Surface Water

6: SURFACE WATER

A. Watersheds

A watershed (or basin) is the land area within the confines of a drainage divide in which all surface runoff will drain into a river, river system, or body of water. Sub- watersheds are those smaller drainage areas that make up a larger watershed. Watershed management is the process of managing and protecting all of the water resources within the area of a watershed, rather than on a site-specific basis. The NJDEP recognizes that watersheds are “nature’s boundaries,” and has established a watershed management The Delaware River looking south from access just approach (NJDEP, 1997). A below the Musconetcong River. watershed management approach is based on three key components: 1) a geographic focus; 2) continuous improvement based on sound science; and 3) partnerships/stakeholder involvement. More information concerning watershed management is “Water is vital presented in Section 10C. to life and All of Holland Township is within the Delaware River watershed. Figure 6a shows the sub-watersheds (also known as hydrologic unit codes comprises an or HUC-14) and streams either within or partially within Holland Township. invaluable One small sub-watersheds lies entirely within Holland Township, locally known as Amsterdam Brook, as well as and a number of unnamed natural intermittent streams draining the cliffs along the Delaware River. In resource addition, some land drains directly to the Delaware River without first entering a stream. which is not Within Holland, the largest sub-watershed is Hakihokake Creek, also to be abused known as Quequamissicong Creek. Its named tributaries include the East and West Branches of Spring Mills Brook (entirely within Holland) and by any Little York Creek (partially within Holland). The Hakihokake Creek also segment of drains part of Alexandria Township, very small portions of Bethlehem and Union Townships, and enters the Delaware River in Milford Boro. The the State's segment of the stream within Milford Boro is usually referred to as Milford population or Creek. The second largest portion of Holland lies within the Musconetcong economy.” River Watershed. In its entirety, the Musconetcong is much larger than the (NJAC 7:9B) other sub-watersheds within Holland, and includes portions of Sussex, Morris, Warren and Hunterdon Counties, including Lake Hopatcong. The

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Musconetcong River forms the northeast border of Holland Township before entering the Delaware River at Riegelsville, NJ. The Harihokake Creek watershed lies primarily within Alexandria Township, but includes part of Holland Township and a few acres within Union Township. A small unnamed watershed that lies between Harihokake and Hakihokake is grouped with the Harihokake watershed in NJDEP’s watershed delineations. It drains parts of Holland Township and Milford Boro and marks the boundary between Milford and Alexandria.

B. Floodplains/Flood Prone Areas A floodplain is the land along a river or stream that is subject to periodic flooding when the river or stream overflows its banks. The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) is responsible for delineating floodplains. Floodplain management is the operation of a community program of corrective and preventative measures for reducing flood damage. These measures may include zoning, subdivision, or building requirements, and special-purpose floodplain ordinances. Community involvement is an important element in making flood insurance available to home and businesses owners. Flood prone areas in Holland are shown in Figure 6b, based on FEMA determinations and also on soils which show evidence of flooding. Frequent flooding occurs in areas adjacent to the Musconetcong River, Amsterdam Brook, Spring Mills East and West Branches, Hakihokake Creek and Harihokake Creek. Flooding occasionally occurs along the Delaware River, including portions of Route 627 (Riegelsville-Milford Road). A small area in one of the headwater tributaries of Hakihokake Creek is mapped as rarely flooded. The remainder of the township is not subject to flooding. Delaware River flooding in September 2004 (caused by tropical storm Ivan) and April 2005 (caused by a major thunderstorm) (see Section 2B and Table 2.3 for more information about these and other floods) damaged an estimated 3,500 homes and forced the evacuation of more than 5,500 people in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In response, a Flood Mitigation Task Force was established to study and implement measures to reduce future impacts of flooding in New Jersey communities. Findings of the draft report include the following:

¾ The floodplains should be expected to flood. ¾ No set of measures, alone or in combination, will stop or eliminate flooding in the Delaware River Floodplain. ¾ The potential for hurricanes and other extreme weather events to be more intense and more frequent means that the risks and foreseeable consequences of flooding are increasing in magnitude. ¾ Better planning, stricter protection of flood plains, increased efforts to restore disturbed and developed floodplain areas, and more rational rebuilding standards can significantly reduce economic loss to New Jersey from flooding when it occurs. ¾ The current patchwork of floodplain delineations, many of them long out of date, must be updated if risk reduction strategies are to be effective in reducing losses. ¾ The Delaware River Basin Commission’s (DRBC) “Recommendations to Address Flood Warning Deficiencies” must be fully implemented to provide the public with adequate

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response time and information as incorporated in the recommendations below (New Jersey Flood Mitigation Task Force, 2006 DRAFT). Riparian buffer and wetlands protection regulations and ordinances can also reduce flood damage by protecting those areas most susceptible to flooding and providing natural flood control.

C. Wetlands A wetland is a transitional area between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Wetlands are those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, commonly known as hydrophytic vegetation. To determine if an area is a wetland, the vegetation (plants that like wet conditions), soils (wetland types, which often show mottling) and hydrology (low spots or evidence of water) are evaluated. A transition area, or buffer, is an area of land adjacent to a freshwater wetland which minimizes adverse impacts on the wetland or serves as an integral component of the wetlands ecosystem (N.J.S.A. 13:9B 9B-3). In the past, wetlands were often regarded as wastelands – only useful when drained and filled. In contrast, a 1978 Tufts University study showed that one acre of wetland provides at least $153,000 (1978 dollars) of public value, considering proven Wetland plants may include New York monetary benefits of flood protection, pollution Ironweed, here being enjoyed by a black reduction, water supply, recreation and aesthetics swallowtail butterfly. (Fair, 2004). Some of the benefits of wetlands include:

¾ Wetlands protect drinking water by filtering out pollutants and sediments that would otherwise obstruct and contaminate our waters. ¾ Wetlands soak up runoff from heavy rains and snow melts, providing natural flood control. ¾ Wetlands release stored waters during droughts. ¾ Wetlands provide critical habitats for a major proportion of the state’s fish and wildlife, including many endangered, commercial and recreational species. ¾ Wetlands provide high quality open space for recreation and tourism (NJDEP Land Use Regulation, 2006).

However, already over 54% of the total wetlands in the continental US have been lost, and an additional 200,000 acres disappear every year (NJDEP Land Use Regulation, 2006). Loss of wetlands has resulted in erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and decreased populations of

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many types of wildlife. Structures built in wetlands suffer from frost heaving and other structural problems. New Jersey protects wetlands under the 1987 New Jersey Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act (N.J.S.A. 13:9B). This law requires NJDEP to regulate virtually all activities proposed within wetlands and transition areas or buffers around freshwater wetlands, including cutting of vegetation, dredging, excavation or removal of soil, drainage or disturbance of the water level, and filling or discharge of any materials. Development which would impair the wetland’s ability to provide the values listed above (filtration, flood control, etc.) is prohibited. There are limited exemptions for existing farming, ranching, or forestry operations. On-site inspection (direct testing and observation of soils, hydrology and vegetation) by a qualified professional is needed prior to making any disturbance within a wetland or transition area. Only an official determination from NJDEP, called a Letter of Interpretation (LOI) can verify the presence, absence, or boundaries of freshwater wetlands and transition areas on a site. Copies of these maps are filed at the NJDEP and the township building, but unfortunately, NJDEP does not digitize these determinations into a GIS layer1. In addition to defining the boundary of the wetland, the LOI establishes the value of the wetland, which will determine the width of the regulated transition area. Ordinary Value wetlands, such as man-made drainage ditches and swales, have a 0 foot buffer. Intermediate Value wetlands have a 50 foot buffer, which includes those wetlands not included in the definitions of Ordinary or Exceptional value. Exceptional Value wetlands have a 150 foot buffer width. Exceptional Value wetlands include wetlands which provide habitat for endangered and threatened species and those contiguous with FW-1, FW-2 Trout Production waters and their tributaries, and Category 1 classified streams (see Section 6D, below). A determination of threatened and endangered species habitat is provided by using the Landscape Project data (see Section 7E). There are several types of freshwater wetlands in Holland Township, such as coniferous or deciduous wooded wetlands, scrub/shrub wetlands, and herbaceous wetlands and vernal pools (see Section 7B). The New Jersey freshwater wetlands maps (which were used to make Figure 6c) provide guidance on where wetlands are found in Holland Township. For this GIS data layer, NJDEP mapped all freshwater wetland polygons greater than 1 acre in area and all linear freshwater wetland features greater than 10 feet in width, using the 1995/1997 aerial photos. This dataset is intended to serve as a resource for analysis rather than regulatory delineations. The maximum transition area widths of 150 feet are mapped in Figure 6C, because the GIS data does not distinguish wetland values.

D. Surface Water Quality Standards Surface Water Quality Standards (SWQS) are the rules in chapter N.J.A.C. 7:9B which set forth designated uses, use classifications, and water quality criteria for the State's waters based upon the uses, and the NJDEP's policies concerning these uses, classifications and criteria, which are necessary to protect the State's waters. The SWQS operate in conformance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1313(c)), commonly known as the Clean Water Act (CWA), and the Federal Water Quality Standards Regulation at 40 CFR 131.

1 Digitizing involves giving latitude and longitude coordinates to areas and lines to depict mapped features. 6: Surface Water Holland Township Natural Resource Inventory Draft ~ July 2006 Kratzer Environmental Services 79

According to NJDEP, in its November 2003 Surface Water Quality Standards N. J. A. C. 7:9B,

“Water is vital to life and comprises an invaluable natural resource which is not to be abused by any segment of the State's population or economy. It is the policy of the State to restore, maintain and enhance the chemical, physical and biological integrity of its waters, to protect the public health, to safeguard the aquatic biota, protect scenic and ecological values, and to enhance the domestic, municipal, recreational, industrial, agricultural and other reasonable uses of the State's waters. “The restoration, maintenance and preservation of the quality of the waters of the State for the protection and preservation of public water supplies is a paramount interest of the citizens of New Jersey. In order to provide adequate, clean supplies of potable water, it is the policy of the State that all fresh waters be protected as potential sources of public water supply. Therefore, point and nonpoint sources of pollutants shall be regulated to attain compliance with the Surface Water Quality Standards human health criteria outside of regulatory mixing zones.” (NJAC 7:9B)

According to the designated uses under the SWQS, NJDEP assigns surface water classifications to each stream in order to group waters and assign water quality criteria. Designated uses include potable water, propagation of fish and wildlife, recreation, agricultural and industrial supplies, and navigation. The criteria are numerical targets for constituent concentrations (such as toxic pollutants) or narratives that describe in-stream conditions to be attained, maintained or avoided, so that the specified uses are protected for the different use classifications. The SWQS are used by several NJDEP programs, including the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program, Site Remediation program, Stream Encroachment, Land Use Regulation Program and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs, see Section 6H). Table 6.1 describes the definitions of the categories, while Figure 6d illustrates the stream categories within Holland. In Figure 6d, “category” is shown, which is a compendium of all surface water classification designations for a given water body. Category describes a stream's surface water classification in terms of its general surface water class (e.g. FW2), its trout water status (e.g. TP) and its antidegradation status (e.g. C1).

Table 6.1: Surface Water Quality Standards Classification Category Definition Freshwater General Surface Water Class FW1 means those fresh waters, as designated in N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.15(h) Table 6, that are to be maintained in their natural state of quality (set aside for posterity) and not subjected to any man-made wastewater discharges or increases in runoff from anthropogenic activities. These waters are set aside for posterity because of their clarity, color, scenic setting, other characteristic of aesthetic value, unique ecological significance, exceptional recreational significance, exceptional water supply FW1 significance, or exceptional fisheries resource(s).

In all FW1 waters the designated uses are: 1. Set aside for posterity to represent the natural aquatic environment and its associated biota; 2. Primary and secondary contact recreation; 3. Maintenance, migration and propagation of the natural and established aquatic biota; and 4. Any other reasonable uses. FW2 means the general surface water classification applied to those fresh waters that are not designated as FW1 or Pinelands Waters. FW2 In all FW2 waters the designated uses are: 1. Maintenance, migration and propagation of the natural and established biota; 2. Primary and secondary contact recreation; 3. Industrial and agricultural water 6: Surface Water Holland Township Natural Resource Inventory Draft ~ July 2006 Kratzer Environmental Services 80

Table 6.1: Surface Water Quality Standards Classification Category Definition supply; 4. Public potable water supply after conventional filtration treatment (a series of processes including filtration, flocculation, coagulation, and sedimentation, resulting in substantial particulate removal but no consistent removal of chemical constituents) and disinfection; and 5. Any other reasonable uses. The designated uses for the main-stem Delaware River and Delaware Bay are those contained in Delaware "Delaware River Basin Commission, Water Quality Regulations, Administrative Manual - Part III," River Article 3, dated October 23, 1996, including all amendments and future supplements thereto. Trout Water Status - this is for information only and does not affect the water quality criteria for those waters. Trout production waters means waters designated at N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.15(b) through TP (g) for use by trout for spawning or nursery purposes during their first summer. Trout maintenance waters means waters designated at N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.15(b) through (g) for the TM support of trout throughout the year. Nontrout waters means fresh waters that have not been designated in N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.15(b) through (h) as trout production or trout maintenance. These waters are generally not suitable for trout because NT of their physical, chemical, or biological characteristics, but are suitable for a wide variety of other fish species. Antidegrad ation Outstanding National Resource Waters are high quality waters that constitute an outstanding national resource (for example, waters of National/State Parks and Wildlife Refuges and waters of exceptional ONRW recreational or ecological significances) as designated in N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.15(i). Waters classified as FW1 waters and Pinelands waters are Outstanding National Resource Waters. Nondegradation waters means those waters set aside for posterity because of their clarity, color, scenic setting, other characteristic of aesthetic value, unique ecological significance, exceptional recreational significance, or exceptional water supply significance. These waters include all waters designated as FW1 in this subchapter. Non-

degradation The quality of Nondegradation waters shall be maintained in their natural state (set aside for posterity) and shall not be subject to any manmade wastewater discharges. The Department shall not approve any activity which, alone or in combination with any other activities, might cause changes, other than toward natural water quality, in the existing surface water quality characteristics. Category one waters means those waters designated in the tables in N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.15(c) through (h), designated for purposes of implementing the antidegradation policies set forth at N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.5(d), for protection from measurable changes in water quality characteristics because of their clarity, color, scenic setting, other characteristics of aesthetic value, exceptional ecological significance, exceptional recreational significance, exceptional water supply significance, or exceptional fisheries resource(s). C1 Category One Waters shall be protected from any measurable changes (including calculable or predicted changes) to the existing water quality. Water quality characteristics that are generally worse than the water quality criteria, except as due to natural conditions, shall be improved to maintain or provide for the designated uses where this can be accomplished without adverse impacts on organisms, communities or ecosystems of concern. Category two waters are those waters not designated as Outstanding National Resource Waters or Category One at N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.15 for purposes of implementing the antidegradation policies set forth at N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.5(d).

For Category Two Waters, water quality characteristics that are generally better than, or equal to, the C2 water quality standards shall be maintained within a range of quality that shall protect the existing/designated uses, as determined by studies acceptable to the Department, relating existing/designated uses to water quality. Where such studies are not available or are inconclusive, water quality shall be protected from changes that might be detrimental to the attainment of the designated uses or maintenance of the existing uses. Water quality characteristics that are generally worse than the water quality criteria shall be improved to meet the water quality criteria. Source: NJDEP 2003: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wmm/sgwqt/swqsdocs.html

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E. Streams Adopted for Category 1 Classification Waterways can be designated Category One (C1) because of exceptional ecological significance, exceptional water supply significance, exceptional recreational significance, exceptional shellfish resource, or exceptional fisheries resource. The C1 designation provides additional protections that help prevent water quality degradation and discourage development where it would impair or destroy natural resources and environmental quality. The antidegradation provisions of the SWQS are triggered when an applicant proposes an activity that has the potential to lower water quality. Previously approved wastewater discharges authorized through the NJPDES program as well as existing developments are not subject to the antidegradation policies unless a new or expanded activity is proposed. Under the February 2004 Stormwater Management rules, 300 foot buffers must be maintained in a natural state adjacent to all C1 waters and upstream tributaries of C1 waters (including named and unnamed tributaries). However, where the buffer is already disturbed, the width may be reduced in the disturbed area, but will not be permitted to extend less than 150 feet from either bank. The buffer will not affect existing development. The buffer requirement can also be adjusted to reflect local conditions through the approval of a stream corridor protection plan as part of a regional stormwater management plan. Wetlands contiguous with C1 streams are considered Exceptional Value Wetlands, which receive a buffer width of 150 feet. The entire length of the Harihokake Creek was adopted by NJDEP for C1 classification on July 12, 2004 (Round 3, proposed Nov. 3, 2003), including all named and unnamed tributaries, based on "exceptional ecological significance". The use classifications remain as follows: Source to Rt. 519 Bridge, including all tributaries FW2-NT and Rt. 519 Bridge to Delaware River, including all tributaries FW2-TM as indicated at N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.15(d). Data on the health of the benthic macroinvertebrate community in Harihokake Creek indicate low stress (non-impaired) to the aquatic community with high percentage and good diversity of intolerant organisms. The in-stream habitat quality assessment indicates optimal to slightly less than optimal habitat quality at different locations throughout creek. The Harihokake Creek received a good Fish IBI rating with 13 different species identified in the stream and an optimal habitat assessment rating. Harihokake Creek supports a non-impaired aquatic community with optimal to suboptimal habitat quality, and a good Fish IBI rating. With respect to endangered and threatened species, Harihokake Creek has reported wood turtle sightings, primarily in the upper portions of the drainage. In addition, Harihokake Creek is a cool, clear forested rock stream with shale/argillite-underlain substrate, which provides suitable habitat for the State threatened long-tailed salamander. See Section 7D and Appendix C for further information about these species. Hakihokake Creek is also classified FW2-TP(C1) for its entire length, including headwaters known as Little York Creek. In addition, a tributary to the Delaware River locally known as Amsterdam Brook, and listed in the regulation as “Tributary, Delaware River 57000 UNT to 57000 @170.90 (Holland) - Holland Township (Hakihokake to Musconetcong)” is designated for its entire length as FW2-TP(C1) (NJDEP, N.J.A.C. 7:9B, 2004). Hakihokake Creek at Javes Road.

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The Musconetcong River has been nominated for C1 status by NJDEP, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network (DRN), NJPIRG Citizen Lobby, Environmental Federation, Sierra Club NJ Chapter and Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA). Justifications include open space resources in the watershed, eligibility for inclusion in the Wild and Scenic Rivers system, importance as a state water resource, endangered and threatened species habitat, drinking water source, and recreational resource (NJDEP web site). A regulation to accomplish this has not yet been proposed.

F. Point Source Pollution Point source pollution refers to discernible, confined, and discrete conveyance, including, but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding operation, landfill leachate collection system, vessel, or other floating craft, from which pollutants are or may be discharged. This term does not include return flows from irrigated agriculture (NJDEP SWQS NJAC 7:9B p.7.)

Left: The Delaware River at Gilbert Generating Station. Right: The paper plant at Hughesville. Point source discharges are regulated by NJDEP under the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES). There are ten such discharges existing within Holland Township (see Table 6.2 and Figure 6d).

Table 6.2: NJ Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJDPE S) Surface Water Discharges Discharge NJPDES ID. # Facility Name Comments Pipe Receiving Waters * Type* Discharge pt at Fibermark - NJ0004421.001A metering bldg - approx B IMI Musconetcong River Hughesville 100 ft from river Fibermark - Musconetcong River via NJ0004421.002A At discharge B IMI Hughesville mill race Fibermark - Warren Musconetcong River via NJ0004448.001A At end of pipe B IMJ Glen mill tailrace NJ0005517.001A JCP&L - Gilbert G S B IMJ Delaware River (Zone 1E) NJ0005517.003A JCP&L - Gilbert G S B IMJ Delaware River (Zone 1E) 004A 005A 006A NJ0005517.004A JCP&L - Gilbert G S combine and discharge B IMJ Delaware River (Zone 1E) at XXX0

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004A 005A 006A NJ0005517.005A JCP&L - Gilbert G S combine and discharge B IMJ Delaware River (Zone 1E) at XXX0 004A 005A 006A NJ0005517.006A JCP&L - Gilbert G S combine and discharge B IMJ Delaware River (Zone 1E) at XXX0 Corrugated Paper NJ0031372.001A At outfall C IMI Delaware River (Zone 1E) Group Lp NJ0005517.002A JCP&L - Gilbert G S B IMJ Delaware River (Zone 1E) Outfall has combined NJ0005517.XXX0 JCP&L - Gilbert G S discharge from 004A B IMJ Delaware River (Zone 1E) 005A 006A Hakihokake Ck via Holland Twp unnamed tributary & NJ0140619.001A Municipal Garage Location from Site Plan B IMI storm sewer *Notes for Above Codes (NJDEP’s codes and definitions were used): Pipe category: B=Industrial discharge; C=thermal discharge Discharge type: IMJ=Industrial Major - based on the amount of pollutant(s) in the effluent; IMI= Industrial Minor - based on the amount of pollutant(s) in the effluent Source: GIS data layer NJPDES Surface Water Discharges in New Jersey (2005) file name=njdesswd.shp

G. Nonpoint Source Pollution Nonpoint source or NPS pollution is any man-made or man-induced activity, factor, or condition, other than a point source, from which pollutants are or may be discharged. Nonpoint pollution may temporarily or permanently change any chemical, physical, biological, or radiological characteristic of water from what was or is the natural, pristine condition of such water. Nonpoint source pollution is directly associated with stormwater. When water flows off impervious surfaces, such as buildings, homes, parking lots and roads Stream bank erosion. and through storm drains and ditches, it is known as stormwater. As the velocity of water increases, the amount that can infiltrate into the soil and ground water is reduced and scouring and erosion increase. The stormwater eventually discharges into streams and rivers, carrying pollutants that it has picked up along the way (e.g. trash, used motor oil, sediments, fertilizers, pesticides, pet droppings, etc.). The transport of these pollutants into local water bodies can result in the destruction of fish, wildlife, and habitats; threats to public health due to contaminated food and drinking water supplies; and losses of recreational and aesthetic values. The NJDEP’s February 2004 stormwater management requirements established new performance standards for all major developments, requirements for best management practices (BMP), and establishment of buffer area protections for Category One waterways. The emphasis is on increasing ground water recharge and reducing nonpoint source pollution (N.J.A.C. 7:8). The purpose of the Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program is to ensure a consistent approach to stormwater management statewide, reduce costs for regulated entities, and allow for a simple process for requesting authorization. All municipalities within the State are assigned

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either Tier A (more developed or coastal) or Tier B (less developed and non-coastal; Holland Township is Tier B). The permits address stormwater quality related issues to new and existing development and redevelopment by requiring the preparation of a stormwater program and implementation of specific permit requirements referred to as Statewide Basic Requirements (SBRs). The Tier B Permit concentrates on new development and redevelopment projects and public education. The Tier A Permit has additional requirements aimed at controlling stormwater pollutants from existing development. In addition, NJPDES permits are required for public complexes and highway systems. Many resources are available on the Internet (see Internet Resources), including a New Jersey Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual (April 2004), model ordinances and general educational materials. The BMP manual provides examples of ways to meet the standards contained in the rule. A program called New Jersey Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (NJ-CREP) is designed to assist farmers in reducing nonpoint source pollution caused by agricultural water runoff sources. A number of storm drain systems and BMP installations exist along roads and parking lots but these have not been mapped.

H. Total Maximum Daily Loads When surface waters do not meet the New Jersey Surface Water Quality Standards, Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) must be developed, as specified under Section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act. A TMDL identifies all the contributors to surface water quality impacts and sets goals for load reductions for specific pollutants in order to meet the Surface Water Quality Standards. Regulations concerning TMDLs are contained in EPA's Water Quality Planning and Management Regulations (40 CFR 130). TMDLs represent the assimilative capacity of surface water for a given parameter of concern. The development of TMDLs includes balancing the impacts from point sources, nonpoint sources and natural background levels of a specific pollutant. The TMDL then quantifies the amount of a pollutant a water body can assimilate without violating a state’s water quality standards and allocates that load capacity to known point and nonpoint sources in the form of waste load allocations (WLAs) for point sources, load allocations (LAs) for nonpoint sources, plus a margin of safety (MOS) (NJDEP Division of Watershed Management, 2005). Load allocations (for nonpoint source pollution) consist of identifying categories of nonpoint sources that contribute to the parameters of concern, followed by recommendations for implementation measures for specific load reductions. Examples include best management practices (BMPs), including structural (stormwater runoff controls) and non-structural (local ordinances for stormwater management and nonpoint source pollution control) mechanisms for addressing the water quality parameter(s) of concern. Waters requiring TMDLs are identified as sublist 5 in the Integrated List of Waterbodies that combines the 303d list of impaired waters and the surface water quality inventory report (305b), which NJDEP prepares every two years. After the Integrated List is approved, the NJDEP Division of Watershed Management writes a TMDL report, which is a proposed Water Quality Management Plan Amendment. When this is published in the NJ Register for public review and comment, the TMDL is considered proposed. NJDEP then considers comments received during public comment and finalizes the TMDL report, and the TMDL is considered established when it is formally submitted to the US EPA Region 2 for thirty-day review. The TMDL is considered approved when the US EPA Region 2 approves it. Next, the TMDL is

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referred to as adopted when the EPA-approved TMDL is adopted by NJDEP as a water quality management plan amendment and the adoption notice is published in the NJ Register. The Musconetcong River at Riegelsville has a fecal coliform TMDL which was approved September 23, 2003 based on the sites at Riegelsville (Site ID #01457400) and Bloomsbury (Site ID #01457000) (NJDEP Division of Watershed Management, September 2003). The TMDL report states that "Land use in the area is predominantly agriculture, with urban, including some older development on septic systems, and forest. Potential sources of fecal coliform include: livestock; land application of manure; older septic systems in Warren Glen, Finesville area, Bloomsbury, Hampton, New Hampton, and Asbury; geese; and beaver in the river between Finesville and the Delaware River. Strategies: prioritize for EQIP/SCCSP funds to install agricultural BMPs; organize local community based goose management programs; Phase II stormwater program" (NJDEP Division of Watershed Management, September, 2003). In addition, the Musconetcong River at Riegelsville TMDL for total phosphorus will be completed in 2006 (NJDEP Division of Watershed Management, 2006c). Hakihokake Creek has a TMDL approved for fecal coliform for 8 stream miles at based on the site at the Bridge Street Bridge in Milford (Site ID #DRBCNJ0023). According to the TMDL report (NJDEP Division of Watershed Management, Approved September 15, 2005), potential sources of fecal coliform include: "several houses containing septic systems, an outhouse approximately ten feet from the stream, wildlife, including excessive populations of deer and bear, and farms containing horses and cows." Recommendations include further monitoring of fecal coliform for source identification and source reduction (e.g. install agricultural BMPs, public education, ordinances) (NJDEP Division of Watershed Management, Approved September 15, 2005). In addition to the stream segments described above, the 2006 Integrated List includes the following sites in sublist 5: Harihokake Creek, non-attainment for total phosphorus; Musconetcong River below Warren Glen (based on the USGS sampling sites at Riegelsville and Bloomsbury), non-attainment for temperature, and sublist 4 for E. coli; and the Delaware River between Easton and Trenton, non-attainment for various pollutants (depending on the sub- segment, fecal coliform, arsenic, copper, chromium, and lead; and in fish tissue, mercury, PCB's, DDX, dioxin and chlordane)(NJDEP Division of Watershed Management, 2006a).

I. Surface Water Quality and Flow Monitoring Surface water quality data have been collected at sites on several streams and the Delaware River within Holland Township by the NJDEP, and USGS and the Delaware River Basin Commission. Surface water monitoring sites are displayed on Figure 6e. The various monitoring programs are discussed below. A list of the sites sampled for each program is provided in Table 6.3.

Water Quality and Flow Sites and Programs 1. NJDEP Ambient Biomonitoring Network for New Jersey (AMNET): In 1992, NJDEP reactivated its Ambient Biomonitoring Network (AMNET) to support its Statewide Water Quality Inventory (305(b)), Impaired Waters (303(d)), and Watershed Programs. Under this program, sites in each of New Jersey's five Water Regions are sampled for benthic macroinvertebrates on a rotating schedule once every five years. The health of in-stream benthic macroinvertebrate communities are evaluated using the US Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Rapid Bioassessment Protocol (RBP) 2. Benthic macroinvertebrates (bottom dwelling

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organisms visible to the naked eye) are collected, identified and counted; then a New Jersey Impairment Score is developed based on these results. In addition, Stream Habitat Assessments and limited physical and chemical water quality parameters are measured at each site. AMNET data for these sites are listed in Table 6.4. 2. Fish Index of Biotic Integrity Stations: No sampling sites exist within Holland Township, but one site on the Musconetcong is near Bloomsbury (sampled in 2003), and one site on the Harihokake is at the mouth of the creek in Alexandria Township (sampled in 2001). See Table 7.4 for the results. 3. NJDEP Existing Water Quality Stations in New Jersey: These data represent sampling points for the EWQ (Existing Water Quality) project at NJDEP. The EWQ Network was designed to provide supplemental data for water quality for the entire state to support water management and monitoring activities within NJDEP, and to be a valuable layer for computerized cartographic products. There is one monitoring sites on the Musconetcong River. 4. NJDEP Ambient Stream Quality Monitoring Sites for New Jersey: These data represent ambient stream sites monitored cooperatively by the NJDEP and the USGS for water quality parameters. This network was established in 1976 to determine status and trends of ambient surface waters in New Jersey. The sampling frequency is four times per year. A wide range of conventional parameters, metals, pesticides and sediments are monitored in this program. Metals, pesticides and sediments are monitored on a reduced sampling frequency. Data is available from the following sources: 1.) the USGS computerized data system, NWIS, 2.) EPA's computerized data system, STORET or 3.) USGS's annual reports "Water Resources Data-New Jersey". The 1997 network revision focused on supporting evolving water quality initiatives at NJDEP 5. NJDEP Ambient Supplemental Surface Water Monitoring: Water quality is measured at sites on the Musconetcong River at Riegelsville, Delaware River at Riegelsville. 6. NJDEP/USGS Surface WQ Gage: This network is jointly funded by the USGS and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. Water quality is measured at sites on the Musconetcong River at Riegelsville, Delaware River at Riegelsville, and Hakihokake Creek at Milford. 7. USGS Continuous-Stream Flow Gaging: These sites are maintained by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Water Resource Division (WRD). The nearest site was the Delaware River at Riegelsville, but it is no longer active. 8. USGS Stream Crest Gaging: There is one USGS Stream Crest Gage located at Delaware River at Riegelsville, where gage height is measured (relative height of water level; not actual flow volume). Real-time data is available on the Internet. 9. USGS Stream Low Flow Gaging: USGS has measured stream flow at Hakihokake Creek at Milford; however, this site is inactive. 10. Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC): The DRBC monitored water quality in the Delaware River and for water quality and stream flow in tributaries as part of a larger 5 year program to define and protect the existing water quality in the Lower Delaware Wild and Scenic River, or enhance it where practicable. The data will be used to fulfill Goal 1 of the Lower Delaware River Management Plan and to develop antidegradation (Special Protection Waters) regulations for the Lower Delaware River and the adjoining tributaries.

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Table 6.3: Surface Water Monitoring Stations (shown on Figure 6e) Type of GIS Program Name Station ID Data Name Data layer Collected AN0073 S Musconetcong River at Rt.579

Church Street Musconetcong River at Rt. 627 AN0074 S River Rd at RR Bridge 1. NJDEP Ambient AN0075 S Hakihokake Creek at Myler Rd Macro- Biomonitoring Hakihokake Creek at Miller Park AN0076 S invertebrates biopts2004.sh Network Road and p AN0077 S Hakihokake Creek at Bridge Street Habitat AN0078 S Harihokake Creek at Hartpence Rd Harihokake Creek at Rt. 619 River AN0079 S Road Musconetcong at Route FIBI061 2. Fish Index of 632/Asbury-Bloomsbury Road Fish fibi Biotic Integrity Harihokake Creek at Milford- populations FIBI034 S Frenchtown Rd (CR 619) 01457400 Musconetcong River at River Road Hakihokake Creek on Bridge St. in 3. NJDEP Existing 01458100 S Milford ewqpoi.shp Water Quality Sites Harihokake Creek on Route 619 01458400 S (River Road) conventional 01457500 Delaware River at Riegelsville parameters, 4. NJDEP/USGS metals, Ambient Stream pesticides swpts05.shp Quality Monitoring and Sites for NJ 01457400 Musconetcong River at River Road sediments? Flow- Gage staff? 5. NJDEP conventional Supplemental 01458400 parameters, Ambient Surface [Amnetref S Harihokake Creek at River Road metals, sasmn.shp AN0077 Bfbmid Water Monitoring 11b] pesticides, Network sediments Musconetcong River near 01457000 S Bloomsbury, NJ 6. NJDEP/USGS Musconetcong River at 01457400 S/N Riegelsville, NJ wqgages.shp Surface Water Quality Gage 01457500 S/N Delaware River at Riegelsville, NJ 5700017400 S /N Delaware River at Riegelsville NJ 01458100 Hakihokake Creek at Milford, NJ 7. USGS Continuous streamgage_sp 1457500 Delaware River at Riegelsville, NJ Flow Streamflow Gage .shp Station (inactive) 8. USGS Stream 1457500 Delaware River at Riegelsville, NJ Gage height Creststage.shp Crest Gaging Station 9. USGS Low Flow 145810 Hakihokake Creek at Milford, NJ Gage height Lowflow.shp Gage Site (inactive) Delaware River at Riegelsville Water 10. DRBC DRBCNJ0026 N.A. Bridge quality DRBCNJ0024 Delaware River at Milford Bridge

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Table 6.3: Surface Water Monitoring Stations (shown on Figure 6e) Delaware River at Frenchtown DRBCNJ0021 Bridge DRBCNJ0025 Musconetcong River at Riegelsville Water DRBCNJ0023 Hakihokake Creek at Milford quality and Harihokake Creek near Delaware DRBCNJ0022 flow River Data: S = data is in STORET; N= data is in NWIS.

Sources: GIS data files; see file names listed above.

Table 6.4: Water Quality Parameters for Monitoring Sites in and near Holland 2 Years Site Name Agency Site Code Parameters 3

Delaware River Delaware River 1934- USGS 01457500 Too numerous to list at Riegelsville 2004 Delaware River DRBCNJ at Riegelsville DRBC Same as DRBCNJ0024 except not chlorophyll or pheophytin 0026 Bridge Delaware River Total Alkalinity; Chloride; Chlorophyll; Pheophytin-a; DRBCNJ 1999- at Milford DRBC Dissolved oxygen (DO); Dissolved oxygen saturation; Flow; 0024 2000 Bridge Enterococcus Bacteria; Hardness; Ammonia as NH3; Nitrate Delaware River Nitrogen as NO3; Nitrite + Nitrate Nitrogen as N; pH; DRBCNJ at Frenchtown DRBC Phosphorus as P; Orthophosphate as PO4; Dissolved Solids; 0021 Bridge Specific conductance; Water Temperature; Turbidity Musconetcong River Alkalinity, Carbonate as CaCO3; Arsenic; Beryllium; 5-Day BOD; Boron; Cadmium; Calcium; Total Organic Carbon; Chloride; Chlorophyll α; Chromium; Copper; Dissolved oxygen (DO); Dissolved oxygen saturation; Flow; Fecal Coliform; Musconetcong Florides; Hardness; Iron; Lead; Magnesium; Manganese; 1999- River at NJDEP 01457400 Mercury; Nickel; Ammonia as N; Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen; 2003 Riegelsville Nitrite (NO2) + Nitrate (NO3) ; Nitrogen; Phosphorus as P; Orthophosphate as P; pH; Potassium; Selenium; Silica; Sodium; Dissolved Solids; Total Suspended Solids (TSS); Specific conductance; Stream stage height; Sulfate as SO4; Water Temperature; Turbidity; Zinc Total Alkalinity; Chloride; Chlorophyll; Pheophytin-a; Dissolved oxygen (DO); Dissolved oxygen saturation; Flow; Stream stage height; Enterococcus Bacteria; E. Coliform; Fecal Musconetcong Coliform; Total Coliform; Hardness; Ammonia as NH3; Total DRBCNJ 1999- River at DRBC Kjeldahl Nitrogen; Nitrate Nitrogen as NO3; Nitrite Nitrogen as 0025 2004 Riegelsville NO2; Nitrite + Nitrate Nitrogen as N; pH; Phosphorus as P; Orthophosphate as PO4; Dissolved Solids; Total Suspended Solids (TSS); Specific conductance; Water Temperature; Turbidity Musconetcong 1961- River at USGS 01457400 Too numerous to list 2004 Riegelsville

2 Not all parameters sampled all years. 3 Years represents range of years; not all parameters sampled all years; most recent data available, unknown if sampled more recently or plans for future sampling. 6: Surface Water Holland Township Natural Resource Inventory Draft ~ July 2006 Kratzer Environmental Services 89

Hakihokake Creek Hakihokake 1959- Creek at USGS 01458100 Too numerous to list 1982 Milford Total Alkalinity; Chloride; Chlorophyll; Pheophytin-a; Dissolved oxygen (DO); Dissolved oxygen saturation; Flow; Stream stage height; Enterococcus Bacteria; Hardness; Hakihokake DRBCNJ Ammonia as NH3; Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen; Nitrate Nitrogen as 1999- Creek at DRBC 0023 NO3; Nitrite + Nitrate Nitrogen as N; pH; Phosphorus as P; 2000 Milford Orthophosphate as PO4; Dissolved Solids; Total Suspended Solids (TSS); Specific conductance; Water Temperature; Turbidity Chloride; Dissolved Solids; Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen; Nitrite (NO2) + Nitrate (NO3) Nitrogen; Phosphorus as P; Sulfate as Hakihokake SO4; Total Suspended Solids (TSS); Barometric pressure; 2003- Creek at NJDEP 01458100 Dissolved oxygen (DO); Dissolved oxygen saturation; Specific 2004 Milford conductance; Water Temperature; Turbidity; pH; Ammonia as N; Phosphorus as P; Orthophosphate as P; Flow; Stream stage height Harihokake Creek Harihokake Dissolved oxygen (DO); Dissolved oxygen saturation; Specific DRBCNJ Creek near DRBC conductance; Enterococcus; Bacteria 1999 0022 Delaware River Water Temperature; Stream stage height; pH Harihokake 1959- Creek near USGS 01458400 Too numerous to list 1982 Frenchtown Harihokake Creek at 2002- Harpence [sic] USGS 01458300 Too numerous to list 2004 Road near Mount Pleasant Chloride; Dissolved Solids; Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen; Nitrite (NO2) + Nitrate (NO3) Nitrogen; Phosphorus as P; Sulfate as Harihokake Ck SO4; Total Suspended Solids (TSS); Barometric pressure; Air 2002- at Hartpence Rd NJDEP 01458300 Temperature; Dissolved oxygen (DO); Dissolved oxygen 2004 at Alexandria saturation; Specific conductance; Water Temperature; Turbidity; pH; Ammonia as N; Orthophosphate as P; Flow; Stream stage height Chloride; Dissolved Solids; Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen; Nitrite (NO2) + Nitrate (NO3) Nitrogen; Phosphorus as P; Sulfate as Harihokake SO4; Total Suspended Solids (TSS); Barometric pressure; 2001- Creek On Route NJDEP 01458400 Dissolved oxygen (DO); Dissolved oxygen saturation; Specific 2004 619 conductance; Stream stage height; Water Temperature; Turbidity; pH; Ammonia as N; Orthophosphate as P; Flow; Air Temperature Source: STORET and NWIS searches.

Selected Water Quality Results A number of difficulties are encountered when attempting to analyze the water quality of any particular site: most sites have too few data points; there were different sampling and reporting methods for the various sampling programs; different detection limits and analysis techniques; differing site names and codes for the same site; age of the data (i.e. how many years to consider to characterize existing water quality); and, whether or not the individual data was

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entered into a national database, and if so, which one (the EPA's STORET or USGS' NWIS4). In some cases, a sampling program might have entered some years' data into STORET, while other years entered the data into NWIS. Figures 6f through 6i compare the streams in Holland Township that have been monitored for specific conductivity, nitrite plus nitrate, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids. For this report, only sites which had at least 4 data points (4 discrete sampling events) within the past 10 years, with the data in STORET or NWIS were included. The median (central point of the dataset); 10th percentile (10% of the data ---); and 90th percentile (90% of the data-- -) are shown. The four parameters are defined below: Specific Conductivity: Conductivity is the ability of water to transmit an electrical current. It is calculated as the inverse of electrical resistance (or 1/resistance). Ions from salts, nutrients, and metals provide the conveyance for the electrical current. A greater conductivity equals a greater concentration of ions (either natural or as contamination) in the water. Water temperature influences conductivity. Therefore, to compare conductivity values, the measurements must be referenced to a constant temperature. Specific conductivity means that the measurements have all been referenced to a constant temperature of 25o Celsius. Nitrite plus Nitrate: Both nitrite and nitrate are found naturally in streams, but concentrations become elevated from man-induced sources such as malfunctioning septic systems, agricultural and lawn fertilizers, animal manure, and atmospheric contributions. When introduced to a stream, nitrite is usually in very low concentrations since it can be converted to nitrate very readily by nitrifying bacteria. Nitrate is one of the primary nutrients for aquatic plant growth. The greater the concentration, the more abundant plant growth occurs. Large masses of plants can overrun streams and create large fluctuations in dissolved oxygen and pH which can have adverse impacts to resident fish and other aquatic organisms. Nitrite and nitrate can become a health risk to infants if the potable water supply has elevated concentrations. A condition known as “blue baby syndrome,” or methamoglobinemia is created by excessive nitrite in the bloodstream that suppresses the transport of oxygen. Nitrate is quickly converted to nitrite in an infants’ system. Therefore, the NJ Surface Water Quality Standard targets a nitrate concentration, based on a human health criterion of 10 mg/L. Natural background concentrations usually range from 1-2 mg/L. Total Phosphorus: Phosphorus is found in streams from natural decomposition of organic material, geologic releases, and animal wastes. However, phosphorus can also be contributed from fertilizers, septic systems, and farm and domestic animals. Like nitrate, it is a key contributor to excessive aquatic plant growths which can cause large daily fluctuations in dissolved oxygen and pH. These fluctuations can become detrimental to many aquatic organisms. The NJ Surface Water Quality Standard for Phosphorus is 0.1 mg/L. Total Suspended Solids: Both suspended and dissolved solids are carried naturally by all streams. Large amounts of solids entering a stream can adversely alter the aquatic habitat required by organisms for growth and reproduction. Solids settle out of the water and can blanket fish nursery areas and can reduce the available habitat of food organisms. Overland flow from storm events can quickly erode unstable soils and stream banks. Solids in solution cause a sandpaper effect that creates even more erosion. The addition of excessive amounts of solids into a stream causes the channel to lose its capacity to contain the usual volume of flow. Besides affecting the habitat, deposition of solids into the channel causes more frequent flooding throughout the stream reach downstream of the solids loading.

4 STORET is the USEPA's national water quality data STOrage and RETrieval system; NWIS is USGS' National Water Information System. 6: Surface Water Holland Township Natural Resource Inventory Draft ~ July 2006 Kratzer Environmental Services 91

Figure 6f: Holland Township Streams - Specific Conductivity (Using data from 1994 to present)

500

450

400

350

300

250

200

150

100 Specific Conductivity (us/cm) Conductivity Specific 50

0 Road Milford River at River at Creek at Creek at Creek on Creek Delaware Harpence Delaware Route 619 Route River at Riegelsville Harihokake Harihokake Frenchtown Hakihokake Delaware Riegelsville Musconetcong River at Milford River Location

10 Percentile Median 90 Percentile

Figure 6g: Holland Township Streams - Nitrite Plus Nitrate (Using data from 1994 to present)

2.5

1.5

1 Nitrite Nitrate + (mg/l)

0.5

0 Milford River at Creek at Creek Creek on Delaware Route 619 River at Riegelsville Harihokake Hakihokake Riegelsville Musconetcong Locations

10 Percentile Median 90 Percentile

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Figure 6h: Holland Township Streams - Total Phosphorus (Using data from 1994 to present)

0.5

0.45

0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2

0.15

Total Phosphorus (mg/l) Phosphorus Total 0.1

0.05

0 Road Creek River at River at Creek at Creek on Creek Delaware Harpence Delaware Route 619 Route River at Riegelsville Harihokake Harihokake Frenchtown Hakihokake Riegelsville Musconetcong Location

10 Percentile Median 90 Percentile

Figure 6i: Holland Township Streams - Total Suspended Solids (Using data from 1994 to present)

5 Total Suspended Solids (mg/l) Solids Suspended Total

0 Road Milford River at River at Creek at Creek at Creek on Creek Delaware Harpence Delaware Route 619 Route River at Riegelsville Harihokake Harihokake Frenchtown Hakihokake Riegelsville Musconetcong Location

10 Percentile Median 90 Percentile 6: Surface Water Holland Township Natural Resource Inventory Draft ~ July 2006 Kratzer Environmental Services 93

Although there are many other water quality parameters that could have also been assessed, it is beyond the scope of this report to provide a complete review. Overall, based on the selected parameters, the Musconetcong River at Riegelsville is experiencing the greatest loadings of solids and nitrate, which is also reflected by the specific conductivity. The analysis indicates that although there are occasional elevated concentrations at the Delaware River, Hakihokake Creek, and The presence of sensitive macroinvertebrates, Harihokake Creek sites, the ranges are usually such as damselfly larvae, in a stream are an good for the selected parameters. indicator of good water quality. The NJ AMNET sampling program consists of using the USEPA's Rapid Bioassessment Protocol, which relies on the analysis of a site's population of benthic macroinvertebrates, which are the small (but large enough to be seen with the naked eye) invertebrate creatures living on the stream bottom, including insects, mollusks, and crustaceans. The various species of macroinvertebrates have a predictable tolerance (or intolerance) of pollution and/or habitat degradation. Since the macroinvertebrates must live for an extended time period in a relatively small area of stream bottom, they reflect a longer-term level of water quality than a single grab sample of the water. The macroinvertebrate samples are collected with a D-frame net, preserved and later counted and identified. The New Jersey Impairment Score (NJIS) is a composite of five calculations of the benthic macroinvertebrate community's response to pollution stress, including taxa richness, percent contribution of dominant family, EPT, %EPT, and modified family biotic index. Based on the NJIS, a biological impairment rating is determined (non-impaired, moderately impaired, or severely impaired, see Table 6.4). Based on these results, NJDEP may determine that additional water quality sampling is warranted.

Table 6.5: NJDEP Ambient Biomonitoring Network Results for Sites in and Near Holland Site Year Impairment Habitat Habitat Site Name NJIS* Code Sampled Rating** Score*** Rating 1992 30 NONE - - Musconetcong R at River AN0074 Road (Pohatcong Twp) 1997 27 NONE 184 Optimal 2002 30 NONE 173 Optimal 1992 30 NONE - - Hakihokake Ck at Myler AN0075 Road (Holland Twp) 1997 30 NONE 174 Optimal 2003 30 NONE 184 Optimal 1992 30 NONE - - Hakihokake Ck at Miller AN0076 30 NONE 176 Optimal Park Rd (Holland Twp) 1997 2003 30 NONE 184 Optimal 1992 27 NONE - - Hakihokake Ck at Bridge AN0077 St (Milford Boro) 1997 30 NONE 85 Marginal 2003 30 NONE 123 Suboptimal Harihokake Ck at 1992 30 NONE - - AN0078 Hartpence Road 1997 30 NONE 171 Optimal (Alexandria Twp) 2003 24 NONE 158 Suboptimal 6: Surface Water Holland Township Natural Resource Inventory Draft ~ July 2006 Kratzer Environmental Services 94

Table 6.5: NJDEP Ambient Biomonitoring Network Results for Sites in and Near Holland Harihokake Ck at Rt. 619 1992 21 MODERATE - - AN0079 (River Road) (Alexandria 1997 30 NONE 146 Suboptimal Twp) 2003 27 NONE 174 Optimal *NJIS=New Jersey Impairment Score; see Rating, below.

**Impairment Rating: MODERATE= Moderately Impaired: macroinvertebrate richness reduced, in particular, EPT taxa; reduced community balance and number of intolerant taxa. NONE=Non-impaired: benthic community comparable to other undisturbed streams within the region; community characterized by a maximum taxa richness, balanced taxa groups, and good representation of intolerant individuals. SEVERE=Severely Impaired: benthic community drastically different from those in less impaired situations; macroinvertebrates dominated by few taxa, but with many individuals; only intolerant individuals present. HABITAT: Habitat Score for the third round of sampling. Parameters evaluated included in-stream substrate, channel morphology, bank structural features, and riparian vegetation. The area evaluated included the sample site and its immediate surroundings (usually within a 100 - 200 foot radius). The qualitative habitat assessment involves four condition categories, rating each parameter as optimal, suboptimal, marginal or poor based on recently revised EPA criteria (Barbour et. al, 1997 "Revision to Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and Rivers: Periphyton, Benthic Macroinvertebrates, and Fish. USEPA 841-D-97-002). Note: a score of 999 indicates the site was not assessed for habitat.

***HABITAT SCORES: OPTIMAL= 160 – 200; SUB-OPTIMAL=110 – 159; MARGINAL= 60 – 109; POOR= < 60 Source: NJDEP, Water Monitoring and Standards, Freshwater and Biological Monitoring, 2006 http://www.nj.gov/dep/wmm/bfbm/amnet.html

J. Fish Consumption Advisories When toxic pollutants are present in surface water, they are consumed by the organisms that live in the water. The process of bioaccumulation is when there is an increase in concentration of certain fat-soluble chemicals, such as DDT and PCBs, in successively higher trophic levels of a food chain or web. For example, insects living in contaminated sediments may have accumulated a certain amount of a toxin. Fish, by eating many of these insects, then ingest the toxin into their own bodies. Anything that eats that contaminated fish, including humans and other predators, will absorb the toxin into its body. When the concentration of toxin becomes high enough, the individual’s health will be impacted. The NJDEP samples fish for certain toxic pollutants and, when necessary, issues fish consumption advisories, as a guide to limit the human health effects of consuming these fish and the pollutants they contain. This information is intended to help individuals make an informed choice on the number of meals of fish to consume. The 2005 fish consumption advisories for fish caught in the vicinity of Holland Township are listed in Table 6.6. In addition, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has issued an advisory to eat American eel no more than 2 meals per month based on mercury contamination. See the Internet References for more information, such as fish preparation guidelines and annual updates.

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Table 6.6: 2006 Fish Consumption Advisories for Fish Caught in the Vicinity of Holland Township ADVISORY/PROHIBITION General Population 1 High-Risk Range of Recommended Individuals 2 LOCATION SPECIES Meal Frequency

DO NOT EAT MORE DO NOT EAT THAN: MORE THAN: Largemouth & One meal per week One meal per month Smallmouth Bass &

New Jersey Statewide – All water Chain Pickerel Yellow bullhead bodies except those listed below One meal per month Sunfish 3 No restrictions Brown Bullhead One meal per week American eel One meal per month Striped bass Four meals per year Do not eat Delaware River - Phillipsburg to Channel catfish Four meals per year Trenton Largemouth Bass No restrictions One meal per month (Hunterdon/Mercer Co.) Smallmouth Bass One meal per week One meal per month White Sucker One meal per month 1 Eat only the fillet portions of the fish. Use proper trimming techniques to remove fat, and cooking methods that allow juices to drain from the fish (e.g., baking, broiling, frying, grilling, and steaming). See web site for full description. One meal is defined as an eight-ounce serving. 2 High-risk individuals include infants, children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and women of childbearing age. 3 Sunfish includes bluegill, pumpkinseed, and redbreast sunfish. Source: NJDEP Division of Science and Research, 2003 http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/njmainfish.htm

References: Surface Water Fair, Abigail. 2004. Freshwater Wetlands Protection in New Jersey: A Manual for Local Officials. Third Edition. Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions. 52 pages.

NJDEP. February 2004. Stormwater Management Rule N.J.A.C. 7:8: http://www.nj.gov/dep/watershedmgt/rules.htm

NJDEP and NJ Department of Health and Senior Services. 2005 A Guide to Health Advisories for Eating Fish and Crabs Caught in New Jersey Waters. 25 pages.

NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring. 2006. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wmm/bfbm/index.html

NJDEP Division of Science and Research. 2003. Fish Advisories. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/njmainfish.htm

NJDEP Division of Science and Research., Bureau of Water Monitoring April 1994. Ambient Biomonitoring Network for the Delaware River Drainage Basin: 1992 Benthic Macroinvertebrate Data. 206 pages. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wmm/bfbm/amnet.html

NJ DEP Division of Land Use Management. 2003 Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act N.J.S.A. 13:9B and Rules N.J.A.C 7:7A: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/landuse/njsa_njac.html

NJDEP Division of Watershed Management. Approved September 23, 2003; Established June, 2003; Proposed: April 21, 2003. Total Maximum Daily Loads for Fecal Coliform to Address 28 Streams in the Northwest Water Region: Watershed Management Area 1 (Delaware River, Flat Brook, Paulins Kill, and Pequest, Lopatcong, Pohatcong and Musconetcong Rivers); Watershed Management Area 2 (Wallkill River, and Pochuck, Papakating,

6: Surface Water Holland Township Natural Resource Inventory Draft ~ July 2006 Kratzer Environmental Services 96

Rutgers Creeks); Watershed Management Area 11 (Harihokake, Nishisakawick, Lockatong, Wickecheoke, Alexauken, Moore, Jacobs and Assunpink Creeks).5 http://www.nj.gov/dep/watershedmgt/DOCS/TMDL/june2006/Northwest%20FC.pdf

NJDEP Division of Watershed Management. Approved September 15, 2005. Total Maximum Daily Loads for Fecal Coliform to Address 10 Streams in the Northwest Water Region: Watershed Management Area 1 (Honey Run, Lopatcong Creek, Musconetcong River, Paulins Kill and Pohatcong Creek); Watershed Management Area 11 (Hakihokake Creek, Jacobs Creek and Wickecheoke). 70 pages.

NJDEP Division of Watershed Management. 2006a. New Jersey's Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (includes 305 (b) Report & 303(d) List). http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wmm/sgwqt/wat/integratedlist/integratedlist.html

NJDEP Division of Watersheds Management. 2006b. Stormwater Management Rule Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.nj.gov/dep/watershedmgt/stormwaterfaqs.htm

NJDEP Division of Watershed Management. 2006c. Total Maximum Daily Loads home page. http://www.nj.gov/dep/watershedmgt/tmdl.htm

NJDEP Land Use Management, Water Monitoring and Standards. Surface Water Quality Standards N.J. A.C 7:9B Surface Water Classifications Proposed Amendment: N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.15 DEP Docket Number: 23-03-10/412. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/rules

NJDEP Land Use Regulation Program. March 2006. Freshwater Wetlands Program Home Page. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/landuse/fww.html

NJDEP Land Use Regulation Program – Wetlands, Stream Encroachment & Flood Hazard Laws (NJSA) & Regulations (NJAC) Web Page http://www.state.nj.us/dep/landuse/njsa_njac.html

NJDEP Office of Environmental Planning. January 1997. Draft Statewide Watershed Management Framework Document for the State of New Jersey.

NJDEP Site Remediation Program. 2001. Status Report. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/srp/publications/site_status/2001/

NJDEP Water Monitoring Management. November 2003. Surface Water Quality Standards N. J. A. C. 7:9B. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wmm/sgwqt/swqsdocs.html

NJDEP Water Monitoring Management. Category One Fact Sheet. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wmm/sgwqt/c1factsheet.pdf

NJDEP Water Monitoring and Standards. 2004. Home Page. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wmm/sgwqt/swqsdocs.html

NJDEP, Water Monitoring and Standards, Freshwater and Biological Monitoring, 2006. AMNET. http://www.nj.gov/dep/wmm/bfbm/amnet.html

NJDEP Water Monitoring Management. 2004. Monitoring Results. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wmm/

NJ Flood Mitigation Task Force. February 2006 DRAFT. Report on Delaware River Flood Mitigation. 54 pages. http://www.njflood.org/docs/draftnjtaskforcereport20060117.pdf

NJ Office of Legal Affairs – lists environmental statutes (NJSA) and regulations (NJAC); plus links to many that are available online

5 Harihokake Creek is listed in the title of this document, but no TMDL was discussed or proposed.

6: Surface Water Holland Township Natural Resource Inventory Draft ~ July 2006 Kratzer Environmental Services 97 http://www.state.nj.us/dep/legal/nj_env_law.htm

NJDEP Land Use Regulation Program – Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act (July 1998) http://www.state.nj.us/dep/landuse/13_9b.pdf

NJDEP Land Use Regulation Program – Flood Hazard Control Act (July 1998) http://www.state.nj.us/dep/landuse/58_16a.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2004. STORET Database. http://www.epa.gov/storet

U.S. Geological Survey. November 1995. Water Resources Division. Summary of Monthly Hydrologic Conditions in New Jersey.

Internet Resources: Surface Water General Water Resources Protection: Home*A*Syst: Evaluate your home and property for pollution and health risks (USDA): http://www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov/partnerships/homeasyst/

Farm*A*Syst: Tools to help farmers better manage their operation to avoid environmental problems (USDA) http://www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov/partnerships/farmasyst/

SEEDS: The State Environmental Education Directory Website: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/seeds/index.html

Basic Watershed Information (Division of Watershed Management): http://www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt/basicinfo2.htm

The Clean Water Book: Choices for Watershed Protection: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt/cleanwaterbook/waterbook_tble.htm

Water Quality Fact Sheets and Bulletins (NJ Agricultural Experiment Station Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension): http://www.rcre.rutgers.edu/pubs/subcategory.asp?cat=6&sub=50

Floodplains: New Jersey Flood Mitigation Task Force. http://www.njflood.org/

Wetlands: Freshwater Wetlands Program (NJDEP Land Use Regulation) http://www.state.nj.us/dep/landuse/fww/fww.html

Freshwater Wetlands Program: Before You Buy – Before You Build presentation http://www.state.nj.us/dep/enforcement/wetland-training/ontheroad/

Stream Encroachment Program (NJDEP Land Use Regulation) http://www.state.nj.us/dep/landuse/se/se.html

Non-Point Source Pollution / Stormwater: Municipal stormwater regulation program http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dwq/municstw.html

NJ Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (NJ-CREP) http://www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt/crep.htm NJDEP Division of Watershed Management – Stormwater http://www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt/stormwater.htm

NJDEP’s Stormwater Website http://www.njstormwater.org/

Model stormwater control ordinance http://www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt/DOCS/pdfs/ModelSWOrdinance2.pdf

6: Surface Water Holland Township Natural Resource Inventory Draft ~ July 2006 Kratzer Environmental Services 98

NJ Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual (April 2004) http://www.njstormwater.org/tier_A/bmp_manual.htm

Riparian Buffer Conservation Zone Model Ordinances http://www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt/DOCS/pdfs/StreamBufferOrdinance.pdf

USEPA Nonpoint Source Pollution http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/NPS/

Surface Water Quality: USEPA STORET Database: http://www.epa.gov/storet

NJDEP Water Monitoring Management: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wmm/

Delaware River Basin Commission: http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/

NJDEP Regulations: NJDEP Rule proposals http://www.state.nj.us/dep/rules

Information about C1 classification of streams (NJDEP, Water Monitoring and Standards) http://www.nj.gov/dep/cleanwater/c1rule.html

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) (NJDEP) http://www.nj.gov/dep/watershedmgt/tmdl.htm

NJDEP stormwater rule: http://www.nj.gov/dep/cleanwater/stormwater.html

NJ Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual (February 2004): http://www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt/bmpmanualfeb2004.htm

Fish Advisories & Guides NJ Division of Science & Research Fish Advisories Home Page: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/njmainfish.htm

Phone Contacts: NJ Drought Hotline: 1-800-448-7379

NJ Environmental Incident Hotline (hazardous spill, fire, explosion, illegal dumping, wildlife problem): 1-877-WARNDEP / 1-877-927-6337 (toll-free, 24 hours)

NJDEP Land Use Enforcement: 1-609-292-1240

NJDEP Land Use Regulation (stream encroachment), Hunterdon County: 1-609-984-0194

NJDEP Land Use Regulation (wetlands), if you want to build near suspected wetlands, call and ask for the Letter of Interpretation (LOI) information and application package: 1-609-292-0060

NJDEP Land Use Regulation (wetlands), Hunterdon County: 1-609-777-0454

6: Surface Water Holland Township Natural Resource Inventory Draft ~ July 2006 Kratzer Environmental Services 99

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o l n State Route 173 State P SUSSEX ic k Fo e x Farm rth l PASSAIC No BETHLEHEM TWP BLeOr OMSBURY BORO iv R on I-7 s st ill 8 B BERGEN g w t n B e n llo aa h rner H llwo i t a y e o o S Jo un G ke d c W ra r l t B u l e T w n l M o ne o c n o c s u C MORRIS New Jersey Route 579 T d WARREN u r N e M P e a w a r J k ESSEX e rs haaf e HUDSON Sc y k R burg Main M u s c o n e tt c o n g lloCwree o atten Swee Yt oHrok u P Little te UNION n e 5 l 7 R ii v e rr ff Myl 9 G er l o UNION TWP n e G L e a s HUNTERDON r n u i ar o t a t H l C D e W e l m M SOMERSET y nn o a ead e d i o a ow Y ll r s h S R o o c un a f r l g w V i S k r s u MIDDLESEX lo h M C b il C g k E en W y i w lli r tt MONMOUTH p h lis a s e a l M P MERCER h e e H e k e L B k r tz i o r m i l r r r s o l Y e s G a m P e n ra ttl op r b i t F A o l o L il n C y e on H k s d H ark ry e a a l s C l r r p o t k le S e r p k n D L c e ic y

e k a e s W a e K v r OH a k i h o k a k e it h r H i e H a k i h o k a k e t C R e i l e R nd s e c e kk c S A t ill E Y a g h M k n n B k a o o ir r e o e n k ih s R k Legend r C r e e k e k p c t a C r e e k t a t e a M r i r e n h B v H C o a n e c S e u o r H k r c h a a n k s k t k e ill S n o Holland Twp. Boundary u H P ce ic h i M am p c ki l r Ad h Ru e R r lls J a m i Mi mel a C y HOLLAND TWP ring Ha s o mm n Sp S e J g v a Alfalfa Hill p e k Municipal Boundaries t n n s t a u aa M r m y E i k k o r r l n r a r h i l a o o k M rc l i g r P c e F e u l c e la h e l dd h o ill i l b m C s A e i d t M M r l e a t r Parcels v d kk S B f n rr l ALEXANa DRIA TWP s O o C l i te p r i l l o H e s r oil t e W m oo in H l n W k g ee x o s a A C g Fo s a e k i B a k r M e r G l Rivers, Streams and Ponds tt a o R oo il k P t e a fo r e t r b r o re h o v r d C M i i a d W e p ss rr o ak rd L r ir p e a k R r ho o it a A r k i f p n e k il t P n a le H d l H M l G Category 1 Streams e h U n n a m e d Y BB U n n a m e d le o O m i n m l R Y l H ieg od r i elsv o k D p ille M o ew i Mi in M e l lfo W r H a r i h o k a k e s rd P l H a r i h o k a k e o s U n n a m e d R I k t A i a U n n a m e d A g v P u Delaware River Basin er l w f t l e o o e a o r s D r Dawn t s H o ela a wa d e C rr e e k n l d re R t o iver C m a o Sub-watershed Name MILrFORD BORO t h e S c

e S k F C C re mr ou Musconetcong River n e nt c a s ier y D e t me R ela h r F v all o wa t t i G a re R o P S i e d ive w e w 3 5 r a l 1 n d 1 9 Hakihokake Creek e rk d K 5 M l a m a p i n d laf p o d a n r u k n d e o s e U F r R Harihokake Creek (and unnamed stream) re C y n t c e h n t k o a u

w k o Unnamed Watersheds n o ih C ar H T i Amsterdam Brook n King s sridge

a Data Sources: See Appendix B. n Note: Map accuracy is limited to the accuracy and scale of the original data sets; see Appendix B. 0 0.5 1 2 Ridge Disclaimer: This map was developed using NJDEP and Hunterdon County GIS digital data, but this h k secondary product has not been verified by NJDEP or Hunterdon County and is not NJDEP or county authorized. Miles 12t ee KINGWOOD TWP ´ Cr Holland Township NRI, DRAFT 2006 FRENCHTOWN BORO Figure 6a: Surface Water - Watersheds 07/10/06 4 Parep:ar e d Sby Koratizelrs Environmental Services Legend r Holland Twp. Boundary ive R ng Parcels tco ne co us Streams M FEMA Flood Zones L ittl e Y A - 100 year floodplain (base elevations not determined) or k C re AE - 100 year floodplain (base elevations determined) ek X500 - 500 year floodplain Soils Data - Flood Frequency IJ519 Open Water Frequent

H Occasional a k i h Rare o k a k Roads e

r County Roads e e k Local Roads Private Roads er iv R S 631 g p n r IJ o c i et n n g o sc S M p u i M r l i l n 614 s

g IJ B

M r o i o l l k s ( B ek r E re r a C e o e v s k i o t ka k k o R o B h o ki e r ( a W r H r B a a am e n w d s c a r t l te h s B ) e m k D A r e a e n r c C h ) e k a k o ih r a H IJ519 D elawar e River

627 IJ eam Str ed nam Un

Data Sources: NRCS SSURGO version 2.2; soils data version date 1/6/05; see Appendix B. Note: Map accuracy is limited to the accuracy and scale of the original data sets; see Appendix B. 0 0.25 0.5 1 Disclaimer: This map was developed using NJDEP and Hunterdon County GIS digital data, but this Miles secondary product has not been verified by NJDEP or Hunterdon County and is not NJDEP or county authorized. ´ 619 Holland Township NRI, DRAFT 2006 IJ Figure 6b: Surface Water - Floodplains 4Praepa:re d bSy Koratzielr Esnvironmental Services Legend Note: Only an official determination from NJDEP, Holland Twp. Boundary called a "Letter of Parcels Interpretation (LOI)," can Streams verify the presence, absence, or boundaries of freshwater Wetlands wetlands and transition areas Linear Wetlands on a site. The maximum transition area width of 150 150 ft. wetlands buffer feet is shown, but will not 150 ft. linear wetlands buffer apply to all wetlands. Hydric Soils IJ519 Vernal Pools ^_ Certified +$ not surveyed Roads County Road +$ Local Road ^_ Private Road IJ631 +$

IJ614 +$

IJ519

IJ627

l Stream with Fecal Coliform TMDL Established a n a C Surface Water Quality Classification y e ll a V (See Table 2.14 for definitions) h ig h e 519 DRBC-Zone-1E of Delaware River L NM

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FW2-NTC1 C Y e o k r ka k o k FW2-TM h

C e ki e

r a r e H C FW2-TMC1 e e k k a k S o FW2-TPC1 p ih r r i k a n e H g re C S M ke r p a 631 e i k iv r l o NM i l ih R n s k g a n g B H o c M r et o n i o o l c l 614 k s s u NM ( M B E r a o s o t

k B

k ( r oo W a r e n r B s c e m t h a iv rd B ) R e r st a e m n r A c a h w ) la e D k e e r

e k a 519 k M o NM De h law I i are l R k iver f o a r d H

C k e r e 627 e r e C NM k e k a k o ih r a H NM619

Data Sources: See Appendix B. ek Note: Map accuracy is limited to the accuracy and scale of the original data sets; see Appendix B. 0 0.25 0.5 1 re Disclaimer: This map was developed using NJDEP and Hunterdon County GIS digital data, but this C Miles ke secondary product has not been verified by NJDEP or Hunterdon County and is not NJDEP or county authorized. ka ´ o Holland Township NRI, DRAFT 2006 ih ar Figure 6d: Surface Water Classifications Pre4paraed :by K rSatzeor Enivlirosnmental Services H D Legend er Riv ong netc !( Surface Water Discharge Roads sco (! ek Mu ork Cre Little Y *# NJDEP Supplemental Ambient Monitoring County Road l a X NJDEP Existing WQ Station Local Road n a L C i t Private Road y t NJDEP/USGS Ambient Monitoring l e e -& ll

a Y V o (! r NJDEP Fish Index of Biotic Integrity h k g D i C h r e e NJDEP Ambient Biomonitoring Network L e GF k ek USGS Stream Gage (Riegelsville) re D ^ C ke ka

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