We plan to conduct additional chemical and biological water quality monitoring in seven monitoring sites in the watershed. The seven sampling sites are evenly distributed across the watershed to capture spatial variability of watershed conditions. Surface water quality sampling will be conducted to assess the loading inputs of nutrients, TSS and bacteria to the Neshanic River, as well as the movement of nutrients, TSS and bacteria from basin to basin to identify and quantify the sources of pollution under dry weather and wet weather conditions. Biological sampling will be conducted so that the benthic macroinvertebrate community can be better characterized, compared, and evaluated for biological integrity.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA, 2000) Stressor Identification (SI) process will be performed to accurately identify any type of stressor or combination of stressors that might cause biological impairment. We will follow the procedure outlined in the EPA’s Stressor Identification Guideline Document (USEPA, 2000). All activities will be coordinated with the appropriate staff at the NJDEP. A stream characterization analysis will also be conducted to determine the stream stability and the stage of the stream as defined by the Channel Evolution Model and/or Rosgen Classification. Although the Rosgen Classification may not be appropriate for all stream segments in the watershed, the parameters developed for the Rosgen analysis (eg., bank full stage, flood plain width, entrenchment ratio, sinuosity, channel bed material, and stream slope) will provide useful information that will help the project partners better identify BMPs that are suited for restoring the watershed.
The University of Rutgers Cooperative Research Extension will be responsible for this task.
Progress and Status:
- Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Water Quality Monitoring that details the selection of sampling sites, sampling process under dry and wet weather conditions and low/no flow conditions, and parameter testing procedures and costs was submitted to to NJDEP for approval.
Results and Outcomes:
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