Surface water quality is of concern to all citizens in New York state, as drinking water sources, places of recreation, and wildlife habitat. Forty-four sites were sampled in 2017 along the 121 mile length of the Mohawk River (Delta Lake to the confluence with the Hudson River), typically, within a 10-24 h period by boat or from the river’s edge in order to generate single day “snap-shot” data sets. Each sample was analyzed for fecal indicator bacteria (Enterococcus) using IDEXX’s Enterolert method (EPA Standard Method 9230D). Fifty-two percent of all samples failed the EPA’s Beach Action Value of 60 colony forming units/100 ml of sample (CFU/100 ml) for Enterococcus. Of the sampling sites, only Delta Lake passed 100% of the time. Other fecal indicator bacteria, total coliform, and E. coli, were measured in samples from selected sites using the IDEXX Colilert system (EPA Standard Method 9223B). These bacteria may enter the waterway through combined sewer overflows, separate sewer system failures, septic system failures, and urban surface water run-off, or agricultural run-off (including domestic and wildlife sources). The 2017 dataset indicates that contamination is greatest after precipitation events in both tributaries and the main stem.