to be changing rapidly. Water quality remains a central issue and a large number of stakeholders are involved in this effort. For a healthy and vibrant ecosystem, along with the ecosystem services that the River provides, we need clean water. The health of our waters can be assessed from hundreds of measurements taken across the Watershed by dedicated stakeholders. New and important state and federal programs will provide local municipalities with the funding to address infrastructure problems that affect water quality. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) is in the process of developing a watershed-wide Total Daily Maximum Load (TMDL) for phosphorus pollution, which is a major step in addressing water quality in the Watershed. Invasive species are having an impact on biodiversity, recreation, and water quality. The uncontrolled spread of Water Chestnut (Trapa natans), that spread from its original introduction in Collins Pond in Scotia, has affected boating and marina access in the lower Mohawk River. The Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus), which was a stowaway in ballast water in Great Lakes freighters, successfully navigated the Erie Canal and entered the Mohawk several years ago, and made it to the Hudson in 2021. It now threatens Lake Champlain. This small benthic predator has the potential to alter our fishery because it preys on the eggs of other fish and carries disease. We need proactive solutions to invasive species control, especially for those unassisted invaders using the Erie Canal from the Great Lakes. As we are reminded by the NYS DEC: “Prevention is the most effective method for dealing with invasive species. If they are never introduced, they never become established.” Stewardship and education are a critical piece of effective watershed management. Stakeholder meetings like the Mohawk Watershed Symposium and local water advocates play a key role in identifying problems, educating the public, and effecting change where it is most needed. Youth education programs centered on water quality and ecosystem health ensure that all our waterways pass into the hands of a next generation of active, engaged, and knowledgeable stewards.
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DigitalDocument
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In CopyrightAdditional Rights / Restrictions
Copyright Information: © 2023 Geosciences Department, Union College, Schenectady NY. All rights reserved. No part of the document can be copied and/or redistributed, electronically or otherwise, without written permission from the Geosciences Department, Union College, Schenectady, NY, 12308, U.S.A.Digital Publisher
Geology Department, Union College
Abstract
Preface to Volume: We are making progress. The Mohawk River Basin Program Action Agenda has emerged from the DEC and primary stakeholders, and in that initial blueprint for action has emerged a mission that is at the heart of much of what we are all concerned with: The mission of the Mohawk River Basin Program is to act as coordinator of basin-wide activities related to conserving, preserving, and restoring the environmental quality of the Mohawk River and its watershed, while managing the resource for a sustainable future. Vital to the success of the program is the involvement of stakeholders and partnerships with established programs and organizations throughout the basin. An important emerging consensus is that integrated watershed management is the key to our future success. Ecosystem Based Management is a clear and explicit guiding principal that now appears to be integrated and fully woven into the fabric of our future direction. With the NYS Department of State's decision to support the Mohawk River Watershed Coalition of Conservation Districts' proposal to implement a Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan for the Mohawk Basin. We can now look to the Mohawk Watershed Coalition of Conservation Districts, recently funded by NYS Department of State, to implement the different facets of the Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan for the Mohawk Basin. This is the second annual symposium on the Mohawk Watershed and we are proud to present a full and interesting program with excellent papers and ideas that cover a wide range of topics in the Watershed. We hope that the continued spirit of information exchange and interaction will foster a new and better understanding of the intersection between Science, Engineering, and Policy in the watershed. Talks: - Introductory remarks to the second annual Mohawk Watershed Symposium - John I. Garver, Geology Department, Union College - Mohawk River: Erie Canal; Its one in the same (Invited) - Howard Goebel, Canal Hydrologist, New York State Canal Corporation - EST: Linking watershed protection with youth development through community based volunteer stream monitoring programs in the Mohawk Watershed. - John McKeeby, Executive Director, Schoharie River Center - Comparative analysis of volunteer and professionally collected monitoring data - Kelly Nolan, Director of Environmental Services, Watershed Assessment Associates - Ice jam history, ice jam mitigation training and ice jam mitigation efforts in the Mohawk River Basin - John Quinlan, Lead Forecaster, National Weather Service, Albany, NY - Learning through experiments and measurements: the Mohawk Watershed as an outdoor classroom - Jaclyn Cockburn, Geology Department, Union College - A new look at the formation of Cohoes Falls (Invited)- Gary Wall, Hydrologist, United States Geological Survey - Weather and climate of the Mohawk River Watershed - Steve DiRienzo, Senior Service Hydrologist, NOAA - National Weather Service - Landslides in Schenectady County - John Garver, Geology Department, Unoion College - Use of high-resolution LiDAR images to identify slopes with questionable stability along the Mohawk River banks - Ashraf Ghaly, Department of Engineering, Union College - Historic flooding at selected USGS streamgages in the Mohawk River Basin. - Thomas Suro, Hydrologist and Engineer, United States Geological Survey - FEMA flood maps, flood risk and public perception (Invited) - William Nechamen, DEC NYS - Peak shaving: An approach to mitigating flooding in the Schoharie and Mohawk Valleys- Bob Price, Dam Concerned Citizens - US Army Corps of Engineers approach to watershed planning - Jason Shea, Civil Engineer/Watershed Planner, US Army Corps of Engineers - The Hudson and the Mohawk: working together - Frances Dunwell, Hudson River Estuary Coordinator, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
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DigitalDocument
Rights Statement
In Copyright
Abstract
Introduction to Abstract volume. The Geology Department at Union College is pleased to host the fourth Mohawk Watershed symposium. While the upper basin has been recovering from the 2006 floods, the lower basin sustained tremendous damage from the one-two punch of flooding from Hurricane Irene (28-29 August, 2011) and Tropical Storm Lee (10 September, 2011). Historic and epic flooding in the Schoharie Creek has changed the political, economic, and physical landscape in a deep and profound way. More than ever, we are reminded of the importance of bringing key stakeholders together to present studies, develop strategies, and exchange ideas in a formal but relaxed forum that has emerged from the Mohawk Watershed series at Union College. This year we have given incredible focus on the workings and impacts of the storms that hit the southern part of the watershed in late August and early September. In addition to the Schoharie County Soil and Water Conservation District perspective, we will also here from the National Weather Service to understand the meteorological and hydrological properties of these events. The New York State Canal Corporation will detail the enormous amount of damage and change that was seen within the main channel of the Mohawk River. Several presentations discuss the significance of these storms in a context of understanding extremes beyond the instrumental record. Incredible effort and work have gone into understanding these events in the basin and its sub-catchments and both invited and volunteered presentations will help describe the impacts and imprints these events had on the watershed. We are please to have NYS Assemblyman Peter Lopez from the NY 127th Assembly District as the Keynote speaker this year. Assemblyman Lopez represents Schoharie and other towns and villages in the upper part of the Schoharie watershed that were particularly hard hit by Irene flooding. He has been a strong a vocal advocate for transparency in the operation of dams in this part of the watershed, and he has worked of tax relief for flood victims who have sustained considerable person and property losses from the floods. He provides a unique perspective on the political landscape following these devastating floods. As many work to develop a watershed management plan, and as communities look for waterfront development ideas, we continue to ask questions about the hydrology of the basin and how that is changing over time. A key challenge, therefore is to develop and manage a watershed that appears to be a complex system that is changing and dynamic. Hydrological data suggest more water is entering the watershed and a variable and complex way. This is the fourth annual symposium on the Mohawk Watershed and we are delighted to host this full program of talks and posters that cover a wide range of topics. Here at Union College, we are proud to help serve as a catalyst for initiating and fostering those conversations that will hopefully drive positive change in the watershed. We are indebted to our sponsors this year who have helped defray the cost of running the symposium: Union College, Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners, U.S. Geological Survey, NYS DEC, Cornell, and NY State Water Resources Institute. We hope that the continued spirit of information exchange and interaction will foster a new and better understanding of the intersection between Science, Engineering, and Policy in the watershed.
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DigitalDocument
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In Copyright
Abstract
(PREFACE to Volume - List of Extended Abstracts) A healthy ecosystem runs on clean water. There is clearly a growing appreciation for the Mohawk River, and there is a tremendous growth in stakeholder involvement in the watershed in terms of flood mitigation, improving water quality, community revitalization, and recreation. This is an interesting and exciting time for the Mohawk, because it is finally getting the attention it deserves. To ensure engagement and interest in the Watershed, we need to focus part of our efforts on water quality because with clean water we have exciting opportunities in community revitalization and recreation. Rivers are important to society and there is a resurgence in interest in preserving rivers, maintaining clean and healthy ecosystems, and re-engaging our communities with them. Communities are looking to the river as a source of recreation, transportation, and inspiration. We live in an interconnected watershed and maintaining water quality is a shared basin-wide responsibility. These concepts were captured in the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Act of 2013 (H.R. 2973), which was introduced to Congress by Congressman Tonko in August 2013. Two key passages of that Bill that are especially relevant to a goal of clean water in a interconnected Hudson-Mohawk watershed: (i) There has been little integration of planning and program implementation to address the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin in a holistic manner.... and (ii) Development and implementation of projects to control flooding and improve water quality must be done with the full participation of local communities and citizens, address the needs they identify, and be conducted in a manner that respects private property and is consistent with the authorities of state and local jurisdictions. The Mohawk Watershed Symposium at Union College, now in its seventh year, has made a difference in unifying stakeholders in the basin. This symposium has been made a difference because it has brought together key stakeholders in the basin and leveled the playing field for advocacy and action in the basin. We are happy to welcome you back to Union College for our annual meeting. We are indebted to our sponsors NYS DEC and Union College for their continued support, which helps to make each Symposium a success. The changes we have been witness to at our annual symposium and within the watershed, which goes beyond the history of the Mohawk Watershed Symposium, are astounding. The accomplishments should be celebrated and the hard work continued. At this year's symposium we are pleased to feature over twenty poster presentations, and over a dozen invited and volunteered oral presentations. Our invited speakers represent interests within and from around the Mohawk Watershed and work to shape this year's program. Once again we are grateful to have Congressman Tonko give a plenary address and introduce our keynote speaker. Assistant Commissioner of Water Resources, James Tierney will lead off our afternoon sessions with a special address and summary of the important efforts made in the catchment and reaching beyond the Mohawk to the Hudson. The Keynote speaker this year is John Lipscomb, Riverkeeper Patrol Boat Captain, who brings an important message of protecting water quality and working together in the basin. In 2000 he began patrolling the Hudson for Riverkeeper with a central effort to monitor water quality. In 2014, he conducted Riverkeeper's first exploratory patrols on the Mohawk River to gage the interest of local Mohawk advocates and explore a potential partnership with Riverkeeper for the future. His efforts are symbolic of the theme of the conference this year: water quality as a priority for all and making connections in throughout Hudson-Mohawk watershed. Small Things in Small Streams in Small Towns Causing Big Problems H. Bachrach, A. Gubbins, M. Pfeffer, J. Stark, S. Turner, C. Gibson ......................................................... 1 An Investigation of Tree-ring Response to Extreme Flood Events Along the Schoharie Creek, New York A. Bartholomew, J. Rayburn, A. Walag ....................................................................................................... 2 Incapacity of Current Release Works at the NYPA Blenheim/Gilboa Pumped Storage Project to Pass the Probable Maximum Flood as Estimated by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Howard R. Bartholomew .............................................................................................................................. 3 Tracking Pollution in New York Streams Using Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopic Composition of Primary Producers Michelle Berube and Anouk Verheyden-Gillikin ........................................................................................ 4 The Canajoharie and Otsquago Creeks: A Rapid Bio-Assessment of Two Tributaries of the Mohawk River Boyan et al., Fort Plain/Canajoharie Environmental Study Team ............................................................... 7 A Web GIS-Based Mohawk River Watershed Project Implementation Tracking System Katie Budreski ............................................................................................................................................ 12 Response of Macroinvertebrate Assemblages to Extreme Floods in Tributaries to the Mohawk River, New York M. Calderon, A.J. Smith, B. Baldigo, T. Endreny ..................................................................................... 13 Accomplishments and Status of NY Rising Sarah Stern Crowell ................................................................................................................................... 14 Lock 7 Dam Fixed Design Endangers Schenectady Area James E. Duggan ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Clean Water Planning and TMDL Vision Angus Eaton ............................................................................................................................................... 19 The New York Streamflow Estimation Tool Chris L Gazoorian ...................................................................................................................................... 20 Spatial Differences in Contemporary Fish Assemblages of the Mohawk River Scott George, Barry Baldigo, and Scott Wells ........................................................................................... 21 Cartographic Mapping of Water-related Environmental and Societal Indicators Ashraf Ghaly .............................................................................................................................................. 22 Water: The New Oil that Fuels International Conflicts Ashraf Ghaly .............................................................................................................................................. 23 Flood Warning and Optimization System for the Mohawk Watershed Howard M. Goebel ..................................................................................................................................... 24 Common Core: An Uncommon Approach - Workshops for educators on how to bring environmentally based experiential learning to schools and beyond Scott Hadam and John M. McKeeby ......................................................................................................... 26 Sedimentological Record of Large Magnitude Floods Recorded in Collins Pond, Scotia, NY C.M. Hedges and D.T. Rodbell .................................................................................................................. 27 Role of Invasive European Water Chestnut as a Nutrient Bioextractant From Wastewater Outfalls in The Hudson River Estuary K. Hu, N. Jesmanitafti, Y. Yang, and S. Rogers ........................................................................................ 28 Utilizing GIS to Study Erosion, Mitigation Reliability, Costs, and Effective Coastal Engineering Practices Christopher J. Kelly and Ashraf M. Ghaly ................................................................................................. 30 Monitoring the Hudson and Beyond with HRECOS (Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System) Gavin M. Lemley and Alexander J. Smith ................................................................................................ 31 How Common is Textbook" Migration in the Blueback Herring? A Look At the Hudson-Mohawk Population Through Otolith Chemistry Karin E. Limburg Sara M. Turner ............................................................................................................ 32 Flooding Prediction in a Large Watershed: An Example from the Mohawk River in New York Antonios Marsellos and Katerina Tsakiri .................................................................................................. 35 Surface Water Quality Measurements Upstream and Downstream of Concentrated Human Activity on Flood-Impacted Line Creek in Middleburgh New York Melissa A. Miller Barbara L. Brabetz Neil A. Law ................................................................................. 39 The Mohawk River Watershed Management Plan: Engaging the Community Elizabeth C. Moran Linda P. Wagenet and A. Thomas Vawter .............................................................. 40 Mohawk River Watershed Coalition Update: Management Plan- Long Term Vision Peter M. Nichols ........................................................................................................................................ 41 Flood Inundation Maps for the Schoharie Creek at Prattsville New York Elizabeth Nystrom ..................................................................................................................................... 42 Schoharie County Streams: A Long Road Toward Recovery? Dakota Raab Eric Malone Mark Cornwell John Foster & Benjamin German ...................................... 44 Inspiring Residents to Address Watershed Pollution through Citizen Science Dan Shapley John Lipscomb Jen Epstein ................................................................................................ 45 Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment in the Mohawk River Basin Alexander J. Smith Margaret A. Novak and Gavin M. Lemley .............................................................. 46 USGS Streamgage Network Expansion in the Mohawk River Watershed Travis Smith and Gary R. Wall .................................................................................................................. 48 Swimming the Entire Length of the Mohawk River Christopher Swain ...................................................................................................................................... 49 The New York State Mesonet C. Thorncroft E. Joseph and J. Brotzge .................................................................................................... 50 Using Geospatial Data to Analyze Trends in Onsite Wastewater Systems Use Sridhar Vedachalam Tim Joo Susan J. Riha ............................................................................................ 51 USGS Ice Jam Monitoring System Mohawk River Schenectady NY - An Update Gary R Wall and Chris Gazoorian ............................................................................................................. 52"
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This volume contains the schedule and extended abstracts for 33 talks and posters for the 2016 Mohawk Watershed Symposium (NY). This year marks the 8th annual Mohawk Watershed symposium since inception in 2009, and the meeting has taken on an important role in unifying and galvanizing stakeholders in the Basin. Building and sustaining a coalition of concerned and invested stakeholders allows us to strengthen connections and be informed about issues that affect water quality availability, recreation opportunities, and other demands on water use (e.g., aquatic ecology, stream restoration). Water quality and healthy ecosystems are a key theme at this year's Mohawk Watershed Symposium. Given the crises in Flint Michigan, and Hoosick Falls New York, we are reminded of the importance of clean drinking water and the fragility of our water infrastructure. On 29 February 2016, Representative Tonko (NY-20) co-introduced the AQUA Act to Congress, which updates the Safe Drinking Water Act to significantly increase funding authorization levels for local communities with water infrastructure deficiencies. In Congressman Tonko's plenary address he will review some aspects of the AQUA Act and most importantly remind us that although water quality and threats to our water security may be something that is 'out of site', it cannot be 'out of our minds'. We are pleased to welcome Professor Karin Limburg as the keynote speaker this year, an ecologist at SUNY ESF and longtime supporter and participant of the Mohawk Watershed Symposium series. Dr. Limburg's research focuses on fisheries, watersheds, and aquatic ecosystems. Much of her work has been with fisheries in New York State watersheds, including the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers. Her research has focused on understanding ecosystems on a regional scale and how marine and freshwater systems are interconnected, and for this we turn to the ear bones (otolith) from river Herring to quantify changes in environmental conditions and fish migration. In addition to Dr. Limburg's work in aquatic ecology and geochemistry, her work is embedded in stakeholder involvement and investment. These qualities make her an ideal keynote speaker at this year's Symposium. We are indebted to our sponsors NYS DEC for their continued support, which helps to make each Symposium a success. The changes we have been witness to at our annual symposium and within the watershed, changes that go beyond the history of the Mohawk Watershed Symposium, are astounding. The accomplishments should be celebrated and the hard work continued. This year we have nine invited talks that cover a variety of issues in the basin and 24 volunteered talks and posters. We are seeing an important increase in the number of colleges and universities participating in the Symposium. This is a welcome addition and it fits well with the new grants program at the NYSDEC that is aimed at fostering the five items on the Mohawk Basin Action agenda. This year also has one of the highest number of student involved presentations with at least 13 presentations having student co-authors. By the end of the day the MWS symposium series will have been the forum for 242 talks, posters, and special presentations since inception.
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This abstract volume contains the program and extended abstracts for 39 presentations at the Annual Mohawk Watershed Symposium. The focus this year is on water quality.This is the 9th annual Mohawk Watershed Symposium and over the years the meeting has taken on an important role in unifying and galvanizing stakeholders in the Basin. Building and sustaining a coalition of concerned and invested stakeholders allow us to be informed about important issues that affect water quality, recreation opportunities, and other developments in the basin. This was a big year in the Watershed with a number of exciting and interesting developments. The NYS Canal System was designated a National Historic Landmark and this designation places the currently operating canal system among the premier historic sites in the United States. In addition, this year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Canal, it is important to think about how the canal has affected NY State and the watershed. Earlier in 2016, the Erie Canal, which is a big part of the State Canal Corp, was taken over by the NY Power Authority (NYPA). Since 1992 it was under the Thruway Authority, and this new transfer is certainly an interesting development as the Canal struggles with costs, some of which are a hangover from Irene in 2011. This last summer was a pretty dry, and drought and near drought conditions affected much of the basin. In the early part of summer 2016, the Canal Corporation directed the NYPA to reduce releases from Hinckley Reservoir according to the 2012 Operating Diagram. The newly completed Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook Bridge in Amsterdam was funded through the 2005 Rebuild and Renew New York Transportation Bond, and this development is part of an effort to look to the River for economic and cultural transformation in river-lining cities on the Mohawk. Water contamination, brownfields, and water quality are intricately intertwined. PCBs, PFOS and PFOA, Pb, microplastics, and other toxins in our environment and our drinking water dominated this past year's headlines. Locally we are making progress: Schenectady had one of the more contaminated brownfields in the basin, and the important remediation effort allowed this river-lining property to be developed into the new Rivers Casino, which opened in February of 2017. This is an important lesson in cleaning brownfields, and development of urban areas in communities that are along the River. Our infrastructure needs attention because its failure is affecting water quality. One of the sad stories of the past year is the sewage leak in Amsterdam where millions of gallons of raw sewage has dumped into the Mohawk. Discovered in July 2016, the spill continues (March 2017), and this has become symbolic of the struggle to fix our aging infrastructure and its impact on water quality in the Basin. Amsterdam will receive millions from the state Water Infrastructure Improvement Act and loans from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Some positive news from the upper part of the watershed as money and work has gone into improving the sewage system in Utica / Oneida county. Once done, the project will reduce the amount of sewage that flows into the Mohawk River by reducing the reliance on Combined Sanitary and Sewer outfalls. There is hope that our aging infrastructure, and thus water quality, is being addressed at the State and Federal level. The Water Infrastructure Improvements act passed the U.S. House of Representatives and was subsequently signed by President Obama. The bill included Representative Tonko's AQUA Act and legislation updating the Safe Drinking Water Act. There has been considerable activity in the State, one highlight was the recent introduction of the Safe Water Infrastructure Action Program (SWAP) bill (S.3292/A.3907) introduced by Senator Tedisco and Assemblyman Steck in February 2017, which is designed to fund and maintain our local infrastructure including water, sewer, and storm water. We are making progress in the Mohawk Watershed, and the Symposium will highlight much of the new and exciting work that has happened over the last year. We are seeing money flow in the basin to address watershed science and education, and some of that money has gone directly to water quality studies. The NY Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) awarded more than $155,000 in Mohawk River Basin Program grants for four projects in the Mohawk River Basin Watershed. Results from these four projects will be presented this year as part of the invited presentations at the 2017 Symposium. We are indebted to our sponsors NYSDEC for their continued support, which helps to make each Symposium a success. We appreciate support from Cornell and from the Union College Geology Department. This year we have 39 presentations to shape the discussion and dialog. Some of these presentations are a direct result of funding from the new grants program at the NYSDEC that is aimed at fostering the five items on the Mohawk Basin Action agenda. We continue to see new ideas, many of them presented by students from a number of different educational institutions, this growth in student participation is both exciting, and a welcome sign of continued progress. By the end of the day, the Mohawk Watershed Symposium series will have been the forum for 281 talks, posters, and special presentations since inception in 2009.
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This volume contains 43 extended abstracts presented at the Symposium in March, 2013. "We return to Union College for the Fifth Annual Mohawk Watershed symposium, and we are please that momentum continues to build for this effort. With forty-three presentations and an ever-increasing number of meeting registrants, we are hopeful that this meeting has played and continues to play a key role in facilitating a healthy dialog between stakeholders in the watershed. In the Northeast we are lucky to have an abundance or groundwater and surface water. Despite what sometimes feels like a profound excess of water, all of that water plays a profound and critical role in maintaining and sustaining a fragile and sensitive ecosystem. Hence the removal of water from the system has the potential for adverse ecosystem response. We are reminded that there is a cost and a responsibility for the water used by industry, municipalities, power generation, agriculture, and navigation. Stakeholders have a shared responsibility to ensure that our water resources are protected from over use and exploitation, and we must make sure that we balance use with reasonable regulation and oversight. We all benefit when the decision-making processes that affects our water resources are open and transparent so that stakeholders can provide a peer review and critical assessment of those decisions. Hurricane Sandy, which caused so much damage and devastation in the coastal areas, really didn't have a direct physical impact on the Mohawk Watershed. But the proactive response to the potential threat of this historic storm in the basin was profound. In the wake of a number of devastating floods in the watershed over the last decade we are starting to see important responses at the local, state, and federal levels. Much of this response is aimed at building resilience and adaptation through a number of mitigation efforts. Some of these mitigation efforts are costly and complicated, but building resilience will have long-term benefit to those in the watershed, especially those adjacent to floodways. The future of the watershed looks bright especially considering the close collaboration and communication between stakeholders, which is partly demonstrated by the tremendous response to the Mohawk Watershed Symposium. Ongoing efforts continue to focus on the implementation of the Mohawk Basin Action Agenda, which is focused on ecosystem-based management. Last June Congressman Tonko introduced H.R. 5927 to the US House of Representatives, entitled: Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Act of 2012." If funded this bill would finance and create a Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Commission which would focus on flood control energy production agriculture recreation regional history and economic development. This sort of regional oversight is long overdue in the Mohawk Watershed. Last year Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar created the National Blueways System which seeks to protect and highlight our waterways by recognizing a holistic approach to river conservation and management. The Connecticut River was designated our first National Blue ways designation and at the time of designation in the spring of 2012 it was noted that this river should be a model for how communities can integrate land and water stewardship efforts in a basin-wide approach. The National Blueways Initiative is part of the America's Great Outdoors Initiative which is aimed conservation and recreation efforts driven by stakeholders in a watershed. The effort seeks to protect and restore lands of national significance to build a new generation of urban parks and to increase our focus on rivers. Can the Mohawk Watershed win National Blueways designation? We are fortunate to have Rebecca Wodder from the Department of the Interior as our keynote speaker. She is currently the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Interior and she is working primarily on conservation issues and the America's Great Outdoors Initiative. When she was President of American Rivers she led efforts to help communities restore the health of their rivers through a variety of conservation measures including the creation of river trails dam removal and practices to safeguard clean water. We are hopeful that we can profit from her expertise and background. Finally our youngest stakeholders have had another busy year and the watershed continues to provide students with a host of scientific and cultural activities. Over the years we have been very impressed by the activities of students and the important role that they play in collecting data formulating hypotheses and articulating the message that emerges from the work they do. In recognition of the importance of the work that students do this year we will award the Brookfield Renewable Student Achievement Prize to the most highly ranked student presentation."
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Welcome to the 6th Annual Mohawk Watershed Symposium where we explore recent advances in understanding the scientific, engineering, and political issues surrounding the water quality, flooding, water rights, and the ecology in this basin. This is a unique conference, partly because few watersheds enjoy such annual attention. But it is also unique because the informal setting and accessibility of the format has leveled the playing field and allows for equal participation by all stakeholders. From this approach we learn of new Federal and State funding initiatives, but we also learn of the struggles and successes of small non-profit and educational efforts that are making a difference in the Watershed. Thus the conference has evolved into a unique forum where all stakeholders have equal footing. The Symposium is about exchanging ideas, re-engaging with colleagues, and learning about new issues. A key to this has been the poster presentations and talks, which have accompanying abstracts in this volume. Including this year's schedule, we have had nearly 200 talks and posters focused on issues within and related to the Mohawk Basin. As in the past, this abstract book is the written record of this incredible effort, and these books have an amazing amount of knowledge produced about a watershed. This and all previous abstract volumes are available from the conference website and we are very pleased to see that abstracts are being used and cited in a whole host of settings. In a larger sense, the Symposium is about the translation and transfer of information, and this volume is part of that transfer. This year our keynote speaker this year is Laura Rose Day, Executive Director of the Penobscot River Restoration Trust Maine. Restoration of the Penobscot River, which is ongoing, is the most significant river sea-run fisheries restoration project ever undertaken in the United States. It is among the most important efforts in the modern era to restore a declining and depleted sea-run fishery. Her determination and perseverance to promote healthy waterways, re-establish fish passage, and foster a positive and valued public view of rivers in Maine is inspirational. We are also pleased to feature invited speakers to start and finish each of the four sessions. Our invited speakers represent interests within and from around the Mohawk Watershed and work to shape this year's program. We are indebted to Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) for his continued support of this effort. Union College and the NYS DEC continue to be primary sponsors of this effort, and their continued support help to make the Symposium a success. As spring begins throughout the watershed, it is fitting that we gather at Union College, near the banks of the Mohawk River to engage in issues that reach across the basin and over the past year. Leading up, throughout and following the annual Mohawk Watershed Symposium, each of us is working toward the larger goal of understanding our landscape and building capacity for resilience and future challenges. For many, the Mohawk Watershed Symposium is an important opportunity to connect with stakeholders from the watershed. While others may meet more frequently, the key is the connection. This time and space is important, everyone is able to engage, debate, discuss, and collaborate with others around issues that matter to them and to the Mohawk Watershed. Each spring the snow and ice melt, the waters in the streams and rivers rise, and the ice will jam. There will always be flooding, extreme storms and the strong community leadership ensures resilience during these events. The challenges that face the basin in the next decade or so will likely be about water use, infrastructure changes - dams, hydroelectric projects - and how these will impact water quality, flooding, fish habitat and passage. What knowledge needs to be mobilized next? What role do you play in making this happen? There is nothing quite like the Mohawk Watershed Symposium. This forum allows for young researchers to meet with the policy-makers and community leaders. Where the citizen scientist, meets with the scientist citizen. Like a river in a watershed, the Symposium captures the intellect and passion capital of the Mohawk Watershed and brings it together. This is what is exceptional about our watershed, it is this landscape, this place and time that we dedicate to a strong discourse on the issues and challenges within the basin - this is why we are here today. CONTENTS: Preface ............................................................................................................................................................. ii Schedule ......................................................................................................................................................... iv Keynote Speaker ............................................................................................................................................ vii Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................................... viii Abstracts Microplastics in the Mohawk-Hudson Watershed B. Barry and J. A. Smith ...............................................................................................................................1 Potential Synoptic Examination of Paleoflooding in the Schoharie Valley using Sediment, Tree, and Speleothem Cores as Indicators of Wet/Dry Climatic Episodes Howard R. Bartholomew and Alexander J. Bartholomew ...........................................................................2 The Need for Analysis of the Impact of Discharge, on August 28, 2011, of Three Flood Control Dams at the Headwaters of the Batavia Kill on Infrastructure in the Schoharie Valley Howard R. Bartholomew and Robert Price ..................................................................................................4 Identifying Erosion Hazard to Municipal Infrastructure: Preparing for Extreme Events Joseph Cleveland, Kathleen E. Moore, Jon Kusler ......................................................................................6 Runoff regimes in Schoharie River Jaclyn Cockburn and John I. Garver ............................................................................................................7 The One-Hundredth Anniversary of the Record Flood at Schenectady on the Mohawk River Stephen N. DiRienzo, Britt Westergard .....................................................................................................10 Promoting Resilient Shorelines along the Hudson River Estuary: The Sustainable Shorelines Project Stuart Findlay, David Strayer, Betsy Blair, Daniel Miller, Jon Miller, Nickitas Georgas, Andrew Rella, Emilie Hauser, Kristin Marcell ...................................................................................................................11 Insight from Ice Jams on the Lower Mohawk River, NY John I. Garver .............................................................................................................................................12 United States Geological Survey Streamgages in the Mohawk River Watershed Chris Gazoorian ..........................................................................................................................................17 The Clash Between Interest in Preserving Clean Water and Need for Energy Development: Eventual or Avoidable? Ashraf Ghaly ..............................................................................................................................................21 GIS Illustrations of the Potential Effects of Hydrofracking Technology on Water Resources in New York State Ashraf Ghaly ..............................................................................................................................................22 The Resilient Neighborhood: Flood Mitigation as an Economic Engine Rebecca Hill ...............................................................................................................................................23 Place-Esteem as the Foundation for Stewardship Janet Kennedy ............................................................................................................................................24 Monitoring the Hudson and Beyond with HRECOS (Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System) Gavin M. Lemley, Alene M. Onion and Alexander J. Smith .....................................................................26 After the Flood: Impact of Hurricane Irene & Tropical Storm Lee on Schoharie Creek Tributaries Eric Malone, Alec Zerbian, Mark Cornwell, Ben German, Peter Nichols .................................................27 Prediction Model for the Water Discharge Time Series in Mohawk Watershed, NY Antonios Marsellos and Katerina Tsakiri ...................................................................................................30 Improving Water Quality in the Mohawk River Basin through Expanding Community Based Stream Monitoring Teams and Riparian Recovery Activities on the Schoharie and Mohawk Watershed John M. McKeeby ......................................................................................................................................32 Land-use and River Management Strategies for Reducing Flood Risk & Protecting Water Quality Julie Moore, P.E. ........................................................................................................................................36 Mohawk River Watershed Management Plan: Final Steps to Plan Completion and Progress Toward Phase I Implementation 2014/2015 David A. Mosher, Peter M. Nichols, Win McIntyre ..................................................................................37 WAVE is coming to the Mohawk Basin in 2014 Alene Onion ................................................................................................................................................38 Predicting Occurrences of Ice Jam Flooding on the Mohawk River at the End of the 21st Century Stephen B. Shaw and Ashley M. Ryan .......................................................................................................39 Sediment Mobilization in the Schoharie Watershed Jesse Van Patter, Jaclyn Cockburn, John Garver A Management Plan for the Mohawk River Watershed: Engaging the Community A. Thomas Vawter, Elizabeth C. Moran, and Linda P. Wagenet ...............................................................42 Spatial Analysis of Boil Water Advisories Issued During an Extreme Weather Event in the Mohawk- Hudson Watershed Sridhar Vedachalam, Mary E. John, Susan J. Riha ....................................................................................43 Analyzing the Spatial and Temporal Slope Instability Patterns at the Burtonsville, N.Y. Landslide Using Dendrogeomorphological Approaches Matthew Vetta, Jaclyn Cockburn, and John Garver ...................................................................................44 Erosion mitigation and habitat improvement through bio-engineering and natural channel design Paul Villard .................................................................................................................................................46 A new tool to monitor ice jam flooding along the Mohawk River, Schenectady, NY Gary R Wall, Chris Gazoorian, and John I. Garver ....................................................................................47 An Update of Climate Change Research in New York State Mark Watson ..............................................................................................................................................49 A Century of West Canada Creek Water Management: the Case Against the Fragmented Approach Tom Zembrzuski ........................................................................................................................................50
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This is the full volume of extended abstracts for the 10th Mohawk Watershed Symposium. The meeting continues to serve as a focal point for concerned and invested stakeholders. It helps to keep all involved informed about important issues that affect water quality, recreation opportunities, hazards and other developments in the basin. The flood hazard remains an important issue in the basin, especially for those river-lining communities along the Mohawk and tributaries. Identification of the hazards, monitoring, and solutions to chronically flooded areas are a top priority for many stakeholders. Monitoring physical parameters in the River by HRECOS, the USGS Ice Jam monitoring system, and others play an important role in understanding and modelling physical aspects of the river. Modelling is becoming important as we try to understand floods, flooding, and associated hazards. The Northeast and NY State had a major ice jam problem this winter. The lower Mohawk River was affected by an historic ice jam and ice jam flooding that occupied considerable time and resources for emergency management. A mid-winter jam formed in mid January, and subsequent thaw in late January release upstream ice and lengthened it to 17 miles. A thaw in late February resulted in high water, flooding, and release of the ice. Once again, the lower parts of the historic Stockade district were flooded, and the event triggered new calls for ways to address this chronic problem. This event solidified monitoring and assessment efforts by the local county emergency management (mainly Albany, Schenectady, and Montgomery), the USGS, NOAA/NWS, FEMA, and academia. Water quality remains a central issue in the Watershed. USGS and NYSDEC have been working to develop a Water quality Model for the Mohawk, which will be presented at the meeting. A critical component of understanding water quality is data from hundreds of measurements across the watershed. Researchers from SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, Union, Cornell, the Schoharie River Center, and Riverkeeper have had a busy year collecting and analyzing samples that address water quality issues in the main stem of the Mohawk, and in tributaries by making measurements. These critical measurements include quantifying the distribution, source, and fate of environmental contaminants including fecal bacterial, microplastics, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other compounds that affect water quality. We are seeing new and exciting new research on the identification and quantification of micropollutents, and these new analytical approaches will provide important information on subtle and unrecognized sources of environmental contamination in the basin. The Mohawk River is one of the largest sources of drinking water in the Capital District, and nearly 100,000 people in Colonie and Cohoes. Despite the importance of this critical source, we lack a source water protection program, and Riverkeeper will present ideas and approaches from tributaries in the Hudson that may serve as a model for the Mohawk. Increasingly we look to the river for inspiration, recreation, and this can have a direct impact on community focus and economic development, and we can predict that this river-centric view will increase as water quality improves. As such, we face some issues related to connecting communities to the river, while recognizing that water quality and flooding guide fundamental decisions. Conservation and ecosystem protection remains a central priority to effective watershed management. We are seeing new plans for identification of priority areas, and specific approaches to ecosystem management that directly affects water quality. On to the future. The next generation continues to be very active in the Mohawk and tributaries, and once again we are pleased that so many students can be part of the annual MWS symposium. The Schoharie River Center (SRC) continues to have a focus on water quality assessment, and initiated a new program for microplastic collection and identification. The Fort Plain environmental study team, an SRC partner, continues to focus on community-based science primarily focussed on water quality, and education of high school youth. We are getting a new Action Agenda in the watershed - our guiding blueprint for watershed management - and we need your help. In 2009, the first Mohawk River Basin Action Agenda was developed by the NYSDEC and partners with five main goals that focused on an ecosystem-based approach to watershed management. This guiding document has provided important targets for stakeholders over the last decade. The vision behind the 2018-22 Action Agenda will be presented at this meeting. It will focus on the goal of a swimmable, fishable, resilient Mohawk River watershed that will be addressed through three main objectives: a) improve water quality; b) improve fisheries and habitat; and c) plan for resiliency. There will be a public comment period for this new plan, so you as a stakeholder should take the time to make your voice heard. Ten years of success. Today we celebrate a decade of consecutive meetings that have brought stakeholders together in this Symposium. This year's meeting features 29 presentations to shape the discussion and continue the conversation about issues within the basin. We continue to see new ideas, many of them presented by students from a number of different educational institutions, this growth in student participation is both exciting, and a welcome sign of continued progress. By the end of the day, the Mohawk Watershed Symposium series will have been the forum for 310 talks, posters, and special presentations since inception in 2009
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This is the abstract volume for the first Mohawk Watershed Symposium at Union College in Schenectady NY. This volume contains the extended abstracts of 26 presentations that deal with water quality, flooding, real-time monitoring, GIS and mapping, landsliding and sediment, the NYSDEC Mohawk River Basin Program, groundwater, environmental education, dam safety, and watershed management. The Keynote speaker was Robert H. Boyle, and his talk was entitled Bums along the Mohawk" . Preface: The Mohawk Watershed is a unique and distinctive drainage basin that has major tributaries that empty the Adirondacks to the north and the Catskill Mountains to the south. The main trunk of the river occupies a natural topographic gap in the Appalachian mountain chain which provides a unique and distinctive link between Atlantic and the interior of the continent. This aspect of the geography of the river played a crucial role in the westward expansion by early settlers and eventually was the primary reason the Erie Canal was positioned in part along the spine of this key waterway. As cities and commerce grew along the river so did pressure on the waterways the flow of the river and the ecosystems that thrive in the watershed. In the past decade we have seen some important advances and setbacks in the watershed. An aging infrastructure much of which is over 50 years old is starting to show signs of decay and is in need of repair. The 1996 mid-winter flood was the worst in decades and the ice jams that resulted caused considerable damage in the lower parts of the basin. Likewise the 2006 flood that resulted from and incredible series of early summer rains provided residents in the upper part of the drainage a reminder of the power of water and the serious nature of regional flooding In 2005 the Gilboa Dam on the upper reaches of the Schoharie River was diagnosed with conditions related to its advanced age and there was soon a swarm of activity related to fixing this dam and mitigating consequences of its potential failure. Some recent activity on the West Canada Creek has highlighted the delicate balance between riparian rights and water use for consumption or canal use. Are watershed dynamics changing right in front of us? One key question surrounds the changes we might expect given a dynamic and changing climate that so far appears to be delivering more water to the system but is also making it much more variable in nature. How do we plan for this? And how do we manage all of the complex needs in a watershed? The first thing we need to do is to understand the system. These are some of the central questions that have framed this conference. As a first step we are attempting to bring together interested parties to first explore some of the crucial scientific and engineering issues within the basin. From this we hope that conference participants will have a better appreciation of the complexity and unique qualities of this watershed."
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