nys department of environmental conservation update on the niagara river u.s. rap niagara river...

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Update on theNiagara River U.S. RAP

Niagara River Remedial Action Plan

Implementers Session

April 10, 2013

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAP

• Planning process/addressing sediment

• Hydrilla

• Project Updates

Overview

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAPPlanning in the U.S. AOC Program

• Individual AOCs: EPA asked managers to produce detailed action plans by early 2012– To support measurement of progress– As a basis for distributing future funding

• Program-wide: Restoring AOCs remains in the top three priorities in allocating GLRI funding

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAP

• Targeting AOCs that may have an opportunity to delist sooner than others

• Sediment contamination is a significant factor in selecting AOCs to target– Is the extent of contamination known?– Is a plan in place for remediation where

required?

EPA Priority Setting

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAP

• Sediment projects completed at 16 locations, over 300,000 cubic yards removed

• Many projects have addressed potential contamination sources (point sources, hazardous waste sites, etc.)

• Extent of contamination remaining in sediment is not well defined

Status of Niagara River Sediment

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAP

• Late 2011 – NYSDEC requests a federal sediment assessment in the River and lower reaches of tributaries

• Summer 2012 – EPA informs NYSDEC that they have allocated some funding and will begin project

• Shortly afterwards, EPA informs NYSDEC of need for boundary change

Federal Assistance for Sediment

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAP

• 1994 Stage 2 RAP– no defined geographical boundary lines for

the AOC– describes the tributaries and clearly

identifies them as source areas

• Beginning around 2004, EPA mapped all AOC boundaries

Boundaries of the U.S. AOC

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Niagara River

Area of Concern

(U.S. Section)

2005 EPA Mapping

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAP

Source Area Tributaries• Gill Creek• Cayuga Creek• Bergholtz Creek• Little Niagara River• Tonawanda Creek• Ellicott Creek• Two Mile Creek• Rattlesnake Creek• Scajaquada Creek• Lackawanna Ship Canal• Smokes Creek

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAP

• “the geographic locations within the AOCs where there are beneficial use impairments have been referred to as ‘Impacted Areas,’ and the geographic location or areas within the AOCs that cause or contribute to beneficial use impairments have been referred to as the ‘Source Area.’”

• “BUI assessments need not be performed in Source Areas.”

EPA Guidance for Modifying Boundaries

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAP

• The tributary areas will be designated source areas

• The existing AOC (2005 boundaries) designated the Impact Area of Concern

Modifying Boundaries

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAP

• Native to Australia, Asia, Africa• Forms dense surface mats that

can block sunlight and displace native plants

Hydrilla

• Roots in sediment; can grow stems 25-30 feet long• Obstructs boating, swimming and fishing• Blocks water intakes• Any fragment can become a new plant

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAP

• August 2011 – First discovery in New York, Cayuga Lake Inlet in Ithaca

• September 2012 – First confirmed discovery in Western New York, Erie Canal in North Tonawanda

Hydrilla

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAP

• Joint survey last Fall by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NYSDEC and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources – Documented 13.5 miles of infested waters

in the Erie Canal, from North Tonawanda to Lockport

– Found no plants in the Niagara River proper

Hydrilla Response

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAPHydrilla Response

Locations of Infestation

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAP

• Further investigate extent of infestation

• Evaluate treatment options

Hydrilla Response 2013

• Outreach and education has been initiated and will continue through boating season– Recreational boating is the

highest risk vector for spreading to other waters

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAPMotor Island Habitat Improvement Project

Restored natural shoreline features while

providing protection against wave energy and

ice damage

- Construction is complete

- Planting to be completed this Spring

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAPMotor Island Habitat Improvement Project

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAPShoreline Softening Demonstration Needed

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAP

• Assess current loadings from waste sites, point sources, and primary tributaries

• Update previous studies

• Goals: Confirm that point sources are no longer significant Determine whether waste sites are still a contaminant

source Estimate contaminant loadings from primary tributaries Support possible further source trackdown and abatement

Reassessment of Sources of Contamination

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

U.S. Niagara River RAPReassessment of Sources of Contamination

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Contact Information

Mark Filipski

Niagara River AOC Coordinator

NYSDEC

270 Michigan Avenue

Buffalo, New York 14203

716-851-7130

mdfilips@gw.dec.state.ny.us