1 Four Major Indicators of Environmental Change Dissolved
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Four Major Indicators of Environmental Change Dissolved Oxygen (DO) - The levels of oxygen dissolved in the water column are critical for the respiration of most aquatic life forms, including fish and invertebrates such as crabs, clams, zooplankton, etc. Dissolved oxygen concentration is, therefore, one of the most universal indicators of overall water quality and a means of determining habitat and ecosystem conditions. Fecal Coliform (FC) Bacteria - Fecal coliform concentrations are measured in NY Harbor as human health-related indicators of sewage-related pollution. Fecal coliform are a group of bacteria primarily found in human and animal intestines and are associated with sewage waste. These bacteria are widely used as indicator organisms to show the presence of such wastes in water and the possible presence of pathogenic (disease- producing) bacteria. Enterococci Bacteria - Enterococci are a subgroup within the fecal streptococcus group and are distinguished by their ability to survive in salt water, and in this respect they more closely mimic many pathogens than do the other indicators. Enterococci are typically more human-specific than the larger fecal streptococcus group. The US Environmental Protection Agency recommends enterococci as the best indicator of health risk in salt water used for recreation and as a useful indicator in fresh water as well. Secchi Transparency - A Secchi disk is used to estimate the clarity of surface waters. High Secchi transparency (greater than 5.0 feet) is indicative of clear water, with declines in transparency typically due to high suspended solids concentrations or plankton blooms. Low Secchi readings (less than 3.0 feet) are typically associated with degraded waters. These conditions are indicative of light-limiting conditions, which in turn affect primary productivity and nutrient cycling. 1 NYSDEC Standards - Coliform and dissolved oxygen indicators are used in New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) standards to quantify ecosystem health or degradation. NYSDEC standards reflect a range of acceptable water quality conditions corresponding to the State-designated “best usage” of the water body. Common uses and NYSDEC standards for fecal coliform and dissolved oxygen are noted in the following chart. 2 Staten Island Transects Tributaries N1 WESTCHESTER K1 St. George AC1 Alley Creek & Northern Blvd. COUNTY K2 Shooters Island AC2 Alley Creek Outfall BR1 r K3 A & K Railroad Bridge BB2 Head of Bergen Basin e v HR2 K4 Fresh Kills i BB4 Mouth of Bergen Basin R Long K5 Tottenville n HR03 BR1 233rd St & Bronx River o Island s K5A Raritan River BR3 Westchester Avenue & Bronx River d Sound u r HR1 H e K6 Old Orchard Light BR5 Mouth of Bronx River v i BRONX R CIC2 Cropsy Ave & Coney Island Creek E12 m Hudson Transects e CIC3 Coney Island Creek l E10 r N1 Mt. St. Vincent F1 Head of Fresh Creek a H WC2 N3B W. 125th Street F5 Mouth of Fresh Creek NR1 H3 FB1 Flushing Bay North BR3 WC1 N4 W. 42nd Street N3B N5 Pier A - The Battery FLC1 Flushing Creek WC3 N6 Bell Buoy "31" FLC2 Mouth of Flushing Creek BR5 E7 E14 G2 Gowanus Canal GB1 Gravesend Bay UUppppeerr E8 R i vveerr N7 Robbins Reef GC3 Union Street Bridge EEaasstt R i E13 GC4 Carroll Street Bridge TR2 E11 N8 The Narrows Buoy "28" N E4 E6 GC5 3rd Street Bridge A LN1 N9 Steeplechase Pier N3C T r FB1 N16 Rockaway Point GC6 9th Street Bridge TR1 T e HC1 Hendrix Creek Head GC3 A iv FLC2 AC1 NR1 North River WWTP N4 R .! H t HC2 Hendrix Creek by 26th Ward Outfall N s E15 GC4 a FLC1 East River HC3 Hendrix Creek under Belt Pkwy .! A E AC2 M E2 E. 23rd Street HR1 Bartow Av. Br. & Hutchinson River Pkwy GC6 GC5 .! E4 Hell Gate HR2 Boston Rd. Br. & Conner Av. E2 NC3 E6 Flushing Bay HR03 Conner Street Pump Station .! NC2 E7 Whitestone Bridge LN1 Little Neck Bay South NC1 E8 Throg's Neck Bridge NC0 English Kills N5 NC0 E10 Hart Island NC1 Maspeth Creek NEW E11 Little Neck Bay NC2 Amoco Tank Farm QUEENS E12 Eastchester Bay Buoy N"6" NC3 Whale Creek JERSEY Upper E13 Westchester Creek Buoy N"2" PB2 Middle of Paerdegat Basin New York E14 Mouth of Bronx River Buoy N"2" PB3 Mouth of Paerdegat Basin Bay E15 Flushing Bay South Buoy N"2" SP1 Spring Creek Head N6 SP1 BB2 Jamaica Bay SP2 Spring Creek under Belt Pkwy. G2 HC1 HC2 TB1 Thurston Basin K1 SP2 J1 Rockaway Inlet BB4 TB2 Thurston Basin Mouth N7 F1 J7 TB1 J2 Mill Basin K2 n Kull WC1 WC Bruckner & Cross Bx. Exps. K3 Kill Va J8 JA1 J3 Canarsie Pier F5 WC2 South Bound Hutchinson Pkwy BROOKLYN HC3 i c aa HOB TB2 J5 Railroad Trestle J3 JJaammaa i c WC3 Buoy "10" B aayy J7 Bergen Basin PB2 J9A B J12 J8 Spring Creek PB3 J10 J15 GHC Triathlon N8 J14 J9A Fresh Creek Buoy "C21" TR1 West 78th St GB1 J10 Paerdegat Basin J2 J16 J5 TR2 West 95th St J11 Sheepshead Bay STATEN N3C West 88th St J12 Grassy Bay ISLAND CIC3 CIC2 J11 JA1 Jamaica WWTP Outfall J1 y Harlem River N9 wa GHC Grass Hassock Channel N9A cka Lower Ro HOB Head of Bay H3 E. 155th Street K4 New York N9A Coney Is. Outfall Bay l il ATLANTIC OCEAN K r Jamaica Bay Interior u h t N16 J14 West of Broad Channel r J15 Pumpkin Patch Channel A 0 1 2 J16 Horse Channel K6 K5 Miles ® Raritan K5A Bay Current as of January, 2017 New York City Harbor Water Quality Survey Stations Esri, DeLorme, GEBCO, NOAA NGDC, and other contributors.