Oswego River AOC - Delisted
Benjamin Klein
(klein.benjamin@epa.gov)
312-886-1305
The Oswego River AOC was delisted in 2006.
Overview
The Oswego River/Harbor Area of Concern is located on the southeastern shore of Lake Ontario and is centered in the city of Oswego, New York. The AOC includes the harbor area and the lower segment of the Oswego River up to the Varick power dam. The harbor itself is characterized as a multiple-use resource and over 1.2 million people live in the drainage basin. The Oswego River watershed includes the Finger Lakes, industries, municipalities, and extensive areas of farmland and forest, totaling an area of over 5,100 square miles.
The Oswego River/Harbor was designated an Area of Concern on the Great Lakes under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1987.The Oswego River/Harbor AOC was delisted in 2006. It was the first United States AOC to be removed from the binational list of AOCs. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation continues to monitor the AOC with support from the EPA.
Prior to delisting, the Oswego River/Harbor AOC was degraded due to hazardous waste sites, municipal sewage discharges, combined sewer overflows, and runoff from streets and agriculture. Due to the above pollution sources, contaminants found within the AOC included polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, cyanide, grease, oil, mirex, and excessive levels of phosphorus. Another concern in the AOC was reduced fish spawning habitat due to water flow restriction at the Varick power dam.
Beneficial Use Impairments
Following the success of remediation and restoration work, the four beneficial use impairments, or BUIs, in the Oswego River/Harbor AOC were restored. These BUIs are listed below. Beneficial use impairments are designations given by the International Joint Commission representing different types of significant environmental degradation. As cleanup work is completed and monitoring demonstrates sufficient environmental health improvements, BUIs can be removed. Once all BUIs are removed, the process of delisting the AOC can begin.
- Restrictions on Fish and Wildlife Consumption - Removed July 2006
- Degraded Fish and Wildlife Populations - Removed July 2006
- Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat - Removed July 2006
- Eutrophication or Undesirable Algae - Removed July 2006
More information:
- General information about BUIs: Beneficial Use Impairments for the Great Lakes AOCs
- Great Lakes Areas of Concern: Life After Delisting
Remediation and Restoration Work
Oswego AOC was officially delisted in 2006 after review of impairments within the AOC demonstrated improvement to levels similar to other areas in Lake Ontario. The remaining fish consumption advisory in the area is due to activities outside of the AOC. Impairments resulting from activities outside of the AOC are monitored and addressed through the Lake Ontario Lakewide Action and Management Plans.
Prior to delisting, EPA continually worked with federal, state, and local partners to address the impairments within the AOC. Since the designation of the AOC, the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Oswego River power dam license was established and committed to providing enhanced run-of-river flow throughout the year. Other efforts in the AOC included corrective actions by the city of Oswego to address combined sewer overflows, practices to reduce municipal and industrial point and nonpoint sources of pollutants, fish surveys, water quality monitoring, sediment surveys, and assessment of other potential impairments.
Partners
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