232
M. Lang and D.W. Eckhoff
e. Kennedy International Airport - sampled intermittently over two-year period
f. Miscellaneous sources, including sanitary landfills and direct waste water discharges
(2) Jamaica Bay
a. Water quality - 15 stations sampled at high tide and low tide at two-month intervals
over a two-year period
b. Microplankton — same as water quality
t. Sediments, Benthic Animals and Zooplankton - 15 stations sampled at two-month
intervals over a two-year period
(3) Special Programs Conducted Intermittently
a. Coliform die-away
b. Biostimulation — growth response of test algae to various combinations of nutrients in
Jamaica Bay and ocean waters
c. Productivity - diurnal dissolved oxygen sampling in the Bay
d. Long Island Bays — comparative water and sediment quality sampling from similar, yet
less polluted estuaries
RATIONALE
Of major concern in the enhancement of water quality for body contact sports has
been the reduction of coliform concentrations for purposes of minimizing the potential
for the spread of waterborne diseases. This aspect of water quality control was
thoroughly investigated in the Jamaica Bay project, and the proposed program of waste
discharge control will be described in a future publication. On the other hand, several
other water quality parameters reflect conditions related to public acceptability or
esthetic quality of waters designated for large scale and diverse public use. Many are
related to ecological and/or eutrophication phenomena and include the following (which
are interrelated):
1.
Algal or phytoplankton density and diversity
2.
Transparency or turbidity
3.
Zooplankton density and diversity
4.
Other pelagic types, such as fish
5.
Nutrient concentrations
General conditions associated with adverse public reaction to the utilization of
Jamaica Bay for swimming and related uses included high phytoplankton densities at
certain periods of the year, low dissolved oxygen and extremely attenuated transparency
during the recreational season, and high concentrations of substances containing nitrogen
and phosphorus (which have been linked to the stimulation of algal "blooms" and
accelerated eutrophication). Because of the turbidity and color effects of algae, their
control was considered essential. Transparency is an acknowledged limiting factor in
terms of public acceptance of waters for general recreational purposes and particularly
bathing. Low dissolved oxygen levels result in a variety of conditions which are
esthetically unattractive. Consequently, the analysis of the Jamaica Bay data focused on
these parameters and their interrelationships.
M. Lang and D.W. Eckhoff
e. Kennedy International Airport - sampled intermittently over two-year period
f. Miscellaneous sources, including sanitary landfills and direct waste water discharges
(2) Jamaica Bay
a. Water quality - 15 stations sampled at high tide and low tide at two-month intervals
over a two-year period
b. Microplankton — same as water quality
t. Sediments, Benthic Animals and Zooplankton - 15 stations sampled at two-month
intervals over a two-year period
(3) Special Programs Conducted Intermittently
a. Coliform die-away
b. Biostimulation — growth response of test algae to various combinations of nutrients in
Jamaica Bay and ocean waters
c. Productivity - diurnal dissolved oxygen sampling in the Bay
d. Long Island Bays — comparative water and sediment quality sampling from similar, yet
less polluted estuaries
RATIONALE
Of major concern in the enhancement of water quality for body contact sports has
been the reduction of coliform concentrations for purposes of minimizing the potential
for the spread of waterborne diseases. This aspect of water quality control was
thoroughly investigated in the Jamaica Bay project, and the proposed program of waste
discharge control will be described in a future publication. On the other hand, several
other water quality parameters reflect conditions related to public acceptability or
esthetic quality of waters designated for large scale and diverse public use. Many are
related to ecological and/or eutrophication phenomena and include the following (which
are interrelated):
1.
Algal or phytoplankton density and diversity
2.
Transparency or turbidity
3.
Zooplankton density and diversity
4.
Other pelagic types, such as fish
5.
Nutrient concentrations
General conditions associated with adverse public reaction to the utilization of
Jamaica Bay for swimming and related uses included high phytoplankton densities at
certain periods of the year, low dissolved oxygen and extremely attenuated transparency
during the recreational season, and high concentrations of substances containing nitrogen
and phosphorus (which have been linked to the stimulation of algal "blooms" and
accelerated eutrophication). Because of the turbidity and color effects of algae, their
control was considered essential. Transparency is an acknowledged limiting factor in
terms of public acceptance of waters for general recreational purposes and particularly
bathing. Low dissolved oxygen levels result in a variety of conditions which are
esthetically unattractive. Consequently, the analysis of the Jamaica Bay data focused on
these parameters and their interrelationships.