Water Quality
Water Quality > Hudson River Estuary Data > Orange County & Putnam County Sites > Cold Spring Harbor

Cold Spring Harbor

Cold Spring Harbor
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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
10/17/2023 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2
09/19/2023 179 Beach Advisory 0.0 1.6 0.0 0.0 1.7
08/22/2023 12 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/18/2023 517 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.1 1.2
06/27/2023 116 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.5
05/02/2023 96 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.8
10/11/2022 67 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/11/2022 210 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2
08/20/2022 29 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/16/2022 23 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
06/14/2022 9 Acceptable 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
05/24/2022 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.1 0.6
10/29/2021 214 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.1 2.5 2.6
09/14/2021 17 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/17/2021 13 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.4
07/20/2021 50 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 2.3 2.2 4.5
06/08/2021 14 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/18/2021 <1 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/15/2020 397 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.2 0.7
09/19/2020 54 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/15/2020 64 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3
07/15/2020 65 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
06/17/2020 11 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/27/2020 2 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/09/2019 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.4
09/11/2019 47 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/07/2019 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
07/10/2019 8 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/06/2019 3 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/09/2019 13 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3
10/11/2018 125 Beach Advisory 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3
09/11/2018 69 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
08/15/2018 40 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.4
07/18/2018 43 Acceptable 0.0 1.1 0.0 0.0 1.1
06/14/2018 49 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
05/07/2018 2 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
10/17/2017 27 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/12/2017 15 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/15/2017 6 Acceptable 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.8
07/11/2017 6 Acceptable 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2
06/13/2017 3 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/16/2017 4 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.3 1.4
10/16/2016 14 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/15/2016 68 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/16/2016 13 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2
07/14/2016 7 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/16/2016 4 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/21/2016 8 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/13/2015 9 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/12/2015 16 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.9 0.0 1.0
08/13/2015 12 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.9
07/09/2015 3 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
06/12/2015 2 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3
05/13/2015 3 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/14/2014 15 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
09/09/2014 5 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
08/13/2014 19 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/09/2014 46 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.3
06/14/2014 29 Acceptable 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.8
05/14/2014 5 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/18/2013 22 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/20/2013 3 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/17/2013 11 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/19/2013 84 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
06/21/2013 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/01/2013 4 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/13/2012 7 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/13/2012 6 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/15/2012 11 Acceptable 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.4
07/19/2012 29 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2
06/14/2012 1 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.5
05/18/2012 <1 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3
10/18/2011 15 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
09/17/2011 33 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
08/18/2011 27 Acceptable 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.6 0.8
07/17/2011 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/29/2011 21 Acceptable 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
05/18/2011 26 Acceptable 0.9 0.8 0.1 0.3 2.1
10/14/2010 33 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.4
09/13/2010 13 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/19/2010 6 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0
07/20/2010 184 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/17/2010 26 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/23/2010 12 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/21/2009 11 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2
09/16/2009 25 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/22/2009 12 Acceptable 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.6
07/30/2009 15 Acceptable 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.5
06/09/2009 78 Beach Advisory 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.9
05/14/2009 6 Acceptable 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
10/22/2008 14 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/20/2008 2 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/06/2008 1 Acceptable 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3
07/16/2008 1 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.6
06/17/2008 19 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.3

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
10/17/2023 20 Acceptable 16.64 0.12 2.04 11.8 106
09/19/2023 179 Beach Advisory 22.91 0.24 2.45 n/a n/a
08/22/2023 12 Acceptable 24.74 0.12 3.46 0.7 97.7
07/18/2023 517 Beach Advisory 26.22 0.12 5.4 22.3 89.9
06/27/2023 116 Beach Advisory 70.8 1.8 6.6 22.4 88.8
05/02/2023 96 Beach Advisory 55.8 0.1 2.7 13.7 93.5
10/11/2022 67 Beach Advisory 65.1 2.9 2.1 16.5 86.2
09/11/2022 210 Beach Advisory 77.4 3.1 2.7 17 77.4
08/20/2022 29 Acceptable 80.4 2 5.1 6.7 97.1
07/16/2022 23 Acceptable 78 1.9 2.6 22.9 85.6
06/14/2022 9 Acceptable 71.3 0.5 1.9 23.6 92.7
05/24/2022 10 Acceptable 63.5 0.5 1.5 25.5 n/a
10/29/2021 214 Beach Advisory 59.0 0.1 2.3 7 n/a
09/14/2021 17 Acceptable 73.4 0.1 8.3 20 86
08/17/2021 13 Acceptable 77.6 0.4 3.2 21 79
07/20/2021 50 Acceptable 76.0 0.1 3.8 14 75
06/08/2021 14 Acceptable 67.3 0.2 4.8 24 97
05/18/2021 <1 Acceptable 60.6 0.1 3.1 24 92
10/15/2020 397 Beach Advisory 66.8 4.4 2.9 12 89
09/19/2020 54 Acceptable 73.6 4.5 2.5 14 82
08/15/2020 64 Beach Advisory 82.8 1.4 4.9 9 92
07/15/2020 65 Beach Advisory 81.9 1.4 7.8 8 116
06/17/2020 11 Acceptable 72.8 1.3 2.9 9 98
05/27/2020 2 Acceptable 64.1 0.2 6.7 11 116
10/09/2019 41 Acceptable 67.5 1.8 3.3 13 89
09/11/2019 47 Acceptable 77.6 2.2 3.6 11 88
08/07/2019 20 Acceptable 81.6 1.2 3.4 11 84
07/10/2019 8 Acceptable 79.2 0.2 4.2 16 99
06/06/2019 3 Acceptable 67.7 0.1 4.8 17 100
05/09/2019 13 Acceptable 54.2 0.1 2.3 20 100
10/11/2018 125 Beach Advisory 67.0 0.1 4.0 22 89
09/11/2018 69 Beach Advisory 75.7 0.4 3.9 23 80
08/15/2018 40 Acceptable 81.1 0.2 3.2 16 86
07/18/2018 43 Acceptable 81.2 1.6 3.2 18 90
06/14/2018 49 Acceptable 70.2 1.2 3.1 26 94
05/07/2018 2 Acceptable 56.5 0.1 2.3 14 102
10/17/2017 27 Acceptable 69.6 2.8 2.4 16 86
09/12/2017 15 Acceptable 73.2 1.6 4.4 10 94
08/15/2017 6 Acceptable 77.3 0.3 4.8 17 90
07/11/2017 6 Acceptable 77.9 0.1 4.1 16 98
06/13/2017 3 Acceptable 69.4 0.1 6.1 14 120
05/16/2017 4 Acceptable 59.1 0.1 2.9 20 100
10/16/2016 14 Acceptable 66.7 5.0 1.8 48 87
09/15/2016 68 Beach Advisory 78.4 4.2 3.2 n/a 90
08/16/2016 13 Acceptable 82.8 1.3 3.0 37 84
07/14/2016 7 Acceptable 78.1 1.3 4.1 18 91
06/16/2016 4 Acceptable 70.3 1.0 4.4 34 95
05/21/2016 8 Acceptable 60.0 0.1 5.4 48 105
10/13/2015 9 Acceptable 67.5 2.7 3.2 38 87
09/12/2015 16 Acceptable 79.6 2.7 3.4 31 80
08/13/2015 12 Acceptable 79.4 1.4 3.2 27 84
07/09/2015 3 Acceptable 75.0 0.1 3.3 28 88
06/12/2015 2 Acceptable 70.7 0.1 4.6 12 97
05/13/2015 3 Acceptable 59.8 0.2 3.8 39 n/a
10/14/2014 15 Acceptable 66.9 1.5 1.7 32 92
09/09/2014 5 Acceptable 76.6 0.3 2.7 26 87
08/13/2014 19 Acceptable 77.9 0.6 2.4 40 87
07/09/2014 46 Acceptable 77.3 0.1 3.4 26 86
06/14/2014 29 Acceptable 69.2 0.4 3.8 46 87
05/14/2014 5 Acceptable 58.0 0.1 4.9 27 100
10/18/2013 22 Acceptable 66.6 1.6 2.4 33 91
09/20/2013 3 Acceptable 73.0 0.3 3.7 23 91
08/17/2013 11 Acceptable 77.7 0.1 2.4 58 85
07/19/2013 84 Beach Advisory 86.4 0.2 3.6 66 75
06/21/2013 20 Acceptable 66.9 0.1 5.1 110 94
06/01/2013 4 Acceptable 67.6 0.1 4.5 18 101
10/13/2012 7 Acceptable 65.0 1.3 4.4 38 88
09/13/2012 6 Acceptable 78.0 2.8 3.9 25 88
08/15/2012 11 Acceptable 81.4 1.5 2.6 10 99
07/19/2012 29 Acceptable 81.4 2.9 2.9 20 86
06/14/2012 1 Acceptable 72.1 0.1 1.7 29 91
05/18/2012 <1 Acceptable 62.7 0.1 2.5 19 94
10/18/2011 15 Acceptable 61.9 0.1 1.3 78 89
09/17/2011 33 Acceptable 66.5 0.1 1.3 279 85
08/18/2011 27 Acceptable 79.2 0.4 1.5 47 80
07/17/2011 10 Acceptable 80.1 0.1 3.2 n/a n/a
06/29/2011 21 Acceptable 75.8 0.1 4.5 27 90
05/18/2011 26 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
10/14/2010 33 Acceptable 61.6 0.1 3.6 34 82
09/13/2010 13 Acceptable 74.4 1.1 5.4 19 83
08/19/2010 6 Acceptable 82.6 1.5 10.6 35 121
07/20/2010 184 Beach Advisory 82.2 1.5 2.4 34 84
06/17/2010 26 Acceptable 70.9 0.6 5.0 77 84
05/23/2010 12 Acceptable 64.1 0.3 6.5 56 101
10/21/2009 11 Acceptable 58.5 0.2 2.3 32 88
09/16/2009 25 Acceptable 73.7 1.3 2.1 22 81
08/22/2009 12 Acceptable 79.4 0.1 2.7 25 77
07/30/2009 15 Acceptable 77.2 0.1 2.8 24 89
06/09/2009 78 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/14/2009 6 Acceptable 58.9 0.1 7.5 34 107
10/22/2008 14 Acceptable 60.8 1.7 1.8 27 88
09/20/2008 2 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
08/06/2008 1 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
07/16/2008 1 Acceptable 78.0 0.4 2.2 21 94
06/17/2008 19 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

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:

Cold Spring, NY
The town docks of Cold Spring host a fishing pier, a yacht club, and a village waterfront where fishing, kayaking, and recreational boating are all sources of human contact with the water.

Agencies Responsible:

Putnam County Dept. of Health: 845-278-6558 and NYSDEC Region 3: 914-428-2505

Tell Gov. Hochul to block invasive species at the Erie and Champlain canals
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