Hudson River Estuary

8/20/2019 Hudson River Estuary

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The Hudson RiverThe Hudson RiverEstuaryEstuary

Selected ConceptsSelected Concepts

Physical ProcessesPhysical Processes

GlaciationGlaciation

ErosionErosion

DepositionDeposition

Episodic EventsEpisodic Events

Biological CommunitiesBiological Communities Human ModificationHuman Modification


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WisconsinWisconsin GlaciationGlaciation Ice AgesIce Ages -- 6 million to 10,0006 million to 10,000

YBPYBP

At maximum, the ice was three At maximum, the ice was threekilometers thick and coveredkilometers thick and coveredthe Adirondack and the Catskillthe Adirondack and the CatskillMountains.Mountains.

The ice sheets scraped awayThe ice sheets scraped awaybedrock and soil and reshapedbedrock and soil and reshapedthe landscape.the landscape.

Recession started aboutRecession started about21,000 years ago.21,000 years ago.

The glaciers deposited aThe glaciers deposited adense mixture of sand, gravel,dense mixture of sand, gravel,

and clay, (glacial till) up to 50and clay, (glacial till) up to 50meters thick.meters thick.

http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2003NE/finalprogram/abstract_50391.htm

http://www.skidmore.edu/sssg4/environment/geology.htmhttp://www.skidmore.edu/sssg4/environment/geology.htm

Lake AlbanyLake Albany Glacial Lake Albany occupiedGlacial Lake Albany occupied

the Hudson River Valley fromthe Hudson River Valley from

Poughkeepsie to Glens Falls.Poughkeepsie to Glens Falls.

In this area, the shore of theIn this area, the shore of the

lake was found at the 450 footlake was found at the 450 foot

elevation contour.elevation contour.

Sediments from the glaciersSediments from the glaciers

were deposited in Glacial Lakewere deposited in Glacial Lake

Albany. Albany.

Water eventually worked itsWater eventually worked its

way through a dam nearway through a dam nearPoughkeepsie, and GlacialPoughkeepsie, and Glacial

Lake Albany drained to theLake Albany drained to the

Hudson River.Hudson River. http://www.skidmore.edu/sssg4/environment/geologhttp://www.skidmore.edu/sssg4/environment/geolog

y.htmy.htm

13,400 YBP

http://http://www.whoi.edu/mr/pr/image.do?idwww.whoi.edu/mr/pr/image.do?id=4135&aid=2078=4135&aid=2078


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ErosionErosion

Set of processes bySet of processes by

which soil and rockswhich soil and rocks

are moved downhill,are moved downhill,

downcurrentdowncurrent, and, and

downwinddownwind

Can be accelerated orCan be accelerated or

decelerated bydecelerated by

human actionshuman actions

WeatheringWeathering

PhysicalPhysical

ChemicalChemical

BiologicalBiological

MovementMovement

GravityGravity

WindWind

Water FlowWater Flow

WavesWaves

•• WindWind•• VesselsVessels

IceIce

Wentworth Scale of Particle SizeWentworth Scale of Particle Size


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Velocity, Erosion, andVelocity, Erosion, and

SedimentationSedimentation HjulstromHjulstrom DiagramDiagram

SandSand--sizesize

particles areparticles are

mostmost erodableerodable

(erode at lowest(erode at lowest

velocity)velocity)

For smallFor small

particles,particles,

transporttransport

velocity muchvelocity much

less thanless than

erosion velocityerosion velocity

Estuary Water MovementEstuary Water Movement

Freshwater inflowFreshwater inflow

Upper Hudson (~60%)Upper Hudson (~60%)

Mean 12,500Mean 12,500 cfscfs

Tidal FlowTidal Flow

+/+/-- 200,000200,000 cfscfs @ PK@ PK

Green Island Flow

1946-2003

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000 140,000 160,000

CFS

F r e q u e n c y


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Wave MotionsWave Motions

Particles in a wave travel circular pathsParticles in a wave travel circular paths

The water in a deepThe water in a deep--water wave does not movewater wave does not move

forwardforward Below wave base, wave effects are negligibleBelow wave base, wave effects are negligible

http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/EarthSC202PowerPoint/Wave%20Erosion%20and%20Marine%20Geology.ppt

Wave Impacts at ShorelineWave Impacts at Shoreline

Water depth < wave depthWater depth < wave depth

Bottom of wave slowsBottom of wave slows

Top of wave spills or breaksTop of wave spills or breaks

Wave imparts energyWave imparts energy

to sediments and structuresto sediments and structures

Potential energy (height of wave)Potential energy (height of wave) Kinetic energy (mass x velocityKinetic energy (mass x velocity22))

Can erode or deposit materialCan erode or deposit material


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Wave GenerationWave Generation

WindWind

Shear stress of wind on water surfaceShear stress of wind on water surface

Wind velocityWind velocity

FetchFetch – – Distance wind has to actDistance wind has to act

VesselVessel

Displacement of water Displacement of water

Large and small vesselsLarge and small vessels

Shoreline Ice PackShoreline Ice Pack

Ice Scour Ice Scour

SedimentsSediments

VegetationVegetation

BenthosBenthos

DamageDamage

structuresstructures


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Sedimentation of the EstuarySedimentation of the Estuary

The estuary formedThe estuary formednearly 6,000 yearsnearly 6,000 yearsago.ago.

In places, sedimentIn places, sedimentdeposits beneath thedeposits beneath theestuary are more thanestuary are more than700 feet thick.700 feet thick.

Currently nearCurrently nearequilibrium,equilibrium, ieie input =input =outputoutput

http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/2004/story02http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/2004/story02--0505--04.html04.html

SedimentationSedimentation

Annually 1.2 to 5.6 million metric tons of silt and Annually 1.2 to 5.6 million metric tons of silt andfine sediment enter the river fine sediment enter the river 0.3 million MT trapped in the Estuary Turbidity0.3 million MT trapped in the Estuary Turbidity

Maximum region (near GW Bridge)Maximum region (near GW Bridge)

0.05 million MT trapped in bays, bends, and river0.05 million MT trapped in bays, bends, and riverbottombottom

Areas of new accumulation only occurs in Areas of new accumulation only occurs inlocalized areas (scour areas, dredged areas)localized areas (scour areas, dredged areas)

DynamicDynamic Deposition interrupted by scour eventsDeposition interrupted by scour events

http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/2004/story02http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/2004/story02--0505--04.html04.html


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Episodic EventsEpisodic Events

Large effects on EstuaryLarge effects on Estuary

Erosion and DepositionErosion and Deposition

PrecipitationPrecipitation

Storm SurgeStorm Surge

WavesWaves

Ice jams (floods & scour)Ice jams (floods & scour)

Nutrient Inputs and RemovalNutrient Inputs and Removal ExamplesExamples

Hurricane FloydHurricane FloydSeptember 16, 1999September 16, 1999

9/16 Chesea, HRM 65.2; The storm surge from tropical storm Floyd

…moved up the Hudson. Low tide at midday was indistinguishable from

a normal high tide - the tide never went out. At dusk, a 50 mph

sustained northeast wind was blowing straight down the Hudsonpushing the river over its banks. Phyllis Lake in HR Almanac Vol VI

9/25 New Hamburg, HRM 67: Today’s high tide, enhanced by the

effects of the full moon, coupled with the high and roily runoff from

Floyd, had Wappinger Creek up in the trees…. Tom Lake


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Nor’easter Nor’easter December 1992December 1992

StormsStormsMay 1984May 1984

Water Level

5/27/84 - 6/04/84

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

5/27 5/28 5/29 5/30 5/31 6/1 6/2 6/3 6/4

F t

Albany

Haverstraw Bay


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Green Island Flow

0

25,000

50,000

75,000

100,000

125,000

150,000

1/10 1/17 1/24 1/31 2/7

F l o w

( c f s

Ice JamsIce JamsJanuary 1996January 1996

A 1/21/96 NWS Flood Statement

reported that the large ice jam on the

Hudson River in Catskill, NY is

located between the Rip Van Winkle

Bridge and the confluence with theCatskill Creek.

http://zircon.union.edu/Mohawk_ice/2000_jam.html

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/aly/photos/photo.htm

Ice JamsIce JamsMarch 1936March 1936 The Middletown Press on Friday, March 13, 1936,The Middletown Press on Friday, March 13, 1936,

"Tons of ice, released when jams in the upper"Tons of ice, released when jams in the upper

Hudson and the Mohawk rivers broke yesterday,Hudson and the Mohawk rivers broke yesterday,

piled up today near Castleton, creating a gravepiled up today near Castleton, creating a grave

threat to the safety of communities along the lowerthreat to the safety of communities along the lower

Hudson.Hudson.

The Castleton jam backed up water as far North asThe Castleton jam backed up water as far North as

Albany, which was inundated along the river front to Albany, which was inundated along the river front toa depth of two to three feet."a depth of two to three feet."


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Trend in Sea LevelTrend in Sea Level

2.77 mm/year 0.9 ft/century

Ecological CommunitiesEcological CommunitiesEdinger Edinger et al. 2002et al. 2002

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/heritage/draft_ecny2002http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/heritage/draft_ecny2002.htm.htm

NaturalNatural

Tidal River Tidal River

Freshwater (Salinity < 0.5Freshwater (Salinity < 0.5 pptppt ))

•• SubtidalSubtidal aquatic bedaquatic bed

•• Tidal marshTidal marsh

•• Tidal swampTidal swamp

•• IntertidalIntertidal mudflatsmudflats

•• IntertidalIntertidal shoreshore

Brackish (Salinity > 0.5Brackish (Salinity > 0.5 pptppt))

•• SubtidalSubtidal aquatic bedaquatic bed

•• Tidal marshTidal marsh

•• IntertidalIntertidal mudflatsmudflats

•• IntertidalIntertidal shoreshore

Cultural / ArtificialCultural / Artificial

estuarine submerged structureestuarine submerged structure

estuarine channel/artificialestuarine channel/artificial

impoundmentimpoundment

estuarine impoundment marshestuarine impoundment marsh

estuarine dredge spoil shoreestuarine dredge spoil shore

estuarine riprap/artificial shoreestuarine riprap/artificial shore


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HabitatsHabitats

Shallow basin and backwater areasShallow basin and backwater areas

Exposed shorelineExposed shoreline

Shallow shore zone areas with rootedShallow shore zone areas with rooted

aquatic vegetationaquatic vegetation

Deep water areas with relatively highDeep water areas with relatively high

velocitiesvelocities --

ShallowShallow

ShorezoneShorezone

with Rootedwith Rooted

Aquatic Vegetation Aquatic Vegetation Natural or artificialNatural or artificial

Plants depend on the degree of inundation,Plants depend on the degree of inundation,salinity, and nearby terrestrial communitiessalinity, and nearby terrestrial communities

Provide cover and protection for invertebratesProvide cover and protection for invertebratesand small fishes (and small fishes (mummichogmummichog, killifish, and other, killifish, and othershallowshallow--water species)water species)

Include the brackish tidal marsh, brackishInclude the brackish tidal marsh, brackishintertidalintertidal mudflats, freshwater tidal swamp,mudflats, freshwater tidal swamp,freshwater tidal marsh, freshwaterfreshwater tidal marsh, freshwater intertidalintertidalmudflats, and estuarine impoundment marshmudflats, and estuarine impoundment marshcommunitiescommunities


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Exposed ShorelineExposed Shoreline

High energy environmentsHigh energy environments wave action and ice scour are more severe than for the deeperwave action and ice scour are more severe than for the deeper

aquatic bedsaquatic beds

organic matter is scouredorganic matter is scoured

primarily sand and gravel substratesprimarily sand and gravel substrates

less vegetated than the aquatic bed communities, althoughless vegetated than the aquatic bed communities, althoughsome of the same species may be present.some of the same species may be present.

FaunaFauna InvertebratesInvertebrates -- isopods, amphipods, mollusks, zebra musselsisopods, amphipods, mollusks, zebra mussels

(FW)(FW)

FishesFishes -- striped bass, white perch, American shad,striped bass, white perch, American shad, bluebackbluebackherring, and alewife.herring, and alewife.

Include brackish and freshwaterInclude brackish and freshwater intertidalintertidal shoreshorecommunities, and the estuarine riprap/artificial shorecommunities, and the estuarine riprap/artificial shorecommunitycommunity

Shallow basin and backwater Shallow basin and backwater Freshwater or brackishFreshwater or brackish subtidalsubtidal aquatic bed communitiesaquatic bed communities

Low energyLow energy Low current velocityLow current velocity

Promote settling of suspended organic matter and finer sedimentsPromote settling of suspended organic matter and finer sediments..

Freshwater Freshwater

VegetationVegetation -- water celery, pondweed, waterweed, naiads, water chestnut andwater celery, pondweed, waterweed, naiads, water chestnut andEurasian milfoilEurasian milfoil

InvertebratesInvertebrates -- oligochaetesoligochaetes, isopods, amphipods, and, isopods, amphipods, and chironomidschironomids

FishesFishes -- primarily young, of white perch,primarily young, of white perch, spottailspottail shiner, striped bass, variousshiner, striped bass, variousmembers of the sunfish family, and othersmembers of the sunfish family, and others

BrackishBrackish

VegetationVegetation -- sago pondweed, horned pondweed, waterweed,sago pondweed, horned pondweed, waterweed, coontailcoontail, and the, and theexotic Eurasian milfoilexotic Eurasian milfoil

InvertebratesInvertebrates -- The same groups of invertebrates, although typically differentThe same groups of invertebrates, although typically differentspecies, but also decapods (crabs) and mollusks .species, but also decapods (crabs) and mollusks .

FishesFishes -- striped bass, and bay anchovystriped bass, and bay anchovy

BirdsBirds -- canvasback duck, bufflehead, commoncanvasback duck, bufflehead, common goldeneyegoldeneye, merganser, greater, merganser, greater scaupscaup,,snowy egret, and great blue heronsnowy egret, and great blue heron


14/19

Deep water areas with relativelyDeep water areas with relatively

high velocitieshigh velocities Tidal River communityTidal River community

High EnergyHigh Energy Turbulent currents that keep sediments in suspensionTurbulent currents that keep sediments in suspension

BottomBottom -- hard or softhard or soft

Little vegetationLittle vegetation

FishesFishes -- Atlantic and Atlantic and shortnoseshortnose sturgeon,sturgeon, hogchoker hogchoker ,, American eel, Atlantic tomcod, American shad, American eel, Atlantic tomcod, American shad, bluebackbluebackherring, alewife, bay anchovy. Some species, such asherring, alewife, bay anchovy. Some species, such asstripedstriped bass,andbass,and American shad are pelagic American shad are pelagic spawnersspawners,,which release their eggs in these areas and the eggswhich release their eggs in these areas and the eggs

and early larvae drift in the water currents until they haveand early larvae drift in the water currents until they havedeveloped swimming capabilities.developed swimming capabilities.

Human ModificationHuman Modification

Attempt to retard, halt, or reverse the Attempt to retard, halt, or reverse the

natural processesnatural processes

“Improve” the environment to suit human“Improve” the environment to suit human

needsneeds

Often has unintended consequencesOften has unintended consequences

Began with human habitation of the valleyBegan with human habitation of the valley ContinuingContinuing


15/19

Fill and RailroadsFill and Railroads

Tivoli BaysTivoli Bays The North Bay has beenThe North Bay has been

largely filled with a freshlargely filled with a fresh--

water tidal marsh sincewater tidal marsh since

1900, while the South Bay1900, while the South Bay

is now almost filled withis now almost filled with

sediment.sediment.

The neck of landThe neck of land

connectingconnecting Cruger Cruger IslandIsland

to the mainland was ato the mainland was a

natural wetland prior tonatural wetland prior to

construction of aconstruction of a

causeway circa 1835 forcauseway circa 1835 forvehicle access.vehicle access.

http://http://www.ulster.net/~hrmm/hvrr www.ulster.net/~hrmm/hvrr

/funk.htm/funk.htm

Dams & Navigation LocksDams & Navigation Locks


16/19

Hardened Shorelines & IndustrialHardened Shorelines & Industrial

DevelopmentDevelopment

Recreational BoatingRecreational Boating


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Shoreline ModificationShoreline Modification

Dredging and Spoil DisposalDredging and Spoil Disposal


18/19

Invasive SpeciesInvasive SpeciesMills et al 1996Mills et al 1996

113 non113 non--indigenous species ofindigenous species ofvertebrates, vascular plants,vertebrates, vascular plants,and large invertebratesand large invertebrates

10% of exotic species have10% of exotic species havemajor ecological impactsmajor ecological impacts

Significant impactsSignificant impacts

PlantsPlants

•• Curly pondweedCurly pondweed

•• WatercressWatercress

•• Water chestnutWater chestnut

•• Water milWater mil--foilfoil

•• Purple loosestrifePurple loosestrife

FishFish

•• CarpCarp

•• Brown troutBrown trout

•• Northern pikeNorthern pike

•• Rock bassRock bass

•• Smallmouth bassSmallmouth bass

•• Largemouth bassLargemouth bass

•• Black crappieBlack crappie InvertebratesInvertebrates

•• MudMud bithyniabithynia

•• Zebra musselZebra mussel

•• Crayfish (5 species)Crayfish (5 species)

State of the EstuaryState of the Estuary

PresentPresent

Natural, longNatural, long--term processesterm processes

Episodic events (natural and manEpisodic events (natural and man--assisted)assisted)

ManMan--made alterationsmade alterations

FutureFuture

Natural, longNatural, long--term processes will continueterm processes will continue

Episodic events will continueEpisodic events will continue Alterations can be designed to restore communities Alterations can be designed to restore communities

and habitats to a more natural state while maintainingand habitats to a more natural state while maintaining

human useshuman uses


19/19

In the long run, nothing is asIn the long run, nothing is asfutile as trying to resistfutile as trying to resist

shoreline change.shoreline change.

Change can be resisted for aChange can be resisted for a

whi le, but when the water wantswhi le, but when the water wants

something badly enough, it wil lsomething badly enough, it wil l

come in and take it.come in and take it.

http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/EarthSC202PowerPoint/Wave%20Erosion%20and%20Marine%20Geology.ppt

Hudson River Estuary

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