Title: Effect of urban runoff on seasonal and spatial trends in the water quality of the Saw Mill River
Project Type: Research
Start Date: 03/01/2006
End Date: 02/28/2007
Congressional District: 17
Focus Categories: Nutrients, Sediments
Keywords: water quality, sediment, nutrients, baseline data, monitoring, heavy metals, urban runoff
Principal Investigator: Carbonaro, Richard (None)
Federal Funds: $17,918
Non-Federal Matching Funds: $23,182
Abstract: In 1998, the USGS reported on the water quality of the Hudson River basin over the years spanning from 1992-1995 (Wall et al. 1998). They noted that the stream-bottom sediments of the Saw Mill River contained the highest concentrations of metals among all sites in the USGS National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. In 2000, the USEPA reported that pathogens was the leading pollutant in our nation's rivers and streams, accounting for 35% of all impaired river miles (USEPA 2000). Nutrient enrichment frequently ranks as one of the top causes of water resource impairment, accounting for 20% of all impaired river miles according to recent USEPA estimates (USEPA 2000). Historical data on the water and sediment quality of the Saw Mill River is present in several NYSDEC and USGS reports (Rogers 1984; Bode et al. 1993; Wall et al. 1998; Bode et al. 2001). However, seasonal trends of nutrients and coliform bacteria have not been explicitly addressed. Changes in water and sediment quality have been observed as the river flows into the urbanized Yonkers stretch. To date, these spatial trends have not been sufficiently identified. This research is critical to determining the current "baseline" water and sediment quality of the Saw Mill River in order to determine the action steps needed to improve water quality and reduce its negative impact on the Hudson River.
The aim of this work is to conduct a year-long continuous monitoring program for the entire stretch of the Saw Mill River. Surface water pH, temperature, conductivity, nutrients such as ammonia, nitrate and total phosphorous, and fecal coliform bacteria will be monitored weekly for the duration of the project.
Progress/Completion Report, PDF