Site ID: MN01
Far Hills Township, Somerset County
Stream Category: FW2-NT (Category 2, Non-trout waters)
Site monitors Raritan River North Branch (incl Mine Brook to Peapack Brook) subwatershed. (HUC: 02030105060070)
The site is located on private property, downstream of the driveway bridge to Moorland Farm. This site is not to be accessed without consent from the property owner.
Each June, Raritan Headwaters scientists and volunteers visit 72 stream sites in the North and South Branch Raritan Watershed Region (WMA8) of New Jersey to collect data on the health of our streams. Data collected includes a sample of benthic macroinvertebrates (used to calculate the High Gradient Macroinvertebrate Index;HGMI score), an assessment of the habitat in and around the stream, and chemical conditions in the water. Chemical parameters include dissolved oxygen, phosphate, chloride, specific conductance, nitrate, turbidity, pH, and temperature. The HGMI is used by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to determine if the site is meeting state and national water quality standards under the Clean Water Act. Click here to learn more about our stream monitoring program and water quality reports.
The water quality at MN01 was found to be fair in 2018, but we could not access this site for sampling in 2019. This site is located within an agriculturally rich section of our watershed, which means that run off from farm field as well as lack of riparian buffers play a large role is shaping the water quality of this stream. More sustainable farming practices and keeping an intact riparian buffer can help to increase water quality in this region.
Many people take clean water for granted, but we know it takes vigilance and hard work to protect the water in our rivers, streams and homes.
And we can’t do it alone. We need your help to ensure that everyone within our reach has access to safe, clean water that is swimmable, fishable and, above all, drinkable.
In a major victory for public health, the federal government has taken a two-pronged approach to tackle harmful Per- and
Raritan Headwaters Association (RHA), Rutgers Cooperative Extension – Water Resources Program and NJ Water Supply Authority are excited to announce
With a rise in temperatures and an increase in stormwater flooding, it’s more important than ever for area residents with
As our volunteer lab coordinator this summer, Caleb Agyare assisted our watershed scientist in organizing a team of citizen scientists
Mother Nature was on the side of over 1,000 volunteers who turned out on Saturday, April 15, to clean up
Safe Drinking Water Programs are an essential environmental public health service. While commercial water companies are required by law to
