Water-Monitoring Report, November 19, 2008

Transcription

1 Water-Monitoring Report, November 19, 2008 Below is a copy of the sampling report update for Hempstead Harbor through November 5 for the 2008 water-monitoring season. The narrative and data are provided by: Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor P.O. Box 159 Sea Cliff, NY cshh@optonline.net This program is funded by the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee Our final sampling date for the season was November 5, although two other surveys were conducted in addition to our regular weekly water monitoring. With NYSDEC s permission, on Friday, October 10, 2008, we made a special trip to try to check on the status of clam and oyster seeds that were distributed in Hempstead Harbor the year before, on October 9, We were accompanied by two baymen, Bill Fetzer and Craig Oddo, from the North Oyster Bay Baymen s Association, who volunteered their time to help us with this task. Unfortunately, we were unable to find clams and oysters that we could identify as from last year s seeding program. We had intended to make another trip to survey the area but were prevented from doing so because of weather and scheduling problems. A full report will be provided to DEC of our findings, and this will be included in our 2008 annual report. On November 12, 2008, after discussions with NYSDEC about the potential for expanding efforts to open shellfish beds in Hempstead Harbor, we toured stations in both the upper- and lower- harbor that NYDEC had set up in 1988 for water sampling. Our goal was to check out station accessibility and record GPS points in preparation for possible sampling next season. More detailed information will also be included in the upcoming annual report. Correction: In the last report, the last sampling date was incorrectly stated as October 21; the correct date is Wednesday, October 22. NOVEMBER 5 NYS DEC staff members Sarah Deonorine and Bill Spitz accompanied us so that they could become more familiar with points around the harbor and our monitoring program. Although the wind was low (about 4 kts from the NE to start), during the entire monitoring period, there was 100% cloud cover with rain forecasted for the afternoon. The wind picked up to about 17 kts at CSHH #2 and then slowed to about 6-7 kts for stations at the entrance of and within Glen Cove Creek, varying between E and NE. The tide was outgoing, with high tide at about 4:30 pm, so we did not survey lower-harbor stations. Only 1 mm of rain fell with 48 hours of monitoring, with no other accumulation for the preceding week. Temperature and DO Air temperature ranged between about 15 C and 16 C throughout the sampling period. Water temperature was at about 13 C at both the surface and bottom. DO levels were at about 7-9 ppm at the surface for the upperharbor stations sampled and at 6-8 ppm at bottom, except at CSHH#13, for which bottom DO was at about 5 ppm. Color and Clarity Water color was judged to be a normal green and very clear. Secchi depths ranged between 1.5 m and 2.5 m (turbidity-meter levels were NTUs at a half meter below the surface and NTUs at the station Secchi depths). Observations Wildlife A few shrimp were hanging on and around the main dock at Tappen Marina. No comb jellies were noted. About 5 dozen Canada geese were noted in addition to 14 ducks, 1 cormorant, and 13 swans, and 1 blue heron. Human One small barge was traveling into the lower harbor; the large Gladsky crane was pulled out from the marina, where it had been for most of the season, and other barges and equipment were being moved from the area one barge was leaving the harbor. Fourteen barges were moored off of the Pt. Washington gravel operation and another barge was by the shore loaded with gravel and tied to a tugboat. Two Rason barges were in Glen Cove Creek. One sailboat was in the harbor. Fishermen were fishing off of the Bar Beach pier. OCTOBER 31 Because of high winds and waves, monitoring was postponed until Friday, October 31. It was clear with no measurable wind at the start and then up between 5 and 9kts from the NW. Because of the tidal cycle (high tide 1

2 at about 1:30 pm), we were not able stations in the lower harbor. Although there had been no rainfall in the preceding 48 hours, total accumulation for the preceding week was 71.5 mm for two events (on 10/25, 26.5 mm, and on10/28, 45 mm). Temperature and DO Air temperature at the start of the sampling period was a chilly 6.8 C and warmed to about 10 C by the end of the sampling period. Water temperature was C at the surface and about C at the bottom for all stations. CSHH #2, the station closest to the sound and with the deepest water, had the highest water temperature, which was nearly uniform from surface to bottom. DO levels were 7-9 ppm at the surface for all stations; bottom DO was at 6-9 ppm. Color and Clarity Water color was judged to be a normal green and surprisingly clear for the amount of wind that had stirred things up. Secchi depths ranged between 1.5 m and 2.0 m (turbidity-meter levels were NTUs at a half meter below the surface and NTUs at the station Secchi depths). Observations Wildlife Only the swans (12) were in view along with a few seagulls. Human Four Gladsky barges and the large crane were near the Gladsky marina; a fuel barge and tug were at the Mobil Terminal; 25 barges were at anchored by the Port Washington gravel operation; 1 tug and barge were at Bell 6; 2 barges were being unloaded in Glen Cove Creek. Three powerboats were noted in the harbor along with the Nassau County Marine Police boat leaving Tappen Marina. One two-person scull was near Bell 6. Duck blind in Mott s Cove dressed for autumn! 2

3 CSHH #1 - Beacon 11 11/5/ / :55 10/31/ / :30 10/21/ / :55 10/15/ / :45 10/8/ / :45 10/2/ / :30 9/24/ / :45 9/17/ / :34 9/10/ :30 9/3/ :45 8/27/ :45 8/20/ :35 8/13/ :45 8/7/ :45 7/30/ :30 7/16/ :00 7/9/ :36 7/2/ :25 6/25/ :47 6/19/ :50 6/11/ :45 5/21/ :07 5/14/ :15 CSHH #2 - Bell Marker 6 11/5/ / :35 10/31/ / :05 10/21/08 Station abandoned because of wind and waves. 10/15/ / :15 10/8/ / :27 10/2/08 ABANDONED STATION BECAUSE OF WIND AND WAVES. 9/24/ / :15 9/17/ / :05 9/10/ :00 9/3/ :10 8/27/ :25 8/20/08 Station abandoned because of wind and waves. 8/13/ :18 8/7/ :22 7/30/ :15 7/16/ :36 7/9/ :17 7/2/ :25 6/25/ :15 6/19/ :30 6/11/ :35 5/21/08 Engine problems prevented monitoring at all stations. 5/14/ :45 CSHH #3 - Glen Cove Creek, Red Marker 11/5/ :05 10/31/ / :30 10/21/ :25 10/15/ :40 10/8/ / :55 10/2/ :10 9/24/ :43 9/17/ :35 9/10/ :25 9/3/ :37 8/27/ :50 Page 1 of 3

4 8/20/ :55 8/13/ :40 8/7/ :40 7/30/ :45 7/16/ :00 7/9/ :45 7/2/ :50 6/25/ :45 6/19/ :10 6/11/ :00 5/21/ :45 5/14/ :15 CSHH #8 - Glen Cove Sewage Treatment Plant Outfall 11/5/ / :40 10/31/ / :00 10/21/ / :55 10/15/ / :08 10/8/ / :15 10/2/ / :45 9/24/ / :05 9/17/ / :05 9/10/ :45 9/3/ :00 8/27/ :05 8/20/ :40 8/13/ :10 8/7/ :18 7/30/ :10 7/16/ :13 7/9/ :13 7/2/ :15 6/25/ :16 6/19/ :40 6/11/ :50 5/21/ :15 5/14/ :45 CSHH #13-60' West of the Mill Pond Weir 11/5/ / :05 10/31/ / :10 10/21/ / :18 10/15/ / :30 10/8/ / :43 10/2/ / :02 9/24/ / :30 9/17/ / :25 9/10/ / :00 9/3/ :20 8/27/ :30 8/20/ :05 8/13/ :30 8/7/ :35 7/30/ :30 7/16/ :41 7/9/ :30 7/2/ :35 6/25/ :30 6/19/ :00 6/11/ :15 Page 2 of 3

5 CSHH #4 - Bar Beach Spit 10/15/ :00 8/27/ :05 7/30/ :50 7/16/ :16 7/2/ :45 CSHH #5 - Mott's Cove 10/15/ :15 8/27/ :50 7/30/ :10 7/16/ :35 7/2/ :05 CSHH #6 - East of Former Incinerator Site 10/15/ :28 8/27/ :35 7/30/ :30 7/16/ :53 7/2/ :28 CSHH #7 - West of Bryant Landing (formerly site of oil dock) 10/15/ / :50 8/27/ :15 7/30/ :45 7/16/ :05 7/2/ :40 x Page 3 of 3