Water Quality Monitoring in the Kayaderosseras Creek and Saratoga Lake
Alicea Cock-Esteb '09, Alexandra Furman '09, Judy Halstead, Department of Chemistry, and Kim Marsella, Environmental Studies Program

Water quality parameters were determined for one lake and various tributaries throughout the Kayaderosseras Creek watershed in Saratoga County , NY . Discharge measurements (cubic feet per second) were also determined at eleven sites. Field measurements included dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, conductivity, and pH. Samples were collected and subsequently analyzed for total phosphorous (TP), phosphate, total mitrogen (TN), nitrate, dissolved organic compounds, and total suspended solids (TSS). There were three major components of the study. The first focuses on the impact of the two inlets (Spring Run and Bog Meadow Brook) into Lake Lonely . Spring Run and bog Meadow Brook were found to contribute significantly to Lake Lonely 's nutrient (TN and TP) and salinity loading. Bog Meadow has a discharge that is approximately three times greater than Spring Run. The second portion of the study focused on the Lake Lonely outlet and its confluence with the Kayaderosseras Creek. High conductivity from the Lake Lonely outlet impacts the overall conductivity of the Kayaderosseras Creek even though the flow is only approximately one fifth of the Kayderosseras Creek. The third study focuses on a total of nine tributaries throughout the Kayaderosseras Creek watershed and their individual impacts on the Kayaderosseras Creek: Upper Kayaderosseras, Main Kayaderosseras, Glowegee Creek, Geyser Brook, Clover Mill upstream, Clover Mill downstream, Morning Kill, Spring Run, and Bog Meadow Brook (at two different sites). Tributaries that are further upstream in the watershed and farther from human habitation and development have lower nutrient levels and conductivity in comparison to those tributaries further upstream in the watershed and adjacent to highways, development and habitation. Spring Run and Bog Meadow Brook have the highest nutrient and conductivity levels measured. This study is a part of an ongoing water monitoring study conducted through the Skidmore College Water Resources Initiative.

Full report is not available. Please contact Judy Halstead for more information.