Site Description

Site ID:DB12
Mount Olive/Roxbury Township, Morris County
Stream Category: FW2-NT(C1) (Category 1, Non-trout waters)
Site monitors Drakes Brook (below Eyland Ave) subwatershed (HUC: 02030105010020)
The site is located near the West Morris Central High School parking lot. The site can be accessed next to the sign for Crazy Horse Ranch. A small trail runs through a field towards the stream; follow the trail until you hit the edge of Drakes Brook. There will be an old bridge on your left – riffle is about 100 feet upstream of the bridge.

What is being monitored at this site?

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

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 DB12

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

Threats and Recommendations

The HGMI at DB12 was found to be good in 2019, which means it was not biologically impaired. This site was found to be poor in 2018, and as such was added to our quarterly impaired chemical monitoring program. This site was found to have high levels of chloride in the water year round, as well as excessive algal growth on the benthos. High levels of chloride, as well as high levels of algal growth, caused by excessive nutrients in the stream, can be mitigated with increased riparian buffers and decreases in road salting and fertilizer use. The site is located within an agriculturally-rich section of our watershed, and as such, more sustainable farming practices can have a positive impact on water quality.

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