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The Hudson River

The Hudson River
Estuary
Estuary
Selected Concepts Selected Concepts
Physical Processes Physical Processes
Glaciation Glaciation
Erosion Erosion
Deposition Deposition
Episodic Events Episodic Events
Biological Communities Biological Communities
Human Modification Human Modification
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Wisconsin Wisconsin Glaciation Glaciation
Ice Ages Ice Ages - - 6 million to 10,000 6 million to 10,000
YBP YBP
At maximum, the ice was three At maximum, the ice was three
kilometers thick and covered kilometers thick and covered
the Adirondack and the Catskill the Adirondack and the Catskill
Mountains. Mountains.
The ice sheets scraped away The ice sheets scraped away
bedrock and soil and reshaped bedrock and soil and reshaped
the landscape. the landscape.
Recession started about Recession started about
21,000 years ago. 21,000 years ago.
The glaciers deposited a The glaciers deposited a
dense mixture of sand, gravel, dense mixture of sand, gravel,
and clay, (glacial till) up to 50 and clay, (glacial till) up to 50
meters thick. meters thick.
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2003NE/finalprogra
m/abstract_50391.htm
http://www.skidmore.edu/sssg4/environment/geology.htm http://www.skidmore.edu/sssg4/environment/geology.htm
Lake Albany Lake Albany
Glacial Lake Albany occupied Glacial Lake Albany occupied
the Hudson River Valley from the Hudson River Valley from
Poughkeepsie to Glens Falls. Poughkeepsie to Glens Falls.
In this area, the shore of the In this area, the shore of the
lake was found at the 450 foot lake was found at the 450 foot
elevation contour. elevation contour.
Sediments from the glaciers Sediments from the glaciers
were deposited in Glacial Lake were deposited in Glacial Lake
Albany. Albany.
Water eventually worked its Water eventually worked its
way through a dam near way through a dam near
Poughkeepsie, and Glacial Poughkeepsie, and Glacial
Lake Albany drained to the Lake Albany drained to the
Hudson River. Hudson River.
http://www.skidmore.edu/sssg4/environment/geolog http://www.skidmore.edu/sssg4/environment/geolog
y.htm y.htm
13,400 YBP
http:// http://www.whoi.edu/mr/pr/image.do?id www.whoi.edu/mr/pr/image.do?id=4135&aid=2078 =4135&aid=2078
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Erosion Erosion
Set of processes by Set of processes by
which soil and rocks which soil and rocks
are moved downhill, are moved downhill,
downcurrent downcurrent, and , and
downwind downwind
Can be accelerated or Can be accelerated or
decelerated by decelerated by
human actions human actions
Weathering Weathering
Physical Physical
Chemical Chemical
Biological Biological
Movement Movement
Gravity Gravity
Wind Wind
Water Flow Water Flow
Waves Waves
Wind Wind
Vessels Vessels
Ice Ice
Wentworth Scale of Particle Size Wentworth Scale of Particle Size
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Velocity, Erosion, and Velocity, Erosion, and
Sedimentation Sedimentation
Hjulstrom HjulstromDiagram Diagram
Sand Sand- -size size
particles are particles are
most most erodable erodable
(erode at lowest (erode at lowest
velocity) velocity)
For small For small
particles, particles,
transport transport
velocity much velocity much
less than less than
erosion velocity erosion velocity
Estuary Water Movement Estuary Water Movement
Freshwater inflow Freshwater inflow
Upper Hudson (~60%) Upper Hudson (~60%)
Mean 12,500 Mean 12,500 cfs cfs
Tidal Flow Tidal Flow
+/ +/- - 200,000 200,000 cfs cfs @ 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 Motions Wave Motions
Particles in a wave travel circular paths Particles in a wave travel circular paths
The water in a deep The water in a deep- -water wave does not move water wave does not move
forward forward
Below wave base, wave effects are negligible Below wave base, wave effects are negligible
http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/EarthSC202PowerPoint/Wave%20Erosion%20and%20Marine%20Geology.ppt
Wave Impacts at Shoreline Wave Impacts at Shoreline
Water depth < wave depth Water depth < wave depth
Bottom of wave slows Bottom of wave slows
Top of wave spills or breaks Top of wave spills or breaks
Wave imparts energy Wave imparts energy
to sediments and structures to sediments and structures
Potential energy (height of wave) Potential energy (height of wave)
Kinetic energy (mass x velocity Kinetic energy (mass x velocity
2 2
) )
Can erode or deposit material Can erode or deposit material
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Wave Generation Wave Generation
Wind Wind
Shear stress of wind on water surface Shear stress of wind on water surface
Wind velocity Wind velocity
Fetch Fetch Distance wind has to act Distance wind has to act
Vessel Vessel
Displacement of water Displacement of water
Large and small vessels Large and small vessels
Shoreline Ice Pack Shoreline Ice Pack
Ice Scour Ice Scour
Sediments Sediments
Vegetation Vegetation
Benthos Benthos
Damage Damage
structures structures
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Sedimentation of the Estuary Sedimentation of the Estuary
The estuary formed The estuary formed
nearly 6,000 years nearly 6,000 years
ago. ago.
In places, sediment In places, sediment
deposits beneath the deposits beneath the
estuary are more than estuary are more than
700 feet thick. 700 feet thick.
Currently near Currently near
equilibrium, equilibrium, ie ie input = input =
output output
http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/2004/story02 http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/2004/story02- -05 05- -04.html 04.html
Sedimentation Sedimentation
Annually 1.2 to 5.6 million metric tons of silt and Annually 1.2 to 5.6 million metric tons of silt and
fine sediment enter the river fine sediment enter the river
0.3 million MT trapped in the Estuary Turbidity 0.3 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 river 0.05 million MT trapped in bays, bends, and river
bottom bottom
Areas of new accumulation only occurs in Areas of new accumulation only occurs in
localized areas (scour areas, dredged areas) localized areas (scour areas, dredged areas)
Dynamic Dynamic
Deposition interrupted by scour events Deposition interrupted by scour events
http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/2004/story02 http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/news/2004/story02- -05 05- -04.html 04.html
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Episodic Events Episodic Events
Large effects on Estuary Large effects on Estuary
Erosion and Deposition Erosion and Deposition
Precipitation Precipitation
Storm Surge Storm Surge
Waves Waves
Ice jams (floods & scour) Ice jams (floods & scour)
Nutrient Inputs and Removal Nutrient Inputs and Removal
Examples Examples
Hurricane Floyd Hurricane Floyd
September 16, 1999 September 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 Hudson
pushing the river over its banks. Phyllis Lake in HR Almanac Vol VI
9/25 New Hamburg, HRM 67: Todays 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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Noreaster Noreaster
December 1992 December 1992
Storms Storms
May 1984 May 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 J ams Ice J ams
J anuary 1996 J anuary 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 the
Catskill Creek.
http://zircon.union.edu/Mohawk_ice/2000_jam.html
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/aly/photos/photo.htm
Ice J ams Ice J ams
March 1936 March 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 grave piled up today near Castleton, creating a grave
threat to the safety of communities along the lower threat to the safety of communities along the lower
Hudson. Hudson.
The Castleton jam backed up water as far North as The 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 to
a depth of two to three feet." a depth of two to three feet."
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Trend in Sea Level Trend in Sea Level
2.77 mm/year
0.9 ft/century
Ecological Communities Ecological Communities
Edinger Edinger et al. 2002 et al. 2002
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/heritage/draft_ecny2002 http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/heritage/draft_ecny2002.htm .htm
Natural Natural
Tidal River Tidal River
Freshwater (Salinity <0.5 Freshwater (Salinity <0.5 ppt ppt ) )
Subtidal Subtidal aquatic bed aquatic bed
Tidal marsh Tidal marsh
Tidal swamp Tidal swamp
Intertidal Intertidal mudflats mudflats
Intertidal Intertidal shore shore
Brackish (Salinity >0.5 Brackish (Salinity >0.5 ppt ppt) )
Subtidal Subtidal aquatic bed aquatic bed
Tidal marsh Tidal marsh
Intertidal Intertidal mudflats mudflats
Intertidal Intertidal shore shore
Cultural / Artificial Cultural / Artificial
estuarine submerged structure estuarine submerged structure
estuarine channel/artificial estuarine channel/artificial
impoundment impoundment
estuarine impoundment marsh estuarine impoundment marsh
estuarine dredge spoil shore estuarine dredge spoil shore
estuarine riprap/artificial shore estuarine riprap/artificial shore
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Habitats Habitats
Shallow basin and backwater areas Shallow basin and backwater areas
Exposed shoreline Exposed shoreline
Shallow shore zone areas with rooted Shallow shore zone areas with rooted
aquatic vegetation aquatic vegetation
Deep water areas with relatively high Deep water areas with relatively high
velocities velocities - -
Shallow Shallow Shorezone Shorezone with Rooted with Rooted
Aquatic Vegetation Aquatic Vegetation
Natural or artificial Natural or artificial
Plants depend on the degree of inundation, Plants depend on the degree of inundation,
salinity, and nearby terrestrial communities salinity, and nearby terrestrial communities
Provide cover and protection for invertebrates Provide cover and protection for invertebrates
and small fishes ( and small fishes (mummichog mummichog, killifish, and other , killifish, and other
shallow shallow- -water species) water species)
Include the brackish tidal marsh, brackish Include the brackish tidal marsh, brackish
intertidal intertidal mudflats, freshwater tidal swamp, mudflats, freshwater tidal swamp,
freshwater tidal marsh, freshwater freshwater tidal marsh, freshwater intertidal intertidal
mudflats, and estuarine impoundment marsh mudflats, and estuarine impoundment marsh
communities communities
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Exposed Shoreline Exposed Shoreline
High energy environments High energy environments
wave action and ice scour are more severe than for the deeper wave action and ice scour are more severe than for the deeper
aquatic beds aquatic beds
organic matter is scoured organic matter is scoured
primarily sand and gravel substrates primarily sand and gravel substrates
less vegetated than the aquatic bed communities, although less vegetated than the aquatic bed communities, although
some of the same species may be present. some of the same species may be present.
Fauna Fauna
Invertebrates Invertebrates - - isopods, amphipods, mollusks, zebra mussels isopods, amphipods, mollusks, zebra mussels
(FW) (FW)
Fishes Fishes - - striped bass, white perch, American shad, striped bass, white perch, American shad, blueback blueback
herring, and alewife. herring, and alewife.
Include brackish and freshwater Include brackish and freshwater intertidal intertidal shore shore
communities, and the estuarine riprap/artificial shore communities, and the estuarine riprap/artificial shore
community community
Shallow basin and backwater Shallow basin and backwater
Freshwater or brackish Freshwater or brackish subtidal subtidal aquatic bed communities aquatic bed communities
Low energy Low energy
Low current velocity Low current velocity
Promote settling of suspended organic matter and finer sediments Promote settling of suspended organic matter and finer sediments. .
Freshwater Freshwater
Vegetation Vegetation - - water celery, pondweed, waterweed, naiads, water chestnut and water celery, pondweed, waterweed, naiads, water chestnut and
Eurasian milfoil Eurasian milfoil
Invertebrates Invertebrates - - oligochaetes oligochaetes, isopods, amphipods, and , isopods, amphipods, and chironomids chironomids
Fishes Fishes - - primarily young, of white perch, primarily young, of white perch, spottail spottail shiner, striped bass, various shiner, striped bass, various
members of the sunfish family, and others members of the sunfish family, and others
Brackish Brackish
Vegetation Vegetation - - sago pondweed, horned pondweed, waterweed, sago pondweed, horned pondweed, waterweed, coontail coontail, and the , and the
exotic Eurasian milfoil exotic Eurasian milfoil
Invertebrates Invertebrates - - The same groups of invertebrates, although typically different The same groups of invertebrates, although typically different
species, but also decapods (crabs) and mollusks . species, but also decapods (crabs) and mollusks .
Fishes Fishes - - striped bass, and bay anchovy striped bass, and bay anchovy
Birds Birds - - canvasback duck, bufflehead, common canvasback duck, bufflehead, common goldeneye goldeneye, merganser, greater , merganser, greater scaup scaup, ,
snowy egret, and great blue heron snowy egret, and great blue heron
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Deep water areas with relatively Deep water areas with relatively
high velocities high velocities
Tidal River community Tidal River community
High Energy High Energy
Turbulent currents that keep sediments in suspension Turbulent currents that keep sediments in suspension
Bottom Bottom - - hard or soft hard or soft
Little vegetation Little vegetation
Fishes Fishes - - Atlantic and Atlantic and shortnose shortnose sturgeon, sturgeon, hogchoker hogchoker, ,
American eel, Atlantic tomcod, American shad, American eel, Atlantic tomcod, American shad, blueback blueback
herring, alewife, bay anchovy. Some species, such as herring, alewife, bay anchovy. Some species, such as
striped striped bass,and bass,and American shad are pelagic American shad are pelagic spawners spawners, ,
which release their eggs in these areas and the eggs which release their eggs in these areas and the eggs
and early larvae drift in the water currents until they have and early larvae drift in the water currents until they have
developed swimming capabilities. developed swimming capabilities.
Human Modification Human Modification
Attempt to retard, halt, or reverse the Attempt to retard, halt, or reverse the
natural processes natural processes
Improve the environment to suit human Improve the environment to suit human
needs needs
Often has unintended consequences Often has unintended consequences
Began with human habitation of the valley Began with human habitation of the valley
Continuing Continuing
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Fill and Railroads Fill and Railroads
Tivoli Bays Tivoli Bays
The North Bay has been The North Bay has been
largely filled with a fresh largely filled with a fresh- -
water tidal marsh since water tidal marsh since
1900, while the South Bay 1900, while the South Bay
is now almost filled with is now almost filled with
sediment. sediment.
The neck of land The neck of land
connecting connecting Cruger Cruger Island Island
to the mainland was a to the mainland was a
natural wetland prior to natural wetland prior to
construction of a construction of a
causeway circa 1835 for causeway circa 1835 for
vehicle access. vehicle access.
http:// http://www.ulster.net/~hrmm/hvrr www.ulster.net/~hrmm/hvrr
/funk.htm /funk.htm
Dams & Navigation Locks Dams & Navigation Locks
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Hardened Shorelines & Industrial Hardened Shorelines & Industrial
Development Development
Recreational Boating Recreational Boating
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Shoreline Modification Shoreline Modification
Dredging and Spoil Disposal Dredging and Spoil Disposal
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Invasive Species Invasive Species
Mills et al 1996 Mills et al 1996
113 non 113 non- -indigenous species of indigenous species of
vertebrates, vascular plants, vertebrates, vascular plants,
and large invertebrates and large invertebrates
10% of exotic species have 10% of exotic species have
major ecological impacts major ecological impacts
Significant impacts Significant impacts
Plants Plants
Curly pondweed Curly pondweed
Watercress Watercress
Water chestnut Water chestnut
Water mil Water mil- -foil foil
Purple loosestrife Purple loosestrife
Fish Fish
Carp Carp
Brown trout Brown trout
Northern pike Northern pike
Rock bass Rock bass
Smallmouth bass Smallmouth bass
Largemouth bass Largemouth bass
Black crappie Black crappie
Invertebrates Invertebrates
Mud Mud bithynia bithynia
Zebra mussel Zebra mussel
Crayfish (5 species) Crayfish (5 species)
State of the Estuary State of the Estuary
Present Present
Natural, long Natural, long- -term processes term processes
Episodic events (natural and man Episodic events (natural and man- -assisted) assisted)
Man Man- -made alterations made alterations
Future Future
Natural, long Natural, long- -term processes will continue term processes will continue
Episodic events will continue Episodic 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 maintaining and habitats to a more natural state while maintaining
human uses human uses
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In the long run, nothing is as In the long run, nothing is as
futile as trying to resist futile as trying to resist
shoreline change. shoreline change.
Change can be resisted for a Change can be resisted for a
while, but when the water wants while, but when the water wants
something badly enough, it will something badly enough, it will
come in and take it. come in and take it.
http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/EarthSC202PowerPoint/Wave%20Erosion%20and%20Marine%20Geology.ppt