FINAL January 2020 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. FINAL January 2020 St. Lawrence River Watershed Characterization Report Prepared for Prepared by Franklin County Soil & Water Conservation District EcoLogic, LLC 151 Finney Blvd. 9 Albany St. Suite 3J Malone NY 12953 Cazenovia NY 13035 FINAL 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 ........................................................................................................... 23 3.1 Water Resources ............................................................................................................................................... 23 3.1.1 Surface Water ..................................................................................................................................... 23 3.1.2 Groundwater ...................................................................................................................................... 24 3.1.3 Wetlands .............................................................................................................................................. 25 3.1.4 Precipitation Patterns and Flooding .......................................................................................... 25 3.2 Topography and Geology ............................................................................................................................. 29 3.3 Soils........................................................................................................................................................................ 29 3.4 Habitat .................................................................................................................................................................. 30 3.4.1 Ecological Zones ............................................................................................................................... 31 3.4.2 Significant Habitats and Protected Areas ............................................................................... 33 3.5 Land Cover .......................................................................................................................................................... 34 4 Community Characteristics .................................................................................................. 38 4.1 Municipalities and Population ..................................................................................................................... 38 4.2 Regulatory and Programmatic Environment ......................................................................................... 41 4.2.1 Approach to Reviewing Local Laws, Plans, and Programs ................................................ 41 4.2.2 Gap Assessment as Related to the Desired State ................................................................ 42 4.3 Water Use ............................................................................................................................................................ 43 4.3.1 Water Withdrawals ........................................................................................................................... 43 4.3.2 Drinking Water Sources ................................................................................................................. 44 4.3.3 Commercial Shipping – The St. Lawrence Seaway .............................................................. 48 4.4 Public Access and Recreation ...................................................................................................................... 49 4.5 Protected Lands ................................................................................................................................................ 50 4.6 Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................................................... 50 4.6.1 Dams ...................................................................................................................................................... 50 4.6.2 Roads, Highways, and Railways .................................................................................................. 52 St. Lawrence River Watershed Characterization Report 3 January 2020 FINAL 4.7 Industries and Employment ......................................................................................................................... 53 5 Existing Water Quality Conditions ..................................................................................... 55 5.1 Waterbody Inventory and Priority Waterbodies .................................................................................. 55 5.2 Section 303(d) List ............................................................................................................................................ 58 6 Waterbody Impairments and Potential Sources of Pollution ..................................... 62 6.1 Impairments to Designated Best Use ....................................................................................................... 62 6.1.1 Fish Consumption Advisories ...................................................................................................... 64 6.2 Impacts and Stressors Preventing Waterbodies from Meeting Their Designated Uses ....... 64 6.2.1 Mercury ................................................................................................................................................ 65 6.2.2 Contaminated Sediment ................................................................................................................ 65 6.2.3 Acidic Waters ..................................................................................................................................... 65 6.2.4 Invasive Species ................................................................................................................................. 66 6.2.5 Nutrients .............................................................................................................................................. 69 6.2.6 Excessive Plant and Algal Growth .............................................................................................. 70 6.2.7 Sedimentation.................................................................................................................................... 70 6.2.8 Salt .......................................................................................................................................................... 71 6.2.9 Pathogens ............................................................................................................................................ 72 6.3 Potential Sources of Stressors ..................................................................................................................... 72 6.3.1 Regional Nonpoint Sources ......................................................................................................... 73 6.3.2 Local Nonpoint Sources ................................................................................................................. 75 6.3.3 Point Sources ..................................................................................................................................... 81 6.4 Sensitive Areas .................................................................................................................................................. 97 7 Emerging Issues ...................................................................................................................... 98 7.1 Climate Change ................................................................................................................................................. 98 7.2 Floodplain and Water-Level Management ............................................................................................. 99 7.3 Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) ........................................................................................ 103 8 Data Gaps ................................................................................................................................. 104 9 References ............................................................................................................................... 105 TABLES Table 1 Hydrologic Units and Area within the St. Lawrence River Watershed .............................. 12 Table 2 Climate