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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
