an important step toward a healthier river · 2019-01-24 · mt vernon valhalla white plains...
TRANSCRIPT
Mapping outfalls in the Bronx riveran important step toward a healthier river
sam hope capstone fall 2018 | ira stern | leonel ponce
agenda
sustainability of clean waterBronx RiverBronx River alliancecontamination in the riverClean water actcase studiesmapping outfallsPreliminary findingsapplicability
sustainability of clean water
Clean water bodies • Provide ecological services• prevent the spread of disease• promote recreational uses
One NYC• healthier harbor by improving water
managementUn sustainability goals
• #6 clean water and sanitation• #14 life below water
sustainability of clean waterclean water promotes other initiatives of the Bxra
• education• Recreation• ecological restoration
the bronx river plan • “an ecologically healthy river system...
supports economic strength, public health, recreation, and a high quality of life for communities in the watershed”
Bronx river
¯0 2 41
Miles
Site MapBronx River
Bronx River Watershed
New York City
Bronx/Westchester Border
Tuckahoe
The Bronx
Mt Vernon
Valhalla
White Plains
New York City
Kensico Reservoir
182nd St. Dam
• The Bronx river is 24 miles long
• The watershed drainage area is 56 square miles
• Flows through 13 New York Municipalities
• NYC’s only freshwater river• Final 2.5 miles is tidally
influenced estuary • Was once considered as a
source of drinking water for NYC
Bronx river
1600 1800 19001700 2000
Mohegan Native Americans used Bronx River as hunting/fishing grounds
1600s European Traders used as a hunting ground for beavers
1639 Jonas Bronck bought the area surrounding the river from the Mohegans
1700s the river was used to power small mills in the area
1840 The New York Central Railroad was completed
1900s The Bronx River was used as a dumping ground for industry
1970 Beginning of activism around river. 2001 The Bronx River Alliance founded.
The Bronx river allianceRegistered non-profit
• Works closely with NYC Department of parks
Governed by a Board of Directors• Appointed by each division of
BxRA
“Serve as a coordinated voice for the river and work in harmonious partnership to protect, improve and restore the Bronx River corridor and greenway so that they can be healthy ecological, recreational, educational, and economic resource for the communities through which the river flows.”
The Bronx river allianceWorks through four teams
1. The Ecology Team leads river clean-up and restoration efforts
2. The Greenway Team is constructing a bike and pedestrian path the length of the river
3. The Education Program engages schools and community organizations
4. The Outreach Program works to attract community support
The Bronx river allianceIn 2010 the Bronx River Intermunicipal Watershed Management Plan was published by the Center for Watershed Protection, Bronx River Alliance, NYC Department of Parks along with many other contributing organizations.
Introduced six causes of degradation to the river...
1. Disturbed Hydrology: causes runoff
2. Poor Water Quality: sewage contaminates the river
3. Aging Infrastructure: results in sanitary sewer leaks
4. Invasive Vegetation: limits ecological services
5. Degraded Habitat: diminishes diversity of flora and fauna
6. Dams: impede passage of fish and sediment flow
The Bronx river alliance
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WQMS
kj Water Quality Monitoring Stations
Bronx River
Bromx River Watershed
New York City
Bronx/Westchester Border
Tuckahoe
The Bronx
Mt Vernon
Valhalla
White Plains
Kensico Reservoir
182nd St. Dam
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Project Water DROP
• Detecting River Outfalls & Pollutants
• Water Quality Monitoring Program
• Participants take samples at the same location every other week
• Testing for bacteria that indicated sewage pollution in the river
Contamination in the riverEnterococcus
• Fecal Indicator Bacteria (FIB)
• Enterococcus itself is not harmful
• Acceptable levels in recreational waters• 104-501cfl/100ml marine water• 61-151cfl/100ml fresh water
PROs1. Marine and fresh
water
2. Cheap
3. Easy
CONs1. Occurs naturally
2. Effected by runoff
3. Effected by presence of animals
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Contamination in the river
US Environmental Protection Agency
CSOs• Combined Sewer Overflows
dump into waterways when rain overwhelms the system
• Bronx River only has CSOs in the City limits
MS4s• Municipal Storm Sewer
Systems are stormwater systems that are separate from the sanitary sewer systems
• MS4s are located in Westchester County
Contamination in the river
Contamination in the riverIllicit Connections
“Any connection to the County’s MS4 system unless it has been approved by the Commissioner of Public Works” – Westchester County Code of Ordinances
BxRA suspects that high levels of contamination is coming from;
• Faulty Infrastructure
• Leaky Septic
• Illicit Connections
Contamination in the river
Difficulties Abating Pollution
• Each municipality is responsible for keeping track of their MS4 system
• Current data on MS4 systems are outdated and inaccurate• 13 Municipalities
clean water Act
• The Federal Pollution Control Act was enacted in 1948
• Clean Water Amendments of 1972 abated pollution through;
1. Federal grant program to construct wastewater treatment plants
2. Made the discharge of any pollutant illegal unless a permit is attained
clean water Act
NPDES/SPDES• National or State permitting
process to discharge to waterbodies
• SPDES can be issued for an individual or group of point sources
• SWMP to reduce runoff “to the maximum extent possible”
clean water ActLegal Action• Municipalities in
Westchester County are not complying with CWA
• EPA and Southern District of New York Attorney’s Office are suing Mount Vernon
• “Failed to comply with permit obligations... allowing raw sewage to be discharged into Hutchinson and Bronx Rivers”
OutreachProgram
Project Water DROP 1. Monitoring Entero 2. Data Collection
1. Financial federal assistance for sewage treatment plants
2. Regulatory requirements for discharges
Mapping Bronx River Outfalls
BxRA
CWAPollution Abatement
Bronx River IMWP
1. Coordinate between Gov. and community groups
7. Pollution prevention at stormwater hotspots
6. Restore riparian buffers
5. Impliment wetland restoration projects
4. Invest in controlling stormwater run-off
3. Reduce discharges of raw sewage
2. Work with agencies to enforce regulations
10. Communicate regularly with partners and community
9. Coordinate monitoring and project tracking
8. Facilitate community education and involvement
Greenway Program
Ecology Program
Education Program
Happy, Healthy River
Case studies
Case Study: Greenville, SC• Illicit Discharge Detection
Elimination Project
• Watershed spans over several municipalities
• Divided into manageable watershed study areas
• Survey techniques of outfalls and landscape around the river
Woolpert, Inc. Greenville SC Illicit Discharge Detection Elimination Project
case studies
Case Study: Lake George, NY• High levels sewage contamination
• Monitored Enterococcus levels recreational beach
• Prioritized sub-basins
• Sanitary Investigation• Dye testing• Smoke testing• Camera Investigation
Lake George, NY Pollution Investigation Update June 2018
interviewsMichelle Luebke: Director Ecology Team Bronx River Alliance
• Background on BxRA
• Projects they are focused on
• Capstone contributing to their work
Jonathan Tuscanes: GIS Specialist NYC DEP
• Creating a survey that produces useful data
• DEP watershed survey practices
• Creating a survey that can be used by others in the future
mapping outfalls
Creating a Survey
Dry Weather Discharging is an indicator of illegal dumping
mapping outfalls
Prepping for Fieldwork• Scope of surveying is
Westchester County
• Borrowed waders from BxRa
• Phone
• Tape measure
• Walk upstream
• Metro North Harlem Line • Cover two stops per day
• Plan around the weather/rain
mapping outfalls
mapping outfalls
mapping outfalls
Preliminary Findings• 15 miles Westchester County
• 264 Outfalls
• 96% Closed pipe
• Majority concrete
• Steel
• PVC
mapping outfalls3 outfalls
applicabilityUpdated map of outfalls can be used inShort term;
• Data driven advocacy • Ground-truthing existing
outfall data• Additional testing at
descrepencies
Long term; • Identifying hotspots of
pollution for further investigation
applicabilitySurveying Methodology• Tributaries that feed into the
Bronx River
• System for creating unique IDs for each outfall
• Data points to be collected about each outfall
• Base map that can be added to
conclusion
Surveying and creating an updated map of outfalls:• Solves the gap in information
between current data and what exists
• Allow for BxRA and other organizations to continue working for healthier Bronx River
thank you
refrencesBronx River Alliance. Annual Report 2017. September 2018. Web. Accessed September 2018.
Bronx River Alliance. Ecological Restoration and Management Plan. May 2006. Wed. Accessed November 2018
Boehm, Alexandria B. Sassoubre, Lauren M. Enterococci as Indicators of Environmental Fecal Contamination. February 5, 2014. Web. Accessed September 2018.
Byappanahalli, Harwood, Korajkic, Nevers, Staley. Enterococci in the Environment. December 2012. Web. Accessed September 2018.
Center for Watershed Protection, Inc. Working Together for Our River : Bronx River Intermunicipal Watershed Plan. December 2010. Web. Accessed October 2018.
Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York. U.S. Attorney Announces Lawsuit Against The City of Mount Vernon for Clean Water Violations. June 28, 2018. Web. Accessed September 2018.
Environmental Protection Agency. Summary of the Clean Water Act. Web. Accessed October 2018.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. SPDES General Permit for Stormwater Discharges. January 13, 2016. Web. Accessed. September 2018.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Lake George Beach: Pollution Source Investigation Update. June 2018. June 2018.Web. Accessed October 2018.
The City of New York. OneNYC The Plan for a Strong and Just City. April 20, 2015. Web. Accessed October 2018.
United Nations. Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. October 2015. Web. Accessed November 2018.
U.S. Geological Survey. National Water Information System: Web Interface Bronx River at NY Botanical Garden at Bronx NY. Web. Accessed September 2018.
Westchester County Department of Public Works & Transportation. Application for Permit for Connection/Discharge to County Drainage System. Form SWP2011. Web. Accessed September 2018.
Woolpert, Inc. Targeted Watershed IDDE Investigations: Greenville, SC. Web. Accessed October 2018.