The Helicopter Monitoring Report
a Report of the New York Bight Water Quality
Summers of 1997 and 1998
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2	EPA 902/R-99-001
Division of Environmental Science And Assessment	February 1999
2890 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, New Jersey 08837
www.epa.gov/docs/Region2/smb/sci-mon.htm

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THE HELICOPTER MONITORING REPORT
a Report of the
NEW YORK BIGHT WATER QUALITY
SUMMERS OF 1997 and 1998
"The Bight Report"
Prepared By:
Helen Grebe, Environmental Scientist
Monitoring Operations Section
Approved By:
Dore LaPosta, Chief
Monitoring and Assessment Branch
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2
Division of Environmental Science and Assessment
2890 Woodbridge Avenue
Edison, New Jersey 08837
February 26,1999

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The Helicopter Monitoring Report
a Report of the New York Bight Water Quality
The Division of Environmental Science and Assessment of the U S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, has prepared this report to
disseminate environmental data collected for the New York Bight During
May 19 through September 13, 1997, and May 20 through September 15,
1998, water quality monitoring and surveillance activities were carried out
using a helicopter. The monitoring program is composed of three separate
sampling networks (bacteriological, phytoplankton, and dissolved oxygen), and
one floatable surveillance network.
Results were as follows:
O Between 750 and 850 samples per year for fecal coliform and
enterococcus analyses were collected along the Long Island and New
Jersey coast. Low seasonal geometric means were observed at all
stations for 1997 and 1998.
O Aureococcus anophagefferens, a minute brown alga associated with
damage to shellfish, and Gyrodinium cfaureolum, the dinoflagellate
that can cause green tide, were observed in bloom concentrations in
Barnegat Bay and along the southern New Jersey coast, respectively.
The brown and green tides occurred for a short time in 1997 and did not
reappear in 1998.
O The dissolved oxygen semi-monthly averages for the New Jersey coast
and New York Bight perpendiculars followed a typical dissolved
oxygen sag curve and never fell below 3.8 mg/1 in 1997 or 1998.
O In 1997 there were no beach closures due to floatable debris. In 1998
only one beach closure occurred due to floatable debris. Slicks meeting
the cleanup requirement were observed less in 1998 than in 1997.
Summers
Abstract
Based on the data collected, the New York Bight Apex, and the New Jersey
and Long Island coastal waters were of good to excellent quality in 1997 and
1998.

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INTRODUCTION
The Division of Environmental
Science and Assessment of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), Region 2, has prepared this
report to disseminate environmental
data for the New York Bight.
Specifically, data coverage includes
the New York Bight Apex, the New
York/New Jersey Harbor Complex,
and the shorelines of New York (NY)
and New Jersey (NJ).
This report is the twenty-second in a
series and reflects data collected over
two summers, from May 19 to
September 13, 1997 and May 20 to
September 15, 1998. The New York
Bight Water Quality Monitoring
Program (The Helicopter Monitoring
Program) is EPA's response to its
mandated responsibilities as defined
under the Marine Protection,
Research and Sanctuaries Act of
1972, the Water Pollution Control
Act Amendments of 1972 and 1977,
and the Water Quality Act of 1987.
HISTORY
Since its initiation in 1974. the New
York Bight Water Quality
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
concentrate on specific areas of
concern during the critical summer
period. Many changes occurred after
the summer of 1976, when a massive
algae bloom of Ceratium tripos was
associated with anoxia and
consequent widespread fish kills in
the Bight, and an unusually heavy
wash-up of debris occurred on Long
Island beaches (Swanson, 1979).
Summer conditions in the Bight
clearly called for more intensive
monitoring to predict environmental
events, investigate crises, and direct
any decisions regarding protection of
the Bight's water quality.
Continual Changes <&
Historic Events...
1977 Sampling from a helicopter
was incorporated into the program to
allow for information to be collected
more efficiently and expediently.
This "real-time" information allowed
local, state, and EPA officials to
make informed decisions on beach
closings and follow-up actions,
based on timely data
1985	Dissolved oxygen values
considered stressful for aquatic life,
plagued 1600 square miles of ocean
bottom w aters off the NJ coast.
1986	Additional southern NJ
stations and more frequent sample
collections were added as a result of
algal blooms and high bacterial
levels which closed beaches in
southern NJ.
1987	& 1988 Extensive garbage
wash-ups, including medical debris,
convinced EPA and other agencies
that a response network w as needed
to prevent future beach closures due
to floatables.
1989 Floatable debris surveillance
of the NY/NJ Harbor Complex using
a helicopter was added to locate
debris and direct cleanup operations.
1992 The dissolved oxygen
sampling network was revised to
better anticipate and document the
extent of low dissolv ed oxygen
episodes ofT the NY and NJ coasts.
This followed the cessation of ocean
disposal of sewage sludge.
1994	Floatable surveillance was
expanded to include the southern end
of the Hudson and East Rivers,
Gravescnd Bay, and the shoreline of
Coney Island
1995	The dissolved oxygen
sampling network was revised to
better reflect historical sampling
locations
1998 The enterococcus test method
was changed to Method 1600:
Membrane Filter Test Method for
Entcrococci in Water. This method
reduces analysis time from 48 to 24
hours.

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f
SA1V1PLING AND
Purpose and Procedures
From mid May through mid
September 1997 and 1998, water
quality monitoring and surveillance
activities were carried out using a
helicopter While the helicopter
hovered over the surface, sampling
was accomplished by lowering a one
liter Kemmcrer sampler into the
water.
Details of the analytical and
sampling procedures can be found in
the Quality Assurance Project Plan
for the New York Bight Summer
Monitoring Program (available upon
request). The raw data can be found
in EPA's computerized data base for
STOragc and RETrieval (STORET).
The monitoring program is
composed of three separate sampling
networks and one floatable
surveillance network.
The beach station network
is sampled to gather bacteriological
water quality information on
swimmability for comprehensive
public health protection
Samples arc collected once a week at
twenty-six Long Island and forty-
four New Jersey coastal stations.
Analysis for fecal coliform and
cnterococcus bacteria densities arc
conducted at the EPA Region 2
Edison Laboratory Samples are
collected just offshore in the surf
zone at one meter depth
SURVEILLANCE
The phytoplankton
sampling network is sampled
to identify and quantify
phytoplankton. and to determine
chlorophyll a content in New Jersey
coastal waters and bays. This
network provides early warnings of
noxious algal blooms. Twelve to
eighteen samples arc collected
scmi-monthlv. The samples arc
collected as close to the surface as
possible
Sample analyses arc completed
according to Standard Operating
Procedures of the Aquatic
Biomonitoring Laboratory of the
Bureau of Water Monitoring of the
New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection (NJDEP).
This network complements NJDEP's
commitment to the National
Shellfish Sanitation Program.
Subsets of the phytoplankton
samples are given to the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's National Marine
Fisheries Service for the
identification of A. anophageflerens.
The perpendicular station
network was established to
monitor surface and bottom
dissolved oxygen and temperature
These parameters are used for early
detection of anoxic conditions and
trend analysis. Samples arc collected
eight to ten times during the critical
summer period Ten transects, with
four to five stations in each transect,
extend east from the coast, and cover
the inner Bight from Sandy Hook to
Hereford Inlet. New Jersey. Samples
arc collected at 1 meter below the
surface and 1 meter above the ocean
floor
The floatable surveillance
network encompasses overflights
of the New York/New Jersey Harbor
Complex six days a week during the
summer months This surv eillance is
in response to the Short Term Action
Plan for Addressing Floatable
Debris, developed by the Interagency
Floatable Task Force. The plan s
objective is to improve water quality,
protect the marine environment, and
prevent the occurrence of beach
closures due to floatables debris.
This is accomplished by sighting
slicks and determining the most
efficient coordinated cleanup effort
possible. Approximate size or
dimension, contents, relative density,
location, possible sources and time
of sighting of significant floatable
debris arc recorded. The information
is reported to a central
communication response network,
specifically established to coordinate
cleanup efforts Cleanup efforts are
conducted by the Corps of Engineers
or the New York City Department of
Environmental Protection.

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LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
3
The New Y ork 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). The New York Bight
Apex contains the Former 12-Mile
Sewage Sludge Site, the Former Acid
Waste Site, and the Historic Area
Remediation Site (Figure 2).
Floatable surveillance of
the New York/New Jersey
Harbor Complex:
For purposes of this report, the New
York/New Jersey Harbor Complex is
defined as the Arthur Kill; Newark
Bay. as far north as the New Jersey
Turnpike Bridge; the Kill Van Kull;
the Upper New York Harbor; the
Verrazano Narrows; and the Lower
New York Harbor In 1994,
surveillance was increased to include
the Hudson and East Rivers as far
north as Central Park, New York;
Gravcsend Bay; and the shoreline of
Coney Island as far cast as the
Marine Parkway Bridge. These areas
will be called "expanded coverage
sites," (Figure 2).
The Beach Station
Sampling Network:
Twenty-six l ong Island coastal
sampling stations (Figure 3) extend
from the western tip of Rock aw ay
Point 130 km eastward to
Shinnecock Inlet. The twenty-six
stations are designated with the LIC
prefix.
Forty-four New Jersey coastal
sampling stations (Figure 4) begin
at Sandy Hook and extend south to
Cape May Point. The forty-four
stations arc designated with the JC
prefix.
Phytoplankton samples
(Figure 4) arc collected during the
summer season at selected New
Jersey coastal sampling stations and
in Raritan/Sandy Hook Bay (RB),
Bamegat Bay System (BB), Great
Egg (GE) and Delaware Bay (DB)
The stations are as follows:
RB56
JC65
BB2
RB51A
JC75
BB3
RBI 5
JC83
BB3A
JC11
JC89
BB4
JC33
BB1
GE1
JC57
BB1A
DB1
The perpendicular
sampling network consists of
ten transects extending east from the
New Jersey coast (Figure 5). Nine
New Jersey coast (JC) perpendicular
transects extend east from Long
Branch to Hereford inlet, and one
New York Bight (NYB) Apex
perpendicular transect extends east
from the southern end of Sandy
Hook New Jersey coast
perpendicular stations start at one
nautical mile (nm) and extend east,
to nine nm offshore Perpendicular
transects from Long Branch to
Hereford Inlet were sampled at 1, 3,
5. 7, and 9 nm offshore
Historical New York Bight Apex
stations. NYB 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24
were sampled. The New York Bight
stations are approximately 2, 4, 6. 7,
and 8 nm off the southern end of
Sandy Hook

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4

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A
N
3 6 Miles
Figure 2
New York Bight Apex
New York/New Jersey Harbor Complex

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Shinnecock Inlet East (LIC28)
a. .-T Shinnecock Inlet West (LIC27)
Tiana Beach (LIC26)
West Hampton Beach (LIC25)
Moriches Inlet East (LIC24)
Moriches Inlet West (LIC23)
Smith Point County Park (LIC22)
Bellport Beach (LIC21)
Water Island (LIC20)
Cherry Grove (LIC19)
Great South Beach (LIC18)
Figure 3
Long Island Coast
Station Locations
Long Island Beach Sampling Locations
Robert Moses State Park (LIC17)
Cedar Island Beach (LIC16)
Gilgo Beach (LIC15)
East Overlook (LIC14)
Jones Beach (LIC13)
Short Beach (LIC12)
Point Lookout (LIC10)
Long Beach (LIC09)
Long Beach (LIC08)
Atlantic Beach (LIC07)
Far Rockaway (LIC05)
Rockaway (LIC04)
Rockaway (LIC03)
Rockaway (LIC02)
Rockaway Point (LIC01)
v)
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>& -RB51a /?,SandyHook (JC01A)
" • Sandy Hook (JC03)
Sandy Hook (JC05)
Sea Bright (JC08)
Monmouth Beach (JC11)
Long Branch (JC13)
Long Branch (JC14)
Asbury Park (JC21)
Bradlev Beach (JC24)
|hark mv^yilet (JCZ6)
Spring Lake (JC30)
Sea Girt (JC33)
North Manasquan Inlet (JC35)
South Manasquan Inlet (JC37)
Bay Head (JC41)
Mantoloking (JC44)
Silver Beach (JC47a)
Lavallette (JC49)
Seaside Heights (JC53)
Island Beach State Park (JC55)
Island Beach State Park (JC57)
Island Beach State Park Wildwood (JC93)
fTwo Mile beach (JC95)
Zape May Inlet (JC96)
Cape May (JC97)
Cape May Point (JC99)
A
New Jersey Beach Sampling Locations
Phytoplankton Stations Only
Figure 4
New Jersey Coast
Station Locations
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9
THE BEACH STATION NETWORK
Guidelines, Criteria, and Standards
By determining the bacteriological
water quality, one can estimate
potential health risks associated with
the presence of sewage pollution.
Epidemiological studies have
attempted to assess the incidence of
illness associated with bathing in
water containing fecal
contamination. Evidence exists that
there is a relationship between
bacterial water quality and
transmission of certain infectious
diseases (Cabelli, 1979).
It is common practice to use an
indicator organism to detect fecal
contamination because of the ease of
isolating and quantitating certain
microorganisms on membrane filters.
When many indicator organisms arc
present, the likelihood of pathogens
being found is far greater.
EPA Guidelines/Criteria
- Fecal Coliform
A fecal coliform bacterial guideline
for primary' contact recreational
waters was recommended by the
EPA in 1976, and subsequently
adopted by most of the States. The
EPA guideline stated that fecal
coliforms should be used as the
indicator to evaluate the suitability
of recreational waters, and
recommended that fecal coliforms, as
determined by MPN or MF
procedure and based on a minimum
of not less than five samples taken
over not more than a 30-day period,
shall not exceed a log mean of 200
fecal coliforms/100 ml, nor shall
more than 10% of the total samples
during any 30-day period exceed 400
fecal coliforms/100 ml.
-Enterococci
In 1986, EPA issued a criteria
guidance document recommending
enterococci and Escherichia coli for
inclusion into state water quality
standards for the protection of
primary contact recreational uses in
lieu of fecal coliforms. The EPA
(1986) recommended criterion for
enterococci for marine water is a
minimum of not less than five
samples taken over not more than a
30-day period, shall not exceed a log
mean of 35/100 ml. This
information was published in the
Federal Register on March 7, 1986.
EPA is developing policy that
describes how states and tribes will
adopt the Ambient Water Quality
Criteria for Bacteria -1986, which
will require monitoring for
enterococci and Escherichia coli.
These indicators will be a priority for
the triennial review of water quality
standards starting in fiscal year 2000.
New York State Water
Quality Standards
New York State, for its primary
contact recreational coastal waters,
allows the local permit issuing
official to choose one of two
standards as follows:
1) a thirty day, five-sample log
average of 200 fecal coliforms/100
ml, or 2) a thirty day, five sample log
average of 2400 total coliforms/100
ml (ISC, 1994).
New Jersey Water Quality
Standards
New Jersey has adopted the standard
of 200 fecal coliforms/100 ml. Local
officials may close a beach on the
basis of a single sample. Local
discretion is allowed up to the point
of two consecutive exccedances,
when closure is required bv New
Jersey law (ISC, 1994).
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BACTERIOLOGICAL RESULTS
Each of the 26 Long Island stations
and the 44 New Jersey stations was
sampled seven to fourteen times per
year. A total of 304 samples in 1997
and 318 samples in 1998 were
collected at the Long Island stations,
and a total of 452 samples in 1997
and 547 samples in 1998 were
collected at the New Jersey stations.
Samples were collected
approximately once per week from
mid May to early September, and
analyzed for fecal coliform and
entcrococcus densities.
Individual Fecal Coliform
Counts
All individual fecal coliform counts
for the Long Island coastal stations,
were below the federal guideline of
200 fecal coliforms per 100 ml, in
1997 and 1998.
Only one individual fccal coliform
count in 1997 and one count in 1998,
exceeded the federal guideline for
the New Jersey coastal stations.
NJDEP was immediately informed of
the high counts.
Individual Enterococcus
Counts
In 1997, one individual enterococcus
count at Long Island stations and
three counts at New Jersey stations
exceed the federal guideline of 35
enterococci per 100 ml.
In 1998, twenty-nine enterococcus
counts at the Long Island stations
and forty-four enterococcus densities
at the New Jersey coastal stations
exceeded the federal guideline. The
exceedences at the Long Island
stations occurred at twenty-one
different stations over four different
days. Exceedences at the New Jersey
stations occurred at twenty-eight
different stations on eight different
days.
Microbiological Report
For a detailed discussion of the
bacteriological results, an annual
summary entitled '"Microbiological
Water Quality New York Bight" is
available upon request.
10
Bacteriological Trends
Below is a comparison of the highest
seasonal geometric mean densities
per year for the last ten years. All
seasonal geometric means were
substantially below fecal coliform
and enterococcus guidelines.
1989 had the highest individual
station fecal coliform geometric
mean, and 1998 had the highest
enterococcus geometric mean for
New Jersey and Long Island stations.
Station JC96, Cape May Inlet, had
the highest enterococcus geometric
mean for five consecutive years,
from 1992 - 1996.
Highest Seasonal Geometric Mean Densities (per 100 ml)


1989- 1998

Year
New Jersey
Geometric
Long Island
Geometric
I Isdl
Station
Mean
Station
Mean
Fecal Coliform Densities
1989
JC13
15.2
LIC05
5.5
1990
JC36
11.30
LIC10
3.49
1991
JC92
10.31
LIC05
2.50
1992
JC92
2.20
LIC02
1.41
1993
JC96
5.13
LIC 10
1.99
1994
JC53
3.77
LIC04
2.12
1995
JC75
2.86
LIC 16
2.89
1996
JC53
7.34
LIC03
3.45
1997
JC26
4.51
LIC 10
3.83
1998
JC96
9.09
LIC04
4.48
Enterococcus Densities
1989
JC13
4.2
I.IC5,10.21
2.7
1990
JC93
4.90
LIC 10
2.29
1991
JC92
2.62
LIC04
2.10
1992
JC96
1.53
LIC07
1.27
1993
JC96
2.70
LIC 17
1.18
1994
JC96
2.02
LIC04
1.38
1995
JC96
2.64
LIC 10
1.87
1996
JC96
3.67
LIC22
2.38
1997
JC27
2.76
LIC 10
1.81
1998
JC21
11.25
LIC01
4.12
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11
THE PHYTOPLANKTON SAMPLING NETWORK
Blooms and Related Conditions
Phytoplanklon sampling in New
Jersey coastal waters and major
estuaries was conducted a total of
nine times in 1997 and eight times in
1998, every two weeks, from late
May through August.
Approximately twelve routine
stations were sampled and
supplementary samples were
collected at locations where green,
red or brown tide blooms were
observed or suspected.
An annual summary including
highlights of each sampling event, a
report of major phytopiankton
species with related occurrences
observed in 1997 and 1998, and a
discussion of environmental factors
was produced by NJDEP and
available upon request. A brief
summary extracted from that report
follows.
Bloom Conditions
Species considered dominant occur
in cell concentrations greater than
1,000 cells/ml. Blooms, which cause
visible coloration to the water, occur
when densities of one or more
dominant species approach or exceed
10,000 cells/ml.
Algal blooms have been associated
with hypcrtrophication in the region
(Mahoney, 1997). Adverse effects
were usually only aesthetic in nature,
although occasional fish kills via
hypoxia, or complaints by bathers of
minor irritation, have occurred.
Phytoplankton Results
Karitan and Sandy Hook Bays
In past summers, phytoflagellate red
tides dominated by Olisthodiscus
luteus, Prorocentrum minimum and
Katodinium rolundatum were
prevalent in Raritan and Sandy Hook
Bays. However, in 1997 and 1998,
several diatom species were
dominant throughout the summer.
Dominant diatoms for 1997 included
Asteriionella glacialis, Cerataulina
pelagica, Skeletonema costatum.
Heavy blooms occurred in the bay,
with single-species maxima ranging
from 2.5xl0'1tol05 cells/ml.
Dominant diatoms for 1998 included
Skeletonema costatum, Rhizosolenia
delicatula, and Thalassiosira sp.,
with total cell counts as high as
5xl01 cells/ml.
Barnegat Bay
In 1997, the minute brown alga,
Aureococcus anophagefferens, was
documented in bloom proportions in
lower Barnegat Bay and adjacent
Little Egg Harbor This species has
been associated with damage to
shellfish crops in eastern Long
Island, NY cmbaymcnts (Nuzzi,
1996). A. anophagefferens was first
documented in New Jersey in 1995.
In 1998, A. anophagefferens was
found in very low concentrations,
while concentrations of
Nannochloris atomus, were
substantial. A maximum count of
2.0 X I0f' cells/ml of N. atomus was
observed in mid-August in lower
Barnegat Bay and the upper portions
of Little Egg Harbor
New Jersey Coastal Stations
The dinoflagcllatc "green tides" of
1984-1985, caused by Gyrodinium cf
aureolum were the first serious
blooms documented along the
southern New Jersey coast. This
bloom was associated with reports of
mild sickness in bathers, and
localized hypoxic and fish kills
coinciding with the decay of the
bloom (USEPA. 1986). This
dinoflagcllatc did not reappear in
bloom proportions until 1996 and
1997, although to a lesser extent. In
1997, the green tide appeared at
Ocean City for approximately one
week in late summer. No adverse
effects were reported. Green tide
was not detected in 1998.
Harmful Algae
In the past, we have observed red,
green and brown tides in New Jersey
csluarinc and coastal waters. While
some of these tides have been
associated with bather discomfort, or
adverse effects on marine fauna,
none has resulted in severe human
illness, such as paralytic shellfish
poisoning (PSP). Algae-derived
toxins associated with PSP have not
been detected in New Jersey waters.
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12
CHLOROPHYLL A RESULTS & TRENDS
Chlorophyll a measurements reflect
total phytoplankton biomass. An
increase in biomass or phytoplankton
activity in a waterbody, may suggest
an increase in nutrients. An increase
in nutrients may result in a decrease
in dissolved oxygen levels that may
lead to the death of fish or bottom
dwelling organisms.
Figure 6 represents chlorophyll a
averages for surface water along the
New Jersey coast and in the major
estuaries for the past eleven
summers.
Estuarine Waters
From year to year, Raritan and
Delaware Bay show great
fluctuations in chlorophyll
concentrations and exhibited the
greatest total phytoplankton biomass
during each of the past eleven years.
In 1997 and 1998, chlorophyll a
levels were greatest in Raritan and
Delaware Bays. Raritan Bay
sustained high levels of chlorophyll
a due to diatom blooms, while
Delaware Bay exhibited a high
diversity of diatoms, chlorophytes
and flagellates. Barnegat Bay had
much greater cell densities than other
estuaries, however the minute size of
the dominant species represented less
biomass and lower chlorophyll a
values than the dominant species in
the other estuaries.
Coastal Waters
Coastal water chlorophyll a levels
are generally lower than those found
in the estuaries and bays. Coastal
averages remained relatively
constant from 1988 through 1994
This suggests the phytoplankton
productiv ity for these years arc
typical of productivity common to
these waters. Single high counts in
1995 and 1997 skewed the average
for Monmouth County and
Atlantic/Cape May County,
respectively. In 1995. station JC37
located just south of Manasquan
Inlet in Monmouth County, showed a
high chlorophyll a density of 255.9
ug/1. This density represents an
isolated incident occurring on Julv 5.
The incident was probably due to an
influx from the Manasquan River In
1997 a single elevated chlorophyll a
density. 173 ug/1. occurred at JC83.
Ocean City, in the Atlantic/Capc
May County area. This value
represents an isolated incident on
August 27 when a green tide was
present.
Figure 6
New Jersey Coastal and Estuarine Chlorophyll "a" Trends
Summer Averages in Surface Waters 1988 - 1998
100
Raritan Boy
Delaware Bay
Barnegat Bay
Monmouth County
Ocean County
t>0
3
O-
O
«—
o
-C
O
•88
•89
•90
•91
'92
*93
Y ear
•94
•95 '96 '97 '98
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13
THE PERPENDICULAR STATION NETWORK
The perpendicular station samples
were analyzed for dissolved oxygen
between June 19 and August 29,
1997, and between June 8 and
September 5, 1998.
DISSOLVED OXYGEN
GUIDELINES
Dissolved oxygen levels necessary
for survival and/or reproduction vary
among biological species. Sufficient
data have not been accumulated to
assign definitive limits or lower
levels of tolerance for each species at
various growth stages. Rough
guidelines are available as follows
(EPA 1977):
Figure7
New Jersey and NYB Perpendiculars, 1997 &1998
Semi-Monthly Average of Bottom Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations
8
July	August
Semi-Monthly
Sept
Dissolved Oxygen Guidelines
? 5 mg/l - healthy
4 - 5 mg/l - borderline to health)
3 - 4 mg/l - stressful if prolonged
2-3 mg/l - lethal if prolonged
< 2 mg/l - lethal in a relatively
short time
SURFACE DISSOLVED
OXYGEN
During the sampling periods, 786
total surface samples were collected
for dissolved oxygen analysis. The
upper water column, as in past years,
appeared to be completely mixed
with dissolved oxygen levels at or
near saturation. Therefore, no further
discussion on surface dissolved
oxygen will be presented in this
report.
BOTTOM DISSOLVED
>XYGEN
total of 60 samples in 1997 and 43
samples in 1998 was collected at the
|New York Bight Apex
perpendicular stations, (NYB20, 21,
12,23 and 24).
total of 370 samples in 1997 and
545 samples in 1998 was collected at
the New Jersey coast perpendicular
stations, (JC14, 27, 41, 53, 61, 69.
75, 85, 90).
The majority of bottom dissolved
oxygen samples remained above 5
mg/l in 1997 and 1998 (Table 1).
The 1998 results show an
Dissolved oxygen concentrations
less than 4 mg/l occurred in 10.7
percent of the JC samples in 1998 as
opposed to 25.7 percent in 1997.
The NYB dissolved oxygen values
below 4 mg/l occurred in 9.3 percent
of the 1998 samples as opposed to
11.7 percent in 1997.
Semi-monthly Averages
The 1997 and 1998 semi-monthly
averages of bottom dissolved oxygen
concentrations for the New Jersey
coast and New York Bight
perpendiculars follow a typical
dissolved oxygen sag curve with
lows occurring in late August and
early September (Figure 7).
TABLE 1
1997
1998

DO Samples:
NYB
JC
NYB
JC
% above 5 mg/l
58 .3
56.8
83.7
76 .2
% between 4-5
30.0
17.6
7.0
13 .0
% between 3-4
10.0
11.4
7.0
7.2
% between 2-3
1.7
8.4
2.3
2.9
% below 2 mg/l
0
5.9
0
0.6
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14
Dissolved Oxygen
Trends
One Mile vs. Nine Miles
With the exception of 1992, average
dissolved oxygen values are 0.4 to
2.2 mg/1 higher nine miles off the
coast than one mile off the coast,
from 1992 through 1998 (Figure 8).
The lower values at the one mile
offshore stations can be explained
by the oxygen demand created by
the influences of river discharges,
treatment plant effluents,
stormwater runoff, and/or the plume
from the Hudson-Raritan River
Estuary system.
Values Below 4 mg/l
The percent of New Jersey bottom
dissolved oxygen values below 4
mg/1, ranged from a low 1.2 percent
to a high of 43.8 percent, during the
period from 1981 - 1998 ( Figure 9).
Depressed levels fluctuated greatly,
Figure 8
New Jersey Perpendiculars, 1992 - 1998
Average Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations: One and Nine Miles off the Coast
8
year to year, from 1981 through
1986. From 1986 to 1996,
fluctuation from year to year was less
severe. The highest percentage of
hypoxic samples occurred in 1985.
The depressed dissolved oxygen
levels in 1985 were attributed to the
decomposition of the organisms
responsible for the numerous algal
blooms that occurred, the lack of
meteorological events favoring
Figure 9
Dissolved Oxygen Trends - Percent of Bottom Values Below 4 mg/1
Off the New Jersey Coast, 1981 - 1998
a
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15
THE FLOATABLE SURVEILLANCE NETWORK
Observations and Discussion
Floatable surveillance was
conducted from May 19 through
September 13, 1997, and from
May 20 through September 15,
1998
Guidelines for
Reportable Floatable
Slicks
For cleanup purposes, the Short
Term Action Plan defined a
"slick" as an aggregation of
floating debris of indefinite
width and a minimum length of
approximately 400 meters
(USEPA, 1989). Using this as a
guideline, all slicks have been
divided into five categories
(from largest to smallest):
Figure 10
Total Number of Slicks Observed in the NY/NJ Harbor Complex
By Locational Subdivision: Mid May - Mid September, 1997 A 1998
1997
Year
1998
Size Categories for Floatable Debris
Reportable
Major: any slick more (ban I 600 meters in length;
Heavy: 800 meters to 1600 meters;
Moderate: 400 meters to 800 meters;
Non-reportable
Minor: any slick less than 400 meters;
Dispersed: any area that contains a significant amount
of floatables, but no defined slick.
All floatable
observations have
been placed in one
of the five
categories
according to the
slick's estimated
dimensions,
relative density and
other recorded
observations. Any
slick not meeting
the length
requirement that
A slick under the categories of Minor has a relatively heavy density or
Observations
The total number of floatable slicks
declined in 1998 (Table 10). In
1997, seventeen reportable and
thirty-two non-rcportable slicks were
observed. In 1998, six reportable
slicks and one non-reportable slick
were observed.
The highest number of slicks, fifteen,
26.8 percent of the total for both
years, was observed in Newark Bav.
or Dispersed is usually difficult to
detect and maintain a sighting for
purposes of an efficient cleanup.
The categories of slicks are
subjective.
extensive width can be moved up a
category; as any slick with a relative
light density or broken pattern can be
moved down a category.
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16
Floatable Trends
From mid May to mid September,
1989 - 1998, the NY/NJ Harbor
Complex was surveyed for
floatables, six days a week,
weather permitting. For
comparison, data from the last
seven years will be presented.
Size Category
The total number of slicks
observed in the NY/NJ Harbor
Complex was divided into two
categories: 1) slicks meeting
cleanup requirements (reportable)
- major, heavy, and moderate, and
2) slicks not meeting cleanup
requirements (non-reportable) -
minor and dispersed slicks (Figure
11). The sighting of reportable
slicks decreased from 1992 to 1994,
increased significantly in 1995, and
steadily decreased from 1996 to
1998. The increase of minor and
dispersed slicks in 1994, and the
increase of slicks requiring clean-up
in 1995, is partially due to the
Figure 12
Trends of Floatable Observations by Locational Subdivision
NY/NJ Harbor Complex, mid May - mid September. 1992 to 1998
Newatk Biy	I	Kill Van SLnll	I	Arthur K.U1
Upper NY H»it>or	Vcmiuno	Lower NY H»t>or	Expanded Coverage Site*
Locational Subdivision
expanded coverage of the monitoring
area, which began in 1994.
Locational Subdivision
The sighting of slicks generally
decreased over time in the Vcrrazano
Narrows, the Lower New York
Harbor, and the Expanded Coverage
Sites (Figure 12). The sighting of
slicks in the Upper New York
Figure 11
Trends of Floatable Observations in the NY/NJ Harbor Complex
Mid May - Mid September, 1992 - 1998
|j Minor and Disp cried Slicks (<400 m)
Slicks Meeting Clesnup Requirements (>400 m)
Harbor, Newark Bay and the Kill
Van Kull varied from year to year.
The Arthur Kill revealed a peak in
1995 and has declined steadily every
year since. Newark Bay had the
greatest number of slicks, 87,
observed in the seven-year period.
The Lower New York Harbor, with
28 slicks, had the least number of
slicks observ ed
Clean-up
The inter-agency monitoring and
clean-up program, the initiation of
beach and litter cleanup activities,
such as the Clean Streets/Clean
Beaches campaign, and Operation
Clean Shores has contributed to a
decrease in beach closures due to
floatable debris, and a significant
decrease in the number of slicks
observed. In 1997 there were no
beach closures due to floatable
debris. Only one floatable beach
closure incident occurred in 1998.
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17
REFERENCES
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Journal of Public Health. 69:690.
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York, New Jersey and Connecticut: Review and Recommendations", prepared by Interstate Sanitation
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Mahoney, J.B. and J. J. A. McLaughliln, 1977. The Association of Phytoflagellate Blooms in Lower New York Bay
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