StreamWatcher Spring/Summer 2013 The STREAMWATCH MISSION Protecting and enhancing our watershed through chemical, physical, and biological monitoring, restoration, appropriate action, and education. Volunteers are the key! Your water. Your environment. Your voice. MILLSTONE RIVER DAM REMOVAL MONITORING HIGHER OXYGEN SATURATION IN NON-IMPOUNDED SITES Water quality monitoring for the removal of the Millstone River dams began again in April. Watershed staff visit each of 8 sites twice a month throughout the sum- mer to measure several physical and chemical parameters important to fish sur- vival, such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and turbidity. Our sample sites were chosen to represent various locations upstream and down- stream of the two dams we plan to remove at Blackwells Mills and Weston Cause- way. A distinct alteration of the natural habitat is shown upstream of the dams where river flow is blocked causing an impoundment. It is our hypothesis that the data will show that water quality and habitat conditions are better in locations out- side of these impoundments. We also expect the currently impounded sites to improve after the removal of the dams. In a preliminary analysis of data collected last summer, there is a definitive differ- ence between impounded and non-impounded sites. The graph below shows per- cent saturation of dissolved oxygen, averaged between the upstream and down- stream sites of both dams. The downstream sites (in blue) generally show a higher percent of dissolved oxygen than the impounded sites upstream (in red). Once the dams are removed, we expect this difference in results between dam locations to cease, causing a wide- spread improve- ment in dissolved oxygen and other parameters. Learn more about our dam removal project here! SCIENCE DEPARTMENT STAFF Jim Waltman SBMWA Executive Director Amy M. Soli, Ph.D Science Director Erin McCollum Stretz StreamWatch Program Coordinator Joseph Gradone Ted Stiles Intern Nicholas Ho GIS Specialist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . STONY BROOK-MILLSTONE WATERSHED ASSOCIATION J. Seward Johnson, Sr. Environmental Center 31 Titus Mill Road Pennington, NJ 08534 Phone: (609) 737-3735 Fax: (609) 737-3075 www.thewatershed.org For questions about how to get involved in the StreamWatch Volunteer Water Monitoring Program, contact Erin Stretz at 609-737-3735 x17 or [email protected]. The StreamWatcher Page 1 Spring/Summer 2013 IN THIS ISSUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE 1 Millstone River Dam Removal Monitoring PAGE 2 Announcements PAGE 3 Spring 2013 Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Results PAGE 4 February and May 2013 Bacteria Monitoring Results What’s Bugging You - What Causes Foam in My Stream? PAGE 5 View Our Data Upcoming Dates to Remember % Saturation Dissolved Oxygen
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StreamWatcher
Spring/Summer 2013
The
STREAMWATCH MISSION Protecting and enhancing our watershed through chemical, physical, and biological monitoring, restoration, appropriate action, and education. Volunteers are the key!
Your water. Your environment.
Your voice.
MILLSTONE RIVER DAM REMOVAL MONITORING HIGHER OXYGEN SATURATION IN NON-IMPOUNDED SITES
Water quality monitoring for the removal of the Millstone River dams began again in April. Watershed staff visit each of 8 sites twice a month throughout the sum-mer to measure several physical and chemical parameters important to fish sur-vival, such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and turbidity. Our sample sites were chosen to represent various locations upstream and down-stream of the two dams we plan to remove at Blackwells Mills and Weston Cause-way. A distinct alteration of the natural habitat is shown upstream of the dams where river flow is blocked causing an impoundment. It is our hypothesis that the data will show that water quality and habitat conditions are better in locations out-side of these impoundments. We also expect the currently impounded sites to improve after the removal of the dams.
In a preliminary analysis of data collected last summer, there is a definitive differ-ence between impounded and non-impounded sites. The graph below shows per-cent saturation of dissolved oxygen, averaged between the upstream and down-stream sites of both dams. The downstream sites (in blue) generally show a higher percent of dissolved oxygen than the impounded sites upstream (in red). Once the dams are removed, we expect this difference in results between dam locations to cease, causing a wide-spread improve-ment in dissolved oxygen and other parameters.
In 2013, these volunteers reach important milestones in environmental service to the StreamWatch program and the Stony Brook- Millstone Watershed Association.
THANK YOU!
STREAMWATCHER
MILESTONES
5 Years Kevin Gan Ken and Jackie Johnson Doug Lischick Carolyn and Jane Robertson Cynthia Sage Tara Zabrosky
10 Years Amanda Bennett
15 Years Kathy Easton
20 Years William H. Osborne, III
SAVE THE DATE!
13TH ANNUAL BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10TH
CHECK OUT THE NEW WEBPAGE JUST FOR STREAMWATCHERS!
You’ll find the sampling schedule, data sheets, and the StreamWatch Program Handbook. This page is for you — let me know if there is anything else you would like to see there!
Biological monitoring can help us understand the health of
our streams. Water quality ratings from aquatic benthic
macroinvertebrate collections are based on a combination of
the following parameters: the organisms’ tolerance to pollu-
tion; the number of different families in the sample; the num-
ber of families and individual organisms belonging to the or-
ders Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and
Trichoptera (caddisflies) - referred to as the EPT orders; and
the percent dominance of one family.
In general, a non-impaired stream, scoring above 24, has a
higher diversity of families, organisms with low tolerances to
pollution (those generally belonging to EPT orders), and a
low percent dominance, which is an indicator of diversity. A
moderately impaired stream, scoring between 9-21, may be
experiencing lower species diversity due to a lack of diverse habitat. A severely impaired stream, scoring 6 or
less, is generally dominated by few species with a high tolerance of pollution. Causes of pollution in our streams
include runoff containing high amounts of fertilizers, pesticides, oil, sediment, and/or pet waste.
Impairment Ratings of StreamWatch BAT Sites
Listed above are the impairment ratings for spring samples taken over the past three years. In spring 2012, sev-
eral sites had been impacted by Hurricane Irene that fall, causing a serious scouring of the stream bottom.
Thus, Six Mile Run and Ten Mile Run experienced a temporary decline in habitat quality, but have since re-
bounded as habitat conditions return to normal. Many other sites, including on Big Bear Brook, Back Brook, and
the first three sites on the Stony Brook, have remained at the same moderately impaired status. However, the
fourth site on the Stony Brook, at Pennington Rocky-Hill Road, and the Cranbury Brook have steadily deterio-
rated to a severely impaired status.
HOW HEALTHY IS YOUR STREAM? SPRING 2013 MACROINVERTEBRATE MONITORING RESULTS
The StreamWatcher Page 3 Spring/Summer 2013
SITE LOCATION SPRING 2013 SPRING 2012 SPRING 2011
BB1 Big Bear Brook, at Cranbury Rd. 15 15 12
BD3 Beden Brook, at Great Rd. Too Few to Analyze 27 21
BD4 Beden Brook, at Aunt Molly Rd. 24 24 30
BK1 Back Brook, at Bridgepoint Rd. Not Sampled 18 18
CB2 Cranbury Brook, at N. Main St. 9 15 18
SB1 Stony Brook, at Rt. 206 18 12 18
SB2 Stony Brook, at Province Line Rd. 21 21 18
SB3 Stony Brook, at Pretty Brook Rd. 24 Not Sampled 21
SB4 Stony Brook, at Pennington-Rocky Hill Rd. 6 6 15
SB5 Stony Brook, near Mine Rd. Bridge Not analyzed by date
of publication 15 9
SM1 Six Mile Run, near the canal 24 Too Few to Analyze 18
TM1 Ten Mile Run, near wing wall of bridge 18 3 21
Pollution-tolerant Bladder Snail Family: Physidae
- WHAT’S BUGGING YOU? - WHAT CAUSES FOAM IN MY STREAM?
HOW SAFE IS YOUR STREAM? FEBRUARY AND MAY 2013 E. COLI MONITORING RESULTS
The table below lists the StreamWatch bacteria monitoring sites and whether or not they met the state standard
for E. coli on our testing dates, February 4 and May 6. To meet the state standard for a single sample, meaning
the bacteria levels were low enough for safe recreation, there should be less than 235 colonies per 100 milliliters
of sample water. When a site does not meet the standard, it is usually just after a rainfall. It is recommended to
stay out of waterways for 2-3 days after rainstorms. The February samples were taken within 12 hours of light
snowfall, though the air and water temperature hovered around 0o C so there wasn’t any snowmelt. There was
no rain prior to the May samples, though the bacteria levels were generally higher than those from February. As
shown, none of the samples exceeded the criteria.
AVG. # OF COLONIES / 100 ML OF WATER
SITE NAME LOCATION FEBRUARY 4 MAY 6
CL2 Carnegie Lake, downstream from Millstone River 10 180
HO2 Honey Lake, on SBMWA property No sample 0
PR1 Pike Run, at Montgomery Park 40 90
SB2 Stony Brook, at Province Line Road 10 10
SB4 Stony Brook, at Pennington-Rocky Hill Road 10 90
Foamy water at your stream or lake site can be alarming, especially if you are unfamiliar with it, however it is not necessarily a sign of something dangerous or unnatural in the water. In fact, foam on surface waters is harmless 99% of the time. As plants bud in the spring or as trees lose their leaves in the fall, organic acids are introduced into the water from decaying plant matter. These acids cause the water to lose its surface tension, making it more susceptible to whip up into foam on a windy day. It takes just a small amount of acid to cause this reac-tion.
Manmade foam, or foam that is caused by human activities, is initiated by the introduction of excess phosphorus, a common ingredient in detergents and soap, into a water body. Phosphorus acts as a surfactant in the same way that the plant acids do. It is naturally occurring in streams in small amounts, but human activities have introduced it into waterways in massive quantities.
There are a few ways to differentiate natural foam from that which has been caused by human activities. Natural foam will appear more tan or brown in color, may occur over large areas, and will dissipate quickly after the wind dies down. Manmade foam is a more stark white color, may smell like soap, is generally lo-calized around a point source, and will remain intact longer. If you suspect that foam in your stream is unnatural, report it to the NJDEP environmental incident hotline at 1-877-WARN-DEP (incident reporting sheets are also located in your StreamWatch binder).
Data obtained from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Office of Water Quality
The StreamWatcher Page 4 Spring/Summer 2013
Have a question? Email StreamWatch Program Coordinator Erin Stretz to get an answer!
For more information about all monitoring sites in the StreamWatch network, please visit our website for maps and annual data summaries.
http://www.thewatershed.org/science/stream-watch/
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
July 13-27: BATS Macro Collection Period
19-21: CATS Sampling Weekend
27: BATS Macro ID, 9:00am-2:00pm, Kingsford Room at the Watershed Reserve
August 5: Bacteria Monitoring Monday
10: 13th Annual Butterfly Festival, 10:00am-4:00pm, Watershed Reserve Tickets on sale now!
16-18: CATS Sampling Weekend
18: Eno Terra Taste of Place Fundraiser, 2pm-6pm, Eno Terra Restaurant
September 20-22: CATS Sampling Weekend
October 5: Watershed FEST — Rockin’ in your Wellies Tickets on sale now!
12-26: BATS Macro Collection Period
18-20: CATS Sampling Weekend
22: CATS QA/QC Session, 6:00-8:00pm, Kingsford Room at the Watershed Reserve
26: BATS Macro ID, 9:00am-2:00pm, Kingsford Room at the Watershed Reserve
26: CATS QA/QC Session, 2:00-3:30pm, Kingsford Room at the Watershed Reserve
November 4: Bacteria Monitoring Monday
Funding for the StreamWatch Program is generously provided by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, New Jersey Water Supply Authority, and the NJ Society of Women Environmental Professionals.
