How’s the Water in the Catskill, Esopus and Rondout Creeks?

Cizen Science Fecal Contaminaon Study How’s the Water in the Catskill, Esopus and Rondout Creeks?

Background & Problem Methods Results: 2012-2013 Potenal Polluon Sources © Riverkeeper 2014 © Riverkeeper 2014 Photo: Rob Friedman “SWIMMABILITY” FECAL PATHOGEN CONTAMINATION LOAD

© Riverkeeper 2014 Government Pathogen Tesng

© Riverkeeper 2014 Riverkeeper’s Fecal Contaminaon Study 2006 - Present

Enterococcus (“Entero”) EPA-recommended fecal indicator Monthly sampling: May – Oct

EPA Guideline for Primary Contact:

Acceptable: 0-60 Entero per 100 mL Beach Advisory: >60 Entero per 100 mL

© Riverkeeper 2014 Science Partners & Supporters

Funders Science Partners • HSBC • Dr. Gregory O’Mullan Queens • Clinton Global Iniave College, City University of New • The Eppley Foundaon for York Research • Dr. Andrew Juhl, Lamont- • The Dextra Baldwin Doherty Earth Observatory, McGonagle Foundaon, Inc. Columbia University • The Hudson River Foundaon for Science and Environmental Research, Inc. • Hudson River Estuary Program, NYS DEC • New England Interstate Water Polluon Control Commission (2008-2013)

© Riverkeeper 2014 Riverkeeper’s Cizen Science Program Goals 1. Fill a data gap 2. Raise awareness about fecal contaminaon in tributaries 3. Involve local residents in finding and eliminang Photo: John Gephards sources of contaminaon

© Riverkeeper 2014 Riverkeeper’s Cizen Science Studies

Tributaries sampled: • Catskill Creek • 45 river miles • 19 sites (many added in 2014) • Esopus Creek • 25 river miles • 10 sites • Rondout Creek • 43 river miles • 17 sites • Wallkill River • Quassaick Creek • Pocanco River • Sparkill Creek • NYC Waterfront

© Riverkeeper 2014 Sampling Partners

Catskill • Catskill Creek Watershed Awareness Project at Cornell Cooperave Extension • Local residents

Esopus • Local residents

Rondout • Rosendale Commission for Conservaon of the Environment • Town of Rochester Environmental Conservaon Commission • Town of Wawarsing Environmental Conservaon Commission • Local residents Cizen Non-Tidal Tributary Sampling Sites % Samples Failing EPA-Recommended Beach Advisory Value (2012-2013)

Catskill Creek 33% 67%

Esopus Creek 31% 69%

Rondout Creek 66% 34%

Wallkill River 86% 14%

Pocanco River 80% 20%

Sparkill Creek 89% 11%

Hudson River 23% 77% (2008-2013)

% Beach Advisory % Acceptable

© Riverkeeper 2014 Catskill Creek % Samples Failing EPA-Recommended Beach Advisory Value (2012-2013)

MIN MAX

South Cairo Bridge 45% 55% 10 >2420

Leeds- Slippery Rock 40% 60% 2 1203

Leeds- Fire Department intake 55% 45% 1 1986

Cauterskill- Rt 23 Bridge swimming hole 20% 80% 3 261

Jefferson Heights- West Main Street 27% 73% 2 1046

Catskill Creek- East End 100% 3 41

Beach Advisory (>60 cells/100 mL) Acceptable (0-60 cells/100 mL) Catskill Creek Geometric Means of Entero Counts- Wet and Dry Weather (2012-2013)

Leeds- Slippery Rock

Leeds- Fire Department intake

Cauterskill- Rt 23 Bridge swimming hole

Jefferson Heights- West Main Street

Catskill Creek- First Bridge

Catskill Creek- East End

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 Entero Count Dry Weather GM (<0.25 in) Wet Weather GM (0.25+ in) EPA Geomean Standard Esopus Creek % Samples Failing EPA-Recommended Beach Advisory Value (2012-2013)

MIN MAX

Marbletown- Tongore Park swimming beach 15% 85% 2 1300

Hurley- Wyncoop Rd Bridge Fire Dept intake 38% 62% <1 >2420

Kingston- Washington Avenue Bridge 23% 77% 6 921

Lincoln Park- Orlando Park 38% 62% 4 1300

Lake Katrine- Leggs Mill Bridge 46% 54% 3 816

Mt Marion- USGS Streamgage 38% 62% 2 921

Saugeres Village Beach 15% 85% <1 517

Esopus Creek Entrance 40% 60% 2 >2420

Beach Advisory (>60 cells/100 mL) Acceptable (0-60 cells/100 mL) Esopus Creek Geometric Means of Entero Counts- Wet and Dry Weather (2012-2013)

Marbletown- Tongore Park swimming beach

Hurley- Wyncoop Rd Bridge Fire Dept intake

Kingston- Washington Avenue Bridge

Lincoln Park- Orlando Park

Lake Katrine- Leggs Mill Bridge

Mt Marion- USGS Streamgage

Saugeres Village Beach

Esopus Creek Entrance

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Geomean of Entero Counts Dry Weather Geomean (<0.25 in) Wet Weather Geomean (0.25+ in) EPA Geomean Standard Rondout Creek % Samples Failing EPA-Recommended Beach Advisory Value (2012-2013)

MIN MAX Ellenville- Beer Kill tributary 67% 33% 9 >2420 Wawarsing- Below Rondout Res fishing access 33% 67% 9 548 Napanoch- Route 209 82% 18% 31 >2420 Napanoch- State Prison 75% 25% 47 >2420 Wawarsing- Port Ben Road 75% 25% 54 >2420 Wawarsing- Foordemoore Road Bridge 92% 8% 41 >2420 Kerhonkson- Route 44/55 Bridge 83% 17% 29 >2420 Kerhonkson- 42nd Street Bridge 75% 25% 9 >2420 Accord- Route 209 & River Street 67% 33% 9 >2420 Accord- Rochester Creek tributary 58% 42% 21 3448 Alligerville- Route 6 Bridge swimming hole 58% 42% <10 >2420 High Falls swimming hole 58% 42% <10 >2420 Rosendale- AJ Snyder Field swimming hole 75% 25% 23 >2420 Rosendale Trestle swimming hole 75% 25% 43 >2420 Tillson- NY Thruway Crossing 75% 25% 26 3448 Eddyville- Creek Locks fishing access 83% 17% 15 >2420 Rondout- Eddyville Anchorage 42% 58% <1 >2420 Kingston Point Beach 17% 83% 2 219 Beach Advisory (>60 cells/100 mL) Acceptable (0-60 cells/100 mL) Rondout Creek Geometric Means of Entero Counts- Wet and Dry Weather (2012-2013)

Ellenville- Beer Kill tributary Wawarsing- Below Rondout Res fishing access Napanoch- Route 209 Napanoch- State Prison Wawarsing- Port Ben Road Wawarsing- Foordemoore Road Bridge Kerhonkson- Route 44/55 Bridge Kerhonkson- 42nd Street Bridge Accord- Route 209 & River Street Accord- Rochester Creek tributary Alligerville- Route 6 Bridge swimming hole High Falls swimming hole Rosendale- AJ Snyder Field swimming hole Rosendale Trestle swimming hole Tillson- NY Thruway Crossing Eddyville- Creek Locks fishing access Rondout- Eddyville Anchorage Kingston Point Beach 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Entero Count Dry Weather GM (<0.25 in) Wet Weather GM (0.25+ in) EPA Geomean Standard Known and Potenal Sources Known and Potential Sources Hudson River Estuary Watershed (not including NYC & NJ)

• 113 CSO outfalls in 14 Hudson River communities (source: Riverkeeper) • 140 publicly owned sewage treatment plants (source: DEC) • 190 publicly owned sewage collection systems (source: DEC) • 475 MS4 areas in 150 municipalities (source: DEC) • 851 other wastewater discharge permits (private, commercial and institutional) (source: DEC) • 5,326 farms (incl. Washington & Saratoga counties) (source: Glynwood) • 484,000 septic systems (Hudson & Mohawk counties; excluding Westchester) (source: Cornell WRI) • ?? other potential sources Thank You

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