EFFECTS OF LAND-USE ON WATER QUALITY IN RONDOUT CREEK, ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK

Various land uses such as agriculture, urban development, industry, and recreational activities can drastically affect the quality of water. Water is a necessary resource for ecological, industrial, agricultural and residential uses. This study focuses on such land uses and its impact on the water resources of Ulster County particularly in and around the Rondout Creek. This localized information will serve as a baseline for any future development of Ulster County and will be provided to the general public in a GIS database format. Twenty samples were collected over a three-week time period and analyzed for environmental parameters such as dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, temperature, total organic carbon (TOC) and the concentration of various ions. The HACH™ kit as well as the Dionex™ 3000 Ion Chromatograph and various GIS software were used to conduct the analysis. Several relationships as well as possible sources of contamination were found. A strong relationship between increased conductivity and the introduction of the Wallkill River to the Rondout Creek was observed as well as elevated concentrations of most common ions at the same location. Inverse relationships between dissolved oxygen and nitrate as well as dissolved oxygen and soluble iron were also observed. A direct relationship between the Kingston sewage treatment effluent and higher than normal phosphate and ammonium levels was observed. TOC levels indicated differing forms of land-use and one particular location displayed exceptionally high chlorine, calcium, soluble iron, and pH measurements.