The Helicopter Monitoring Report
a Report of the New York Bight Water Quality
Summers of 2003 and 2004
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2
Division of Environmental Science and Assessment
2890 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, New Jersey 08837
www.epa.gov/Region2/monitor/nybight/
EPA 902/R-05-001
June 2005
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THE HELICOPTER MONITORING REPORT
a Report of the
NEW YORK BIGHT WATER QUALITY
Summers of 2003 and 2004
"The Bight Report"
Prepared By:
Helen Grebe, Regional Coastal Monitoring Coordinator
Monitoring Operations Section
Approved By:
John Kushwara, 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
June 2005
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The Helicopter Monitoring Report
a Report of the New York Bight Water Quality
Summers of 2003 and 2004
Abstract
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. From May 27, 2003 through August 30, 2003; and from May 27, 2004
through September 7, 2004, water quality monitoring and surveillance activities were carried out
using a helicopter. The monitoring program is comprised of three separate networks; the beach
station network, the perpendicular station network, and the floatable surveillance network.
Results were as follows:
• • A total of 295 samples in 2003 and 234 samples in 2004 was collected at the Long Island
coastal stations, and a total of 301 samples in 2003 and 442 samples in 2004 were
collected at the New Jersey coastal stations, and analyzed for enterococcus densities.
Fecal coliform analyses were conducted in 2003 for the Long Island and New Jersey
coastal samples, but only for the Long Island samples in 2004. In 2004, due to new State
regulations, fecal coliform analyses were dropped from the New Jersey samples. Low
seasonal geometric means were observed at all stations for 2003 and 2004.
• • The dissolved oxygen semi-monthly averages for the New York Bight and New Jersey
coast perpendicular station network, for 2003 and 2004, followed a typical dissolved
oxygen sag curve. The lowest semi-monthly dissolved oxygen averages, 6.0 mg/1 and 6.2
mg/1, occurred in late August of 2003, and in early and late August of 2004, respectively.
Both values are well above the dissolved oxygen guideline considered to be healthy.
• • Only three beach closure incidents occurred in 2003 due to floatable debris. Eleven New
Jersey beaches were closed on July 11, 2003 and two New Jersey beaches were closed on
August 19, 2003. All beaches were closed late in the afternoon and reopened the
following morning. On July 24 and July 25, 2003, a total of five Long Island coastal
beaches were closed due to floatable debris. There were no ocean beach closures along
Long Island coastal waters or the New Jersey coastal waters due to floatable debris in
2004.
Based on the data collected, the New York Bight Apex, and the New Jersey and Long Island
coastal waters had excellent water quality in 2003 and 2004.
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INTKObUCTION
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 coastal shorelines of New York (NY) and New Jersey (NJ).
This report is the twenty-fifth in a
series and reflects data collected from
May 27, 2003 through August 30,
2003; and from May 27, 2004
through September 7, 2004.
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.
This program was initiated in 1974 and incorporated the use of a
helicopter in 1977.
Presently, a modified Twin Star helicopter is used (pictured above).
Pictured to the left is the inside of the helicopter showing the
specially modified sampling well, kemmerer sampler, and a typical
sample bottle. Safety precautions used include wearing a fire
resistant nomex flight suit, seat belt, life vest, and helmet for
unhindered communication and hearing protection.
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SAMPLING AND SURVEILLANCE
Purpose, Procedures and Locations
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 Kemmerer 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 database for STOrage
and RETrieval (STORET).
The monitoring program is composed
of three separate networks.
The beach station
network is sampled to gather
bacteriological water quality
information on swimmability for
comprehensive public health
protection.
Samples are collected once a week at
twenty-six Long Island coastal (LIC)
stations extending from the western tip
of Rockaway Point eastward to
Shinnecock Inlet (Figure 1) and at
forty-four New Jersey coastal (JC)
stations from Sandy Hook to Cape
May (Figure 2). All samples are
collected just offshore in the surf zone
at one meter depth.
Analyses for fecal coliform and
enterococcus bacteria densities are
conducted at the EPA Region 2 Edison
Laboratory.
The perpendicular station
network is sampled to monitor for
bottom dissolved oxygen
concentrations and temperature. These
parameters are used for early detection
of anoxic conditions and trend
analysis.
Nine New Jersey coast (JC)
perpendicular transects extend east one
nautical mile to nine nautical miles off
the coast between Long Branch and
Hereford Inlet, and one New York
Bight (NYB) Apex perpendicular
transect extends east from the southern
end of Sandy Hook (Figure 3).
New Jersey coast perpendicular
stations were sampled at 1, 3, 5, 7, and
9 nautical miles offshore. Historical
New York Bight Apex stations, NYB
20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, were sampled
approximately 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8 nautical
miles off the southern end of Sandy
Hook.
Samples are collected one meter above
the ocean floor, eight to ten times
during the critical summer period. The
dissolved oxygen analyses are
conducted at the EPA Region 2 Edison
Laboratory.
The floatable surveillance
network encompasses overflights
of the New York/New Jersey Harbor
Complex six days a week during the
summer months. This surveillance is
in response to the Short Term Action
Plan for Addressing Floatable Debris,
(USEPA 1989) developed by the
Interagency Floatable Task Force. The
plan was initiated after extensive
garbage washups and beach closures
occurred in 1987 and 1988. The plan's
objectives are 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
are recorded. The information is
reported to a central communication
response network, specifically
established to coordinate cleanup
efforts. Cleanup efforts are conducted
via skimmer boats or vessels by the
Corps of Engineers or the New York
City Department of Environmental
Protection.
For purposes of this report, the New
York/New Jersey Harbor Complex is
defined as the following five
waterbodies: 1) the Arthur Kill; 2)
Newark Bay, as far north as the New
Jersey Turnpike Bridge; 3) the Kill
Van Kull; 4) the Upper New York
Harbor, including the lower portions of
the Hudson River and the East River as
far north as Central Park, New York;
and 5) the Lower New York Harbor
including Gravesend Bay, and the
shoreline of Coney Island as far east as
the Marine Parkway Bridge (Figure 4).
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Shinnecock Inlet East(LIC28)
Shinnecock Inlet West (LIC27)
Tiana Beach (LIC26)
West Hampton Beach (LIC25)
oriches Inlet East(LIC24)
oriches Inlet West (LIC23)
Smith Point County Park (LIC22)
Bellport Beach (LIC21)
Water Island (LIC20)
Cherry Grove(LIC19)
Great South Beach (LIC18)
Long
Island
Figure 1
Long Island Coast
Station Locations
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 (LICQS)
Atlantic Beach (LIC07)
Far Rackaway (LICQS)
Rockaway(LIC04)
Rockaway(LIC03)
Rockaway(LICQ2)
Rockaway Point (LIC01)
-3-
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Figure 2
New Jersey Coast Station Locations
New Jersey
Sandy Hook (JC01A)
Sandy Hook (JC03)
Sandy Hook (JCDS)
Sea BrightCJCOS)
Monmouth Beach (JC11)
Long Branch (JC13)
Long Branch
As bury Park (JC21)
Bradley Beach f'JC24)
Shark River Inlet(JC2'6)
Belmar (JC27)
Spring Lake(JC30)
Spring Lake (JC33)
North Manasquan lnlet(JC35)
South Manasquan InletfJCST)
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 (JC59)
Barnegat(JC61)
Harvey Cedars (JC63)
Ship Bottom (JC65)
Beach H aven Terrace (JC67)
Be ach H aven H e ig hts (J C69)
Brigantine (JC73)
Absecon Inlet (JC74)
Atlantic City (JC75)
Ventnor City (JC77)
Longport(JC79)
'Ocean City (JCS1)
'Peck Beach (JC83)
'Strathmere (JCS5)
Sea Isle CityCJCST)
' Avalon (JC89)
'Hereford Inlet (JC92)
-4-
Beack SampIIiq Locatbif
Mile Beach (JC95)
'Cape May Inlet (JC96)
Cape May CJC97)
Cape May Point(JC99)
10
20 Miles
A
N
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Figure 3
New Jersey and New York Bight Apex
Perpendicular Stations
New Jersey
NYB20's
JC14 - Long Branch
JC27 - Belmar
JC41 -Bay Head
JC53 - Seaside Heights
JC61 - Barnegat
JC69 - Beach Haven
i>© JC75-Atlantic City
JC85 - Strath mere
JC90 -Hereford Inlet
0 4 8 12 16 20 Miles
-5-
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Figure 4
New York Bight Apex
New York/New Jersey Harbor Complex
Long Island
Raritan Bay
Meteric Area
Remediation Site
(H AR S)
Former 12 mile
Sewage Sludge Site
Shrewsbury River
New Jersey
New York Bight Apex
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THE BEACH STA TION NETWORK
Guideline, Criteria and Standards
By determining the bacteriological water quality, one can estimate potential health risks associated with ocean
recreational activities. 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 are present, the likelihood of
pathogens being found is far greater. EPA has issued guidelines for the following indicator organisms:
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 states that fecal coliforms should be used as the
indicator to evaluate the suitability for swimming in
recreational waters, and recommends 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 (USEPA, 1976).
_«*
Promulgation
As of December 16, 2004, EPA has promulgated water quality criteria for coastal and Great Lake waters that have been
designated for swimming, bathing, surfing, or similar water contact activities, and for which the State or Territory did not
have in place EPA-approved bacteria criteria that are as protective of human health as EPA' 1986 recommended bacteria
criteria. New York State coastal and Great Lakes waters were included in this promulgation.
Enterococci
In 1986, EPA issued a criteria guidance document
recommending enterococci and Escherichia coll 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 single sample
maximum of 104 enterococci/100 ml, or 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 (USEPA
1986). The Beaches Environmental Assessment, and
Coastal Health Act of 2000, required coastal States to
adopt the 1986 criteria by April 2004.
NJDEP Surface Water Quality Standards
For the summer of 2003, New Jersey State used fecal coliform standards. For the summer of
2004, New Jersey adopted and implemented the enterococci standard of 104 enterococci/100
ml. New Jersey local officials may close a beach on the basis of a single sample. Local
discretion is allowed up to the point of two consecutive exceedances of 104 enterococci/lOOml,
when closure is required by New Jersey State law (NJDHSS, 2004).
NYSDEC Surface Water Quality Standards
For the summer of 2003, New York State, for its primary contact recreational coastal waters,
allowed 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 (NYSDEC, 1999). In addition to these standards, in the
summer of 2004, for their coastal recreational waters, New York State implemented the
enterococcus criteria consistent with EPA's 1986 criteria.
exceedances
of these
criteria are
immediately
reported to
the proper
state and
local
authorities.
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BACTERIOLOGICAL RESULTS
Each of the 26 Long Island coastal stations and the 44 New Jersey coastal stations was sampled four to eleven times per
year from late May through August. A total of 295 samples in 2003 and 234 samples in 2004 was collected at the Long
Island stations, and atotal of 301samples in 2003 and 442 samples in 2004 was collected at the New Jersey stations. All
samples were analyzed for enterococcus densities, in 2003 and 2004. Fecal coliform analyses were conducted in 2003
for the Long Island and New Jersey coastal samples, but only for the Long Island samples in 2004. In 2004, due to new
regulations, fecal coliform analyses were dropped from the New Jersey samples.
Individual Fecal Coliform Counts
All individual fecal coliform counts for the Long Island and New Jersey coastal stations were below the federal guideline
of 200 fecal coliforms per 100 ml, in 2003. In 2004, all individual fecal coliform counts for the Long Island coastal
stations were below the federal guideline of 200 fecal coliforms per 100 ml.
Individual Enterococcus Counts
Only one enterococcus count per year exceeded the federal single sample maximum of 104 enterococci per 100 ml at the
Long Island coastal stations. The exceedances, 228 and 176 enterococci per 100 ml, occurred at Cedar Island Beach
(LIC16) on August 19, 2003 and Water Island (LIC20) on July 6, 2004, respectively.
Three enterococcus counts exceeded the federal single sample maximum of 104 enterococci per 100 ml at the New
Jersey coastal stations. The exceedances, 105, 120 and 175 enterococci per 100 ml, occurred at Shark river Inlet (JC30)
on May 27, 2003, Long Branch (JC13) on August 27, 2003 and Island Beach State Park (JC59) on July 7, 2004,
respectively.
Bacteriological Trends
Seasonal geometric means were calculated
for each coastal station for the 2003 and
2004 bacteriological results. All seasonal
geometric means were substantially below
fecal coliform and enterococcus
guidelines.
All individual counts that exceeded
bacteriological guidelines for the past ten
years, are presented in Table 1. The
highest occurrence of enterococcus
exceedencies, 12 out of 318 samples (or
3.8 %), occurred at the Long Island
stations, in 1998. The highest occurrence
of fecal coliform exceedencies, 5 out of
567 samples (or 0.8 %), occurred at the
New Jersey stations, in 2000.
Based on these data, the bathing waters of
Long Island and New Jersey are of
excellent quality.
Table 1: Bacteriological Trends 1995 - 2004
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Long Island
Number
of
Samples
269
202
304
318
320
378
337
337
295
234
Number of Values
Exceeding 104
Enter ococci/1 00ml
0
0
0
12
0
0
0
0
1
1
Number of Values
Exceeding 200 Fecal
Coliform/lOOml
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
New Jersey
Number
of
Samples
480
480
452
547
583
567
464
372
301
442
Number of Values
Exceeding 104
Enterococci/lOOml
1
7
1
11
0
5
1
2
2
1
Number of Values
Exceeding 200 Fecal
Coliform/lOOml
1
0
1
1
0
5
0
0
0
*
! New Jersey samples were not analyzed for fecal coliform.
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The Perpendicular Station Network
Dissolved Oxygen Guidelines Discussion and Results
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. As
in previous reports, the following
guidelines will be used (USEPA 1977):
Dissolved Oxygen Guidelines
• *5 mg/1 - healthy
4-5 mg/1 - borderline to healthy
3-4 mg/1 - stressful if prolonged
2-3 mg/1 - lethal if prolonged
< 2 mg/1 - lethal in a relatively
short time
These guidelines are consistent with
EPA's Ambient Aquatic Life Water
Quality Criteria for Dissolved Oxygen
(Saltwater): Cape Cod to Cape Hatter as,
Nov. 2000 (USEPA, 2000).
A total of 128 bottom water samples in 2003 and 311 bottom water samples
in 2004 was collected and analyzed for dissolved oxygen at the New York
Bight (NYB20, 21, 22, 23, 24) and New Jersey coast perpendicular stations
(JC14, 27, 41, 53, 61, 69, 75, 85, 90). Due to inclement weather, small craft
advisories and mechanical difficulties with the helicopter, the 2003 data set
is very limited.
For comparison, five years of bottom dissolved oxygen results are presented
in Table 2. In all five years, the majority of the dissolved oxygen results
was greater than the borderline to healthy guideline of 4 mg/1. There were
no individual dissolved oxygen concentrations below 2 mg/1 in 2001 or
2003. In 2004, only three dissolved oxygen values, or 1.0%, were less than
2 mg/1. The highest percentage of dissolved oxygen values below 2 mg/1,
5.3%, occurred in 2002.
Table 2: Bottom Dissolved Oxygen Results 2000 - 2004
'
Year
>
Total Number of Samples Collected
!
% greater than 5 mg/1
s
% between 4-5
•
% between 3-4
'*
% between 2-3
i
% less than 2 mg/1
2000
350
54.9
20.6
15.1
9.1
0.3
2001
309
49.2
19.1
18.1
13.6
0
2002
301
49.2
19.9
17.6
8.0
5.3
2003
128
88.3
9.4
2.3
0
0
2004
311
85.9
9.6
2.9
0.6
1.0
Figure 5
New Jersey and NYB Perpendiculars, 2000 - 2004
Semi-Month ly Average of Bottom Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations
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3
2004
2002
June
July August
Semi-Monthly
September
Semi-Monthly Averages
The 2003 and 2004 semi-monthly averages of
bottom dissolved oxygen concentrations for
the New York Bight and New Jersey coast
perpendiculars follow a typical dissolved
oxygen sag curve with lows occurring in early
to late August (Figure 5). In 2001, a low
semi-monthly average dissolved oxygen
concentration occurred in late June, with a
steady increase through early September. The
lowest dissolved oxygen semi-monthly
average over the five-year period, 3.2 mg/1,
occurred in late June of 2001.
-9-
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Dissolved
jen Trends
One Mile vs. Nine Miles
With the exception of 1992, average
dissolved oxygen values are 0.3 to 2.2
mg/1 higher nine miles off the coast
than one mile off the coast, from 1992
through 2004 (Figure 6). 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 of 1.2 percent to a
high of 43.8 percent, during the
sampling period of 1981 - 2004
(Figure 7).
Depressed levels fluctuated greatly,
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
Figure 6
New Jersey Perpendiculars, 1992 - 2004
Average Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations: One and Nine Nautical Miles off the Coast
8
(31
ft)
X
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ui
Nine Nautical Miles off the Coast
'92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04
Year
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 7
Dissolved Oxygen Trends - Percent of Bottom Values Below 4 mg/1
Off the New Jersey Coast, 1981 - 2002
!
reaeration, such as substantial winds
and storm activity, and the presence of
a strong thermocline. The below
average dissolved oxygen levels in
1997, 2000, 2001 and 2002 were not as
widespread or persistent as those
encountered in 1985.
Water Quality
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'81 '83 '85 '87 '89 '91 '93 '95 '97 '99 '01 '03
'82 '84 '86 '88 '90 '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04
Year
The 2003 data set was very limited,
however, during the summers of 2003
and 2004, few coastal algal blooms
were observed, strong winds prevailed,
water temperature remained low, there
were numerous storms promoting
reaeration, and no fish kills or adverse
effects were reported.
Due to the decreasing dissolved
oxygen values observed in 2000, 2001
and 2002, these waters have been
listed as impaired and further
investigation of low dissolved oxygen
off the coast of New Jersey is being
conducted by NJDEP.
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THE FLO A TABLE SURVEILLANCE NETWORK
Observations and Discussion
Floatable surveillance was conducted Monday through Saturday, weather permitting, from May 27, 2003 through August
30, 2003; and from May 27, 2004 through September 7, 2004.
Guidelines for Reportable Floatable Debris
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 three
categories (from largest to smallest):
Size Category
For Floatable Debris/Slicks
Major: any slick greater than 1600 meters in length
Heavy: 800 meters to 1600 meters
Moderate: 400 meters to 800 meters
All floatable observations have been placed in one of the three
categories according to the slick's estimated dimensions, relative
density and other recorded observations. The categories of slicks are
somewhat subjective. Any slick just short of the length requirement that has a relatively heavy density or 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.
2003 and 2004 Floatable Observations
A total of twenty slicks was observed in 2003. In 2004,
fifty-eight slicks were observed (Table 3). During the two
year period, the Upper Harbor had the most slicks observed,
twenty, in 2004 and the Lower New York Harbor with one
slick observed in 2003, had the least.
2003 Table 3 2004
to
s
1
8
1
3
2
2
c3
1
1
0
1
0
0
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0
0
0
2
0
Floatable
Observations
Newark Bay
Lower NY Harbor
Upper NY Harbor
Arthur Kill
Kill Van Kull
>
cS
1
3
4
5
1
4
i-H
'v?
1
5
7
0
1
Figure 8
Trends of Floatable Observations in the NY/NJ Harbor
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late May - early September, iy«y - ZUU4
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'89 '91 '93 '95 '97 '99 '01 '03
'90 '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04
ompiex Floatable Observation
I Compilation
I A total of 467 significant slicks was observed
I over a fifteen year period (Table 8). The
I sightings of slicks were variable from year to
year with the most number of slicks, 81
I reported in 1990. The least number of slick
sightings, six slicks, was reported in 1998. For
unknown reasons, there was a significant
increase in slick sights in 2004.
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FLOA TABLE TRENDS
For comparison, data from the last
eleven years will be presented.
Locational Subdivision
The Upper New York Harbor had the
greatest number of slicks, 76, observed
in the eleven-year period. The Kill
Van Kull, with 23 slicks, had the least
number of slicks observed (Figure 9).
During six of the eleven years, the
Upper New York Harbor had the most
number of slicks observed per year.
Size Category
For the eleven-year period, the
majority of slicks observed, 54.3
percent, were in the moderate
category, 29.1 percent were in the
heavy category, and 16.7 percent were
in the major category (Figure 10).
Figure 9
Trends of Floatable Observations by Locational Subdivision
NY/ NJ Harbor Complex, late May - early September, 1994 - 2004
TD
§> 20
'94 '96 '98
'95 '97 '99
Locational Subdivision
Cleanup
Trends of Floatable Obervations by Size Category
NY/NJ Harbor Complex, late May - early September, 1994 - 2004
25
20
15
10 - -
The inter-agency monitoring and cleanup
program, the initiation of beach and litter
cleanup activities, such as the Clean
Streets/Clean Beaches campaign, and
Operations Clean Shores have contributed to a
decrease in beach closures due to floatable
debris, and a significant decrease in the
number of slicks observed, as compared to the
extensive washups in 1987 and 1988. More
information on cleanup activities can be found
in the Floatable Action Plan Assessment
Report 2004 (USEPA, 2004).
Only three beach closure incidents occurred in
2003 due to floatable debis. Eleven New
Jersey beaches were closed on July 11, 2003
and two New Jersey beaches were closed on
August 19, 2003. All beaches were closed late
in the afternoon and reopened the following
morning. On July 24 and July 25, 2003, a total of five Long Island coastal beaches were closed due to flotable debris.
On July 8, 2004, a seven mile long slick was reported off Sandy Hook coastline, however no beaches were closed due to
this slick. There were no ocean beach closures along Long Island coastal waters or the New Jersey coastal waters due to
floatable debris in 2004.
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Moderate
Heavy
Size Category
Major
-12-
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PROMOTING PARTNERSHIPS
The Helicopter Monitoring Program afforded EPA the
unique opportunity to promote partnerships by assisting
other federal and state agencies in the real time collection
of water quality data. With a little extra coordination,
EPA assisted other agencies in collecting data to
complement or maintain objectives for the following
national/state programs:
New Jersey Shellfish
During the data collection for the New Jersey beach
station sampling network, additional samples were
collected for phytoplankton analyses along the New
Jersey coast, and in Raritan/Sandy Hook Bay, Barnegat
Bay, Great Egg Harbor and Delaware Bay.
Phytoplankton identification, quantification and
chlorophyll a enumerations were completed by the New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (NJDEP)
Aquatic Biomonitoring Laboratory of the Bureau of Water Monitoring. This sampling provides early warning of noxious
algal blooms and complements NJDEP's commitment to the National Shellfish Sanitation Program.
Subsets of the phytoplankton samples collected in Barnegat Bay were provided to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service for the identification of the brown tide organism, A. anophagefferens,
in 1999 and 2000. In 2001 through 2004, NJDEP arranged for the identification of A. anophagefferens.
Long Island Shellfish
During the data collection for the Long Island beach station sampling network, additional samples were collected at each
station for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). The NYSDEC's Division of Fish
and Wildlife and Marine Resources Bureau of Marine Resources analyzed the samples for total and fecal coliforms.
These samples help fulfill NYSDEC's commitment to the National Shellfish Sanitation Program.
New Jersey Nutrients
As part of EPA's Performance Partnership Agreement with NJDEP, surface water samples were collected three to four
times each year at 41 stations from Sandy Hook to Cape May, and in Delaware Bay. The samples were analyzed by
NJDEP for chlorophyll, salinity, nitrate, nitrite, ortho-phosphate, ammonia, total nitrogen, and total suspended solids.
Temperature was recorded in the field and dissolved oxygen analyses were conducted by the EPA Edison Laboratory.
The 41 stations are part of NJDEP's 200 Station Network.
Delaware Estuary Nutrients
At the request of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), surface water samples were collected at low slack tide
at four sites along the Delaware River three times during the summer. This sampling started in 2001 and continued in
2002 and 2003. Lack of funding precluded this sampling to continue in 2004. All samples were analyzed by a contract
laboratory for bacteria, algae, metals, dissolved oxygen and organic carbon. This sampling enhanced DRBC's
longstanding water quality sampling program in the Delaware Estuary.
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REFERENCES
Cabelli, V. J. et al. 1979. Relationship of Microbial Indicators to Health Effects at Marine Bathing
Beaches. American Journal of Public Health. 69:690-696.
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS), 2004. New Jersey State Sanitary Code
Chapter iX Public Recreational Bathing, N.J.A.C. 8:26, Authority: N.J.S.A. 26:1A-7 & 26:4A-7,
Effective Date: March 10, 2004, Readoption, April 5, 2004, Amendments, Operative Date:
October 1, 2000, Amendments, Expiration Date: March 10, 2009.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), 1999. Water Quality
Regulations Surface Water and Groundwater Classification and Standards New York State
Codes, Rules and Regulations Title 6, Chapter X Parts 700-706.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 1976. Quality Criteria for Water. Washington, D.C.,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Planning and Standards, EPA
440/9-76/023.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 1977-1995, inclusive. "New York Bight Water
Quality", annual reports, summers of 1977 - 1995, inclusive. Region 2, Edison, NJ.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 1986. Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Bacteria -
1986. Washington, D.C., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Regulations
and Standards Division, EPA 440/5-84-002.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 1989. "Short-term Action Plan for Addressing
Floatable Debris in the New York Bight", prepared by Batelle Ocean Sciences, Contract No. 68-
03-3319, Work Assignment No. 2-147, March 1989.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 1997. "The Helicopter Monitoring Report: A Report
of the New York Bight Water Quality, Summer of 1996". USEPA Region 2, DESA, Edison, NJ,
EPA-902/4-78-501, July 1997.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 1999. "The Helicopter Monitoring Report: A Report
of the New York Bight Water Quality, Summers of 1997 and 1998". USEPA Region 2, DESA,
Edison, NJ, EPA-902/R-99-001, February 1999.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 2000. Ambient Aquatic Life Water Quality Criteria
for Dissolved Oxygen (Saltwater): Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. Washington, D.C., U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, EPA-822-R-00-012, November 2000.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 2002. "The Helicopter Monitoring Report: A Report
of the New York Bight Water Quality, 1999 - 2001". USEPA Region 2, DESA, Edison, NJ,
EPA-902/R-02-001, February 2002.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 2003. "The Helicopter Monitoring Report: A Report
of the New York Bight Water Quality, 2002". USEPA Region 2, DESA, Edison, NJ, EPA-
902/R-03-001, May 2003.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 2004. "Floatable Action Plan Assessment Report
2004". USEPA Region 2, DECA, New York, NY.
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