Projects

Watershed Restoration Plan for the Upper Salem River Watershed

The Watershed Restoration Plan will concern the Upper Salem River above the Salem River at Woodstown, which appears on Sublist 5 for phosphorus and on Sublist 4 for fecal coliform according to the New Jersey 2004 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report. This waterway, including Memorial Lake, has been elected a priority segment as per NJDEP Division of Watershed Management.

Phase I of this work is currently being funded by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and includes the identification of sources of nonpoint source pollution through visual assessment and spatial analysis. Phase II of this work, is the Watershed Restoration Plan for the Upper Salem River Watershed.

Based upon the NJDEP/United States Geological Survey (USGS) water quality monitoring network, the Upper Salem River is impaired for phosphorus and is 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 17.9 miles of the Upper Salem River. This TMDL requires 84% reductions in nonpoint source bacteria loads from this agriculturally dominated watershed. Furthermore, the Salem River up to and including Memorial Lake are priority stream segments. Ultimately, the goal of this project is to improve the water quality of the Salem River by developing a Watershed Restoration Plan that when implemented will achieve the required TMDL reduction and bring the waterway into compliance with surface water quality standards for phosphorus.

This watershed-based plan will include the following:

• identify the causes and sources that will need to be controlled to achieve the load reductions that are estimated 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 nonpoint pollution sources (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/education 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 loading 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.

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.

Enter Upper Salem Visual Assessment data here.

Project Funding Source: NJDEP 319(h)

For a more detailed scope of work, click here.

Watershed Restoration Plan for the Upper Salem River Watershed: Phase I - Project Report - May 2006

Watershed Restoration Plan for the Upper Salem River Watershed: Phase I - Project Report Appendices - May 2006

Contacts:
Lenny Rera
Cumberland/Salem County Soil Conservation District
Natural Resource Specialist
1513 Deerfield Pike
PO Box 144
Deerfield, NJ 08313
Phone: 856-451-2422/Fax: 856-451-1358
cumbsoil@aol.com

Christopher C. Obropta, Ph.D., P.E.
Assistant Extension Specialist
Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension
14 College Farm Road
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Katie Giacalone
Program Associate
Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension
14 College Farm Road
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Project Partners:
Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension Water Resources Program
Christopher C. Obropta, Ph.D., P.E.
Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences
Assistant Extension Water Resources Specialist, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
14 College Farm Road
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-932-4917/Fax:732-932-8644
obropta@envsci.rutgers.edu

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Salem County
Dave Lee, Cooperative Extension Department Head
51 Cheney Rd, Suite 1
Woodstown, New Jersey 08098
Phone: 856-769-0090/Fax: 856-769-1439

Borough of Woodstown
Jeanette M. Gerlack, Borough Clerk
P.O. Box 286
Woodstown, NJ 08098-0286

Township of Pilesgrove
Edward J. Kille, Mayor
1180 Route 40
Pilesgrove, NJ 08098
Phone: 856-769-3222/Fax: 856-769-5490

Upper Pittsgrove Township
Jack Cimprich, Mayor
PO Box 786
Elmer, NJ 08318
Phone: 856-358-2763/Fax: 856-358-8773

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