Site Description

Site ID: BR04
Randolph Township, Morris County
Stream Category: FW2-NT (C1) (Category 1, Non-trout waters)
Site monitors Lamington River (Hillside Road to Route 10) subwatershed  (HUC: 02030105050020)
The site is located upstream of the Ironia Road Bridge, near Lake Lillian.

There are no riffles present at this Black River site and the water is deeper than usual. Monitoring at this site requires the use of low gradient sampling protocols, where the net is jabbed at the vegetation, woody debris, and stream banks.

What is being monitored at this site?

• Biological and Visual Assessments (?)
• Chemical Testing (?)
• Bacteria Monitoring

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Water Quality Data

Each June, Raritan Headwaters scientists and volunteers visit 72 stream sites in the North and South Branch Raritan Watershed Region (WMA8) of New Jersey to collect data on the health of our streams.  Data collected includes a sample of benthic macroinvertebrates (used to calculate the High Gradient Macroinvertebrate Index;HGMI score), an assessment of the habitat in and around the stream, and chemical conditions in the water.  Chemical parameters include dissolved oxygen, phosphate, chloride, specific conductance, nitrate, turbidity, pH, and temperature. The HGMI is used by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to determine if the site is meeting state and national water quality standards under the Clean Water Act. Click here to learn more about our stream monitoring program and water quality reports.

Site Data for BR04

Select a parameter below to view data. Hover over the chart to get more information.

Threats and Recommendations

The HGMI at BR04 was found to be poor in 2019, which means it was biologically impaired. Because BR04 has been consistently impaired based on the HGMI for more than 2 years, it is part of our quarterly chemical monitoring program so that we can begin to identify and address the causes of impairment. This site is not typical of a headwaters stream in our region. This stream site is slow and deep, with warmer, less oxygenated water than most of our stream sites. The habitat at this site is not suitable for many of the sensitive organisms that are typical of healthy streams. Raritan Headwaters is currently evaluating alternate methods of assessing the stream health at this site.

What Can You Do?

Many people take clean water for granted, but we know it takes vigilance and hard work to protect the water in our rivers, streams and homes.

And we can’t do it alone. We need your help to ensure that everyone within our reach has access to safe, clean water that is swimmable, fishable and, above all, drinkable.

• Support RHA
• Use Your Voice
• Become River Friendly
• Participate in Our Annual Stream Clean Up
• Join Our Stream Monitoring Team
• Other Ways to Help