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Stream Monitoring
URWA conducts annual water monitoring each spring with generous support from Merck & Co., Inc. and the New Jersey Water Supply Authority. Focusing primarily on the North Branch of the Raritan River, the Peapack Brook, and Rockaway Creek, URWA staff and trained volunteers collect benthic macroinvertebrate samples from various sites along each waterway. By evaluating the species richness and ratios, scientists can determine the relative health of the waterway and assign it a New Jersey impairment score associated with a rating, such as "non-impaired". These samples are collected along waterways that would not otherwise be assessed and contribute to statewide data regarding the condition of water resources. The monitoring program also fosters a closer relationship between local volunteers and their environment while educating people about the impacts of human activity on aquatic systems.
If you are interested in monitoring additional streams and have funding to support those sites, URWA would be happy to assist you in your efforts.
