Much of the value of both the economic activity and the natural resources of the State's coastal areas and inland waterfronts is based on water quality. New York State has abundant water resources, many of which are of high quality, while others are degraded by pollution. Even where water quality is high, human activity can pose a threat to quality. Managing development to reduce sources of water pollution both along our waterfronts and throughout the watersheds of coastal waters and inland waterways is a critical task for communities who want to make the most of their waterfronts and enjoy the many activities that depend on good water quality.

Sources of water quality problems are generally characterized as either point sources or nonpoint sources. Point sources are the direct discharges of contaminants into waterways. Examples of point sources include sewage treatment plant, factory, and power plant discharge through outfall pipes. Well established regulatory and financing programs exist to address point sources of pollution. Nonpoint pollution is diffuse. Examples include runoff from roads, farms, and lawns as well as contaminants from septic systems reaching groundwater or surface waters. Nonpoint sources are the most significant cause of water quality problems in the State.

In assessing water quality in your community, you should take a look at:

• the watersheds associated with your waterfront, including topography, hydrography, soils, precipitation, drainage patterns, land cover, land use, development trends, and habitats
• the water quality, quantity and related infrastructure such as outfalls and other conveyances
• the sources and extent of pollution and the various types of pollutants
• uses and activities impaired by pollution
• local nonpoint source pollution management programs and practices
• existing institutional arrangements of local, state and federal agencies, and roles of regional planning boards and non-governmental groups in protecting water quality
• existing land and water use laws, including zoning, site plan review, harbor management, erosion and sediment control and wetlands and watercourse laws to see if they deal with water quality issues
• key resources warranting special protection or restoration

It is useful to map these features and to document pollution sources and impairments through photographs.

An initial indication of water quality can be found by consulting the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) water quality classifications. These classifications are based on the potential best use of a waterbody and set attainment goals and discharge standards for point sources. The NYS DEC also publishes a series of reports, the "Waterbody Inventory and Priority Waterbodies List", that identify the waters of the State that either cannot be fully used as a resource, or are degraded by pollutants. These reports indicate the impairments in each listed waterbody and the causes of these impairments.

The general identification of causes of pollution in this report can provide you with the basis to more specifically identify the uses and activities that will be of concern to you in developing your plan. You should also consider local monitoring programs that establish a baseline against which you can measure change in the water quality in your waterbodies. This would include physical and chemical parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen, dissolved solids, sediments, nutrients, odor, color, and turbidity; health factors such as pathogens, chemical contaminants, and toxics; and aesthetic factors such as oils, refuse, and suspended solids.

The main types of uses and activities that you should examine for their effects on water quality include the following:

• Roads contain and attract contaminants and convey these contaminants into waterbodies. The NYS Department of Transportation follows the techniques and procedures in its Environmental Procedures Manual in environmental matters relating to the planning, design, construction and maintenance of transportation facilities. These approaches may help you manage local roads.
• Agriculture is an important activity in most watersheds of the State. It is also a source of water pollution from pesticides, fertilizers, sediment, and animal waste. To address these myriad potential sources of pollution, the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Program provides a mechanism to help assess farming operations, identify potential environmental problems and assess options to reduce pollution.
• Marinas and Boating - Because they are located at the water's edge, pollution generated from marina activities, such as refueling and hull maintenance, can directly pollute waterways. Similarly, direct discharges from boats can pollute waterways.
• Development - Both existing and new development can be major sources of water quality problems. Examples include the expansion of impervious surfaces resulting in the erosion and sedimentation of streams and loss of base flow to wetlands and waterbodies, and contamination of ground and surface water from over-fertilization of lawns and failing septic systems.

The U.S. EPA provides more details on these and other pollution causes and offers guidance for specifying management measures to address these causes.

The combined effects of many individual actions from a variety of land uses and activities within a watershed affects water quality. As a result, water quality can be degraded even if there is no single, large pollution source in the watershed. While communities can and should address their water quality problems individually, many water quality problems are best addressed on a watershed basis, especially where watersheds cross political boundaries and involve more than one community. Watershed plans have been prepared in many of the watersheds throughout the state and you should consult these if they exist for your community. The watershed planning and protection approach recognizes the need to address not only the individual water resources within any given watershed, but all the land from which the water drains to these waterbodies. This approach is characterized as being comprehensive and action oriented and places emphasis on broad environmental objectives that cover all aspects of water quality.

The primary questions to ask as you address water quality issues are:

• What are the current water quality conditions - are they improving or getting worse?
• Where are the water quality problem areas?
• What are the pollutant loadings in the various subwatersheds?
• What are the impairments and the causes of these impairments?
• Where are the discharges, including stormwater outfalls and other conveyances, within the watershed that introduce pollution to your waterfront?
• What impacts will any changes in land and water uses or land use have on water quality and where will these occur?
• Where are the gaps in the existing point and nonpoint source controls and how can these be addressed?
• What amendments to local land and water use controls such as subdivision and site plan review can be made to protect and improve water quality?
• What changes in routine roadway, drainage-way and stream maintenance practices can be made to protect and improve water quality?
• Where would focused nonpoint source pollution management most likely maintain or improve existing water quality?

Both watershed planning and protection approaches and efforts targeting specific pollution sources are necessary to reverse the pollution that continues to degrade the State's waters. The following are some of the approaches you will want to consider to protect and improve water quality in your community:

• controlling the location and design of development to avoid water quality impairments
• adopting an overlay district to regulate the most immediate contributing areas surrounding waterbodies, including measures to control runoff, improve septic systems, provide vegetative buffers, and to reduce use of fertilizers and pesticides in affected areas.
• implementation of best management practices, such as:
• the creation of wetlands for stormwater control
• establishment of vegetative treatment systems including buffers and grassy swales
• developing a highway stormwater abatement program
• minimizing the disturbance of natural vegetation and land contours during construction work
• protecting open space parcels that currently provide water quality benefits
• improving or restoring open space parcels to provide water quality benefits
• requiring pumpouts at marinas
• request state designation of waterbodies as no-discharge zones
• improving wastewater treatment facilities
• developing standards for septic systems, including routine inspections
• reducing or eliminating combined sewer outfalls
• establish training practices on appropriate road maintenance practices
• providing public education and outreach programs for specific groups such as property owners or farmers
• developing tools such as pollution potential models and GIS-based models to help in determining priorities for water quality improvements
• establishing a water quality monitoring program
• implementing changes in institutional arrangements to coordinate implementation of water quality improvements
• revising local land and water use controls to protect and restore water quality
• implementing specific actions to achieve compliance with Phase II Stormwater Permits, as applicable 

Partners and Links

The NYS DOS Division of Local Government, as part of the New York City Watershed Protection and Partnership Council, has a variety of resources, including its annual Watershed Reports, online.

The NYS DEC Division of Water can provide assistance with conserving, improving, and protecting water resources and controlling pollution.

Of interest to waterfront communities is NYS DEC's compiled information on funds for protecting clean water. A variety of funds are available for municipal wastewater treatment improvement, pollution prevention, agricultural and non-agricultural nonpoint source abatement and control. Significant support is available to acquire open space that protects water resources, and to acquire public parklands and protect farmland. Funding is also available to help small businesses protect the environment and to address flood control for small municipalities and improve the safety of dams throughout New York.

The Stormwater Phase II Program requires permits for stormwater discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) in urbanized areas and for construction activities disturbing one or more acres.

The Environmental Facilities Corporation's (EFC) mission is to promote environmental quality by providing low-cost capital and expert technical assistance to municipalities, businesses and State agencies for environmental projects in New York State. Its purpose is to help public and private entities comply with federal and State environmental requirements. EFC's primary activities are the State Revolving Funds (SRF), the Industrial Finance Program (IFP), and Technical Advisory Services (TAS). EFC also administers the NYS Clean Vessel Assistance Program to increase the availability, public awareness and public use of pumpout stations for marine recreational vessels.

The Department of Transportation funds and implements environmental benefit projects that improve water quality, restore wetlands, promote eco-tourism, protect fish and wildlife, and enhance transportation corridors through its Environmental Initiative.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) can provide information on water quality programs and assistance with planning and managing watersheds, water quality, and wetlands.