Raritan Basin
Watershed
Management
Plan
South Branch Raritan River
Presentation Overview
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Why do we have a Raritan Plan?
What does the Raritan Plan envision?
What are the real water issues in the Raritan
Basin, and how does the plan address them?
What are the next steps?
What is the worth of water?
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when you haven’t a drop to drink
when you have too many drops to drink
when the drops can’t get to you
when you wouldn’t want the drops
even if they could get to you
What is a Watershed?
•Area of land
that drains into
a body of water
(river, lake, stream
or bay)
•Watersheds define
the quantity and
quality of water
available for human
and ecosystem use
Why do we manage
watersheds?
•To improve water quality
•To protect natural resources
• To
protect water quantity
• To
meet public needs for
watershed resources
Lower Raritan - Edison Township
The Raritan Basin
Watershed
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Largest river basin entirely
within NJ
1,100 square mile area
Includes 3 Watershed
Management Areas
Encompasses parts of 7
Counties and 100
Municipalities
Basin Streams
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Much of mainstem
Raritan River is tidal
North and South Branch
Raritan to northwest
Mainstem Raritan and
South River to southeast
Millstone River to south
central
Topography
and Geology
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Highlands - 17%
(Ridges of hard rock;
Valleys of limestone
and shale)
Piedmont - 61%
(shale & sandstone
with hills of Diabase
and Basalt)
Coastal Plain – 22%
(Unconsolidated
deposits of sand/clay)
Why Create a Watershed Plan?
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Clean Water Laws
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Surface water quality
Ground water quality
Supporting ecosystems
Supporting human uses
Point & nonpoint sources
Habitat degradation
Ecosystem Protection
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Freshwater wetlands
Streams and flood plains
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Water Supply Laws
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Reservoirs
Aquifers
Public supplies
Domestic supplies
Industrial uses
Agricultural uses
Recreational uses
Ecosystem protection
RARITAN BASIN WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROJECT
NORTH &
SOUTH BRANCH
RARITAN WMA
RARITAN
BASIN
COUNCIL
LOWER
RARITAN WMA
WORK GROUPS
BASIN EDUCATION &
OUTREACH COMMITTEE
TECHNICAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
Attributes of the Raritan Plan:
Raritan Basin Council
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A Watershed Management
Plan “describes how a watershed
will be taken from its existing
condition to a desirable future
condition.” The plan should be:
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Resource-oriented
Objective-oriented
Change-oriented
Raritan Plan
Components
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Executive Summary
Vision
Goals & Objectives
Characterization & Assessment of Key Issues
Implementation Strategies
Implementation Challenges & Recommendations
Evaluation Method
Planning and Decision-Making Process Summary
“Watershed
management,
while seen as a
technical exercise,
is primarily a
political exercise.”
Tom Schueler, Center for
Watershed Protection
In order to protect the water, we
must begin with the land”
“
Parris Glendening, Governor of Maryland, 2002
Purpose of the Raritan Plan
Cooperation of public and private interests to
remedy past damages, prevent future harm to
water resources, and ensure that human uses
of Basin resources remain within sustainable
levels that protect Basin ecosystems
Vision Statement
We envision a Raritan River Basin in which the
following occurs as quickly as possible but no later
than within a generation:
Overcoming the Past
Managing the Future
Taking Responsibility
Maintaining Vigilance
Vision Statement
Overcoming the Past: The impacts of existing and
former land and water uses and pollutant discharges are
remedied so that water quality, water supplies, flood plains,
aquatic habitats and, indeed, the total capacity of Raritan
River Basin as a water resource are restored to health.
Vision Statement Continued
Managing the Future: Future land uses, pollutant
discharges and water uses are carefully managed and
remain within the long-term sustainable resource levels.
Land uses and people are not placed at risk from
flooding and other natural disasters. Land preservation
efforts protect the vital water resources of the Raritan
River Basin.
Vision Statement Continued
Taking Responsibility: All individuals living and
working in the Raritan River Basin understand and take
responsibility for the impacts of their actions on the
Raritan River Basin, and for being part of the solution.
Vision Statement Continued
Maintaining Vigilance: Decision makers in the public,
private and non-profit sectors learn from the past,
anticipate the future, understand the dynamics of our
complex region, and act in concert to protect the vital
natural resources of the Raritan River Basin
If the Plan = Action, Who Acts?
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Implementation relies on voluntary action by many interests:
– NJDEP — grants, acquisition, regulations and permits
– State/Federal agencies — fund, build, operate projects
– County and municipal government—ordinances,
acquisition, manage land, build & operate projects
– Non-governmental groups—implement projects and
educate the public
– Citizens and businesses—manage buildings and lands,
and take personal action
“The push for perspective
must be tied to a push for
institutions to implement the
results.”
“The lesson of the Everglades:
This stuff is really tough.”
G. Edward Dickey, Ph.D.
Former Acting Assistant
Secretary for the Army
Characterization & Assessment
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Identify & compare current status and trends
to desired conditions
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What IS?
What SHOULD BE?
Many uses – guides and justifies effort,
focuses thinking, helps avoid the “red
herring” issues
Population
Changes
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Clearly shows
development
intensity in the
Raritan Basin
So What Are the
Major Water Issues?
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Surface water pollution
Loss of riparian areas
Biological impairment of streams
Ground water losses
Water supply limitations
Stormwater impacts
Surface Water Pollution
Assessment of Surface Water
Quality Status and Loads
Objectives
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Water quality and trends
Pollutant loads of permitted and
non-permitted sources
Relations to land use and stream flow
Pike Run – Millstone Watershed Management Area
Stream
Classifications
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NJDEP Surface Water
Classifications
(provide basis for water
quality and uses of
surface waters)
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Green – Trout Production
Red – Trout Maintenance
Blue – Non-trout
Yellow – Saline
Quality and
Flow
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USGS looked at
flow versus
concentration,
loads, seasonal
patterns, etc.
What Are the Raritan Basin’s
Big Water Quality Issues?
• Most frequent quality concerns
(percent exceeding criteria)
– Phosphorus
32%
– Fecal Coliform
29%
– Trout Water Temp 12%
• Impaired stream habitat
• Pesticides – human health and aquatic life
• No known violations for industrial solvents (VOCs)
Eutrophication
Pollutant Loadings –
NPS vs. PS
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Suspended Solids – Most of load from NPS,
generally more than 2/3 of load
Dissolved Solids – Most of load from NPS
except very low flow conditions
Nitrates – Most of load from point sources
(PS) except high flow conditions
Phosphorus – Some streams, most of load
from PS at low flow, but NPS at high flow.
Some watersheds all loads from NPS
Relation to Land Use
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Forested Land
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Higher dissolved oxygen
Lower excess nutrients, suspended
sediment & temperature
Developed Land
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Lower dissolved oxygen
Higher excess nutrients, suspended
sediment, temperature & sodium
Best Stream Quality
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Mulhockaway Creek, Spruce Run &
Lamington River
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North Branch Raritan at Chester
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Best overall quality for the most parameters
Lowest Ammonia-Nitrogen
Manalapan Brook & Upper Millstone River
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Lowest Sodium
Worst Stream Quality
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Millstone, Neshanic and Mainstem Raritan Rivers
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South Branch Raritan
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Total Dissolved Solids, Alkalinity
Lamington and North Branch
Raritan River
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Worst overall quality for most parameters
Chloride
Matchaponix Brook
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Total Dissolved Solids, Low pH
Trends of Future Concern
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Total Dissolved Solids
Chloride
Sodium
Key Goals for Surface
Water Quality
To achieve appropriate water quality so
that ecological balance and appropriate
uses of the watershed are maintained
 Nonpoint source loads that allow
fishable/swimmable waters, healthy
aquatic ecosystems, water-based
recreation, and a quality water supply
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How Will We Get There?
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Regulatory actions to restore impaired waters
Improved stormwater controls
Subwatershed approaches
Lake restoration projects
Increased performance standards for highly
sensitive watersheds
Correction of in-stream erosion problems
Integrated Crop Management
Loss of Riparian Areas
Riparian Area
A – Trout Stream
B/C – Wildlife Passage Corridor
D – Freshwater Wetlands
E – Wetlands Transition Area
F – 100 Year
Floodplain
G – Steep Slope
H - Soils
Riparian Area
Conversion
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Historical riparian
area may have looked
like this
Early Settlement:
Forested to Ag
Recent Pattern:
Forested and Ag
to Urban
Riparian Area
Conversions
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Shows percent of
subwatersheds
converted to nonnatural land cover
Bar chart – status
of subwatersheds
by Management
Area
Key Goals for Riparian Areas
Open water and other wetland resources
protected and restored to improve
functions and ecosystem services
 Sufficient preserved open space and
stewardship activities to fully protect
water resources
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How Will We Get There?
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Preserve riparian areas through acquisition
Preserve through development design
Reforestation of damaged riparian areas
Special focus on headwaters protection
Stream Impairment
Stream Biology
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NJDEP biological
assessments in
Raritan, 1993 & 1998
Level of moderate
impairment decreased
but severe impairment
increased slightly
Non-impaired streams
mostly in forested
areas – no change
overall
Headwaters
Streams
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Streams with no tributary
streams flowing to them
Smallest streams, lowest
flows, most vulnerable
Weakest regulation, but
constitute 50 percent of
all mapped stream miles
Critical to larger streams:
provide critical flow and
biological support
Key Goals for Stream Impairment
No degradation or destruction of
headwaters
 Restoration of degraded headwaters
 Restore and protect the integrity of
stream channels affected by scour,
erosion and sedimentation from
stormwater flows
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How Will We Get There?
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Comprehensive stream stabilization/restoration
projects for subwatersheds of concern
“Adopt-a-stream” and “River Friendly” programs
Control new stormwater flows to prevent stream
scouring and erosion
Ground Water Losses
Ground Water
Recharge Change
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136 subwatersheds –
130 showed losses
Majority of losses in
0-10% range
Some losses in
10-25% range
6 subwatersheds show
minimal gains (<3.5%),
probably from re-growth
of vegetated areas
Ground Water
Quality
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Contaminated sites
grouped around Route
1, Route 22 and Raritan
River in northeast Basin
180 within well head
protection areas (of
980 contaminated sites)
Septic System Density
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Number of septic systems each watershed can handle
without high risk of harming aquifers
Varies within each watershed – analysis gives average
lot sizes during average conditions
Septic System
Capacity
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Average density of septic
systems by subwatershed;
Nitrate target of 5.5 mg/L
Lower Raritan – Average
lot size range from 2.4 to
11 acres/septic system
Millstone – 2.6 to 3.9
Upper Raritan – 1.6 to 3.4
Controversial – what risk
levels and standards are
appropriate?
Key Goals for Ground Water
Adequate ground water recharge and
baseflow to maintain all future water
needs
 The quality of ground water will be
maintained, improved and protected
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How Will We Get There?
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Ground water recharge restoration projects
Ensure no net loss of ground water recharge
Treatment and use of contaminated supplies
Sustainable septic system densities
Septic system management
Water Supply Limitations
Droughts
Water Use
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Know your
aquifers
Know the
demands
Understand the
future
Plan for it!
US Forest Service map
Water Supply
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Surface Water
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NJWSA 225 MGD
New Brunswick
8 MGD
Others – limited
Constructed facilities
Ground Water
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80-135 MGD total
Amount uncertain
Naturally available
Not concentrated
Population
Density Change
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Population growth by
percent isn’t the only
issue
Population density
changes provide a
different approach to
viewing watershed
stresses
Sewer Service
Areas
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Existing Sewered Areas
and Areas Approved for
Future Sewer Service
From Wastewater
Management Plans
Eastern area –
discharges to Bay
State Plan
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Relationships to Sewer
Service Areas
What sewer areas in
PA 4 and 5? Centers or
sprawl?
What PA 1 and 2 lands in
septic system areas?
What conflicts with water
resources?
Transportation
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Urban Land within 1
Mile of Highways:
80% of all 1986 urban
land within 1 mile
59% of new urban land
between 1986 and 1995
within 1 mile
Key Goals for Water Supply
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A sustainable and dependable water
supply for human and ecological needs
How Will We Get There?
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Establish subwatershed water budgets and
keep uses within sustainable levels
Equitable allocation practices
Better local drought response practices
Conservation and alternative sources for local
water supplies
New surface water facility by 2040
Stormwater Impacts
Stormwater Systems: Old and New
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Older developments -stormwater systems
have few or no controls
Recent development -better controls but
generally not up to most
current standards
Maintenance is always
an issue
This diagram shows how development and its corresponding increase in impervious
cover disrupts the natural water balance. In the post-development setting, the
amount of water running off the site is dramatically increased.
Center for Watershed Protection “Impacts of Urbanization”
Impaired Streams
Floods
Impervious
Surfaces
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Darker color = higher
impervious surface
Densest development
follows State/ Federal
highway orientation
Suburban residential
scattered
Closely related to
watershed health
Land Uses
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Eastern Raritan Basin
more urbanized than
western areas
Relationship of urban
uses to stormwater
generation
Impervious surfaces
important but not the
only issue
Key Goals for Stormwater
Quality of stormwater runoff will not cause or
contribute to surface water pollution
 Watershed-based management of
stormwater and flood damage reduction
 Minimized flood damages through
environmentally protective approaches
 Stormwater systems that produce no further
deterioration of receiving water bodies
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How Will We Get There?
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Watershed-based stormwater management
plans and regulatory controls
Watershed-based flood damage reduction
using nonstructural approaches where possible
Targeted control of stormwater in areas of
localized flooding concern
Control new development – no harmful effects
Focus on both volume and rate of runoff
Strategies with Multiple Benefits
Open Space
Preservation
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Open space for water
resources – not for
ball fields
Map shows critical
lands for water
resources – 40% of
Basin land area
Preserve through
acquisition, donation,
easement, and better
development design
Improved Development Practices
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Development Location
Development Layout
Development Design
Development Practices
Development Density
Redevelopment
Low Impact Site Design
Prince Georges County, Maryland
Restoration & Stabilization
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Flow restoration
Riparian area
restoration
Stream channel
restoration
Reforestation
Recharge
restoration
Organizing for Implementation
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NJDEP/NJWSA Project completed in 2002
Implementation depends on decisions by
governments, non-profits, other stakeholders
Partnership approach (Basin and Watershed
Management Areas) will continue
Very small coordinating staff planned
No duplication of programs by regional
coordinating staff – empower local efforts!
Some Final Thoughts
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Watershed management isn’t
guaranteed to be successful
Include components that can
succeed even if NJDEP changes focus
Not just complying with laws –
we can achieve much more than
mere compliance
Project Contacts
New Jersey Water Supply Authority,
Watershed Protection Unit
732-356-9344
NJDEP-Division of Watershed ManagementNorthern Bureau
609-633-3812
www.raritanbasin.org
Raritan Basin Project Partners
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NJ Department of Environmental Protection
NJ Water Supply Authority
Characterization & Assessment Project Team
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North Jersey Resource Conservation & Development Council
Rutgers Center for Environmental Communication
South Branch Watershed Association
Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association
United States Geological Survey
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Upper Raritan Watershed Association