SEASONAL VARIATION OF FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA IN CORONA MEADOW LAKE, FLUSHING, NY

Meadow Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park is the largest fishable water body in New York City. The lake connects to 45-acre Willow Lake, which is also open to fishing. Meadow Lake is tidally influenced through a connection to Flushing Bay via Flushing Creek and a network of culverts passable by fish. Anthropogenic activities in the watershed have led to the deposition of contaminants into the lake during major storm runoff resulting in the degradation of the water quality. This study assessed the physical, chemical, and biological parameters in Meadow Lake to determine the extent of anthropogenic activities and compare the seasonal variation of Fecal Indicator Bacteria (FIB). The physical parameters tested were dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, salinity, electrical conductivity (EC), oxidation reduction potential (ORP), temperature and turbidity, measured using the ProDSS multiparameter digital water quality meter. Biological parameters, such as Enterococci, Fecal Coliform, Total Coliform and E.Coli were quantified using the IDEXX method. Sampling was done from two sites within the lake; the recharge site from Willow Lake (40 ⁰ 43’ 46” N, 73 ⁰ 50’ 08” W) and discharge site to Flushing Creek (40 ⁰ 44’ 11” N, 73⁰ 50’ 19” W) during spring and summer. Higher levels of Fecal Coliform (FC), Total coliform (TC), Enterococci and E. Coli concentrations were found in the summer than in the spring season. FC and TC concentrations were greater than 2,420 cfu/100mL, whereas Enterococci concentration was 327 cfu/100mL and E. Coli concentration was 393 cfu/100mL in the summer season. While in the spring season, FC concentration was 24 cfu/100mL, TC concentration was 1,589 cfu/100mL, Enterococci concentration was 15 cfu/100mL and E. Coli concentration was 15cfu/100mL. The FIB as well as physical and chemical constituents varied across the lake because of different land surface factors. This study indicates that the levels of fecal indicator bacteria is strongly affected by the seasons due to higher anthropogenic activities, temperature and frequent rainfalls resulting in major surface runoffs in the summer compared to the spring and consequently causing an apparent degradation of the water quality of the lake.