DRAFT October 2019 St. Lawrence River Watershed Characterization Report Prepared for Franklin County Soil & Water Conservation District This plan was prepared with funding provided by the New York State Department of State under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund. DRAFT October 2019 St. Lawrence River Watershed Characterization Report Prepared for Prepared by Franklin County Soil & Water Conservation District EcoLogic, LLC Address 9 Albany St., Suite 3J Address Cazenovia, NY 13035 DRAFT TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 9 2 Overview of the Watershed................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Evolution and Current Configuration of the Basin .............................................................................. 10 2.2 Subwatersheds .................................................................................................................................................. 11 2.3 Settlement and Development in the Watershed ................................................................................. 18 2.4 Existing Plans and Initiatives Related to Water Resources in the Study Area .......................... 20 3 Environmental Setting ........................................................................................................... 22 3.1 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................................... 22 3.1.1 Surface Water ..................................................................................................................................... 22 3.1.2 Wetlands .............................................................................................................................................. 22 3.1.3 Precipitation Patterns and Flooding .......................................................................................... 23 3.2 Topography and Geology ............................................................................................................................. 24 3.3 Soils........................................................................................................................................................................ 25 3.4 Habitat .................................................................................................................................................................. 26 3.5 Land Cover and Land Use ............................................................................................................................. 28 4 Community Characteristics .................................................................................................. 32 4.1 Municipalities and Population ..................................................................................................................... 32 4.2 Regulatory and Programmatic Environment ......................................................................................... 35 4.2.1 Approach to Reviewing Local Laws, Plans, and Programs ................................................ 35 4.2.2 Gap Assessment as Related to the Desired State ................................................................ 36 4.3 Water Use ............................................................................................................................................................ 36 4.3.1 Drinking Water Sources ................................................................................................................. 37 4.4 Public Access and Recreation ...................................................................................................................... 39 4.5 Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................................................... 39 4.5.1 Dams ...................................................................................................................................................... 39 4.5.2 Roads, Highways, and Railways .................................................................................................. 41 4.6 Industries and Employment ......................................................................................................................... 42 5 Existing Water Quality Conditions ..................................................................................... 43 5.1 Waterbody Inventory and Priority Waterbodies .................................................................................. 43 5.2 Section 303(d) List ............................................................................................................................................ 45 St. Lawrence River Watershed Characterization Report 3 October 2019 DRAFT 6 Waterbody Impairments and Potential Sources of Pollution ..................................... 49 6.1 Impairments to Designated Best Use ....................................................................................................... 49 6.2 Impacts and Stressors Preventing Waterbodies from Meeting Their Best Uses ..................... 50 6.2.1 Mercury ................................................................................................................................................ 51 6.2.2 Contaminated Sediment ................................................................................................................ 51 6.2.3 Acidic Waters ..................................................................................................................................... 51 6.2.4 Invasive Species ................................................................................................................................. 52 6.2.5 Nutrients .............................................................................................................................................. 54 6.2.6 Excessive Plant and Algal Growth .............................................................................................. 54 6.2.7 Sedimentation.................................................................................................................................... 55 6.2.8 Pathogens ............................................................................................................................................ 55 6.2.9 Road Salt .............................................................................................................................................. 56 6.3 Potential Sources of Stressors ..................................................................................................................... 56 6.3.1 Regional Nonpoint Sources ......................................................................................................... 57 6.3.2 Nonpoint Local Sources ................................................................................................................. 58 6.3.3 Point Sources ..................................................................................................................................... 61 6.4 Sensitive Areas .................................................................................................................................................. 71 7 Emerging Issues ...................................................................................................................... 72 7.1 Floodplain and Water-Level Management ............................................................................................. 72 7.2 Climate Change ................................................................................................................................................. 72 8 Data Gaps .................................................................................................................................. 74 9 References ................................................................................................................................ 75 TABLES Table 1 Hydrologic Units and Area within the St. Lawrence River Watershed .............................. 12 Table 2 Climate Data, 2010 ................................................................................................................................... 23 Table 3 Land Cover, St. Lawrence River Watershed................................................................................... 29 Table 4 Crops and Livestock, St. Lawrence River Watershed ................................................................ 30 Table 5 Municipalities within the St. Lawrence River Watershed ........................................................ 32 Table 6 Class A and AA Waterbodies ............................................................................................................... 38 Table 7 New York State Dam Classifications, St. Lawrence River Watershed ................................ 40 Table 8 High Hazard (Class C) Dams in the St. Lawrence River Watershed .................................... 40 Table 9 Priority Waterbodies Assessment of St. Lawrence River Streams and Lakes................. 45 St. Lawrence River Watershed Characterization Report 4 October 2019 DRAFT Table 10 NYS 303(d) Listed Waterbodies in the St. Lawrence River Watershed ............................. 46 Table