How's the Water? Hudson River Water Quality and Water Infrastructure

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HOW’S THE WATER? Hudson River Water Quality and Water Infrastructure

The Hudson River Estuary is an engine of life for the coastal ecosystem, the source of drinking water for more than 100,000 people, home to the longest open water swim event in the world, and the central feature supporting the quality of life and $4.4 billion tourism economy for the region.

This report focuses on one important aspect of protecting and improving Hudson River Estuary water quality – sewage-related contamination and water infrastructure. Untreated sewage puts drinking water and recreational users at risk.

Water quality data presented here are based on analysis of more than 8,200 samples taken since 2008 from the Hudson River Estuary by Riverkeeper, CUNY Queens College, Columbia University’s Lamont- Doherty Earth Observatory; and from its tributaries by dozens of partner organizations and individual 21% community scientists. Water infrastructure information Hudson River Estuary samples presented here is based on data from the Department that failed to meet federal safe of Environmental Conservation and Environmental swimming guidelines Facilities Corporation, which administers State Revolving Funds. 44 Municipally owned wastewater While the Hudson River is safe for swimming at most treatment plants that locations on most days sampled, raw sewage overflows discharge to the Estuary and leaks from aging and failing infrastructure too often make waters unsafe. The Hudson’s tributaries $4.8 Billion – the smaller creeks and rivers that feed it – are often Investment needed in sources of contamination. wastewater infrastructure in the Hudson River Watershed To improve water quality, action is needed at the federal, state and local levels to increase and prioritize infrastructure investments. ABOUT THE DATA

he main focus of Riverkeeper’s monitoring How Does Entero enter the Water? Tstudies is Enterococcus (Entero), a group of fecal Entero is normally found in the guts of warm-blooded indicator bacteria with well established protocols for animals, including humans. Thus, its presence in a measurement, and federal criteria that allow the data to natural waterway indicates that the water may be be related to water quality. While Entero are themselves contaminated with fecal matter. Sources of Entero may not usually harmful, they indicate that disease-causing include untreated or partially-treated sewage, as well pathogens associated with fecal contamination are likely as the other sources listed below. For a more detailed present. Sewage-related pathogens are the leading cause discussion, see Riverkeeper’s 2015 How’s the Water? of illness from swimming and other recreational use of report. the water. A range of other pollutants, ranging from • Combined sewage overflows (CSOs) that discharge nutrients to pharmaceuticals, may also be present. stormwater and sewage when it rains; • other leaks or overflows from aging sewer pipes, Why Entero? pump stations and wastewater treatment plants; New York State’s Water Quality Standards use an • illicit connections between sanitary and stormwater outdated group of fecal indicator bacteria, Fecal sewers; Coliforms, that haven’t been recommended for use • failing septic systems; by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since • urban stormwater contaminated with pet waste, 1986. New York State is updating its standards, and wildlife waste and other sources; based on the EPA’s 2012 Recreational Water Quality • runoff from agriculture, including livestock farms Criteria, must use Entero in saline waters and either or farms where manure or sewer sludge is spread as Entero or E. coli (another type of fecal indicator fertilizer; bacteria) in fresh waters. Riverkeeper, based on advice • wildlife; and consultation with our science partners at CUNY • contaminated sediment and biofilms. Queens College and Columbia University’s Lamont- Doherty Earth Observatory, uses Entero and assesses Our Partners water quality using EPA’s criteria for these reasons: The data in this report have been gathered, analyzed and communicated by a large number of partners, and ➊ Entero is the only fecal indicator bacteria our program is funded by diverse sources. In addition recommended for use in both fresh and saline waters. to our longtime partners, CUNY Queens College The Hudson, as an estuary, has both fresh and saline and Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth waters. Observatory, and the Riverkeeper members who make ➋ Entero is a more sensitive indicator than E. coli our work possible, we wish to acknowledge and thank across the range of conditions found in the estuary, our Water Quality Program partners, including those and should therefore better protect public health and listed here who have worked with us since our last the environment. publication in 2015: ➌ The EPA criteria for Entero are based on analysis of decades of science. While there is more to learn, Ancram Conservation Advisory Council, Ashokan and we participate actively in scientific exploration Center, Bard Water Lab, Batten Kill Conservancy, of additional water quality monitoring techniques, Brooklyn College, Bronx River Alliance, Butler there is robust science underlying the assessment of Conservation Fund, Catskill Creek Awareness Project, water quality based on Entero. Columbia-Greene Trout Unlimited, Cornell University, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Protection Fund, Eppeley Foundation, Fluid-Screen, Gardiner Environmental Conservation Commission, U.S. Geological Survey, Groundwork Hudson Valley, Hoosic River Watershed Association, HSBC Water Programme, Hudson Basin River Watch, Hudson

2 RIVERKEEPER HOW TO READ THE DATA CHARTS

Crossing Park, DEC Hudson River Estuary Program, he EPA’s Recreational Water Quality Criteria define Hudson River Improvement Fund of the Hudson River Tthresholds of Entero per 100 ml of water (“Entero Foundation, Hudson River Maritime Museum, IDEXX, count”). Based on epidemiological studies of people Jarrett Engineers, John Jay College, JPB Foundation, who became ill at beaches, the EPA set thresholds JSA Financial, LaGuardia Community College, Leo for Entero in water that are designed to prevent an S. Walsh Foundation, Leon Lowenstein Foundation, elevated risk of illness to people engaged in activities Manhattan Community Award Program, Middleburgh where ingestion of water or full immersion of the body Central School, Montgomery Conservation Advisory is likely. Such activities, known as “primary contact Council, New Paltz Kayaking Tours, New York City recreation,” include swimming, bathing, surfing, water Water Trail Association, New York Sea Grant, New skiing, tubing, skin diving, and water play by children. York State Water Resources Institute, DEC Mohawk River Basin Program, Ossining High School, Park Throughout our report, red indicates an exceedance of Foundation, Philipp Family Foundation, Pleasantville EPA guidelines for safe swimming. The EPA criteria Conservation Advisory Council, Pocantico River includes three ways to measure water quality, and each Watershed Alliance, Prime Print Shop, Quassaick is reflected in this report: Creek Watershed Alliance, Rensselaer Land Trust, Rhinebeck Rotary Club, Rochester Environmental ➊ Beach Action Value: If a single sample exceeds an Conservation Commission, Rocking the Boat, Roe Jan Entero count of 60, swimming is not recommended. Watershed Community, Rosendale Commission for We illustrate the percentage of samples that exceeded the Conservation of the Environment, Sarah Lawrence the Beach Action Value with bar charts. College Center for the Urban River at Beczak, Saunders Technical School, Saw Kill Watershed Community, ➋ Geometric Mean: A geometric mean (GM) is Saw Mill River Coalition, Skidmore College, Sparkill a weighted average of multiple samples. If the Creek Watershed Alliance, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY GM exceeds 30, water is not considered safe for Poly, SUNY Rockland, The River Project, Wallkill River swimming. We illustrate the GM with proportional Watershed Alliance, Watershed Assessment Associates, colored bars to show which sites have the greatest Wawarsing Environmental Conservation Commission, and least “average” levels of contamination. Westchester Community Foundation, Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club. NO. SITE %STV GM 1 Hudson above Mohawk River 15 22.7 2 Mohawk River at Waterford 64 202.4 3 Hudson River above Troy Lock 42 105.6

➌ Statistical Threshold Value: If 10% or more of samples exceed 110, water is not considered safe for swimming due the frequency of contamination events, even if “average” levels are low. We illustrate the Statistical Threshold Value (STV) with numerals inside colored icons to indicate the percentage of samples that exceeded this threshold.

>10% <10%

Note: EPA criteria call for calculating the GM and STV based on a rolling monthly basis, with weekly sampling. Our sampling occurs monthly, but over time should reveal similar patterns.

HOW’S THE WATER? 3 Rensselaer County Rensselaer 1 Troy 3 2 4 Rensselaer 5 6 8 9 Cohoes 7 Columbia County Columbia Hudson 12 Watervliet 10 11 Albany 14 Dutchess County Dutchess 13 Westchester County Westchester Bethlehem Putnam County

Flushing Bay Pocantico River Pocantico Queens 15 Coxsackie Tarrytown Coeymans 17 16 53 East River 51 49 56 Yonkers Bronx 52 18 48 54 55 58 Tivoli

Peekskill 59 Poughkeepsie Creek Wappinger 57 50

Albany County Albany 22 61 19 21 42 44 63 70 60 29 Cold Spring Cold 32 31 41 23 46 20 71 34

30 Nyack Creek 69

28 64 47 38 33 Sparkill Brooklyn 27 39 Beacon 65 Catskill Creek 43 72 37 Manhattan 45 26 35 40 25 66 67 74 Highland

36 Esopus Creek Esopus Greene County Greene Saugerties 24 68 73 Haverstraw Kingston Bergen County, N.J. County, Bergen Rockland County Rockland

Ulster County

Orange County Orange Rondout Creek Rondout Hoboken Newburgh

Fort Montgomery Fort Walkill River Walkill Hudson County, N.J. Hudson County, One of the important One of the important the public should concepts there is that understand the to one answer is not the “How’s question, varies The answer Water?” time. and over location by of The percentage the samples exceeding of and the range BAV levels contamination locations two at observed even one another, near to be may in the same city, different. very 76 86 86 98 411 161 184 241 142 816 219 414 166 275 275 288 236 399 663 464 605 4611 1733 1733

1785 1203 1670 1986 1986 1086 4106 4352 2987 5635 3448 5794 2420 2420 2420 2098 2909 24196 10462 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 >2420 MAX >24196 >24196 >24196 >24196 >24196 >24196 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 5 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10

MIN 30 38 45 48 46 55 55 52 54

BAV 61 63 59 60 63 67 67 71 72 74 74 76 76 77 78 78 83 82 82 82 82 82 79 79 79 79 79 79 80 80 80 70 21 62 39 41 46 26 24 28 21 21 45 17 73 24 15 85 7 93 21 26 22 21 11 89 7 93 9 91 21 45 37 13 87 5 95 20 6 94 2 98 9 91 6 94 13 87 14 86 9 91 40 17 13 87 48 20 33 4 96 5 95 22 18 11 89 13 87 9 91 18 16 84 18 4 96 5 95 4 96 14 86 2 98 54 13 87 29 23 33 7 93 18 2 98 18 20 5 95 9 91 52 37 4 96 8 92 55

SITE Mohawk River at Waterford Hudson above Mohawk River Congress St. Bridge – Troy Hudson River above Troy Lock Albany Rowing Dock Dunn Memorial Bridge – Albany Castleton Coeymans Landing Coxsackie Waterfront Park Bethlehem Launch Ramp Esopus Creek West Island Creek/Normans Kill Gay’s Point mid-channel Catskill Creek – First Bridge Catskill Launch Ramp Inbocht Bay Esopus Creek Entrance Catskill Creek – East End Malden Launch Ramp Rondout – Eddyville Anchorage Hudson Landing Ramp Tivoli Landing Ulster Landing Beach Athens Kingston STP Outfall Kingston Point Beach Port Ewen Drinking Water Intake Rondout – Kingston Public Dock Norrie Point Yacht Basin Norrie Point mid-channel Poughkeepsie Drinking Water Intake Marlboro Landing Poughkeepsie Launch Ramp Wappingers – New Hamburg Beacon Harbor The Battery mid-channel Tarrytown Marina Piermont Pier East River mid-channel at 23rd St. Gowanus Canal Kingsland Pt. Park – Pocantico River Orangetown STP Outfall Irvington Beach Yonkers STP Outfall 125th St. Pier Pier 96 Kayak Launch Castle Point, NJ Peekskill Riverfront Green Park Croton Point Beach Dyckman Street Beach Harlem River – Washington Bridge 79th St. mid-channel East River at Roosevelt Island Fort Montgomery Annesville Creek Cedar Pond Brook Haverstraw Bay mid-channel Emeline Beach- Haverstraw Ossining Beach North River STP @145th West Point STP Outfall TZ Bridge mid-channel Saw Mill River Harlem River – Willis Ave. Bridge Stony Point mid-channel Furnace Brook Nyack Launch Ramp Yonkers mid-channel GW Bridge mid-channel Newtown Creek–Metropolitan Ave. Bridge Newtown Creek – Dutch Kills Little Stony Point Cold Spring Harbor Newburgh Launch Ramp 1 3 7 2 5 8 6 9 4 11 13 31 17 71 12 21 15 51 18 16 19 61 14 41 10 33 73 37

23 32 27 35 53 72 57 22 25 52 55 38 39 63 36 67 28 58 26 29 34 62 56 59 65 43 74 47 24 42 54 45 30 70 20 50 68 66 69 48 46 49 64 44 60 40 Beach Action Value. If a single sample exceeds an Entero count of 60, swimming is not recommended. The bars The bars recommended. is not swimming of 60, count an Entero If a single sample exceeds Value. Beach Action Value. the Beach Action exceeded that each site of samples at the percentage show NO. HUDSON RIVER ESTUARY: RIVER ESTUARY: HUDSON SITE SAMPLING BY DATA

4 RIVERKEEPER Rensselaer County Rensselaer 1 Troy 3 2 4 Rensselaer 5 6 8 9 Cohoes 7 Columbia County Columbia Hudson 12 Watervliet 10 11 Albany 14 Dutchess County Dutchess 13 Westchester County Westchester Bethlehem Putnam County

Flushing Bay Pocantico River Pocantico Queens 15 Coxsackie Tarrytown Coeymans 17 16 53 East River 51 49 56 Yonkers Bronx 52 18 48 54 55 58 Tivoli

Peekskill 59 Poughkeepsie Creek Wappinger 57 50

Albany County Albany 22 61 19 21 42 44 63 70 60 29 Cold Spring Cold 32 31 41 23 46 20 71 34

30 Nyack Creek 69

28 64 47 38 33 Sparkill Brooklyn 27 39 Beacon 65 Catskill Creek 43 72 37 Manhattan 45 26 35 40 25 66 67 74 Highland

36 Esopus Creek Esopus Greene County Greene Saugerties 24 68 73 Haverstraw Kingston Bergen County, N.J. County, Bergen Rockland County Rockland

Ulster County

Orange County Orange Rondout Creek Rondout Hoboken Newburgh

Fort Montgomery Fort Walkill River Walkill Hudson County, N.J. Hudson County, 76 86 86 98 411 161 184 241 142 816 219 414 166 275 275 288 236 399 663 464 605 4611 1733 1733

MIN 30 38 45 48 46 55 55 52 54

BAV 61 63 59 60 63 67 67 71 72 74 74 76 76 77 78 78 83 82 82 82 82 82 79 79 79 79 79 79 80 80 80 70 21 62 39 41 46 26 24 28 21 21 45 17 73 24 15 85 7 93 21 26 22 21 11 89 7 93 9 91 21 45 37 13 87 5 95 20 6 94 2 98 9 91 6 94 13 87 14 86 55 9 91 13 87 48 4 96 52 37 40 17 20 33 4 96 5 95 22 18 11 89 8 92 13 87 9 91 18 16 84 18 4 96 5 95 4 96 14 86 2 98 54 13 87 29 23 33 7 93 18 2 98 18 20 5 95 9 91

SITE Mohawk River at Waterford Hudson above Mohawk River Congress St. Bridge – Troy Hudson River above Troy Lock Albany Rowing Dock Dunn Memorial Bridge – Albany Castleton Coeymans Landing Coxsackie Waterfront Park Bethlehem Launch Ramp Esopus Creek West Island Creek/Normans Kill Gay’s Point mid-channel Catskill Creek – First Bridge Catskill Launch Ramp Inbocht Bay Esopus Creek Entrance Catskill Creek – East End Malden Launch Ramp Rondout – Eddyville Anchorage Hudson Landing Ramp Tivoli Landing Ulster Landing Beach Athens Kingston STP Outfall Kingston Point Beach Port Ewen Drinking Water Intake Rondout – Kingston Public Dock Norrie Point Yacht Basin Norrie Point mid-channel Poughkeepsie Drinking Water Intake Marlboro Landing Poughkeepsie Launch Ramp Wappingers – New Hamburg Beacon Harbor Newburgh Launch Ramp The Battery mid-channel East River mid-channel at 23rd St. Gowanus Canal Newtown Creek – Dutch Kills Little Stony Point Newtown Creek–Metropolitan Ave. Bridge Tarrytown Marina Piermont Pier Kingsland Pt. Park – Pocantico River Orangetown STP Outfall Irvington Beach Yonkers STP Outfall 125th St. Pier Pier 96 Kayak Launch Castle Point, NJ Peekskill Riverfront Green Park Croton Point Beach Dyckman Street Beach Harlem River – Washington Bridge 79th St. mid-channel East River at Roosevelt Island Cold Spring Harbor Fort Montgomery Annesville Creek Cedar Pond Brook Haverstraw Bay mid-channel Emeline Beach- Haverstraw Ossining Beach North River STP @145th West Point STP Outfall TZ Bridge mid-channel Saw Mill River Harlem River – Willis Ave. Bridge Stony Point mid-channel Furnace Brook Nyack Launch Ramp Yonkers mid-channel GW Bridge mid-channel 1 3 7 2 5 8 6 9 4 11 13 31 17 71 12 21 15 51 18 16 19 61 14 41 10 33 37 73

23 32 27 35 72 53 57 22 25 52 55 38 36 39 63 67 28 58 26 29 34 62 56 59 65 43 74 47 24 42 54 45 30 70 20 50 68 66 69 48 46 49 64 44 60 40 NO. = Passes EPA guidelines for safe swimming. (Single-sample Entero counts 60 or less.) 60 or less.) counts (Single-sample Entero swimming. safe guidelines for EPA = Passes n Acceptable area. of swimming in closure and should result (BAV), Value Beach Advisory recommended EPA’s = Fails n Beach Advisory than 60.) greater count (Single-sample Entero

HOW’S THE WATER? 5 Rensselaer County Rensselaer 1 Troy 3 2 4 Rensselaer 5 6 8 9 Cohoes 7 Columbia County Columbia Hudson 12 Watervliet 10 11 Albany 14 Dutchess County Dutchess 13 Westchester County Westchester Bethlehem Putnam County

Flushing Bay Pocantico River Pocantico Queens 15 Coxsackie Tarrytown Coeymans 17 16 53 East River 51 49 56 Yonkers Bronx 52 18 48 54 55 58 Tivoli

Peekskill 59 Poughkeepsie Creek Wappinger 57 50

Albany County Albany 22 61 19 21 42 44 63 70 60 29 Cold Spring Cold 32 31 41 23 46 20 71 34

30 Nyack Creek 69

28 64 47 38 33 Sparkill Brooklyn 27 39 Beacon 65 Catskill Creek 43 72 37 Manhattan 45 26 35 40 25 66 67 74 Highland

36 Esopus Creek Esopus Greene County Greene Saugerties 24 68 73 Haverstraw Kingston Bergen County, N.J. County, Bergen Rockland County Rockland

Ulster County

Orange County Orange Rondout Creek Rondout Hoboken Newburgh

Fort Montgomery Fort Walkill River Walkill Hudson County, N.J. Hudson County, More than one in three sites sampled sites than one in three More levels, contamination average has low but episodes of high contamination EPA exceed enough to frequent are that contamination Rain-related criteria. infrastructure aging and failing from this for explanation likely is the most locations. in most trend The impact on water quality from from quality on water The impact (CSOs) overflows sewer combined Kingston, in the Capital District, is City York and New Newburgh sewers Combined in the data. evident water, and storm sewage carry both when at multiple points and overflow it rains. 1.7 8.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 11.1 7.3 3.3 8.7 7.8 3.8 5.3 3.2 2.3 7.4 4.3 8.8 2.8 9.7 6.7 6.7 9.3 4.5 4.8 5.6 8.6 2.9 2.9 8.0 9.9 9.9 6.9 13.1 6.0 11.9 13.7 13.4 12.2 71.9 17.0 18.9 61.8 19.8 10.3 21.6 21.9 12.9 26.1 29.1 10.8 12.0 19.6 66.1 19.0 75.7 10.0 27.5 28.7 22.7 22.7 35.8 28.3 55.8 36.5 23.9 82.4 85.6 95.8 64.2 20.5 29.6 92.6 105.6 202.4

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 2 2 2 2 2 5 5 5 5 6 6 9 9 6 9 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 0 0 0 0 11 11 17 13 13 17 13 13 13 15 15 15 12 15 18 18 18 18 19 16 16 41 14 23 35 23 22 22 25 38 38 36 29 26 29 42 45 24 30 20 64 %STV

SITE Poughkeepsie Launch Ramp Poughkeepsie Drinking Water Intake Marlboro Landing Kingston Point Beach Port Ewen Drinking Water Intake Norrie Point mid-channel Norrie Point Yacht Basin Wappingers – New Hamburg Esopus Creek West Esopus Creek Entrance Kingston STP Outfall Coeymans Landing Catskill Creek – East End Malden Launch Ramp Hudson Landing Ramp Tivoli Landing Ulster Landing Beach Athens Rondout – Kingston Public Dock Castleton Gay's Point mid-channel Catskill Creek – First Bridge Catskill Launch Ramp Inbocht Bay Coxsackie Waterfront Park Rondout – Eddyville Anchorage Bethlehem Launch Ramp Congress St. Bridge – Troy Mohawk River at Waterford Hudson River above Troy Lock Albany Rowing Dock Dunn Memorial Bridge – Albany Island Creek/Normans Kill Hudson above Mohawk River The Battery mid-channel East River mid-channel at 23rd St. Gowanus Canal Newtown Creek- Metropolitan Ave. Bridge Newtown Creek – Dutch Kills East River at Roosevelt Island TZ Bridge mid-channel Saw Mill River Kingsland Pt. Park – Pocantico River Orangetown STP Outfall Irvington Beach Yonkers mid-channel Yonkers STP Outfall Castle Point, NJ Tarrytown Marina Piermont Pier Nyack Launch Ramp Pier 96 Kayak Launch Dyckman Street Beach Harlem River- Washington Bridge 79th St. mid-channel Little Stony Point Cold Spring Harbor Ossining Beach Newburgh Launch Ramp GW Bridge mid-channel 125th St. Pier Croton Point Beach Beacon Harbor Fort Montgomery Annesville Creek Haverstraw Bay mid-channel Emeline Beach – Haverstraw North River STP @145th West Point STP Outfall Harlem River – Willis Ave. Bridge Stony Point mid-channel Furnace Brook Peekskill Riverfront Green Park Cedar Pond Brook 1 3 7 2 5 8 9 6 4 11 31 13 17 71 21 12 15 51 18 16 19 61 14 41 10 33 73 37

32 23 27 72 53 35 57 22 25 52 55 38 36 39 63 67 28 58 29 26 62 34 56 59 65 43 74 47 24 42 54 45 30 70 20 50 68 69 66 48 49 46 64 44 60 40 NO. These charts show the frequency and degree of contamination, as they relate of contamination, as they relate and degree the frequency These charts show if “average” red colored The bars are criteria for safe swimming. to EPA (geometric mean of 30). threshold the EPA-recommended contamination exceeds the of samples exceed stop sign if 10% or more with a red Each site is marked of 110). value (statistical threshold threshold EPA HUDSON RIVER ESTUARY: RIVER ESTUARY: HUDSON AND DEGREE OF CONTAMINATION FREQUENCY

6 RIVERKEEPER Rensselaer County Rensselaer 1 Troy 3 2 4 Rensselaer 5 6 8 9 Cohoes 7 Columbia County Columbia Hudson 12 Watervliet 10 11 Albany 14 Dutchess County Dutchess 13 Westchester County Westchester Bethlehem Putnam County

Flushing Bay Pocantico River Pocantico Queens 15 Coxsackie Tarrytown Coeymans 17 16 53 East River 51 49 56 Yonkers Bronx 52 18 48 54 55 58 Tivoli

Peekskill 59 Poughkeepsie Creek Wappinger 57 50

Albany County Albany 22 61 19 21 42 44 63 70 60 29 Cold Spring Cold 32 31 41 23 46 20 71 34

30 Nyack Creek 69

28 64 47 38 33 Sparkill Brooklyn 27 39 Beacon 65 Catskill Creek 43 72 37 Manhattan 45 26 35 40 25 66 67 74 Highland

36 Esopus Creek Esopus Greene County Greene Saugerties 24 68 73 Haverstraw Kingston Bergen County, N.J. County, Bergen Rockland County Rockland

Ulster County

Orange County Orange Rondout Creek Rondout Hoboken Newburgh

Fort Montgomery Fort Walkill River Walkill Hudson County, N.J. Hudson County, Samples are taken in the taken Samples are of 12 mouths or tidal reaches is tributaries. Though there among variation significant sampled site them, every safe meet to fail would indicating criteria, swimming these smaller creeks that of a source are and rivers the Hudson. to contamination 1.7 8.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 11.1 7.3 3.3 8.7 7.8 3.8 5.3 3.2 2.3 7.4 4.3 8.8 2.8 9.7 6.7 6.7 9.3 4.5 4.8 5.6 8.6 2.9 2.9 8.0 9.9 9.9 6.9 13.1 6.0 11.9 13.7 13.4 12.2 71.9 17.0 18.9 61.8 19.8 10.3 21.6 21.9 12.9 26.1 29.1 10.8 12.0 66.1 19.6 19.0 75.7 10.0 27.5 28.7 22.7 22.7 35.8 28.3 55.8 36.5 23.9 82.4 85.6 95.8 64.2 20.5 92.6 29.6 105.6 202.4

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 2 2 2 2 2 5 5 5 5 6 6 9 9 6 9 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 0 0 0 0 11 11 17 13 13 17 13 13 13 15 15 15 12 15 18 18 18 18 19 16 16 41 14 35 23 23 22 22 25 38 38 36 29 29 26 42 45 24 30 20 64 %STV

SITE The Battery mid-channel East River mid-channel at 23rd St. Gowanus Canal Newtown Creek – Dutch Kills Poughkeepsie Launch Ramp Poughkeepsie Drinking Water Intake Marlboro Landing Kingston Point Beach Port Ewen Drinking Water Intake Beacon Harbor Norrie Point mid-channel Norrie Point Yacht Basin Wappingers – New Hamburg Esopus Creek West Esopus Creek Entrance Kingston STP Outfall Coeymans Landing Catskill Creek – East End Malden Launch Ramp Hudson Landing Ramp Tivoli Landing Ulster Landing Beach Athens Rondout – Kingston Public Dock Castleton Gay's Point mid-channel Catskill Creek – First Bridge Catskill Launch Ramp Inbocht Bay Coxsackie Waterfront Park Rondout – Eddyville Anchorage Bethlehem Launch Ramp Congress St. Bridge – Troy Mohawk River at Waterford Hudson River above Troy Lock Albany Rowing Dock Dunn Memorial Bridge – Albany Island Creek/Normans Kill Hudson above Mohawk River Newtown Creek- Metropolitan Ave. Bridge East River at Roosevelt Island TZ Bridge mid-channel Saw Mill River Kingsland Pt. Park – Pocantico River Orangetown STP Outfall Irvington Beach Yonkers mid-channel Yonkers STP Outfall Castle Point, NJ Tarrytown Marina Piermont Pier Newburgh Launch Ramp Nyack Launch Ramp Pier 96 Kayak Launch Dyckman Street Beach Harlem River- Washington Bridge 79th St. mid-channel Little Stony Point Cold Spring Harbor Ossining Beach GW Bridge mid-channel 125th St. Pier Croton Point Beach Fort Montgomery Annesville Creek Haverstraw Bay mid-channel Emeline Beach – Haverstraw North River STP @145th West Point STP Outfall Harlem River – Willis Ave. Bridge Stony Point mid-channel Furnace Brook Peekskill Riverfront Green Park Cedar Pond Brook 1 3 7 2 5 8 9 6 4 11 31 13 71 17 21 12 15 51 18 16 19 61 14 41 10 33 73 37

32 23 72 27 35 53 57 22 25 52 55 38 36 39 63 67 28 58 29 26 62 34 56 59 65 43 74 47 24 42 54 45 30 70 20 50 68 69 66 48 49 46 64 44 60 40 The Hudson Paradox tested locations most However, in the Hudson Estuary. swimming for is safe water of the time, most places, Most 2008, since analyzed Estuary the Hudson River samples from Of nearly 4,000 criteria. swimming safe meet to fail since sampled monthly sites Of 74 threshold. guidelines based on the single-sample BAV safe-swimming met 79% (STV) high occasional very and/or (GM) based on high average criteria safe-swimming meet to fail would 2008, 55% contamination. NO.

HOW’S THE WATER? 7 Rensselaer County Rensselaer Troy Rensselaer Cohoes Columbia County Columbia Hudson Watervliet Albany Dutchess County Dutchess Westchester County Westchester Bethlehem Putnam County

Flushing Bay Pocantico River Pocantico Queens Tarrytown Coeymans Coxsackie East River Yonkers The total discharge of 26 small of 26 discharge The total totals plants municipally owned daily less than 4% of the average to sewage of treated discharge Estuary. the Hudson River Bronx Tivoli

Albany County Albany Peekskill Poughkeepsie Creek Wappinger

Cold Spring Cold

Nyack Creek Sparkill Brooklyn

Catskill Creek Beacon Manhattan

Highland Esopus Creek Esopus Greene County Greene Saugerties Kingston Bergen County, N.J. County, Bergen Rockland County Rockland Haverstraw

Ulster County

Orange County Orange Rondout Creek Rondout Hoboken Newburgh

The color of the dot indicates the of the dot indicates color The Key: treated. of wastewater volume average ● < 1 million gallons per day ● 1-5 million gallons per day million gallons per day ● 5-10 ● > 10 million gallons per day intake n drinking water Fort Montgomery Fort Walkill River Walkill Hudson County, N.J. Hudson County, Capital Region: $132 Million $132 Capital Region: reduce Plan to Control Term Long Act-mandated on a Clean Water collaborating are in the Capital District Six communities when sewage untreated can discharge that (CSOs) overflows combined sewer than 90 More overflows. sewer combined in the Capital serving these communities plants treatment regional large Three in these communities. located are it rains Estuary. the Hudson River to direct daily discharge average 27% of the total for account together District The Hudson River Estuary is the tidal portion of the Hudson River and its River Estuary River is the tidal portion of the Hudson The Hudson is a There and the Capital District. Harbor York New tributaries between in 44 wastewater treatment documented need for $558 million in investments York Estuary River - not including New facilities that discharge to the Hudson addition, communities have will cost tens of billions. In projects where City, in five documented the need for $65 million in drinking water investments on the same estuaryfacilities that rely to supply drinking water over 100,000 people. combined including reducing projects, needed for various are The investments The treatment plants, pump stations and pipes. and fixing aging sewer overflows, 100 over well are Some 60 years. is over age of sewer pipes in the region average old. years plants that discharge the location of wastewater treatment This map shows as the drinking water treatment as well Estuary, River to the Hudson directly with select infrastructure Estuary, River the Hudson plants that draw water from one-quarter roughly the covers Watershed River The Hudson needs highlighted. as portions as well of Connecticut, Massachusetts, State, York of New land area facilities treatment of other municipally owned Dozens Vermont. and Jersey New and may River – discharge into the tributaries of Hudson here – not shown affect its water quality. as listed in the otherwise are needs noted here noted, the infrastructure Unless Water and Drinking Water Clean York’s draft 2018 intended use plan for New Roughly actual needs: likely underestimate These figures Funds. Revolving State The years. listed in recent not had a project four in 10 communities have to discharges the Estuary refer numbers below of daily discharge” “percent City. York north of New WATER INFRASTRUCTURE: INFRASTRUCTURE: WATER RIVER ESTUARY HUDSON

8 RIVERKEEPER Rensselaer County Rensselaer Troy Rensselaer Cohoes Columbia County Columbia Hudson Watervliet Albany Dutchess County Dutchess Westchester County Westchester Bethlehem Putnam County

Flushing Bay Pocantico River Pocantico Queens Tarrytown Coeymans Coxsackie East River Yonkers Bronx Tivoli

Albany County Albany Peekskill Poughkeepsie Creek Wappinger

Cold Spring Cold

Nyack Creek Sparkill Brooklyn

Catskill Creek Beacon Manhattan

Highland Esopus Creek Esopus Greene County Greene Saugerties Kingston Bergen County, N.J. County, Bergen Rockland County Rockland Haverstraw

Ulster County

Orange County Orange Rondout Creek Rondout Hoboken Newburgh

Fort Montgomery Fort Walkill River Walkill Hudson County, N.J. Hudson County, Mid Hudson: $121 Million Mid Hudson: $121 or one of the tidal tributaries in the Class A portion of Hudson River, into wastewater discharge communities Eighteen the Hudson to sewage of treated daily discharge under 10% of the average just total these facilities Together, reach. that million. Among these in these is $56 investments infrastructure wastewater need for documented The total Estuary. River rains: the cities of Hudson, when it sewage with untreated can overflow that sewers with combined four are communities and the Village of Catskill. and Poughkeepsie, Kingston drinking is for use” of Class A water “best the designated Act, of the Clean Water implementation State’s York Under New rely on the Hudson River that systems and distribution plants municipal treatment five operate that The communities water. Drinking to the NYS million in needs, according $65 over defined have people with drinking water 100,000 over serve to Fund. Revolving State Water $33 million of Newburgh: City for $22 million in need has identified under $34,500, which has a median household income of Newburgh, The City of which crisis, the cost a drinking water of 28,500 also faces The city projects. million in drinking water and $11 wastewater with the contaminated to be found was Lake, Washington reservoir, its primary In 2016, in these figures. for is unaccounted The Base. National Guard Air Stewart from the foam of firefighting discharges from resulting PFOS, contaminant unregulated New supplies throughout public drinking water for protection water in source investments the need for highlights incident other communities. or in most in Newburgh not been documented, needs have project protection water Source State. York million Hudson: $185 Lower The County. Westchester southwestern throughout communities serves Plant Treatment Wastewater Joint The Yonkers The regional Estuary. the Hudson River to daily discharge average of the total nearly 35% for accounts plant Yonkers sewage untreated discharge that (CSOs) overflows sewer also includes 10 combined County in Westchester system collection County. in Rockland plants treatment regional two from comes daily discharge Another 11% of the average during rain. billion $3.4 NYC: of wastewater survey national The last projects. Fund Revolving State billion in potential $3.4 has documented City York New is cost infrastructure wastewater City’s York New estimated in 2012, Agency, Protection Environmental the U.S. needs by plants, treatment has 14 wastewater City York New 20 years. $25 billion over almost at total, nearly 10% of the national the Hudson York Harbor, to New discharge that overflows sewer combined 450 and over pipe, miles of sewer 6,400 roughly Island Sound and their tributaries. Long River,

HOW’S THE WATER? 9 WATER QUALITY AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE HUDSON RIVER TRIBUTARIES

The health the Hudson River depends on the water that reaches it from its watershed – the land area over which smaller creeks and rivers flow before reaching the Hudson. The Hudson River Watershed covers roughly one-quarter of New York State, and includes parts of Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Vermont. This map shows the watersheds for several tributaries of the Hudson River Estuary - the tidal reach of the river between New York Harbor and Troy. The highlighted areas are in watersheds where Riverkeeper and our partners have gathered water quality data from local creeks and rivers.

KEY Needs: Documented cost of wastewater ** infrastructure projects (NYS CWSRF IUP 2017) Facilities: Number of municipally owned wastewater *** treatment facilities (NYS DEC) Pipes: Miles of sewer pipe (NYS DEC) Pipe Age: Average age of sewer pipes (NYS DEC) Note: Data are based on municipal surveys and applications for financial support. The data are known to be incomplete and, in many cases, should be considered under-estimates. Privately owned wastewater infrastructure is not included. ➊ ➐

n Hudson River watershed ➋ ➑ n Meets safe swimming criteria (GM <30) ➌ n Nearly meets criteria (GM 30-120) ➍ n Exceeds criteria (GM 121-300) n Exceeds by an order of magnitude (GM 301-600) n Far exceeds criteria (GM 600+)

The color of each watershed indicates the ➎ magnitude of contamination measured over time, as defined by the geometric mean (GM) of fecal indicator bacteria (Enterococci per 100 mL). A geometric mean is a weighted average. The EPA’s Recreational Water Criteria defining safe “primary contact” recreation, such as swimming, is a GM of 30 or under. Samples were gathered and analyzed ➒ by Riverkeeper and dozens of partners. ➏ ➓

More data and analysis for these and other watersheds is available at riverkeeper.org/water-quality

➊ Catskill Creek ➋ Esopus Creek The Catskill Creek flows out of the forested Catskill The upper Esopus Creek feeds the Ashokan Reservoir, Mountains, and reaches the Hudson River Estuary at the largest of reservoir in New York City’s drinking the Village of Catskill, which has combined sewers. It water supply. The lower Esopus flows out of the Catskill is the third-largest tributary to the tidal Hudson River. Mountains and reaches the Hudson River Estuary at the Based on 431 water samples from 2011-2016, the Village of Saugerties. It is the fourth-largest tributary Catskill Creek likely nearly meets EPA criteria for safe to the tidal Hudson River. Based on 402 water samples swimming. from 2011-2016, the Lower Esopus Creek nearly meets EPA criteria for safe swimming. $13M 3 25 miles 60 yrs Needs Facilities Pipes Pipe Age $4M 7* 135 miles 69 yrs Needs Facilities Pipes Pipe Age

10 RIVERKEEPER WATER QUALITY AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

➌ Rondout Creek ➐ Roeliff Jansen Kill The upper Rondout Creek feeds the Rondout Reservior, The Roeliff Jansen Kill (“Roe Jan”) headwaters are in the part of the New York City drinking water supply. Massachusetts-New York border, and it flows through The lower Rondout Creek flows through a largely rural and agricultural communities before reaching the agricultural valley with several small communities before Hudson at Germantown. Based on 84 water samples reaching the Hudson River at Kingston, which has in 2016, the Roe Jan likely meets EPA criteria for safe combined sewers. It is the largest tributary to the tidal swimming. There are few if any sewered areas in the Hudson River. Based on 587 water samples from 2012- watershed, based on available data. 2016, the lower Rondout Creek likely exceeds EPA criteria for safe swimming. ➑ Saw Kill The Saw Kill Watershed includes rural and agricultural $15M 8* 163 miles 64 yrs communities. The creek flows into the Hudson River Needs Facilities Pipes Pipe Age at Annandale, and is the primary drinking water supply for Bard College. Based on 78 water samples in 2016, ➍ Wallkill River the Saw Kill likely nearly meets EPA criteria for safe The Wallkill River flows out of New Jersey through swimming. Privately owned wastewater infrastructure in a largely agricultural valley that is dotted with the watershed is not captured in the surveys. small communities, several villages and the City of Middletown. It is tributary to the Rondout Creek, and ➒ Pocantico River is one arm of the largest tributary to the tidal Hudson The Pocantico River flows through New York City River. Based on 685 water samples from 2012-2016, suburbs and reaches the Hudson River at the Village of the Wallkill River likely exceeds EPA criteria for safe Sleepy Hollow. Based on 442 water samples from 2010- swimming by an order of magnitude. 2016, the Pocantico River likely exceeds EPA criteria for safe swimming by an order of magnitude. While $72M 19 308 miles 67 yrs the watershed includes sewered areas, those data are not Needs Facilities Pipes Pipe Age captured in the available surveys.

➎ Quassaick Creek ➓ Saw Mill River The Quassaick Creek flows through parts of two The Saw Mill River flows through New York City counties before reaching the Hudson River at the City suburbs and reaches the Hudson River at the City of of Newburgh, which has combined sewers. Reservoirs in Yonkers, the fourth most populous city in New York its watershed provide primary drinking water supplies State. Based on 323 water samples taken from 2015- for both the City and Town of Newburgh. Based on 252 2016, the Saw Mill River likely exceeds EPA criteria for water samples from 2014-2015, the Quassaick Creek safe swimming by an order of magnitude. likely exceeds EPA criteria for safe swimming by an order of magnitude. $141M 1 25 miles 60 yrs Needs Facilities Pipes Pipe Age $27M 1 75 miles 114 yrs Needs Facilities Pipes Pipe Age *The City of Kingston wastewater infrastructure is counted both in the totals for the Rondout Creek and Esopus Creek watersheds. The facility ➏ Sparkill Creek and the combined sewer overflows are located in Rondout Creek, but The Sparkill Creek watershed includes land both in New pipes extend into the Esopus Creek Watershed. York and New Jersey. It reaches the Hudson at Piermont Marsh, part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve. *** The Mohawk River and **Upper Hudson River have documented Based on 572 water samples from 2011-2016, the Sparkill needs for at least $573 million and $100 million, respectively, in Creek likely far exceeds EPA criteria for safe swimming. investments in wastewater infrastructure. Data about facilities, pipes and pipe age were not available for these watersheds. $44M 2 319 miles 63 yrs Needs Facilities Pipes Pipe Age

HOW’S THE WATER? 11 IMPROVING WATER QUALITY IN THE HUDSON RIVER WATERSHED

hile this report focuses on fecal indicator New York State has made historic commitments bacteria, it’s important to understand that to water infrastructure, with the 2012 Sewage Wthere are many pollutants that are associated Pollution Right to Know Law, the 2015 Water with wastewater, including nutrients that can fuel algal Infrastructure Improvement Act and the 2017 Clean blooms, and pharmaceuticals and other unregulated Water Infrastructure Act. The value of Hudson contaminants. Some of these are removed by typical River Watershed wastewater projects funded in 2016 wastewater treatment processes, and some aren’t. and 2017 by these programs tops $500 million, in combined federal, state and local investments. The Hudson River Estuary Watershed is one of the nation’s oldest and most densely-populated settled areas. To further improve Hudson River water quality, Outside of New York City: Riverkeeper is advocating for increased funding for:

• 16 communities rely at least in part on combined 1. Water infrastructure sewers that carry both stormwater and sewage, and Double federal funding for State Revolving Funds, overflow into the Hudson or its tributaries at more while maintaining current formulas, and increase than 210 discharge points when it rains; state funding through New York’s landmark water • More than half of the 1,500 miles of inventoried infrastructure improvement programs pipes are aged 60 years or older; • About 10% of wastewater treatment plants that 2. Federal and state environmental agencies discharge directly to the Hudson River are at or Reject proposed draconian federal cuts to U.S. above 75% capacity; and, Environmental Protection Agency, and remove • Roughly one in four wastewater treatment plants the crippling budget freeze on the New York State that discharge directly to the Hudson are at risk of Department of Environmental Conservation inundation from sea-level rise, storm-surge flooding or both. 3. Harbor and estuary programs Increase federal funding for the New York-New Based on State Revolving Fund data, the need for Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program, and state funding wastewater investments in the Hudson River Watershed for the Hudson River Estuary Program top $4.8 billion, including: • $3.4 billion in New York City 4. Watershed management programs • $715 million in the Hudson River Estuary watershed Increase federal and state funding for Drinking • $573 million in the Mohawk River watershed Source Water Protection programs, and strenghten • $100 million in the Upper Hudson River watershed state-level rules and regulations to protect and restore watersheds.

20 Secor Road, Ossining, NY 10562 www.riverkeeper.org

Questions? Contact Dan Shapley, Water Quality Program Director, at [email protected] or 914-478-4501 x226

Data Use Policy: These water quality data are made freely available to the public. However, if they are used in a report, presentation or other publication, for research, policy, educational or other purposes, we ask that they be credited. Visit riverkeeper.org/water-quality for details about how to credit different datasets presented in this report.

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