Coastal waters are being inundated by a wave of land-based pollution. Pathogens (such as bacteria and viruses), toxic chemicals, nitrogen, and other contaminants that are dumped into coastal waters as a result of rampant development, agriculture and forestry practices, storm drains, malfunctioning septic systems, overburdened sewage treatment plants, and other sources are impairing the quality of our nation’s beach waters and threatening the health of our nation’s coasts. Coastal issues are of significant importance to many of NRPA’s members. NRPA’s coastal advocates work to protect our coast by working on the Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program (also known as the Coastal Runoff Program), and estuary related issues. We recently won a great victory with the passage of the BEACH Act (October 2000)! NRPA Board members will make sure this law is implemented and enforced.
Coastal Runoff in New York
A Report From Coast Alliance
Introduction
Water pollution continues to deprive coastal economies of millions of dollars that might otherwise be generated by tourism, fishing, and wildlife watching along America’s waterways. Wildlife-associated recreation in New York brings in 3.8 billion dollars annually. Sport-fishers alone spent $1.3 billion, ranking New York sixth among coastal states in economic benefits from sport-fishing.
In 1997, commercial fishermen in New York landed 60 million pounds of fish valued at $96.8 million at the dock.
According to data from the National Shellfish Registry, over 93 thousand acres of potential shellfishing beds were closed in New York in 1995, the most recent year for which data are available. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), polluted runoff contributed to 100 percent of these closures.
New York has lost 60 percent of its wetlands since the 1780’s according to EPA.
Water quality-based shellfish closures and wetland loss will likely worsen as more people settle in coastal areas. It is projected that New York’s already huge coastal population will increase by 7 percent in the 20 years between 1990 and 2010 from 14.9 million to 15.9 million people. In New York, 84 percent of the population lives on the coast.
Already, with the current coastal population size, degradation of water quality is undeniable. This situation can only worsen as population increases, unless a new system is put in place.
Coastal Runoff Program
The Coastal Runoff Program requires enforceable measures to address these problems. States will be required to finalize runoff control plans by December, 1999. New York’s Coastal Runoff Plan has been conditionally approved by NOAA and EPA. The agencies did not fully approve the plan due to serious deficiencies. NOAA and EPA have imposed a series of conditions on the state which must be met. If the state meets the conditions, it stands to receive additional federal funds to implement the program.
In New York, the Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources and Waterfront Revitalization and the Department of Environmental Conservation are charged with implementing the coastal runoff program.
Runoff is a major source of pollution in New York. The conditions placed on New York’s Plan are listed below. Descriptions of control measures to address each pollution source are given in Appendix B.
Conditions for New York’s Coastal Runoff Program Imposed by NOAA and EPA
1. Improve management measures for large and small feedlots, and develop a strategy to implement agricultural management measures throughout the coastal zone.
2. Revise the State Uniform Fire Prevention Code to address runoff from erosion of sediment and construction related chemicals.
3. Include management measures for watershed protection and existing development.
4. Include provisions to reduce nitrogen loadings from individual sewage systems by 50 percent in nitrogen limited waters.
5. Include provisions for inspection of on-site disposal systems to determine if they are properly functioning.
6. Implement management measures for roads, highways and bridges to address local roads.
7. Modify marina and recreational boating programs to conform with stormwater management measures.
8. Ensure implementation of management measures to address water quality and habitat in existing channels and eliminate or revise exemptions that preclude the state from fully implementing the management measures from dams.
9. Establish a process to identify critical coastal areas and to continue to revise management measures where necessary.
10. Develop a monitoring plan to assess the success of the program.
Click On A LINK Below To Learn More On Issues
Concerning The New York Bight
(The Clean Ocean and Shore Trust)
Beach Erosion and Nourishment Programs in NY and NJ
Climate Change and Sea Level Rise
Combined Sewer Overflows
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP)
Comprehensive Port Improvement Plan (CPIP)
Contaminant Assessment and Reduction Program (CARP)
Dredging in NY/NJ Harbor
Dredging in NY/NJ Harbor: Sediment Decontamination Technologies
Dredging in NY/NJ Harbor: Environmental Windows
Ferry Service: Private Ferry Service in Threat of Bankruptcy
Fisheries: Economic Impact Of NY and NJ Coastal Marine Fisheries
Fresh Water Supply and Drought
Harbor Estuary Program (HEP)
Habitat Acquisition and Restoration: HEP Habitat Workgroup
Habitat Acquisition in the Meadowlands
Habitat Restoration and Remediation of Contaminated Sites
Habitat Restoration in Jamaica Bay: Confronting Salt Marsh Loss
Harbor Operations Committee
New Jersey Toxic Reduction Workplan
Non-point Source Pollution (NPSP)
Ocean Disposal of Dredged Materials: Historic Area Remediation Site (HARS)
Ocean Disposal of Dredged Materials: Long Island Sound
Offshore Wind Energy Development
PCB’S In the Hudson– Raritan Estuary
Pollution Prevention in NY/NJ Harbor: NYAS Harbor Consortium
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Reconversion of Government and Industrial Properties
Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL)
Water Quality in New York/New Jersey Harbor