Waterbody / Watershed Facts - East River

BOROUGH(S):

Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Manhattan

SEWER DISTRICTS

Red Hook, Bowery Bay, Hunts Point, Newtown Creek, Wards Island, Tallman Island

COMMUNITY DISTRICT(S):

Brooklyn: 1 and 2
Queens: 1, 2, and 7
Manhattan: 1, 3, 6, 8, and 11
Bronx: 1, 2, 9, and 10

SHORELINE USES:

Residential; Commercial; Industrial; Institutional; Municipal; Recreational; Parkland and Open Space; Private Beach Clubs

NYSDEC CLASSIFICATION:

Class 1 - Secondary Contact; Fishing.
Class SB - Primary and Secondary Contact; Fishing.

Existing Water Quality:

Coliform and Dissolved oxygen levels are in non-compliance with standards (East River CSO Facility Plan, 1996 and Inner Harbor CSO Facility Plan, 1993).

EXISTING WATER USES:

Commercial and Municipal Shipping and Barging;
Recreational Boating; Fishing and Swimming

SOURCES OF
WATER POLLUTION:

CSOs, stormwater and other runoff, WPCP's, Commercial and Industrial Discharges, impacts of boundary water quality

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS
EFFECTING WATER QUALITY
AND USES:

Dredged

ECOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION:

Special Natural Waterfront Area (NYCDCP) Significant Coastal Fish & Wildlife Habitats (NYSDOS)

DEP WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT(S):(WQIP)

Catch Basin Hooding Program;
Interim Floatables Containment Program
CSO Facility Plan
– ongoing and future initiatives within each   tributary and in the East River
WPCP Nitrogen Reduction Planning

PROJECTED WQIP WATER QUALITY:

Improved coliform and dissolved oxygen levels but will remain in non-compliance with standards. Substantial reduction of floatables discharges.

OTHER WQIP INITIATIVES:

USACE
– habitat restoration in the Bronx River