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Assessment Data for the State of New York Year 2004

National Assessment Database
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Assessing Water Quality (Questions and Answers)

The 2004 National Assessment
Database
(Fact Sheet)

Previous National Water Quality Reports


NOTE:  The data provided in this report differs from the information provided in the original New York State 2004 305(b) report. This is a result of limitations in the New York State Assessment database. This report reflects a single assessment per waterbody, therefore if there is non-attainment for one designated use then all designated uses for the waterbody are identifed as not attained. For a more accurate assessment of individual use attainment for each waterbody please refer to the New York State's Priority Waterbody List reports, available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/23846.html. A summary of use attainment for the entire state is provided in New York State's 2004 305(b) report.

State of New York websites:

No State 305(b) Water Quality Assessment Report is available.
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Total Assessed Waters for the State of New York

Description of this table

Size Of Water
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Water (Square Miles) Inland Lake Shoreline (Miles)
Total Assessed Waters 21,196.60 330,208.40 986.97 117.50 .00 99.00 612.40 .00 .00
Estimated Total Water Size in NY 52,337.00 790,782.00 1,530.00 553.70 Unavailable Unavailable 577.00 Unavailable Unavailable
Percent of Waters Assessed 40.50 41.76 64.51 21.22 Unavailable Unavailable 106.14 Unavailable Unavailable

Assessed Waters of New York by Watershed (8 Digit USGS Cataloging Unit)

Description of this table
Watershed Size of Water
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Water (Square Miles) Inland Lake Shoreline (Miles)
8-digit HUC Name Not Reported 21,196.60 330,208.40 986.97 117.50 .00 99.00 612.40 .00 .00


New York Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Rivers and Streams

Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Miles Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
AESTHETICS 3,364.70 66.72 .00 33.28 color.gifcolor.gif
ALL USES SUPPORT 9,260.40 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
AQUATIC LIFE 8,060.20 64.11 .00 35.89 color.gifcolor.gif
FISH CONSUMPTION 1,043.60 22.90 .00 77.10 color.gifcolor.gif
HABITAT/HYDROLGY 4,561.20 77.43 .00 22.57 color.gifcolor.gif
NO USES ASSESSED 30.00 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
PUBLIC BATHING 819.00 40.13 .00 59.87 color.gifcolor.gif
RECREATION 5,465.20 54.03 .00 45.97 color.gifcolor.gif
WATER SUPPLY 863.20 36.11 .00 63.89 color.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 21,196.60 miles of rivers and streams, or 40.50% of 52,337.00 total miles.

New York Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Rivers and Streams

Description of this table
Attainment Status Miles Percent of Assessed
Good 17,609.60 83.08
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 3,587.00 16.92
Total Miles Assessed 21,196.60 100.00

New York Top Causes of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Miles
Impaired
1 PHOSPHORUS (TOTAL) 1,090.30
2 SEDIMENTATION/SILTATION 916.30
3 BACTERIA, TOTAL COLIFORM 673.70
4 BOD, NITROGENOUS 530.70
5 PRIORITY ORGANICS 370.90
6 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 349.10
7 PH 338.00
8 MERCURY 259.00
9 DEBRIS/FLOATABLES/TRASH 144.80
10 LOW FLOW ALTERATIONS 116.50

New York Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Rivers and Streams

Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Miles Impaired by Source
1 AGRICULTURE 1,077.00
2 STREAMBANK MODIFICATIONS/DESTABLIZATION 707.80
3 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 703.80
4 URBAN RUNOFF/STORM SEWERS 561.70
5 ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - TOXICS 449.10
6 CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS 408.10
7 ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR DECENCENTRALIZED SYSTEMS) 340.10
8 CHANNELIZATION 255.00
9 LANDFILLS 226.20
10 IMPACTS FROM HYDROSTRUCTURE FLOW REGULATION/MODIFICATION 222.10

New York Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Acres Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
AESTHETICS 229,825.30 4.24 .00 95.76 color.gifcolor.gif
ALL USES SUPPORT 13,221.00 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
AQUATIC LIFE 77,803.80 65.59 .00 34.41 color.gifcolor.gif
FISH CONSUMPTION 125,569.90 .03 .00 99.97 color.gifcolor.gif
HABITAT/HYDROLGY 39,869.30 15.17 .00 84.83 color.gifcolor.gif
PUBLIC BATHING 232,590.50 6.22 .00 93.78 color.gifcolor.gif
RECREATION 190,557.40 10.24 .00 89.76 color.gifcolor.gif
WATER SUPPLY 125,369.60 44.50 .00 55.50 color.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 330,208.40 acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs, or 41.76% of 790,782.00 total acres.

New York Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

Description of this table
Attainment Status Acres Percent of Assessed
Good 88,372.50 26.76
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 241,835.90 73.24
Total Acres Assessed 330,208.40 100.00

New York Top Causes of Impairments
for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Acres
Impaired
1 MERCURY 111,485.00
2 PRIORITY ORGANICS 110,950.90
3 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 110,950.90
4 PHOSPHORUS (TOTAL) 78,752.20
5 NON-NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS 42,144.90
6 SEDIMENTATION/SILTATION 32,341.40
7 BACTERIA, TOTAL COLIFORM 11,286.30
8 EXCESS ALGAL GROWTH 11,033.40
9 BOD, NITROGENOUS 3,225.70
10 TEMPERATURE, WATER 2,483.10

New York Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Lakes, Ponds and Reservoirs

Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Acres Impaired by Source
1 ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - TOXICS 110,329.20
2 CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS 101,593.80
3 AGRICULTURE 72,738.30
4 STREAMBANK MODIFICATIONS/DESTABLIZATION 32,315.70
5 URBAN RUNOFF/STORM SEWERS 32,203.70
6 SALT STORAGE SITES 28,170.10
7 ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR DECENCENTRALIZED SYSTEMS) 8,716.60
8 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 5,273.60
9 OTHER SOURCE/NUTRIENT RECYCLING 3,180.70
10 IMPACTS FROM HYDROSTRUCTURE FLOW REGULATION/MODIFICATION 2,483.10

New York Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Bays and Estuaries

Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Square Miles Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
AESTHETICS 168.24 5.63 .00 94.37 color.gifcolor.gif
ALL USES SUPPORT 1.99 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
AQUATIC LIFE 508.26 12.16 .00 87.84 color.gifcolor.gif
FISH CONSUMPTION 922.08 40.76 .00 59.24 color.gifcolor.gif
HABITAT/HYDROLGY .08 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
PUBLIC BATHING 261.47 1.85 .00 98.15 color.gifcolor.gif
RECREATION 365.66 16.40 .00 83.60 color.gifcolor.gif
SHELLFISHING 382.13 51.11 .00 48.89 color.gifcolor.gif
The state assessed 986.97 square miles of bays and estuaries, or 64.51% of 1,530.00 total square miles.

New York Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Bays and Estuaries

Description of this table
Attainment Status Square Miles Percent of Assessed
Good 422.98 42.86
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 563.99 57.14
Total Square Miles Assessed 986.97 100.00

New York Top Causes of Impairments
for Bays and Estuaries

Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Square Miles
Impaired
1 PRIORITY ORGANICS 487.15
2 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 487.15
3 MIGRATORY FISH 356.90
4 BACTERIA, TOTAL COLIFORM 201.83
5 BOD, NITROGENOUS 130.42
6 NITROGEN (TOTAL) 112.12
7 CADMIUM 59.56
8 DEBRIS/FLOATABLES/TRASH 27.87
9 DIOXIN (INCLUDING 2,3,7,8-TCDD) 9.06
10 COPPER 9.06

New York Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Bays and Estuaries

Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Square Miles Impaired by Source
1 OTHER SOURCE/MIGRATORY FISH SPECIES 356.75
2 URBAN RUNOFF/STORM SEWERS 308.15
3 COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 207.56
4 ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - TOXICS 175.29
5 CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS 131.41
6 MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 126.31
7 OTHER SOURCE/BOAT POLLUTION 87.33
8 ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR DECENCENTRALIZED SYSTEMS) 17.68
9 AGRICULTURE 9.32
10 ILLICIT CONNECTIONS/HOOK-UPS TO STORM SEWERS 2.24

New York Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Coastal Shorelines

Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Miles Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
ALL USES SUPPORT 117.50 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
The state assessed 117.50 miles of coastal shorelines, or 21.22% of 553.70 total miles.

New York Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Coastal Shorelines

Description of this table
Attainment Status Miles Percent of Assessed
Good 117.50 100.00
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired .00 .00
Total Miles Assessed 117.50 100.00

New York Top Causes of Impairments
for Coastal Shorelines

No Causes of Impairment Reported.

New York Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Coastal Shorelines

No Probable Sources Reported.


New York Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Wetlands

Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Acres Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
HABITAT/HYDROLGY 99.00 100.00 .00 .00 color.gif
The total size of this water type for the state is not currently available.

New York Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Wetlands

Description of this table
Attainment Status Acres Percent of Assessed
Good 99.00 100.00
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired .00 .00
Total Acres Assessed 99.00 100.00

New York Top Causes of Impairments
for Wetlands

No Causes of Impairment Reported.

New York Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Wetlands

No Probable Sources Reported.


New York Assessed Waters
Individual Use Support for Great Lakes Shoreline

Description of this table
State Designated Use Total Miles Assessed Percent Good Percent Threatened Percent Impaired color.gif% Good
color.gif% Threatened
color.gif% Impaired
AESTHETICS 82.00 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
AQUATIC LIFE 20.00 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
FISH CONSUMPTION 612.40 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
HABITAT/HYDROLGY 20.00 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
PUBLIC BATHING 62.00 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
RECREATION 62.00 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
WATER SUPPLY 40.00 .00 .00 100.00 color.gif
The state assessed 612.40 miles of great lakes shoreline, or 106.14% of 577.00 total miles.

New York Assessed Waters
Water Quality Attainment for Great Lakes Shoreline

Description of this table
Attainment Status Miles Percent of Assessed
Good .00 .00
Threatened .00 .00
Impaired 612.40 100.00
Total Miles Assessed 612.40 100.00

New York Top Causes of Impairments
for Great Lakes Shoreline

Description of this table
# State Cause Name Total
Miles
Impaired
1 PRIORITY ORGANICS 612.40
2 POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 612.40
3 DIOXIN (INCLUDING 2,3,7,8-TCDD) 520.00
4 MIREX 520.00
5 BACTERIA, TOTAL COLIFORM 22.00
6 NUTRIENTS 20.00

New York Top Probable Sources of Impairments
for Great Lakes Shoreline

Description of this table
# State Source Name Total Miles Impaired by Source
1 CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS 572.40
2 ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR DECENCENTRALIZED SYSTEMS) 40.00
3 URBAN RUNOFF/STORM SEWERS 22.00
4 STREAMBANK MODIFICATIONS/DESTABLIZATION 20.00
5 SOURCE UNKNOWN 2.00

New York

Causes of Impairment

Description of this table
State Cause Name Size of Assessed Waters with Listed Causes of Impairment
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Waters (Square Miles) Inland Lake Shoreline (Miles)
AMBIENT BIOASSAYS -- ACUTE  AQUATIC TOXICITY 49.20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
AMMONIA (UN-IONIZED) 30.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
BACTERIA, TOTAL COLIFORM 673.70 11,286.30 201.83 .00 .00 .00 22.00 .00 .00
BOD, NITROGENOUS 530.70 3,225.70 130.42 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CADMIUM .00 6.40 59.56 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHLORDANE 8.60 110.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COPPER 14.80 .00 9.06 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DDT 30.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DEBRIS/FLOATABLES/TRASH 144.80 .00 27.87 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DIELDRIN 8.60 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
DIOXIN (INCLUDING 2,3,7,8-TCDD) 47.40 2,000.00 9.06 .00 .00 .00 520.00 .00 .00
EXCESS ALGAL GROWTH 4.70 11,033.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
FISH-PASSAGE BARRIER .50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LOW FLOW ALTERATIONS 116.50 2,483.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MERCURY 259.00 111,485.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
METALS .00 25.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
METALS/OTHERS .00 .00 8.75 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIGRATORY FISH .00 .00 356.90 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MIREX 45.60 1,715.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 520.00 .00 .00
NITROGEN (TOTAL) .00 .00 112.12 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NON-NATIVE AQUATIC PLANTS .00 42,144.90 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
NUTRIENTS 32.90 .00 3.03 .00 .00 .00 20.00 .00 .00
OIL AND GREASE 2.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PESTICIDES 30.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PH 338.00 1,330.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PHOSPHORUS (TOTAL) 1,090.30 78,752.20 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS 349.10 110,950.90 487.15 .00 .00 .00 612.40 .00 .00
PRIORITY ORGANICS 370.90 110,950.90 487.15 .00 .00 .00 612.40 .00 .00
SEDIMENTATION/SILTATION 916.30 32,341.40 .34 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
TEMPERATURE, WATER 82.60 2,483.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00

New York

Probable Sources Contributing to Impairment

Description of this table
State Source Name Size of Assessed Waters with Probable Sources of Impairment
Rivers, Streams, Creeks (Miles) Lakes, Ponds, Reservoir (Acres) Bays, Estuaries (Square Miles) Coastal Shorelines (Miles) Oceans, Near Coastal Waters (Square Miles) Wetlands (Acres) Great Lakes Shoreline (Miles) Great Lakes Open Waters (Square Miles) Inland Lake Shoreline (Miles)
AGRICULTURE 1,077.00 72,738.30 9.32 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
AGRICULTURE/DUCK FARMS .00 .00 .31 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITON - TOXICS 449.10 110,329.20 175.29 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CHANNELIZATION 255.00 2,011.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS 115.50 2,000.00 207.56 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CONSTRUCTION STORMWATER DISCHARGE (PERMITTED) .00 1,900.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS 408.10 101,593.80 131.41 .00 .00 .00 572.40 .00 .00
ILLICIT CONNECTIONS/HOOK-UPS TO STORM SEWERS .00 .00 2.24 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
IMPACTS FROM HYDROSTRUCTURE FLOW REGULATION/MODIFICATION 222.10 2,483.10 .33 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
INDUSTRIAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE 138.00 .00 .31 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
LANDFILLS 226.20 688.50 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
MUNICIPAL POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES 703.80 5,273.60 126.31 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
ON-SITE TREATMENT SYSTEMS (SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR DECENCENTRALIZED SYSTEMS) 340.10 8,716.60 17.68 .00 .00 .00 40.00 .00 .00
OTHER SOURCE 30.00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OTHER SOURCE/BOAT POLLUTION .00 .00 87.33 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OTHER SOURCE/EQUESTRIAN CLUB .00 .00 .18 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OTHER SOURCE/MIGRATORY FISH SPECIES .00 .00 356.75 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
OTHER SOURCE/NUTRIENT RECYCLING .00 3,180.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
PRIVATE/COMM/INST 93.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SALT STORAGE SITES 107.90 28,170.10 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
SOURCE UNKNOWN 30.00 12.80 .00 .00 .00 .00 2.00 .00 .00
STREAMBANK MODIFICATIONS/DESTABLIZATION 707.80 32,315.70 .00 .00 .00 .00 20.00 .00 .00
UNKNOWN SOURCE/SEWAGE INPUT .00 .00 .37 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00
URBAN RUNOFF/STORM SEWERS 561.70 32,203.70 308.15 .00 .00 .00 22.00 .00 .00
WATERFOWL .00 2,329.40 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00

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