HR: 16:45h
AN: NB24E-06    [Abstracts]
TI: The Role of Total Daily Maximum Loads (TMDLs) in Planning and Managing Stream Restoration Projects in Urbanizing Watersheds: New Jersey Case Study, Phase I
AU: * Witherell, B
EM: witherellb1@mail.montclair.edu
AF: Montclair State University Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, 1 Normal Avenue, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 United States
AU: * Witherell, B
EM: witherellb1@mail.montclair.edu
AF: Raritan Township Environmental Commission, One Municipal Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822 United States
AU: Hall, C
EM: chall@northjerseyrcd.org
AF: North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D), 54 Old Highway 22, Suite 201, Clinton, NJ 08809 United States
AB: Walnut Brook watershed in western New Jersey exhibits many of the problems typical in urbanizing watersheds throughout New Jersey and other parts of the United States. Rapid development and corresponding changes in land use beginning in the 1950's has led to increases in impervious cover and removal of natural peak-flow attenuating characteristics in many urbanizing watersheds. Streams become flashy, incised and disconnected with their floodplains and contaminant loadings increase throughout the watershed. Walnut Brook represents headwaters for the Neshanic River which is on the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list for several impairments including: benthic macroinvertebrates, fecal coliform, phosphorous, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and metals. Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) have been or will soon be determined for the Neshanic River and its headwaters including Walnut Brook. In conjunction with the TMDL approach for improving water quality, a stream restoration (approved) and wetland restoration (pending) are planned at the downgradient end of the watershed. The concept includes reconnecting the stream channel to its floodplain, and creating and restoring a total of 13 acres of wetland and riparian habitat. The need for the conceptual plan was based on USGS stream flow data from the 1930's to the present; and an analysis of changes in land use and impervious cover in the Walnut Brook watershed. More data, including water chemistry, hydrologic modeling and biological sampling will be needed. Much of this additional data collection is expected to occur in spring 2005. The need to determine and implement TMDLs in the receiving water body also plays a key role in the design and implementation of a successful stream restoration in Walnut Brook.
UR: http://www.northjerseyrcd.org
DE: 1871 Surface water quality
DE: 1890 Wetlands
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly