Effects of Dam Reaeration on
Waste Assimilation Capacities of the
Mohawk River
MICHAEL A.  MASTROPIETRO, Sanitary Engineer
Bureau of Water Quality Management
New York State Department of Health
Albany, New York
INTRODUCTION
In 1965, the New York State Health Department decided to study in detail
two of the major rivers in the state. It was decided that separate studies would
be done in the Mohawk River, which flows into the Hudson River and on the Upper
Hudson (non-tidal) and Lower Hudson (tidal). The purpose of these studies would
be to develop mathematical water quality models for the main stems of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers. These models could then be used by the State to predict
water quality, determine treatment requirements, and aid in the management of
the water resources of the basins.
Due to the lack of engineering personnel it became necessary to contract the
studies out to consulting engineering firms. Hydrosciencelnc. of Leo ni a, Newjersey
was awarded the Mohawk contract and Quirk, Lawler and Matusky of New York
City was awarded the Hudson study. In both studies the State agreed to participate actively by supplying personnel, equipment,  and laboratory facilities.
At the start of the Mohawk Study, several problems were envisioned. One of
these was how to evaluate dam reaeration at the many dams along the Mohawk
River and Barge Canal. The situation was compounded because the dams varied
in physical characteristics and there was no historical data to give an insight to
the problem. This paper presents the technique that was used to evaluate dam
reaeration and determine its effects on the waste assimilation capacity of the
Mohawk River.
THE MOHAWK RIVER BASIN
The headwaters of the Mohawk River are in forested areas north of Rome,
N. Y. From there the flow is south to Delta Reservoir where excess runoff is stored
to be used during periods of low rainfall to maintain navigation in the Barge
Canal. Below Delta Reservoir the flow continues south to Rome and the Barge
Canal. Here the river turns abruptly eastward and flows past Utica, Little Falls,
Amsterdam, Schenectady, and a host of smaller communities on its way to its
confluence with the Hudson River. For a short distance after joining at Rome, the
Mohawk River and the Barge Canal are one and the same and they separate to join
again at Frankfort. Between Frankfort and St. Johnsville the Mohawk River and
the Barge Canal separate and join again at several points. From St. Johnsville
eastward to the Crescent Dam in Cohoes the canal and the river flow together.
They separate at the Cohoes Falls and join again at Green Island just before
meeting the Hudson. Figure 1 is a general location map of the Mohawk River and
Barge Canal.
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