Monitoring Program Design

Chemical measures refer to the chemical composition of the water and can be attributed to natural and human sources. Some examples of chemical substances in the water are nutrients (e.g., phosphorus and nitrogen), heavy metals (e.g., lead and mercury), acidity, hardness, salts (e.g., sodium and chloride), and contaminants of emerging concern (e.g., PFAS and PFOA).

Physical measures cover attributes that are measured within the water and the surrounding watershed. Some examples of physical measures within the water include temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, total dissolved solids, salinity, depth, and substrate and habitat summaries. It is often informative to understand the non-aquatic physical measures in the immediate area and the watershed, which can impact water quality. Some examples include the amount of vegetation on the shore or bank of a waterbody, the amount of canopy cover above a waterbody, land use (e.g., forested, agricultural, residential, industrial, etc.) in the watershed, elevation, and geology.

Biological monitoring, or biomonitoring, provides information on the relative health of an ecosystem. The organisms found in our waterbodies are good indicators of water quality because they must survive in the conditions prior to our monitoring. The types and numbers of organisms collected from polluted water differ from those collected in unpolluted water. These organisms help us determine the quality of the water and detect changes over time. 

Macroinvertebrates, fish, and algae are all widely used in biomonitoring. Although DEC collects information on all these aquatic organisms, macroinvertebrates are collected and analyzed most routinely.

DEC biomonitoring adheres to the procedures outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures: Biomonitoring Field Methods. Biomonitoring Enumeration Identification, and Biomonitoring Calculations. This ensures uniformity of methods and accuracy of data when performing biological monitoring of surface waters in NYS. Quality assurance documents are standard operating procedures are available at the DEC Water Quality Assurance webpage.

The Water Quality Measures by Program table is a high-level overview of the chemical, physical, and biological measures collected by DEC's Division of Water monitoring programs. Programs that are not managed by the Division of Water, such as the Great Lakes, Wetland, and Coastal programs, are not incorporated into the table below. For a more detailed overview of the measures collected by the Division of Water, please refer to the related Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) found on the DEC's Quality assurance webpage.

Following the RIBS cycle, the Screening Network provides an assessment of water quality at sampling sites statewide based on chemical, biological, and physical monitoring. Data are collected from up to 15 lakes and approximately ~60 river and stream locations in each major drainage basin.

Please see the Water Quality Measures by Program table for an overview of the water quality measures collected by this program.

Special Studies are designed to answer specific questions regarding habitat and water quality. These studies often employ sampling such as depth integrated water chemistry, bottom sediment and invertebrate tissue chemistry, toxicity testing, or habitat assessment, depending on the focus of the survey. Special studies are conducted in streams and lakes and typically span 1-2 years. Clean Water Planning and SPDES Permitting and Compliance monitoring are two common types of special studies.

Clean Water Planning Monitoring

DEC’s Integrated Report under CWA Section 305(b) and 303(d) describe the quality of all water resources in NYS and those specific waters that do not meet water quality standards, do not support best uses, and required the development of a TMDL, respectively. While the 303(d) list identifies waters that do not meet NYS’s water quality standards and do not support best uses, DEC uses an adaptive strategy for protection and restoration and prioritizing development of clean water plans across the state. Those priorities are described in the “Vision Approach” document available at Clean Water Plans – DEC.

The “Vision Approach” document is a prioritization framework based on EPA’s guidance in their 2022-2032 Vision for the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) Program. For those waterbody segments indicated as high priority, DEC may have additional water quality data collection needs associated with establishing a clean water plan. Data needs are determined on an annual basis according to the 303(d) program commitments made by the DEC to the EPA.

Data collected through DEC’s monitoring programs are used in the development of clean water plans. Data uses include:

• Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM);
• Vision waterbody prioritization;
• Watershed and waterbody modeling;
• Post clean water planning monitoring.

SPDES Permitting and Compliance Monitoring

DEC monitoring programs focus on ambient water quality. The programs do not collect water quality data from or near known discharges. Monitoring related to SPDES permitting and compliance is conducted at the specified outfall location in the permit, which consists of 100% treated wastewater. However, where appropriate, NYS allows acute and chronic mixing zones to be established of varying shapes and sizes based on the site-specific mixing characteristics. These are areas in the receiving water where impacts to aquatic life are allowed, but where acute (survival) and chronic (propagation) criteria must be met at the respective edges. For more information about SPDES permitting please visit: Wastewater, Stormwater and Water Withdrawal Permits.

Source Water Monitoring

DEC monitors ambient water quality of public water supplies (PWS) that are surface waters in support of the Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2), which is a locally led, state-supported program that empowers municipalities to improve and protect their public water sources. As part of this effort, DEC is working towards sampling all active and backup PWS to gain a better understanding of statewide ambient conditions and to prioritize future monitoring and outreach. 

Monitoring ambient water quality of PWS can proactively identify water quality concerns early and inform clean water planning to protect source waters. For municipalities interested in establishing PWS monitoring programs visit Recommendations for Monitoring Source Water Quality (PDF).

The Groundwater Ambient Monitoring Program is a collaborative effort between the DEC and the United State Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct yearly comprehensive sampling and analysis of groundwater including field and physical parameters, bacteria, nutrients, inorganics, organics (including pesticides and VOCs), and radiochemicals. Sampling is conducted by USGS using both public and private wells.

Sampling results are available through the National Weather System and data reports are available for each major basin through USGS’s Groundwater Quality Monitoring in NY webpage.

Beginning in 2024, DEC and USGS initiated a redesign effort of the monitoring program to ensure that it is efficiently and effectively addressing the evolving groundwater quality needs of the state. The redesign will include a thorough review of trends and drivers of groundwater water quality across the state to identify monitoring priorities and to improve the overall understanding of groundwater quality in the state. Future groundwater sampling will follow the redesigned program strategy. 

The Division of Water’s citizen science programs engage the public in water quality monitoring and management for our ponded and flowing waters. Other terms include participatory science, community science, or public participation in scientific research. 

Water Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators (WAVE)

WAVE is a citizen-based water quality assessment developed by DEC. The purpose of WAVE is to enable citizen and community scientists to collect biological data for assessment of water quality in wadeable streams in NYS. WAVE citizen and community scientists collect benthic macroinvertebrates any time between July 1 and September 30. Participants collect riffle-dwelling benthic macroinvertebrates and preserve one or two example specimens of each macroinvertebrate type in a voucher collection. See the 2022 publication NYS’s WAVE Method - Evaluation of a Method for Water Quality Monitoring by Citizen Scientists using Benthic Macroinvertebrates - PMC (nih.gov).

The WAVE program collects biological data at various locations around the state and provides the River and Stream Screening Network with potential future sites.

County, municipal, and not-for-profit organizations may use WAVE data to support local stream restoration and/or protection efforts. DEC is very interested in tracking these applications of the WAVE data. If you are involved or are aware of a use of the WAVE data, please contact the WAVE Coordinator.

The WAVE coordinator identifies all macroinvertebrates in the WAVE samples to the level of family and uses this data to calculate a WAVE score:

Become a WAVE Volunteer Today

To become a WAVE volunteer, you must first complete a participation waiver. Links to the WAVE waiver, survey forms and FAQs can be found in the Sampling Guide (PDF). 

WAVE training is available online. Get trained in the WAVE method today from the comfort of your own home using the WAVE Training video.

All WAVE announcements are sent to our DEC Delivers email list. To sign-up, visit DEC's email service webpage.

Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP)

The Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP) is a volunteer lake monitoring program directed by DEC staff in collaboration with the NYS Federation of Lake Associations (NYSFOLA). Through this program, relationships between lake associations, academic and private research institutions, and municipal, county, and state entities are built statewide. The program aims to collect representative water quality data in lakes throughout NYS to evaluate current and long-term water quality conditions, empower stakeholders to understand and protect water quality locally, and inform statewide waterbody management through assessment and listing and clean water planning.

Please see the Water Quality Measures by Program table for an overview of the water quality measures collected by this program. 

For more information, please visit: CSLAP Sampling Activities.

The DEC’s Shellfish Harvest Area Classification Unit monitors water quality in New York State’s marine district to classify waters for the harvest of shellfish. It uses the Systematic Random Sampling (SRS) strategy to monitor and assess approximately 1,500 sampling stations for fecal coliform bacteria levels. Testing results are assessed and compared to standards for the geomean and the 90th percentile to determine if the SRS analysis criteria is met to allow the harvest of shellfish. Analysis criteria can be found in the National Shellfish Sanitation Program’s Model Ordinance (NSSP-MO). 

The DEC’s Shellfisheries Bureau manages the Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program to monitor marine habitats and to identify local waters where biotoxins may be occurring. Marine biotoxins have the potential to harm marine organisms and human health. 

For general information about shellfishing and temporary closures in New York State, please visit DEC’s Shellfishing webpage.

The DEC’s Great Lakes Watershed Program provides support to state and federal agencies, universities, nonprofit organizations, and local communities to protect and restore water quality in the Great Lakes. The program provides grant funding, coordinates training and educational opportunities, and foster’s community engagement and stewardship. For more information, please visit: Great Lakes - NYSDEC.

The DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife and the New York Natural Heritage Program monitor, assess, and regulate wetlands in NYS. Classification of all natural ecological community types in New York State, including wetland types, are available in an interactive map on DEC’s Environmental Resource Mapper and can be downloaded from the NYS GIS Clearinghouse. Wetland conditions are assessed through wetland rapid condition assessment methodology, known as NYRAM, a wetland functional assessment methodology, and participation in USEPA’s National Wetland Condition Assessment. Regulatory preservation, protection, and conservation are provided by the Freshwater Wetlands Program and the Tidal Wetlands Program. 

NYS has more than 80,000 freshwater river and stream miles. DEC’s River and Stream Probability Sampling collects and evaluates water quality in these waterbodies statewide on a 2-year cycle. Results from this effort provide statewide water quality condition estimates and are summarized in the 305(b) report.

DEC uses the GRTS algorithm for collecting a balanced set of stream sizes (Strahler Order) statewide. Without this algorithm, random sampling would be biased to smaller streams because they occur more frequently throughout the state. 

DEC adheres to the procedures outlined in the Rotating Integrated Basin Studies (RIBS) River and Streams Quality Assurance Project Plan to ensure uniformity of methods and data accuracy. These documents are available from DEC Water Quality Assurance webpage.

Please see the Water Quality Measures by Program table for an overview of the water quality measures collected by this program.

NYS has more than 7,600 freshwater lakes, ponds, and reservoirs that are used for recreation and supply water to homes, industries, and farms. DEC’s Lake Probability Sampling collects water quality samples and evaluates these waterbodies statewide on a 2-year cycle through the Lake Classification and Inventory (LCI) program. Results from this effort provide statewide water quality condition estimates and are summarized in the 305(b) report. 

LCI uses the GRTS algorithm for collecting a balanced set of lake sizes across the state. Without this algorithm random sampling would be biased to smaller lakes because they occur more frequently throughout the state.

DEC adheres to the procedures outlined in the LCI Lake Monitoring Program Quality Assurance Program Plan to ensure uniformity of methods and data accuracy. These documents are available from DEC Water Quality Assurance webpage.

Please see the Water Quality Measures by Program table for an overview of the water quality measures collected by this program.

The network of "routine" sites provides annual, statewide information for a network of permanent sites to understand long-term trends in flowing waters. Currently, there are 40 Routine Network sites across NYS, which are monitored annually regardless of the RIBS Monitoring cycle. Ambient water column chemistry is the primary focus of the Routine River Network and is collected 4 times each year. Sampling for the Routine River Network is largely conducted by DEC staff working in regional suboffices. Routine River Network sites are co-located with United States Geological Survey (USGS) gage stations to facilitate loading calculations for TMDL development and other watershed planning initiatives.

Data collection from these sites paired with other river and stream monitoring data, such as resident macroinvertebrate communities, have been instrumental in identifying statewide water quality trends over time. See DEC’s 2018 publication "Long-term trends in biological indicators and water quality in river and streams of NYS (1972 - 2012): Water Quality Trends in NYS"

Please see the Water Quality Measures by Program table for an overview of the water quality measures collected by this program. 

In collaboration with the USEPA and other Northeast States, DEC participates in Regional Monitoring Networks (RMNs) for Lakes and Streams. These RMNs collect biological, thermal, chemical, and hydrologic data from freshwater lakes, ponds, and wadeable streams. This information is used to help quantify and detect long-term changes in conditions of high-quality waterbodies. Detection of such changes can inform water quality criteria and indicator development, as well as responses to climate change impacts.

The Lake Routine Network captures long term trends and includes 28 sites sampled annually by a combination of CSLAP volunteers and DEC staff. Data and analysis of long-term trends in lakes help understand changes in water quality over time.