Non-Point Source Pollution

You’ve heard people say that the River has suffered “death by a thousand cuts.”  Here is what one looks like.

I was in NYC a while back and there was a stream of water with fuel or oil in it running down alongside the curb into a storm drain. Source unknown.

Imagine all the fuel and oil leaks from vehicles and machinery all across the nation. I once read that each year in the US, fuel from non point source spills like this one equal the 11 million gallon EXXON Valdez spill in 1989.

Patrol Report: Troy Fuel Dock and Hoses

Last week, we were southbound from Waterford during our November patrol.   After transiting the Federal lock, we photographed the Troy Dock fuel hoses and overturned floating dock sections, which were flipped during Irene. Note that, in addition to the two large blue fuel lines coming over the wall between fuel storage tanks and pumps, the two smaller diameter hoses from pumps to fuel nozzles are also in the water.  We notified DEC enforcement, who then contacted the DEC Region 4 Spill Response team  and they currently looking into the situation to ensure that the fuel hoses are removed from the river.  

Then, a few minutes later, we came upon a section of floating dock caught under the bow of the Capt JP II moored to the Troy bulkhead just north of the Congress Street Bridge. No one was aboard so we called the Army Corps maintenance facility located just above the Federal Lock and reported the situation. They thanked me for the report.  The City was also notified about the section of dock caught under the Capt JP II. As of today, we received a call from a member of the public who has been monitoring the situation for us. The float under the bow of the Capt JP II has been removed.