UPDATE: Beacon Water Quality Notification 9/30

We sampled the water quality at 9 PM sharp on 9/30, just before low tide when the sewage discharge was separate and distinct from river water. We were unable to resample earlier in the day because the tide was unusually high and up to the discharge pipe.

The Enterococcus levels were again higher than our measurement limit using a 1 in 10 dilution, >24,196 Entero per 100 ml. That is greater than 397 times the EPA guideline for acceptable water quality for primary contact - 61 Enterococcus per 100/ml. The water from this discharge pipe is very contaminated with sewage.

As of 9/30, this discharge has been active since Friday the 17th (at least) when it was first reported to Riverkeeper - that's 14 days. There was no signage or police tape at the site to warn the public against contacting the contaminated water.

Sample tray from 9 PM, 9/30 sample, 1/10 dilution. All wells fluorescing indicating result >24,196 Entero per 100 ml - more than 397 times the EPA guideline for acceptable water quality (61 Entero per 100/ml).

Read more about the Beacon sewage discharge here.

Learn about our push for a Sewage Right to Know Law for New York State

See our historic water quality data for Beacon Harbor

Beacon Sewage Overflow

Raw sewage is flowing into the Beacon Harbor from a pipe at the northeastern corner of the harbor.

A member of the public called this sewage release into Riverkeeper's office on Saturday, September 17. Riverkeeper investigated the report, documented the discharge and called it into the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and authorities in the City of Beacon on Sunday, September 18.

Riverkeeper sampled in the area of the discharge on September 23. That sampling confirmed very high sewage levels (>24,196 per 100/ml, the highest our system can read). Based on this data, and the lack of public notification for this ongoing release, today we issued a press release strongly advising the public to avoid contact with the water in Beacon Harbor until the source of the spill has been fixed and testing confirms that water quality has returned to acceptable levels.

Video showing the flow rate of the spill

The blue color of the water is typical for sewage spills

The water is flowing out of this spillway and into the harbor

This is the view of the harbor with the source of the sewage overflow behind you

Debris that appears to be toilet paper clings to the branches of shrubs next to the overflowing pipe

Learn about our push for a Sewage Right to Know Law for New York State
See our historic water quality data for Beacon Harbor

Sewage Discharge at Troy

On August 25^th we found a dry weather sewage discharge at Troy. I contacted NYSDEC via cell. An Environmental Conservation Officer met me at Troy and we returned to document the site together. DEC and Riverkeeper contacted City of Troy independently and the outfall was shut off. This event will be part of the evidence used by DEC in a potential enforcement action against Troy. The sample bottle contains sewage and toilet paper fragments – microbial levels were too high to measure – “off the chart.”

Tires on the Harlem River

On the Bronx side just north of the 207^th street bridge we found hundreds of tires dumped down the bank – covering several hundred feet of shoreline. The area is between the river and “Storage Post,” a self-storage facility. Although we observed no active dumping we referred the case to NYSDEC which investigated and fined the storage property owner, resulting in the tires being cleaned up. Nice response.

More tires took their place

We’re still finding discarded tires in the upper half of the Harlem River. Although the dumping from the “Storage Post” seems to have stopped it appears that now there is another site where waste tires are being dumped to avoid the tire recycling fee. We have an idea where the new dumping is occurring but never see it taking place. Must be at night because the greatest concentration of floating tires is always in the morning. We’re working on it. Wish I had time lapse camera.

Albany Observations

A new abandoned wreck just at the south end of Albany's Corning Preserve. It is very difficult to find any state or municipal agency which will get involved in cases like this.

Intake structure at Bethlehem Energy Center. No gunderboom screens have been rigged this year as required by their permit. Shad and herring spawning is taking place now. I've notified DEC Fisheries Unit.

New construction just south of Albany where a smaller home existed before.

Observations: Kingston to Castleton

Rondout Creek patrol early morning. Looking east at the CSX RR bridge. I don't go under the bridge when there is a train crossing. Chicken.

A flexible hose, like fire hose, has been led down the south bank of Catskill Creek from the area of the swimming pool at Forlini's Resort. We saw this hose coiled at the top of the slope several years ago. I investigated and found that the resort had closed. Now the hose has been deployed, presumably to pump out the pool.

At this time it may just be water which accumulated over the winter but it indicates that the resort may be reopening and we will have to warn them about discharging chlorinated water pool later in the season.

The smaller black suction pipe visible near the fire hose is probably used to suck up creek water for use at the resort. Catskill Creek is a spawning ground and home for a number of fish species.

Between Catskill Creek and The Rip Van Winkle Bridge on the west bank and straight across from Olana. Visitors to Olana get this view looking west. Another case of "Too bad sucker, I've got my beautiful view and to hell with yours". Good thing Frederic Church isn't round. He might go postal.

A very well established camp on Primming Hook on east bank north of Hudson. All the building materials were brought in by boat. This is prime habitat. To the north is a Scenic Hudson marsh. To the south is Open Space Institute land at Hudson. To the east is the Amtrak rail line. Clearing the camps (this is one of two) and adding this parcel to the surrounding preserved area would be great.

Eroded bank at Castleton Boat Club. In the past the club used waste cement test cylinders, spent machinery and extra building materials as fill and we warned them about the illegality of doing so again.

Erosion over the winter has exposed tires buried sometime in the past as fill. Very tidy stacking. How many tires are buried at the site? How much and what other kinds of waste material were buried?

An active Bald Eagle nest with kayakers below. Moments after I took this photo the eagle swooped down and attacked one of the kayakers. (Just kidding!)

Sunk boat pulled from river

Two boats were left anchored off Piermont this winter. During the one cold snap the power boat sank and overturned. No doubt the bilge water and pump froze so she filled enough to back flood through some hull fitting.

Riverkeeper investigated locally to find which marina had moored the boat. In partnership with Piermont Police Department Riverkeeper contacted the marina operator who at first denied ownership or responsibility. He said that the boat had been taken by a title search company and that the prior owners had moored it off the town for the winter to avoid storage fees.

The title search company did not return calls from Riverkeeper.

Riverkeeper persuaded the marina operator that it was very much in his best interest to refloat the wreck and haul it ashore to prevent a very imminent DEC spill response team response and subsequent law suit to recover costs for remediation and recovery.

3/8/08

The boat was refloated by the marina operator. The cabin is crushed because the boat overturned in shallow water and at low tide the cabin top was hitting the bottom.

3/12/08

Boat has been hauled ashore.

As a good will gesture to the marina RK arranged for free disposal of the wreck through our relationship with "Keep Rockland Beautiful".

The marina removed the fuel tank, engine, stern drive and all fluids - all items prohibited at the dump/transfer station. We are pleased that the wreck was quickly salvaged. This event sets a new, higher standard of marina responsibility in Piermont.

Dredge spoil dump on Houghtaling Island

Dredge process water is being discharged from the spoil dump on Houghtaling Island into Schodack Creek. Permit?

We were unable to get the "Fletcher" north past Saugerties in early December because of ice.

Trailered the skiff to Stuyvesant to investigate an active ACE dredge spoil dump on Houghtaling Island.

Checking the water quality in Newtown Creek

We did sampling in the East River with Lamont-Doherty's Greg O'Mullen and his crew, as part of our water quality pilot program. We also patrolled with City Limits Reporter and a PBS film crew.

Discovered a new oil absorb that Exxon installed at Meeker Avenue. This is at the eastern end of the original plume which is migrating. We suspect that the plume has found a new route into the creek.

At the east branch of Newtown Creek we found a discharge from a cement plant. We have had a successful prosecution of another cement plant on the Creek. This is a second plant we’re investigating. We’ve commented on this discharge and it ended. It has since started up again.

Pollution and sprawl appear along our shores

Photos by John Lipscomb4/11/07: Development in Middle Hope just north of Newburgh. There is a wetland on other side of the tracks. This is a perfect example of sprawl and poor land stewardship. We’ve been monitoring this development for three years but there has been no clear violation of the Clean Water Act.

Continued up to Poughkeepsie at Clinton Point with a Pace student to investigate a quarry owned by Tilcon. This is the 3rd student to work on the case. We are contesting the DEC’s permits for discharges into Hudson. This delta creek contains stone dust and gravel.

Stopped at site of new house construction between Manitou at Garrison. For some reason the builder decided to throw the demolition debris into the river – we are proceeding with enforcement.

Patrolled at Tomkins Cove and the Lovett Power Plant. Took some pictures of their yellow gunderboom which is a fish and larvae excluding curtain. This kind of set up is a poor substitute for closed cycle cooling. The gunderboom is open at the north end which entirely defeats the purpose of the boom. We have an attorney working on the case.

Large Styrofoam Blocks found in lower estuary

Patrolled Nyack to Newtown Creek.

En-route to Newtown Creek found approximately one hundred and fifty 12" by 12" by 8' white styrofoam blocks washed up on the shore between Riverdale and Hastings. Begin investigation.

Patroled the creek with Basil Seggos and a film crew from "Court TV."

Collapsing House Barge Investigated

Esopus Creek houseboat barge

Patrol from Kingston to Hudson with Alex Matthiessen aboard. At Saugerties we launched the skiff and photographed an abandoned “house-barge” about which we have received a number of complaints. We also investigated the sewer plant outfall/discharge inside Catskill Creek which is also the subject of numerous complaints.

Photos by John Lipscomb

Crane Barge at Clinton Point Quarry

9/20/06: Continue northbound patrol from Garrison to Saugerties. Begin investigation of a crane barge at the Clinton Point stone quarry found backfilling a underwater fissure adjacent to the quarry with large amounts of crushed stone. It is not clear whether the quarry has a permit for this operation.

Photos by John Lipscomb

Oil at Metro North depot in Croton

Patrol the Croton River at the Metro North rail yard. Oil is percolating out of the sediment at a storm drain which runs under the railroad property. Riverkeeper has begun investigation/discussion with Metro North.

Church dumping into Harlem River

7/7/06

7/26/06

This is a Church owned property on the Harlem River at Highbridge. We're told it's used as a dog kennel for exotic hunting dogs and as a homeless shelter. Whatever - they're using the Harlem River as a dumpster. Police, DEC and DEP boats go by this all the time. We've included two photos to show that new material is being dumped all the time. RK has contacted the Church.

Leaking boom in Albany

There is a discharge at the Mobil terminal at Albany where there is a permanently rigged oil boom - they must have a leak problem. Recently a new boom and oil absorb were deployed but it looks like someone forgot the tide. We often see this; a boom is rigged which doesn't stand a chance of doing any good. I can hear it now, "but we made every effort, we rigged a boom." RvK is contacting the terminal.

Illegal Squatter Camps

Small camps like this one are springing up all over the upper part of the estuary - where the "wild" shoreline is. This one is new; I first saw it today. It's located on land owned by CSX railroad just north of Mill Creek in Stuyvesant. It's prime habitat and right next to the Mill Creek parcel owned by The Nature Conservancy. Squatter camps like this are fragmenting some of the best habitat that remains. Riverkeeper will notify CSX and TNC.

Testing for beach safety in Ulster County?

Public swimming beach at Kingston Point just north of Rondout Creek. The area has had record rains the last three days which causes many sewage plants to overflow into the Hudson. Yet here we see people swimming. Riverkeeper contacted the Ulster County Health Department and asked if water quality was routinely tested after wet weather events to check for sewage related contamination at this public beach.

No, testing is done only three times a year; on 7/13, 8/3 and 8/17. With all the talk of opening additional swimming beaches on the Hudson shouldn't testing be more thorough and shouldn't testing be done after storms as a matter of course?

Oil near Metro North Depot in Croton

Petroleum product escaping from bottom sediment at the mouth of the Croton River near a storm drain at the Metro North Croton Rail Yards. This site was brought to Riverkeeper's attention by a member of the public. We have asked Metro North to investigate and respond.