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In Mohawk Watershed Symposium, Abstracts and program

Abstract

The 15th 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, ongoing environmental change, and political headwinds, we see that the challenge ahead is enormous. Educational institutions and federal agencies - and many of our key stakeholders - are under threat. We need to ensure that science, engineering, and sound policy decisions guide our path forward. Now more than ever we need to redouble our efforts to advocate for clean water, fight the spread of invasive species, implement resilient flood mitigation projects, and understand how climate change has affected and will continue to affect almost everything in the watershed. The support of the DEC in this effort, and the partnership between the DEC and the Symposium, has made an enormous difference in fostering a sense of community and providing direction for watershed investigations. Additional support from Riverkeeper and the Mohawk-Hudson Land Conservancy is greatly appreciated, along with your attendance at this year’s Mohawk Watershed Symposium.

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In Mohawk Watershed Symposium, Abstracts and program

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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In Analytical Chemistry Water Project Poster Sessions

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Use analytical methods and a variety of instruments to compare water samples from different rivers and creeks within the Capital Region and determine what is in Union College's tap water.

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In Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (ECO 228)

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Noxontown Pond is a small part of Delaware's rich history. In 1730, Thomas Noxon damned the head of the Appoquinimink to form Noxontown and build his mill. The small village of Noxontown was once used as the headquarters for Caesar Rodney, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Yet, in recent decades Noxontown pond has struggled. An EPA study from the 1970's quotes the pond's trouble with high nutrient levels. Large algae blooms have become regular in the summers and have diminished fish populations. As the First State, Delaware has been a leader since the founding of this country and should now take on a responsibility as a new type of leader. Image Citation: Image from Google Earth Pro

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In ARL Summer Research Fellowships

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This paper explores the longstanding debate over what should be done with the lands of the Adirondack Park. Within the park exists vibrant cultures of development for tourism, and conservationism. They are what determine the outcome of this debate. In order to avoid too broad a topic, my research will focus on the land allocation debate of the Adirondacks from the late sixties to the present. It is around this time, from the 50s-70s, that we notice an economic switch from resource extraction, such as timbering, to more hotel and second home development which propels the touristic economy. Over the past 40 to 50 years, the debate in the Adirondacks has been between land use restriction, and development of this touristic economy. The Adirondack Park Agency, which was formed in 1971, is in charge of two plans: one to manage state land, and the other to control how private property in the park is controlled. There are many who disagree with the APA's goals and presence. This is mainly due to the debate of whether APA's form of conservationism is democratic. Some stakeholders understandably do not like having extra restrictions on their private or public land.

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In ARL Publications

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The Adirondack Chronology is intended to be a useful resource for researchers and others interested in the Adirondacks and Adirondack history.

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DigitalDocument

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In President's Report

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2006-2016: A decade in review

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In President's Report

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In President's Report

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In President's Report

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In The Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies

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Welcome to volume 26 of the Adirondack Journal of Environmental Studies. Following our tagline: “Seeking Common Ground among A Multitude of viewpoints,” this issue contains a broad spectrum of topics and ideas. We cover birds, floods and climate change, history and politics, public safety, and we continue to shine a light on Adirondack archives. Table of Contents From the Editor by J. Douglass Klein, page 1 'The emotional recovery, I think, continues': An ethnography-style case study of Tropical Storm Irene's impact on the North Country by Hadar Pepperstone and Kimberly J. Coleman, page 7 Visualizing Warmer Adirondack Futures: How Virtual Reality influences Sense of Place in Climate Change Education by Stephane Tyski and Joseph A. Henderson, page 23 Creating an Interactive GIS-based Dashboard for Preventative Search and Rescue Efforts Using New York's Adirondack Park as a Case Study by Lindsay Ciurleo, page 41 Are Loons on Thin Ice with Climate Change? by Nina Schoch, Emily Prosser, and Jennifer Denny, page 55 Factors Influencing Avian Nest Success in Exurban Residential Areas in the Adirondack Park by Michale Glennon and Heidi E. Kretser, page 63 Adirondack Climate Stories: Storytelling and Art as Catalysts for Climate Discussions by Stephanie Ashenfelder and Rose Pasquarello Beauchamp, page 77 Dalton-Loines Family Papers Available at the Adirondack Research Library by Matthew Golebiewski, page 81 The Adirondack Artist Interviews in the St. Lawrence University Adirondack Collection by Paul Doty, page 85 Power Struggle Over Preservation at Lake George by Ellen Apperson Brown, page 91

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In Steinmetz Symposium

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The purpose of this thesis is to examine causes and trends in water pollution in three Upstate New York municipalities and the associated socioeconomic factors and the potential for environmental justice problems. Water pollution and drinking water quality is crucial to examine. The World Health Organization (2019) has reported that 2.2 billion people around the world do not have safely managed drinking water services. Water quality reports for the Town of Glenville, City of Schenectady and Town of Niskayuna, in New York State, were compared. Census data from 2019 also was used to examine race and income in these municipalities. None of the water quality reports showed violations in contamination levels, however the levels of each contaminant varied. These findings were then compared and discussed with regard to potential environmental justice issues.

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In Steinmetz Symposium

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Effective watershed management practices are vital for protecting water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Although the Town of Glenville has taken several steps in protecting their watersheds, such as illicit discharge monitoring, construction site monitoring, and participating in the Environmental Protection Agency's MS4 program, additional watershed management policy actions are proposed. The first policy suggestion details how the proposed policies can be established as a part of the town's MS4 program goals through Stormwater Management Best Management Practices (BMPs). The second policy suggestion calls for the installation of riparian buffers and emphasizes the benefits of natural buffers. The third suggestion pertains to cyclical monitoring assessments and emphasizes the value of regular testing of tributaries. The fourth suggestion encourages Glenville to expand their efforts in public education, with greater distribution of materials, in order to engage more residents in watershed management and protection.

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In Honors Theses

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The literature on cultural tourism in East Africa suggests that tourism practices reflect global political, social and economic trends among countries and people. There is much debate among scholars who have chosen to study these links between cultural tourism and larger global trends about who maintains power in tourist-host relationships. Scholars who argue that cultural tourism is a mutually beneficial practice for tourists and hosts claim that it promotes cultural understanding and equality, helps indigenous people maintain their culture and allows indigenous people to gain economic power. In contrast, many scholars argue that cultural tourism is extremely detrimental to indigenous groups as it is an extension of colonial power relationships that reinforces stereotypes, degrades culture, and economically exploits indigenous people. This paper will draw on two ethnic groups that use different techniques to participate in cultural tourism in East Africa, the Maasai in Kenya and the Hadza in Tanzania, in order to explore the components to this debate. Analysis of the Maasai and the Hadza in East Africa will provide insight into whether cultural tourism is an effective way to culturally and economically support indigenous people, or a brutal extension of colonial power dynamics that economically exploits and socially and culturally degrades indigenous people.

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In Honors Theses

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Parasites play an extensive role in ecological systems. Any important response in a host can be altered by the presence of a parasite, including reproduction, behavior, overall health, and immune response. Here, I examine the roles of parasites of Sciuridae (Gray squirrels—Sciurus carolinensis and Eastern chipmunks—Tamias striatus). Animals were trapped at Union College in Schenectady, NY and at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY during August and September, 2009. Eggs of parasites were isolated from fecal samples using both qualitative (floatation) and quantitative (McMaster) techniques. I identified six helminth species and one protozoan species, and then looked at the differences in species richness and egg intensity between the Cary population (rural) and Union College population (urban). There was a decrease in parasite species richness in the urban area, as well as an increase in egg intensity in the squirrel population. These changes in parasite fauna across the urban-rural gradient are important because of the increasing impact of urbanization and the abundance of squirrels in cities. In addition to the urbanization question, I looked at the interactions between external parasites (Ixodes ticks) and internal helminth and protozoa species in the animals trapped at the Cary Institute. While no relationship was found in squirrels, chipmunks had a positive relationship between tick body burden and helminth egg burden. Although both of these data sets are preliminary data, they demonstrate the importance of interactions between parasite species and the possible influence of external environment on hosts and their parasites.

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In Honors Theses

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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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Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, ICP-MS, were used to investigate mercury pollution in Norway Spruce tree bark (Picea abies) located downwind from the Huntley coal-fired power plant in North Tonawanda, New York. We predicted that mercury concentration, C, would fall inversely with distance, r, and experimentally determined that after a 5.77 km – 9.47 km deposition delay, mercury concentration fell as C ??r-1.48 with an r2 value of 0.96. PIXE was useful in quickly and non-destructively (experiment could be done repeatedly) determining order of magnitude concentrations for heavy metals with concentrations less than one part-per-million. ICP-MS requires a more involved sample preparation method, but was useful in very precisely determining mercury concentrations. After comparing PIXE to ICP-MS, we found that the two methods were in agreement, although with varying precision. For the comparison sample, we found a PIXE value of 100 ± 70 ?g kg-1 compared to 43 ± 1 ?g kg-1 for ICPMS (mass of mercury per mass of bark). Using the experimental concentration – distance relationship, we found that the Huntley Power Plant had a sphere of influence (mercury concentration above background levels) of 100 – 200 km. Department of Physics and Astronomy, June 2008.

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The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is an ecosystem featuring sandy soils and forest fires. These soils create microclimates ideal for the survival of Ixodes scapularis, the tick vector responsible for transmission of Lyme disease. In response to invasive species, the Albany Pine Bush Commission uses taxpayer money for habitat maintenance to preserve biodiversity. Therefore, I examined the costs and benefits of habitat management in this habitat. Unlike most studies, this analysis values both biodiversity and Lyme disease abatement. Environmental literature suggests that habitat management can reduce the density of I. scapularis, and thus the risk of Lyme disease infection. Accordingly, this study measures the value of habitat management from a perspective previously unexplored in the literature. This hypothesis was tested by sampling I. scapularis population density throughout the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Density sampling revealed that tick density was reduced by over 99% in areas where black locust removal occurred, indicating that habitat management can reduce Lyme disease risk in the Albany Pine Bush preserve. Values for biodiversity and Lyme disease abatement were derived from a contingent valuation survey distributed to individuals living adjacent to the preserve. These values were then compared through a cost-benefit analysis. Responses were used to develop upper and lower bound per annum willingness to pay values to create a range of benefits for the remediation. Costs were provided by the Albany Pine Bush Commission. A Net Present Value (NPV) technique was then used to evaluate the costs and benefits of habitat management in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve across a variety of cost-benefit scenarios. These techniques revealed that habitat management is a cost effective means of both preserving biodiversity and reducing Lyme disease risk across a wide range of habitat management scenarios, with all calculations proving cost effective. Net present values ranged from a high of over $537,000,000 to a low of over $7,000,000, with an average net present value across all scenarios of approximately $165,000,000.

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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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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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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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From 1837 until the early 1970s, New York City constructed a total of 19 reservoirs in the Catskill/Delaware region to meet growing demand for clean drinking water. This historically strained relationship between upstate and New York City officials due to involuntary land acquisition has positively progressed since reservoir construction. However, as New York City has utilized regulations and additional land acquisition to avoid billions of dollars in water filtration expenditures, tensions have again risen. Through interviews with watershed and state officials, this research study has found a more cooperative and trusting relationship can be built with more targeted land acquisition, greater New York City monetary support of watershed economic sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and forestry, more New York City employment opportunities in the watershed, and better communication channels.

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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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The majority of the NYC water supply is provided by a system of dams and reservoirs that have been created in upstate New York. As the owner of this water supply system, NYC is responsible for managing each of the dams and reservoirs within the system. This responsibility includes upholding dam regulations in order to ensure the safety of the citizens of the surrounding area and to lesson any environmental impacts that may occur due to the water supply system. Of the 30 dams owned by NYC, however, 25 of them have been identified at a high-hazard level according the National Inventory of Dams. The Gilboa Dam, which is located in Schoharie County along the Schoharie Creek, is part of the Catskill water supply system of NYC and is one of the NYC dams that has recently been classified at a high-hazard level. The possibility of the Gilboa Dam failing is just one of many problems NYC has had to mitigate with regard to its water supply system. While this thesis will focus primarily on the Gilboa Dam crisis, it will also examine the management of dams at a national level in order to recommend future policies in dam projects.

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In Honors Theses

Abstract

The majority of the NYC water supply is provided by a system of dams and reservoirs that have been created in upstate New York. As the owner of this water supply system, NYC is responsible for managing each of the dams and reservoirs within the system. This responsibility includes upholding dam regulations in order to ensure the safety of the citizens of the surrounding area and to lesson any environmental impacts that may occur due to the water supply system. Of the 30 dams owned by NYC, however, 25 of them have been identified at a high-hazard level according the National Inventory of Dams. The Gilboa Dam, which is located in Schoharie County along the Schoharie Creek, is part of the Catskill water supply system of NYC and is one of the NYC dams that has recently been classified at a high-hazard level. The possibility of the Gilboa Dam failing is just one of many problems NYC has had to mitigate with regard to its water supply system. While this thesis will focus primarily on the Gilboa Dam crisis, it will also examine the management of dams at a national level in order to recommend future policies in dam projects.

Type of Resource

Thesis

Rights Statement