Relations of Surface-Water Quality to Streamflow in the Raritan River Basin, New Jersey, Water Years 1976-93
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U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey RELATIONS OF SURFACE-WATER QUALITY TO STREAMFLOW IN THE RARITAN RIVER BASIN, NEW JERSEY, WATER YEARS 1976-93 Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4045 allkill and Upper Delaware Watershed Passaic Watershed Region Region NEW JERSEY Atlantic Coastal, Lower Delaware River, and Delaware Bay Watershed Region Prepared in cooperation with the NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION USGS science for a changing world RELATIONS OF SURFACE-WATER QUALITY TO STREAMFLOW IN THE RARITAN RIVER BASIN, NEW JERSEY, WATER YEARS 1976-93 By Debra E. Buxton, Kathryn Hunchak-Kariouk, and R. Edward Hickman U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4045 Prepared in cooperation with the NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION West Trenton, New Jersey 1999 USGS science for a changing world U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director For additional information Copies of this report can be write to: purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S Geological Survey Branch of Information Services Mountain View Office Park Box 25286 810 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 206 Denver, CO 80225-0286 West Trenton, NJ 08628 CONTENTS Page Abstract............................................................................................................................................1 Introduction......................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope...............................................................................................................2 Approach..............................................................................................................................4 Previous studies ...................................................................................................................7 Acknowledgments...............................................................................................................^ Description of the study area ...............................................................................................9 Methods of study............................................................................................................................11 Selection of constituents, sites, and data sources...............................................................11 Data Preparation.................................................................................................................14 Water-quality data..................................................................................................14 Streamflow data.....................................................................................................16 Flow-duration data................................................................................................. 17 Statistical analyses............................................................................................................. 19 Calculation of medians ..........................................................................................19 Determination of relations of surface-water quality to streamflow .......................20 Relations of concentration to streamflow ..................................................20 Relations of load to streamflow.................................................................22 Trends in concentrations during low and high flows .................................22 Relations of surface-water quality to streamflow ..........................................................................25 Analysis of relations by basin............................................................................................27 South Branch Raritan River Basin.........................................................................28 South Branch Raritan River.......................................................................28 Spruce Run.................................................................................................33 Mulhockaway Creek..................................................................................33 Neshanic River...........................................................................................36 North Branch Raritan River Basin.........................................................................36 North Branch Raritan River.......................................................................36 Lamington River........................................................................................40 Rockaway Creek........................................................................................40 Raritan River Basin................................................................................................44 Millstone River Basin............................................................................................44 Millstone River..........................................................................................44 Stony Brook...............................................................................................50 Beden Brook..............................................................................................50 South River Basin..................................................................................................50 Matchaponix Brook ...................................................................................53 Manalapan Brook.......................................................................................53 Analysis of relations by constituent...................................................................................53 Alkalinity...............................................................................................................56 Relation of trends in concentration to flow conditions..............................56 Relation of load to streamflow...................................................................56 in CONTENTS-Continued Page Hardness.................................................................................................................58 Relation of trends in concentration to flow conditions ..............................58 Relation of load to streamflow...................................................................60 Total organic carbon...............................................................................................60 Relation of trends in concentration to flow conditions ..............................60 Relation of load to streamflow...................................................................62 Suspended sediment...............................................................................................62 Relation of trends in concentration to flow conditions..............................62 Relation of load to streamflow...................................................................62 Dissolved solids.....................................................................................................64 Relation of trends in concentration to flow conditions..............................64 Relation of load to streamflow...................................................................64 Dissolved sodium...................................................................................................66 Relation of trends in concentration to flow conditions ..............................66 Relation of load to streamflow...................................................................66 Dissolved chloride .................................................................................................68 Relation of trends in concentration to flow conditions ..............................68 Relation of load to streamflow...................................................................68 Dissolved oxygen...................................................................................................70 Relation of trends in concentration to flow conditions ..............................70 Relation of load to streamflow...................................................................70 Fraction of dissolved oxygen at saturation ............................................................70 Relation of trends in concentration to flow conditions..............................72 Total phosphorus....................................................................................................72 Relation of trends in concentration to flow conditions..............................72 Relation of load to streamflow...................................................................72 Total nitrogen.........................................................................................................75 Relation of trends in concentration to flow conditions ..............................75 Relation of load to streamflow...................................................................75 Total nitrate plus nitrite..........................................................................................77 Relation of trends in concentration to flow conditions ..............................77 Relation of load to streamflow...................................................................77 Total nitrite.............................................................................................................79 Relation of trends in concentration to flow conditions..............................79