River Watch Program

It is the mission of NHRW to accumulate base line data that may help identify any trends occurring on the river. Historically NHRW has tested 11 sites on either four or five occasions during the summer months. These sites chosen were determined to be popular areas for swimming since most sites were very accessible from the road. The site numbers are determined by the length in miles from the confluence of the New Haven River at Otter Creek just below River Bend Campgrounds. The collection and accumulation of data is the simplest part of a complex process involving detail lab work and protocols. The data gathered from year to year is only but a snapshot of the river morphology. Valuable field records along with GIS flow charts help to give an insight on how this data is interpreted. In the summer of 2000 a total of forty water samples were gathered on four test dates at eleven sites on the river. The upper stretches of the New Haven River above site 15.5 sustained extensive damage as a result of the 1998 flood. The bridge below this site remained under repair for the summer and was not passable by motor vehicle. Consequently volunteers were able to accumulate one water sample at the first site before the bridge repair was undertaken. A total of 24 out of 40 sites (60%) sampled for ecoli bacteria were in violation of the acceptable state standards of 77 colonies/100ml. In 1998 (in 99 testing did not occur) 67% of the sites were in violation due to higher than usual water flows. In 2000 this may also be evident for the test dates of 6/28 & 8/12 where higher than normal flows (96 & 199cfs) for those dates resulted in a total of 18 of 21 violations of state standards. Because of the dynamics of rivers, high water flows are generally linked to higher ecoli counts and phosphorous levels do to non point source run off. Conversely extreme low water flows (1995 drought) resulted in some of the highest counts of ecoli bacteria on the New Haven since the River Watch program started. This may be in part due low water flows and a high dilution rate. Unfortunately due to poor protocol testing procedures in 1999, New Haven River Watch was not able to accumulate verifiable ecoli data in the drought year of 1999) for interesting comparisons to the test results for the year of 1995.

River Watch Network studies indicate that when total phosphorus levels exceed .05 milligrams per milliliter in the water column impacts are likely and when they do exceed a level of .1 milligrams per milliliter impacts are certain. Phosphorous is essential for the growth of organisms and the discharge of high quantities of phosphorous may lead to excessive photosynthetic organisms. Algae blooms may effect water quality in rivers resulting in extreme situations the possibility of eutrophication. In 2000 no recorded levels of phosphorous exceeded .04milligrams per milliliter on the New Haven River. All phosphorous data recorded was well within acceptable limits that would not impact the river.

New Haven River Watch will continue to closely monitor ecoli bacteria test results and trends. These trends are very difficult to extrapolate since from year to year weather conditions and uses along the New Haven River change in varying degrees. One trend has emerged since the collection of the data in 1993. Higher readings for ecoli bacteria are generally located in the lower stretches of the New Haven River starting at the Munger Street bridge site (5.0) and continuing with sites 2.0, .5, & 0.0 which is near at the confluence of the New Haven River and Otter Creek. The geo mean from these test sights corroborates this trend. High ecoli counts from these four sites in part may be attributed to agricultural run off from non point sources. Geo mean results from sites 10.5 and 15.0 with 25 samplings and geo mean readings of 137 and139 colony counts of ecoli merit a closer examination of the data in the future.

In 2001, The New Haven River Watch group will continue to monitor 11 test sites on 4-5 test dates during the summer months. Bimonthly reports at the Bristol town offices will be forthcoming. The town of Bristol and the community has embraced the mission of the New Haven River Watch group. It is paramount that a positive relationship and a mission of longevity continue. The New Haven River Watch is a proactive organization and not a reactive one. Citizens are encouraged to talk with their state district environmental enforcement officer if they have any serious concerns with health and safety issues regarding their recreational use of the river. Ultimately it is the State of Vermont's responsibility to protect the public in cases of egregious harm. This was evident in the summer of 2000 on the White River and the town of Bethel's failed sewage treatment facility. In the future, the surrounding towns of the New Haven River watershed should consider assisting The New Haven River Watch and the Addison County River Watch Collaborative financially with small annual monetary considerations, possibly incorporated from the annual general fund budget. The valuable information of collecting data and publishing reports has been used in varying capacities from formatting town plans to measuring impacts of development near river ecosystems. River Watch organizations are consistently challenged with limited financial budgets would endure with more secure financial stability.

Peter Diminico coordinator for New Haven River Watch