Abstract
The Adirondack Chronology is intended to be a useful resource for researchers and others interested in the Adirondacks and Adirondack history.
Type of Resource
DigitalDocument
Rights Statement
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted“ … >. Garver, J.I. 2020. Giardia outbreak in the Mohawk Watershed : Thirty-two students at Union College diagnosed. … and Mohawk River, Schenectady, NY. In Mohawk Watershed Symposium 2020 (p. 63). Wolf, L., Zwiener, C. and Zemann, M., … ”
Abstract
Urban streams are becoming increasingly polluted by anthropogenic activity, and in Schenectady (NY) two primary stressors include poor wastewater infrastructure and road salt use. Urban streams in Schenectady include Mill Creek and Cowhorn Creek that empty into the Binnekill (feeder to the Mohawk), and the Hans Groot Kill that empty directly into the Mohawk River. These streams were sampled to evaluate water quality and analyzed for pathogens. This study is primarily focused on fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) <em>Enterococcus, </em>which<em> </em>is an EPA-approved method of determining surface water quality and it is an established indicator of sewage in waterways. The average pathogen values in the Hans Groot Kill and Binnekill exceeded EPA guidance for <em>Enterococcus</em>, often by several orders of magnitude. In the fall of 2021, the majority of samples failed the EPA's criteria for contact with surface waters including those from the Binnekill (74% failure, n=11), the Hans Groot Kill (100% failure, n=32), and the Mohawk River (54% failure, n=43). Geometric means for the Binnekill, Hans Groot Kill, and Mohawk River were 267 MPN/100 mL, 2223 MPN/100 mL, and 223 MPN/100 mL, respectively, all exceeding the EPA's guidance of 33 MPN/100 mL. High pathogen loads occur during rainfall events when contaminants are mobilized. However, <em>Enterococcus levels </em>in the Hans Groot Kill remain high even during dry or low-flow periods, indicating a base-level contamination that occurs in all weather conditions, almost certainly due to impaired infrastructure (broken pipes). During extreme weather events, Union College is impacted by failing sewer systems, as was the case twice in the fall of 2021, when sewer overflows on campus spilled untreated wastewater directly into the Hans Groot Kill. At low base flow, the urban creeks have elevated levels of nitrate, sulfate, chloride, and sodium that may indicate loads from contaminated groundwater. This is especially apparent in elevated levels of sodium and chloride, which probably come from road salt that temporarily resides in groundwater but is released and measurable at base flow. Elevated levels of sodium, chloride, nitrate, and phosphate are particularly problematic. The high dissolved ion loads as well as high pathogen levels in these water bodies indicates the acute leaking of sewer pipes in Schenectady due to aging infrastructure and/or illegally connected pipes. Monitoring of these waters must continue to inform plans for improved sewage handling that need to be implemented to remediate contamination in the Mohawk Watershed.
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Thesis
Rights Statement
In Copyright - Educational Use PermittedAbstract
Climate change is becoming an increasingly important topic of scientific research, and studies commonly analyze biological indicators. Migratory birds are responsive to environmental changes because life cycles depend on finding proper seasonal locations. eBird is a citizen science database launched by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society in 2002, and this study focused on eBird data to analyze migratory shifts over the past two decades for the Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), Common Merganser (Mergus merganser), Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator), Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), and Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor ) in the Capital Region of New York State. Historical data sets from the early and mid-1900's were also used to make qualitative comparisons to past observations. Small changes in temperature and ice dynamics are already taking place in New York State, and observations of bird abundance and timing of migration may be reflecting climate change on a local scale. Plots were made using abundance data from eBird for Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Washington counties and evaluated in five?year time slices and decadal slices between 1995-2013. Overall, there has been advancement and delay in spring and fall migrations. The Barn Swallow and Tree Swallow show roughly a two?week advancement in spring arrival since the earlier decade. The Barn Swallow appeared to linger two weeks longer in the fall in the last decade, but sufficient data were not available for the Tree Swallow to make comparisons. The Green-winged Teal and Northern Pintail showed similar spring arrival dates between the two decades and an earlier fall departure by about two weeks in the later decade. The Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, and Canada Goose displayed an opposite trend with a two- to three?week earlier spring arrival in the later decade and comparable fall departures between decades. The Bufflehead appeared to be arriving in the Capital Region approximately a month later in the more recent decade with a similar fall departure for both. Data were relatively sparse for the Snow Goose, and therefore migration dates for the two decades could not be compared. However, with the data available it appeared the Snow Goose decreased its length of time in the region. The Red-breasted Merganser is uncommon in this area, and there were essentially no sightings in the earlier decade. Thus, the slight increase may reflect a change in distribution. Avian migration is a complex behavior undoubtedly influenced by climatic conditions. These can either have direct impacts by affecting open water availability or indirect impacts by altering plant activity and insect abundance. Other factors like photoperiod, territorial competition, and risk of pre-breeding mortality must be recognized as affecting migration in addition to climate.
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Thesis
Rights Statement
In Copyright - Educational Use PermittedAbstract
Elevated turbidity poses a threat to water quality, which is especially problematic in unfiltered water supply systems such as New York City's (NYC). The Catskills Region of New York, which supplies NYC with the majority of its drinking water, is especially prone to chronically elevated turbidity due to the erosion of glacial till in Catskill streams. Here, we characterize turbidity and streamflow in the Catskills to understand the drivers of turbidity in this region. To accomplish this, we examined over a decade's worth of observed turbidity and streamflow data (2010-2022, n = 88,255) at 20 United States Geological Survey (USGS) monitoring sites. We investigated the seasonal and temporal trends in turbidity and streamflow, as well as the potential underlying causes for extreme turbidity events. Our results indicate that turbidity peaks during January through April across sites, which suggests that earlier timings of spring snow melt may contribute to elevated turbidity during these months. The turbidity baseline conditions also differ across sites, along with several sites frequently exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) turbidity regulatory limit of 5 NTU, suggesting that certain areas of the Catskill Watershed are more susceptible to higher turbidity. Examination of extreme floods in the Catskills, such as a severe flood in December 2020 that affected the entire region, reveals that there is a characteristic process that can explain turbidity dynamics after severe flooding in this region. The December 2020 flood elevated turbidity above baseline conditions for approximately three months at several Catskill sites. There was an intermediate flood in March 2021 that could flush the easily erodible sediment that had been deposited in the channels as a result of the first flood event. However, this intermediate flood did not produce enough energy to overwhelm the system and keep turbidity above baseline conditions. Overall, our analysis proposes potential mechanisms to explain elevated turbidity events throughout the watershed and highlights the extent of the turbidity problem in the Catskills, which has important implications for water resources management of this water supply system.
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Thesis
Rights Statement
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted“ … over 600,000 New Yorkers1. Figure 1: A) Map of the greater Mohawk -Hudson Watershed , where the box surrounds the lower Mohawk River. B) The entire Mohawk Watershed with a red box … ”
Abstract
Healthy aquatic ecosystems require clean water, but many creeks and streams may be impaired by human activity. This study is focused on surface water quality of the Alplaus, and Indian Kill streams located within the Alplaus Watershed in Schenectady and Saratoga Counties (NY). The primary goal of this study is to understand the extent of water quality impairment within the Alplaus and Indian Kill using a range of indicators to understand the impacts of failing infrastructure and stressors to surface water. Sixty-five water samples were collected in the fall of 2021 from six locations in the Alplaus and Indian Kill and they were taken during periods of low- and high-flow. Samples were measured for fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) Enterococcus, dissolved ions, and physical water quality parameters. At high flow, samples show elevated levels of FIB and Phosphate. Single sample Enterococcus levels exceeded the EPA Beach Advisory Value (BAV = 60 mpn/100 mL) in 93% of samples (61/65) from both low- and high-flow conditions. The geometric means at low flow for the Alplaus and Indian Kill are 180 and 100 mpn/100 mL, respectively. The geometric means at high flow for the Alplaus and Indian Kill are 14,652 and 21,291 mpn/100 mL, respectively. The two highest recorded Enterococcus values were after periods of high rainfall along the Mayfair Creek, a tributary to the Indian Kill in an urban setting. During low flow (or baseflow) high levels of nitrate, sodium, and chloride indicates input from contaminated groundwater, especially in the suburban/urban setting of the Mayfair area in the town of Glenville (Indian Kill). The Alplaus and Indian Kill streams are fed by groundwater discharge during low flow, indicating there is contamination of the groundwater. Low flow concentrations of chloride and nitrate were three and four times higher than high flow in the Alplaus Watershed respectively. Through increased urbanization and aging infrastructure, it appears that surface water quality in streams and rivers has been impaired by sewage from leaky pipes or failing septic systems and chemical pollutants such as road salt. Local areas with chronic contamination have a large number of septic systems, most presumably 60-70-year-old, and are a likely suspect of water quality impairment to groundwater that is especially apparent in the Indian Kill.
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Rights Statement
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted“ … available as a free PDF download format from the main Mohawk Watershed Symposium website … Rodak, C. 2024. Proceedings of the 2024 … ”
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.
Type of Resource
DigitalDocument
Rights Statement
In CopyrightAdditional Rights / Restrictions
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 CollegeAbstract
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. 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.
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Collection
Rights Statement
In CopyrightAdditional Rights / Restrictions
Geology Department, Union College, Schenectady N.Y. 12308-3107. All rights reserved. No part of these documents can be copied and/or redistributed, electronically or otherwise without written permission from the Geology Department, Union College, Schenectady NY, 12308-2311, USADigital Publisher
Geology Department, Union CollegeAbstract
Volume 21, issue 1: Table of Contents Volume 21, issue 1, article 1: Introduction by Bruce W. Selleck Volume 21, issue 1: Foreword by Steve Englebright Volume 21, issue 1, article 2: Regional Geological Setting of the Adirondack Mountains, New York by James M. McLelland Volume 21, issue 1, article 3: Bedrock Geology of the Adirondack Region by Jeffrey R. Chiarenzelli Volume 21, issue 1, article 4: Episodes in Geological Investigations of the Adirondacks by William H. Peck Volume 21, issue 1, article 5: Metamorphic Conditions of Adirondack Rocks by Robert S. Darling Volume 21, issue 1, article 6: Rare Earth Element and Yttrium Mineral Occurrences in the Adirondack Mountains by Marian V. Lupulescu Volume 21, issue 1, article 7: Mining, Geology, and Geological History of Garnet at the Barton Garnet Mine, Gore Mountain, New York by William Kelly Volume 21, issue 1, article 8: Faults and Fracture Systems in the Basement Rocks of the Adirondack Mountains, New York by David W. Valentino Volume 21, issue 1, article 9: Post-Valley Heads Deglaciation of the Adirondack Mountains and Adjacent Lowlands by David A. Franzi Volume 21, issue 1, article 10: Soils and Soil Acidification in the Adirondack Mountains by Richard April Volume 21, issue 1, article 11: Adirondack Landslides: History, Exposures, and Climbing by Kevin B. MacKenzie
Type of Resource
Book
Rights Statement
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted“ … available as a free PDF download format from the main Mohawk Watershed Symposium website, under … , C. 2019. Proceedings of the 2019 … ”
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.
Type of Resource
DigitalDocument
Rights Statement
In Copyright“ … Smith, J.A., and Rodak, C. 2020. Proceedings of the 2020 Mohawk Watershed Symposium , Union College, Schenectady, NY, March 20, 2020, … ”
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"
Type of Resource
DigitalDocument
Rights Statement
In Copyright“ … Smith, J.A., and Rodak, C. 2023. Proceedings of the 2023 Mohawk Watershed Symposium , Union College, Schenectady, NY, March 17, 2023, … ”
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.
Type of Resource
DigitalDocument
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Geology Department, Union College“ … Mohawk Watershed Symposium - 2010 19 March 2010, Olin Center, Union College, … is taken at the Albany Airport, which is in the Mohawk River Watershed . The Albany weather record is assumed … ”
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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In Copyright“ … the Mohawk Watershed and implications for watershed management John I. … Cockburn, J.M.H. and Garver, J.I., Proceedings of the 2011 Mohawk Watershed Symposium , ix Union College, Schenectady, NY … Section, NYS … ”
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In Copyright“ … COFFEE and POSTERS (see below for listing) 16:16 16:31 Mohawk River Watershed Management Plan Progress Report: Inventory of … and Garver, J.I., Proceedings of the 2012 Mohawk Watershed Symposium … Agenda (2012-2016). The MRBP sees the … ”
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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In Copyright“ … the Watershed , changes that go beyond the history of the Mohawk Watershed Symposium , are astounding. The accomplishments should … … ”
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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In Copyright“ … Cockburn, J.M.H. and Garver, J.I., Proceedings of the 2016 Mohawk Watershed Symposium , Union College, Schenectady, NY, March, 18, 2016 i … ”
Abstract
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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In Copyright“ … sign of continued progress. By the end of the day, the Mohawk Watershed Symposium series will have been the forum for 281 … see so … ”
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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In Copyright“ … Cockburn, J.M.H., 2011, Changes in the Hydrology of the Mohawk Watershed and implications for watershed management, In … Cockburn, J.M.H, and Garver, J.I. (eds) Mohawk Watershed Symposium 2011, Union College Schenectady … References … ”
Abstract
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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In Copyright“ … following the annual Mohawk Watershed Symposium , each of us is working toward the larger goal of … ”
Abstract
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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