**An atlas of the water chemistry of the**

**Hackensack Meadowlands**

**A proposal to the Hackensack Meadowlands Commission**

**Timothy P. Wilson, Ph.D.**

**U.S. Geological Survey**

**West Trenton NJ**

**Problem**

Researchers from the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC)
Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute (MERI) have been collecting
water quality data from a series of 14 set sampling locations since
1993. These data include general water quality parameters (dissolved
solids, suspended solids, turbidity, temperature, conductivity,
salinity, chloride, sulfate, pH, hardness, and dissolved oxygen), trace
metals (cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, nickel, and), nutrients
(ammonia nitrate, phosphate) and other components (fecal coliform, BOD,
COD). To date, NJMC personnel have produced several written summary
reports about the general conditions through the Meadowlands. A
comprehensive report summarizing the data trends over time and space, as
well as a general review of the geochemistry of the wetlands has yet to
be produced. Such an atlas would provide the NJMC -MERI with a helpful
and useable document that provides needed information for planning,
overseeing, and managing the wetlands. This proposed work would provide
a comprehensive evaluation, and a summary executive "fact sheet" that
describes the (a) current conditions in the wetlands, (b) the changes in
conditions that have occurred since the inception of the data collection
activities, and (c) the basic geochemistry and hydrology of the
wetlands.

**Objective**

The ultimate objective of this work will be to describe the water
chemistry of the Hackensack Meadowlands District. This work will use
existing NJMC data and other available data to address the following
questions:

1.  What are the current concentrations in the water of the wetlands?

2.  How have the concentrations changed since 1993? Are changes in water
    chemistry apparent after the closing of nearby landfills?

3.  How do the concentrations vary spatially through the wetland
    tributaries?

4.  What does the water quality data tell about the geochemical and
    hydrologic processes in the Meadowlands?

**Strategy**

No new water quality data will be generated in this work, only existing
data (NJMC and other sources) will be evaluated. The data will be
reduced using graphical and statistical techniques including regression
and multivariate analysis (where appropriate). Specific strategies that
will be used to evaluate/compare the chemical and water quality
parameters as a:

1.  Function of time in both the main Hackensack River and the
    tributaries.

2.  Function of location in the wetlands -- i.e., comparing (a) as a
    function of position in the main-stem of the Hackensack River, (b)
    among the various tributaries, and (c) comparing tributaries to main
    stem Hackensack River water.

3.  As a function of salinity or other measure of seawater input.

4.  To corresponding parameters in various end member waters including
    the Hackensack River at the outfall of Oradell Reservoir, sewage
    treatment outfalls, landfill leachate (depending upon availability),
    Passaic River/Newark Bay water, and Atlantic Ocean water.

> The chemical and water quality parameters will then be used to
> generate a description of the hydrogeochemical processes operating in
> the Meadowlands.

**Milestones/Timelines/Activites**

It is anticipated that it will take roughly 5 to 6 months to compile,
evaluate, and produce a final document from the time that funding is
approved. Contact will be made periodically with personnel from MERI
(Edward Konsevick and Christine Hobble) to discuss data and provide
updates on the progress of the report, and will be asked to review and
comment on draft reports. The basic time line for this work is:

Tabulate, evaluate, and reduce data: 2 months (beginning from contract
approval date)

Write report and produce graphics: 2 months

Send to MERI for review: 2 weeks

Edit and incorporate comments: 2 weeks

After all inside and outside reviews have been incorporated, the report
will be edited by USGS personnel, after-which the report can be readied
for publication by the USGS. It is anticipated that this can be finished
within 1 to 2 months after the incorporation of reviews.

**Deliverables**

This work will produce a comprehensive document that will present
selected graphs and text for each of the important components that have
been measured by MERI. It is anticipated that the document will be
organized with one page of graphs with a facing page of text describing
the graphs and geochemistry of the component. To the extent possible,
these pages will follow a consistent format of graphs and text. In this
format the reader can review each parameter through visual presentations
and text. An additional section will be included that describes any
end-member waters that are used in the text (such as the Hackensack
River freshwater, leachate, and other waters that may enter the
wetlands). A summary page will then describe the general hydrogechemical
processes that operate in the wetland as developed from the water
chemistry analysis. At present this document is anticipated to be a U.S.
Geological Survey publication. However, it could also be published
through MERI. After publication, a condensed version ( a 1-3 page
document) following the outline of a USGS fact sheet may be produced.
Additional funding may be required for the preparation of such a
document.

If requested, a presentation of the results will be made to MERI staff
and the public.

**Relevance and Benefits**

The proposed work is relevant to, and will benefit, the Hackensack
Meadowlands Commission, the MERI, and the State of New Jersey by
providing a concise catalog and interpretation of the existing water
quality data (generated by MERI). This catalog will provide the
NJMC-MERI with an easily accessible summary document that will aid in
planning and monitoring of the wetlands in the future. The products of
this work will also aid educational efforts conducted on behalf of the
Hackensack Meadowlands.

Other benefits from this work include the providing information for
future work on nutrient and chemical loadings to the Meadowlands and to
Newark Bay.

The proposal directly addresses USGS Water Resources Division Memorandum
No. 95.44 by advancing the understanding of hydrologic processes and
advancing the knowledge of a regional hydrologic system. The project
addresses priority issues of the cooperative program by providing water
quality data that will support Federal and State programs to improve the
water quality of degraded water bodies.

**Budget**

Funds are requested for 6 months salary for Dr. Wilson, for publication
costs, and for travel to MERI.

Salary for PI 6 months \$56,618

Publication costs \$10,000

Support labor (graphics and editing) \$22,206

Total direct costs \$88,824

District and other overhead \$46,946

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**Total requested funds \$135,770**