Water Quality
Water Quality > Hudson River Estuary Data > Albany County & Rensselaer County Sites > Bethlehem Launch Ramp

Bethlehem Launch Ramp

Bethlehem Ramp
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Physical/Chemical Data

Physical, chemical and biological properties of the surface water that are measured continuously while the patrol boat is underway.

Entero Count (fecal indicator) and Rainfall

96 Samples taken

Sample Date [i] Enterococcus Count
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Entero Count

Enterococcus (“Entero”) is a fecal indicating bacterium that lives in the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals. It is the EPA preferred indicator for sewage contamination.

Quality Rain, day of (in) Prior Day 2 Days Prior 3 Days Prior Rain 4 Days Total Rain
Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort
10/19/2023 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/21/2023 93 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 1.3
08/24/2023 60 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/20/2023 602 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.9
06/29/2023 84 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.2 1.2 1.6
05/04/2023 84 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.7 1.0
10/13/2022 113 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/13/2022 35 Acceptable 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
08/22/2022 82 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
07/18/2022 105 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/16/2022 91 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/26/2022 51 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.8
10/28/2021 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.9 1.9
09/16/2021 1553 Beach Advisory 0.2 0.8 0.0 0.8 1.8
08/19/2021 23 Acceptable 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
07/22/2021 276 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.9
06/10/2021 118 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.6
05/20/2021 12 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/17/2020 75 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.6
09/21/2020 50 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/17/2020 30 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/17/2020 93 Beach Advisory 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.5
06/19/2020 43 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/29/2020 105 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/11/2019 96 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
09/13/2019 22 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/09/2019 1046 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.8 0.1 0.4 1.3
07/12/2019 23 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/08/2019 83 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.5 1.1
05/11/2019 42 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2
10/13/2018 1986 Beach Advisory 0.3 0.0 1.3 0.0 1.6
09/13/2018 36 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.9 1.1
08/17/2018 37 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/20/2018 13 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4
06/16/2018 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.3
05/09/2018 15 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3
10/19/2017 43 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/14/2017 18 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/17/2017 21 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/13/2017 35 Acceptable 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.3
06/15/2017 4 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/18/2017 1 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3
10/18/2016 11 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/17/2016 17 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/18/2016 44 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.2
07/16/2016 7 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.2
06/18/2016 4 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/23/2016 6 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/15/2015 16 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/14/2015 114 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.9 1.2 0.1 2.3
08/15/2015 39 Acceptable 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.6
07/11/2015 83 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 1.2 0.0 1.2
06/13/2015 461 Beach Advisory 0.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 1.3
05/14/2015 3 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
10/16/2014 27 Acceptable 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.4
09/10/2014 9 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/14/2014 12 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
07/10/2014 1414 Beach Advisory 0.0 1.7 0.4 0.3 2.3
06/15/2014 1733 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.1 1.0
05/15/2014 23 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
10/21/2013 14 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2
09/21/2013 17 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/19/2013 7 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/21/2013 4 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/24/2013 52 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/04/2013 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.1 1.1
10/15/2012 24 Acceptable 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.1 0.6
09/15/2012 20 Acceptable 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
08/18/2012 7 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.3
07/21/2012 6 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2
06/16/2012 4 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2
05/20/2012 21 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/16/2011 2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 1.1 0.3 1.6
09/19/2011 11 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
08/21/2011 13 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/14/2011 4 Acceptable 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3
07/02/2011 16 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.1 2.1
05/19/2011 727 Beach Advisory 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.5 1.7
10/16/2010 921 Beach Advisory 0.0 1.0 0.3 0.0 1.3
09/14/2010 9 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/21/2010 1 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.2
07/19/2010 32 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.0 0.7
06/18/2010 91 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.3
05/25/2010 13 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/23/2009 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/17/2009 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/24/2009 57 Acceptable 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.5 2.8
07/31/2009 1120 Beach Advisory 0.6 0.3 1.0 0.0 1.9
06/13/2009 85 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.6
05/15/2009 68 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5
10/23/2008 8 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.2
09/18/2008 43 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/09/2008 26 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 1.3 0.2 1.5
07/17/2008 17 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
06/19/2008 18 Acceptable 0.0 0.4 0.1 0.9 1.4
05/22/2008 5 Acceptable 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2

Entero Count (fecal indicator) and Rainfall Correlation

96 Samples taken

All Water Quality Parameters

96 Samples taken

Sample Date [i] Entero Count
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Entero Count

Enterococcus (“Entero”) is a fecal indicating bacterium that lives in the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals. It is the EPA preferred indicator for sewage contamination.

Quality [i] Temp (f)
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Temperature

Hudson River water temperature changes seasonally. Surface water temperature can change on small scales in the river reflecting natural and human influences.

[i] Salinity
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Salinity

Estuaries like the Hudson are where freshwaters in rivers meet the sea. Salinity tells us about the relative contribution of fresh and salt water within a particular region of the estuary. 

[i] Chlorophyll
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Chlorophyll

A measure of the amount of microscopic algae present in the water. High chlorophyll counts can mean high levels of the nutrients phosphorus and nitrogen, and the threat, or presence, of algae blooms.

[i] Turbidity
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Turbidity

Turbidity is a measure of the amount of fine particles suspended in the water. As turbidity rises, light penetration, a key factor for aquatic plants and algae, diminishes.

[i] Oxygen
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Oxygen

Oxygen concentrations in the water are closely connected to biological activities. Surface waters are typically in equilibrium with the atmosphere such that the oxygen concentration near the surface is close to fully saturated (100%).

Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort Sort
10/19/2023 41 Acceptable 14.04 0.07 0.93 5.5 118.4
09/21/2023 93 Beach Advisory 20.04 0.11 1.64 n/a n/a
08/24/2023 60 Acceptable 22.71 0.09 2.05 1.3 98.9
07/20/2023 602 Beach Advisory 26.06 0.1 1.93 32.3 99
06/29/2023 84 Beach Advisory 74.6 0.1 2.1 12.5 88.8
05/04/2023 84 Beach Advisory 52.0 0.1 2.5 29.8 102.1
10/13/2022 113 Beach Advisory 59.4 0.1 2 3.7 93.7
09/13/2022 35 Acceptable 74.5 0.1 2.7 4.1 87.1
08/22/2022 82 Beach Advisory 79 0.1 4.4 5 79.9
07/18/2022 105 Beach Advisory 79.5 0.1 6.3 9 94
06/16/2022 91 Beach Advisory 72.9 0.1 1.9 11.7 93
05/26/2022 51 Acceptable 68.8 0.1 1.7 20.3 96.6
10/28/2021 >2420 Beach Advisory 53.978 0.09 3.69 281.6 104
09/16/2021 1553 Beach Advisory 70.142 0.11 1.73 20.9 n/a
08/19/2021 23 Acceptable 77.504 0.1 2.02 8.9 94.9
07/22/2021 276 Beach Advisory 72.41 0.1 2.58 42.6 101.3
06/10/2021 118 Beach Advisory 76.316 0.16 2.15 22.9 90.9
05/20/2021 12 Acceptable 66.578 0.14 2.15 8.7 99.9
10/17/2020 75 Beach Advisory 60.17 0.14 2.46 5.7 91.2
09/21/2020 50 Acceptable 68.072 0.14 9.17 6.2 114.3
08/17/2020 30 Acceptable 81.392 0.13 6.9 6.9 109.3
07/17/2020 93 Beach Advisory 80.672 0.15 2.56 8.7 89.6
06/19/2020 43 Acceptable 75.902 0.14 5.92 8.1 104.5
05/29/2020 105 Beach Advisory 73.904 0.12 2.01 6.9 97.1
10/11/2019 96 Beach Advisory 60.458 0.13 1.97 5.7 100
09/13/2019 22 Acceptable 71.078 0.12 3.55 5.1 97.8
08/09/2019 1046 Beach Advisory 80.348 0.14 4.47 6.4 92.7
07/12/2019 23 Acceptable 79.214 0.09 2.93 9.9 92
06/08/2019 83 Beach Advisory 67.982 0.1 2.04 12.6 103.8
05/11/2019 42 Acceptable 55.706 0.08 1.87 7.4 101.9
10/13/2018 1986 Beach Advisory 62.546 0.13 1.96 16.8 99.9
09/13/2018 36 Acceptable 72.122 0.13 1.87 5.7 96
08/17/2018 37 Acceptable 79.124 0.13 2.72 7.9 95.8
07/20/2018 13 Acceptable 82.022 0.13 9.01 6.6 102
06/16/2018 20 Acceptable 74.48 0.13 4.61 7.8 99.3
05/09/2018 15 Acceptable 58.604 0.08 1.58 5.6 106.8
10/19/2017 43 Acceptable 63.302 0.12 2.2 7.9 91.9
09/14/2017 18 Acceptable 68.828 0.1 3.51 8.1 99.2
08/17/2017 21 Acceptable 76.892 0.11 2.26 8.9 93.7
07/13/2017 35 Acceptable 76.91 0.08 0.67 16.5 99.4
06/15/2017 4 Acceptable 73.454 0.08 1.55 6.9 99.7
05/18/2017 1 Acceptable 63.086 0.08 1.22 22.2 108.5
10/18/2016 11 Acceptable 62.114 0.13 0.75 35.5 91.3
09/17/2016 17 Acceptable 74.894 0.11 1.58 n/a 86.6
08/18/2016 44 Acceptable 81.374 0.13 2.15 28.3 89.2
07/16/2016 7 Acceptable 80.834 0.12 4.01 11.8 95.3
06/18/2016 4 Acceptable 72.662 0.12 0.3 20 96.7
05/23/2016 6 Acceptable 64.382 0.11 0.19 25.1 93.9
10/15/2015 16 Acceptable 61.214 0.14 2.01 7.2 96.3
09/14/2015 114 Beach Advisory 76.55 0.14 2.49 14.4 78.2
08/15/2015 39 Acceptable 78.278 0.13 3.58 16.1 88.9
07/11/2015 83 Beach Advisory 75.218 0.1 2.51 16.3 101.7
06/13/2015 461 Beach Advisory 73.364 0.09 1.78 1.7 94.7
05/14/2015 3 Acceptable 68.486 0.1 0.62 14.5 n/a
10/16/2014 27 Acceptable 62.204 0.13 2.67 11.2 98.7
09/10/2014 9 Acceptable 76.46 0.13 0.45 15.2 91.5
08/14/2014 12 Acceptable 76.622 0.12 1.18 8.7 88.6
07/10/2014 1414 Beach Advisory 77.252 0.13 1.3 51.2 97.3
06/15/2014 1733 Beach Advisory 68.81 0.11 3.37 97.9 106.6
05/15/2014 23 Acceptable 62.438 0.1 0.99 13.5 101.7
10/21/2013 14 Acceptable 60.476 0.15 1.38 146.5 95.9
09/21/2013 17 Acceptable 66.902 0.13 3.6 23.4 98.5
08/19/2013 7 Acceptable 74.678 0.13 1.14 16.1 95.5
07/21/2013 4 Acceptable 82.976 0.09 0.91 24.8 98.8
06/24/2013 52 Acceptable 73.652 0.11 1.13 30.6 103.8
06/04/2013 >2420 Beach Advisory 70.664 0.09 0.74 77.4 97.9
10/15/2012 24 Acceptable 57.488 0.13 1.18 47.2 97.3
09/15/2012 20 Acceptable 73.058 0.13 1.25 72.1 95.5
08/18/2012 7 Acceptable 79.628 0.18 0.74 14.6 93.5
07/21/2012 6 Acceptable 82.958 0.22 5.7 18 106.6
06/16/2012 4 Acceptable 74.93 0.14 1.77 14.2 106.1
05/20/2012 21 Acceptable 66.362 0.1 0.78 14.8 102.5
10/16/2011 2420 Beach Advisory 60.98 0.12 0.82 52.7 100.7
09/19/2011 11 Acceptable 65.462 0.11 0.79 31.7 101.3
08/21/2011 13 Acceptable 76.244 0.13 1.73 49 90.3
07/14/2011 4 Acceptable 79.286 0.08 4.51 13.3 93.6
07/02/2011 16 Acceptable 74.642 0.09 0.58 8.4 n/a
05/19/2011 727 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
10/16/2010 921 Beach Advisory 55.544 0.09 0.74 16.6 96.7
09/14/2010 9 Acceptable 69.368 0.11 6.44 6.1 91.5
08/21/2010 1 Acceptable 77.9 0.12 2.4 n/a 89.2
07/19/2010 32 Acceptable 82.274 0.11 7.25 3.7 83.5
06/18/2010 91 Beach Advisory 70.07 0.13 2.67 9.1 93
05/25/2010 13 Acceptable 69.926 0.13 0.61 14.2 98.2
10/23/2009 20 Acceptable 50.738 0.11 0.39 47.4 97.3
09/17/2009 20 Acceptable 69.134 0.14 2.7 10.1 94.9
08/24/2009 57 Acceptable 78.638 0.12 1.42 68.3 96.1
07/31/2009 1120 Beach Advisory 75.182 0.11 2.16 34.5 98.8
06/13/2009 85 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/15/2009 68 Beach Advisory 62.906 n/a 0.93 4.9 102.7
10/23/2008 8 Acceptable 53.906 0.13 1.47 5.4 93.4
09/18/2008 43 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
08/09/2008 26 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
07/17/2008 17 Acceptable 80.348 0.14 2.72 15.1 112.9
06/19/2008 18 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/22/2008 5 Acceptable 58.91 0.12 7.12 8.9 104.3

Water Quality*

Acceptable (0–60) Beach Advisory (61+)

*Single sample thresholds;
Enterococcus count per 100mL

Prior Four Day Rainfall
(in inches)

Dry Weather (0–0.25) Wet Weather (0.25+)

Enterococcus is an EPA-approved fecal contamination indicator.

Samples taken by Riverkeeper, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and CUNY Queens College staff, and processed on the Riverkeeper vessel, according to the 2014 Quality Assurance Project Plan.

Rainfall data comes from wunderground.com. Wet weather is a common trigger of fecal contamination.

What do the Numbers Mean?

Water Quality scoring is based on the 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for safe swimming. Learn More

About this location:

Bethlehem, NY
The Bethlehem Launch Ramp has kayaking, recreational boating, and fishing from boat and shore.

Agencies Responsible:

Albany County Dept. of Health: 518-447-4580, Rensselear County Dept. of Health: 518-270-2655, and NYSDEC Region 4: 518-357-2045

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