Update on the
Niagara River U.S. RAP
Niagara River Remedial Action Plan
Implementers Session
April 10, 2013
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Overview
• Planning process/addressing sediment
• Hydrilla
• Project Updates
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Planning in the U.S. AOC Program
• Individual AOCs: EPA asked managers
to produce detailed action plans by
early 2012
– To support measurement of progress
– As a basis for distributing future funding
• Program-wide: Restoring AOCs
remains in the top three priorities in
allocating GLRI funding
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
EPA Priority Setting
• Targeting AOCs that may have an
opportunity to delist sooner than others
• Sediment contamination is a significant
factor in selecting AOCs to target
– Is the extent of contamination known?
– Is a plan in place for remediation where
required?
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Status of Niagara River Sediment
• Sediment projects completed at 16
locations, over 300,000 cubic yards
removed
• Many projects have addressed potential
contamination sources (point sources,
hazardous waste sites, etc.)
• Extent of contamination remaining in
sediment is not well defined
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Federal Assistance for Sediment
• Late 2011 – NYSDEC requests a
federal sediment assessment in the
River and lower reaches of tributaries
• Summer 2012 – EPA informs NYSDEC
that they have allocated some funding
and will begin project
• Shortly afterwards, EPA informs
NYSDEC of need for boundary change
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Boundaries of the U.S. AOC
• 1994 Stage 2 RAP
– no defined geographical boundary lines for
the AOC
– describes the tributaries and clearly
identifies them as source areas
• Beginning around 2004, EPA mapped
all AOC boundaries
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Niagara River
Area of Concern
(U.S. Section)
2005 EPA Mapping
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Source Area Tributaries
• Gill Creek
• Cayuga Creek
• Bergholtz Creek
• Little Niagara River
• Tonawanda Creek
• Ellicott Creek
• Two Mile Creek
• Rattlesnake Creek
• Scajaquada Creek
• Lackawanna Ship Canal
• Smokes Creek
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
EPA Guidance for Modifying Boundaries
• “the geographic locations within the AOCs where
there are beneficial use impairments have been
referred to as ‘Impacted Areas,’ and the geographic
location or areas within the AOCs that cause or
contribute to beneficial use impairments have been
referred to as the ‘Source Area.’”
• “BUI assessments need not be performed in Source
Areas.”
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Modifying Boundaries
• The tributary areas will be designated
source areas
• The existing AOC (2005 boundaries)
designated the Impact Area of Concern
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Hydrilla
• Native to Australia, Asia, Africa
• Forms dense surface mats that
can block sunlight and displace
native plants
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•
•
•
Roots in sediment; can grow stems 25-30 feet long
Obstructs boating, swimming and fishing
Blocks water intakes
Any fragment can become a new plant
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Hydrilla
• August 2011 – First discovery in New
York, Cayuga Lake Inlet in Ithaca
• September 2012 – First confirmed
discovery in Western New York, Erie
Canal in North Tonawanda
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Hydrilla Response
• Joint survey last Fall by U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, NYSDEC and Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources
– Documented 13.5 miles of infested waters
in the Erie Canal, from North Tonawanda
to Lockport
– Found no plants in the Niagara River
proper
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Hydrilla Response
Locations of Infestation
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Hydrilla Response 2013
• Further investigate extent of infestation
• Evaluate treatment options
• Outreach and education
has been initiated and will
continue through boating
season
– Recreational boating is the
highest risk vector for
spreading to other waters
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Motor Island Habitat Improvement Project
Restored natural shoreline features
while providing protection against wave
energy and ice damage
- Construction is complete
- Planting to be completed this Spring
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Motor Island Habitat Improvement Project
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Shoreline Softening Demonstration Needed
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Reassessment of Sources of Contamination
• Assess current loadings from waste sites,
point sources, and primary tributaries
• Update previous studies
• Goals:
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

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Confirm that point sources are no longer significant
Determine whether waste sites are still a contaminant
source
Estimate contaminant loadings from primary tributaries
Support possible further source trackdown and abatement
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
U.S. Niagara River RAP
Reassessment of Sources of Contamination
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Contact Information
Mark Filipski
Niagara River AOC Coordinator
NYSDEC
270 Michigan Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14203
716-851-7130
mdfilips@gw.dec.state.ny.us
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation