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Projects
Musquapsink Watershed Restoration & Protection Plan, Bergen County, NJ
Based upon the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Ambient Biomonitoring Network (AMNET) data and data collected by the NJDEP/United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Musquapsink Brook is impaired for phosphorus and aquatic life and listed on Sublist 5 of the New Jersey 2004 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report. Additionally, a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for fecal coliform has been proposed for 6.6 miles of stream. This TMDL requires a 96% reduction in nonpoint source (NPS) bacteria loads from this residential watershed. The goal of this project is to improve the water quality of the Musquapsink Brook by developing a Watershed Restoration Plan that achieves the required TMDL reductions and reduces the NPS pollutant loading that is contributing to the aquatic life and phosphorus surface water quality impairments so that water quality standards may be met.
This watershed-based plan will:
- identify the causes and sources that will need to be controlled to achieve the load reductions that are estima ted as part of this watershed-based plan;
- estimate the load reductions expected for the management measures that are identified as part of this watershed-based plan;
- identify NPS management measures that will need to be implemented to achieve the load reductions estimated as part of this watershed-based plan;
- identify critical areas for the implementation of these NPS management measures;
- estimate the amounts of technical and financial assistance needed to implement the plan;
- identify potential sources of funding to implement each management measure that is identified in the plan;
- outline an informational/educational plan to enhance public understanding of the project and encourage early and continued participation in implementing the plan;
- develop a ranking system to identify where resources should be targeted;
- provide a schedule for implementing the NPS management measures that are identified in the plan;
- outline a set of criteria that can be used to determine whether load reductions are being achieved over time and if substantial progress is being made toward attaining water quality standards, and
- detail a monitoring component to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation efforts over time.
Water Quality Monitoring Stations
For projects such as the Watershed Restoration Plans, one of our goals is creating a very detailed watershed characterization through the aid of USDA's Stream Visual Assessment Protocol. Visual assessments include the characterization of physical stream conditions such as channel stability, riparian buffer, water appearance, and many other parameters. The visual assessment process allows us to rate different features of a stream that often may not be quantifiable, and the process also allows us to be able to sort and organize the data collected with ease. Also, after biological and chemical water quality data are collected, we’ll be able to build relationships between stream structure, morphology, and land use with impairments in the waterway.
Project Funding Source: NJDEP 319(h)
Contacts:
Christopher C. Obropta, Ph.D., P.E.
Assistant Extension Specialist
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
14 College Farm Road
New Brunswick, NJ 08901Robert Miskewitz, Ph.D.
Senior Project Manager
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
14 College Farm Road
New Brunswick, NJ 08901Katie Giacalone
Program Associate
Rutgers Cooperative Extension
14 College Farm Road
New Brunswick, NJ 08901Project Partners:
• Bergen County Department of Health Services
• WMA 5 Technical and Public Advisory Committees
• United Water New Jersey
• Washington Township
• Westwood Borough
• Woodcliff Lake Borough
• Paramus Borough
• River Vale Township
• Emerson Borough
• Hillsdale Borough
