Valatie Kill

The Valatie Kill watershed is made up of the lands draining into the Valatie Kill and its tributaries. The Valatie Kill joins Kinderhook Creek in Valatie, Columbia County, and the watershed extends upstream into southern Rensselaer County through the towns of Schodack and Nassau to Alps. The Valatie Kill flows into and out of Nassau Lake.

The Valatie Kill watershed is the site of the Dewey Loeffel landfill, a heavily contaminated former dump that received hazardous wastes from 1953 to 1970. According to the NYSDEC, "The contamination of Nassau Lake and its watershed with PCBs is of concern at this site. Off‐site environmental and biota (fish) sampling continue to show elevated levels of PCBs. The NYSDOH advises against eating fish from Nassau Lake and the Valatie Kill upstream of the lake. However, levels of PCB in sediment are low and recreational use of the lake is not restricted. A hydrogeologic investigation has confirmed that groundwater is affected in an area south of the site which was previously thought to be outside the drainage area. GE has provided filters on three private drinking water wells to the south of the site and one well to the north. A Remedial Design project to enhance the operation of the containment system is underway."