New York
Bight
Water Quality
Summer of
1985
v>EPA
REGION 2
NEW YORK/ NEW JERSEY
PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISUNDS
-------
NEW YORK BIGHT WATER QUALITY
SUMMER OF 1985
Report Prepared By:
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region II - Surveillance and Monitoring Branch
Edison, New Jersey 08837
Randy Bj^fun, Physleal Scientist
A
Kevin PYtrus," Environmental Scientist
-------
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this report is to disseminate technical information
gathered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region II, during the
1985 New York Bight Water Quality Monitoring Program. The monitoring program
was conducted using the EPA helicopter for water quality sample collection.
During the summer period of May 16 to October 17, 1985, approximately 140
stations were sampled each week, weather permitting. The Bight sampling
program was conducted 5 days a week, 6 days a week in July and August, and
consisted of five separate sampling networks.
Bacteriological data indicated that, generally, fecal coliform densi-
ties at the beaches along both the New Jersey and Long Island coasts were
well within the acceptable limits for primary contact recreation. However,
on two occasions along the New Jersey coast county health officials closed
bathing beaches in parts of Monmouth and Cape May Counties due to elevated
fecal coliform densities. Enterococci densities exceeded EPA's criterion
of 35 enterococci/100 ml only three times during the summer along the New
Jersey coast and not at all along the Long Island coast.
Dissolved oxygen water quality was generally good along the Long
Island coast. From mid to late summer stressful dissolved oxygen con-
ditions were found at many of the New Jersey perpendicular stations and
a few of the New York Bight Apex stations. These stressed conditions were
the worst experienced since the anoxia of 1976. The depressed levels
existed for extended periods (up td 2 months), and at times covered large
areas (approximately 1600 square miles); however, no extensive fishkills
were reported. As in previous years, the depressed dissolved oxygen levels
-------
were temporary. 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 organic material and dead 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 activ-
ity. The dissolved oxygen levels increased considerably in mid-September
during periods of high winds, cold temperatures and local storms.
11
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION 1
II. SAMPLE COLLECTION PROGRAM 6
III. DESCRIPTION OF SAMPLING STATIONS 11
Beach stations 11
New York Bight Stations .11
Perpendicular Stations 19
New York Bight Contingency Plan Stations 19
Phytoplankton Stations . 22
.IV. DISSOLVED OXYGEN RESULTS AND DISCUSSION . . 23
Normal Trends in the Ocean 23
Dissolved Oxygen Criteria 26
Surface Dissolved Oxygen, 1985 26
Bottom Dissolved Oxygen, 1985 27
Long island Coast 27
New York Bight Apex 27
New Jersey Coast 31
Dissolved Oxygen Trends 51
V. BACTERIOLOGICAL RESULTS 59
New jersey 59
Long Island 62
New York Bight Apex. 65
Enterococci 66
New Jersey 66
Long Island 69
New York Bight Apex . 69
r
VI. BEACH CLOSINGS 73
BIBLIOGRAPHY 75
APPENDIX
APPENDIX A - Summary of Phytoplankton Blooms and Related
Events in New Jersey Coastal Waters Summer
of 1985
APPENDIX B - Microbiological Water Quality New York Bight
Summer 1985
111
-------
LIST OF TABLES
No. Title Page
1 Outline of 1985 sampling program 7
2 Parameters evaluated for each station group 8
3 Long Island coast station locations 12
4 New Jersey coast station locations 14
5 Dissolved oxygen concentrations less than 4 mg/1 30
found off the Long Island coast, summer 1985
6 Dissolved oxygen distribution (bottom values) 33
New jersey coast perpendiculars
7 Dissolved oxygen values below 4 mg/1 during July, 50
August and September, along the New jersey
perpendiculars during the last 5 years (1981-1985)
8 Percent of dissolved oxygen values below 4 mg/1 51
along the New Jersey perpendiculars during the
last 5 years (1981-1985)
9 Summary of bacteriological data collected along the 60
New jersey coast May 28, 1985 through September
9, 1985
10 Summary of bacteriological data collected along the 63
Long Island coast May 16, 1985 through August 27,
1985
11 Summary of enterococci data collected along the New 67
Jersey coast May 28, 1985 through September 9, 1985
12 Summary of enterococci data collected along the Long 70
Island coast May 16, 1985 through August 27, 1985
IV
-------
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 13
4 New Jersey coast station locations - Sandy Hook 16
to Island Beach Park
5 New Jersey coast station locations - Barnegat 17
to Cape May Point
6 New York Bight station locations 18
7 Long Island perpendicular stations and New jersey 20
perpendicular stations from Sandy Hook to Seaside Heights
8 New Jersey perpendicular stations from Barnegat to 21
Strathmere
9 Generalized annual marine dissolved oxygen cycle off the 25
northeast U.S. (From NOAA)
10 Long Island coast bottom disolved oxygen, 1985 semi- 28
monthly average of all Long Island perpendicular stations
11 New York Bight bottom dissolved oxygen, 1985 semimonthly 29
average of all New York Bight stations
12 New Jersey coast bottom dissolved oxygen, 1985 32
semimonthly averages of all northern (JC.14-JC 53)
and southern (JC 61-JC 85) perpendicular stations
13 Dissolved oxygen concentration profiles, New jersey 35
coast, May 1985
14 Dissolved oxygen concentration profiles, New jersey 36
coast, June 1985
15 Dissolved oxygen concentration profiles, New Jersey 37
coast, July 1985
16 Dissolved oxygen concentration profiles, New Jersey 38
coast, August 1985
17 Dissolved oxygen concentration profiles, New Jersey 39
coast, September 1985
-------
18 Dissolved oxygen concentration profiles, New jersey 40
coast, October 1985
19 Shore to seaward distribution of bottom dissolved oxygen, 41
1985 semimonthly averages of all northern New Jersey
perpendicular stations (JC 14-JC 53), at fixed distances
from shore
20 Shore to seaward- distribution of bottom dissolved oxygen, 43
1985 semimonthly averages of all southern New Jersey
perpendiculars (JC 61-JC 85), at fixed distances from
shore
21 North-south bottom dissolved oxygen distribution for 44
northern New Jersey, 1985. Semimonthly averages along
perpendiculars JC 14-JC 53, compared to their average
22 North-south bottom dissolved oxygen distribution for 45
southern New Jersey, 1985. Semimonthly averages along
perpendiculars JC 61-JC 85, compared to their average
23 Dissolved oxygen concentrations below 4 mg/1, New Jersey 46
coast, July
24 Dissolved oxygen concentrations below 4 mg/1, New jersey 47
coast, August
25 Dissolved oxygen concentrations below 4 mg/1, New jersey 48
coast, September
26 Northern New jersey coast bottom dissolved oxygen, five 52
year average of the individual semimonthly averages,
1981-1985
27 Southern New Jersey coast bottom dissolved oxygen, five 53
year average of the individual semimonthly averages,
1981-1985
28 Northern New jersey coast bottom dissolved oxygen, 55
1981-1985 comparison, semimonthly averages of all
JC 14-JC 53 perpendicular stations
29 Southern New jersey coast bottom dissolved oxygen, 56
1981-1985 comparison, semimonthly averages of all
JC 61-JC 85 perpendicular stations
30 New York Bight bottom dissolved oxygen, 1981-1985 57
comparison, semimonthly average of all New York
Bight stations
31 Geometric means of fecal coliform data collected 61
. along the coast of New jersey, May 27, 1985 to
September 10, 1985
VI
-------
32 Geometric means of fecal coliform data collected 64
along the coast of Long island, May 15, 1985 to
August 28, 1985
33 Arithmetic means of enterococci data, May 28 to 68
September 9, 1985, New Jersey coast stations
?4 Arithmetic means of enterococci data, May 16 to 71
to August 27, 1985, Long Island coast stations
vii
-------
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 twelfth in a series and reflects the monitoring
period between May 16, 1985 and October 17, 1985. 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 to the needs
of the general public, the states, the counties, and EPA, and to concen-
trate on specific areas of concern during the critical summer period.
Most of these changes occurred after the summer of 1976, when anoxi'c con-
ditions caused a fishkill in the Bight and an unusually heavy wash-up 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
direct any decisions regarding protection of the Bight's water quality.
-------
CHEMICAL
WASTES
DUMP SITE
FIGURE 1
THE NEW YORK BIGHT
-------
OUTER HARBOR
SANDY HOOK-
ROCKAWAY POINT
TRANSECT
NEW JERSEY
ASBURY PARK/
DREDGED MATERIAL
D
CELLAR SEWAGE
DIRT SLUDGE
WRECK
o
LT\
O
("I
O
-3-
0
-ACID
WASTES
X
LJ
O.
X
o
Uul
/
FIGURE 2
BIGHT APEX AND EXISTING DUMP SITES
10
20
30
KILOMETERS
5 10
15
NAUTICAL MILES
-------
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 "Anderson" 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.
In 1985 stations analyzed for fecal colifbrm densities were addition-
ally analyzed for enterococci bacteria densities. Enterococci bacteria
are members of the fecal streptococci group. Enterococci density determin-
ations were added because studies show that this group of indicator organisms
has a better correlation, than fecal coliforms, to swimming-associated
illness in marine waters. Currently, New York and New jersey do not have a
water quality standard for enterococci bacteria. EPA criterion of 35
enterococci/100 ml for primary contact recreation was published in the
Federal Register on March 7, 1986.
-------
II. SAMPLE COLLECTION PROGRAM
During the period of May 1985 through October 1985, water quality
monitoring was carried out primarily using the EPA Huey helicopter. Major
repair work on the EPA Huey helicopter at the end of July necessitated the
rental of a Bell jet Ranger II helicopter and the use of EPA's vessel "Clean
Waters" to complete the summer sampling. Under the established protocol,
sampling normally occurs 5 days a week and is extended to 6 days a week
during July and August. Table 1 outlines the 1985 sampling program. Table 2
lists the parameters analyzed for each group of stations. The major repair
work on the Huey at the end of July made it inherently difficult to adhere to
the weekly sampling frequency and protocol (only bottom samples were collected
from August to mid-September). Furthermore, as the dissolved oxygen concen-
trations along the central and southern New jersey coast became critically
low, sampling was concentrated in the affected areas.
The monitoring program was composed 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 bacterio-
logical information at 20 stations in the inner New York Bight. The perpendic-
ular 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.
-------
Table 1
Outline of 1985 sampling program
Station Group
Frequency
per Week
Long Island Beaches
(Rockaway Pt. to Fire
Island Inlet) 1
North jersey Beaches 1
(Sandy Hook to Barnegat)
Long island Beaches
(Fire Island Inlet to
Shinnecock Inlet)
South Jersey Beaches
(Barnegat to Cape May)
Long island Perpendiculars 1
North Jersey Perpendiculars 1
(Long Branch to Seaside)
South Jersey Perpendic-
ulars (Barnegat to
Strathmere)
Bight Contingency
Bight Contingency
Phytoplankton
Inner New York Bight
2
1
1
Parameter
Bacteriological
Bacteriological
Bimonthly Bacteriological
Bimonthly Bacteriological
Dissolved Oxygen
Dissolved Oxygen
Bimonthly Dissolved Oxygen
Dissolved Oxygen
Bacteriological
Phytoplankton,
Nutrients
Bacteriological
Dissolved Oxygen
Sample Depth
Top1
Top1
Top1
Top1
Top1, Bottom2
Top1, Bottom2
Top1, Bottom2
Top1, Bottom2
Top1, Bottom2
Top1
Top1 , Bottom2
1 One meter below the surface
2 One meter above the ocean floor
-------
Table 2
Parameters evaluated for each station group
Parameters
Fecal Coliform
Enterococci
Salinity
Chlorinity
Temperature
Dissolved
Oxygen (DO)
Total
phosphorus
(TP)
phosphate
Phosphorus
(P04-P)
Ammoni a
Ni trogen
(NH3-N)
Nitrite
Nitrogen
(N02-N)
Nitrate
Ni trogen
(N03-N)
Silica (SiO2)
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
*Sample Depth: 1 meter below the surface
**Sample Depth: 1 meter below the surface and 1 meter above the ocean floor.
-------
The New York Bight Contingency Network consisted of 24 stations which were
sampled for dissolved oxygen, and fecal coliform and entercocci 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.
The weekly sampling program averaged approximately 140 stations.
Beach stations along New York and New Jersey were sampled once a week for
fecal coliform and enterococci 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 sur-
face. Sampling was accomplished by dropping a 1-liter Kemmerer sampler
approximately 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 and enterococci analyses.
The twenty stations in the Bight Apex were 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 transferred to a BOD bottle for dissolved
oxygen analysis, and a sterile plastic bottle for fecal coliform and enter-
cocci analyses. The dissolved oxygen sample was immediately 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 for-
mation and then placed in a metal rack. The samples were held for less than
6 hours before returning to the laboratory, where 2 ml of sulfuric acid was
-------
added and the samples were titrated 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 necessitated the establishment of a fourth samp-
ling component; a 24-station network was developed and sampled twice a week
for dissolved oxygen and once a week for fecal coliform and entercocci
densities. Part of the sampling requirements for the New York Bight contin-
gency plan were satisfied by the regularly scheduled Bight and perpendicular
sampling runs. Bacteriological 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 carried out once a week.
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 conducted 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 up the
phytoplankton samples within 24 hours of collection. The results of these
analyses are contained in Appendix A.
10
-------
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.
11
-------
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 1 3 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
12
-------
u>
NEW JERSEY
LIC20-1 L LIC21
FIGURE 3
LONG ISLAND COAST STATION LOCATIONS
-------
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 Asbufy 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 ^f«^£1 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 Alberts on Street
JC 47A Silver Beach, off foot of Colony Road
JC 49 Lavallette , off foot of Washington Avenue
JC 53 Seaside Heights, between the amusement piers
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
14
-------
Table 4 (continued)
Station No. Location
JC 61 Barnegat, first rock jetty south of
Barnegat Inlet
JC 63 T n I 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 .
15
-------
LONG ISLAND
JC01A
JC02
JC03
SANDY HOOK
NEW JERSEY
LONG BRANCH
SEASIDE
HEIGHTS
FIGURE 4
NEW JERSEY COAST STATION LOCATIONS - SANDY HOOK TO
ISLAND BEACH PARK
16
-------
NEW JERSEY
BEACH
HAVEN
ATLANTIC CITY
STRATHMERE
CAPE MAY
POINT
JC97
JC99 FIGURE 5
NEW JERSEY COAST STATION LOCATIONS - BARNEGAT TO CAPE MAY POINT
17
-------
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.
19
-------
MANASQUAN INLET
BAY HEAD
JC53
N
'FIGURE 7
LONG ISLAND PERPENDICULAR STATIONS AND NEW JERSEY
PERPENDICULAR STATIONS FROM SANDY HOOK TO SEASIDE HEIGHTS
20
-------
NEW JERSEY
JC61
JC69
N
JC75
STRATHMERE
JC85
FIGURE 8
NEW JERSEY PERPENDICULAR STATIONS FROM BARNEGATTO STRATHMERE
21
-------
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.
22
-------
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.
23
-------
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 cooler bottom 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 cause 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.
24
-------
K)
Ui
10
X 5
-<
en
m
Z 4
I I I I
I
J I I I
FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY
MONTH
AUG SEPT OCT NOV
FIGURE 9
GENERALIZED ANNUAL MARINE DISSOLVED OXYGEN CYCLE OFF THE
NORTHEAST U.S. (FROM NOAAj
-------
Dissolved Oxygen Criteria
The dissolved oxygen levels necessary for survival and/or reproduc-
tion vary among biological species. Sufficient data have not 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 benthic organism mortality.
Surface Dissolved Oxygen - 1985
The completely mixed upper water layer had dissolved oxygen levels
at or near saturation during the entire sampling period, May 20, 1985
through October 17, 1985, therefore no further discussion of surface
dissolved oxygen will be presented in this report.
26
-------
Bottom Dissolved Oxygen - 1985
Long Island Coast
During the sampling period, no dissolved oxygen levels below the
4 mg/1 "borderline to healthy" guideline were recorded off the Long
island coast. However, due to helicopter maintenance problems, from
mid-July to mid-October no dissolved oxygen samples were collected
along the Long Island perpendiculars. In previous years, dissolved
oxygen values off the Long Island coast below 4 mg/1 occurred in August
and September. Therefore, it is likely that dissolved oxygen levels
below 4 mg/1 existed at some stations but were not documented.
Figure 10 shows the semi-monthly averages of dissolved oxygen
values found from May through October, 1985. The dissolved oxygen
average from May through July is consistent with averages from previous
years, remaining in the 6-7 mg/1 range. No data were collected in late
July, August, September and early October.
New York Bight Apex
Figure 11 illustrates the semi-monthly dissolved oxygen averages
at the New York Bight stations from May through October, 1985. A dis-
solved oxygen "double minima" is observed. This "double minima" has
occurred in most years, except in 1982 and 1984. The first dissolved
oxygen low occurred in early July, followed by a 1 mg/1 increase in
late July. The second low occurred in early August. This was followed
by a strong recovery in late summer into October.
27
-------
FIGURE 10
10
5
I
NUMBER OF SAMPLES
(16)
(16)
(8)
(8)
(8)
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
LONG ISLAND COAST BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN, 1985
SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGE OF ALL LONG ISLAND PERPENDICULAR STATIONS.
28
-------
FIGURE 11
10
§
Q
I ,
(I) NUMBER OF SAMPLES
(20)
(20)
(26)
(20)
(26) ,-
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
NEW YORK BIGHT BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN, 1985
SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGE OF ALL NEW YORK BIGHT STATIONS.
OCT
NOV
29
-------
Out of 152 samples collected in the New York Bight from May 21 to
October 9 and measured for dissolved oxygen, 22 samples, or 14*5 percent,
were between the 3-4 mg/1 level considered "stressful if prolonged" for
aquatic life, and 4 samples, or 2.6 percent, were less than the 2 mg/1 level
considered "lethal in a relatively short time".
Table 5 summarizes the dissolved oxygen values below 4 mg/1 in the New
York Bight during the Summer 1985.
Table 5 - Dissolved oxygen (D.O.) concentrations less than
4 mg/1 in the New York Bight Apex, summer 1985
DATE STATION D.O. (mg/1)
7/12 NYB 44 3.1
7/15 NYB 22 3.5
7/15 NYB 23 3.1
7/15 NYB 24 3.9
7/15 NYB 34 3.6
7/15 NYB 35 2.5
7/15 NYB 43 3.0
7/20 NYB 22 3.7
7/20 NYB 40 3.9
8/6 NYB 25 2.7
8/6 NTB 26 3.9
8/6 NYB 46 3.1
8/14 NYB 20 2.7
8/14 NYB 21 3.3
8/14 NYB 22 3.5
8/14 NYB 24 2.7
8/14 NYB 25 3.9
8/14 NYB 26 3.4
8/15 NYB 32 3.7
8/15 NYB 33 3.3
8/15 NYB 34 3.1
8/15 NYB 35 3.0
8/15 NYB 41 3.1
8/15 NYB 42 3.6
8/15 NYB 43 3.1
10/8 NYB 20 3.3
30
-------
New Jersey Coast
Figure 12 illustrates the semi-monthly dissolved oxygen averages off
the New jersey coast during the summer of 1985, 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 declined between late May and early July to 4.0 mg/1 and
remained at 4.0 mg/1 throughout July. The concentrations then decreased
to an average low of 3.0 mg/1 in early August and recovered in September.
The dissolved oxygen average along the northern perpendiculars did not show
the "double minima" phenomenon in 1985, which occurred in all other years,
with the exception of 1982. The dissolved oxygen average was 7.3 mg/1
in late May, dropped to 6.3 mg/1 in early June and remained at approxi-
mately this level into late June. A decrease occurred throughout July
and August with an average low of 2.7 mg/1 in late August. This was followed
by a rapid recovery in September and October.
Table 6 summarizes the dissolved oxygen values for the New jersey
coast perpendiculars. During the sampling period there were 107 values (16.9
percent) between 4-5 mg/1, 244 values (38.4 percent) between 2-4 mg/1 and
40 values (6.3 percent) between 0-2 mg/1. The dissolved oxygen levels in
1985 were considerably lower than those observed during the past few years.
Dissolved oxygen levels reached a minimum in late August/early September
due to a lack of reaeration, sediment oxygen demand, and biodegradation of
dead algal blooms. The values improved in late September/early October due
to lower air temperatures, increased winds, and storm activity causing the
water column to "turn over".
31
-------
FIGURE 12
to
J. 7
5
I.
S
1 ,
vt
v\
0
LEGEND
_o JCH-JC3
$ J
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
oa
NOV
NEW JERSEY COAST BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN. 1985. SEMIMONTHLY
AVERAGES OF ALL NORTHERN (JC14-JC53) AND SOUTHERN (JC61-JC85)
PERPENDICULAR STATIONS.
32
-------
TABLE 6
Dissolved Oxygen Distribution (Bottom Values)
New Jersey Coast Perpendiculars
CM CM to to .-.
1985
CMtococnocMto^Lncno
O3 ^ ^ -'- CM CM CM CM CM CM tO tx CO
CM CM CM tO in CO <
ocMto-fino
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
* *
* ^
4
* * * + * A
<
A
A «
)-)-)-
*
t
k
>
k
>
)~)-)-)-)-)T-)-)o:cf
A
A A
A
A
A
9 m
r
A
9
m i
5 mg/L A - 4~5 mg/L - 24 mg/L B - L>2 mg/l
-------
Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 present dissolved oxygen profiles
along the New Jersey coast from May through October. The profiles show
that during May and June, Figures 13 and 14, dissolved oxygen concentrations
were high. Major declines in dissolved oxygen levels occurred in July,
Figure 15, and remained depressed into September, Figures 16 and 17. At
the four northern perpendiculars, from June through August, Figures 14,
15 and 16, the dissolved oxygen concentrations increased with distance
offshore. At the four southern perpendiculars during this same time the
dissolved oxygen levels, for the most part, were higher closer-to shore.
During October, Figure 18, only the two northern most perpendiculars were
sampled. The dissolved oxygen values were much higher than in September.
There were 763 samples collected along the New Jersey perpendiculars
between May 20 and October 10, 1985 and analyzed for dissolved oxygen.
Of these, 334 samples, or 43.8 percent, were below 4 mg/1 (Table 6).
Figure 19 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 5 miles off the coast.
The first low occurred in late July, followed by an increase of 0.6 mg/1
in early August. Dissolved oxygen values subsequently decreased 1.7
mg/1, reaching a second low in late August. In 1984, a dissolved
oxygen "double minima" occurred at all distances from shore except
5 miles.
0 From June through August, with the exception of early July, the
perpendicular stations 1 and 3 miles offshore had average dissolved
oxygen values approximately 0.5 to 1.5 mg/1 less than the stations
34
-------
FIGURE 13
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration Profiles
New Jersey Coast
May 1985
Ul
en
C
a>
X
O
-o
a>
.>
o
CO
CO
Q
i
00
KEY ***
+ = Average DO Concentration per Station
-------
FIGURE 14
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration Profiles
New Jersey Coast
June 1985
OJ
X
O
o
Q>
"o
CO
CO
3
£
"o
GO
CO
CD
O
O
o
*** KEY ***
-9- = Average DO Concentration per Station
-------
FIGURE 15
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration Profiles
New Jersey Coast
July 1985
OJ
a>
X
o
-O
-------
FIGURE 16
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration Profiles
New Jersey Coast
August 1985
Ul
oo
a>
o
T3
a>
_>
o
CO
co
O
I
CD
CO
c
o
J3
2
--
-------
FIGURE 17
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration Profiles
New Jersey Coast
September 1985
U)
c
o>
en
>^
X
O
-o
CD
>
0
CO
CO
Q
o
^^
"o
^^-^
^^
o>
^
CO
c.
JO
U->
1
1
o
0
II ^^
*** KEY ***
Average DO Concentration per Station
-------
FIGURE 18
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration Profiles
New Jersey Coast
October 1985
c:
o>
x"
O
o
0>
>
o
CO
CO
O
O
CO
o
c
Q>
O
O
O
*** KEY ***
+ = Average DO Concentration per Station
-------
FIGURE 19
I '
o s
LEGEND
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUC
SEP
OCT
HOV
SHORE-TO-SEAWARD DISTRIBUTION OF BOTTOM DISSOIYED OXYGEN, 1985
SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGES OF ALL NORTHERN PERPENDICULAR STATIONS
(JC14-JC53), AT FIXED DISTANCES FROM SHORE.
41
-------
5, 7 and 9 miles offshore, in general, the lower dissolved oxygen
values found at the nearshore stations may be attributed to the
influence of river discharge, treatment plant effluent, stormwater.
runoff, inlet dredged material disposal sites, and the Raritan-Hudson
Estuary system on the water along the New jersey coast.
Figure 20 compares the shore to seaward distribution of dissolved
oxygen values along the southern New Jersey perpendiculars. The stations
1, 3 and 5 miles offshore reached a low in early August, while the stations
7 and 9 miles offshore were lowest in late August. A dissolved oxygen
recovery is evident at all distances from shore in early September. The
stations 1 and 7 miles off the coast exhibited the "double minima". At
both distances offshore the first low occurred in early July, with the
second low appearing 1 mile offshore in early August and 7 miles offshore
in late August.
Figure 21 illustrates the 1985 semimonthly average dissolved oxygen
values for the northern perpendiculars as compared to the overall average.
The "double minima" was observed at perpendiculars JC 27, MAS, and JC 53.
The lowest dissolved oxygen values occurred in late August, with a subse-
quent dissolved oxygen recovery in September and October.
Figure 22 shows the dissolved oxygen values for the southern perpen-
diculars. Perpendiculars JC 61 and JC 75 showed a "double minima", with
the first low occurring in early July and the second in late August,
followed by a recovery in September. JC 85 showed a gradual dissolved
oxygen decline from June to September, and it is the only perpendicular
at which a recovery was not documented.
7>
Figures 23, 24 and 25 display the number of dissolved oxygen observa-
42
-------
FIGURE 20
J. 7
I.
LEGEND
o
MAY
JUN
JUL
AU6
SEP
OCT
SHORE-TO-SEAWARD DISTRIBUTION OF BOHOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN. 1985
SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGES OF ALL SOUTHERN PERPENDICULAR STATIONS
(JC61-JC85X AT FIXED DISTANCES FROM SHORE.
43
-------
,§. 7
§ '
s
FIGURE 21
e
MAY
JUN
JUL
AU6
SEP
OCT
NOV
NORTH-SOUTH BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN DISTRIBUTION FOR NORTHERN NEW JERSEY, 1985.
SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGES ALONG PERPENDICULARS JC14-JC53, COMPARED TO THEIR AVERAGE.
44
-------
FIGURE 22
I-
a
LEGEND
O JC
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NORTH-SOUTH BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY, 1985.
SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGES ALONG PERPENDICULARS JC61-JC85, COMPARED TO THEIR AVERAGE.
45
-------
FIGURE 23
so
Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations
Below 4 mg/l
New Jersey Coast
July
45
40
35
Chart Legend
JC14 3«
JC27 ES
JC41 GS
JC53
n
,0
"a 30
0
a
jQ 20
Z
13
16.0
10
10.0
2.02.0
2.0
1.01.0
IVJ.
1981
1982
1983
Year
1984
1985
-------
FIGURE 24
50
Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations
Below 4 rng/l
New Jersey Coast
August
40
Chart Legend
JC14
Hfi JC27 ES JC69
OH JC41 BS JC75
JC53 Gffl JC85
JO
"o 30
9
m
O 25
20
15
18.0
15.0
16.0
15.0
10
-o.o
5.0
6.0
.00.0
1.0
(OS
1.0
1981
1982
1983
Year
2.0
2.0
1984
1985
-------
FIGUEE 25
O
I
Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations
Below 4 mg/l
New Jersey Coast
September
3Q_
1981
Jt
1982
J|
8.oEg 8.0
Jiiili
1983
Year
Chart Leqend
' ES JC14 3H JC8:
W JC27 ra JC69
QB JC41 BS JC75
\fj\ in«=:T mil ipo1^ ... -
C£A JUDO tBB JL/OO
l.CSR 1.0
"I'^lTir "^
1984
15.0
~T*.O^;
iiii^M
1985
-------
tions below the 4 mg/1 level, during July, August and September 1981-1985,
for each perpendicular, except perpendicular MAS. From these figures, it
is evident that 1985 had the greatest number of dissolved oxygen values
less than 4 mg/1. The highest number of observations below 4 mg/1 was 32,
recorded in July 1985 at perpendicular JC 61. During July, August and
September 1985, the northern perpendiculars had more low dissolved oxygen
values than the southern perpendiculars, with JC 53 exhibiting the lowest
values.
Tables 7 and 8 give additional meaning to Figures 23, 24 and 25.
Table 7 summarizes the dissolved oxygen values below 4 mg/1 during July,
August and September along the New jersey perpendiculars during the last
5 years. The percentage of samples below 4 mg/1 was highest in 1985. In
July, August and September 1985, the percentages were 49.2%, 82.2% and
60.3%, respectively. The highest percentages below 4 mg/1 in the previous
4 years were 27.8% in July 1983, 34.8% in August 1981, and 51.7% in Septem-
ber 1983. Table 8 presents the percentage of the dissolved oxygen samples
collected each year during the last 5 years along the New jersey perpendic-
ulars that were below 4 mg/1. The highest percentage was 59.9% in 1985,
while the next highest percentage was 34.8% in 1983.
The dissolved oxygen values in 1985 were the worst that have been
observed since the anoxia of 1976. Based on the data, an estimated 1,600
square miles of ocean off the New Jersey coast had stressful bottom dis-
solved oxygen conditions for extended periods of time.
49
-------
Table 7
Dissolved oxygen (D.O.) values below 4 mg/1 during July, August, and September
along the New jersey perpendiculars during the last 5 years (1981-1985)
July
Year
Number of
samples
collected
Number of
D.O. values
below 4 mg/1
Percent of
samples
below 4 mg/1
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
115
94
194
56
252
21
0
54
4
124
18.3
0.0
27.8
7.1
49.2
August
Year
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
Number of
samples
collected
135
137
57
30
118
Number of
D.O. values
below 4 mg/1
47
41
13
7
97
Percent of
samples
below 4 mg/1
34.8
29.9
22.8
23.3
82.2
September
Year
Number of
samples
collected
Number of
D.O. values
below 4 mg/1
Percent of
samples
below 4 mg/1
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
10
41
120
40
121
0
4
62
4
73
0.0
9.8
51.7
10oO
60.3
50
-------
Table 8
Percent of dissolved oxygen (D.O.) values below 4 mg/1 along the New
Jersey perpendiculars during the last 5 years (1981-1985)
Year
Number of
D.O. samples
collected
Number of
samples
below 4 mg/1
Percent of
samples
below 4 mg/1
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
260.
272
371
126
491
68
45
129
15
294
26.2
16.5
34.8
11.9
59.9
Dissolved Oxygen Trends
Figure 26 shows the five year dissolved oxygen average for the northern
New Jersey perpendicular stations, made up of the arithmetic mean of all
semimonthly averages. The average dissolved oxygen starts off at 7.5 mg/1
in late May, drops to 6.8 mg/1 in June and remains constant until late
June, it then slowly declines to a low of 4.0 mg/1 in early September and
is followed by a rapid increase into October.
Figure 27 shows the five year dissolved oxygen average, made up of the
arithmetic mean of all semimonthly averages, for the southern New jersey
perpendicular stations. In late May, the dissolved oxygen is 7.5 mg/1,
decreases to 6.0 mg/1 in early June, and is followed by a slight rise into
late June. The dissolved oxygen then decreases slowly into late August
reaching a low of 4.0 mg/1. A gradual recovery occurs in September and
October.
in comparing Figures 26 and 27 to Figure 12, the dissolved oxygen
levels off the New jersey coast in 1985 were substantially lower than the
five year average.
51
-------
12
10
o
e
I ,
-e
FIGURE 26
* /»*
»--<>
MAY
JUN
JUL
AU6
SEP
OCT
NORTHERN NEW JERSEY COAST BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN, FIVE YEAR
AVERAGE OF THE INDIVIDUAL SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGES, 1981 T0 1985
NOV
52
-------
10
I.
3
1 ,
-------
Figures 28, 29 and 30 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 28 illustrates that a dissolved oxygen "double minima" occurred
in 1983 and 1984 along the northern New Jersey perpendiculars. During 1983,
the first low occurred in late July, followed by the second low in early
September. The "double minima" observed in 1984 was not as prominent as in
1983, with the first low occurring in early July and the second in early
August. A "double minima" did not occur in 1981 or 1982. In both years
the dissolved oxygen values declined gradually throughout the summer,
reaching a low in early August 1981 and early September 1982. In 1985,
the average dissolved oxygen values from early July to mid-September were
approximately 1-3 mg/1 lower than in the previous four years.
In 1985, along the southern New Jersey perpendiculars, Figure 29,
the average dissolved oxygen started at 7.5 mg/1 in late May, dropped to
a low of 3.0 mg/1 in early August, and was followed by an increase to 5.0
mg/1 in early September. Hie only year a "double minima" was observed
was 1981. Figure 29 illustrates that, for the most part, the southern New
Jersey dissolved oxygen values in 1985 were lower than in the previous
four years.
Figure 30 shows a comparison of all New York Bight stations for the
years 1981-1985. In 1985, the dissolved oxygen was 7.7 mg/1 in late May
with an initial low of 4.6 mg/1 occurring in early July, followed by a 1.0
mg/1 recovery and then a second low of 4.1 mg/1 in early August. A dis-
solved oxygen "double minima" was observed in 1981, 1983 and 1985. The
dissolved oxygen average in 1985 was generally lower than the previous
four years.
54
-------
10
FIGURE 28
LEGEND
o
MAY
JUN
MIG
SEP
OCT
NORTHERN NEW JERSEY COAST BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN. 1981-1985
COMPARISON, SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGES OF ALL JCH-JC53 PERPENDICULAR
STATIONS.
NOV
55
-------
FIGURE 29
J. 7
£
I.
I
I 5
tn
LEGEND
o
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY COAST BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN, 1981-1985
COMPARISON. SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGES OF ALL JC61-JC85 PERPENDICULAR
STATIONS.
56
-------
10
i
s
FIGURE 30
LEGEND
' * \ V
\^'n.
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NEW YORK BIGHT BOTTOM DISSOLVED OXYGEN. 198t-1985 COMPARISON.
SEMIMONTHLY AVERAGE OF All NEW YORK BIGHT STATIONS.
NOV
57
-------
During the summer, the flight crew reported seeing discolored water,
either red, green, or brown, on almost a daily basis. When the organisms
responsible for the coloration died and sank to the bottom, they decomposed.
This oxygen depleting process, combined with the lack of substantial winds
and storm activity to aid reaeration, and the presence of a strong thermo-
cline all contributed to the lower than normal dissolved oxygen concentra-
tions experienced in 1985.
58
-------
V. BACTERIOLOGICAL RESULTS
New jersey
Table 9 presents a summary of the fecal coliform data collected along
the coast of New jersey between May 28, 1985 and September 9, 1985. The
geometric mean for each station is plotted in Figure 31. The overall
water quality standard for New Jersey is 50 fecal coliforms/100ml. The
State standard for primary contact recreation along the New jersey Coast
is a geometric mean of 200 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 geo-
metric mean, 8.0, was at station JC 93 at Wildwood. Stations JC 53 at
Seaside Heights and JC 99 at Cape May Point had geometric means of 4.8 and
4.4, respectively. All of the geometric means are very low. Figure 31
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 279 samples were
collected for fecal coliform analysis along the New jersey Coast. Of the
279 samples, two or 0.7 percent were above 50 fecal coliforms/100ml.
These samples were:
Station Date Sampled Fecal Coliforms/100ml
JC 21 8/26/85 104
JC 47A 8/26/85 70
The cause of the elevated value at JC 21 was probably poorly treated sewage
from the Asbury Park Sewage Treatment plant.
59
-------
TABLE 9
Summary of bacteriological data
collected along the New jersey coast
May 28, 1985 through September 9, 1985
Station
JC 01A
JC 02
JC 03
JC 05
JC 08
JC 11
JC 14
JC 21
JC 24
JC 27
JC 30
JC 33
JC 37
JC 41
JC 44
JC 47A
JC 49
JC 53
JC 55
JC 57
JC 59
JC 61
JC 63
JC 65
JC 67
JC 69
JC 73
JC 75
JC 77
JC 79
JC 81
JC 83
JC 85
JC 87
JC 89
JC 91
JC 93
JC 95
JC 97
JC 99
Number of
Samples Collected
10
10
10
11
11
11
11
11
11
10
10
10
10
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Maximum Value
Fecal Coli form/ 100 ml
4
1
19
40
17
19
41
104
10
7
4
29
34
6
6
70
46
16
14
25
12
4
6
6
3
0
12
9
30
8
5
2
6
16
9
7
42
3
25
31
Geometric Mean*
Fecal Coli form/ 100 ml
1.3
1 .0
1.7
2.1
1.7
2.0
3.3
2.1
1 .9
1 .6
1.4
1 .5
1 .8
1 .5
1.7
1 .9
1.9
4.8
1.6
1.8
1 .9
1 .4
1 .9
1 .6
1 .6
1 .0
3.1
4.2
2.3
3.1
2.3
1.2
1.6
3.4
3.1
2.4
8.0
1.3
3.5
4.4
Geometric means were calculated using the natural log.
60
-------
50
FIGURE 31
STANDARD
^5^^
m^^m
NEW JERSEY COAST STATIONS
GEOMETRIC MEANS OF FECAL COUFORM DATA COLLECTION ALONG THE
COAST OF NEW JERSEY, MAY 28,1985 TO SEP 9,1985.
(ACTUAL VALUES PRINTED ABOVE BARS)
61
-------
Long Island
Table 10 presents a summary of the fecal coliform data collected
along the coast of Long Island from May 16, 1985 through August 27, 1985.
The geometric mean for each station is plotted in Figure 32. 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 during the 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 2.4,
which occurred at station LIC 10. Station LIC 10 also had the highest
geometric mean the last five years. LIC 10 is under the direct influence
of any poorly treated sewage that may flow out of Jones Inlet. From Figure
32, 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 224 samples were collected during the summer along the
coast of Long Island and analyzed for fecal coliform bacteria. The highest
density found all summer, 18 fecal coliforms/100 ml, was at station LIC 16.
This value is well below the New York State standard.
62
-------
TABLE 10
Summary of bacteriological data collected
along the coast of Long Island
May 16, 1985 through August 27, 1985
Station
LIC 01
LIC 02
LIC 03
LIC 04
LIC.05
LIC 07
LIC 08
LIC 09
LIC 10
LIC 12
LIC 13
LIC 14
LIC 15
LIC 16
LIC 17
LIC 18
LIC 19
LIC 20
LIC 21
LIC 22
LIC 23
LIC 24
LIC 25
LIC 26
LIC 27
LIC 28
Number of
Samples Collected
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
Maximum Value
Fecal Coli form/ 100 ml
14
7
6
5
4
2
12
5 .
8
2
0
2
1
18
0
1
0
1
1
2
8
0
1
2
1
1
Geometric Mean*
Fecal Coliform/100 ml
1.3
1 .6
1 .5
1 .7
1 .3
1.1
1 .4
1 .6
2.4
1 .1
1.0
1 .1
1 .0
1.6
1 .0
1 .0
1.0
1 .0
1.0
1 .1
1.3
1 .0
1.0
1 .1
1 .0
1 .0
'Geometric means were calculated using the natural log.
63
-------
FIGURE 32
2QQT
STANDARD
10
8
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, MAY 15,1985 TO AUG 28,1985.
(ACTUAL VALUES PRINTED ABOVE BARS)
64
-------
New York Bight Apex
During the summer of 1985 a total of 390 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 390 samples collected, five had a fecal coliform densities in excess
of 50 fecal coliforms/100 ml. This represents 1.3 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 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984 the percentage of
samples having densities above 50/100 ml was 0.4, 0.7, 2.1, 0.9 and 0.4,
respectively. The five high values found this past summer were:
Fecal coliforms/
100ml of sample
60
216
176
100
160
The elevated densities at station NYB 45 were probably due to recent disposal
of sewage sludge at the sewage sludge disposal site. Stations NYB 32 and
NYB 33 are under the direct influence of flow from the New York Harbor and
Raritan Bay estuaries, both of which frequently have elevated fecal coli-
form densities.
Station
NYB 45
NYB 32
NYB 32
NYB 33
NYB 45
Date
Sampled
7/15/85
10/9/85
1 0/9/85
10/9/85
1 0/9/85
Sample
Depth (feet)
88
2
24
2
90
65
-------
Enterococci
The 1985 sampling program marked the first time samples were collected
for enterococci bacteria. Enterococci bacteria are members of the fecal
streptococci group. The occurrence of fecal streptococci in bathing waters
indicates the presence of fecal contamination from warm-blooded animals.
The enterococcus group of bacteria includes the following species: S. faecales;
J^ faecalis, subsp. liquefaciens; J!_._ faecalis, subsp. zyogenes; J>^ faecium.
Recent research has shown that enterococci bacteria show a better correlation
than fecal coliforms to gastroenterologic illness caused by swimming in con-
taminated water. EPA criterion for marine waters of 35 enterococci bacter-
ia/1 00ml was published in the Federal Register on March 7, 1986.
New Jersey
Table 11 presents a summary of the enterococci data collected along the
New Jersey coast from May 28 to September 9, 1985. The arithmetic mean for
each station is plotted in Figure 33. Figure 33 shows that the arithmetic
mean of enterococci densities at each station is below the proposed criteria.
The highest arithmetic mean, 23.3, occurred at station JC 99, Cape May point.
However, this station, as well as the other southern New jersey coast beach
stations, was sampled only four times during the summer. Slightly elevated
enterococci densities occurred at JC 21, Asbury park, and JC83, Peck Beach,
with arithmetic means of 11.2 and 11.0, respectively. Based on enterococci
data, the quality of New Jersey coastal waters is excellent.
A total of 279 samples were collected for enterococci analysis along
the coast of New Jersey. Of the 279 samples, three or 1.1 percent were
above the proposed criteria of 35 enterococci/100ml. The three samples
66
-------
Table 11
Summary of enterococci data
collected along the New Jersey coast
May 28, 1985 through September 9, 1985
Station
JC 01A
JC 02
JC 03
JC 05
JC 08
JC 1.1
JC 14
JC 21
JC 24
JC 27
JC 30
JC 33
JC 37
JC 41
JC 44
JC 47A
JC 49
JC 53
JC 55
JC 57
JC 59
JC 61
JC 63
JC 65
JC 67
JC 69
JC 73
JC 75
JC 77
JC 79
JC 81
JC 83
JC 85
JC 87
JC 89
JC 91
JC 93
JC 95
JC 97
JC 99
Number of
Samples Collected
10
10
10
11
11
11
11
11
11
10
10
10
10
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
4
4
4
4 ..
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Maximum Value
Enterococci/ 1 00ml
4
15
11
6
4
8
30
92
18
6
3
32
20
17
9
28
20
32
16
10
5
2
4
9
. 2
5
4
5
17
8
4
36
29
9
16
6
15
5
20
84
Arithmetic Mean
Enterococci/ 1 00ml
1 .1
2.2
2.1
1 .0
1.5
2.4
4.5
1 1 .2
3.3
2.1
0.7
5.2
4.2
3.6
1 .3
4.9
3.1
6.1
1.9
2.8
1.5
0.8
2.3
5.0t
0.5*
1.3
1.3
2.0
4.3
3.3
1.3
11 .0
8.5
2.3
7.3
2.8
5.0
2.0
6.3
23.3
67
-------
oo
o
o
H
«4
0
0
0
0
0
ARITHMETIC MEANS OF ENTEROCOCCI DATA
MAT 28 TO SEPTEMBER 9, 1985
24 -
22 -
20 -
18 -
16 -
14 -
12 -
10 -
8 -
6 -
4 -
2 -
n -
nl/1
/] ^
/IFIkl
/
/
/
/
/
/
7
/
/
'
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
p]
kin
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
r
/
/
p|
7"
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
7
/
/
/
/
/
pn
H
7"
/
/
n
kin
/
/
7
/
/
/
/
p]
riklMl/!
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
PI
7-
/
/
^
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
en
/
/
7
/
/
/
/
7
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
7"
X
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
-------
were:
Station Date Sampled Enterococci/100ml
JC 21 8/9/85 92
JC 83 8/9/85 36
JC 99 6/6/85 84
The high density at JC 21 was probably caused by poorly treated sewage from
the Asbury park Sewage Treatment Plant. The high density at JC99 was prob-
ably due to poorly treated sewage from Delaware Bay. The probable cause of
the elevated density at JC 83 is unknown.
Long island
Table 12 presents a summary of the enterococci data collected along the
Long Island coast from May 16, 1985 to August 27, 1985. The arithmetic mean
for each station is plotted in Figure 34. Figure 34 shows the highest arith-
metic mean, 5 enterococci/100ml, occurred at station LIC 04 at Rockaway, off
B92 Road. Two stations, LIC 26 at Tiana Beach and LIC 28 east of Shinnecock
Inlet, had no detectable enterococci densities throughout the summer.
4
A total of 198 enterococci samples were collected along the coast of
Long Island during the summer. None of the samples exceeded EPA's criterion
of 35 enterococci/100ml. The highest density, 32 enterococci/100ml, occurred
at station LIC 04. This count was probably due to poorly treated sewage
from the Hudson River estuary complex. Based on the enterococci densities,
the water quality of the Long island coast is excellent.
New York Bight Apex
During the summer of 1985 a total of 390 samples were collected in the
69
-------
Table 12
Station
LIC 01
LIC 02
LIC 03
LIC 04
LIC 05
LIC 07
LIC 08
LIC 09
LIC 10
LIC 12
LIC 13
LIC 14
LIC 15
LIC 16
LIC 17
LIC 18
LIC 19
LIC 20
LIC 21
LIC 22
LIC 23
LIC 24
LIC 25
LIC 26
LIC 27
LIC 28
Summary of enterococci data
collected along the Long Island coast
May 16, 1985 through August 27, 1985
Number of
Samples Collected
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
6
6
6
6
6
. 6
6 .
6
6
6
6
6
Maximum Value
Enterococci/ 1 00ml
10
18
6
32
3
4
5
4
8
2
2
7
2
11
2
4
3
6
2
2
1
1
4
0
3
0
Arithmetic Mean
Enterococci/100ml
1.3
2.4
2.1
5.0
1 .1
0.9
.7
.6
2.0
0.8
0.4
1 .1
0.6
2.3
0.3
1 .0
0.7
1 .2
0,
0,
0.2
0.2
0.8
0.0
1.5
0.0
70
-------
o
H
\
"3
0
0
0
0
0
4*
c
H
ARITHMETIC MEANS OF ENTEROCOCCI DATA
6
5 -
3-
1 -
f
MAT 16 TO AUGUST 27, 1985
f
\
ir
Long Island Coast Stations
FIGURE 34
-------
inner New York Bight for enterococci analysis. The stations sampled were
the same as those sampled for fecal coliforms. Of the 390 samples, three
or 0.8 percent were above the proposed criteria of 35 enterococci/100ml.
The three samples were:
Station Date Sampled Depth (feet) Biterococci/100ml
NYB 25 7/15/85 76 460
NYB 25 8/6/85 76 112
NYB 45 7/15/85 88 204
The cause of these elevated densities was recent sewage sludge dumping at
the sewage sludge dump site.
A further discussion of the bacteriological data prepared by the EPA
Regional laboratory, which includes a discussion of the standards, indicator
bacteria, materials, methods, and results, is presented in Appendix B. When
Appendix B was written, the proposed enterococci criteria was 3/100ml. The
discussion presented in Appendix B is based on this proposed criteria rather
than 35 enterococci/100ml used throughout this report.
72
-------
VI. BEACH CLOSINGS
During the summer of 1985, a number of beaches were closed for short
periods of time due to the washup of sewage-related materials. Some of
the beaches experiencing these closings were Sea Girt, Belmar, Bradley
Beach and Ocean City. Only two water quality problems, due to high fecal
coliform densities, forced health officials to close swimming beaches along
the New jersey coast. These closings occurred in Asbury Park, Monmouth
County and Wildwood, North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, Cape May County. Both
incidences occurred in late August and are attributed to heavy rains, which
caused sewage treatment plant by-passing, resulting in high fecal coliform
counts at the beaches. Dredging conducted by the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in Herford Inlet may also have contributed
to the elevated densities at the Wildwoods in Cape May County. EPA, NJDEP,
and the county health departments monitored the fecal coliform densities at
the affected beaches.
Monmouth County beaches sampled by the EPA on August 26 indicated ele-
vated fecal coliform counts; the highest density, 104/100ml, occurred at
station JC 21 (Asbury Park). The Monmouth County Health Department also.
obtained high densities at this time. The beaches in Asbury Park were closed
on August 30. They were reopened the following day based on low densities
found in samples collected on August 29.
The Cape May County Department of Health banned swimming at Wildwood,
North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest Beaches on August 22 due to high fecal
coliform densities in samples collected from August 18 to August 20. As a
result, EPA established twenty-five special stations which were sampled,
using the EPA helicopter, on August 22, 23, and 26. Initial sampling on
73
-------
August 22 showed some elevated fecal coliform densities. The highest were
60/100ml and 21/100ml. The densities were much lower on August 23, with the
highest being 13/IOOml. The August 26 sampling showed no detectable fecal
coliform densities. On August 28 the Wildwood Beaches were reopened for
bathing.
74
-------
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.
75
-------
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.
10. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; "New York Bight Water Quality
Summer of 1984", Environmental Services Division, Region II, Edison,
New Jersey, August 1985.
76
-------
APPENDIX A
SUMMARY OF
PHYTOPLANKTON BLOOMS
and RELATED EVENTS
in NEW JERSEY COASTAL WATERS
SUMMER OF 1985
New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection
Division of Water Resources
Bureau of Monitoring &
Data Management
Biological Services Unit
-------
INTRODUCTION
Each year from May to September, the NJDEP monitors marine algal
blooms responsible for the recurrence of "red tides" and other
instances of discoloration in our coastal waters. Phytoplankton
sampling and analysis is coordinated by the DWR Bureau of
Monitoring and Data Management (M&DM) primarily in conjunction
with the EPA Region II helicopter surveillance unit as part of
their New York Bight Water Quality Monitoring Program. Heli-
copter monitoring is also conducted for bottom dissolved oxygen
on transects perpendicular to the shore and for bacteriological
water quality in the surf. Additional analyses are performed for
the shore county environmental health agencies in response to
localized blooms, while the counties conduct routine
bacteriological monitoring as part of the Coastal Cooperative
Program. Assistance is also provided by the DWR Bureau of
Shellfish Control, DEP Bureau of Marine Fisheries, and the
National Marine Fisheries Service at Sandy Hook.
Red tides have occurred annually, usually beginning in mid-June,
in the Lower New York Bay estuarine system, and subsequently extending
to adjacent New Jersey coastal waters. Thus, our original survey
and monitoring efforts were concentrated in the northern shore
area. The blooms have been documented for over 20 years;
several phytoflagellate species, principally Olisthodiscus
luteus and Prorocentrum spp. were responsible. Blooms elsewhere
in New Jersey were inconspicuous, or they were localized and of
short duration. For the past few summers, however, algal
blooms have been responsible for extensive areas of greenish
colored water off the central to southern N.J. coast. Fortunately
for us, these red and green tides were not the acutely toxic
varieties such as those which contaminate shellfish, causing
paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP.) in the New England region or
wide-spread fishkills in Florida. However, they have been known
to produce respiratory discomfort and minor irritation in bathers.
Of note here was the bloom of Prorocentrum micans which covered
the Monmouth county shore in 1968 and, to a lesser degree, in
other years. In addition, the blooms imparted an unaesthetic
quality especially upon decomposition.
A-l
-------
1985 HIGHLIGHTS
DATE Phytoytoplankton species succession is
summarized in Table 1; nutrient data, in
Tables 2 and 3; major events are presented
below.
May When sampling commenced on May 28, a late
spring diatom flowering was in progress with
21,28 highest cell densities in Sandy Hook Bay.
The dominant species was Cerataulina
pelagica, with Asterionella and
Thalassiosira sp. abundant, and various
phytoflagellates present. Also during
May,.dissolved oxygen readings as low as
2.0 ppm were found on the bottom of Sandy
Hook Bay by personnel of the National Marine
Fisheries Service.
June . In mid-June, phytoflagellates gained dominace
with blooms occurring primarily in Raritan
and Sandy Hook Bay; dominant species included
12 Olisthodiscus luteus, Katodinium rotundatum
and Euglena (Eutreptia) sp. During the
20,25 latter part of June, a bloom of Prorocentrum
redfieldi, with various other species
present, occurred in Sandy Hook Bay, while
diatoms were abundant in ocean samples taken
south of Spring Lake.
This condition persisted into early July with
the P_._ redfieldi bloom extending southward
in patches along the Monmouth ocean front at
least to Spring Lake.
On July 4, special samples taken by the
Monmouth Co. Health Department in the Long
Branch to Asbury Park sector contained many
diatoms which were apparently associated with
masses of decomposing cells of P_._ redfieldi.
Also in July, yellowish brown water was
reported in portions of Barnegat Bay.
Examination of samples taken on July 9 in the
bay at Surf City revealed substantial blooms
of a minute chlorophyte, likely Nannochloris
atomus, which is normally dominant in the
Sandy Hook vicinity in late summer. Extensive
mats of decomposing eelgrass (Zostera sp.)
A-2
-------
1985 HIGHLIGHT (con't)
were also noted along the bay shore at
Surf City. Through July, the murky water,
sometimes greenish in color, was also
reported in ocean waters at Island Beach
and Long Beach Island. Later in
18 the month, various phytoflagellates,
particularly K^ rotundatum, were also
abundant in Raritan Bay and in ocean
stations southward to Island Beach.
Because of critically low dissolved oxygen
levels(^2.Oppm), the EPA helicopter was
diverted from the beach run to sampling
perpendicular transects. Therefore, gaps are
present in phytoplankton data for our
northern stations beginning in late July and
continuing through August. A D.O. sag
usually occurs in late summer in a contained
cell off northern Ocean County, but now the
condition extended significantly farther
south (to Beach Haven) and farther offshore
than usual. Dissolved oxygen results are
discussed in the EPA report.
30 Supplementary data collected July 30 through
August 7 aboard the DEP shellfisheries boat,
the R.J. Sullivan, revealed D.O. levels
generally higher than 2.Oppm from surf to
five miles offshore south of Beach Haven
to Atlantic City. Possible association of
algal blooms with low bottom D.O. levels was
investigated by concurrent phytoplankton
sample collections. A substantial bloom of
Nannochloris sp. (to 300,000 cells/ml) within
three miles of shore from Beach Haven to
Brigantine was observed. Simultaneously, a
conspicuous abundance of jellyfish, primarily
Cyanea sp. (roughly one individual per square
yard of ocean surface), was noted to a
minimum of ten miles off Beach Haven.
A-3
-------
1985 HIGHLIGHTS (con't)
The third week of July bright green water was
reported along the beaches of sourthern New
Jersey, first in the vicinity of Hereford
Inlet and, subsequently, at Ocean City. At
this"time, water temperatures up to 75°F
were reported within the latter area. To the
north, an onwelling of cooler water brought
temperatures of 58-60°F into the surf of
Ocean County as reported from Island Beach
By the fourth week of July, the brilliant
green water was reportedly most apparent in
Ocean City from 20th Street to the south
end while it was also seen at points south-
ward to Hereford Inlet.
August The first week in August, samples were taken
by Ocean City lifeguards at 47th and 55th
7 Streets; examination of these revealed the
same causative organism as in last year's
"green tide", an unarmored dinoflagellate
with bright green chromatophores. Since the
cells preserved poorly, identification
remained tentative as Gymnodinum sp. Sample
counts taken were as high as 30,000 cells/ml.
During this week, some of the lifeguards ex-
perienced various symptoms including nausea,
sore throat and sinuses, eye irritation,
fatigue, dizziness, fever and lung
congestion. The lifeguards were possibly
affected by aerosols of the material from the
surf as well as by immersion. Most persons
on the beach were apparently unaffected.
10 The second week of August, a northward drift
by the green tide was evident after it had
been most concentrated toward the south end
of Ocean City. On the 10th (Sunday) beaches
12 from 29th to 37th Streets were closed, due to
the presence and odor of the algae. Several
13 complaints arose from the Atlantic City area,
but no beach restrictions were imposed. On
the 13th, observations and samples taken
aboard the R.J. Sullivan showed the algae
14 much more concentrated from the north end of
Ocean City near 9th Street, around Great Egg
Inlet, and all along Absecon Island to
Absecon Inlet. It was generally concentrated
in patches within a half-mile of the surf
zone but extended out one to two miles in the
estuarine plume.. The yellow-green color was
A-4
-------
1985 HIGHLIGHTS (con't)
most vivid around mid-day after waters
appeared greenish brown in early morning.
9 to 29 The bloom of Gymnodinium sp. apparently
peaked about this time. North of Atlantic
City, the green tide was not as evident as
in 1984.
While abundance of Gymnodinium sp. peaked
in mid-August, the-murky greenish
coloration, which was earlier evident north
of Atlantic City, expanded throughout our
coastal waters in shades varying from light
green to yellowish-brown. Formerly, this
condition had occurred commonly only in
Raritan Bay and adjacent areas. It became
apparent every where from Sandy Hook to Cape
May County, with a similar condition
pervading the intracoastal area from Great
Bay to upper Barnegat Bay. Nannochloris sp.
was ubiquitous and clearly dominant almost
everywhere, while warm water temperatures
prevailed. In late summer, several potential
red-tide species including Katodinium
rotundatum and Prorocentrum redfieldi, as
well as Gymnodinium sp., were also abundant
in our northern coastal waters.
28 The offshore extent of this condition was
confirmed by fishermen who reported turbid
green water instead of the normally clear
blue water as far out as the Hudson Canyon.
Fishing for some species was apparently
affected by the murky surface layer. Bottom
dissolved oxygen levels remained low be-
tween Manasquan and Beach Haven transects;
however, only a few minor fishkills of
demersal species were reported, primarily
in the area one to two miles off Manasquan
Inlet.
Parallel situations that developed in late
August compromised sanitary quality along
bathing beaches when sewage overflows
occurred at Wildwood and, subsequently, at
Asbury Park. Material resembling sewage
washed ashore at Sea Girt and adjacent sec-
29 tions of Monmouth County. A few scattered
reports were received of bathers becoming
ill, but no direct associations could be
made with surf conditions.
A-5
-------
1985.HIGHLIGHTS (con't)
Date
September
5 The murky greenish water remained through
most of September. Samples taken on tran-
sects by the EPA helicopter just before and
after Labor Day showed Nannochloris in heavy
blooms quantities up to ten miles off
Manasquan Inlet (cell counts to 400,000/ml)
9 and only slightly lower off Atlantic City.
Densities were moderately heavy on other
transects between Barnegat and Strathmere.
Counts of Nannochloris remained moderately
high while diatoms, particularly Phaeo-
dactylum tricornutum, increased in abundance
in samples taken the second week of
September; this included both northern shore
stations and lower Cape May County stations.
11 The second week of September a strong north-
east storm resulted in an abrupt increase in
bottom dissolved oxygen levels to S.Oppm or
better at all stations sampled. With this
overturn effected, waters still remained
somewhat murky as numbers of Nannochloris
gradually diminished and diatoms gained in
27 prominence. Hurricane Gloria, in late
September, forcefully stirred the water
column, resulting in a heavy suspension of
organic matter and even a few scattered red
tide blooms (likely Prorocentrum sp.) off
Ocean County. Waters remained somewhat
turbid until late October.
A-6
-------
DISCUSSION
Phytoplankton productivity, reflected in both species composition
and cell densities, is high in our coastal waters, especially in
the northern region (see table 1). Certain differences in bloom
incidence, however, have been apparent the past few summers. Red
tides around Sandy Hook which were dominated by Olisthodiscus
luteus, have been less intense than in former years; similarly,
blooms of Prorocentrum spp.and Katodinium rotundatum have been
sporadic in Monmouth County waters. The green tide events caused
by Gymnodinium sp., which occurred in southern New Jersey the
past two summers, were not previously experienced to such an
extent. Additionally, in 1985, the greenish-brown water caused by
Nannochloris sp. had not previously been observed over such a
large area. Though less conspicuous, its extent was similar to
the Ceratium tripos bloom of 1976; however, hypoxic conditions
1985 were not as uniformly widespread as in 1976.
While nutrient sources are substantial, especially in our northern
waters, phytoplankton production is usually governed by other
factors such as temperature and light intensity. Additionally,
bloom development and dissipation is physically influenced by
tides and weather conditions as well as by zooplankton grazing.
Flagellate blooms remain an annual occurrence in Sandy Hook Bay,
where hydrographic conditions are optimal for phytoplankton
accumulation. Outside the estuary, within the New York Bight
"apex", phytoplankton activity may be more limited by currents and
turbulence. Oceanographic and meteorological conditions may serve
in transporting potential bloom species from offshore; this is a
possibility in the case of the green tide, which also occurred in
adjacent regions such as Long Island. Chemical as well as
physical factors may be responsible for the lack of green tides in
our northern waters as well as for the reduced intensity of
certain other phytoflagellates. With increasing anthropogenic
nutrient sources, including sewage and dredge spoils, combined
with high urban and agricultural runoff and nutrient inputs from
adjacent areas, growth suppression within the apex would influence
phytoplankton productivity over a larger area. This appears to be
true of the 1985 Nannochloris bloom being ubiquitous over much of
our Continental Shelf.
It is well-documented that our northern coastal waters are largely
influenced by the Hudson/Raritan estuary throughout the Bight
apex, e.g. at least as far south as Manasquan Inlet. This is
enhanced by the Coriolis effect which, in this hemisphere, causes
effluents to curve to the right in the course of their
trajectories. To compound this, a general onshore drift (the Gulf
Stream counter-current) and the predominance of southerly winds in
summer may combine to cause a net counter-clockwise gyre off the
Monmouth and Ocean County shore. It is within this area,
particularly in southern Monmouth County, that wash-ins of
unaesthetic material occur from time to time. A substantial
benthic oxygen demand would be generated by phytoplankton,
A-7
-------
zooplankton grazing, plus jellyfish and other pelagic forms,
combined with organic loading from runoff and other anthropogenic
sources settling within this gyre.
A different system, less influenced by the Hudson/Raritan estuary,
is apparent in southern New Jersey. Several smaller inlets bring
nutrients to the ocean from marshes and estuaries such as the
Great Bay-Mullica River and Great Egg Harbor systems. With the
southerly winds of summer, this may create a swirling action
similar to that in our northern waters. However, the coastline
from Atlantic City to Ocean City curves inshore to the southwest
forming a large, relatively sheltered cove. This geographical
feature, associated with onshore winds, may serve to hold warm
water along the shore resulting in stimulation of phyto-
flagellate growth.
Wind, or lack of it, significantly effects vertical mixing as
well as phytoplankton accumulation. As with effluent plumes,
wind-induced currents in this region also progress at angles to
the right. Sustained westerly or southerly winds have the effect,
along much of New Jersey, of pushing surface water offshore,
allowing onwelling of cooler bottom water inshore. This can
result in an abundance of cool-water planktonic forms, such as
diatoms, even in summer. The upwelling occasionally carries in
dark-colored flocculent material remnant of previous phytoplankton
blooms. The net force of southerly winds is seen along the N.J.
shore in littoral drift effects most evident north of Island
Beach, while the effects of northeasterly winds along shore are
more apparent southward of Barnegat Inlet. A strong northeasterly
wind, while holding warmer water inshore, has a positive effect
against stratification through the downwelling of seas forced
directly onshore. A lack of northeast storms along our coast
i'.n summer tends to result in pronounced vertical stratification
and bottom hypoxia. During the 1985 summer season, vertical
stratification of the water column was not evident shallower than
10M or about the 30ft. depth contour. Critically low bottom dis-
solved oxygen levels were found off Beach Haven and northward
where the 30ft. contour comes within one mile of the beach. From
Beach Haven south, inshore waters are shoaled to the extent that
the 30ft. contour extends beyond three miles off Brigantine and
Atlantic City, and to approximately two miles off Ocean City.
Critically low bottom dissolved oxygen readings were not found in
these areas.
A-8
-------
Table 1. Succession of major phytoplankton species found in the 1985 survey.
Dominance (+) was^attained when cell densities of a species at some
point exceeded 10 /ml (10 for Nannochloris sp.); sub-dominance was
noted when cell counts approached but did not exceed 10^/ml. Blooms
(*) became apparent when counts greater than 10 /ml (10 for Nanno-
chloris ) produced visible water coloration. Sampling periods are as
follows: a. May 28; b. June 6,12; c. June 20-July 9; d. July 18-
August 14; e. August 29-September 12. Sampling locations are desig-
nated as: 1. Raritan-Sandy Hook Bay; 2. Sandy Hook-Monmouth Beach;
3. Long Branch-Sea Girt; 4. Manasquan-Island Beach; 5. Long Beach
Island-Brigantine; 6. Atlantic City-Ocean City; 7. Strathmere-Cape
May.
A-9
-------
Routine
1
abcde
Sarr
2
abcde
pling
3
abcde
Locations
4
abcde
Won -
5
ccje
Routine L
6
cje
ocati
'7
de
Table 1.
Species
diatoms
Leptocylindrus sp.
Skeletonema costatum + -*
Cyclotella sp. +- + +- + - - +
Thalassiosira gravida . + -++ +-
T. nordenskioldii + -+-
Cerataulina pelagica * * + + + + +-
Chaetoceros sp. - - - - -
Asterionella glacialis + + +++ ~H- - +
Phaeodaetylum tricornutum + * -* * *
Nitzschia seriata + +
Cylindrotheca closterium - +-
dinoflagellates
Prorocentrurn micans
P. minimum + - - -
P. redfieldi +*- + + -+
Gymnodinium sp. - - - - +
G.danicans -H- +
Katodinium rotundatum * *- -+ +- + ++ -H-
Heterocapsa triquetra +
Peridinium trochoiaeem. H
other phytoflagellates
Olisthodiscus luteus +*-H- +- + - +
Calycomonas sp.
Pyramimonas sp.
Tetraselmis sp.
Euglena/Eutreptia sp.
Chroomonas sp. -+*+ + -+ +
Cryptomonas sp.
Rhodomonas sp. ++++ +-+ - -+ + +
chlorophytes
Chlorella sp. +++ i- -
Nannochloris sp. -HM-*+ +++** H-* +-+*- ***
Footnotes:
1. Routine sampling locations correspond with EPA stations RB32, RB15, NYB20, JC05, JC11,
JC21, JC30, JC37, JC57.
2. This species responsible for green tides.
3. Sample taken in intra-coastal waters.
4. Includes samples taken on transects to five miles out.
5. Includes samples taken on transect to ten miles out.
A-10
-------
TABLE 3.
NUTRIENT DATA CONTINUED
P:Total/Ortho
SAMPLING LOCATION
DATE 12 3456789
May 28
June 12
27
July 2
August 9
Sept. 9
11
.060/.120
.1007. 080
.ISO/. 420
.280/.280
.120/ -
.200/.170
.2407.200
.120/.130
.090/.070
.2007.400
.230/.330
.120/ -
.190/.150
.200/.190
.070/.080
.100/.280
.130/.160
.500/ -
.120/.080
.1207. 090
.130/.080
.080/.060
.1207. 290
.1507. 160
.8307 -
.1207.080
.1007.070
.0707.100
.0607.070
.1707.290
.2207.290
.9507 -
.1207.080
.1307.070
.0907.060
.0607.050
.0907.290
.1807.300
.0507 -
.3207.040
.0707.040
.0607.080
.0807.070
.1307.260
.1007.170
.5607 -
.0407.030
.0607.030
.0607.060
.050K/.06C
.1507.250
.1007.090
.4907 -
.0907.040
.0507.030
.0607.060
.0607.070
.1707.230
.1107.170
.5307 -
.0407.040
.0507.030
-------
to
TABLE 2.
NUTRIENT DATA FOR THE 1984 RED TIDE SURVEY
NH3 + NH^ /NOp + NO-
SAMPLING LOCATION l
DATE 123456789
May 28 .3107.28
June 6 .4907.32
12 .050K/.30
27 .1707.14
July 2 .6207.37
August 9 .2807.12
Sept. 9 .2707.30
11 .1407.30
.020K/.02K
.1607.32
.2607.32
.6507.28
.1907.17
.1207. OIK
.1107.11
.3107.14
.020K/.02
.0607.07
.0807.05
.1707.12
.2007. OIK
.0507.18
.1907.14
.020K/.06
.0707.09
.0607.10
.1207.07
.1207.12
.1307. OIK
.0507.20
.1107.11
.020/.02K
.0607.04
.050K/.05K
.0707.04
.3207.23
.4807.68
.0807.03
.1307.14
.020K/.02
.0507.05
.050K/.05K
.1307.08
.0707.08
.2707. OIK
.020K/.02K
.0807.02
.020K/.02K
.0407.04
.050K/.05K
.0607.03
.010K/.05K
.8707. OIK
.020K/.02K
.0707.10
.020K/.02K
.020K/.03
.050K/.05K
.0207.01
.0507.5
.6707. OIK
.020K/.02K
.5307.01
.020K/.02
.0207.02
.050K/.05I
.0007.04
.020/.05K
.0207. OIK
.020K/.02F
.0507.01
Footnote:
1. Sampling locations correspond with EPA routine stations given in Table 1.
-------
APPENDIX B
MICROBIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY NEW YORK BIGHT
SUMMER OF 1985
Participating Personnel:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Barbara A. Finazzo, Life Scientist
Irwin Katz, Microbiologist
Michael Simkovich, Biological Lab. Tech.
Lowell Singer, Biological Lab. Tech.
Prepared by:
Barbara A
s M-'tsyr
. Finazzo, Life
Scientist
Reviewed by:
Approved by:
Thomas Fikslin, Chief
Biology Section
Daniel Sullivan, Chief
Technical Support Branch
-------
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 investi-
gations have shown that agents of enteric disease (E. coli, Salmonella) are
excreted in large numbers in the feces of infected individuals, and are thus
potentially present in their sewage and its receiving waters. Epidemio-
logical studies have been used to assess incidence of illness with bathing
waters containing fecal contamination. Evidence exists showing 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 culturing procedures are usually
required for the isolation of most pathogens in mixed populations making them
undesirable as a routine monitoring tool. The ideal indicator should be present
in large numbers in healthy humans and animals that harbor human pathogens. They
should persist longer in the environment than pathogens, and should be easy to
detect on a routine basis from samples containing a mixed flora of organisms.
When an indicator organism is present, it is assumed that pathogens may be present
and the water may be potentially harmful. No ideal indicator is known, but two
bacterial groups, coliforms and fecal streptococci, satisfy the requirements to
a high degree (Finstein, 1972).
In 1976, the U.S. EPA recommended a fecal coliform bacterial guideline for primary
contact recreational waters which was subsequently adopted by most states. Their
recommendation states that fecal coliforms should be used as the indicator organ-
ism for evaluating the microbiological suitability of recreational waters. The
recommended criterion is as follows: 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 200/100 ml nor shall more than 10% of the total samples
during any 30 day period exceed 400/100 ml (Quality Criteria for Water, 1976).
The criterion was derived from data collected by the National Technical Advisory
Committee (NTAC). NTAC conducted studies on the Great Lakes (Michigan) and the
Ohio River that showed an epidemiological health effect at levels of 2300-2400
total coliforms/100 ml. Further studies demonstrated that 18% of the total coli-
form population was comprised of fecal coliforms. This would indicate that de-
tectable 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 400 FC/100 ml 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 uses 50 FC/100 ml as
a coastal water quality standard.
B-l
-------
-2-
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 multiple-tube procedure (MPN) or produce acidity with blue colonies
in the membrane filtration procedure (MF). 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 then the choice over other coliform groups.
EPA has recently published the results of two research projects which compared
the relationship between illnesses associated with bathing waters and ambient
densities of several indicator organisms (Cabelli, 1980 and DuFour, 1984). One
study was performed on marine water beaches and one on freshwater beaches. The
results have caused EPA to reevaluate the current use of fecal coliforms as in-
dicator organisms. The studies indicated that enterococci have a far better
correlation with swimming associated illnesses both in marine and freshwater
than do fecal coliforms. New methodology has made it easier to detect the
organism (Levin, et al, 1975 and Miescier & Cabelli, 1982). The studies also
demonstrated that E. coli, a specific species in the fecal coliform group,
has a correlation equal to enterococcus in freshwater, but not in marine waters.
Enterococci are members of the fecal streptococci group. This group is used
to describe the streptococci which indicate the sanitary quality of water and
wastewater. The occurrence of fecal streptococci in water indicates fecal
contamination from warm-blooded animals. One is able to pinpoint the source
of fecal contamination by the biochemical identification of the fecal strepto-
cocci group. The enterococcus group includes the following species: S. faecalis;
S. faecalis, subsp. liquefaciens; S. faecalis, subsp. zymogenes; and S . faecium.
More information about both fecal coliforms and enterococci can be found in the
following references:
1. Standard Methods, 16 edition, Section 909 and 910. (1985).
2. Microbiological Methods for Montioring the Environment, Water and
Wastewater. EPA-600/8-78-017.Part III, Section C & D.(1978).
3. Sergey's Manual of Systemic Bacteriology, Volume I. (1984).
EPA has proposed regulations recommending enterococci and E_._ coli for inclusion
into state water quality standards for the protection of primary contact re-
creational uses in the lieu of fecal coliforms. The proposed criterion for
enterococci for marine waters is 3/100 ml. This information was published in
the Federal Register on May 24, 1984, and is in the process of a round robin
study evaluating the precision of the new methodology for detecting these in-
dicator organisms.
As part of the annual monitoring of the coastal waters off the shores of Long
Island and New Jersey, a study of the densities of both fecal coliforms and
enterococci was conducted in 1985. Monitoring at selected sites in the New
York Bight was also conducted.
B-2
-------
-3-
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Marine water samples were collected by helicopter and boat on a biweekly
basis (weather permitting) from May to October 1985. The samples were collected
using a Kemmerer sampler and transferred to 500 ml sterile, wide-mouth plastic
containers. They were transported on ice to the Region II Edison labora-
tory for analysis.
Fecal coliform determinations were conducted according to the .membrane
filtration (MF) procedures described in Standard Methods, 16 edition,
1985 and Microbiological Methods for Monitoring the Environment, Water and
Wastewater, EPA-600/8-78-017, 1978.
Enterococci determinations were conducted according to the MF procedure
described by Levin, et al^. (1975) using the modified mE media. Confirmation
of enterococci colonies was conducted following procedures outlined in
Microbiological Methods for Monitoring the Environment, Water and Waste-
Water, EPA-600/8-78-017, 1978.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
During the survey time period, only two samples collected along the New
Jersey coast demonstrated fecal coliform (FC) densities greater than 50/100 ml
(Table 1). JC-21 (Asbury Park, off building north of Convention Hall) had
a FC count of 104/100 ml and JC-47A (Silver Beach, off foot of Colony Road)
had a count of 70 FC/100 ml. The geometric means of FC densities for all the
New Jersey stations were all less than 7.8 (Table 2). This is well below the
50 FC/100 ml standard set by the State of New Jersey. Figure 1 depicts graph-
ically the geometric means of FC densities for New Jersey.
There were no FC densities greater than 50/100 ml observed during the survey
time period along the Long Island coast. The geometric means were all less
than 1.8 (Table 3). This is also well below New York State's standard of
200 FC/100 ml. Figure 2 depicts graphically the geometric means of FC densities
for Long Island.
The Federal Register dated May 24, 1984 has proposed a recommended criterion
of 3 enterococci/100 ml standard for marine waters. Table 4 lists all the
enterococci densities that exceeded this criterion during the survey time
period for the New Jersey coast. Seventy (70) single observations were de-
tected above the recommended limit. Stations JC-37, JC-53, JC-65, JC-83 and
JC-89 exceeded the criterion 40-50% of the time. Stations JC-03, JC-11, JC-21,
JC-33, JC-41, JC-47A, JC-57, JC-85 and JC-97 exceeded the criterion 25-35% of
the time. However, when evaluating the geometric means for all the stations,
only six had values above 3 enterococci/100 ml (Table 5). The highest geometric
mean, 5.3, was observed -at Station JC-99 (Cape May Point, opposite the light-
house). Stations JC-65 (Ship Bottom), JC-83 (Peck Beach), JC-85 (Strathmere),
JC-89 (Avalon) and JC-97 (Cape May, off white house with the red roof off the
beach) had geometric means of 3.4, 4.5, 3.4, 3.6, and 3.4 respectively. Figure 3
graphically depicts the geometric means of the enterococci densities for the
New Jersey coast. If the recommended criterion is adopted, the above results
suggest questionable water quality for these 6 stations. This is contrary to
B-3
-------
-4-
the FC data. The FC data indicates excellent water quality with the highest
geometric mean only being 7.7. However, only 4 samples were collected at the
southern New Jersey stations. More extensive sampling would be necessary to
make more conclusive statements.
There were 17 observations detected above the recommended criterion for
enterococci for the Long Island coast (Table 6). The geometric means were all
below 3 (Table 7). The highest geometric mean, 1.8, was observed at station
LIC-04 (Rockaway, off foot of B92 Road). Figure 4 graphically depicts the
geometric means of the enterococci densities for the Long Island coast. The
enterococci data falls below the recommended criterion and this coincides with
the FC data. Both suggest the water quality of the Long Island coast to be
acceptable for primary contact recreational use.
Five (5) samples collected from the New York Bight detected FC densities
greater than 50/100 ml (Table 8). Station NYB-32 (at the mouth of the Raritan
Bay - Figure 5) had two separate counts of 216 and 176 FC/100 ml. This station
also exceeded 50 FC/100 ml in 1984. Station NYB-33 (also at the mouth of the
Raritan Bay) had a count of 100 FC/100 ml. Station NYB-45 (one mile northwest
of sewage sludge dump site) had two separate counts of 60 and 160 FC/100 ml.
The geometric means of FC densities for all the stations are presented in
Table 9. The highest geometric mean, 13.1, was observed at Station NYB-45.
Thirteen (13) samples collected from the New York Bight detected enterococci
densities greater than 3/100 ml (Table 10). These included the same stations
that showed high FC densities. The geometric means of enterococci densities
for all the stations are presented in Table 11. The highest geometric mean
was 26.5 at Station NYB-25 (the center of the sewage sludge dump site), with
the next highest at Station NYB-45 of 8.3.
Since the membrane filtration procedure used for determining the enterococci
densities was a new method, confirmation of a selected number of colonies from
the modified mE plates was conducted throughout the extent of the survey.
Colonies of various sizes, shapes and colors were picked and subjected to a
series of biochemical tests. The results indicated that a colony having the
following characteristics and biochemical reactions confirmed as a member of
the enterococci group:
Colony Characteristics
Color: dark blue or gray blue with dark blue halo.
Size: medium to large, 2.0 - 2.5 mm.
Shape: round, flat colony with raised center and a smooth, entire edge.
Biochemical Reactions
Test Reaction
Catalase negative
Growth at 10°C positive
Growth at 45°C positive
Growth with 6.5% NaCl positive
Growth with 40% Bile positive
0.1% Methylene Blue Reduction positive
Litmus Milk Reduction coagulation or peptonization
B-4
-------
-5-
It is recommended that confirmation be conducted when using the modified
mE method until the analyst feels confident about the method. The ori-
ginal paper has been updated by the author and the description of the
colonies changed (Cabelli, personal communication). Other environmental
stresses can also alter the appearance of the colonies.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The majority of the stations showing elevated enterococci geometric means
were located along the southern coast of New Jersey. These stations were
only sampled four times during the survey time period. The geometric means
were calculated based on the results of only four samples. A true geometric
mean is calculated based on at least 5 samples during a 30 day period. It
is recommended that samples be collected from these stations on a more
frequent basis next year. This should give a larger data base to further
evaluate the utility of using enterococci as an indicator of fecal
contamination.
The elevated bacterial counts observed during the survey may be related to
stormwater runoff or bypass by sewage treatment plants. It is therefore
recommended that the amount of rainfall during the survey time period be
recorded so that this relationship may be investigated.
B-5
-------
-6-
REFERENCES
1. Sergey's Manual of Systemic Bacteriology, Volume I. (1984).
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,
EPA-600/1-84-004. (1984).
4. Finstein, M.S. Pollution Microbiology, Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York.
(1972).
5. Levin, M.A., J.K. Fisher & V.J. Cabelli. Membrane Filtration Technique
for Enumeration of Enterococci in Marine Waters. APP. MICRO. 30;66-71
(1975).
6. Miescier, J.J., & V.J. Cabelli. Enterococci and Other Microbial
Indicators in Municipal Wastewater Effluents. J.W.P.C.F. Vol.54, No.12
1599-1606 (1982).
7. Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater, 16th edition.
American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C. (1985).
8. US Federal Register, Volume 49, No. 102. May 24, 1984 Notices (1984).
9. US Environmental Protection Agency. Microbiological Methods for Moni-
toring the Environment, Water and Wastewater.EPA-600/8-78-017. (1978).
10. US Environmental Protection Agency. Quality Criteria for Water.
EPA-440/9-76-023. (1976).
B-6
-------
Table 1
FECAL COLIFORM DENSITIES >50 PER 100 ML
NEW JERSEY COAST STATIONS
SUMMER 1985
OBS STATION DATE FECCOLI
1 JC21 850826 104
2 JC47A 850826 70
B-7
-------
Table 2
GEOMETRIC MEANS OF FECAL COLIFORM DENSITIES
NEW JERSEY COAST STATIONS
SUMMER 1985
OBS
STATION
MEAN
MINIMUM
MAXIMUM
N
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1 1
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
JC01A
JC02
JC03
JC05
JC08
JC1 1
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
0.68084
0.23114
0.76894
1.57356
0.84908
1.42790
3.02268
1.42169
1 .21625
1.02370
1 .01068
1.06936
1.27903
0.90855
0.94152
0.92025
1.05654
4.28768
0.61562
0.80952
0.89883
1.1 1474
1 .54573
0.62658
1 .21336
0.00000
2.73688
4.38356
1.35961
2.70779
1 . 91 295
0.56508
0.62658
2.99609
2.66284
1.63215
7.67982
0.41421
3.36793
4.02973
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
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
1
19
40
17
19
41
104
10
7
4
29
34
6
6
70
46
16
14
25
12
4
6
6
3
0
12
9
30
8
5
2
6
16
9
7
42
3
25
31
10
10
10
11
11
11
11
11
11
10
10
10
10
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
B-8
-------
Table 3
GEOMETRIC MEANS OF FECAL COLIFORM DENSITIES
LONG ISLAND COAST STATIONS
SUMMER 1985
OBS
STATION
MEAN
MINIMUM
MAXIMUM
N
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
LIC01
LIC02
LIC03
LIC04
LIC05
LIC07
LIC08
LIC09
LIC10
LIC12
LIC13
LIC14
LIC15
LIC 16
LIC17
LIC 18
LIC19
LIC20
LIC21
LIC22
LIC23
LIC24
LIC25
LIC26
LIC 27
LIC28
0.50597
0.82056
0.59264
0.84213
0.58489
0.53367
0.70532
1.06936
1 .72624
0.33514
0.00000
0.19623
0.14870
0.97697
0.00000
0.10409
0.00000
0.10409
0.10409
0.16993
0.51121
0.00000
0.10409
0.16993
0.10409
0.34590
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
14
7 .
6
5
4
2
12
5
8
2
0
2
1
18
0
1
0
1
1
2
8
0
1
2
1
1
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
' 10
10
10
10
10
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
B-9
-------
Table 4
ENTEROCOCCI DENSITIES >3 PER 100 ML
NEW JERSEY COAST STATIONS
SUMMER 1985
OBS
STATION
DATE
ENTERO
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
JC01A
JC01A
JC02
JC02
JC03
JC03
JC03
JC05
JC08
JC11
JC11
JC11
JC14
JC14
JC21
JC21
JC21
JC24
JC24
JC27
JC27
JC33
JC33
JC33
JC37
JC37
JC37
JC37
JC41
JC41
JC41
JC44
JC47A
JC47A
JC47A
JC49
JC49
JC53
JC53
JC53
850528
850718
850528
850905
850528
850718
850826
850528
850612
850612
850627
850809
850627
850826
850528
850809
850826
850528
850829
850528
850809
850528
850809
850826
850528
850606
850702
850826
850528
850702
850826
850528
850528
850627
850809
850627
850826
850528
850627
850826
4
4
15
4
11
5
4
6
4
8
5
8
12
30
4
92
19
18
8
6
4
12
32
4
20
4
4
9
17
4
9
9
11
4
28
20
7
32
8
6
B-10
-------
Table 4 (cont.)
ENTEROCOCCI DENSITIES >3 PER 100 ML
NEW JERSEY COAST STATIONS
SUMMER 1985
OBS
STATION
DATE
ENTERO
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
JC53
JC55
JC57
JC57
JC57
JC59
JC63
JC65
JC65
JC69
JC73
JC75
JC77
JC79
JC81
JC83
JC83
JC83
JC85
JC87
JC89
JC89
JC91
JC91
JC93
JC93
JC95
JC97
JC99
JC99
850909
850627
850528
850606
850627
850627
850809
850627
850826
850627'
850606
850606
850826
850627
850606
850606
850627
850809
850826
850809
850606
850809
850606
850809
850606
850627
850606
850606
850606
850809
4
16
10
7
7
5
4
8
9
5
4
5
17
8
4
4
4
36
29
9
16
12
5
6
5
15
5
20
84
8
B-ll
-------
Table 5
GEOMETRIC MEANS OF ENTEROCOCCI DENSITIES
NEW JERSEY COAST STATIONS
SUMMER 1985
OBS
STATION
MEAN
MINIMUM
MAXIMUM
N
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
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
0.69865
0.85406
0.93078
0.53565
1.06296
1.28221
1.51793
2.38547
1.67043
1.41400
0.51572
1.76096
2.01949
1..48396
0.57606
1.47462
0.90855
2.97805
0.47967
1.23792
0.86121
0.56508
1.78316
3.35588
0.31607
0.56508
0.77828
1.44949
1.05977
2.22371
0.77828
4.51487
3.35588
0.77828
3.58517
1.54573
2.13017
1.44949
3.40933
5.25422
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
1
0
4
15
11
6
4
8
30
92
18
6
3
32
20
17
9
28
20
32
16
10
5
2
4
9
2
5
4
5
17
8
4
36
29
9
16
6
15
5
20
84
10
10
10
11
11
11
11
11
11
10
10
10
10
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
B-12
-------
Table 6
ENTEROGOCCI DENSITIES >3 PER 100 ML
LONG ISLAND COAST STATIONS
SUMMER 1985
OBS
STATION
DATE
ENTERO
1 .
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 '
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
LIC01
LIC02
LIC03
LIC03
LIC04
LIC04
LIC07
LIC08
LIC09
LIC09
LIC09
LIC10
LIC14
LIC16
LIC18
LIC20
LIC25
850702
850702
850702
850717
850613
850717
850702
850702
850516
850702
850827
85061 3
850717
850613
850604
850827
850717
10
18
6
5
32
7
4
5
4
4
4
8
7
11
4
6
4
B-13
-------
Table 7
GEOMETRIC MEANS OF ENTEROCOCCI DENSITIES
LONG ISLAND COAST STATIONS
SUMMER 1985
OBS
STATION
MEAN
MINIMUM
MAXIMUM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15 '
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
LIC01
LIC02
LIC03
LIC04
LIC05
LIC07
LIC08
LIC09
LIC10
LIC1 2
LIC13
LIC14
LIC15
LIC16
LIC17
LIC 18
LIC19
LIC20
LIC 21
LIC22
LIC23
LIC24
LIC25
LIC26
LIC27
LIC28
0.52267
0.77056
1.43630
1.76688
0.79349
0.57606
1.18857
0.99474
1 .50529
0.60831
0.31798
0.58740 .
0.42350
1.36379
0.20094
0.64755
0.41421
0.55246
0.34801
0.34801
0.12246
0.12246
0.46780
0.00000
1.13983
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
10
18
6
32
3
4
5
4
8
2
2
7
2
11
2
4
3
6
2
2
1
1
4
0
3
0
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
B-14
-------
Table 8
FECAL COLIFORM DENSITIES >50 PER 100 ML
NEW YORK BIGHT STATIONS
SUMMER 1985
OBS STATION DATE FECCOLI
1 NYB32 851009 216 S
2 NYB32 851009 176 B
3 NYB33 851009 100 S
4 NYB45 850715 60 B
5 NYB45 851009 160 B
B-15
-------
Table 9
GEOMETRIC MEANS OF FECAL COLIFORM DENSITIES
NEW YORK BIGHT STATIONS
SUMMER 1985
DBS
DEPTH
STATION
MEAN
MINIMUM
MAXIMUM
N
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
. B
B
B
B
B
B
B
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
NYB20
NYB21
NYB22
NYB23
NYB24
NYB25
NYB26
NYB27
NYB32
NYB33
NYB34
NYB35
NYB40
NYB41
NYB42
NYB43
NYB44
NYB45
NYB46
NYB47
NYB20
NYB21
NYB22
NYB23
NYB24
NYB25
NYB26
NYB27
NYB32
NYB33
NYB34
NYB35
NYB40
NYB41
NYB42
NYB43
NYB44
NYB45
NYB46
NYB47
0.5651
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
8.7444
1.5755
0.4142
2.6475
0.5651
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
1.9428
13.0784
0.1892
0.0000
0.4953
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
3.5643
3.1722
0.1892
0.3161
1 .0305
0.3161
0.0000
0.7321
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
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
0
2
o
0
0
0
48
21
3
176
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
14
160
1
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
216
100
1
2
16
2
0
8
0
0
0
0
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
B-16
-------
OBS
Table 10
ENTEROCOCCI DENSITIES >3 PER 100 ML
NEW YORK BIGHT STATIONS
SUMMER 1985
STATION
DATE
ENTERO
DEPTH
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1 1
12
13
NYB24
NYB25
NYB25
NYB25
NYB26
NYB26
NYB32
NYB33
NYB43
NYB44
NYB45
NYB45
NYB46
850715
850715
850806
850814
850806
850814
851009
851009
850715
850715
850715
850802
850715
7
460
112
10
5
8
5
9
20
32
204
5
9
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
S
B
B
B
B
B
B-17
-------
Table 11
GEOMETRIC MEANS OF ENTEROCOCCI DENSITIES
NEW YORK BIGHT STATIONS
SUMMER 1985
OBS
DEPTH
STATION
MEAN
MINIMUM
MAXIMUM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
S
NYB20
NYB21
NYB22
NYB23
NYB24
NYB25
NYB26
NYB27
NYB32
NYB33
NYB34
NYB35
NYB40
NYB41
NYB42
NYB43
NYB44
NYB45
NYB46
NYB47
NYB20
NYB21
NYB22
NYB23
NYB24
NYB25
NYB26
NYB27
NYB32
NYB33
NYB34
NYB35
NYB40
NYB41
NYB42
NYB43
NYB44
NYB45
NYB46
NYB47
0.3161
0.1892
0.1892
0.3161-
1 .0000
26.5133
2.2237
0.3161
0.8612
0.5651
0.0000
1.2134
0.0000
0.1892
0.1892
2.9843
2.7512
8.2686
1 .1147
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.6818
0.7783
0.4142
0.4142
0.0000
0.0000
0.1892
0.1892
0.1892
0.0000
0.1892
0.0000
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
0
2
1
1
2
7
460
8
2
5
2
0
3
0
1
1
20
32
204
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
9
3
1
0
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
' 4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
B-18
-------
6FOMETMIC MEANS OF FECAL COLIKOW* DENSITIES
Mtvn jf-hSf-V COAST STATIONS
PLOT OF MEAM'STATION
PLOT OF MAXIMUM»ST«TION
SYMBOL USED I^ «
SYMdUL USED IS II
130
129
111)
100
70
V
M
ID
50
30
?0
10
»-»
J J
C C
0 0
1 2
_«__*_.+«. + _. + »-»--+--«--*-- + --+-- + -- + -- + --«-- + -- + --»_- + -- + -- + - + -- + -- + -- + -- + -- + -- + -- + -- + -- + -- + - + -- + -- + --».._»_.. + ..-
JJJJJJJJJJ
J J J J J
JJJJJJJJJJ
J J J J
0 0
3 «5
C C C
0 1 1
C C C
C C
C C
J
C
3
3
5 5
5 7
H
9
STATION
-------
Mf. IK 1C
H.OT OP Mt. AN»?>T/i T ION
I-LOT (IK MAAllUM»5l Al ION
1- Uf ftCAL t.OL I r tl^.,-1
IbLAMJ COAST blATlO
bYMMUL
bVMr»OL
USt'U
U^tU
I ->
1*1
IH
17
I1!
1*
13
\
1
c
1
(1
I
c
1
/
1
c
1
o
1
c
1
»
1
c
i-
U
1
c
2
I
1
C
tf
t
I
c
?
3
I
C
i?
I
C
2
6
I
C
e
1
I
C
2
rt
-------
flg
lllc:
GM>i»F_THI(. MtftNS OF fcNTF^OCOCCI ilFNSJTlKS
Ntw dF>StV COAST STATIONS
PLOT OF MfeAK'»STATIOK
HlOT UF M4XIMUM»ST«TION
SVMHUI. USED IS »
SYMHIJI. IJSEU IS U
100
O)
ro
f
n
A
c
0
C
0
c
n
c
0
c
l
c
1
c
c
2
C
i?
c
3
C
3
c
3
C
C
4
C
4
A
C C
4 5
C C
5 5
C
b
C
6
C
6
C
ft
c
h
C
h
C
1
C
7
C
c
J
c c
1
c
c
c
J
c
J
c
J
c
J
c
J
c
sTAT TOM
-------
.. 4
Met I * It. ir"Ni Ur r~7T?^ f A I ION
M.OT UK MAXIMUM»M ATI
StMnOL i/Stlj 1 *> «
L
L
I
C
1
/
L
1
C
1
h
L
I
C
1
<4
L
I
C
d
(i
L
I
C
?
1
L
i
L
£
t?
L
I
C
f
1
L
I
C
?
4
L
I
C
f
D
L
I
C
2
h
L
1
C
it
7
L
I
C
,»
rt
10<
-------
SANDY HOOK (32)
FIGURE 3
NEW YORK BIGHT STATION LOCATIONS
N
10
Kilometers
B-23
------- |