Water Resources |
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The aquatic resources of Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites consist of a wide variety of palustrine and tidal riverine systems. Identification of these resources has been completed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service (National Wetlands Inventory, 1989) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Additional wetlands have been identified but need to be delineated and mapped. Approximately 4.35 miles of streams, 14 acres of permanent ponds, 40 acres of non-tidal wetlands, and numerous small, unmapped vernal pools and intermittent stream are found in the park. A 25 acre tidal marsh lies between the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt NHS and the Hudson River. The park embarked upon a simple water quality monitoring program in 1994. Basic data such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and conductivity is being collected at all three sites on a monthly basis. Data on additional parameters, including chloride, alkalinity, phosphate, turbidity, and nitrate are being collected quarterly. Starting in 1998, this work is being contracted to a laboratory to assure reliable test results. No water quantity information (i.e., discharge, flow rates) was collected by PQA at ELRO in 1979, and none was available from other agencies or organizations. However, a bathymetric study of the impounded portion of Fall-Kill Creek was conducted by Pandullo-Quirk Associates in 1979 and by NPS in 1986. Water quantity data is not available for Vanderbilt Mansion NHS or for the Home of FDR NHS, except for a bathymetric study of the Roosevelt's Ice Pond was conducted by the NPS in 1986. The DEC is the agency responsible for protecting and regulating water resources in New York State. Under State law, water bodies must meet specific water quality criteria based on their rating in a classification system. All waters in the park are classified as Class C (suitable for fish propagation and fishing) or Class D (suitable for fishing). There is a lengthy formal procedure established to upgrade a stream's classification system. At present, all park streams currently rated Class D have been proposed for upgrading to Class C. The park area with the most complete set of data (Pandullo-Quirk Associates 1979) is Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site; unfortunately, this data is eleven years old and may now be significantly changed. While the 1979 data was not collected in a way in order to provide evidence to justify a classification upgrade, at the time of collection Fall-Kill Creek met the water quality standards for Class A streams (suitable for drinking and all other uses). Any effort to upgrade stream classification would require additional data collection. No systematic water quality projects have been completed at HOFR or VAMA. Water quality in the park is considered good overall. The major potential polluters of park waters are the Hyde Park municipal water treatment plant on Crum Elbow Creek, septic discharges from nearby homes, salt used in road maintenance, agricultural runoff, and the release of toxic material from industrial or commercial facilities. Contamination of private wells along Haviland Road (north of Val-Kill) by benzene has occurred. It is possible that the material could enter either the natural or domestic water supplies at Val-Kill. There are currently no water quantity issues within the park. Flow levels are adequate to preserve natural processes and cultural features. There are no known flow reductions by upstream landowners.
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National Park Service 4097 Albany Post Road Hyde Park, NY 12538 Last updated: February 16, 2001 http://www.nps.gov/hofr/nr_water.html Author: ROVA Webmaster |
