Community Science in the Rondout Creek Watershed Jen Epstein, Water Quality Program Scientist Dan Shapley, Water Quality Program Director October 16, 2019
We started with the community of river users
(2008-2014)
Water Quality Program Community Science Data Collection 16 rivers, creeks & waterfront project areas 400 sites 5,000+ samples
Water Quality Program Theory of change Community science data collection is the foundation on which we build and support active data-based communities that are empowered to highlight issues of public concern, advocate for local solutions and lobby effectively in order to engage governments to improve water quality .
Define Set Policy Policy & Budget Needs Active Data Based Community Apply policy Identify & budget to local issues local issues
Rondout Creek Enterococcus Monitoring WHAT DO THE DATA SHOW?
Rondout Creek Sampling Locations 18 non-tidal Rondout sites 0 sites above Rondout Reservoir 1 tidal site at Eddyville 1 Hudson River site at Kingston Point Beach 24 Wallkill River sites
Rondout Creek Sampling Results
Rondout Creek Sampling Results
Rondout Creek Sampling Results
Sources of Enterococcus Combined sewer overflows Separate sewer overflows Septic system failures Street runoff Illicit connections Agricultural runoff Livestock Wildlife Contaminated sediment
“Toolbox Approach” to Water Quality • Enterococcus (& E.coli) • Nutrients • Detergents • Macroinvertebrate communities • Infrastructure data • Land use • Microbial source tracking
Rondout Creek
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MST Study Site Selection
MST Study Site Selection
MST Study Site Selection
Rondout MST Results: All Groups
Wild Birds Were Most Commonly Observed Group
Human Contamination Was Also Significant
Cow and Horse Were Uncommon
Human Contamination: Two Patterns
Human Marker Results by Site
Human Contamination Was Frequent At One Site
Human Contamination Was Widely Present
Rondout Creek MST Results: Human
Human Contamination at Foordemore Road
Sampling Sites Near Foordemore Road 4 1 1 2
Napanoch & Ellenville WWTPs & Collection Areas 4 1 1 2
Napanoch WWTP: Lines of Evidence • High Entero downstream of WWTP • E. coli also above EPA threshold • Human marker detected 4 of 6 times sampled • NYS DEC macroinvertebrate data shows WWTP impact • WWTP is at ~80% capacity, built in 1920/1980 • “Significant Noncompliance” with permit (last reviewed 1991) • Nutrients above EPA criteria at Port Ben Rd (not Fordemoore Rd) Municipality is working hard to get grants, we plan to help them
Napanoch WWTP: Lines of Evidence • High Entero downstream of WWTP • E. coli also above EPA threshold • Human marker detected 4 of 6 times sampled • NYS DEC macroinvertebrate data shows WWTP impact • WWTP is at ~80% capacity, built in 1920/1980 • “Significant Noncompliance” with permit (last reviewed 1991) • Nutrients above EPA criteria at Port Ben Rd (not Fordemoore Rd) Municipality is working hard to get grants, we plan to help them
Napanoch WWTP: Lines of Evidence • High Entero downstream of WWTP • E. coli also above EPA threshold • Human marker detected 4 of 6 times sampled • NYS DEC macroinvertebrate data shows WWTP impact • WWTP is at ~80% capacity, built in 1920/1980 • “Significant Noncompliance” with permit (last reviewed 1991) • Nutrients above EPA criteria at Port Ben Rd (not Fordemoore Rd) Municipality is working hard to get grants, we plan to help them
Napanoch WWTP: Lines of Evidence • High Entero downstream of WWTP • E. coli also above EPA threshold • Human marker detected 4 of 6 times sampled • NYS DEC macroinvertebrate data shows WWTP impact • WWTP is at ~80% capacity, built in 1920/1980 • “Significant Noncompliance” with permit (last reviewed 1991) • Nutrients above EPA criteria at Port Ben Rd (not Fordemoore Rd) Municipality is working hard to get grants, we plan to help them
Napanoch WWTP: Lines of Evidence • High Entero downstream of WWTP • E. coli also above EPA threshold • Human marker detected 4 of 6 times sampled • NYS DEC macroinvertebrate data shows WWTP impact • WWTP is at ~80% capacity, built in 1920/1980 • “Significant Noncompliance” with permit (last reviewed 1991) • Nutrients above EPA criteria at Port Ben Rd (not Fordemoore Rd) Municipality is working hard to get grants, we plan to help them
Napanoch WWTP: Lines of Evidence • High Entero downstream of WWTP • E. coli also above EPA threshold • Human marker detected 4 of 6 times sampled • NYS DEC macroinvertebrate data shows WWTP impact • WWTP is at ~80% capacity, built in 1920/1980 • “Significant Noncompliance” with permit (last reviewed 1991) • Nutrients above EPA criteria at Port Ben Rd (not sampled at Foordemore Rd)
Centralized Wastewater System Is An Important Source Here Combined sewer overflows Separate sewer overflows Septic system failures Street runoff Illicit connections Agricultural runoff Livestock Wildlife Contaminated sediment
Centralized Wastewater System Is An Important Source Here Combined sewer overflows Separate sewer overflows Septic system failures Street runoff Illicit connections Agricultural runoff Livestock Wildlife Contaminated sediment
Centralized Wastewater System Is An Important Source Here Combined sewer overflows Separate sewer overflows Septic system failures Street runoff Illicit connections Agricultural runoff Livestock Wildlife Contaminated sediment
Rondout Creek MST Results: Human
Rondout Creek MST Results: Human • • • •
Land Use, Land Cover & Soil Analysis
Land Use, Land Cover & Soil Analysis
Land Use, Land Cover & Soil Analysis • Wastewater treatment plant locations • Septic system locations (private & institutional) • Soil suitability for septic field use • Soil suitability for manure spreading • Wildlife influence
Land Use, Land Cover & Soil Analysis • Wastewater treatment plant locations • Septic system locations (private & institutional) • Soil suitability for septic field use • Soil suitability for manure spreading • Wildlife influence
Rondout Soils Are Poorly Suited for Septic Systems
Rondout Soils Are Poorly Suited for Septic Systems • Majority of soils are very limited or somewhat limited • Septic construction requirements have improved over time • Watershed has a significant number of institutional septic systems
Rondout Soils Are Poorly Suited for Septic Systems • Majority of soils are very limited or somewhat limited • Septic construction requirements have improved over time • Watershed has a significant number of institutional septic systems
Rondout Soils Are Poorly Suited for Septic Systems • Majority of soils are very limited or somewhat limited • Septic construction requirements have improved over time • Watershed has a significant number of institutional septic systems
Define Set Policy Policy & Budget Needs Active Data Based Community Apply policy Identify & budget to local issues local issues
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