'Micropollutant' Sampling and the 8 Bridges Swim: Highlights from the June Patrol
June 13, 2015
We crossed paths with Launch 5 and the 8 Bridges swimmers during the 19.8-mile leg of the swim between the Bear Mountain and Tappan Zee bridges. Here, swimmers jump in the Hudson River, which we didn’t get to witness directly, but is too joyful a photo not to share. (Photo courtesy Greg Porteus/Launch 5)
Catch of the day: Emma nets a fire extinguisher. (Photo by Dan Shapley/Riverkeeper)
Carol and Jen rig a bottle to a pole for sampling associated with a partner project. We're gathering samples for "micropollutant" analysis by Cornell University professor Damian Helbling, along with samples for Enterococcus, DNA and optical brightener analysis by our science advisers, Dr. Greg O'Mullan of CUNY Queens College and Dr. Andrew Juhl of Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Micropollutants include pharmaceuticals, personal care products and pesticides. This year's sampling is an initial survey, with hopes that more intensive studies will follow. (Photo by Dan Shapley/Riverkeeper)
Carol dips a bottle to gather a sample that will be analyzed for "micropollutants" in the water. In Helbling's words: "Monitoring studies aimed at assessing water quality and environmental risk from micropollutants are challenging to implement due to the large number of potential pollutants to measure and the spatial and temporal variability at which micropollutants occur in surface water. This research will address the former challenge by employing a state-of-the-art analytical technique that yields quantitative (concentration) and qualitative data (presence/absence) on comprehensive lists of micropollutant classes such as pharmaceuticals or herbicides." (Photo by Dan Shapley/Riverkeeper)
A sample that will be analyzed for optical brighteners pauses for a portrait with the Hudson Highlands as backdrop. Optical brighteners -- what "makes whites whiter" in detergents -- can be a tool to understand where effluent from homes is in the river. Where high levels of both optical brighteners and Entero are found together, it's more likely there's a source of untreated sewage. (Photo by Dan Shapley/Riverkeeper)
Emma grabs a sample we'll analyze for Enterococcus concentrations. We've processed roughly 5,000 samples of water as part of our ongoing survey of Entero in the Hudson, and the data is publicly available at riverkeeper.org/water-quality. Where there's entero, it's likely there are pathogens associated with sewage or other fecal contamination. Over time, we've learned a lot about factors that influence when and where it's best for swimmers like the 8 Bridge swimmers to enter the water. The open water, away from the shore, where they swim, tends to be a better bet than the shore, for instance. (Photo by Dan Shapley/Riverkeeper)
Think you can avoid swimming where there's a sewage treatment plant outfall? Think again. This is the outfall for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. There's no pipe visible, just a disturbance at the surface that isn't always apparent at all. (Photo by Dan Shapley/Riverkeeper)
Hands-free patrolling! Emma is an experienced pilot, freeing John to make observations of derelict barges, quarry discharges, decrepit railroad bridges and more. (Photo by Dan Shapley/Riverkeeper)
This is the railroad bridge that was the focus of a Riverkeeper investigation into the deteriorating state of bridges used by CSX to transport crude oil in New York State. Another month has passed with no evidence of repairs visible. (Photo by Dan Shapley/Riverkeeper)
"Riverkeeper's other boat" -- Capt. John's favorite joke (at least that's fit to print). (Photo by Dan Shapley/Riverkeeper)
The southbound historic tugboat Cornell transports a big load, including the diminutive steam tug owned by Bryce Kirk. Watch or read an interview with "Capt. Kirk," who died the night Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012, at Hudson River Heritage. (Photo by Dan Shapley/Riverkeeper)
Nothing makes this team smile like cleaning up the Hudson River. Our team meetings aboard the boat include wide-ranging discussions, from advocacy strategy to quality assurance and control for our sampling program. I for one feel very fortunate to work with such a great team. (Photo by Dan Shapley/Riverkeeper)
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Water quality monitoring
Riverkeeper is the go-to source for information about the quality of the water along the Hudson River and its tributaries
Emerging and unregulated contaminants
Toxic chemicals can harm the health of people, wildlife, aquatic ecosystems
Remediating and preventing contamination
Cleaning up decades of pollution and preventing more requires scientific understanding, targeted legal action, and sustained advocacy