Site Description

Site ID: SB11
Clinton Township, Hunterdon County
Stream Category: FW2-NT (Category 2, Non-trout waters)
Site monitors Back Brook subwatershed (HUC: 02030105020070)
The site is located 300 meters downstream of the Clinton Sewage Treatment plant.

What is being monitored at this site?

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

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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 SB11

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

Threats and Recommendations

The HGMI at SB11 was found to be good  in 2019, which means it was not biologically impaired. Habitat and chemical parameters at this site also indicate a healthy stream, with the exception of elevated levels of phosphates. Most of the anthropogenic phosphates 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.  In systems like this, we must make an effort to preserve this high water quality and ecosystem health. Maintaining riparian buffers and improving green infrastructure can help to sustain and improve the health of this stream.

SB11

SB11

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