Climate Change and GSWA

GRADING NEW JERSEY’S GREAT SWAMP

Laura Kelm Director of Water Quality Programs September 19, 2015

Stream Monitoring Programs

• Chemical • Visual • Macroinvertebrates • E. coli • Temperature Chemical Monitoring

• 4 times per year, using handheld meters and lab analysis • Collecting baseline data on Primrose and Black Brooks by monitoring multiple sites • Re-visiting 1 site on each of the other 3 streams and Watershed outlet (already have baseline data here) Parameters

• Nitrogen – Nitrate – Nitrite – Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen • Water Clarity – Ammonia – Turbidity – Total Suspended Solids • Phosphorus – Total Phosphorus • Road Salt – Soluble Reactive Phosphate – Total Dissolved Solids • pH – Sodium • Temperature – Chloride • Dissolved Oxygen – Conductivity • Flow Visual Stream Assessments

• NJDEP protocol; training led by NJDEP Watershed Ambassadors • 22 sites assessed by 30 volunteers biannually (fall, spring) • Best to have consistent volunteers to spot problems High Gradient Monitoring Sheet

Habitat Condition Category Parameter Optimal Suboptimal Marginal Poor Greater than 70% of substrate favorable 40-70% mix of stable habitat; well-suited 20-40% mix of stable habitat; habitat Less than 20% stable habitat; lack of habitat 1. Epifaunal Substrate/Available Cover for epifaunal colonization and fish cover; for full colonization potential; adequate availability less than desirable; substrate is obvious; substrate unstable or lacking. mix of snags, submerged logs, undercut habitat for maintenance of populations; frequently disturbed or removed. banks, cobble or other stable habitat and at presence of additional substrate in the stage to allow full colonization potential form of new fall, but not yet prepared for (i.e., logs/snags that are not new fall and colonization (may rate at high end of not transient). scale). SCORE 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Gravel, cobble and boulder particles are Gravel, cobble and boulder particles are Gravel, cobble and boulder particles are 50- Gravel, cobble and boulder particles are 2. Embeddedness 0-25% surrounded by fine sediment. 25-50% surrounded by fine sediment. 75% surrounded by fine sediment. more than 75% surrounded by fine sediment. Layering of cobble provides diversity of niche space. SCORE 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 All 4 velocity/depth regimes present Only 3 of the 4 regimes present (if fast- Only 2 of the 4 habitat regimes present (if Dominated by 1 velocity / depth regime 3. Velocity/Depth (slow-deep, slow-shallow, fast-deep, fast- shallow is missing, score lower than if fast-shallow or slow-shallow are missing, (usually slow-deep). Combinations shallow). missing other regimes). score low). (Slow is <0.3 m/s, deep is >0.5 m/s) SCORE 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Little or no enlargement of islands or Some new increase in bar formation, Moderate deposition of new gravel, sand or Heavy deposits of fine material, increased 4. Sediment Deposition point bars and less than 5% of the bottom mostly from gravel, sand or fine sediment; fine sediment on old and new bars; 30-50% bar development; more than 50% of the affected by sediment deposition. 5-30% of the bottom affected; slight of the bottom affected; sediment deposits at bottom changing frequently; pools almost deposition in pools. obstructions, constrictions and bends; absent due to substantial sediment moderate deposition of pools prevalent. deposition.

SCORE 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Water reaches base of both lower banks, Water fills >75% of the available channel; Water fills 25-75% of the available channel, Very little water in channel and mostly 5. Channel Flow Status and minimal amount of channel substrate or <25% of channel substrate is exposed. and/or riffle substrates are mostly exposed. present as standing pools. is exposed. SCORE 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

TOTAL HABITAT SCORE FOR THIS PAGE Macroinvertebrate Assessments

• Annual survey, since 2000 • Macros collected early June • Meter data informs results E. Coli Bacteria

• Indicates fecal pollution • Implications for health • Monitor sites watershed-wide in summer • Sites are located where people or pets are likely in contact with water

Credit: G. Finlay 6/24/2014 Communicating Monitoring Results

• Pre-2013, monitoring reports limited in scope • 1 subwatershed or few parameters • Need big picture view • Technical audience 2013 State of the Streams

• MIV, chemical, climate, precip, flow • General recommendations • 4 public presentations • Challenges: • Long, technical report • Analysis took 1 year Water Quality Report Card

• Goals: • Answer “How’s the water?” • Understandable for non- technical audience • Short length • Recommend actions • Include ALL 2014 WQ data • To become an annual report How the Grades Were Created

• Grades based on water quality standards set by NJDEP or U.S. EPA • Where no standards exist, grades based on ecological impact Excellent • 2 highest grades pass standard Good Poor • 2 lower grades fail standard Very Poor No Data • Lots of math! • Detailed info on grading scales and methods available at www.GreatSwamp.org 2014 Results

• Some things stand out: what is good and where are there issues

Macro- Visual Stream Dissolved Water Water Stream invertebrates Assessment Bacteria Oxygen Temperature pH Road Salt Clarity Nitrogen Phosphorus Black Brook Poor Poor Very Poor Poor Excellent Excellent Good Excellent Very Poor Poor Great Brook (main stem) Poor Good Very Poor Excellent Excellent Excellent Good Excellent Excellent Good Bayne Brook Poor Excellent Excellent Silver Brook Poor Very Poor Excellent Loantaka Brook Poor Good Very Poor Excellent Excellent Excellent Poor Excellent Very Poor Poor Passaic River (main stem) Good Excellent Good Poor Excellent Excellent Excellent Good Good Indian Grave Brook Excellent Good Good Poor Excellent Excellent Excellent Branta Pond Excellent Excellent Primrose Brook (main stem) Excellent Good Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Good Excellent Mount Kemble Lake Tributary Good Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Poor Excellent Great Swamp Watershed Outlet Very Poor Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Good 2014 Results

• Healthiest stream in watershed • Large forested areas • Best macroinvertebrates

Stonefly from PB2

Primrose Brook at PB2 looking downstream 6/2014 Primrose Brook Mount Kemble Category (main stem) Lake tributary Macro- invertebrates Excellent Primrose Brook Visual Stream Assessment Good Bacteria Excellent Dissolved Oxygen Excellent Good Water Temperature Excellent Excellent • Spring snowmelt increased pH Excellent Excellent Road Salt Excellent Excellent nitrogen levels in Primrose Water Clarity Excellent Excellent Nitrogen Good Poor and Mount Kemble Lake trib Phosphorus Excellent Excellent • Natural condition, not a concern • Also seen in Passaic River • Visual assessments note excess sediment, poor streambank vegetation

Storm pipe downstream from Lees Hill Rd. Note pavement-colored sediment pile. 8/2014 Typical Primrose Brook?

• Rocky bottom • Lots of riffles • Healthy streamside vegetation shading the stream, reducing erosion potential along streambanks Primrose Brook downstream from Tempe Wick Rd. 6/2015 The Lesser-Known Primrose Brook

Bank erosion

Incomplete buffer Sediment bars (few shrubs)

Primrose Brook between Lees Hill Rd. and Baileys Mill Rd. Credit: M. Duffy, 7/10/2014 Great Brook

• Developed headwaters, then suburban/rural with areas of protected lands • Water quality in the middle of main Watershed streams

Foote’s Pond 5/2013 Great Brook Bayne Silver Category (main stem) Brook Brook Macro- Great Brook invertebrates Poor Visual Stream Assessment Good Poor Poor Bacteria Very Poor Excellent Very Poor • Higher road salt upstream Dissolved Oxygen Excellent Water • Stormwater impacts: Temperature Excellent Excellent Excellent pH Excellent • Decreased water clarity Road Salt Good Water Clarity Excellent • Higher phosphorus Nitrogen Excellent Phosphorus Good • High bacteria in Foote’s Pond and Bayne Pond • Foote’s Pond, Silver Lake raise water temperatures • Bayne Brook, Silver Brook: • Poor in-stream habitat, sedimentation • High E. coli in Silver Brook under

Great Brook downstream from Silver Lake 6/6/2014 investigation by GSWA Loantaka Brook

• Several potential land uses in developed headwaters contribute to impairment: • Condo/apartment complexes • Major roads • Mown fields • Woodland Water Pollution Control Utility • Ginty Pool • One of the most impaired watershed streams Category Loantaka Brook Macro- invertebrates Poor Visual Stream Loantaka Brook Assessment Good Bacteria Very Poor Dissolved Oxygen Excellent Water • Road salt, normally a prime issue, Temperature Excellent pH Excellent was diluted in winter and spring Road Salt Poor Water Clarity Excellent from higher flows Nitrogen Very Poor Phosphorus Poor • Upstream land uses likely causing high phosphorus and nitrogen • Poor in-stream habitat; stream bottom has abundant sand and fine sediment at many sites • Artificially low E. coli near Ginty Pool – likely chemical leak to blame (now resolved) • Poor macroinvertebrate Loantaka Brook downstream from Ginty Pool 6/6/2014 communities Black Brook

• Begins in developed areas and golf course • Primarily within Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge • Low gradient stream • Chatham Twp. Main Water Pollution Control Utility discharged here until mid-March 2015

Stream Team volunteer Bill Marshall excited when the Chatham Twp. Water Pollution Control Utility stopped discharging into Black Brook. 4/16/2015 Category Black Brook Macro- invertebrates Poor Black Brook Visual Stream Assessment Poor Bacteria Very Poor Dissolved Oxygen Poor Water Temperature Excellent • Upstream golf course and major pH Excellent Road Salt Good roads likely impacting water Water Clarity Excellent Nitrogen Very Poor temperature, dissolved oxygen, Phosphorus Poor nitrogen, road salt, and macroinvertebrates • Water Pollution Control Utility discharge increased road salt, nitrogen, and phosphorus • High bacteria in Refuge may be from wildlife • Poor in-stream habitat,

Black Brook in the Refuge 10/16/2014 sedimentation Passaic River

• One of the healthiest Watershed streams (with Primrose Brook) • Tributary Indian Grave Brook often considered reference site because of high quality • Large forested areas in upstream portions of subwatershed • Water quality degrades somewhat further downstream near Route 202, I-287 • Branta Pond flows into Passaic from Somerset EEC Passaic River Indian Grave Branta Category (main stem) Brook Pond Macro- invertebrates Good Excellent Passaic River Visual Stream Assessment Excellent Good Bacteria Excellent Dissolved Oxygen Good Good Water • High water temperatures Temperature Poor Poor Excellent pH Excellent Excellent recorded in Indian Grave Brook Road Salt Excellent Excellent Water Clarity Excellent Excellent and Passaic above Osborn Pond Nitrogen Good Phosphorus Good • Designated trout production waters by NJDEP • High temperatures potentially detrimental to trout • Macroinvertebrate communities in upper PR and IG very healthy • Good upstream aquatic habitats • High spring nitrogen from Passaic River downstream of Osborn Pond 5/5/2014 snowmelt is a natural condition Great Swamp Watershed Outlet

• Grades based on sites below where all major tributaries empty into Passaic • Representative of water quality leaving Watershed and heading to our downstream neighbors

Kayaking on the Passaic River just upstream of Fishermen’s Parking Lot 8/26/2014 Great Swamp Category Watershed Outlet Great Swamp Macro- invertebrates Visual Stream Watershed Outlet Assessment Bacteria Very Poor Dissolved Oxygen Excellent Water • Elevated bacteria after recent Temperature Excellent pH Excellent rains at Fishermen’s Parking Lot Road Salt Excellent Water Clarity Excellent (baseflow levels were within NJ Nitrogen Excellent standard) Phosphorus Good • Higher phosphorus in summer and fall • Either from winter/spring dilution • OR from fertilizer use in growing season • Water clarity consistently lower

Passaic River at Millington Gorge 5/5/2014 than other sites (still “excellent”) Common Issues

• High water temperatures • Sediment • Stormwater runoff

• Poor stream buffers Road Salt • High bacteria

• Road salt Sediment Stormwater

Primrose Brook downstream from Lees Hill Rd. 3/12/2014 Recommentations

• High Water Temperatures • Taller plants can help shade streams, ponds, and lakes

Good canopy cover at PB1 Credit: G. PB1 on Primrose Brook downstream Hauck 6/10/2015 from Lees Hill Rd. Credit: G. Hauck 6/10/2015 Recommendations (con’t)

• Sediment • Multi-stemmed plants next to a stream can act as a filter • Native plants with complex roots can hold soil in place • Use soil fences around areas of bare soil

Healthy grass buffer in Bayne Mediocre soil fencing around Park 7/10/2013 construction 8/4/2015 Recommendations (con’t)

• Stormwater Runoff • Reduce impervious surfaces through pervious pavement or replacing unused impervious areas with pervious cover • Direct runoff into rain gardens or drainage swales so it can be absorbed • Capture stormwater using rain barrels or cisterns

Participants make their own rain barrels at a GSWA workshop 7/15/2014 Recommendations (con’t)

• Poor stream buffers • Multi-stemmed plants can physically slow down the flow of stormwater runoff • Native plants with deep, complex root systems can absorb stormwater runoff soaking into the ground • The wider a buffer is, the more time it has to work Buffers in Bayne Park pre-restoration summer 2011

Healthy pond buffers in Bayne Park 7/10/2013 Recommendations (con’t)

• High bacteria • Pick up after your pet, even in your yard! • Maintain your septic system • Municipalities should inspect sewer lines periodically to ensure they are not leaking Recommendations (con’t)

• Road salt • Use only when necessary • Ingredients matter: sodium chloride least effective; calcium magnesium acetate highly effective and environmentally benign • Support municipal efforts to use lower salt alternatives, such as brine

Read the ingredients before buying salting products Thank You!

• Stream Team • Hyde and Watson volunteers Foundation • Roger Edwards • Norcross Wildlife • Lee Pollock Foundation • Guy Leland • Royal Bank of Canada • Grant Hauck • The Watershed • Ana Berthel Institute • Jocelyn van den Akker • GSWA members!! Become a Stream Team Volunteer!

• Stream Assessment Training – Saturday, November 7, 9am-12pm, GSWA Headquarters Questions?

Laura Kelm Director of Water Quality Programs Great Swamp Watershed Association [email protected] 973-538-3500, ext. 16