Site ID: NB16
Bedminster Township, Somerset County
Stream Category: FW2-NT (Category 2, Non-trout waters)
Site monitors Raritan River North Branch (Lamington River to Mine Brook) subwatershed (HUC: 02030105060090)
The site is located downstream of the Middle Brook, where the stream splits, forming an island. Site can be located from the stream access point on River Road for our Mine Brook site, then heading downstream to the confluence.
What is being monitored at this site?
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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.
Select a parameter below to view annual data. Hover over the chart to get more information.
The HGMI at NB16 was found to be good in 2019, which means it was not biologically impaired. This site is located within an agriculturally rich section of our watershed, which means that run off from farm fields as well as lack of riparian buffers are likely negatively impacting the water quality of this stream. The biggest water quality issues that we found at this site were high levels of phosphate, chloride, and high specific conductance in the water. Chloride and specific conductance are both measures of the salt content of the water. Higher salt content in freshwater systems can disrupt normal biological function. Most of the anthropogenic phosphates and salts in streams comes from stormwater run-off, wastewater treatment plants, and septic systems. High levels of nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates cause an overgrowth of bacteria and algae and eventually result in oxygen depletion. More sustainable farming practices, less road salting, and keeping an intact riparian buffer may help to increase water quality in this stream.
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.
Raritan Headwaters Association (RHA), Rutgers Cooperative Extension – Water Resources Program and NJ Water Supply Authority are excited to announce
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