Lower Hudson River Research Articles

Tetrachlorodibenzo- [formula omitted]-dioxins and tetrachlorodibenzofurans in Atlantic coast striped bass and in selected Hudson River fish, waterfowl and sediments

In striped bass samples from the lower Hudson River and its estuary 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) was found at concentrations from 16 to 120 pg/g (ppt). Striped bass from two other locations (Rhode Island coastal waters and Chesapeake Bay, Maryland) had <5 ppt, 2,3,7,8-TCDD. The contaminant, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (2,3,7,8-TCDF), was found in striped bass from all three locations with concentrations varying from 6 ppt in Chesapeake Bay to 78 ppt in the Hudson River. Results from a limited number of non-migratory fish (carp and goldfish) and sediments suggest that the upper Hudson River is not a source for 2,3,7,8-TCDD/2,3,7,8-TCDF contamination of striped bass.

Indians of the Lower Hudson River Region: The Munsee

Indians of the Lower Hudson River Region: The Munsee

Stratigraphic Relationships and Detrital Composition of the Medial Ordovician Flysch of Western New England: Implications for the Tectonic Evolution of the Taconic Orogeny: A Discussion

Rowley and Kidd (1981) describe stratigraphic and petrologic evidence for the evolution of the Taconic Allochthon in which they conclude that it originated by east to west stacking during obduction of a continental rise sequence onto the Cambro-Ordovician shelf. Although the general model they present is quite convincing, I find that their conclusions regarding the timing of the final assemblage of the Taconic terrane into its present form has some serious flaws which result from the failure of Rowley and Kidd (1981) to adequately discuss either the nature of the fault systems within the Taconics or the well established evidence for post-Taconic deformation in the Hudson Valley. According to their analysis, the fault system principally responsible for the present structural relations has two characteristics: (1) it is post-metamorphic; (2) it is decorated by slices of carbonate shelf and occasional pieces of Precambrian crystallines. Although not explicitly stated, it is strongly implied by figure 1 (Rowley and Kidd 1981) in particular that the structural framework of Taconic deformation described from their northern study area applies to the entire Hudson Valley. If indeed this is meant, then their work contains major omissions of important structural data which directly conflict with the timing of their synthesis at least as far north as Albany. The conflict is generated by the presence of two distinct fault systems and unequivocal evidence of major post Taconic deformation in the lower and central Hudson River Valley. The existence of the two fault systems,

Movements of Hudson River Striped Bass

Abstract The movements of age-II and older striped bass (Morone saxatilis), tagged during 1976 and 1977 within a 70-km section of the lower Hudson River, were determined from recaptures of fish within and outside the river. Movements within the river prior to and during the spawning period are related to maturity, age, and sex. During March and April, mature and immature fish coexist downriver from the principal spawning grounds. By late April, immature fish tend to migrate downriver and mature fish upriver. Males precede females to the spawning grounds. Following spawning, most striped bass leave the Hudson River and move generally northeast-ward in Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean, but the majority are restricted to within 50 km of the river mouth. There is no correlation between distance moved and fish size, sex, or age. The migratory patterns of striped bass within the Hudson River system contrast markedly with those in the Chesapeake Bay system.

Thermally induced biological effects caused by once-through cooling systems: A rationale for evaluation

The thermally induced biological effects of power plants with once-through cooling systems can be evaluated in a logical, scientifically defensible manner. First, we combined a near-field integral model (the Shirazi-Davis model) with a far-field model (the Okubo-Pritchard model) to predict the fields of excess temperature and velocity associated with a hypothetical power plant sited on a river and an estuary, and to establish the time-excess temperature exposure histories resulting from the interaction of an assumed distribution of organisms with these fields. Next, we developed a new thermal response model to assess the thermal effects of these exposures on these organisms. Our thermal response model can be used with data from existing and proposed power plants to estimate what fraction of plankton in waters contiguous to the plant will be exposed to thermal doses greater than those that cause death at any stated level. The model can also be used to aid in the design of once-through cooling systems to keep the mortality rate caused by thermal stresses below any designated threshold. The inputs to the model are the frequency distribution of time-excess temperature histories experienced by particular plankton (the Representative Important Species), thermal resistance curves for those organisms, and the spatial and temporal variations of the natural temperature of the receiving waters. To illustrate, we applied our thermal response model to three important aquatic environments of New York State, Long Island Sound, the lower Hudson River, and Lake Ontario. The Representative Important Species were identified for each of these environments and the thermal resistance data for their early (entrainable) life stages were reviewed. Fromall of the thermal resistance data available for any of the entrainable species composing these three communities, we constructed “community thermal resistance curves” and showed how they could be combined in graphic form with the distribution of thermal doses computed from the physical models and an assumed distribution of organisms in the receiving waters. For each community it appeared that the most sensitive organisms were the ichthyoplankton and juvenile fish; therefore, protection of these organisms from thermal stress should protect the entrainable populations as a whole. Finally, we made several recommendations for future research so that the full management potential of our approach can be achieved.

Phytoplankton and primary production in the lower Hudson River estuary

A survey of the reaches of the Hudson River between New York Harbor and Poughkeepsie showed that the spatial distribution of phytoplankton occurred in longitudinal gradients along the estuary with maximum standing crops of phytoplankton found in the Tappan Zee and Haverstraw Bay. The patterns of distribution of gross primary productivity closely corresponded to the temporal and spatial distribution of phytoplankton standing crop. Estimated daily areal gross primary production in the Hudson River estuary appeared comparable to that in other east coast estuaries and estimated annual gross primary production in most of the estuary appeared to be in the range (100–200 g C m −2 year −1) characteristic of coastal environments near New York. In the shallow waters of the Tappan Zee and Haverstraw Bay annual primary production appeared greater and likely approximates maximum production found in other river mouth estuaries.

Age, Growth, and Maturity of the Hogchoker, Trinectes maculatus, in the Hudson River, New York

Abstract Biological studies of the hogchoker, Trinectes maculatus, were conducted in the lower Hudson River, New York. Scales were formed on individuals by the time they were 10 mm total length. Annulus formation occurred between April and June, and false annuli were noted occasionally. Growth of T. maculatus was rapid during the first 2 years of life. Females grew larger and older than males, but sexual maturity occurred as early as 2 years of age for both sexes. The sex ratio was 1:1 and major spawning occurred in midsummer. The length-weight relationships of male and female hogchokers did not differ significantly and the resulting equation for 2,692 specimens was W = 0.015108 L3.10845, where W = weight (g) and L = total length (mm). Fish length at time of annulus formation was similar to that reported for Patuxent River, Maryland specimens. Size at maturity may occur earlier and spawning each year may occur over a longer period of time for hogchokers in the Hudson River compared to individuals in mid-A...

The Occurrence of Chiridotea Almyra Bowman, 1955 (Isopoda, Valvifera) in the Limnetic Sector of the Lower Hudson River 1 )

The Occurrence of Chiridotea Almyra Bowman, 1955 (Isopoda, Valvifera) in the Limnetic Sector of the Lower Hudson River 1 )

Late Pleistocene Stratigraphy and Paleoecology of the Lower Hudson River Estuary

The ecologic and stratigraphic development of the lower Hudson River estuary during late Pleistocene time was reconstructed from foraminifers and pollen in cores taken from Peekskill, New York, to The Narrows of New York Bay. Sediments deposited in freshwater, brackish water, and marine environments were penetrated by the cores, which ranged from 32.0 to 72.7 m. The foraminifers identified in the cores are divided into four assemblages, each characteristic of a local stratigraphic zone and biotope. Three of the assemblages currently thrive in the estuary; the fourth, composed primarily of benthonic foraminifers, is now found on the nearshore continental shelf from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and in easternmost Long Island Sound. Spruce-fir, pine, and oak pollen assemblages occur in the cores and are zoned using the standard pollen zones established for the northeastern United States. The pollen zones are used for chrono-stratigraphic purposes. Following the dissipation of glacial Lake Hudson, tidal conditions were established in the estuary well before 12,000 yr ago. Estuarine conditions with salinities high enough to support foraminifers became established by ∼11,500 yr ago. About 10,000 yr B.P., salinity decreased slightly but was re-established by 9,000 yr ago. The maximum transgression of mesohaline brackish water into the estuary occurred about 6,500 yr B.P., as shown by the first appearance of foraminifers in the northern part of the area. This event correlates with the general flooding of the northeastern United States by the Atlantic Ocean. The areal distribution of foraminiferal biofacies in the estuary 6,500 yr ago indicates the maximum limit of mesohaline water in the Hudson River Valley during postglacial time. Foraminiferal evidence indicates that the salinity of the estuary has decreased during the past 1,500 to 3,000 yr. This is the result of sediment being deposited faster than sea level rises or the crust subsides, so that the salt-water wedge within the estuary is regressing oceanward.

Hudson River as a Water Source for New York City

Problems encountered in further development of the Hudson River watershed for a major augmentation of public water supply for the New York City Metropolitan Area are described. Several methods of increasing the supply are outlined. Additional upland storage with pumping from the lower Hudson River near Hyde Park is the least costly solution proposed.

Surface Water Resources Planning in Hudson Basin

A reconnaissance study was made by consultants for the Water Resources Commission of the State of New York. The objective was to evaluate the quantity and general quality of the ground water and surface water resources within the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin and Long Island. The study assesses the present utilization and analyzes and projects the water needs within a 15,000 sq mile area, with a present population of 13,000,000 persons, to the year 2020. The entire study area was screened for potential reservoir sites and suitable storage projects were located in the headwater regions. The techniques used to screen potential reservoir sites are described and are believed to have wide application to water resource planning for large river basins. Alternative solutions are developed for municipal water supplies for four regions: (1) Upper Hudson River Basin; (2) Mohawk River Basin; (3) Lower Hudson River Basin; and (4) New York City, Westchester County and Long Island. Special attention is given to water supply problems of New York City and vicinity. The plans presented show relative costs of a number of alternative solutions.

Shoaling of the Lower Hudson River

Investigation on sources of sedimentation, characteristics of fresh and salt water components of flow within estuary, quantity of shoaling which occurs, and fundamental principles affecting sedimentation process; 2 hydraulic models are being used to prove possible solutions; first model reproduces entire New York Harbor and Hudson River up to limit of saltwater intrusion; second model reproduces 9 mi section between Battery and George Washington Bridge; interim conclusions.

Shoaling of the Lower Hudson River

Investigation on sources of sedimentation, characteristics of fresh and salt water components of flow within estuary, quantity of shoaling which occurs, and fundamental principles affecting sedimentation process; 2 hydraulic models are being used to prove possible solutions; first model reproduces entire New York Harbor and Hudson River up to limit of saltwater intrusion; second model reproduces 9 mi section between Battery and George Washington Bridge; interim conclusions.

A pre-Newark peneplain and its bearing on the origin of the lower Hudson River

A pre-Newark peneplain and its bearing on the origin of the lower Hudson River