Water Quality
Baseline Water Quality Studies of the St. Lawrence - FDR Project
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) owns and operates the St.
Lawrence-Franklin Delano Roosevelt Power Project (STL-FDR Project), located in
Massena, New York. The project is located on the United States side of the
Moses-Saunders dam on the St. Lawrence River.
Review and summarize historical water quality data collected during previous
studies in the STL-FDR Project vicinity. Integrating information from this
assessment, as lead consultant for NYPA, conduct a comprehensive water quality
survey of the project vicinity to develop documentation and an understanding of
baseline conditions at the STL-FDR Project. This work included extensive on-site
data collection over a 15-month period, data analysis, and reporting. Sampling
was conducted over a study area extending 37 miles upstream of the
Moses-Saunders Dam to one mile downstream of the Dam.
The first objective of the historical water quality review was to develop a
project library and database containing historical water quality data relevant
to the project, emphasizing information from the last ten years, but also
providing a good historical perspective of water quality trends since project
development. Contacts were made at all levels of government in both the U.S. and
Canada, as well as with local universities and colleges. The resultant library
of water quality documents generated by these contacts included approximately
146 items. Devine Tarbell & Associates, Inc.’s (DTA) staff reviewed this
information and produced the STL-FDR Project Water Quality Database.
The second objective of the historical water quality review was to analyze the
gathered water quality information and characterize annual, seasonal, and daily
patterns in water quality with special emphasis on dissolved oxygen (DO),
temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity, and nutrients (phosphorus and
nitrogen).
The baseline water quality survey was performed during a 15-month period over
the 38-mile study area. The survey consisted of: 1) continuous monitoring of
temperature, DO, pH, conductivity, and turbidity at one representative station
upstream of the dam and one station downstream of the dam; 2) monthly monitoring
of basic water column parameters (physical and chemical makeup, nutrients,
mineral, and common wastewater parameter) at a total of eight stations on four
transects, three upstream of the dam and one downstream; and 3) a once-only
sampling for water column and sediment contaminants at the eight stations.
DTA’s staff wrote a final report presenting the results of the historical water
quality review and the baseline water quality survey in support of the client’s
relicensing negotiations and 401 water quality certification application.