Water Quality
Water Quality > Hudson River Estuary Data > Ulster County & Dutchess County Sites > Beacon Harbor

Beacon Harbor

Beacon 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

100 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 22 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2
09/19/2023 214 Beach Advisory 0.0 1.6 0.0 0.0 1.7
08/22/2023 1 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/18/2023 94 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 1.1 0.1 1.2
06/27/2023 488 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.5
05/02/2023 91 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.8
10/11/2022 44 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/11/2022 101 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2
08/20/2022 26 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/16/2022 118 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
06/14/2022 4 Acceptable 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
05/24/2022 11 Acceptable 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.1 0.6
10/29/2021 261 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 8 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.4
07/20/2021 25 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 2.3 2.2 4.5
06/08/2021 25 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/18/2021 4 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/15/2020 82 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.2 0.7
09/19/2020 126 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/15/2020 41 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3
07/15/2020 96 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
06/17/2020 40 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/27/2020 6 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/09/2019 40 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.0 0.4
09/11/2019 22 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/07/2019 36 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 6 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/09/2019 770 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3
10/11/2018 435 Beach Advisory 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3
09/11/2018 35 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
08/15/2018 56 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.4
07/18/2018 461 Beach Advisory 0.0 1.1 0.0 0.0 1.1
06/14/2018 387 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
05/07/2018 6 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
10/17/2017 32 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/12/2017 11 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/15/2017 11 Acceptable 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.8
07/11/2017 28 Acceptable 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2
06/13/2017 6 Acceptable 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4
05/16/2017 2 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.3 1.4
04/06/2017 15 Acceptable 0.5 0.0 0.7 0.0 1.2
10/16/2016 12 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/15/2016 16 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/16/2016 25 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2
07/14/2016 6 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/16/2016 8 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/21/2016 1 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/13/2015 33 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/12/2015 31 Acceptable 0.6 0.1 0.9 0.0 1.6
08/13/2015 6 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.9
07/09/2015 15 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
06/12/2015 7 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3
05/13/2015 17 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/14/2014 59 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
09/09/2014 11 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
08/13/2014 122 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/09/2014 15 Acceptable 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.3
06/14/2014 124 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.8
05/14/2014 12 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/18/2013 34 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/20/2013 7 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/17/2013 9 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
07/19/2013 199 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1
06/22/2013 12 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/02/2013 3 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/14/2012 38 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/13/2012 56 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/16/2012 1 Acceptable 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.4
08/15/2012 15 Acceptable 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.4
07/19/2012 18 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2
06/14/2012 10 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.5
05/18/2012 2 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3
10/18/2011 25 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
09/17/2011 40 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1
08/18/2011 21 Acceptable 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.6 0.8
07/17/2011 <1 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/29/2011 69 Beach Advisory 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5
05/18/2011 99 Beach Advisory 0.9 0.8 0.1 0.3 2.1
10/15/2010 816 Beach Advisory 0.4 0.8 0.0 0.3 1.5
10/14/2010 56 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.4
09/13/2010 20 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/19/2010 48 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0
07/20/2010 28 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
06/17/2010 50 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
05/23/2010 7 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
10/21/2009 107 Beach Advisory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2
09/16/2009 23 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/22/2009 8 Acceptable 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.6
08/03/2009 8 Acceptable 0.0 0.6 0.0 1.1 1.7
07/30/2009 12 Acceptable 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.5
06/09/2009 104 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 22 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
09/20/2008 3 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
08/06/2008 4 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 17 Acceptable 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.3
05/21/2008 3 Acceptable 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1

Entero Count (fecal indicator) and Rainfall Correlation

100 Samples taken

All Water Quality Parameters

100 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 22 Acceptable 16.6 1.12 1.93 8.3 102.3
09/19/2023 214 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
08/22/2023 1 Acceptable 24.68 0.12 4.49 0.5 97
07/18/2023 94 Beach Advisory 27.28 0.12 7.49 14.3 103.4
06/27/2023 488 Beach Advisory 71.2 0.8 8.6 19.5 88.4
05/02/2023 91 Beach Advisory 55.9 0.1 3.1 15.1 96.0
10/11/2022 44 Acceptable 65.8 1 2.9 17.5 91.2
09/11/2022 101 Beach Advisory 77.3 1.6 5.7 15.7 83.3
08/20/2022 26 Acceptable 82 0.9 5.7 8.3 102.1
07/16/2022 118 Beach Advisory 80.2 0.7 3.6 20.5 98.6
06/14/2022 4 Acceptable 72.9 0.2 2.2 13.8 n/a
05/24/2022 11 Acceptable 63.8 0.1 1.9 23.4 127.2
10/29/2021 261 Beach Advisory 58.3 0.1 2.2 10 105
09/14/2021 17 Acceptable 73.8 0.1 7.7 23 88
08/17/2021 8 Acceptable 77.7 0.1 6.5 23 86
07/20/2021 25 Acceptable 77.5 0.1 3.9 13 84
06/08/2021 25 Acceptable 74.8 0.1 7.5 11 119
05/18/2021 4 Acceptable 61.3 0.1 8.2 17 98
10/15/2020 82 Beach Advisory 66.1 2.2 5.0 27 92
09/19/2020 126 Beach Advisory 72.1 2.2 3.9 11 97
08/15/2020 41 Acceptable 82.7 0.3 6.3 10 101
07/15/2020 96 Beach Advisory 83.9 0.9 10.9 7 136
06/17/2020 40 Acceptable 76.3 0.2 3.6 10 111
05/27/2020 6 Acceptable 67.2 0.1 8.8 11 160
10/09/2019 40 Acceptable 65.9 0.3 3.5 12 92
09/11/2019 22 Acceptable 78.2 0.4 6.9 8 112
08/07/2019 36 Acceptable 81.9 0.4 5.1 8 97
07/10/2019 8 Acceptable 80.5 0.1 5.1 11 106
06/06/2019 6 Acceptable 71.2 0.1 9.1 13 122
05/09/2019 770 Beach Advisory 55.4 0.1 2.9 20 103
10/11/2018 435 Beach Advisory 67.9 0.1 5.8 17 93
09/11/2018 35 Acceptable 74.9 0.2 4.5 10 87
08/15/2018 56 Acceptable 84.0 0.2 4.6 10 108
07/18/2018 461 Beach Advisory 82.0 0.8 4.7 14 108
06/14/2018 387 Beach Advisory 72.5 0.3 6.2 14 108
05/07/2018 6 Acceptable 58.2 0.1 2.6 12 106
10/17/2017 32 Acceptable 68.1 1.4 2.9 14 92
09/12/2017 11 Acceptable 74.7 0.7 6.3 11 104
08/15/2017 11 Acceptable 77.6 0.2 7.8 14 99
07/11/2017 28 Acceptable 79.8 0.1 7.1 15 118
06/13/2017 6 Acceptable 73.7 0.1 8.0 13 152
05/16/2017 2 Acceptable 61.5 0.1 3.1 18 108
04/06/2017 15 Acceptable 42.9 0.1 1.9 30 100
10/16/2016 12 Acceptable 66.1 2.5 4.6 48 96
09/15/2016 16 Acceptable 78.4 1.7 3.6 n/a 101
08/16/2016 25 Acceptable 83.9 0.3 6.8 35 113
07/14/2016 6 Acceptable 78.8 0.4 6.0 15 99
06/16/2016 8 Acceptable 71.3 0.1 6.2 24 100
05/21/2016 1 Acceptable 61.3 0.1 5.4 35 125
10/13/2015 33 Acceptable 66.6 0.6 5.2 25 96
09/12/2015 31 Acceptable 78.7 1.1 5.5 20 90
08/13/2015 6 Acceptable 80.1 0.5 4.8 14 97
07/09/2015 15 Acceptable 76.2 0.1 3.8 20 91
06/12/2015 7 Acceptable 72.3 0.1 5.2 14 94
05/13/2015 17 Acceptable 60.9 0.1 5.9 38 n/a
10/14/2014 59 Acceptable 67.8 0.7 1.3 29 96
09/09/2014 11 Acceptable 75.5 0.2 4.1 21 91
08/13/2014 122 Beach Advisory 77.9 0.2 6.4 16 94
07/09/2014 15 Acceptable 78.5 0.1 5.5 28 94
06/14/2014 124 Beach Advisory 70.8 0.2 6.4 36 93
05/14/2014 12 Acceptable 60.1 0.1 5.7 35 105
10/18/2013 34 Acceptable 65.9 0.7 3.4 35 95
09/20/2013 7 Acceptable 73.3 0.1 4.8 28 104
08/17/2013 9 Acceptable 79.9 0.1 3.4 81 93
07/19/2013 199 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
06/22/2013 12 Acceptable 67.4 0.1 7.5 45 99
06/02/2013 3 Acceptable 69.4 0.1 7.2 25 103
10/14/2012 38 Acceptable 62.3 0.2 4.2 15 91
09/13/2012 56 Acceptable 79.0 0.7 5.8 93 106
08/16/2012 1 Acceptable 81.8 0.4 1.8 7 99
08/15/2012 15 Acceptable 81.1 0.4 3.9 24 99
07/19/2012 18 Acceptable 82.7 0.6 3.5 15 95
06/14/2012 10 Acceptable 74.9 0.1 1.7 29 95
05/18/2012 2 Acceptable 64.5 0.1 2.3 19 101
10/18/2011 25 Acceptable 60.9 0.1 1.8 98 90
09/17/2011 40 Acceptable 66.5 0.1 1.4 227 85
08/18/2011 21 Acceptable 80.0 0.2 2.1 78 86
07/17/2011 <1 Acceptable 80.0 0.1 n/a 19 n/a
06/29/2011 69 Beach Advisory 77.4 0.1 6.3 37 109
05/18/2011 99 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
10/15/2010 816 Beach Advisory 59.5 0.1 5.1 44 83
10/14/2010 56 Acceptable 61.0 0.1 4.8 31 83
09/13/2010 20 Acceptable 74.2 0.3 7.1 14 90
08/19/2010 48 Acceptable 81.9 0.5 11.1 14 108
07/20/2010 28 Acceptable 82.5 0.8 6.7 11 92
06/17/2010 50 Acceptable 72.1 0.2 6.8 87 87
05/23/2010 7 Acceptable 65.3 0.1 5.4 23 100
10/21/2009 107 Beach Advisory 58.6 0.1 2.8 17 90
09/16/2009 23 Acceptable 72.4 0.2 3.4 23 89
08/22/2009 8 Acceptable 79.6 0.1 3.6 19 84
08/03/2009 8 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
07/30/2009 12 Acceptable 80.3 0.1 3.0 18 104
06/09/2009 104 Beach Advisory n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/14/2009 6 Acceptable 60.3 0.1 7.9 28 109
10/22/2008 22 Acceptable 60.7 0.6 2.5 12 90
09/20/2008 3 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
08/06/2008 4 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
07/16/2008 1 Acceptable 79.3 0.2 3.2 15 105
06/17/2008 17 Acceptable n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
05/21/2008 3 Acceptable 56.3 0.1 3.4 35 97

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:

Beacon, NY
The Beacon Harbor sampling site has recreational boating, kayaking, and fishing. There is a seasonal public “river pool” to the north, and a storm drain overflow in the vicinity.

Agencies Responsible:

Dutchess County Dept. of Health: 845-486-3400 and NYSDEC Region 3: 845-256-3000

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