Water Quality
Water Quality > Hudson River Estuary Data > Albany County & Rensselaer County Sites > Mohawk River at Waterford

Mohawk River at Waterford

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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

95 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 182 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/21/2023 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 1.3
08/24/2023 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/20/2023 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.9
06/29/2023 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.2 1.2 1.6
05/04/2023 76 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.7 1.0
10/13/2022 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/13/2022 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
08/22/2022 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
07/18/2022 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/16/2022 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/26/2022 304 Beach Advisory 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 579 Beach Advisory 0.2 0.8 0.0 0.8 1.8
08/19/2021 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
07/22/2021 613 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.5 0.3 0.1 0.9
06/10/2021 168 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.6
05/20/2021 328 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/17/2020 436 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.6
09/21/2020 980 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/17/2020 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/17/2020 236 Beach Advisory 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.5
06/19/2020 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/29/2020 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
10/11/2019 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
09/13/2019 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/09/2019 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.8 0.1 0.4 1.3
07/12/2019 921 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/08/2019 77 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.5 1.1
05/11/2019 31 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2
10/13/2018 416 Beach Advisory 0.3 0.0 1.3 0.0 1.6
09/13/2018 354 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.9 1.1
08/17/2018 411 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/20/2018 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4
06/16/2018 1300 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.3
05/09/2018 46 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3
10/19/2017 91 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/14/2017 727 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/17/2017 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/13/2017 2420 Beach Advisory 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.3
06/15/2017 89 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/18/2017 32 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3
10/18/2016 1046 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/17/2016 1986 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/18/2016 2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.2
07/16/2016 461 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.2
06/18/2016 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/23/2016 13 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/15/2015 517 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/14/2015 411 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.9 1.2 0.1 2.3
08/15/2015 613 Beach Advisory 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.6
07/11/2015 33 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 1.2 0.0 1.2
06/13/2015 131 Beach Advisory 0.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 1.3
05/14/2015 649 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
10/16/2014 276 Beach Advisory 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.4
09/10/2014 548 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/14/2014 141 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
07/10/2014 479 Beach Advisory 0.0 1.7 0.4 0.3 2.3
06/15/2014 2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.1 1.0
05/15/2014 57 Acceptable 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.2
10/21/2013 130 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2
09/21/2013 830 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/19/2013 1733 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/21/2013 64 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/24/2013 1300 Beach Advisory 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.4
06/04/2013 461 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.1 1.1
10/15/2012 770 Beach Advisory 0.4 0.5 0.0 0.1 1.0
09/15/2012 1300 Beach Advisory 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
08/18/2012 461 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.3
07/21/2012 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2
06/16/2012 1023 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2
05/20/2012 238 Beach Advisory 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 68 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
08/21/2011 142 Beach Advisory 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4
07/14/2011 33 Acceptable 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3
07/02/2011 4 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.1 2.1
05/19/2011 96 Beach Advisory 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.5 1.7
10/16/2010 128 Beach Advisory 0.0 1.0 0.3 0.0 1.3
09/14/2010 >2420 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/21/2010 26 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.2
07/19/2010 42 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.5 0.0 0.7
06/18/2010 479 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.3
05/25/2010 117 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/23/2009 32 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/17/2009 416 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/24/2009 1986 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.5 2.8
07/31/2009 2420 Beach Advisory 0.6 0.3 1.0 0.0 1.9
05/15/2009 48 Acceptable 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5
10/23/2008 12 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.2
09/18/2008 8 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/09/2008 12 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 1.3 0.2 1.5
07/17/2008 21 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
06/19/2008 27 Acceptable 0.0 0.4 0.1 0.9 1.4
05/22/2008 50 Acceptable 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2

Entero Count (fecal indicator) and Rainfall Correlation

95 Samples taken

All Water Quality Parameters

95 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 182 Beach Advisory 13.93 0.14 0.98 5.7 116.3
09/21/2023 >2420 Beach Advisory 19.78 0.16 1.92 n/a n/a
08/24/2023 >2420 Beach Advisory 22.5 0.12 2.11 3.1 100.9
07/20/2023 >2420 Beach Advisory 25.04 0.13 1.93 19.7 99
06/29/2023 >2420 Beach Advisory 73.6 0.2 2.1 3.3 95.6
05/04/2023 76 Beach Advisory 51.4 0.1 2.9 5.9 101.8
10/13/2022 >2420 Beach Advisory 59.6 0.2 3 3.1 97.9
09/13/2022 >2420 Beach Advisory 74.2 0.2 1.8 2.4 96.7
08/22/2022 >2420 Beach Advisory 78.2 0.2 1.6 2 102
07/18/2022 >2420 Beach Advisory 78.5 0.1 2 1.7 98.8
06/16/2022 >2420 Beach Advisory 72.1 0.2 1.6 3.7 n/a
05/26/2022 304 Beach Advisory 67.8 0.2 2 3.2 n/a
10/28/2021 >2420 Beach Advisory 54.122 0.08 3.89 284 104.1
09/16/2021 579 Beach Advisory 69.854 0.13 6.15 24.3 107.8
08/19/2021 >2420 Beach Advisory 77.072 0.15 5.35 18.6 103.7
07/22/2021 613 Beach Advisory 71.942 0.11 2.69 31.6 107
06/10/2021 168 Beach Advisory 73.292 0.18 1.98 5.4 105.2
05/20/2021 328 Beach Advisory 64.31 0.14 1.61 6.4 105.6
10/17/2020 436 Beach Advisory 59.684 0.2 1.14 1.5 102.7
09/21/2020 980 Beach Advisory 65.084 0.2 1.42 3.5 110.5
08/17/2020 >2420 Beach Advisory 79.88 0.15 3.36 4 120.2
07/17/2020 236 Beach Advisory 78.818 0.18 1.51 6 112.4
06/19/2020 >2420 Beach Advisory 79.43 0.19 2.9 5.2 117.6
05/29/2020 >2420 Beach Advisory 76.118 0.16 2.33 4.9 108
10/11/2019 >2420 Beach Advisory 59.81 0.15 1.9 4.1 105
09/13/2019 >2420 Beach Advisory 69.872 0.16 1.9 3.8 111.2
08/09/2019 >2420 Beach Advisory 80.15 0.18 2.42 16.9 97.8
07/12/2019 921 Beach Advisory 79.808 0.14 1.62 6.1 101.8
06/08/2019 77 Beach Advisory 70.772 0.14 1.89 8.3 115
05/11/2019 31 Acceptable 58.01 0.13 1.94 24.3 109.6
10/13/2018 416 Beach Advisory 61.916 0.13 1.98 15.3 104.4
09/13/2018 354 Beach Advisory 74.21 0.16 1.83 6.1 108.1
08/17/2018 411 Beach Advisory 77.63 0.13 1.98 7.5 97.9
07/20/2018 20 Acceptable 81.518 0.18 1.83 4.5 114.2
06/16/2018 1300 Beach Advisory 74.066 0.16 1.08 5.2 114.4
05/09/2018 46 Acceptable 62.96 0.11 1.35 5.7 111.5
10/19/2017 91 Beach Advisory 63.446 0.15 1.27 3.9 109.9
09/14/2017 727 Beach Advisory 70.808 0.15 2.33 4.2 109.4
08/17/2017 >2420 Beach Advisory 77.54 0.17 0.91 5.8 109.5
07/13/2017 2420 Beach Advisory 75.668 0.13 0.79 23.3 101.9
06/15/2017 89 Beach Advisory 73.742 0.12 1.98 13.7 109.1
05/18/2017 32 Acceptable 64.598 0.12 1.26 18.4 107.6
10/18/2016 1046 Beach Advisory 63.086 0.15 1.17 33 110
09/17/2016 1986 Beach Advisory 73.13 0.15 0.96 n/a 110.8
08/18/2016 2420 Beach Advisory 82.22 0.14 1.32 25.2 107.5
07/16/2016 461 Beach Advisory 81.158 0.17 0.77 18.5 108.9
06/18/2016 10 Acceptable 72.752 0.15 0.05 17 118.9
05/23/2016 13 Acceptable 65.444 0.12 0.18 21.8 108.4
10/15/2015 517 Beach Advisory 60.404 0.17 4.61 4.4 116.9
09/14/2015 411 Beach Advisory 73.868 0.19 1.19 5.3 100
08/15/2015 613 Beach Advisory 78.566 0.16 1.19 7.7 102.1
07/11/2015 33 Acceptable 76.406 0.13 1.92 23.2 107.7
06/13/2015 131 Beach Advisory 73.49 0.16 1.8 16.4 106.3
05/14/2015 649 Beach Advisory 68.45 0.14 1.31 16.8 n/a
10/16/2014 276 Beach Advisory 62.276 0.16 7.39 31.2 103.3
09/10/2014 548 Beach Advisory 74.642 0.14 0.34 11.7 99.6
08/14/2014 141 Beach Advisory 75.47 0.17 1.19 7.4 102.3
07/10/2014 479 Beach Advisory 77.288 0.14 0.62 21.2 103.2
06/15/2014 2420 Beach Advisory 65.66 0.13 1.66 99 111.1
05/15/2014 57 Acceptable 64.472 0.13 0.69 19.9 102.4
10/21/2013 130 Beach Advisory 58.892 0.14 1.72 104.6 100.4
09/21/2013 830 Beach Advisory 68.54 0.18 2.09 24.7 103.3
08/19/2013 1733 Beach Advisory 75.092 0.18 0.67 48.8 102
07/21/2013 64 Beach Advisory 82.256 0.16 2.27 25.3 105.3
06/24/2013 1300 Beach Advisory 73.742 0.13 1.1 18.5 103.4
06/04/2013 461 Beach Advisory 70.34 0.11 0.43 25 102.4
10/15/2012 770 Beach Advisory 57.038 0.18 3.73 n/a 98.6
09/15/2012 1300 Beach Advisory 72.302 0.16 0.71 7 102.7
08/18/2012 461 Beach Advisory 79.142 0.23 0.84 12 100.3
07/21/2012 >2420 Beach Advisory 80.546 0.22 2.32 24.1 108.3
06/16/2012 1023 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/20/2012 238 Beach Advisory 68.27 0.12 0.79 9.1 105
10/16/2011 2420 Beach Advisory 60.17 0.15 1.5 47.7 100.9
09/19/2011 68 Beach Advisory 64.742 0.14 0.77 40.4 98.4
08/21/2011 142 Beach Advisory 77.288 0.08 1.91 35.3 100.8
07/14/2011 33 Acceptable 77.45 0.1 7.05 43.9 n/a
07/02/2011 4 Acceptable 74.102 0.12 1.03 23.3 n/a
05/19/2011 96 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
10/16/2010 128 Beach Advisory 55.13 0.11 1.1 28.1 101.5
09/14/2010 >2420 Beach Advisory 69.026 0.14 3.76 4.5 95.7
08/21/2010 26 Acceptable 76.64 0.15 1.77 n/a 97.8
07/19/2010 42 Acceptable 80.474 0.14 2.74 2.6 86.9
06/18/2010 479 Beach Advisory 71.24 0.16 4.4 20 100.4
05/25/2010 117 Beach Advisory 73.13 0.15 1.82 185 114.5
10/23/2009 32 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
09/17/2009 416 Beach Advisory 68.5 0.15 1.78 7.6 105
08/24/2009 1986 Beach Advisory 78.764 0.15 1.21 53.3 108.3
07/31/2009 2420 Beach Advisory 75.974 0.15 1.48 87.5 106.8
05/15/2009 48 Acceptable 63.266 n/a 1.35 7.5 109.1
10/23/2008 12 Acceptable 53.636 0.17 1.82 12 104.6
09/18/2008 8 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
08/09/2008 12 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
07/17/2008 21 Acceptable 80.042 0.165 2.675 17.05 108.7
06/19/2008 27 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/22/2008 50 Acceptable 59.432 0.15 11.18 24.3 103.4

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:

Waterford, NY
This site is below the last Erie Canal lock. It has boating, kayaking, subsistence and recreational fishing from boats and the shore. There is also occasional swimming.

Agencies Responsible:

Albany County Dept. of Health: 518-447-4580, Schenectady County Dept. of Health: 518-386-2818 and NYSDEC Region 4: 518-357-2045

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