2007 Water Quality Study by Darrin Fresh Water Institute

Acknowledgements

The current project was conducted under a grant from the Great Sacandaga Lake Advisory Council through the Great Sacandaga Lake Association. The authors would like to thank Robert Monacchio for his assistance throughout the project; coordinating lake access, providing fish specimens and assistance with sample collection. We would also like to thank Mr. William Christman of the Great Sacandaga Lake Association for his assistance in development of the current project.

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At the request of the Great Sacandaga Lake Association and the Great Sacandaga Lake Advisory Council, the Darrin Fresh Water Institute (DFWI) collected water samples to evaluate bacterial water quality and fish specimens to determine metal contaminants in gamefish in Great Sacandaga Lake. The project was a one-year program designed to largely duplicate the lake water quality study of Rowell (1996) conducted in 1991 - 1995. The objective of the Rowell study was to develop a longitudinal baseline assessment of bacterial water quality, determine the concentration of selected metal contaminants in Great Sacandaga Lake gamefish and gather some basic water quality data. The DFWI program was designed to take advantage of other water quality assessments, including water quality and plankton studies by Mills et al. (2004) and the ongoing water chemistry data collections by association volunteers and the Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI 2006).

The Great Sacandaga Lake Coliform Monitoring Program (GSLCMP) was composed of two activities. Baseline bacterial water quality was sampled at 9 locations (Figure 1) monthly from May thru October, 2007. The data was collected for comparison to similar collections taken from 1991 thru 1995 by Rowell (1996). The second component of the GSLCMP collected water samples from suspected contamination sources throughout the lake basin. The purpose of these collections was to locate possible sources of bacterial contamination to Great Sacandaga Lake and provide the information, in a timely fashion, to local and state regulatory agencies for remedial action. Twelve to 15 shoreline locations were sampled during each biweekly sampling cycle. Sample collection began in mid-June and concluded the first week in September 2007, for a total of nine sampling dates. The time interval coincides with the period of maximum population density and intensity of recreational use. Two primary measurements were made for each sample: Total Coliform (TC) and Fecal Coliform (FC) Bacteria. These bacteria serve as indicators of the presence of animal or human waste. The presence of elevated levels of

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these bacteria indicate potentially disease-causing protozoans, bacteria and other microorganisms may be present in the water.

All samples were collected according to NYS DOH protocols for contact recreation sampling. Samples were collected in sterile containers provided by the DFWI laboratory which is certified nationally and by New York State for environmental bacterial testing (NELAC Lab ID # 10719). Samples were collected in water depths of approximately 1

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meter. Sample bottles were submerged to a depth of 0.5 meters and inverted to fill with care taken to not collect surface films. All samples were stored on ice and returned to the laboratory within 6 hours of collection. All bacterial analyses were conducted at the DFWI laboratory in Bolton Landing, NY.

Sampling sites were chosen in consultation with the Great Sacandaga Lake Association (GSLA), Great Sacandaga Lake Advisory Council (GSLAC), DEC, towns and villages, other regulatory agencies and citizens groups. Had contamination issues occurred, DFWI personnel were prepared to attempt to assist the local regulatory authorities with location of bacterial sources, working closely with the county and local authorities to locate and correct sources of contamination. Follow-up investigations by the NYS Department of Health, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and county and local government personnel are encouraged at sites with elevated fecal coliform levels, however in 2007 at Great Sacandaga Lake, no such conditions occurred.

New York State Department of Health has determined maximum allowable bacterial levels for contact recreation (swimming, wading, etc.). A table of these bacterial concentrations is included (Table 1). When these maximum bacterial levels are exceeded, the New York State Department of Health is empowered to close the location to bathing until the problem or problems are corrected. These levels are used by the DFWI to determine appropriate responses to various bacterial concentrations found during sampling. A table of these responses is included (Table 2).

Interpretation of data to determine and locate sources of contamination (human or other warm-blooded animal) requires more than just current bacterial levels. A knowledge of past history of the site, weather, geology of the area, drainage patterns, and some

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information on human activities in the area are also useful. To differentiate between human waste and that produced by other warm-blooded animals, it is sometimes helpful to refer to the ratio of fecal coliform to fecal streptococcus bacteria (FC/FS). An FC/FS ratio of 4 or greater is generally considered indicative of contamination of human origin. Fecal Streptococcus (FS) Bacteria abundance will be determined for any resample locations.

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   1. 2. If 400 or more fecal coliform bacteria per 100 milliliters are reported, the site will be resampled within 24 to 48 hours. The data for both samples will be reported to the town or village where the contamination is located.

    

Reporting for the GSLCMP took the form of biweekly interim reports provided electronically to project cooperators. Cooperators included state and local regulatory agencies (NYSDEC, HRBRRD), town and village authorities and concerned local citizens. Rapid dissemination of bacterial testing results is key to effective remediation.

For all fish collected, species was recorded, total length measured and approximate location of catch reported. Specimens were then placed in individually labeled plastic bags and stored on ice prior to return to the DFWI labs where all specimens were frozen. A total of 27 fish were collected by angling on June 16, 2007. Frozen specimens were delivered to Northeast Analytical Labs on June 27, 2007. It should be noted that this is the same laboratory used by Rowell. The current program tested standard fillets rather than whole fish as fillets better represent the portion of fish consumed. Each fish specimen was filleted by Northeast Analytical Labs and the resultant sample was tested for chromium, cadmium, lead and mercury by ICP as per standard test procedures.

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Rowell (1996) collected samples over a 5 year period (1991 - 1995), for enumeration of Total and Fecal Coliform bacteria in near-shore waters around the perimeter of Great Sacandaga Lake. Nine (9) sampling locations (Figure 1) were chosen and spaced roughly equidistant around the perimeter of the lake. The sites were sampled at approximately monthly intervals from May thru November, with four to six samples collected from each location annually. The 2007 program duplicated these sites and sampling frequency, collecting samples at all 9 sites monthly from May thru October, for a total of 54 samples. As per recommendations in the Rowell report, only results from 1993 thru 1995 are used for comparision to 2007 data. The entire 2007 bacterial dataset is included in Appendix A with maps showing the locations for all samples collected provided as Appendix B.

The Fish House sampling site or Site 1 was located in the Town of Northampton adjacent to the cemetery. Bacterial levels at this location were routinely low in 2007 and typical of background levels observed throughout the region. Total coliform bacterial counts never exceeded 40 colonies/100ml and fecal coliform bacterial counts never exceeded 10 colonies/100ml. Comparing current average levels of total and fecal coliform bacteria to historical results (Figure 2), shows little change over time.

Figure 2. Comparison of bacterial abundance in 2007 to historical data for

the Fish House sampling location.

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The Sacandaga Bible Conference sampling location or Site 2 was located adjacent to the swimming beach at the Sacandaga Bible Conference in the Town of Broadalbin. All bacterial results for this location were acceptable for contact recreation by NYS DOH standards. Total coliform bacterial counts averaged 17 colonies/100ml and fecal coliform bacterial averaged 10 colonies/100ml. Bacterial results for 2007 were generally lower than historical levels (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Comparison of bacterial abundance in 2007 to historical data for

the Sacandaga Bible Conference sampling location.

The Sunset Bay sampling location or Site 3 was located at the association swimming area in Sunset Bay in the Town of Mayfield. Sunset Bay mean bacterial levels in 2007 were substantially higher than historical values (Figure 4). A single sample however, produced bacterial levels approaching actions levels. This sample was collected in October of 2007 when large numbers of Canada geese were roosting at this location. The short-term effects of migratory waterfowl on bacterial contaminant levels have been well documented. Total coliform bacterial counts averaged 133 colonies/100ml and fecal coliform bacterial averaged 66 colonies/100ml. Excluding the one elevated result, mean bacterial levels for 2007 were 14 and 4 respectively for total and fecal coliform, and generally lower than historical levels.

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Figure 4. Comparison of bacterial abundance in 2007 to historical data for

the Sunset Bay sampling location.

The State Boat Launch sampling location or Site 4 was located at the NYS DEC campground in the Town of Northampton. Total coliform bacterial counts averaged 12 colonies/100ml and fecal coliform averaged 6 colonies/100ml for 2007. All bacterial results for this location were acceptable for contact recreation by NYS DOH standards. Bacterial results for 2007 were generally lower than historical levels (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Comparison of bacterial abundance in 2007 to historical data for

the State Boat Launch sampling location.

The Seven Hills Beach sampling location or Site 5 was located at the foot of Lakeview Avenue in the Town of Northampton. All bacterial results for this location were acceptable for contact recreation by NYS DOH standards. Total coliform bacterial

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counts averaged 9 colonies/100ml and fecal coliform averaged 3 colonies/100ml for 2007. Bacterial results for 2007 were generally lower than historical levels (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Comparison of bacterial abundance in 2007 to historical data for

the Seven Hills Beach sampling location.

The Batchellerville Bridge sampling location or Site 6 was located at the foot of bridge in the Town of Edinburgh. All bacterial results for this location were acceptable for contact recreation by NYS DOH standards. Total coliform bacterial counts averaged 12 colonies/100ml and fecal coliform bacterial averaged 5 colonies/100ml for 2007. Bacterial results for 2007 were comparable to or lower than historical levels (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Comparison of bacterial abundance in 2007 to historical data for

the Batchellerville Bridge sampling location.

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The Conklingville Dam sampling location or Site 7 was located at the public access site adjacent to Conklingville Dam in the Town of Hadley. All bacterial results for this location were acceptable for contact recreation by NYS DOH standards. Total coliform bacterial counts averaged 6 colonies/100ml and fecal coliform averaged 2 colonies/100ml for 2007. Bacterial results for 2007 were comparable to or lower than historical levels (Figure 8).

Figure 8. Comparison of bacterial abundance in 2007 to historical data for

the Conklingville Dam sampling location.

The Saratoga County Boat Launch sampling location or Site 8 was located at the public boat launch in the Town of Day. All bacterial results for this location were acceptable for contact recreation by NYS DOH standards. Total coliform bacterial counts averaged 32 colonies/100ml and fecal coliform bacterial averaged 7 colonies/100ml for 2007. Bacterial results for 2007 were comparable to or lower than historical levels (Figure 9).

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Figure 9. Comparison of bacterial abundance in 2007 to historical data for

the Saratoga County Boat Launch sampling location.

The Day Center sampling location or Site 9 was located off a small peninsula approximately 1.5 miles northeast of the Saratoga County Boat Launch in the Town of Day. All bacterial results for this location were acceptable for contact recreation by NYS DOH standards. Total coliform bacterial counts averaged 19 colonies/100ml and fecal coliform bacterial averaged 9 colonies/100ml for 2007. Bacterial results for 2007 were comparable to historical levels (Figure 10).

Figure 10. Comparison of bacterial abundance in 2007 to historical data for

the Day Center sampling location.

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The Great Sacandaga Lake Coliform Monitoring Program (GSLCMP) collected 150 water samples from 81 sample points throughout the lake basin (Appendices A & B). From 12 to 15 shoreline locations were sampled during each biweekly sampling cycle. Sampling efforts focused on locations used for contact recreation (e.g. swimming or wading), marina locations or locations likely to produce bacterial contamination such as population centers, runoff sites or agricultural areas. Sample collection was evenly distributed between these sample types (Figure 11). The GSLCMP began in May and

Figure 11. Distribution of sampling sites.

concluded in September 2007. The time interval coincides with the period of maximum population density and intensity of recreational use.

For all samples collected, 75% of samples had fecal coliform levels less than 10 colonies per 100 ml and 99% of samples had fecal coliform levels less than 100 colonies per 100 ml. For total coliform, 91% of samples had levels less than 100 colonies per 100 ml and 95% of samples were less than 200 colonies per 100 ml of sample. None of the samples collected in 2007 approached contact recreation limits for single samples or station averages. All indications are that the water quality of Great Sacandaga Lake exceeds all standards for swimming or wading.

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The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) issues advisories on eating sportfish and game because some of these foods contain chemicals at levels that may be harmful to human health (www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/outdoors/fish/fish.htm). In their latest advisories, the DOH recommends eating no more than 1 meal per month of smallmouth bass and walleye taken from Great Sacandaga Lake. Rowell (1996) tested 6 fish, 4 rock bass, 1 walleye pike, and 1 other fish; an extremely small sample size. Even with the small sample size, they did not report a concern with any of the metals tested (Table 3). They chose to test whole fish, however metals are known to accumulate primarily in muscle tissue. In 2005, NYS DOH analysed 3 gamefish species (smallmouth bass, walleye pike and yellow perch) from Great Sacandaga Lake for mercury content (Table 4). As in most of the Adirondack region, reported mercury levels were the cause for NYS DOH to suggest restricted consumption of Great Sacandaga Lake gamefish. The substantial increase in mercury between 1995 and 2005 may have been due to the use of fillets rather than whole fish in 2005. The larger numbers of smallmouth bass and walleye pike in the 2005 collection may also account for higher mercury levels, since these fish are top predators and more prone to biomagnification.

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As in 2005, the current program tested standard fillets rather than whole fish as fillets better represent the portion of fish consumed. A total of 27 fish samples were tested for mercury, cadmium, chromium and lead. All results are provided in Appendix C. Only mercury was routinely present in Great Sacandaga Lake fish samples (Table 5). A single yellow perch had detectable levels of chromium, a metal associated with industrial processes including the leather tanning industry. The fact that none of the other specimens had detectable levels of chromium, however, suggests that this may have been an anomaly.

Mercury is a naturally occurring toxic metal that exists at low levels in terrestrial and aquatic systems, and as an element never breaks down or disappears. Mercury cycles through the natural system, moving between the air, land and water. Mercury transport occurs from natural sources through degassing from the Earth's crust and oceans and from industrial sources (i.e. coal-fired power plants and waste incinerators), where it is

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released as a smokestack gas. In the atmosphere, it is captured by precipitation and falls to the ground in rain or snow. Once it reaches a waterbody, bacteria convert it to an organic form called methylmercury -- the form that is dangerous to people.

Figure 12. Concentration of mercury in fillets of fish from

Great Sacandaga Lake in 2007. .

Although mercury levels are almost always low in water bodies, methylmercury biomagnifies in the food chain. When small fish with low mercury levels get eaten by bigger fish, the bigger fish accumulate mercury, biomagnifying this element. For this reason, long-lived fish and top-level predators like bass and pike often have the highest mercury levels. In Great Sacandaga Lake fish, the relationship of increasing length to increasing mercury content is apparent in yellow perch and smallmouth bass, but less so in walleye pike (Figure 12), the species with the highest levels of mercury. The small numbers of fish tested may be the cause for lack of agreement.

The problem of mercury-contaminated fish is widespread. According to the EPA's National Listing of Fish and Wildlife Advisories, mercury advisories increased 163%

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between 1993 and 2003 (from 899 to 2,362). The number of states that have issued mercury advisories has risen steadily from 27 in 1993 to 45 in 2003. As of 2003, more than 13 million lake acres and almost 800,000 river miles were covered by some type of mercury advisory. Currently, 21 states have statewide mercury advisories in freshwater lakes or rivers, and 11 states have statewide advisories for mercury in their coastal waters. Statewide advisories urge people to limit their consumption of all fish and shellfish from freshwater or coastal areas.

The 2007 baseline bacterial abundance data were comparable to the results of the Rowell study with few if any changes in bacterial abundance observed over the past 12 years. At the conclusion of his 5 year study in 1995, Rowell (1996) concluded..."lake water quality overall is good to excellent for all recreational purposes. For a significant proportion of the sample dates, lake water quality met drinking water standards for bacteriological content." Results for 2007 continue to support this conclusion. Interim reports on the bacterial testing programs were released approximately weekly throughout the sampling season. No results exceeded NYS Dept. of Health standards for swimming or wading. In fact, bacterial results suggested exceptionally high water quality throughout the Great Sacandaga Lake basin.

Analysis of fish fillets from selected gamefish species support the NYS DOH limits on consumption of fish from Great Sacandaga Lake due to the presence of mercury. Only walleye pike (1.15 ppm) exceeded the generally accepted 1ppm limit on average mercury concentration, however both smallmouth bass (0.93 ppm) and yellow perch (0.80 ppm) produced higher than desirable average mercury concentrations. Mercury contamination is a global phenomena, however as with acid rain, the Adirondack region of NYS is particularly susceptible and for all of the same reasons.

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