East river plankton/rotifers

[fishguttz]

Has anyone harvested rotifers, zooplankton or other from the East River?

I know they are there because the Peking at Southstreet gets them and so does the lower east side conservancy.

I tested the water recently and it registered low salinity. I did see plenty of copepods swimming in the water.

 

[fritz]

Dude you totally HAVE to do that and tells us what happens!

Seriously from what I've heard (and I've heard lots of sh_t), the "East RIver isn't polluted anymore.." I've never seen anyone drink a gallon of it but supposedly there is an abundance of non-mutant fish there.

 

[masterswimmer]

Of course it would be low SG. It is a FW river. When the tide is high it gets flow from the Atlantic. This creates some estuary conditions where the sw and fw mix. It does support sw life, but definitely at a lower SG than in the ocean.

For instance, the Hudson River gets saltwater 'backup' all the way up to the Mid-Hudson Bridge in Poughkeepsie. But the Hudson flows from Mt. Marcy in upstate NY as fw. It mixes as it gets south of Poughkeepsie.

In answer to your Q though, I haven't ever, nor would I take anything from the local waters and put it in my tank. Rotifers included.

swimmer

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

It would be a disaster! Do you know what else is in the east river? Cars, People, Construction material,. sewage and much much more.

 

[Josh]

Apparently in late summer you can find some sort of blue/black tangs around the docks of southern Manhattan. I guess they get lost in the gulf stream and end up here and on LI.

 

[masterswimmer]

Apparently in late summer you can find some sort of blue/black tangs around the docks of southern Manhattan. I guess they get lost in the gulf stream and end up here and on LI.

Josh, those are actually yellow tangs when they're in their natural habitat. They only turn blue/black when they reach Manhattan!

swimmer

 

[fishguttz]

Some cool bronx river info.

http://www.bronxriver.org/Appendices A-J.pdf

SG range from 1.007 all the way to 1.022 at bottom of Mouth of Bronx river

Plankton Populations of the Estuarine Section of the Bronx River

Shoreline: Plankton samples taken from the shallow waters of the Bronx River at Lafayette Avenue, and in Mid-Water from the mouth to Lafayette Avenue, indicate the presence of the same organisms as presented in the Mid-Year report, with the anticipated seasonal variability. These data clearly show that the Bronx River is supporting a diverse population of plankton sufficient to provide adequate food for fish using the estuary as a feeding and nursery ground.

B. Organisms Collected (Observed) from Bronx River Estuary
Vertebrate Organisms:
1. Fish
Naked goby -- Gobiosoma bosci
Seaboard goby -- Gobiosoma ginsburg
and many more fish.--FG

APPENDIX C
Bronx River Plankton Sampling Tows (Mid-channel Samples)
March and April 2003

Calanoid Copepods
Polychaete Larvae
Cypris Barnacle Larvae
Neomysis
Comb Jellies
Egg Sacs

Total Number of Individuals in a 3 ml concentrated sample approx 5000

 

[fishguttz]

If you look at the map I have linked above you'll see that the East river straits does not connect to any major fresh water source. At the north end it hits the Bronx river and then the Long Island sound. On the south end of course it hits the atlantic ocean. I think it is less saline on the surface because of local runoff but otherwise if you took a deep sample it would be around 1.022 and that is at a low temperature.

I know we all have preconceived ideas about the water quality, but should we quickly overlook such an abundant supply of free food and SW!!

The Hudson has primarly FW sources.

 

[NYPDFrogman]

OK here's the deal on the east river....

it is Saltwater, not brackish, I've taken salinty measurements ranged anywhere from 1.021-1.023 depending on temperature.
all of the storm sewers (ones you see on corners) empty into the east river or hudson river, this will effect saliniity if you take it after a rain storm.

the east river is getting better evidence is the return of "ship Worms" whicjh bore into the submerged pilings. I can say from expierence that east river is the cleanest of the surrounding rivers harlem, hudson and bronx river and westchester creek.

there is a tremendous amount of water flow in the east river which constantly brings in ocean life, late july early august there is a ton of tropical fish that come up with the Gulf stream, I have caught alantic Blue tangs ( yellow in juvey stage) queen angels, blue angels, four eye butterflys, file fish, grey angel, french angel, pipe fish.



great spot to get them is under the wall street heliport, there is a barge on pilings making the outer leg of the heliport, there is an ab undance of anenome, sponge, algae etc, they tend to hide in this artifical reef.

definity not the place to dive though, heavy current, lots of boat traffic and is a frequently dove area by the NYPD SCUBA team due to the threat of terrorism.


the fish I've collected through the years has had a low survival rate, not because of the water quality but IMHO the fish are well stressed from the 2000 mile+ ride and just simply cant adapt. the largest angel I caught was 3/4" long.


The SCUBA team has a 14-15" bumble bee grouper in a 180 (when they got it , it was 1.5") they readily feed it glass shrimp, and worms they catch right outside in slip.

I personally prefer not to go throught the hassle of collecting food, much easier to just hit LFS and buy it

 

[marrone]

How deep is the east river? I know it's not as deep as the Hudson but I do see barges with Tugboats going through it.

 

[masterswimmer]

Frank, in the map provided in the link above, it shows the East River running north to south. The northern end is inland, how can that be a saltwater river? The essence of the definition of the word river is a flowing body of water that EMPTIES INTO the ocean or a lake. How can that be saltwater?

Like I explained above, when there is high tide, the oceans will 'backflow' into the rivers causing a rush of saltwater into the freshwater. At the lowest point of a river (where it meets the ocean) the concentration of saltwater will undoubtedly be higher than miles upriver.

In the case of the East River, the point near the South Street Seaport is extremely close to the Atlantic. It only seems reasonable that there would be a higher SG there than farther up the river.

There are sightings of dolphins, seals and other larger marine life in the rivers surrounding Manhattan all the time. So finding smaller marine fish is by no means unheard of but rather matter of fact.

None of this changes my opinion that harvesting any rotifers or other life forms found in the lower extremities of any NYC watersheds is not something I would do or recommend to someone.

swimmer

 

[Josh]

OK here's the deal on the east river....

Cool! We have a local expert.

How big are the glass shrimps you found?

 

[NYPDFrogman]

Russ the north end of the east river connects with Long Island sound
at hell gate ( north end of roosevelt Island ) is where the east river splits and meets the harlem river. at that point when the tide is going out water heads north on the queens /bronx side past LaGaurdia to the long island sound. south of hell gate the outgoing tide travels south towards Govenors' Is
the harlem river travels north toward the henry hudson bridge. The hudson river on the out going tide creates a syphon causing the harlem river to flow north during an out going tide. Confused??? thats why the area known as hellgate is such difficult body of water to navigate through much less dive.

to answer Mike's question the avg depth of the channels in the east river is about 60' the river at 60th street is deep channel east side of roosevelt island is 80'

the water under the tribro at hellgate drops to 150' A hole dug by the wacky currents there.

the hudson river avg's 50-60' about mid way to the tapenzee bridge I'll have to dig out my charts to give you exact depths

 

[cali_reef]

thats why the area known as hellgate is such difficult body of water to navigate through much less dive.

Almost sunk my 19' Bayliner there about 15 years ago:redface: .

 

[masterswimmer]

Frank, great info. Confused, hellgate yeah!! :biggrin:
Thanks for taking the time to explain it. I have heard about the problems there. No first hand experience, but familiar with it.

swimmer

 

[NYPDFrogman]

Almost sunk my 19' Bayliner there about 15 years ago:redface: .

did you need help? did police assist? 15 years ago was my "hey day" on the SCUBA team!
I've had a 55' launch with twin turbo 1271 deisls screaming going through the gate at times. currents rip there