Ten Mile River bacteria levels drop

Caution advised as levels fluctuate

By SANDY LONG

TUSTEN, NY — New tests to monitor fecal coliform levels at Ten Mile River, a tributary of the Delaware River, were conducted by the park service on August 8. Results indicate a return to more typical summer levels, with two samples at 16 and 24 colonies per 100 ml and an additional sample, taken at the nearby boat launch area, showing 34 colonies.

The New York State Department of Health closes public beaches when fecal coliform levels top 200 colonies. Earlier tests showed levels of 521 and 790 colonies per 100 ml near the Stone Arch Bridge on the Ten Mile River.

The National Park Service (NPS) has performed post-flood water testing in various Delaware River and tributary sites for the past five weeks. NPS Natural Resource Specialist Don Hamilton explained that all rivers are subject to the land-use practices that occur within their watersheds, with non-point source pollution, or runoff from the land, being the biggest threat to water quality in this region.

“We often see elevated fecal coliform bacteria counts in the river and its tributaries after heavy runoff events,” said Hamilton. “Fecal coliform bacteria is an indicator organism used to detect the possible presence of enteric pathogens (bacteria, parasites, viruses) and can come from a wide range of sources, including livestock and wildlife. Many things were disrupted by the recent flooding, including sewage treatment plants and septic systems, which may be the source of some higher counts in waters downstream of these sites.”

For the past three weeks, the 73 miles of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River has tested within normal summer ranges, but Hamilton pointed out that “concentrations can vary with time in this flowing, unconfined body of water, and we cannot guarantee any certain water quality conditions at any given time.” With some tributaries fluctuating unpredictably, Hamilton said, “It may be best not to swim directly in the plume of tributaries of the river at this time.

The NPS would like to be informed of any illnesses that river recreationists might have contracted while in or on the water. Call 570/729-7842 to report such information or to check the most recent river-testing results.