R. Lawrence Swanson

Managing coastal resources in the 21st century

Coastal ecosystems are increasingly dominated by humans. Consequently, the human dimensions of sustainability science have become an integral part of emerging coastal governance and management practices. But if we are to avoid the harsh lessons of land management, coastal decision makers must recognize that humans are one of the more coastally dependent species in the biosphere. Management responses must therefore confront both the temporal urgency and the very real compromises and sacrifices that will be necessary to achieve a sustainable coastal ecosystem, one that is economically feasible, socially just, and ecologically sound.

Increased Tidal Ranges Coinciding with Jamaica Bay Development Contribute to Marsh Flooding

Abstract Sea level rise has been identified as a possible factor contributing to marsh loss in Jamaica Bay, New York. However, Jamaica Bay has also experienced increases in tidal ranges throughout as a consequence of natural and engineering modifications that occurred in the bay during the first half of the twentieth century. The increases in the elevations of high tides are of the same order as the increase in regional sea level that occurred since the early 1900s. Marsh inundation in the bay is thus greater than noted to date and greater than that in adjacent bays where tidal ranges have been more stable. Changes in tidal hydrodynamics may be one more factor to consider in the list of potential causes of marsh loss in Jamaica Bay.

Deterioration of starch-plastic composites in the environment

The rate and extent of deterioration of starch-plastic composite and control plastic films were determined for films weathered in landfill, compost, soil, seawater and the strawline of a marsh. Films were placed in the exposure sites during the Spring of 1989 and sampled over a 28 month period. Environmental conditions at each exposure site were determined during each sampling event. Following placement, deterioration of the starch-plastic composite and control plastic films was determined by measuring changes in tensile properties, weight, starch content and morphology. Results showed that the rate of degradation of the starch-plastic composite films varied when weathered in different environmental settings. Rapid degradation and fragmentation of the films in the strawline of a marsh was primarily attributed to photodegradation. Lesser degradation was measured for films placed in compost, landfill, soil and seawater. Starch loss was measured for starch-plastic composite films in each of the exposure site...

Behavior of medically-derived 131I in the tidal Potomac River

Iodine-131 (t1/2=8.04 d) is administered to patients for treatment of thyroid disorders, excreted by patients and discharged to surface waters via sewage effluent. Radionuclides generally behave like their stable analogs; therefore, medically-derived (131)I is useful as a transport-reaction tracer of anthropogenic inputs and the aquatic biogeochemistry of iodine. Iodine-131 was measured in Potomac River water and sediments in the vicinity of the Blue Plains Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP), Washington, DC, USA. Concentrations measured in sewage effluent from Blue Plains WPCP and in the Potomac River suggest a relatively continuous source of this radionuclide. The range of (131)I concentrations detected in surface water was 0.076±0.006 to 6.07±0.07 Bq L(-1). Iodine-131 concentrations in sediments ranged from 1.3±0.8 to 117±2 Bq kg(-1) dry weight. Partitioning in the sewage effluent from Blue Plains and in surface waters indicated that (131)I is associated with colloidal and particulate organic material. The behavior of medically-derived (131)I in the Potomac River is consistent with the nutrient-like behavior of natural iodine in aquatic environments. After discharge to the river via sewage effluent, it is incorporated into biogenic particulate material and deposited in sediments. Solid phase sediment profiles of (131)I indicated rapid mixing or sedimentation of particulate debris and diagenetic remineralization and recycling on short time scales.

The incongruity of policies regulating New York city's sewage sludge: Lessons for coastal management

Abstract Single purpose legislation and/or policies targeting a specific waste or geographic region are often conflicting. The costs of complying with uncoordinated laws, regulations, and policies can be extremely expensive and perhaps in the long term provide little relief to problems of environmental stress. Such may be the case regarding the management of New York Citys sewage sludge. A more holistic and coordinated regulatory management approach is needed in order to optimize environmental protection/remediation at an affordable price.

Medically-Derived 131I as a Tool for Investigating the Fate of Wastewater Nitrogen in Aquatic Environments

Medically derived (131)I (t1/2 = 8.04 d) is discharged from water pollution control plants (WPCPs) in sewage effluent. Iodines nutrient-like behavior and the source-specificity of (131)I make this radionuclide a potentially valuable tracer in wastewater nitrogen studies. Iodine-131 was measured in Potomac River water and sediments in the vicinity of the Blue Plains WPCP, Washington, DC, USA. Dissolved (131)I showed a strong, positive correlation with δ(15)N values of nitrate (δ(15)NO3(-)) in the river, the latter being a traditional indicator of nutrient inputs and recycling. Surface water δ(15)NO3(-) values ranged from 8.7 to 33.4‰; NO3(-) + NO2(-) concentrations were 0.39-2.79 mg N L(-1) (26-186 μM). Sediment profiles of particulate (131)I and δ(15)N indicate rapid mixing or sedimentation and in many cases remineralization of a heavy nitrogen source consistent with wastewater nitrogen. Values of δ(15)N in sediments ranged from 4.7 to 9.3‰. This work introduces (131)I as a tool to investigate the short-term fate of wastewater nitrogen in the Potomac River and demonstrates the general utility of (131)I in aquatic research.

Synthesis for Management

Among the first and most densely settled of estuaries in the United States, Long Island Sound presents a trajectory of change common to many estuarine and coastal ecosystems. The challenges to managing this ecosystem for the future also are mirrored in other coastal systems. Improving management of Long Island Sound requires synthesis and integration of the underlying science. The implications of such insights to the ecosystem, including changes that may be driven by broader climate patterns, must be incorporated into regulatory and management approaches. To demonstrate the utility of this analysis, key advancements in the science of the Long Island Sound ecosystem are summarized. To support integration with management, we present essential elements of the Clean Water Act, providing specific examples of current program policies in synchrony or in conflict with the principles of ecosystem-based management. We then recommend a general framework and specific actions to support ongoing management of Long Island Sound.

How Do We Measure Them? Lessons from Long Island on Computing Recycling Rates

programs, as goals as part of general public policy, and as regulatory tools in permit processes. Therefore, the computation of a recycling rate for a particular program, region, or waste stream is often of public interest or may have legal implications. It is not clear that the rates reported to the public are the most appropriate. Municipalities may not report all the recycling credits they could claim. We also believe that what is reported to the public as recycling is not what the public perceives as recycling. This paper examines both concepts in the context of data collected from Long Island for 1994.

Superstorm Sandy marine debris wash-ups on Long Island - What happened to them?

Superstorm Sandy generated huge quantities of debris in the Long Island, NY coastal zone. However, little appears to have been washed offshore to eventually be returned to Long Islands beaches as marine debris wash-ups. Information for our analysis includes debris collection statistics, very high resolution satellite images, along with wind and sea level data. Rigorous debris collection efforts along with meteorological conditions following the storm appear to have reduced the likelihood of debris wash-ups.

Environmental consequences of the flooding of the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant during Superstorm Sandy

Failure of the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) during Superstorm Sandy led to adverse effects in the waters of Hempstead Bay, Long Island, NY. These appear to be related to large discharges of partially treated sewage through its primary and auxiliary outfalls. Modeled dilution discharges indicate that sewage infiltrated the bay, remaining up to 10days. Water column impacts included salinity and dissolved oxygen declines, and biological oxygen demand and nitrogen concentration increases. While the STP does not appear to have released fecal coliform, there were elevated levels of enterococci within the bay for a considerable period following the storm, probably from multiple sources. The STPs reduced functioning and associated environmental impacts, even with resilience upgrades, are not conducive to removing the bay from the list of Impaired Water Bodies. The results reinforce the need to transfer the discharge from the existing outfall to the ocean.