DOCSLIB.ORG

And Hudson River Valleys

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
And Hudson River Valleys LATE WISCONSIN-HOLOCENE HISTORY OF' THE LOWER HUDSON REGION: NEW EVIDENCE FROM THE HACKENSACK AND HUDSON RIVER VALLEYS STEPHEN P. AVERILL Fairleigh-Dickinson University, Rutherford, N.J., and Pascack Valley Regional High School District, Montvale, New Jersey RICHARD R. PARDI and, WALTER S. NEWMAN, Radiocarbon Laboratory, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Queens College, City University, of New York, Flushing, New York. ROBERT J .. DINEEN New York State Geological Survey, Museum, Science Service State Education Department INTRODUCTION The study area (Fig. 1) is the central and upper Hacken· overdeepened by glacial ice, then mostly filled by pro­ sack River valley of northeastern New Jersey and adja­ glacial lake sediments (Lovegreen, 1974). The present cent New York State with reconaissance study of the terrain is gently rolling, wi,h drumlinoidal hills general­ surrounding area in Bergen County, N.J. and Rockland ly aligned north to south paralleling the strike of the County, N, Y. In the text, town names will be in New bedrock. Essentially glaciation has subdued the pre­ Jersey unless indicated otherwise, Geologically, the area existing topography, even occasionally reversing it. is the northern portion of the Trias·Jurassic Newark basin where a gently dipping (14 OW) homoclinal se­ Previous work: At the turn of the century Salisbury, et quence of Brunswick Formation red sandstones and 'al. (1902) reported the glacial geology in the New Jersey shales form the deeply scarred bedrock surface. The portion of the study area. Geomorphic forms were Palisade sm and basalt lava flows of the Watchungs, in­ described with great detail and accuracy with lesser em 6 terbedded with the Newark series sediments, form pro­ phasis on stratigraphy. There is a notable lack of minent topographic ridges in the region. The western description to distinguish between the two tills and their slope of the Palisade sm, whose well-studied eastern associated outwashes. The latter is not a reflection .on escarpment forms the Hudson Palisades, is at the their abilities but rather on the "state of the art" circa eastern margin of the Hackensack Valley. Resistant 1900, Reeds (1926, 1927) studied and counted the 2,550 sandstones of the Newark group form the ridges and glacial Lake Hackensack varves at Little Ferry, Heusser· cliffs along its western border as wen as the divide be­ (1963) examined the recent vegetational history of the tween it and the parallel drainage system of the Saddle tidal marsh at Secaucus from about 2,000 YBP River. The Ramapo fault system slices northeast at the (radiocarbon years before present). Lovegreen (1974) northern terminus of the basin separating it from the compiled a mass of subsurface data indicating that prior n.lgged Precambrian crystalline mass of the Ramapo , to glaciation, the Hudson River, after passing through Mountain portion of the Appalachian chain. The Hwd­ the Highlands Gap in the Ramapo Mountains, had son Ri:ver and glaciation have carved an impressive flowed westward through the Sparkill Gap in the gorge through the Hudson Highlands, The Ramapo Palisades. Then turning south it excavated channels in River lies in a similar but less spectacular gorge ten miles the Newark series shales approximating the present to the west at Suffern, N. Y. Continental glaciations course of the Hackensack River to the ocean. overdeepened both gorges before overwhelming the Ramapos to push south to their maxima. The deep preglacial Hackensack· Valley has been partially 160 161 SPARKILL GAP e BEECHWOOD PK. f:) MASTODON SITE ;' DRUMLIN AXIS I JERSEY CIT LONG HARBOR HILL TERMlNAL • SUMMIT p '" ' - '---30RAINE o u , JP " ISLAND Q , o C Q ()\)\ o 10 20 40Mi Fig, 1. Study area and adjacent region Key: Watchung lava flows are lined vertically while the ·PaIisacl:e Sill is lined horizontally. LATE WISCONSIN-HOLOCENE HISTORY OF THE LOWER HUDSON REGION 162 Glacial geology of the Hackensack Valley: , late and postglacial history of the Hackensack River. It The present study. breaches the otherwise continuous wall of the Palisades that extends from Jersey City I New Jersey to Within the study area, there is no surficial evidence of Haverstraw, New York. Because of the northward any glaciatioThearlier than late Wisconsin age. However, glacially induced isostatic crustal tilt, it served as the evidence of two earlier glaciations is present from the drainage for the Hackensack River on several occasions. subsurface. Brown drift is known from deep borings For this reason, this detailed study of the Gap is along the New York State Thruway near Mt. Ivy, New presented. York. In River Edge, excavation of red till revealed deeply weathered rock fragments whereas the red till ex­ Seismic Studies R Sparkill Gap amined in Norwood and elsewhere contained much moreo durable "fresh" clasts. This appears to agree with SparKill Gap is underlain by the Triassic Palisades For~ the till and drift sequence found on Staten Island by mation (Peflmutter, 1959). These sandstones and shales Sanders and Rampino (1978). These tills (the brown till are cut by several northeast-southwest trending normal and the "rotten clast" red till) are probably of early faults (Thompson, 1959). Sparkill Gap is on the north Wisconsin age or older. end of a + 180 ft. to + 200 ft. A.S.L. (above sea level) . terrace that was eroded by the southwest-flowing, The late Wisconsinian (Woodfordian) glacial maximum preglacial Hudson River (Fig. 2a, and Woodworth, of the Hudson Valley ice lobe overrode the earlier drifts 1905, Johnson, 1931). The preglacial Hudson was con­ and built the Harbor Hill moraine across western Long sequent on a graben that broke the crest line of the Island, Staten Island 9 New York and at Perth Amboy, Palisades ridge (Thompson, 1959). The Tappan and New Jersey across to Summit (Fig. 1) sometime after Sparkill Moraines lie west of the Gap; these moraines 22,800 B.P, (Sirkin & Stuckenrath, 1975). The thin were deposited by ice lying in the valley between Roslyn till overlies the Harbor Hill Moraine in western Orangeburg and Mt. Nebo (Fig 2a, and Woodsworth, L.t This undated till marks the most recent readvance 1905). Stratified drift (outwash)Iies between the two to the terminal position by the Hudson lobe of the moraines (Woodworth, 1905), Woodfordian ice sheet (Connally & Sirkin, 1973). The Gap is filled by over 60 ft. (18.3 m) of glacial drift, Proglacial lakes Hudson, Flushing and Hackensack, based on test borings and water wells (Perlmutter, conterminous (Reeds, 1926) and dammed on the south 1959). These wells, with supplemental test borings, un~ by the Woodfordian terminal moraine, expanded as the published· USGS water well data, and NYSGS seismic ice beat an oscillating retreat northward. Lake Passaic, refraction data, has been used to generate Figs. 2b and which formed between the First Watchung Ridge and 2e. the Ramapo Mountains to the west, lay at a higher elevation and is presumed to have been es.sentially Geophysics: Seismic refraction was used to provide ad­ coeval with the other three. ditional data points in the Sparkill Gap area. Seismic profiles were run along rights-of-way and in town The preceeding is relatively well known and has been parks. Each of the profiles was reversed, and was 170 to presumed to have been the entire late-glacial history. It 250 ft. (52 to 76 m) long; the length depended on the was thought to have been foHowed only by draining of distance available between power lines, road intersec­ the lakes and the stream flow that presumably deposited tions, and fences. "Shot points" were 10 feet (3 m) a three to six meter thick sheet of sand across· the lake apart in the first 60 ft. (18,3 m) of each profile, and were bed. Both events were believed to have been the result of 20 feet (6.1 m) apart for the rest. The "shot points" postglacial differential isostatic rebound, were impacts of a 161b sledge hammer on a 1 ft.2 (.4 m2) steel plate. The signal was recorded ton a Huntec FS-3 The present study indicates the occurence of a post­ single-channel seismograph: The resulting time-distance Lake Hackensack glacial readvance into the lower Hud­ graph was interpreted using both the critical distance son River Valley region following a significant in­ and time-intercept methods (Mooney, 1973, Zohdy and terstade, and provides details of the post-glacial events. others, 1974), The supporting evidence includes stratigraphic, sedimentologic, geomorphic, seismic and palynologic Two areas were studie'd - The northernmost area was at data as well as a series of supporting C-14 dates, the mouth of the Sparkill (seismic profile 73-13, Fig. 2c), and the southernmost was just southwest of U.S. SPARKILL GAP: SEISMIC STUDY Rt,. 9W crossing of t~e Sparkill (profiles 73-10 t -11, -12, Fig. 2c). Each seismic profile generally 'had th"ree seismic Sparkill (Spar Kill) Gap has been most important to the layers (Fig.2c). The uppermost~ or low-velocity layer 0\ v.> B 8' " \ \ , v '-\ ( Iii J I \\ \ A A' N "., ; r , '-- \ \ . \ \ \ ",,--,+ I '00 o Ul...; t W\~:I, ') J \"-,,_"-:0, \ . ,",' ~/ J"\ \\\ ~"" \:'lJ 1 .. \ J _~"O C \\ -; o .•. ... "" _-.-J S L m ~<~'"O,~\ . '~E~MO", ·~ :~=:1 Ul ~ U "0 . U ,,-~ ... , , •..h '1 " 0\ I D \'~;: J" ..---~_~, o "., C :;-1 f C Z tTl ~ "- tTl \-\ ~ Ul U rrl ---1+ ;L ><: o o S otTl ro o .. --.1_ o ~ N » z o o D' o - I' c C> '" oS I o ,~~C~.~ --jSL tTl o-l ~~±~ :] ('Tl r o I'<>-l SAND 8 ~ SANDS PEAT S TILL DSAND -; 0GRAVEL ~ SILT ~ • Mu(." z: ." iTHVALE Ul !"Xl OUTWASH ro::;] MORAiNE 1;::1+1800' - +200' LQ A ~~. ~TERRACE .A + ;:AULTS. A WOODWORTH, 1905 o 1000 2000 FT.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Passaic Falls
    THE GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE PASSAIC FALLS Paterson New Jersey Bv WILLIAM NELSON PATERSON, N. J. : THE PRESS PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1892. COPYRIGHT x892 Bv WILLIAM NELSON The Passaic Falls are the most remarkable bit of natural scenery in New Jersey. In some respects they are unique. For more than two centuries they have been visited by travelers from all parts of the world. Their peculiar formation, and the strange rocks in the neighborhood, have excited the wonder and curiosity of all beholders, and have of ten suggested the thought, "How was this cataract formed? Why these peculiar 1·ocks and mountains?" In preparing a History of the City of Paterson-a city which was located at the Great Falls to take advantage of the water-power-the writer's attention was naturally di­ rected to the question which has arisen in the minds of all who have stood at the spot where the Passaic river takes its mad plunge over the precipice. In the following pages he has attempted an answer, by giving some account of the Geological History of the Passaic Falls. This paper is the first Chapter of the more extended History of Paterson mentioned. Only one hundred copies have been printed separately in this form. The writer will be pleased to receive suggestions and corrections from any who may receive a copy of this pamphlet. The references and notes have been made full, as a guide to those unfamiliar with the subject, who may wish to pursue it further. PATERSON, N. J., November 24, 1892.
    [Show full text]
  • Bacterial and Viral Source Tracking in the Pocantico and Sparkill Creek Watersheds
    NEW YORK STATE WATER RESOURCES INSTITUTE Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering 230 Riley-Robb Hall, Cornell University Tel: (607) 254-7163 Ithaca, NY 14853-5701 Fax: (607) 255-4449 http://wri.cals.cornell.edu Email: [email protected] Bacterial and Viral Source Tracking in the Pocantico and Sparkill Creek Watersheds Bernadette J. Connors, PhD Dominican College Science Department [email protected] Abstract In New York State, 792 waterbodies are on the “Impaired/TMDL” list, which identifies bodies of water that might require remediation. The Sparkill Creek, placed on the list first in 2010, empties into the Hudson River. It faces issues with stormwater runoff, causing elevated levels of pathogens in the creek and decreased oxygen availability. According to published data, the levels of the indicator bacteria are 24 times higher than EPA standards. The Pocantico River, located in Westchester County, faces many of these same issues. Both were tested for microbial and coliphage loads and diversity as related to weather events. Coliform and E. coli levels were measured, with a significant increase found with a rainfall event for both sampling locations. The coliphage numbers and diversity were also significantly different with a rain event. Microbial community analyses were also completed. Of note was increased prevalence of Enterobacter and Escherichia three miles from the mouth of the creek. Future studies include a more thorough analysis of the microbial community data in both time and space, along with further testing of the fungal, bacterial, and algal populations. Bacterial and Viral Source Tracking in the Pocantico and Sparkill Creek Watersheds Three Summary Points of Interest • Microbial community profiling yields a more comprehensive view of challenges faced by aquatic ecosystems.
    [Show full text]
  • Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan OCTOBER 1, 2019–OCTOBER 1, 2024
    Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan OCTOBER 1, 2019–OCTOBER 1, 2024 Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor | Basil Seggos, Commissioner Acknowledgments This plan was prepared by staff of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, including Betsy Blair, Chris Bowser, Ann-Marie Caprioli, Brian DeGasperis, Sarah Fernald, Heather Gierloff, Emilie Hauser, Dan Miller, and Sarah Mount, with the assistance of Andy Burgher, Cathy Kittle, and Bill Rudge in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Ed McGowan of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; and Nina Garfield and Ann Weaver of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office for Coastal Management. We appreciate input that has informed development of this plan provided by other colleagues, local leaders, county officials, environmental organizations, researchers, educators, and marsh managers. Suggested citation: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). 2019. Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan. Albany, NY. Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................... iv Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 1 The Reserve .........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Lost Stream
    Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, New York State Public Service Commission Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 Re: Public Comment on Case 09-W-0731 United Water New York Rates Submitted by electronic filing via email to [email protected] on May 14, 2010 Comments of: Bob Dillon [email protected] Rockland R.A.F.T. (Rockland Residents Against Flooding Tomorrow) http://RocklandRaft.com Founding Member Rockland County Water Quality Committee Associate Member TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE/I-287 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Environmental Stakeholders’ Advisory Working Group Member Rockland Coalition for Sustainable Water Member The comments attached are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of others. To view previous comments made by Bob Dillon at the New York State Public Service Commission’s Public Statement Hearing held at Town of Ramapo town hall, April 22, 2010 click on View all Case Related Commission Documents for Case 09-W-0731 Scroll to and click on filing number 34, Transcript of Public Statement Hearing held April 22, 2010. Once in the file see pages 11 through 18. Document Filing On Filing Date Filed Document Title Type Behalf Of No 4/29/2010 Transcripts Transcript of Public Public Service 34 Statement Hearing held Commission April 22, 2010 1 Attachments Comments of Bob Dillon Case 09-W-0731 United Water New York Rates - PDF Spring Valley 1952 Decision (Lake DeForest) - PDF 1965 Lake Tappan Decision - PDF Discharges From Lake DeForest 1958-2007 - Excel Flow of the Hackensack River at West Nyack - Excel Excess Flow In Years of Mandatory Water Use Restrictions - Excel Email to Rockland County Executive C.
    [Show full text]
  • How's the Water in the Catskill, Esopus and Rondout Creeks?
    How’s the Water in the Catskill, Esopus and Rondout Creeks? Cizen Science Fecal Contaminaon Study How’s the Water in the Catskill, Esopus and Rondout Creeks? Background & Problem Methods Results: 2012-2013 Potenal Polluon Sources © Riverkeeper 2014 © Riverkeeper 2014 Photo: Rob Friedman “SWIMMABILITY” FECAL PATHOGEN CONTAMINATION LOAD © Riverkeeper 2014 Government Pathogen Tesng © Riverkeeper 2014 Riverkeeper’s Fecal Contaminaon Study 2006 - Present Enterococcus (“Entero”) EPA-recommended fecal indicator Monthly sampling: May – Oct EPA Guideline for Primary Contact: Acceptable: 0-60 Entero per 100 mL Beach Advisory: >60 Entero per 100 mL © Riverkeeper 2014 Science Partners & Supporters Funders Science Partners • HSBC • Dr. Gregory O’Mullan Queens • Clinton Global Iniave College, City University of New • The Eppley Foundaon for York Research • Dr. Andrew Juhl, Lamont- • The Dextra Baldwin Doherty Earth Observatory, McGonagle Foundaon, Inc. Columbia University • The Hudson River Foundaon for Science and Environmental Research, Inc. • Hudson River Estuary Program, NYS DEC • New England Interstate Water Polluon Control Commission (2008-2013) © Riverkeeper 2014 Riverkeeper’s Cizen Science Program Goals 1. Fill a data gap 2. Raise awareness about fecal contaminaon in tributaries 3. Involve local residents in finding and eliminang Photo: John Gephards sources of contaminaon © Riverkeeper 2014 Riverkeeper’s Cizen Science Studies Tributaries sampled: • Catskill Creek • 45 river miles • 19 sites (many added in 2014) • Esopus Creek • 25 river miles
    [Show full text]
  • Lower Devonian Glacial Erratics from High Mountain, Northern New Jersey, USA: Discovery, Provenance, and Significance
    Lower Devonian glacial erratics from High Mountain, northern New Jersey, USA: Discovery, provenance, and significance Martin A. Becker1*and Alex Bartholomew2 1. Department of Environmental Science, William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey 07470, USA 2. Geology Department, SUNY, New Paltz, New York 12561, USA *Corresponding author <[email protected]> Date received 31 January 2013 ¶ Date accepted 22 November 2013 ABSTRACT Large, fossiliferous, arenaceous limestone glacial erratics are widespread on High Mountain, Passaic County, New Jersey. Analysis of the invertebrate fossils along with the distinct lithology indicates that these erratics belong to the Rickard Hill Facies of the Schoharie Formation (Lower Devonian, Tristates Group). Outcrops of the Rickard Hill Facies of the Schoharie Formation occur in a narrow belt within the Helderberg Mountains Region of New York due north of High Mountain. Reconstruction of the glacial history across the Helderberg Mountains Region and New Jersey Piedmont indicates that the Rickard Hill Erratics were transported tens of kilometers from their original source region during the late Wisconsinan glaciation. The Rickard Hill Erratics provide a unique opportunity to reconstruct an additional element of the complex surficial geology of the New Jersey Piedmont and High Mountain. Palynology of kettle ponds adjacent to High Mountain along with cosmogenic-nuclide exposure studies on glacial erratics from the late Wisconsinan terminal moraine and the regional lake varve record indicate that the final deposition of the Rickard Hill Erratics occurred within a few thousand years after 18 500 YBP. RÉSUMÉ Les grand blocs erratiques fossilifères apparaissent disperses dans les formations basaltiques de Preakness (Jurassique Inférieur) sur le mont High, dans le conte de Passaïc, dans l’État du New Jersey (NJ).
    [Show full text]
  • Ii. Natural Resources of the Greenwood Lake Watershed
    II. NATURAL RESOURCES II. NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE GREENWOOD LAKE WATERSHED A. LAND RESOURCES Geologic History The Greenwood Lake Watershed is located in the Highlands Physiographic Province, as shown in Figure II.A-1. The Highlands are underlain by the oldest rocks in New Jersey. These Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks were formed between 1.3 billion and 750 million years ago by the melting and recrystallization of sedimentary rocks that were deeply buried, subjected to high pressure and temperature, and intensely deformed.1 The Precambrian rocks are interrupted by several elongate northeast-southwest trending belts of folded Paleozoic sedimentary rocks equivalent to the rocks of the Valley and Ridge Province. Figure II.A-1 - Physiographic Provinces of New Jersey 1 New Jersey Geological Survey, NJ Department of Environmental Protection. 1999. The Geology of New Jersey. II-1 II. NATURAL RESOURCES The Highlands ridges in New Jersey are a southward continuation of the Green or Taconic Mountains of Vermont and Massachusetts, the New England Upland of Connecticut, and the Hudson Highlands of New York.2 The ridges continue through Pennsylvania to the vicinity of Reading. This Reading Prong of the New England Physiographic Province plunges beneath the surface of younger rocks for a distance of about fifty miles southwest of Reading and reappears where the northern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains begins to rise above the surrounding country. The Blue Ridge Mountains of the Virginia Appalachians, the mountains of New England, and the Highlands of New Jersey and New York all have a similar geologic history and character. Topography The granites and gneisses of the Highlands are resistant to erosion and create a hilly upland dissected by the deep, steep-sided valleys of major streams.3 The Highlands can be characterized as broad high ridges composed of complex folded and faulted crystalline rocks and separated by deep narrow valleys.4 The topography follows the northeast-southwest trend of the geologic structure and rock formations.
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern NY Excluding Long Island 2014
    DISCONTINUED SURFACE-WATER DISCHARGE OR STAGE-ONLY STATIONS The following continuous-record surface-water discharge or stage-only stations (gaging stations) in eastern New York excluding Long Island have been discontinued. Daily streamflow or stage records were collected and published for the period of record, expressed in water years, shown for each station. Those stations with an asterisk (*) before the station number are currently operated as crest-stage partial-record station and those with a double asterisk (**) after the station name had revisions published after the site was discontinued. [Letters after station name designate type of data collected: (d) discharge, (e) elevation, (g) gage height] Period of Station Drainage record Station name number area (mi2) (water years) HOUSATONIC RIVER BASIN Tenmile River near Wassaic, NY (d) 01199420 120 1959-61 Swamp River near Dover Plains, NY (d) 01199490 46.6 1961-68 Tenmile River at Dover Plains, NY (d) 01199500 189 1901-04 BLIND BROOK BASIN Blind Brook at Rye, NY (d) 01300000 8.86 1944-89 BEAVER SWAMP BROOK BASIN Beaver Swamp Brook at Mamaroneck, NY (d) 01300500 4.42 1944-89 MAMARONECK RIVER BASIN Mamaroneck River at Mamaroneck, NY (d) 01301000 23.1 1944-89 HUTCHINSON RIVER BASIN Hutchinson River at Pelham, NY (d) 01301500 6.04 1944-89 BRONX RIVER BASIN Bronx River at Bronxville, NY (d) 01302000 26.5 1944-89 HUDSON RIVER BASIN Opalescent River near Tahawus, NY (d) 01311900 9.02 1921-23 Arbutus Pond Outlet near Newcomb, NY (d) *01311992 1.22 1991-92 Cedar River near Indian Lake, NY (d)
    [Show full text]
  • Village of Piermont Flood Guide
    Know Your Risk and Stay Informed! Village of Piermont Know Your Zone: If you live close to the Sparkill Creek or the Flood Preparedness Guide for Residents and Businesses Hudson River, you may live in the flood zone and you should be pre- pared to secure your home and/or business and evacuate quickly. If One of the wonderful things about living in the Village of Piermont you’re not sure if you are at risk, check the map in this guide. Flood is being near the water. The Hudson River and Sparkill Creek are part of maps are also available through the Piermont Building Department what makes the Village such a special place. But, the river and the creek www.piermont-ny.gov/building-department or at the Piermont Vil- put some areas of the Village at risk of flooding. lage Hall at 478 Piermont Ave. Flooding is not just a problem for people who live near the water. Sign Up for CodeRed: Rockland County residents can sign up for All residents should be aware of risks and know how to find information CodeRed to receive notifications for emergency situations. and help when flooding occurs. Whether you live in the flood zone or not, Register at public.coderedweb.com or contact the Rockland County being prepared for an emergency is important. Keep this guide handy so Department of Fire & Emergency Services at (845) 638-5070. you know where to find help if you need it. New York Alert: You can sign up for the New York State notifica- tion system to receive phone calls or emails that will alert you to seri- Produced with ous or emergency situations.
    [Show full text]
  • New Jersey's Central Passaic Basin
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service New Jersey’s Central Passaic Basin Prehistoric Glacial Lake, Present-Day Wetland Treasure Prehistoric Glacial Lake Passaic “During the flood of 1903 the water fell so quickly all over this basin, and was collected so rapidly by the small tributaries, that a lake was formed at once which served as a cushion against which the raging torrent of the highland tributaries spent itself without doing extraordinary damage in that immediate region. The conditions here outlined illustrate the rapidity with which flood waters are discharged from the Pompton drainage area, and the deterring effect of Great Piece Meadows upon the flood.” Marshall Ora Leighton, U.S. Geologic Survey, 1904 Panoramic view of Troy Meadows, Morris County, New Jersey. Photo: Wendy Walsh / USFWS Origins Drinking Water During the last ice age, the massive About 40 percent of New Jersey’s Wisconsin glacier encountered a large Highlands, renowned for clean water, drain oval basin in northern New Jersey. About to the Central Passaic Basin through the 30 miles long and 5 to 10 miles wide, this Ramapo, Pompton, Pequannock, Rockaway, distinctive basin dates back about 180 and Whippany Rivers. The Basin’s five million years and consists of a sedimentary reservoirs provide drinking water to people Photo: Dave Menke / USFWS Piedmont plain enclosed by hard volcanic as far as Jersey City. A prolific glacial Wood duck (Aix sponsa) rocks—the Watchung Mountains to the aquifer beneath the Central Passaic is east and the ancient Highlands ridges to tapped by over 100 wells that supply water the west. Ice and debris from the glacier to most of the Basin’s half-million local blocked gaps in the Watchung Mountains, residents.
    [Show full text]
  • Hudson River Studies with Guest Scientist Dr. Robin E. Bell
    Reconstructing the Storm and Industrial History of the Hudson River with Dr. Dallas Abbott 11 Feb 2017 The Hudson at the base of the Palisades on which LDEO is located is one of America’s most interesting waterways Few rivers match its beauty and history Autumn foliage, Alpine Kearney House, Alpine In the 19th Century, the “Hudson River School” was among America’s earliest art movements. “Hastings-on-Hudson” by Jasper Cropsey (1897.) http://www.byu.edu/moa/exhibits/Current%20Exhibits/150years/830025900.html “View from the Artist’s Home, Sunset” by Jasper Cropsey (1887). http://www.newingtoncropsey.com/index1.htm The river is named for Henry Hudson Hudson, an English explorer working for the Dutch East India Company, sailed up the river in the “Half Moon” in 1609 He was seeking the “Northwest Passage” around North America http://www.ulster.net/~hrmm/halfmoon/1609moon.htm Replica “Half Moon” In honor of the 400th anniversary of Hudson’s voyage, a full size replica of the “Half Moon” has returned to the river http://www.halfmoon. mus.ny.us/ August 2011 Up until development of modern highways in the 20th century, the Hudson was a major north-south transportation corridor. Dutch fur traders and settlers used the river between Ft. Orange (Albany) and New Amsterdam (NYC) Hundreds of thousands of people and tons of freight floated on the river to and from the Erie Canal’s eastern end, then on to the West. http://www.ulster.net/~hrmm/sail/age.html Even today, there is much barge traffic for cement, petroleum, and other goods.
    [Show full text]
  • Massive Glacial Flooding Earth2class 8 Feb 2014 Dr. Sidney Hemming
    Massive Glacial Flooding Earth2Class 8 Feb 2014 Dr. Sidney Hemming Introduction by Dr. Michael J Passow http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/nysgs/experience /sites/hudsonriverlakeclays/data/images/lakea lbany.jpg About 18 ka ago at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), ice sheets covered much of North America Some Other LGM Ice Sheets • Patagonian (South America) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonian_Ice_Sheet • Weichelian (Europe) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weichselian# Weichselian_glaciation.2C_Scandinavia_and _northern_Europe Modern Ice Sheets/Caps • Greenland and Antarctica • + Alpine (Mountain) Glaciers – Himalayas, Andes, Alps, Rockies, etc. Ice Sheets Surface/Base Differences • Thickness may exceed 1000 m • Surface very cold (exposed to air) May increase or decrease annually • Base warmer (geothermal heat, friction) May have underlying streams or lakes Helps glaciers flow over the surface Types of “Glacial Waters” • “Proglacial” – next to a glacier precipitation, rivers, glacial melt • Pressurized subglacial – beneath a glacier Pressure seals liquid water beneath ice Lake Vostok + 400 other Antarctic lakes • Volcanic subglacial Melting from erupting volcano More Types of Glacial Waters • “Supraglacial” – on top of a glacier surface melting &/or precipitation • “Englacial” – within the ice water flowing between ice crystals • “Subglacial drainage” water flowing from lake to lake Glacial Lake Hackensack • Narrow lake west of the Palisades (downhill from LDEO) • Extended from terminal moraine near Perth Amboy northward into Rockland County • Little
    [Show full text]