Water Quality Awareness Week of 9-16-2021

16 Sep by

Unfortunately with stronger storm events from the northeast and then rotational North West winds are causing much of the breakoff in all of the waterways in Wayne County. This includes the bays, the canal system, tributaries, and their outlets.  In this week’s water quality review, you can definitely see a change in the water quality including observations like striation of the water columns, increased breakoff, and collection around infrastructure and in cove areas.  While the sediment is being pushed around by the wind, the deeper area is still seeing some algae growth. The potential for blooms is lower due to the cooler temperatures and the increased movement of waves.

It was also noted as more shoreline starts to show, stormwater runoff and collection is being affected because the balance of the below-ground aquifers have changed. This allows a variation in pressure in the watershed. This is what is referred to as a change in Hydrology.  Due to hydrology variances, there is a potential to see water where it hasn’t been seen before.  Along with seeing wildlife, fish, and birds in other places in the waterways where they haven’t been before.

Lake Ontario water levels have been fairly stable for the last week about 245.3- 245.4 depending on seiche events due to weather. ( see weekly summary)

NYS REDI Initiative dredging was finishing up in Pultneyville Harbor and Bear Creek Harbor this week.

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Floating Duckweed & Water Levels Highlight this Week Water Awareness 9-9-2021

9 Sep by

Water levels are beginning to taper off with an average at 245.35 at local south shore Lake Ontario stations this week and will be losing a few more inches of water on Lake Ontario in the next few weeks according to US Army Corps of Engineer projections. Click here for USACE Forecast

Local water levels on bays will continue to be low and will increase and decrease from upland watershed flows and wind events which will last up to 36 hours before calming.  Monitor boat slips, and other watercraft regularly.   Wind events in the last two weeks have been the culprit for surface weed exposure, creating floating bogs and break off.

Floating Duckweed can help alert boaters to areas of weed concentration as the Duckweed collects at the surface. Shown in the photos below.  This time of year, weed populations are dying off due to the cooler temperatures and the increased disturbance from wind/rain events. (click on images for larger view)

The SWCD Weed harvesting program continues to address weed mats and floating areas.  This year’s focus has been on flow and circulation as many of the areas are too shallow to adequately access fully loaded.  The last week, the Crew has focused on South of Port Bay area, closest to Wolcott Creek Inlet to open up water flow for the fall and winter season.  The crew is going to make its way north and clear out the cove areas on Port Bay after surface control of breakoff mats from this last week’s storms and back to Sodus Bay to address areas where collection mats have floated into tributary outlets and coves.

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