o^
V
New York
Bight
Water Quality
Summer of
1984
REGION 2
NEW YORK/ NEW JERSEY
PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS
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NEW YORK BIGHT WATER QUALITY
SUMMER OF 1984
Report Prepared By: United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region II - Surveillance and Monitoring Branch
Edison, New Jersey 08837
Randy Brairff, Physical Scientist
A^ -^^; _
ReginaOMulcahy , Environmental Scientist
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ABSTRACT
The purpose of this report is to disseminate technical information
gathered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region II, during the
1984 New York Bight Water Quality Monitoring Program. The monitoring program
was conducted using an EPA helicopter for water quality sample collection.
During the summer period of April 9 to September 26, 1984, approximately 140
stations were sampled each week, weather permitting. The Bight sampling
program consisted of five separate sampling networks.
The beach station network was sampled to gather bacteriological water
quality information at 26 Long Island coast stations and 40 New Jersey
coast stations. The New York Bight station network was sampled to gather
chemical and bacteriological information at 20 stations in the inner New
York Bight. The perpendicular station network consisted of 12 transects
extending from the New Jersey and Long Island coasts. Three transects
extended south from the Long Island coast, with 4 stations in each transect
and 9 transects extended east from the New Jersey coast, with 5 stations
in each transect. The transects covered the inner Bight from Jones Beach
on Long Island to Strathmere, on the New Jersey coast. Samples were
collected for dissolved oxygen and temperature. The New York Bight
Contingency Network consisted of 24 stations which were sampled for dis-
solved oxygen and fecal coliform densities. Samples for phytoplankton
identification and nutrient analysis were collected along the New Jersey
coast and in Raritan Bay at 9 stations comprising the phytoplankton sampling
network.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION 1
II. SAMPLE COLLECTION PROGRAM 5
III. DESCRIPTION OF SAMPLING STATIONS 10
Beach Stations 10
New York Bight Stations 10
Perpendicular Stations 18
New York Bight Contingency Plan Stations 18
Phytoplankton Stations 21
IV. DISSOLVED OXYGEN RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 22
Normal Trends in the Ocean 22
Dissolved Oxygen Criteria 25
Surface Dissolved Oxygen, 1984 25
Bottom Dissolved Oxygen, 1984 26
Long Island Coast , 26
New York Bight Apex 27
New Jersey Coast 28
Dissolved Oxygen Trends 39
V. BACTERIOLOGICAL RESULTS 46
New Jersey 46
Long Island 49
New York Bight Apex 52
BIBLIOGRAPHY 53
APPENDIX
APPENDIX A - Summary of Phytoplankton Dynamics and Bloom
Incidence in New Jersey Coastal Waters 1984
APPENDIX B - Microbiological Water Quality New York Bight
Summer 1984
ii
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LIST OF TABLES
No. Title
1 Outline of 1984 sampling program 6
2 Parameters evaluated for each station group 7
3 Long Island coast station locations 11
4 New Jersey coast station locations 13
5 Dissolved oxygen concentrations less than 4 mg/1 26
found off the Long Island coast, summer, 1984
6 Dissolved oxygen concentrations less than 4 mg/1 27
in the New York Bight Apex, summer, 1984
7 Dissolved oxygen distribution (bottom values) 30
New Jersey coast perpendiculars, 1984
8 Summary of bacteriological data collected along the 47
New Jersey coast April 10, 1984 through September
10, 1984
9 Summary of bacteriological data collected along the 50
Long Island coast April 9, 1984 through September
13, 1984
iii
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LIST OF FIGURES
No. Title Page
1 The New York Bight 2
2 Bight Apex and existing dump sites 3
3 Long Island coast station locations 12
4 New Jersey coast station locations - Sandy Hook 15
to Island Beach Park
5 New Jersey coast station locations - Barnegat 16
to Cape May Point
6 New York Bight station locations 17
7 Long Island perpendicular stations and New Jersey 19
perpendicular stations from Sandy Hook to Seaside Heights
8 New Jersey perpendicular stations from Barnegat to 20
Strathmere
9 Generalized annual marine dissolved oxygen cycle off the 24
northeast U.S. (From NOAA)
10 New Jersey coast bottom dissolved oxygen, 1984 29
semi-monthly averages of all northern (JC 14-JC 53)
and of all southern (JC 61-JC 85) perpendicular stations
11 Dissolved oxygen concentration profiles, New Jersey 32
coast, June 1984
12 Dissolved oxygen concentration profiles, New Jersey 33
coast, July 1984
13 Dissolved oxygen concentration profiles, New Jersey 34
coast, August 1984
14 Dissolved oxygen concentration profiles, New Jersey 35
coast, September 1984
15 Shore to seaward distribution of bottom dissolved oxygen, 36
1984 semi-monthly averages of all northern New Jersey
perpendicular stations, JC 14-JC 53, at fixed distances
from shore
16 Shore to seaward distribution of bottom dissolved oxygen, 38
1984 semi-monthly averages of all southern New Jersey
perpendiculars, JC 61-JC 85, at fixed distances from shore
iv
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17 Northern New Jersey coast bottom dissolved oxygen, 5 year 40
average of the individual semi-monthly averages,
1980-1984
18 Southern New Jersey coast bottom dissolved oxygen, 5 year 41
average of the individual semi-monthly averages,
1980-1984
19 Northern New Jersey coast bottom dissolved oxygen, 42
1980-1984 comparison, semi-monthly averages of all
JC 14-JC 53 perpendicular stations
20 Southern New Jersey coast bottom dissolved oxygen, 43
1980-1984 comparison, semi-monthly averages of all
JC 61-JC 85 perpendicular stations
21 New York Bight bottom dissolved oxygen, 1980-1984 44
comparison, semi-monthly average of all New York
Bight stations
22 Geometric means of fecal coliform data collected 48
along the coast of New Jersey, April 10, 1984 to
September 10, 1984
23 Geometric means of fecal coliform data collected 51
along the coast of Long Island, April 9, 1984 to
September 13, 1984
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I. INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has prepared this report to
disseminate environmental data for the New York Bight Apex and the shore-
lines of New York and New Jersey. The New York Bight is an area of ocean
bounded on the northwest by Sandy Hook, the northeast by Montauk Point,
the southeast by the 2000 meter contour line, and the southwest by Cape
May. Figure 1 shows the limits of the New York Bight. The New York Bight
Apex, which contains the sewage sludge, dredged material, acid waste, and
cellar dirt dump sites, is shown in Figure 2.
This report is the eleventh in a series and reflects the monitoring
period between April 9, 1984 and September 26, 1984. The New York Bight
monitoring program is EPA's response to its mandated responsibilities as
defined under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972
and the Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 and 1977.
Since its initiation in 1974, the New York Bight ocean monitoring
program has been modified several times to be more responsive and to con-
centrate on specific areas of concern during the critical summer period.
Most of these changes occurred after the summer of 1976, when anoxic con-
ditions caused a fishkill in the Bight and an unusually heavy washup of
debris occurred on Long Island beaches. It was clear that summer conditions
in the Bight called for more intensive monitoring in order to predict
environmental crises, to investigate the origins of these crises, and to
use data gathered from New York Bight monitoring to guide and direct any
decisions regarding protection of the Bight's water quality.
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»•
?4'
J31
NAUTICAL "UtS
CHEMICAL
WASTES
DUMP SITE
FIGURE 1
THE NEW YORK BIGHT
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LONG ISLAND
OUTER HARBOR
SANDY HOOK-
ROCKAWAY POINT
TRANSECT
NEW JERSEY
DREDGED MATERIAL
CELLAR SEWAGE
DIRT SLUDGE
WRECK
\
o
-3-
o
—ACID
WASTES
CL
<
X
o
U_i
/
FIGURE 2
BIGHT APEX AND EXISTING DUMP SITES
10
20
KILOMETERS
5 10
NAUTICAL MILES
30
15
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In recent years, monitoring has been expanded to include analyses of
Bight sediments for heavy metals, toxics, and benthic organisms for species
diversity and number, and analyses of water in the sewage sludge disposal
area for viruses and pathogens. The sediment and benthic organism samplings
were conducted from EPA's ocean survey vessel "Antelope" and the data will
be presented in separate reports. Ongoing revisions to the program are
intended to improve the EPA's ability to track pollution sources and to
protect New York Bight water quality.
As in previous years, results indicated that New York Bight water
quality was generally good during the summer sampling period. Some stressful
dissolved oxygen conditions were found at a few New Jersey perpendicular
stations and New York Bight Apex stations. These depressed levels occurred
in specific isolated areas. It is not certain if these conditions per-
sisted over extended time periods. However, no extensive fishkills were
reported. Therefore, as in previous years, the depressed dissolved oxygen
levels were both temporary and transitory. The low dissolved oxygen in
certain areas of the Bight is attributed to the combined effects of the
respiration of organisms in organic-rich sediments, the decomposition of
the algal blooms which occur in the nutrient-rich areas of the Bight,
thermal water column stratification, and no vertical mixing due to a lack
of storm activity.
Bacteriological data indicated that fecal coliform densities at the
beaches along both the New Jersey and Long Island coasts were well within
the acceptable limits for primary contact recreation.
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II. SAMPLE COLLECTION PROGRAM
During the period of April 1984 through September 1984, water quality
monitoring was carried out using the EPA Huey helicopter. Under the estab-
lished protocol, sampling normally occurs 5 days a week and is extended to 6
days a week during July and August. Table 1 outlines the 1984 sampling
program. Table 2 lists the parameters analyzed for each group of stations.
Unscheduled maintenance on the helicopter during the latter half of July and
most of August and September made it inherently difficult to adhere to a
weekly sampling frequency. Rental of a Bell Jet Ranger II helicopter during
that period facilitated sampling of the beaches; however, due to limitations
of the aircraft, offshore sampling was not possible.
The weekly sampling program averages approximately 140 stations.
Beach stations along New York and New Jersey were sampled once a week for
fecal coliform bacteria densities. This portion of the sampling program
totaled 66 stations one week and 34 stations the following week. At the
beach stations, samples were collected just offshore in the surf zone
while the helicopter hovered approximately 3 meters from the surface.
Sampling was accomplished by dropping a 1-liter Kemmerer sampler approxi-
mately 1 meter below the water surface. The sample was transferred to a
sterile plastic container and subsequently transported (within 6 hours) to
the Edison Laboratory for fecal coliform analysis.
Twenty stations in the apex of the Bight were scheduled to be sampled
once a week. Depending upon sea conditions, the EPA helicopter hovered or
landed at the designated station and a 1-liter Kemmerer sampler was used
to obtain water samples at 1 meter below the surface and 1 meter above the
ocean bottom. After collection, portions of the water sample were trans-
ferred to a BOD bottle for dissolved oxygen analysis, and a sterile plastic
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Table 1
Outline of 1984 sampling program
Station Group
Frequency
per Week
Parameter
Long Island Beaches
(Rockaway Pt. to Fire
Island Inlet)
North Jersey Beaches
(Sandy Hook to Barnegat)
Long Island Beaches
(Fire Island Inlet to
Shinnecock Inlet)
South Jersey Beaches
(Barnegat to Cape May)
Long Island Perpendiculars
Bacteriological
Bacteriological
Bimonthly Bacteriological
Bimonthly Bacteriological
North Jersey Perpendiculars
(Long Branch to Seaside)
Dissolved Oxygen
Dissolved Oxygen
South Jersey Perpendiculars Bimonthly Dissolved Oxygen
(Barnegat to Strathmere)
Bight Contingency 2
Bight Contingency 1
Phytoplankton 1
Inner New York Bight 1
1 One meter below the surface
2 One meter above the ocean floor
Dissolved Oxygen
Bacteriological
Phytoplankton,
Nutrients
Bacteriological
Dissolved Oxygen
Sample Depth
Top1
Top1
1
Top
Top1
Top1, Bottom2
Top1, Bottom2
Top1, Bottom2
Top1, Bottom2
Top1, Bottom2
Top1
Top1, Bottom2
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Table 2
Parameters evaluated for each station group
Parameters
Fecal Coliform
Salinity
Chlorinity
Temperature
Dissolved
Oxygen (DO)
Total
Phosphorus
(TP)
Phosphate
Phosphorus
(P04-P)
Ammonia
Nitrogen
(NH3-N)
Nitrite
Nitrogen
(N02~N)
Nitrate
Nitrogen
(N03-N)
Silica (Si02)
Plankton
L.I. &
N.J. L.I. & N.J. N.Y. Bight
Beaches* Perpendiculars** Bight** Contingency** Phytoplankton*
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
*Sample Depth: 1 meter below the surface
**Sample Depth: 1 meter below the surface and 1 meter above the ocean floor.
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bottle for fecal coliform analysis. The dissolved oxygen sample was imme-
diately fixed at the station by the addition of 2 ml of manganous sulfate
followed by 2 ml of alkali-iodide-azide reagent. The sample was shaken
to facilitate floe formation and then placed in a metal rack and returned
to the laboratory for analysis. The samples were held for less than 6
hours before returning to the laboratory for analysis by addition of 2 ml
of sulfuric acid and titration with 0.0375M sodium thiosulfate.
The third scheduled sampling portion of the program consisted of
sampling perpendicular stations once a week for dissolved oxygen and
temperature. Again, as with the inner Bight stations, samples were col-
lected while hovering or landing, at 1 meter below the surface and 1 meter
above the bottom.
As part of the "Environmental Impact Statement on Ocean Dumping of
Sewage Sludge in the New York Bight", a Bight Contingency Plan was developed
in which criteria were established for the relocation of the sewage sludge
dumpsite, if necessary. This called for the establishment of a fourth sampling
component, a 24-station network to be sampled twice a week for dissolved
oxygen and once a week for fecal coliform densities. Part of the sampling
requirements for the New York Bight contingency plan were to be satisfied
by the regularly scheduled Bight and perpendicular sampling runs. Bacterio-
logical samples for LIC 09, LIC 14, JC 14, and JC 27 perpendiculars were
taken on the dissolved oxygen runs for those stations. The bacteriological
requirements for NYB 20, 22, 24, and the NYB 40, 42 and 44 transects were
met by the regular Bight sampling since bacteriological assays were performed
for all Bight stations. Additional sampling of dissolved oxygen for the
24 stations was to have been carried out once a week.
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The fifth routinely scheduled sampling component involved the collection
of water samples for phytoplankton identification and quantification and
nutrient analysis. The phytoplankton analysis was done by the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the nutrient analysis
was done by EPA. The samples were collected as close to the surface as
possible, using 1-liter Kemmerer samplers. A 1-liter plastic cubitainer
was filled for phytoplankton analysis. The phytoplankton sample was pre-
served with Lugols solution and kept at 4°C. A 1-liter plastic cubitainer
was filled for nutrient analysis and kept at 4°C. The NJDEP picked the
phytoplankton samples up within 24 hours of collection. The results of
these analyses are contained in Appendix A.
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III. DESCRIPTION OF SAMPLING STATIONS
Beach Stations
A total of 66 bathing beach areas were sampled routinely for
bacteriological water quality along the Long Island and New Jersey coastlines,
The Long Island sampling stations extend from the western tip of Rockaway
Point 130 km eastward to Shinnecock Inlet for a total of 26 stations
(LIC 01-LIC 28). Sample station locations, nomenclature, and descriptions
are given in Table 3 and Figure 3. Forty New Jersey coast stations, from
Sandy Hook at the north to Cape May Point at the south (JC 01A through JC
99), are described and identified in Table 4 and in Figures 4 and 5.
New York Bight Stations
The New York Bight stations, established as part of the original ocean
monitoring program, cover the inner Bight area in approximately 3 km inter-
vals via three transects as follows: New Jersey Transect (NYB 20-NYB 27)
extending from Sandy Hook 20 km eastward to the sewage sludge dump site;
Raritan Bay Transect (NYB 32-NYB 35) projecting along the Ambrose Channel
from the mouth of Raritan Bay southeast to the sewage sludge dump site;
and the Long Island Transect (NYB 40-NYB 47) extending from Atlantic Beach,
Long Island southward to just beyond the sewage sludge dump site. The
locations of the New York Bight stations are shown in Figure 6.
10
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Table 3
Long Island coast station locations
Station No. Location
LIC 01 Rockaway Point, Breezy Point Surf Club
LIC 02 Rockaway, off foot of B169 Road
LIC 03 Rockaway, off foot of B129 Road
LIC 04 Rockaway, off foot of B92 Road
LIC 05 Far Rockaway, off foot of B41 Road
LIC 07 Atlantic Beach, Silver Point Beach Club
LIC 08 Long Beach, off foot of Grand Avenue
LIC 09 Long Beach, off foot of Pacific Boulevard
LIC 10 Point Lookout, off Hempstead public beach
LIC 12 Short Beach (Jones Beach), off "West End 2"
parking lot
LIC 13 Jones Beach
LIC 14 East Overlook
LIC 15 Gilgo Beach
LIC 16 Cedar Island Beach
LIC 17 Robert Moses State Park
LIC 18 Great South Beach
LIC 19 Cherry Grove
LIC 20 Water Island
LIC 21 Bellport Beach
LIC 22 Smith Point County Park
LIC 23 Moriches Inlet West
LIC 24 Moriches Inlet East
LIC 25 West Hampton Beach
LIC 26 Tiana Beach
LIC 27 Shinnecock Inlet West
LIC 28 Shinnecock Inlet East
11
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NASSAU CO
NEW JERSEY
/ SUFFOLK CO.
LONG ISLAND
LIC13-
LIC14 —
LIC15 —
LIC16 —
LIC17 —
LIC18-
LIC19-
- LIC28
- LIC27
- LIC26
- LIC25
- UC24
- LIC 23
-LIC22
FIGURE 3
LONG ISLAND COAST STATION LOCATIONS
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Table 4
New Jersey coast station locations
Station No. Location
JC 01A Sandy Hook, 1.2 km south of tip
JC 02 Sandy Hook, off large radome
JC 03 Sandy Hook, off Nature Center building
(tower)
JC 05 Sandy Hook, just north of Park entrance
JC 08 Sea Bright, at public beach
JC 11 Monmouth Beach Bath & Tennis Club
JC 14 Long Branch, off foot of S. Bath Avenue
JC 21 Asbury Park, off building north of
Convention Hall
JC 24 Bradley Beach, off foot of Cliff Avenue
JC 27 Belmar, off the "White House" near fishing
club pier
JC 30 Spring Lake, south of yellow brick building
on beach
JC 33 Sea Girt, off foot of Chicago Avenue
JC 37 Point Pleasant, south of Manasquan Inlet
JC 41 Bay Head, off foot of Johnson Street
JC 44 Mantoloking, off foot of Albertson Street
JC 47A Silver Beach, off foot of Colony Road
JC 49 Lavallette, off foot of Washington Avenue
JC 53 Seaside Park, off foot of 5th Avenue
JC 55 Island Beach State Park, off white building
north of Park Hq.
JC 57 Island Beach State Park, between two main
parking lots in center of park
JC 59 Island Beach State Park, off white house
next to the lookout tower
13
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Table 4 (Continued)
Station No. Location
JC 61 Barnegat, first rock jetty south of
Barnegat Inlet
JC 63 Harvey Cedars, opposite Harvey Cedars
standpipe
JC 65 Ship Bottom, opposite Ship Bottom water
tower
JC 67 Beach Haven Terrace, opposite standpipe
JC 69 Beach Haven Heights, opposite the most
southern water tower on Long Beach Island
JC 73 Brigantine, off large hotel on beach
JC 75 Atlantic City, off the Convention Center
JC 77 Ventnor City, just north of fishing pier
JC 79 Longport, off water tower
JC 81 Ocean City, opposite large apartment
building
JC 83 Peck Beach, opposite large blue water tower
JC 85 Strathmere, off blue standpipe
JC 87 Sea Isle City, opposite blue water tower
with bridge in the background
JC 89 Avalon, off beige building on the beach
JC 91 Stone Harbor, off large blue water tower
JC 93 Wildwood, off northern amusement pier
JC 95 Two mile beach, opposite radio tower
JC 97 Cape May, off white house with red roof on
the beach
JC 99 Cape May Point, opposite lighthouse
14
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JC59
N
10
Kilometers
FIGURE 4
NEW JERSEY COAST STATION LOCATIONS - SANDY HOOK TO
ISLAND BEACH PARK
15
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NEW JERSEY
BEACH
HAVEN
ATLANTIC CITY
STRATHMERE
CAPE MAY
POINT
JC97
JC99 FIGURE 5
NEW JERSEY COAST STATION LOCATIONS - BARNEGAT TO CAPE MAY POINT
16
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SANDY HOOK
(42)
(43)
(20) (2 22 (23) (24) 25 (26) (27)
NYB
N
FIGURE 6
NEW YORK BIGHT STATION LOCATIONS
10
*—' «—' »—< '—« i—i i
Kilometers
17
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Perpendicular Stations
Sampling stations perpendicular to the Long Island coastline are 5.4 km,
12.6 km, 19.8 km, and 27 km (3, 7, 11, and 15 nautical miles) offshore.
Sampling stations perpendicular to the New Jersey coastline start at 1.8
km and are spaced every 1.8 km out to 18 km (1 nautical mile with 1 nm
increments to 10 nm) offshore. These stations are identified by suffixes
E through M, with the exception of the Manasquan (MAS) perpendicular stations
which have corresponding suffixes 1 through 9. Normally, only every other
New Jersey perpendicular station (3.6 km intervals) was sampled; the inter-
mediate stations remained available should dissolved oxygen conditions
warrant more intensive sampling.
The perpendicular stations were established to gather near-surface and
near-bottom dissolved oxygen values in the critical areas of the New York
Bight nearshore waters. Previous agreements had been made with NOAA to
provide dissolved oxygen profiles from stations further out in the Bight in
conjunction with their MESA project and Marine Fisheries Laboratory
activities.
The perpendicular stations described above are plotted in Figures 7
and 8. Tables 3 and 4 describe the shore station locations from which the
perpendicular stations originate.
New York Bight Contingency Plan Stations
The 24 stations sampled are:
NYB 20, 22, 24, 40, 42, 44,
LIC 09P, A, B, and C
LIC 14P, A, B, and C
JC 14E, G, I, K, and M
JC 27E, G, I, K, and M
Their locations are shown in Figures 6 and 7.
18
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MANASQUAN INLET
BAY HEAD
JC53
N
10
Kilometers
:IGURE 7
LONG ISLAND PERPENDICULAR STATIONS AND NEW JERSEY
PERPENDICULAR STATIONS FROM SANDY HOOK TO SEASIDE HEIGHTS
19
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NEW JERSEY
JC61
JC69
N
JC75
10
Kiiomeiers
STRATH MERE
I/
YL
JC85
FIGURE 8
NEW JERSEY PERPENDICULAR STATIONS FROM BARNEGAT TO STRATHMERE
20
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Phytoplankton Stations
Phytoplankton samples were collected once a week along the New Jersey
coast at the following stations:
JC 05
JC 11
JC 21
JC 30
JC 37
JC 57
NYB 20
RB 32
RB 15
A discussion of phytoplankton dynamics and bloom incidence in New
Jersey waters is presented in Appendix A.
21
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IV. DISSOLVED OXYGEN RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Normal Trends in the Ocean
Two major processes act to replenish dissolved oxygen in the water
column of the New York Bight area. These are the photosynthetic conver-
sion of carbon dioxide to molecular oxygen and the mechanical reaeration
of oxygen across the air-water interface. Subsequent turbulent diffusion
then distributes the dissolved oxygen throughout the water column or
into the upper warmer surface layer when stratified conditions prevail.
Concurrent oxygen utilization (depletion) processes, such as bacterial
respiration and sediment oxygen demand, act to influence the amount of
oxygen in the water column at any one time or location.
A general description of the oxygen cycle during a calendar year is
as follows:
In early January, the waters of the Bight are completely
mixed throughout the water column with temperatures
ranging from 4°C to 10°C while dissolved oxygen values
are between 8 and 10 mg/1 with slightly depressed values
at the sediment-water interface. The warm spring air
temperatures and solar heating increase the temperature
of the upper water layer and, in the absence of high
energy input from local storms or tropical hurricanes,
a thermally stratified water column develops. This
stratification effectively blocks the free transport
of the oxygen-rich upper layer into the cool oxygen-poor
bottom waters.
22
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As hot summer weather conditions set in, the
warmer upper layer of water remains completely mixed
and rich in oxygen (7 to 9 mg/1). This upper layer
ranges from 20 to 60 meters in depth depending on
time and location. The bottom cooler water is effec-
tively isolated from the upper layer by a 10°C temper-
ature gradient. Respiration of bottom organisms,
bacterial action on algal remains and detritus, and
sediment oxygen demand depress the residual dissolved
oxygen values in the bottom waters. In a typical
year, the dissolved oxygen concentration in the
bottom waters of the Bight reaches a minimum in mid
to late summer of approximately 4 mg/1. At this time,
cool evenings and reduced solar input causes the upper
waters to cool, decreasing the temperature gradient
between the two water masses. As the two masses become
closer and closer in temperature, the energy required
to break down the thermocline becomes less and less
until finally, in many instances after a local storm,
there is a complete mixing of the water column with
concomitant reoxygenation of the bottom waters. The
annual cycle begins again. Figure 9 depicts a repre-
sentative history of dissolved oxygen concentration in
the general ocean area off of New Jersey, New York, and
New England.
23
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10
8
o
le
m
o
5 5
in
m
I
I I
I
I
I
J I
J I
FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV
MONTH
FIGURE 9
GENERALIZED ANNUAL MARINE DISSOLVED OXYGEN CYCLE OFF THE
NORTHEAST U.S. (FROM NOAA)
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Dissolved Oxygen Criteria
The dissolved oxygen levels necessary for survival and/or reproduc-
tion vary among biological species. Insufficient data have been accumu-
lated to assign definitive limits or lower levels of tolerance for
each species at various growth stages. Rough guidelines are available
for aquatic species for purposes of surveillance and monitoring. These
are as follows:
5 mg/1 and greater - healthy
4-5 mg/1 - borderline to healthy
3-4 mg/1 - stressful if prolonged
2-3 mg/1 - lethal if prolonged
less than 2 mg/1 - lethal in a relatively
short time.
These criteria are consistent with biological information recorded
in the New York Bight over the past several years. Most data concerning
the lower tolerance levels were recorded during the summer of 1976. In
1976, widespread and persistent dissolved oxygen levels between 0.0 and
2.0 mg/1 occurred over a large area of the Bight. This resulted in
extensive fish kills and bottom dwelling organism mortality.
Surface Dissolved Oxygen - 1984
The completely mixed upper water layer had dissolved oxygen levels
at or near saturation during the entire sampling period, April 9, 1984
through September 26, 1984, therefore no further discussion of surface
dissolved oxygen will be presented in this report.
25
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Bottom Dissolved Oxygen - 1984
Long Island Coast
Long Island perpendiculars 09 and 14 were sampled four times
during the summer sampling period - April 19, June 28, July 10 and
September 26. Perpendicular LI 02 was sampled once during this same
period - September 26. The dissolved oxygen concentrations were above
the 4 mg/1 "borderline to healthy guideline" on all dates, except
September 26. On September 26, 6 of the 12 samples collected were
below 4 mg/1.
While the dissolved oxygen data for Long Island in 1984 were minimal,
the data were not atypical. Data from previous years show dissolved
oxygen levels off the Long Island coast usually remain above 4 mg/1.
The depressed levels of dissolved oxygen which occurred on September
26 were consistent with low values observed along these perpendiculars
in previous years. This condition is temporary. There were no samples
collected along the Long Island perpendiculars after September 26,
therefore recovery was not documented. Table 5 summarizes the dissolved
oxygen values below 4 mg/1 off the Long Island coast during the summer
of 1984.
Table 5
Dissolved
found off
Date
9/26
9/26
9/26
9/26
9/26
9/26
oxygen concentrations
the Long Island coast
Station
LIC 02A
LIC 09P
LIC 09A
LIC 09B
LIC 09C
LIC 14P
less than 4 mg/ 1
, summer 1984.
D.O. (mg/1)
3.5
1.9
3.8
2.6
3.0
2.8
26
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New York Bight Apex
In previous years, with the exception of 1982, a dissolved oxygen
"double minima" has been observed in the New York Bight during the summer
months. Generally, the average bottom dissolved oxygen concentration in
late May and early June is approximately 8 mg/1. It slowly declines to
approximately 5.0-6.0 mg/1 in mid-July and is followed by a rise to 6.5-7.0
mg/1 in early August. A subsequent second decline to 5.0-6.0 mg/1 occurs
in mid-September, followed by steady recovery throughout the remainder of
September and October. The Bight Apex was sampled four times - April 17,
June 20, June 27 and September 24-25. Not enough data were generated to
determine if a dissolved oxygen "double minima" occurred in 1984.
Out of 80 samples collected in the New York Bight from April 17 -
September 25 and measured for dissolved oxygen, 11 samples, or 8.75 percent,
were between the 3-4 mg/1 level considered "stressful if prolonged" for
aquatic life, and 1 sample, or 1.3 percent, was less than the 2 mg/1 level
considered "lethal in a relatively short time".
Table 6 summarizes the dissolved oxygen values below 4 mg/1 in the New
York Bight during the Summer 1984.
Table 6 - Dissolved oxygen concentrations less than 4 mg/1
in the New York Bight Apex, summer 1984
DATE
6/20
6/27
9/24
9/24
9/25
9/25
9/25
9/25
STATION
NYB40
NYB45
NYB20
NYB21
NYB33
NYB40
NYB41
NYB42
D.O. (mg/1)
3.3
3.8
3.2
3.1
3.2
1.7
3.2
3.7
27
-------
New Jersey Coast
The northern New Jersey perpendicular network (JC 14-53) was sampled
8 times throughout the summer sampling period - April 18, June 14, June
19, July 2, July 14, July 16, August 11 and September 19. The southern
New Jersey perpendiculars (JC 61-85) were sampled four times - June 15, July
3, August 11 and September 20. A majority of the semi-monthly averages
presented in the graphs to follow, are based on only one data value. This
should be kept in mind when reading subsequent discussions and reviewing
the dissolved oxygen data.
Figure 10 illustrates the semi-monthly dissolved oxygen averages off
the New Jersey coast during the summer of 1984, with separate lines for
the northern (JC 14-JC 53) perpendiculars and the southern (JC 61-JC 85)
perpendiculars. The average dissolved oxygen values along the southern
perpendiculars remained between 5.0 - 6.0 mg/1 during June, July and August
and increased to about 6.7 mg/1 during September. The northern perpendicular
dissolved oxygen average exhibited the "double minima" phenomenon which
occurred in previous years, with the exception of 1982. An average low of
5.2 mg/1 occurred in early July, followed by a slight recovery in late
July and a second low of about 5.3 mg/1 in early August.
Table 7 summarizes the dissolved oxygen values for all the New Jersey
coast perpendiculars. During the summer there were 44 values between 4-5
mg/1, 16 values between 2-4 mg/1 and 1 value between 0-2 mg/1. Dissolved
oxygen at the bottom reaches a minimum in late August/early September due
to a lack of reaeration and sediment oxygen demand. Values usually improve
later in the season when storms and/or increased winds aid reaeration.
28
-------
FIGURE 10
LEGEND
o JCH-JC
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NEW JERSEY COAST BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN, 1984. SEMIMONTHLY
AVERAGES OF ALL NORTHERN (JCM-JC53) AND SOUTHERN (JC61-JC85)
PERPENDICULAR STATIONS.
29
-------
TABLE 07
Dissolved Oxygen Distribution (Bottom Values)
New Jersey Coast Perpendiculars
1984
oo
c
Q.
en
t* in
0)
C
3
0)
3
CO
a.
JQ
JC85M
JC85K
JC85I
JC85G
JC85E
JC75M
JC75K
JC75I
JC75G
JC75E
JC69M
JC69K
JC69I
JC69G
JC69E
JC61M
JC61K
JC61I
JC61G
JC61E
JC53M
JC53K
JC53I
JC53G
JC53E
JC41M
JC41K
JC41I
JC41G
JC41E
JC27M
JC27K
JC27I
JC27G
JC27E
JC14M
JC14K
JC14I
JC14G
JC14E
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
•
•
A
A
A
A
A
•
A
A
A
KEY
- > -5 mg/L A - 4-5 mg/l • - 2-4 mg/l • - 0-2 mg/L
-------
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 show dissolved oxygen profiles along the
coast for June, July, August, and September. The profiles show that,
generally, dissolved oxygen increased with distance offshore. Of the
thirty profiles presented in Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14, twenty exhibit
the trend of increasing dissolved oxygen with distance offshore, seven
show increasing dissolved oxygen closer to shore, and three show no apparent
trend. The profiles show a slow dissolved oxygen decline from June through
August and a slight increase in September. In Figure 13 there are no
profiles for the Long Branch and Belmar perpendiculars because no data
were collected along these two perpendiculars during August.
There were 233 samples collected along the New Jersey perpendiculars
between April 18 and September 25, 1984 and analyzed for dissolved oxygen.
Of these, 17 samples, or 7.3 percent, were below 4 mg/1 (Table 7).
Figure 15 compares the shore to seaward distribution of dissolved
oxygen values along the northern New Jersey perpendiculars. This graph
shows the following:
0 A dissolved oxygen "double minima" occurred along the northern New
Jersey coast. Dissolved oxygen lows were recorded in early July at 1,
3, 7 and 9 miles offshore, followed by an improvement in mid-July,
with a subsequent second minima occurring in early August at 1 and 3
miles offshore, and in late September at 7 and 9 miles off the coast.
A "double minima" is not obvious 5 miles offshore.
0 The northern New Jersey perpendicular stations that are 1 and 3 miles
offshore had average dissolved oxygen values slightly lower than the
stations 5, 7 and 9 miles offshore. This difference was most pronounced
in August. In general, the lower dissolved oxygen values found at the
31
-------
FIGURE 11
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration Profiles
New Jersey Coast
June 1984
CO
c
0)
en
>^
x
O
•o
a>
_>
o
CO
CO
O
O
-«-'
-•-•
O
m
KEY***
+ = Average DO Concentration per Station
x = Actual Location of each Station
-------
FIGURE 12
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration Profiles
New Jersey Coast
July 1984
co
c:
e>
en
>%
X
o
"o
CO
CO
o
CO
c
o
o
c:
o
o
*** KEY ***
+ = Average DO Concentration per Station
x = Actual Location of each Station
-------
FIGURE 13
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration Profiles
New Jersey Coast
August 1984
U)
en
>>
x
O
a>
"o
CO
CO
O
O
=8
CD
CO
c
o
a>
o
c
o
o
*** KEY ***
+ = Average DO Concentration per Station
x = Actual Location of each Station
-------
FIGURE 14
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration Profiles
New Jersey Coast
September 1984
cn
>N
x
O
~o
0)
~0
CO
05
Q
O
-•—<
-J-J
O
m
*** KEY ***
+ = Average DO Concentration per Station
x = Actual Location of each Station
-------
FIGURE 15
LEGEND
O 1 MILE
.H...JN
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
SHORE-TO-SEAWARD DISTRIBUTION OF BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN, 1984
SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGES OF ALL NORTHERN PERPENDICULAR STATIONS
(JCH-JC53), AT FIXED DISTANCES FROM SHORE.
ocr
36
-------
nearshore stations may be attributed to the influence of river runoff,
treatment plant effluent, inlet dredged material disposal sites, and
the Hudson Estuary system on the water along the New Jersey coast.
Figure 16 compares the shore to seaward distribution of dissolved
oxygen values along the southern New Jersey perpendiculars. The dissolved
oxygen values at all locations were 5.0 mg/1 or greater on all sampling
dates except at the stations 3 and 5 miles offshore in August, where
the dissolved oxygen was approximately 4.3 mg/1, 3 miles offshore, and 4.9
mg/1, 5 miles offshore. All stations exhibited a slight decline from
June to July. After July, dissolved oxygen increased at the stations 1, 7
and 9 miles off the coast thru August and September, with values between
6-7 mg/1. Dissolved oxygen values 5 miles offshore show little variation
from June thru August, and then increased to 6.5 rag/1 in September. The
dissolved oxygen values 3 miles offshore slowly declined to an August
minimum of 4.3 mg/1, then increased to 5.5 mg/1 in September. The "double
minima" which has occurred at some stations in previous years is not evident
in Figure 16.
37
-------
FIGURE 16
B
I
LEGEND
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
SHORE-TO-SEAWARD DISTRIBUTION OF BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN, 1984
SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGES OF All SOUTHERN PERPENDICULAR STATIONS
(JC61-JC8S), AT FIXED DISTANCES FROM SHORE.
38
-------
Dissolved Oxygen Trends
Figure 17 shows the five year average, made up of the arithmetic
mean of all semimonthly averages, for the northern New Jersey perpendicular
stations. The dissolved oxygen starts off at approximately 8 mg/1 in late
May and drops at a fairly constant rate to approximately 5.5 mg/1 in late
July. It remains at 5.5 mg/1 until mid-August when it begins dropping to
a low of 4.5 mg/1 in early September. Throughout the remainder of September
and into October the dissolved oxygen begins to recover, rising quite
rapidly in October.
Figure 18 shows the five year average, made up of the arithmetic mean
of all semimonthly averages, for the southern New Jersey perpendicular
stations. The dissolved oxygen starts off in June at approximately 7.0
mg/1 and increases slightly to 7.5 mg/1 in late June. At this point it
drops fairly rapidly to about 5.5 mg/1 in early July. It remains between
5.0 - 5.5 mg/1 until late August when it drops to about 4.5 mg/1 in
early September. It rises steadily through September and into October.
Figures 19, 20 and 21 illustrate the five year trends in dissolved
oxygen for northern New Jersey perpendiculars, southern New Jersey perpen-
diculars and New York Bight Stations, respectively.
Figure 19 shows a dissolved oxygen "double minima" occurring in
1980 and 1983 with an initial low occurring in late July, followed by a
small recovery and then a second low in early to mid-September. In 1981
and 1982 there was one low occurrence each, in early August 1981 and early
September 1982. In 1984, a minimum in dissolved oxygen was reached in
early July, followed by recovery in mid-July, with little variation during
August and September.
39
-------
FIGURE 17
tl
t«
""•*••...
~~
^
MAY JUN JUL AUC SEP OCT NOV
NORTHERN NEW JERSEY COAST BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN, FIVE YEAR
AVERAGE OF THE INDIVIDUAL SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGES. 1980 T01984
40
-------
FIGURE 18
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUO
SEP
OCT
SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY COAST BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN, FIVE YEAR
AVERAGE OF THE INDIVIDUAL SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGES, 1980 T0 1984
NOV
41
-------
FIGURE 19
LEGEND
o
.cum*
MAY
JUN
JUL
AU6
SEP
ocr
NORTHERN NEW JERSEY COAST BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN, 1980-1984
COMPARISON. SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGES OF AH JC1+-JC53 PERPENDICULAR
STATIONS.
NOV
42
-------
FIGURE 20
LEGEND
o
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
MOV
SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY COAST BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN, 1980-1984
COMPARISON. SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGES OF ALL JC61-JC85 PERPENDICULAR
STATIONS.
43
-------
FIGURE 21
o *
Q
i .
LEGEND
o
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NEW YORK BIGHT BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN, 1980-1984 COMPARISON.
SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGE OF ALL NEW YORK BIGHT STATIONS.
NOV
44
-------
In 1984, along the southern New Jersey perpendiculars (Figure 20), the
average dissolved oxygen started at about 6.0 mg/1 in early June and dropped
to about 5.5 mg/1 in early July. It then slowly increased to 6.5 mg/1 in late
September. Figure 20 shows no obvious trends over the-years.
In Figure 21 a comparison of all New York Bight stations is shown for
the years 1980-1984. In 1984 dissolved oxygen concentrations were approxi-
mately 9.8 mg/1 in late April, dropped to about 6.2 mg/1 in mid-June and
further declined to an average of 4.5 mg/1 in late September. Fall recovery
was not documented. The "double minima" which is evident for 1980, 1981,
and 1983 was not observed during 1984, probably due to the reduced number
of samples collected in 1984.
45
-------
V. BACTERIOLOGICAL RESULTS
New Jersey
Table 8 presents a summary of the fecal coliform data collected along
the coast of New Jersey between April 10, 1984 and September 10, 1984.
The geometric mean for each station is plotted in Figure 22. The State
standard for primary contact recreation along the New Jersey Coast is a
geometric mean of 50 fecal coliforms/100 ml based on five or more samples
analyzed within a 30 day period. Due to the low values found and the
relatively small number of samples collected, only one geometric mean was
calculated for each station over the entire summer. The highest geometric
mean, 2.5, is at station JC 99 at Cape May Point. Stations JC 97 at Cape
May and JC 85 at Strathmere have geometric means of 2.4 and 2.3, respec-
tively. All of the geometric means are very low. Figure 22 clearly shows
that the New Jersey coastal stations are well below the bacteriological
standard. Based on fecal coliform data, New Jersey coastal waters have
excellent water quality.
Throughout the summer sampling period, a total of 419 samples were
collected for fecal coliform analysis along the New Jersey Coast. None of
the densities were above 50 fecal coliforms/100 ml.
46
-------
TABLE 8
Summary of bacteriological data
collected along the New Jersey coast
April 10, 1984 through September 10, 1984
Number of
Samples Collected
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
12
12
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
Maximum Value
Fecal Coliform/100 ml
7
6
1
9
1
1
11
4
3
11
7
4
7
4
3
3
5
17
2
0
1
4
4
2
4
3
4
4
1
4
8
0
22
2
2
4
24
30
13
10
Geometric Mean*
Fecal Coliform/100 ml
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.8
1.1
1.2
1.4
1.2
1.1
1.5
1.2
1.1
1.2
1.2
2.0
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.3
1.3
1.1
1.4
1.1
1.6
1.3
1.0
1.3
1.3
1.0
2.3
1.1
1.1
1.2
1.8
1.8
2.4
2.5
Station
JC01A
JC02
JC03
JC05
JC08
JC11
JC14
JC21
JC24
JC27
JC30
JC33
JC37
JC41
JC44
JC47A
JC49
JC53
JC55
JC57
JC59
JC61
JC63
JC65
JC67
JC69
JC73
JC75
JC77
JC79
JC81
JC83
JC85
JC87
JC89
JC91
JC93
JC95
JC97
JC99
*Geometric means were calculated using the natural log.
47
-------
FIGURE 22
STANDARD
50
10'
o
fs
NEW JERSEY COAST STATIONS
GEOMETRIC MEANS OF FECAL COUFORM DATA COLLECTION ALONG THE
COAST OF NEW JERSEY. APR 10,1984 TO SEP 10.1984.
(ACTUAL VALUES PRINTED ABOVE BARS)
48
-------
Long Island
Table 9 presents a summary of the fecal coliform data collected
along the coast of Long Island from April 9, 1984 through September 13,
1984. The geometric mean for each station is plotted in Figure 23. The
New York State standard for primary contact recreation along the Long
Island coast is 200 fecal coliforms/100 ml. This value is a monthly geometric
mean of five or more samples. Only seven samples were collected all summer
at stations LIC 17-28, therefore this portion of the graph represents a
geometric mean of only seven data points at each station. As with the New
Jersey data, due to the low values found and the relatively small number
of samples collected, only one geometric mean was calculated for each
station over the entire summer. The highest geometric mean is 2.5, which
occurred at station HC 10. Station LIC 10 also had the highest geometric
mean in 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983. LIC 10 is under the direct influence
of any poorly treated sewage that may flow out of Jones Inlet. From Figure
30, it is apparent that the standard is not approached. Based on bacterio-
logical data, the New York coastal waters along Long Island are of excellent
quality.
A total of 221 samples were collected during the summer along the
coast of Long Island and analyzed for fecal coliform bacteria. The highest
density found all summer, 16 fecal coliforms/100 ml, was at station LIC 10.
This value is well below the State standard.
49
-------
TABLE 9
Summary of bacteriological data collected
along the coast of Long Island
April 9, 1984 through September 13, 1984
Station
LIC01
LIC02
L1C03
LIC04
L1C05
LIC07
LIC08
LIC09
LICIO
LIC12
LIC13
LIC14
LIC15
LIC16
LIC17
LIC18
LIC19
LIC20
LIC21
LIC22
LIC23
LIC24
LIC25
LIC26
L1C27
LIC28
Number of
Samples Collected
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
8
9
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
Maximum Value
Fecal Coliform/100 ml
4
5
6
4
8
2
4
4
16
4
14
1
1
6
2
4
4
1
5
3
10
3
3
0
2
0
Geometric Mean*
Fecal Coliform/100 ml
1.2
1.4
1.2
1.3
1.7
1.1
1.4
1.8
2.5
1.1
1.6
1.0
1.0
1.4
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.0
1.3
1.3
1.5
1.2
1.2
1.0
1.1
1.0
*Geometric means were calculated using the natural log.
50
-------
200r
10 T
FIGURE 23
STANDARD
010203040507080910 12 13 14- 15 16 17 18 19202122232425262728
LONG ISLAND COAST STATIONS
GEOMETRIC MEANS OF FECAL COUFORM DATA COLLECTION ALONG THE
COAST OF LONG ISLAND. APR 9, 1984 TO SEP 13, 1984.
(ACTUAL VALUES PRINTED ABOVE BARS)
51
-------
New York Bight Apex
During the summer of 1984 a total of 232 samples were collected in
the inner New York Bight for fecal coliform analysis. The stations
sampled were the 20 inner NYB series stations, the LIC 09 and LIC 14
perpendicular stations, and the JC 14 and JC 27 perpendicular stations.
Of the 232 samples collected, one had a fecal coliform density in excess
of 50 fecal coliforms/100 ml. This represents 0.4 percent of the samples.
There is no fecal coliform standard for the New York Bight Apex waters.
The value of 50 fecal coliforms/100 ml was chosen for use in comparison
with previous years. In 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983 the percentage of
samples having densities above 50/100 ml was 2.3, 0.4, 0.7, 2.1 and 0.9,
respectively. The one high value found this past summer was a surface sample
collected at NYB 32 on June 20, which had 70 fecal coliforms/lOOml.
A further discussion of the bacteriological data prepared by the EPA
Regional laboratory, which includes a discussion of the standards, indicator
bacteria, materials and methods, and results, is presented in Appendix B.
52
-------
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere; "The Role of
the Ocean in a Waste Management Strategy, "Washington, D.C., January
1981.
2. Reid, Robert and Vincent Zdanowicz, National Oceanic and Atmosphere
Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service; "Metals in Surface
Sediments of the New York Bight and Hudson Canyon, August, 1981 -
Preliminary Data Report," Highlands, New Jersey, May 14, 1981.
3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; "New York Bight Water Quality
Summer of 1977", Surveillance and Analysis Division, Region II,
Edison, New Jersey, January 1979.
4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; "New York Bight Water Quality
Summer of 1978", Surveillance and Analysis Division, Region II,
Edison, New Jersey, January 1980.
5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; "New York Bight Water Quality
Summer of 1979", Surveillance and Analysis Division, Region II,
Edison, New Jersey, January 1981.
6. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; "New York Bight Water Quality
Summer of 1980", Environmental Services Division, Region II, Edison,
New Jersey, January 1982.
-------
7. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; "New York Bight Water Quality
Summer of 1981", Environmental Services Division, Region II, Edison,
New Jersey, January 1983.
8. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; "New York Bight Water Quality
Summer of 1982", Environmental Services Division, Region II, Edison,
New Jersey, May 1984.
9. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; "New York Bight Water Quality
Summer of 1983", Environmental Services Division, Region II, Edison,
New Jersey, February 1985.
-------
APPENDIX A
SUMMARY OF
PHYTOPLANKTON DYNAMICS
AND BLOOM INCIDENCE
IN NEW JERSEY COASTAL WATERS
1984
New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection
Division of Water Resources
Bureau of Monitoring and Data Management
Biological Services Unit
-------
SYNOPSIS
Weekly during the summer, the NJDEP monitors the development and extent of
marine phytoplankton blooms historically responsible for the recurrence of
red tides in New Jersey's northern shore waters. Samples are routinely
collected by the USEPA, Region II, helicopter surveillance unit as part of
their New York Bight Water Quality Monitoring Program (Figure 1). Samples
are analyzed in accordance with standardized procedures (see previous re-
ports) by the DEP Division of Water Resources' Biological Unit. Although
the red tides off New Jersey are not the acutely toxic variety, such as
occur in New England, concern exists over resources as well as public
health.
At least since 1968, several different phytoflageilate species, most notably
Olistnodiscus luteus and Prorocentrum micans, have been responsible for red
I ides. During the last few years, blooms of (). luteus in the Sandy Hook
vicinity have been less prominent than in the past. In 1983, a bloom of P.
micans in the Belmar vicinity was reminiscent of more extensive blooms of
that species in 1968 and 1972, which were associated with superficial
irritation and respiratory discomfort to bathers. Frequently, extensive
blooms, not producing conspicuous water coloration, have been more evident
when the algae decompose and wash onto the beach as an unaesthetic, floccuient
mass strongly resembling sewage. Although red tides vary in color, 1984
featured the first extensive "green tide" on record, caused by another
dinoflageilate (Gymnodinium sp.). The green tide was unusual in that it
was most extensive south of our routine sampling area (to Cape May County);
but it was far more widespread, being reported from Long Island, New York,
to Delaware, and it persisted from mid-August to mid-September.
A-l
-------
JC57(9)
JC59
N
10
Kilometers
i-IGURE 1
NEW JERSEY COAST STATION LOCATIONS - SANDY HOOK TO
SLAND BEACH PARK
Numbers in parentheses indicate stations where phytoplankto^nsamples are taken,
A-2
-------
1984 Highlights
Phytoplankton species' densities are summarized in Tables I and II. Results
of nutrient analyses are presented in Table III and other significant events
in Table IV.
Diatoms annually form the largest component of the overall phytoplanton
community, usually with peak densities occurring in early spring "flowerings".
Since routine sampling commences in late May or early June, population
peaks of certain species normally abundant, such as Asterionella glacialis
and Thalassionema nitzschioides, are unrepresented in the data. However,
other diatom species normally abundant in these waters maintained periods
of dominance intermittently throughout the summer (Table II).
In waters adjacent to Sandy Hook, Thalassiosira nordenskioldii dominated
the plankton in mid-June followed by C^clotjella sp., a similar form. In
stations south of Sandy Hook, !_._ gravida was dominant from late June to
early July. In July, Skeletonema costatum became dominant from Sandy Hook
to Manasquan. In early August a substantial diatom bloom occurred, including
*>_• costatum, T_^ gravida, Cerataulina pelagica and Chaetoceros sp., along
most of Monmouth County (Table II). This greater than usual abundance of
diatoms in summer is attributable to certain weather and hydrographic
patterns sustaining relatively cool inshore water temperatures through
the period.
Periods of abundance of other species overlapped that of the diatoms. In
early June, following a rapid but brief warming trend, the dominance of
small chiorophytes (Chlorjlla ? and Hannochloris sp.) was noted with highest
concentrations in Sandy Hook Bay. During June, several phytoflagellate
species, along with NannochlojrJLs, typically became abundant especially in
stations from JC 11 north (Table II). A corresponding red tide was observed
from the EPA helicopter on June 21 (Table IV). In early to mid-July,
Nannochloris and Cholorella sp. bloomed again in Sandy Hook Bay and adjacent
stations, while numbers of other species were somewhat reduced.
A data gap in routine sampling occurred from July 17 to August 1, however,
a few incidents of discolored water were independently reported from July
17 to 23 in the Sandy Hook to Long Branch sector. The number of abundant
phytoflagellate species increased again during the August diatom bloom.
From mid to late August, inshore water temperatures increased considerably,
while another gap in routine sampling occurred from August 10 to September
6.
Through August the number of events reported independently of routine
sampling increased significantly. During the first two weeks, several
instances of tainted water, often with deposits on the beach, were reported
from Long Branch to Belmar (Table IV). From August 4 to 9, Belmar beaches
were temporarily closed due to "unaesthetic" conditions. Some of these
occurrences may have been associated with the diatom bloom ongoing the
second week in August. Surf samples taken by the Monmouth County Health
Department during this period revealed an abundance of diatoms in some
samples as well as an isolated bloom of Olisthodiscus luteus, a species which
has been responsible for past red tides. On August 19 (as reported to the
A-3
-------
TABLE 1
Major phytoplankton species found in the 1984 survey. Those seasonally dominant
(+) often attained cell densities greater than 1000/ml (10,000 for Nannochloris sp.).
Other species (-) appeared frequently but usually in lower numbers.Those witfr no
designation appeared only occasionally.
Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae)
Leptocylindrus danicus Rhizosolenia sp.
Skeletonema costatum ( + ) Guinardia TTaccida
Cyclotella sp. (+)Asterionella glacialis (-)
Thalassiosira sp. Thalassionema nitzschioides
T. nordenskioldii ( + ) Cocconeis sp.
T. gravida (+)Navicula sp.
roscinodiscus sp. Nitzschia seriata
Biddulphia sp. PhaeodactyTum tricornutum
Eucampia zobdiacus (-) Cylindrotheca closterium (-)
Certaulina pelagica (+)
Chaetoceros sp. (-)
Dinoflagellates (Dinophyceae)
Prorocentrum micans (-) Katodinium rotundatum (+)
P. minimum~T+T~Heterocapsa triquetra (-)
Amphidinium fusiforme Oblea rotunda
Gymnodinium sp. ( + )Diplppsalis lenticula
G. amplinucleum Peridinium sp.
G. danicans P. excavatum
^. nelsoni P. trochoideum
Gyrodinium sp. ^onyaulax sp.
G. estuarTale G. scrippsae
G^. uncatenum Ceratium minutum
Other Phytoflagellates
(Chrysophyceae, Haptophyceae, Prasinophyceae,
Euglenophyceae, Cryptophycea)
Ochromonas sp. Tetraselmis sp.
01isthodi?cus luteus (+) Eutreptia sp.
Calycomonas gracilis (-) E. lanowii (-)
C. oval is H £• yirid1s (-)
rbria tripartita Juglena sp.
Chrysochromulina sp. E. proxima
Pavlova slT Chroomonas sp. (-)
Bipedinimonas sp (-) Rhodomonas minuta (+)
PyramimonaTTp. (-) R. amphiox'iea ( + )
P. grossii (-) Uryptomonas sp.
F. micron
Chlorophytes (Chlorophyceae)
Chlamydomonas vectensis Nannochloris sp.
Chi ore! la sp". (+1 N. atomus"T+J
Ankistrodesmus convolutus
A-4
-------
TABLE II
Succession of dominant phytoplankton species in 1984. Dominance (+) was
attained when cell counts of a particular species exceeded 10 /ml (104 for
Nannqchloris sp.); sub-dominance (-) was noted when cell densities approached
but did not exceed 10^/ml. Blooms (*) became apparent when cell counts
greater than loVml (10^ for Nannochloris) produced visible water coloration.
SAMPLING LOCATION
Date
June
12
21
26
Species
Skeletonema costatum
Thalassiosira nordenskioldii
Cerataulina pelagica
Olisthodiscus luteus
Chlorella sp.
Nannochloris sp.
T. nordenskioldii
C. pelagica
Chaetoceros sp.
Prorocentrum minimum
Katodinium rotundatum
Heterocapsa triquetra
Olisthodiscus luteus
Rhodomonas minuta
Nannochloris sp.
Cyclotella sp.
Thalassiosira gravida
£. pelagica
P. minimum
Peridinium trochoideum
(). luteus
Euglena / Eutreptia sp.
Pyramimonas sp.
Nannochloris sp.
1
+
2
*
3
*
4
*
5
*
6
*
7
*
8
+
9
-
A-5
-------
TABLE II (Continued)
SAMPLING LOCATION'
Date
July
5
12
17
August
1
10
Species
T. gravida
Euglena / Eutreptia sp.
Rhodomonas sp.
Nannochloris sp.
S. costatum
T. gravida
Chaetoceros sp.
Nitzschia seriata
Chlorella sp.
Nannochloris sp.
S. costatum
Chaetoceros sp.
Calycomonas gracilis
Chroomonas / Rhodomonas sp.
Nannochloris sp.
S. costatum
0. luteus
Chlorella sp.
Nannochloris sp.
S. costatum
T. gravida
C. pelagica
Chaetoceros sp.
Prorocentrum micans
Peridinium trochoideum
Gymnodinium sp.
Nannochloris sp.
1
+
+
-
+
_
+
+
+
+
+
2
+
+
*
*
*
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
3
-
+
+
-
+
-
+
*
*
+
+
-
-
+
4
+
+
+
-
-
+
+
+
+
+
-
+
+
*
+
-
+
+
5
+
-
+
-
-
+
+
+
-
-
+
*
*
*
-
+
6
-
*
+
+
-
-
+
-
+
-
+
7
+
+
+
-
+
-
-
*
-
-
-
+•
8
-
+
+
—
-
-
*
+
+
-
9
-
+
-
-
-
-
-
A-6
-------
TABLE II (Continued)
SAMPLING LOCATION
Date
Sept.
6
10
'Species
Leptocylindrus danicus
C. pelagic a
Cylindrotheca closterium
P. micans
Gymnodinium sp. "G"
0. luteus
Nannochloris sp.
Cyclotella sp.
S. costatum
T. gravida
C. pelaqica
Gymnodinium sp. "G"
Nannochloris sp.
1
+
2
*
3
:
4
*
5
*
6
*
7
+
8
*
9
*
a) See Figure 1.
b) This species was responsible for widespread "green tides" extending southward
from our routine sampling area.
A-7
-------
TABLE III
NUTRIENT t'ATA FOR THE 1984 RED TIDE SURVEY
NH +
/NO
Sampling Location
DATE
June 12
21
26
July 05
12
17
Aug 01
Sept 06
10
1
.03/ .06
.047.06
.06/^.01
.09/ . 12
.037 .29
.37/.21
.237 . 12
.317-
.237 .21
2
.627.28
.737.29
1 .087 .28
.247 .22
.627.29
.627.27
--
.797-
.617.38
3
.087 .06
.077.11
.077 .01
.097 . 10
.237. 13
. 177 . 12
--
.267-
.037 .09
4
.057.05
.167.07
.077 .01
.067.04
. 187. 13
.277. 17
.067 .06
. 167-
.027.09
5
.097 .04
.557.05
.097 .01
.057 .03
. 187 .09
. 167 .02
.027.09
.237-
.037 .09
6
. 107 .04
.057 .03
. 107 .02
.087.04
.147.05
. 1 1/< .02
.087 .03
.097-
. 157.09
7
. 1 17.03
.037.01
.08/^.01
.087 .03
. 177.04
. 14/<.02
.057.02
.097-
. 1 17.09
8
. 1 17 .03
.05/^.01
.097 -02
.077.03
.257.05
. 167 .03
.04/^.02
.227-
.057 .09
9
.087.03
.047 .02
.087.01
.097.03
.257.03
. 167 .03
--
.077-
.047 .09
>
CO
-------
TABLE IV
Blooms and Similar Events Reported Independently of Routine Sampling in 1984
DATE
LOCATION
OBSERVATION
NOTE
Seaside Heights
April
19
June
A rapid but brief warming trend occurred early in the month.
stringy, greenish-brown floating
material in surf, resembling
sewage
followed northeast
storm
21
July
2
Raritan and Sandy| red tide (seen from EPA Heli-
Hook Bay, ocean ; copter)
to Sea Bright
Long Branch
Belmar to Sea
Girt
patches of murky water in
surf
patches of murky water in
surf
Water temperatures erratic (mostly cool) the past month; much rainfall.
17
19
20
23
23
20-26
31
August
1
Sandy Hook to
Long Branch
j Keansburg
I (Raritan Bay)
i
I Sandy Hook Bay
Horseshoe Cove
(Sandy Hook Bay)
Sea Bright
Harvey Cedars
Seaside Park
Long Branch
Long Branch
water cloudy
red tide
sea cabbage (Ulva) washed up on
shore
dead bunker in bay and cove
brown foam in surf
seaweed ("smelly") at sea wall
junk on beach throughout
brown, green and white foamy
substance in surf
yellowish water to h mile out
phytoflagellate and
diatom bloom
mixture of flagellates
and diatoms
mixture of flagellates
and diatoms
detritus & Nannoch-
loris sp. (moderate
bloom)
unconfirmed
Ulya killed by heat
and sunlight at low
tide
dead fish from pound
nets
brought in by on-
shore winds at high
tide
unconfirmed
cleaned up by beach
patrol
phytoflagellate
bloom
Olisthodiscus sp
diatoms abundant
in sample
A-9
-------
TABLE IV (Continued)
DATE
LOCATION
OBSERVATION
NOTE
15
16
15-16
16-17
18-20
19
22
23
25-26
26
27
29
Belmar and
Manasquan
Asbury Park
Shark River
Inlet
Harvey Cedars
Harvey Cedars to
Surf City,
Atlantic City-
Absecon Island
Ocean City -
5th to 12th Sts.
Beach Haven,
Sea Isle City to
Avalon
Manasquan
(two miles off)
Bay Head (two
miles off)
Long Branch to
Allenhurst
Belmar to Sea
Girt (to 2 miles
off)
Little Egg Inlet
Lavalette to
Beach Haven
Mantoloking to
Island Beach
oily and foamy solid substance
on beach; "unaesthetic"
conditions come and go
oily condition in surf
possible red tide over several
square miles to one mile out
"green water" in surf, dead
mussels on beach
green tide densest in these
areas to one-half mile out
green tide along shore
subsurface slime found by a
diver
dissolved 0? low on bottom
(0.46 ppm at 22 meters)
"green slime" covering 5-mile
stretch (seen by a party boat)
' intermittent patches (20x50 yds)
! of brilliant green water
i small patch of "pink water"
patches of green water along
beach (EPA helicopter)
brown water in surf
Inshore water temperatures quite warm ( 5 75 F) during this period.
Sept
1
Vicinity of Little
Egg Inlet
Rehobeth, Delaware
and Belmar, NO
water brownish in morning,
bright green in afternoon
(h mile off Little Beach)
green tide (beginning around
Labor Day)
Belmar beaches
temporarily closed
bloom remnants
unconfirmed
green floe settling
out in samples
Gymnodinium sp.
bloom(s); cells
settle out in slimy
mass, shrivel up when
preserved (ocean out-
falls in each area)
same species as above,
dissipated somewhat
after storm on 8/19
remnants of £. luteus/
diatom bloom
same vicinity as above
bloom
same (Gymnodinium)
species as in southern
area
seen by fishermen
in a boat
ctenophores (h mile
out)
densest off Ship
Bottom, smaller
patches north of
Lavalette.
bloom remnants +
diatoms in sample
sky clear, bright sun
(greenish color
extended into Great
Bay;
caused irritation to
at least one bather
A-10
-------
TABLE IV (Continued)
DATE
LOCATION
6BSERVATION
NOTE
Sept.
6
10
13
18
Oct.
12-14
Southern Monmouth
County to Long
Beach Island
Shark River
Beach Haven to
Atlantic City
Long Island
(Nassau County)
Manasquan to Belmar
green tide (seen from EPA
helicopter)
some green water off inlet
(EPA helicopter)
green tide (seen by fisher-
men)
green tide continuing in
this area
green slime washing in
not as dense as
last week
other areas clear
densest off Brigan-
tine (to 3 miles out)
same species as in
N.J.
bloom remnants; rough
seas caused by Hurri-
cane Josephine
A-ll
-------
National Marine Fisheries Service at Sandy Hook) subsurface slime, apparently
remnant of a bloom, was found by a diver two miles off Manasquan. This was
further evident in low dissolved oxygen levels found in the same vicinity
on August 22.
From August 15-17, in an apparently separate event south of the routine
sampling area, "green" water was reported, first from Long Beach Island,
then from the Atlantic City and Ocean City areas (Table IV). Densest patches
were apparently from Harvey Cedars to Surf City extending one-half mile
out, with some "dead mussels and green slime on the beach", Atlantic City
to Margate, and Fifth to Twelfth Streets in Ocean City. Samples were
gathered with the aid of the Bureau of Shellfish Control and the Atlantic
and Cape May County health agencies. On August 18-20, reports of green
tide continued, including Beach Haven and Sea Isle City to Avalon. The
species involved was an unarmored dinoflagellate, Gymnodinium sp., with
yellow green chromatophores. Species identification was tentative, the
cells preserved poorly, and dead cells readily settled out of the samples
in gelatinous masses.
From August 23 to August 26, green water appeared to the north, within our
routine sampling area, in intermittent patches between Long Branch and
Belmar. On August 27, from the EPA helicopter, it was observed in patches
southward again from Lavalette to Beach Haven, with the densest concentration
off Ship Bottom. The green water was dissipated somewhat by local storm
activity; however, it reappeared again primarily in the area from Beach
Haven to Brigantine, to three miles out, and persisted sporadically until
mid-September. From Labor Day to September 18, other reports of green
water, with a few complaints by bathers of irritation, were received from
Rehoboth, Delaware to Long Island, New York. The same species was apparently
involved in all cases of green tide.
A-12
-------
EVALUATION
Red tides caused by phytoflagellate blooms have been documented in annual
occurrence in Lower New York Bay and adjacent New Jersey estuarine and
coastal waters for over twenty years. The NJDEP has formally monitored
phytoplankton dynamics and bloom development since 1974 (see previous
reports). In recent years some of the most dramatic events have featured
Olisthodiscus luteu£ (lately classified as a chloromonad), while dino-
flagellate species such as Katodinium rotundatum and Prorocentrum sp. have
been present in abundance as well as several others. Most of the blooms
have been benign in nature; however, blooms of P^. mi cans in Monmouth County
were associated with respiratory discomfort and superficial irritation to
bathers, particulary in 1968, but also in 1972 and 1983. Fortunately,
Gonyaulax tamarensis, the species responsible for paralytic shellfish
poisoning (PSP) in New England, has not been detected to any significant
degree in New Jersey waters.
Nutrients for algal growth are normally in ample supply in these waters,
especially in the estuarine complex. Since nitrogen is generally considered
limiting in marine environments, attention is focused on these inorganic
forms. Table III shows that ammonia and nitrate concentrations are at
environmentally significant levels at most stations throughout the sampling
period with the highest values in the estuary. Red tides occur when environ-
mental factors (e.g. temperatures, sunlight, winds) are optimal for algal
growth. Ammonia often becomes a more available nutrient source than nitrate,
since both are assimilated by phytoplankton but the ammonia is replenished
at a faster rate. Concentrations of both tend to decrease south from the
Sandy Hook area. Due to the hypertrophic condition of these waters, other
substances such as metals, organics and certain trace materials may have
major roles in stimulating or inhibiting algal growth; therefore, further
study is needed to determine the role of substances other than inorganic
nitrogen and phosphorus.
Hydrographic patterns in and near the estuary tend to concentrate nutrients
and phytoplankton along the south shore into Sandy Hook Bay and, from there,
into adjacent ocean waters. Since bay waters warm more rapidly than the
ocean, most of the earliest blooms occur in this section. Dense red tides
of (). luteus and several associated species often form here in June, washing
around the Hook with the estuarine plume and, due to Coriolis forces,
curling back in toward the beach a few miles southward. From 1982 to 1984,
these red tides were not as prominent as in previous years. The Hudson
River plume, usually with peak discharge following that of the Raritan,
also follows a trajectory southward along the New Jersey shore. Blooms are
often seen in the ocean along northern Monmouth County following those
originating in Sandy Hook Bay. Hydrographically, the effect of the Hudson
Raritan estuary can often be seen as far south as northern Ocean County,
especially with northerly winds. Conversely, easterly or southerly winds
may cause an onshore drift or counter drift along the shore.
Summer blooms along the ocean front, such as that of P. micans in southern
Monmouth County, apparently occur separately from those in the estuary.
Additional sources of dissolved nutrients in ocean sewage outfalls, or the
ocean dump site twelve miles off Sandy Hook, can sustain these blooms.
Moderate onshore winds, typical of summer, tend to cause concentrations at
or near the shoreline, giving rise to bathers' complaints in the event of
a bloom.
A-13
-------
Some blooms, which may or may not produce conspicuous water coloration, as
well as visible red tides, often become more evident after the blooms
cease and the algae die and settle. A gelatinous matrix around each decom-
posing cell may cause formation of a flocculent mass with an outwardly
slimy or stringy quality. This is illustrated in the subsurface slime
found by a diver on August 19 off Manasquan Inlet (Table IV). Phytoplankton
concentrations that can be substantial enough to produce such a mass, as
well as visible red tides, indicated by cell counts of several thousand
per ml are often found in these waters (Table II). This unaesthetic material
can be driven onshore by breezes or inwelling bottom currents and deposited
in spots along the beach by wave action. The combined result of these
processes is a sight and smell strongly resembling sewage or other decompos-
ing organic matter. It is a condition which every summer gives rise to
myriad complaints, and which may also be responsible for oxygen depletion
in bottom waters at certain locations.
While red tides vary in color from yellowish to deep red or brown, 1984 saw
the first extensive green tide on New Jersey's records (Table IV). Pale
green water previously observed has been caused by blooms of minute chloro-
phytes, such as Nannochloris sp., in Raritan and Sandy Hook Bays; however,
the 1984 event, centering off southern New Jersey, was caused by the dino-
flagellate Gymnodinium sp. Other incidents of bright green water have
been recorded in recent years, but they have been more transient and localized.
On at least one such occasion, the species involved was possibly mis-identified
as G. splendens. In samples not maintained at ^n-j_itu conditions, the
unarmored cells readily settled out and became rounded from their original
form, while standard preservatives, such as Lugols solution, caused the
cells to shrivel up. In samples with very dense ceil concentrations, a
flocculent green mass formed at the bottom of the container.
In New Jersey, the major green tide blooms apparently originated, and were
most extensive and persistent, south of the area routinely monitored for
red tides. Their extent and duration surpassed that of recent red tides.
The first reports were received from Long Beach Island to Cape May County
around August 16 (Table IV). A week later it was seen to the north as far
as Long Branch, but apparently in smaller patches. It was densest within
one-half mile of the beaches, but patches were seen as far out as three miles.
Between Beach Haven and Atlantic City, green tide persisted until the middle
of September, at times continuous to three miles off Brigantine.
South of Barnegat Inlet, hydrography is less under the influence of the
Hudson/Raritan estuary, with nutrient source less concentrated than in the
northern areas. However, in the southern area, several smaller inlets, as
well as Delaware Bay, discharge land and marsh drainage into the ocean.
Also, regional sewage outfalls have been established in the ocean at Long
Beach Island, Atlantic City and Ocean City. With discharge volumes normally
elevated in summer plus warm temperatures and southerly breezes causing
concentrations onshore, a situation ideal for phytoplankton development
occurs.
A-14
-------
The substantial length of coastline over which the green tide appeared
suggested the importance of other factors, in addition to local conditions,
contributing to the bloom. The fact that green tide was less prevalent in
our northern area suggested the presence of some factor(s) inhibitory to
the species. Similar factors may also have caused decreased abundance of
Oi. luteus as compared to other years. The green tide of 1984 was similar
in extent, though not in total area, to the infamous Ceratium tripos bloom
of 1976. However, Gymnodinium sp. covered a narrower band much closer to
shore, and was more surficial being apparently less critical to depletion
of bottom dissolved oxygen than £. tripos. A few reports of irritation to
bathers or of fishkills were attributable to the green water; however, most
bathers were probably discouraged due to its unaesthetic qualities. In
view of this situation, it would seem that further study, in addition to
the present monitoring efforts, is warranted.
A-15
-------
APPENDIX B
MICROBIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY
NEW YORK BIGHT
SUMMER 1984
-------
INTRODUCTION
It was acknowledged even before the microbial etiology of disease was known, that
water can serve as a medium for the transfer of disease. Early investigations have
shown that agents of enteric disease (E. coli, Salmonella) are excreted in large
numbers in the feces of ill individuals, and are therefore potentially present
in their sewage and its receiving waters. Epidemiological studies have been used
to assess incidence of illness with bathing in waters containing fecal contamination.
Evidence exists that there is a relationship between bacterial water quality and
transmission of certain infectious diseases (Cabelli, et^ _al, 1980).
It is common practice to use an indicator organism to detect fecal contamination
instead of pathogenic organisms. Elaborate procedures are usually required for
the detection of most pathogens in mixed populations making them undesirable as a
routine monitoring tool. When an indicator organism is present, it is assumed
that pathogens may be present and the water may be potentially harmful.
In 1976, the US EPA recommended a fecal coliform bacterial guideline for primary
contact recreational waters which was subsequently adopted by most of the states.
Their recommendation states that fecal coliforms should be used as the indicator
organism for evaluating the microbiological suitability of recreational waters.
As determined by MPN or MF procedures and based on a minimum of not less than 5
samples taken over not more than a 30 day period, the fecal coliform content
of primary contact recreational waters shall not exceed a log mean of 200/lOOml
nor shall more than 10% of the total samples during any 30 day period exceed
400/100 ml (Quality Criteria for Water, 1976).
The criteria was derived from data collected by the National Technical Advisory
Committee (NTAC) who conducted studies on the Great Lakes (Michigan) and the
Ohio River. These studies showed an epidemiological health effect at levels of
2300-2400 coliforms/100 ml. Further studies demonstrated that 18% of the total
coliform population was comprised of fecal coliforms. This would indicate that
detectable health effects may occur at a fecal coliform level of about 400/100
ml. The NTAC suggested that a detectable risk was not acceptable and proposed
dividing the 400/100 ml in half. They also suggested that the quality of bathing
water should not be above the detectable risk level more than 10% of the time
during a 30 day period.
New York State, for its primary contact recreational coastal waters, has adopted
the log mean of 200 FC/100 ml as its standard. New Jersey, on the other hand, chose
to adopt more stringent limits. For their coastal primary contact recreational
waters, a log mean of 50 FC/100 ml was established.
Fecal coliforms are defined as gram-negative, nonspore-forming rods that ferment
lactose in 24+ 2 hours at 44.5 + 0.2°C with the production of gas in the MPN
method or produce acidity with blue colonies in the MF method. This group
according to traditional thinking, more accurately reflects the presence of fecal
discharges from warm-blooded animals. As indicators, the bacteria have the
advantage of being less subject to regrowth in polluted waters. Their increased
specificity to fecal sources made them the choice over other coliform groups.
For more detailed information about this bacterial group, please refer to the
following references:
B-l
-------
1. Standard Methods 15th ed., 909 C (F.C.)
2. Microbiological Methods for Monitoring the Environment, Water and Wastewater.
EPA-600/8-78-017, Sect C, p 124.
3. Sergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 8th ed. 1974. p 290, Members
of the Enterobacteriacae, p. 295, Escherichia coll.
As part of the annual monitoring of the coastal waters off the shores of Long
Island and New Jersey, a study of the density of fecal coliforms was conducted in
1984. Monitoring at selected sites in the New York Bight was also conducted.
Bacterial density in this study is defined as the number of bacteria belonging to
the specific indicator group (fecal coliforms) per 100 ml of water.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Marine water samples were collected by helicopter from April to September 1984.
The samples were collected using a Kemmerer sampler, transferred to 500ml sterile,
wide-mouth plastic containers, and then returned to Region II Edison laboratory
for analysis.
Fecal coliform determinations were conducted according to the membrane filtration
(MF) procedure described in Standard Methods, 15th ed., 1980 and Microbiological
Methods for Monitoring the Environment, Water and Wastewater, EPA-600/8-78-017.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Along the coasts of both New Jersey and Long Island there were no fecal coliform
densities greater than 50/100ml observed during the survey time period (Tables 1 and 2),
The geometric mean fecal coliform densities for the New Jersey stations were all
less than 2.0 and for the Long Island stations less than 2.2. These fall well
below the criteria set by the two states. Figures 1 and 2 graphically display
the geometric mean values of FC densities for New Jersey and Long Island.
Of all the samples collected from the New York Bight only one was observed to be
greater than 50/100 ml (Table 3). This was observed at station NYB-32. NYB-32 is
at the mouth of the Raritan Bay (Figure 3). The geometric mean densities of FC found
in the Bight are presented in Table 4.
EPA has recently published the results of two research projects which compared
the relationships between illnesses associated with bathing waters and ambient
densities of indicator bacteria (Cabelli, 1980 and DuFour, in press). One study
was performed on marine water beaches and one on freshwater beaches. The results
of these studies have caused EPA to reevaluate the current use of fecal coliforms
as an indicator organism. The studies demonstrated that enterococci have a far
better correlation with swimming associated illness both in marine and fresh waters
than does fecal coliforms. New methodology has made it easier to detect this
organism (Levin, et al, 1975). The studies also stated the E. coli, a specific
bacterial species included in the fecal coliform group, has a correlation in
fresh waters equal to the enterococcus, but does not correlate as well as in
marine waters.
At the present, EPA is considering recommending these organisms for inclusion
into state water quality standards for the protection of primary water contact
recreation uses instead of fecal coliforms. This information was published in the
Federal Register on May 24, 1984 and comments were requested. No new recommendations
have been issued as of this date.
B-2
-------
If one looks at the data generated in the above survey, one must start to question
the reliability of the fecal coliform data especially with the current controversy
over which indicator organism is the best choice. This is not to say the data
isn't valid. It was generated according to the established procedures. It is
recommended that a comparison study be performed at specific stations known to
have some fecal contamination (around Raritan Bay) with the current and proposed
indicator organisms (enterococcus, E. coli and fecal coliforms) be tested to
determine the most reliable indicator organism.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In light of the probable change of the bacteriological criteria and the data
generated from the New York Bight this year and in the past few years, it is
recommended that a review of the frequency of sampling and the actual stations
samples should be performed.
It appears that higher fecal coliform counts are usually detected at the first
20 stations along the New Jersey coast (JC01A-JC57) and the first 13 stations
along the Long Island coast (LIC01-LIC15). It is recommended that these stations
be sampled twice a week and the entire coasts twice a month.
With regard to the New York Bight sludge dumpsite stations, it is recommended
that stations be established in the Christiensen Basin and the Upper Hudson
Shelf Valley to track the potential movement of sewage sludge. The current
sampling stations do not adequately cover this area since they were established
to monitor movement of contaminants from the sludge dump site towards the New
Jersey and Long Island coasts. These stations should be sampled weekly.
It is further recommended that sediment samples be collected monthly at the New
York Bight stations. No sediment sampling has been conducted since the New York
Bight survey conducted on the OSV antelope during the summer of 1982. Such
monitoring is needed, possibly with the inclusion of analyses for Clostridia
spores.
B-3
-------
REFERENCES
1. Sergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 8th ed. (1974).
2. Cabelli, V.J. Health Effects Criteria for Marine Recreational Waters, EPA-
\ 600/1-80-031 (1980).
3. DuFour, A.P. Health Effects Criteria for Fresh Recreational Waters. US EPA in
press.
4. Levin, M.A., J. K. Fisher & V. J. Cabelli. Membrane Filter Technique for
Enumeration of Enterococci in Marine Waters. APP MICRO. 30:66-71 (1975).
5. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 15th ed.,
American Public Health Association, Washington, B.C. (1980).
6. US Federal Register Vol 49, No.. 102. May 24, 1984. Notices (1984).
7. US Environmental Protection Agency. Microbiological Methods for Monitoring
the Environment, Water and Wastewater. EPA-600/8-78-017 (1978).
8. US Environmental Protection Agency. Quality Criteria for Water.
EPA-440/9-76-023 (1976).
B-4
-------
Table 1
oes
GEOMETRIC HEANS OF BACTERIAL OENSITItS*
NE* JERSEY COA55T STATIONS
10*4
STATION
MEAN
MINIMUM
MAXIMUM
1
2
3
4
c
6
7
P
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
It
17
If-
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
26
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
36
39
40
JC01A
JC02
JC03
JC05
jcoe
JC11
JC14
JC21
JC24
JC27
JC30
JC33
JC37
JC41
JC44
JC47A
JC49
JC53
JC55
JC57
JC59
JC61
JC63
JC65
JC67
JC69
JC73
JC75
JC77
JC79
JC81
JCS3
JC85
JC87
JC89
JC91
JC93
JC95
JC97
JC99
O.tiUOfi
0.86448
0.37701
0.677*2
0.05076
0.11253
1.00821
0.40085
0.58050
0.49844
0.23773
0.25916
0.71615
0.29905
0.21064
0.30551
0. 31739
1.28637
0.09587
0.00000
0. 09051
0.52982
0.40285
0.25103
0.77828
0.18921
0.7*4916
0.52982
0.41421
0.52982
0.56506
0.00000
1.53863
0.36426
0.25103
0.22284
1.34035
1.17238
1.85125
1.91964
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
u
ti
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
N
7
6
1
9
1
1
11
4
3
11
7
4
7
4
3
3
5
17
2
0
1
4
*
2
4
3
6
4
1
4
8
0
22
2
2
4
24
30
13
10
13
13
13
13
U
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
12
12
6
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
A
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
Geometric means calculated using log 10
B-5
-------
Table 2
OBS
GEOMtTKlC MEANS OF BACTEnlAL OENSITItS
LONG ISLAND COAST STATIONS
STATION
MEAN
MINIMUM
MAXIMUM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
H
s
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
16
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
LIC01
LIC02
LIC03
LIC04
LICOb
LIC07
LIC06
LIC09
LIC10
LIC12
LIC13
LIC14
LIClb
LIC16
LIC17
LIC16
LIC19
LIC20
LIC21
LIC22
LIC23
LIC24
LlCZb
LIC26
LIC27
LIC26
0.40512
0.53367
0.60296
0.54992
1.04767
0.33514
0.8b406
1.50165
2.18100
0.17462
0.71877
0.23114
0.09051
0.71149
0.16993
0.25A50
0.38950
0.10409
0.29171
0.42616
0.81943
(1.48599
0.21901
0.00000
U. 29171
0.00000
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
N
4
5
6
4
8
2
4
4
1*
*
14
1
1
6
2
4
4
1
b
3
10
3
3
0
2
0
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
8
9
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
* Geometric means calculated using log 10
B-6
-------
Table 3
BACTERIAL DENSITIES >50 PEW 100 ML
NEW YORK BIGHT STATIONS
SUMMER 19fl<>
08S STATION DATE DENSITY DEPTH
1 NYB32 840620 70 S
B-7
-------
Table 4
oes
GEOMETHIC "F.ANS OF BACTERIAL OENSITItS
NEW YO*K BIGHT STATIONS
SUMMER 1964
DEPTH
STATION
MEAN
MINIMUM
1
2
3
4
s
6
7
6
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
lt>
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
26
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
36
39
40
R
F
e
e
B
B
B
B
e
B
B
B
8
H
6
(t
B
e
P
H
s
5
S
S
s
s
s
5
S
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
c
NYB20
NYH21
NYtiSi:
NYK23
NYB24
NY82b
NY82
NYB4e>
NY647
NY*20
NYh21
NY822
NYH23
NYR24
NYH2S
NYB26
NYH27
NYB32
NYK33
NYB34
NY«3b
MY640
NYB41
NYB42
NY843
NYB44
NYB4b
NYH46
NY847
1.21336
0.16921
0.00000
0.00000
0.25992
0.44225
0.91293
0.442P5
0.25992
0.7099R
0.00000
0.00000
0.00000
0.00000
0.00000
0.25992
1.15443
0.56740
0.00000
0.00000
0.41421
1.14070
0.89883
0.31607
0.25992
0.00000
0.00000
0.25992
6. 46011
0.00000
0.00000
0.00000
0.00000
0.00000
0.00000
0.00000
0.00000
0.00000
0.00000
0.00000
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
<•)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MAXIMUM
N
5
1
0
0
1
2
6
2
\
4
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
3
0
0
3
6
12
2
1
0
0
1
70
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3"
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
* Geometric means calculated using log 10
B-8
-------
Figure 1
GEOMETRIC MEANS OF BACTERIAL DENSITIES
NE« JERSEY COAST STATIONS
SUMMER 198*
PLOT OF MEAN*STATION
PLOT OF MAXIMUM»STATIOfc
SYMBOL USED IS •
SYMBOL USEO IS U
A A
STATION
3 5 T 9
* Geometric means calculated using log 10
-------
Figure 2
3EOHCTRIC MEANS OF BACTERIAL DENSITIES
LONG ISLAND COAST STATIONS
SUNKEN 1«8«
PLOT or *EAN»STATION
PLOT OP MA«I**UN*STATION
SVNHOL USED IS •
SYKflOL UStll IS U
NEAN
I
M
O
1 1
I 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 t 1 1
1 I
1 1
till
I
3
1
4
1
2
S
1
t
6
1
2
T
1
2
a
STATION
* Geonetric means calculated using log 10
-------
SANDY HOOK
(42)
(43)
(45) .
(20) (2l) (22) (23) (24) (25) (26) (27)
NYB (46)
(47)
FIGURE 3
NEW YORK BIGHT STATION LOCATIONS
N
10
Kilometers
B-ll
-------
SANDY HOOK
(45) .
(20) 2l (22 23 24 25
NYB
N
FIGURE 3
NEW YORK BIGHT STATION LOCATIONS
10
Kilometers
B-ll
------- |