WATER QUALITY MONITORING IN THE HEADWATERS OF THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER, OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK, MAY TO OCTOBER, 2008

The Susquehanna River flows 715 km from Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, New York, to the Chesapeake Bay. To improve the water quality of the bay, the EPA has specified total maximum annual loads for nitrogen, phosphorous, and land-based sediment measured at the New York/Pennsylvania boarder which New York State must comply with by 2011. This study monitored a 45-km-section of the Susquehanna between Cooperstown and Unadilla to identify the primary sources of nutrients, sediments, and other contaminants within the headwaters. Potential contamination sources include dairy farms, a septic system for a summer camp, an urban watershed, and a wastewater treatment plant. Five tributaries also join the river along this section which may contribute to total loads: Oaks Creek, Cherry Valley Creek, Schenevus Creek, Charlotte Creek, and Otego Creek. We selected 21 sites to observe the affect of these inputs and monitored these sites weekly over a 12-week period between May and August 2008, with additional sampling in September and October. Laboratory and field analyses included total suspended sediments, nitrate, ammonia, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, fecal coliforms, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen. Preliminary data from May 2008 indicated that runoff from the urban watershed had double the electrical conductivity observed at other sites which suggests high concentrations of dissolved solids. Concentrations of suspended sediment in Otego Creek were twice as high as other tributaries. River water immediately downstream of the Oneonta wastewater treatment plant had the highest concentrations of nutrients observed. Schenevus Creek and the urban watershed (City of Oneonta) also showed elevated concentrations of nutrients. These data will be used to pinpoint the most significant contamination sources and to improve watershed management strategies within the headwaters.