Site Description

Site ID: RC06
Tewksbury Township (Oldwick), Hunterdon County
Stream Category: FW2-TP(C1) (Category 1, Trout production waters)
Site monitors Rockaway Creek (below McCrea Mills) subwatershed (HUC: 02030105050090)
This site is located within the Whittemore Preserve, along the winding river trail. The site is located where the river is easily accessible via the trail, a short hike into the woods. There is a small pull-off along the roadway.

What is being monitored at this site?

• Biological and Visual Assessments (?)
• Chemical Testing (?)
• Bacteria Monitoring

Water Quality Data

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.

Site Data for RC06

Select a parameter below to view annual data. Hover over the chart to get more information.

Threats and Recommendations

The HGMI at RC06 was found to be good  in 2019, which means it was not biologically impaired. RC06 has consistently scored good, in recent years, with respect to HGMI, meaning that this stream has very high water quality. Though the HGMI scored high, the habitat scored sub-optimal. This site suffers from high embeddedness, which means that there are not spaces between the stream gravel for the stream macroinvertebrates to take refuge from predators. This site also has high sedimentation rates and low bank stability.  In systems like this, we must make an effort to preserve high water quality, while also mitigating the habitat issues. Increasing stream bank vegetation can help to increase bank stability.

What Can You Do?

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.

• Support RHA
• Use Your Voice
• Become River Friendly
• Participate in Our Annual Stream Clean Up
• Join Our Stream Monitoring Team
• Other Ways to Help