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Alexander J. Smith, Barry P. Baldigo, Mike R. McHale

Assessing the effects of Hurricane Irene on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the Upper Esopus Creek. Alexander J. Smith, Barry P. Baldigo, Mike R. McHale. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Outline. Project Background

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Alexander J. Smith, Barry P. Baldigo, Mike R. McHale

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  1. Assessing the effects of Hurricane Irene on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the Upper Esopus Creek Alexander J. Smith, Barry P. Baldigo, Mike R. McHale New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

  2. Outline • Project Background • “Quantitative Assessment of Water Quality in the Upper Esopus Creek: fish, macroinvertebrates, periphyton, turbidity and nutrients” • Response to Hurricane Irene • Current Results • Next steps New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

  3. Upper Esopus Creek Project • Objectives • Assess water quality and identify sources of: • Turbidity • Nutrients • Quantify the impacts of: • Shandaken Portal • Village of Phoenicia (septic systems) • Turbidity and Nutrients • Methods • 20 sites in August 2009, 2010, and 2011 • Biological communities • Water chemistries and discharge New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

  4. Precipitation August 28 August 29 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

  5. Hurricane Irene Flooding • Flood recurrence interval was 100-500 years • Irene ~ 80,000 cfs Ave. ~ 300 cfs • One of the worst in recorded history for the Esopus Creek drainage Irene Lee

  6. Pre-Irene Post-Irene

  7. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

  8. Condition Assessment - BAP • Multimetric • Spp. Richness • EPT Richness • Biotic Index • Model Affinity

  9. Sample Processing Effort

  10. Community Structure

  11. Conclusions • Although significant impacts to diversity, the Upper Esopus is a resilient system • Water quality assessment not necessarily the best indicator of recovery • Multivariate ordination of community data shows a more complete picture • Monitoring is complete, full analysis and work up by spring/summer 2013

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