Chemung County Water Quality Strategy Committee
Chair - Mark Watts Phone: (607) 739-2009
Mission
In 1993, Chemung County realized a need to formulate a strategy to protect and improve water quality. The Chemung County Water Quality Strategy Committee was organized to address various water quality impairments. A strategy was written and updated in 1996 to assist in the implementation of measures to improve and maintain the quality of water in Chemung County. In order to remain current, the Strategy was again updated in 2007.
In 1993, Chemung County realized a need to formulate a strategy to protect and improve water quality. The Chemung County Water Quality Strategy Committee was organized to address various water quality impairments. A strategy was written and updated in 1996 to assist in the implementation of measures to improve and maintain the quality of water in Chemung County. In order to remain current, the Strategy was again updated in 2007.
Goals
- Maintain an updated listing of countywide groundwater and watershed
specific water quality concerns.
- Collect, tabulate and consolidate available water quality information.
- Establish a network between agencies.
- Promote and introduce specific programs that assist in preventing or
alleviating water quality impairments.
- Educate the public on water quality issues.
- Evaluate the program and make amendments as needed.
- Maintain an updated listing of countywide groundwater and watershed
specific water quality concerns.
- Collect, tabulate and consolidate available water quality information.
- Establish a network between agencies.
- Promote and introduce specific programs that assist in preventing or
alleviating water quality impairments.
- Educate the public on water quality issues.
- Evaluate the program and make amendments as needed.
Water Quality stream sampling: What does it tell us
Every two months, members of the Chemung County Water Quality Committee go out to monitor surface waters across Chemung County. Currently there are 13 monitoring sites. Click here to view a map of the sites.
What type of monitoring do we do? In essence, we take a snapshot of each site. This type of monitoring demonstrates consistency or lack thereof, for the water at each sampling location. First off, general information is gathered; date, time and weather conditions. We use a sensor which is placed in the creek to gather data on specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, depth and temperature. Visual observations are noted for presence of aquatic life, clarity of water, presence of litter or debris in the water and flow. A sample of the water is collected and taken to the Elmira Water Board where analysis generates data for turbidity, alkalinity, hardness, chloride and pH.
So why do we do this? It allows us to obtain baseline data and track any changes at each site. There are a number of environmental impacts that can affect the data such as time of year, snow melt, rainfall and drought which have to be taken into account each time the site is sampled.
Currently, the waters we sample are very consistent. So what happens if we do see something different in our visual observations or get a spike or drop in our numbers? It depends on what we find. There are many partner members in the Water Quality Committee who might get involved. If it is trash or litter, the Friends of the Chemung River Watershed would be contacted to set up stream bank clean-up. Other “go-to” members are Chemung County Soil & Water Conservation District, Storm water Coalition or the County Department of Health. These partners would also be utilized to follow up and disseminate the changes in question.
Every two months, members of the Chemung County Water Quality Committee go out to monitor surface waters across Chemung County. Currently there are 13 monitoring sites. Click here to view a map of the sites.
What type of monitoring do we do? In essence, we take a snapshot of each site. This type of monitoring demonstrates consistency or lack thereof, for the water at each sampling location. First off, general information is gathered; date, time and weather conditions. We use a sensor which is placed in the creek to gather data on specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, depth and temperature. Visual observations are noted for presence of aquatic life, clarity of water, presence of litter or debris in the water and flow. A sample of the water is collected and taken to the Elmira Water Board where analysis generates data for turbidity, alkalinity, hardness, chloride and pH.
So why do we do this? It allows us to obtain baseline data and track any changes at each site. There are a number of environmental impacts that can affect the data such as time of year, snow melt, rainfall and drought which have to be taken into account each time the site is sampled.
Currently, the waters we sample are very consistent. So what happens if we do see something different in our visual observations or get a spike or drop in our numbers? It depends on what we find. There are many partner members in the Water Quality Committee who might get involved. If it is trash or litter, the Friends of the Chemung River Watershed would be contacted to set up stream bank clean-up. Other “go-to” members are Chemung County Soil & Water Conservation District, Storm water Coalition or the County Department of Health. These partners would also be utilized to follow up and disseminate the changes in question.
Stream Sampling Data
2021 Stream Data
2021_chemung_county_stream_sample_data.pdf
2021_chemung_county_stream_sample_data.pdf
For the detailed Water Quality report click here.
WQSC Partners