U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5047

Prepared in Cooperation with the 

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey 

Streams, Water Years 1998–2009
Front cover: Looking downstream from U.S. Geological Survey station 01438500, Delaware River at 

Montague, New Jersey (Statewide Status station during water year 2009).

Back cover: Top: U.S. Geological Survey station 01440000, Flat Brook near Flatbrookville, 

New Jersey (Index streamgaging station).

Bottom: U.S. Geological Survey station 01378780, Primrose Brook at Morristown National Historical 

Park (Background station during water years 2001–09) (File photographs).
Variations in Statewide Water Quality 

of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 

1998–2009

By Heather A. Heckathorn and Anna C. Deetz

Prepared in cooperation with the 

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5047 

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2012

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living 

resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS.

For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, 

visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod

To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Heckathorn, H.A. and Deetz, A.C., 2012, Variations in statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water years 

1998–2009: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5047, 54 p.
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope ...........................................................................................................................11

Study Area............................................................................................................................................11

Previous Investigations......................................................................................................................14

Study Methods and Design........................................................................................................................14

Selection of Water-Quality Stations................................................................................................14

Field and Laboratory Measurements and Sample Collection .....................................................14

Streamflow...........................................................................................................................................15

Preparation for Statistical Analysis.................................................................................................17

Laboratory Reporting Conventions .........................................................................................17

Recensoring of Nondetect Data..............................................................................................18

Calculation of Total Nitrogen...................................................................................................18

Calculation of Summary Statistics...................................................................................................19

Kaplan-Meier Method...............................................................................................................19

Regression on Order Statistics Method.................................................................................19

Highly Censored Datasets........................................................................................................19

Identification of Variations in Statewide Water-Quality .............................................................19

Kruskal-Wallis Test....................................................................................................................19

Tukey’s Multiple Comparison Test..........................................................................................20

Mann-Whitney Test...................................................................................................................20

Graphical Representation of Data ...................................................................................................20

Variations in Statewide Water Quality of Streams in New Jersey ....................................................20

Identification of Variations in Statewide Water Quality ..............................................................20

Total Dissolved Solids...............................................................................................................20

Dissolved Chloride.....................................................................................................................22

Dissolved Nitrite Plus Nitrate ..................................................................................................24

Dissolved Phosphorus ..............................................................................................................25

Total Phosphorus.......................................................................................................................25

Total Nitrogen.............................................................................................................................33

Identification of Consistent Increases or Decreases in Statewide Water Quality..................33

Comparison of Water Quality between Statewide Status Stations and 

Background Stations..........................................................................................................................33

Comparison of Variations in Water Quality to Streamflow..........................................................33

Comparison of Variations in Annual Water Quality to Results of Previous Trend Tests ........33

Summary and Conclusions ........................................................................................................................34

Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................................35

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................35

Appendixes ...................................................................................................................................................37

1. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations 

included in the study of variations in statewide water quality of New Jersey 

streams, water year 1998 ..........................................................................................................38
iv

2. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations 

included in the study of variations in statewide water quality of New Jersey 

streams, water year 1999 ..........................................................................................................40

3. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations 

included in the study of variations in statewide water quality of New Jersey 

streams, water year 2000 ..........................................................................................................42

4. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations 

included in the study of variations in statewide water quality of New Jersey 

streams, water years 2001–02 ..................................................................................................44

5. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations 

included in the study of variations in statewide water quality of New Jersey 

streams, water years 2003–04 ..................................................................................................46

6. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations 

included in the study of variations in statewide water quality of New Jersey 

streams, water years 2005–06 ..................................................................................................48

7. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations 

included in the study of variations in statewide water quality of New Jersey 

streams, water years 2007–08 ..................................................................................................50

8. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations 

included in the study of variations in statewide water quality of New Jersey 

streams, water year 2009 ..........................................................................................................52

9. Description of selected Index streamgaging stations included in the study of 

variations in statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water 

years 1998–2009 ..........................................................................................................................54

Figures

1. Map showing locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey 

streams, water year 1998 ............................................................................................................2

2. Map showing locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey 

streams, water year 1999 ............................................................................................................3

3. Map showing locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey 

streams, water year 2000 ............................................................................................................4

4. Map showing locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey 

streams, water years 2001–02 ....................................................................................................5

5. Map showing locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey 

streams, water years 2003–04 ....................................................................................................6

6. Map showing locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey 

streams, water years 2005–06 ....................................................................................................7

7. Map showing locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey 

streams, water years 2007–08 ....................................................................................................8

 8. Map showing locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey 

streams, water year 2009 ............................................................................................................9

9. Map showing locations of Delaware River main stem, Land Use indicator and 

Watershed Integrator stations within the Ambient Surface-Water-Quality 

Monitoring Network in New Jersey, water years 1998–2009 .............................................10
v

10. Map showing location of the Fall Line, land use, and station types in New Jersey .......12

11. Map showing New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection water regions 

and Watershed Management Areas with locations of water-quality stations in 

New Jersey..................................................................................................................................13

12. Map showing locations of Statewide Status stations, by 1-year and 2-year groups, 

Background stations and Index streamgaging stations in New Jersey ...........................16

13. Graph showing percentage of time that annual mean streamflow did not exceed 

annual mean streamflow for the period of record at six Index streamgaging stations 

in New Jersey, water years 1998–2009...................................................................................17

 14. Graph showing distribution of total dissolved solids for selected Statewide Status 

stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009........................................................27

15. Graph showing distribution of total dissolved solids for selected Background stations 

in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009 .......................................................................27

16. Graph showing distribution of dissolved chloride for selected Statewide Status 

stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009........................................................28

17. Graph showing distribution of dissolved chloride for selected Background stations 

in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009 .......................................................................28

18. Graph showing distribution of dissolved nitrite plus nitrate for selected Statewide 

Status stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009 ...........................................29

19. Graph showing distribution of dissolved nitrite plus nitrate for selected Background 

stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009........................................................29

20. Graph showing distribution of dissolved phosphorus for selected Statewide Status 

stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009........................................................30

21. Graph showing distribution of dissolved phosphorus for selected Background 

stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009........................................................30

22. Graph showing distribution of total phosphorus for selected Statewide Status 

stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009........................................................31

23. Graph showing distribution of total phosphorus for selected Background stations in 

New Jersey during water years 1998–2009 ...........................................................................31

24. Graph showing distribution of total nitrogen for selected Statewide Status stations 

in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009 .......................................................................32

25. Graph showing distribution of total nitrogen for selected Background stations in 

New Jersey during water years 1998–2009 ...........................................................................32
vi

Tables

1. References for methods of laboratory analyses of selected water-quality 

constituents in New Jersey, water years 1998–2009 ...........................................................15

2. Summary statistics for selected water-quality constituents at selected Statewide 

Status stations in New Jersey, water years 1998–2009.......................................................21

3. Summary statistics for selected water-quality constituents at selected Background 

stations in New Jersey, water years 1998–2009 ...................................................................23

4. Results of statistical tests to determine whether constituent concentrations 

differ among years at selected Statewide Status stations in New Jersey, water 

years 1998–2009 ..........................................................................................................................25

5. Results of statistical tests to determine whether constituent concentrations differ 

among years at selected Background stations in New Jersey, water 

years 1998–2009 ..........................................................................................................................26
vii

Conversion Factors

Inch/Pound to SI

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

foot (ft) 0.305 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

square foot (ft2) 929 square centimeter (cm2)

square foot (ft2) 0.093 square meter (m2)

square inch (in2) 6.452 square centimeter (cm2)

square mile (mi2) 259 hectare (ha)

square mile (mi2) 2.59 square kilometer (km2)

Volume

cubic inch (in3) 16.39 cubic centimeter (cm3)

cubic inch (in3) 0.016 cubic decimeter (dm3)

cubic inch (in3) 0.01639 liter (L)

cubic foot (ft3) 28.32 cubic decimeter (dm3)

cubic foot (ft3) 0.02832 cubic meter (m3)

cubic yard (yd3) 0.7646 cubic meter (m3)

Flow rate

foot per second (ft/s) 0.3048 meter per second (m/s)

cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows:

°C=(°F-32)/1.8

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given either in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or 

micrograms per liter (μg/L).

Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey 

Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

By Heather A. Heckathorn and Anna C. Deetz

Abstract

Statistical analyses were conducted for six water-quality 

constituents measured at 371 surface-water-quality stations 

during water years 1998–2009 to determine changes in 

concentrations over time. This study examined year-round 

concentrations of total dissolved solids, dissolved nitrite plus 

nitrate, dissolved phosphorus, total phosphorus, and total 

nitrogen; concentrations of dissolved chloride were measured 

only from January to March. All the water-quality data analyzed were collected by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Geological Survey as part 

of the cooperative Ambient Surface-Water-Quality Monitoring 

Network. 

Stations were divided into groups according to the 1-year 

or 2-year period that the stations were part of the Ambient Surface-Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Data were 

obtained from the eight groups of Statewide Status stations for 

water years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2005–06, 

2007–08, and 2009. The data from each group were compared 

to the data from each of the other groups and to baseline data 

obtained from Background stations unaffected by human 

activity that were sampled during the same time periods. 

The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to determine whether 

median concentrations of a selected water-quality constituent 

measured in a particular 1-year or 2-year group were different from those measured in other 1-year or 2-year groups. If 

the median concentrations were found to differ among years 

or groups of years, then Tukey’s multiple comparison test on 

ranks was used to identify those years with different or equal 

concentrations of water-quality constituents. A significance 

level of 0.05 was selected to indicate significant changes in 

median concentrations of water-quality constituents. 

More variations in the median concentrations of waterquality constituents were observed at Statewide Status stations 

(randomly chosen stations scattered throughout the State of 

New Jersey) than at Background stations (control stations 

that are located on reaches of streams relatively unaffected 

by human activity) during water years 1998–2009. Results 

of tests on concentrations of total dissolved solids, dissolved 

chloride, dissolved nitrite plus nitrate, total phosphorus, and 

total nitrogen indicate a significant difference in water quality at Statewide Status stations but not at Background stations during the study period. Excluding water year 2009, all 

significant changes that were observed in the median concentrations were ultimately increases, except for total phosphorus, 

which varied significantly but in an inconsistent pattern during 

water years 1998–2009. 

Streamflow data aided in the interpretation of the results 

for this study. Extreme values of water-quality constituents 

generally followed inverse patterns of streamflow. Low 

streamflow conditions helped explain elevated concentrations 

of several constituents during water years 2001–02. During 

extreme drought conditions in 2002, maximum concentrations occurred for four of the six water-quality constituents 

examined in this study at Statewide Status stations (maximum 

concentration of 4,190 milligrams per liter of total dissolved 

solids) and three of six constituents at Background stations 

(maximum concentration of 179 milligrams per liter of total 

dissolved solids). The changes in water quality observed in 

this study parallel many of the findings from previous studies 

of trends in New Jersey. 

Introduction

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation 

with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection 

(NJDEP), implemented the Ambient Surface-Water-Quality 

Monitoring Network (Network) in 1985 and redesigned it in 

1997 (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 

1997). This Network of 115 stations was designed to define 

background water quality in each of the four physiographic 

provinces of New Jersey; measure surface-water quality near 

the downstream end of each NJDEP Watershed Management 

Area (WMA); determine the statewide status of, and trends in, 

surface-water quality; measure nonpoint-source contributions 

from major land-use areas and atmospheric deposition; and 

coordinate biological monitoring locations with water-monitoring locations (DeLuca and others, 2005). Stations within 

the Network are located throughout the 20 WMAs in the 

State of New Jersey; each water-quality sampling station was 

categorized into one of five groups—Delaware River main 

stem, Watershed Integrator, Land Use Indicator, Background, 

and Statewide Status (hereafter referred to as Status stations) 

(figs. 1–9). 
2 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

DELAWARE

NEW YORK

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

RARITAN BAY

DELAWARE

BAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN

17

01

13

14

15

08

18

06

09

19

12 10

11

20

16

03

02

04

07

05

75°30' 75° 74°30' 74° 73°30'

41°

40°

30'

40°

39°

30'

39°

0 15 30 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graph files 1:24,000,

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 18, NAD83

New York City

Trenton

Philadelphia

Atlantic 

City

02

EXPLANATION

Site type and number

Watershed management 

area boundary and number

1998 Statewide Status station

1998 Background station

Index streamgaging station

Statewide Status station

01410455

01411955

01411000

01467359

01467325

01467155 01466500

01464578

01464440

01461262

01458570

01444970

01439830

01411950

01411458

01411440

01411400

01411196

01410455

01409960

01409449

01408500

01408480

01408009

01407090

01403470

01401400

01400585

01400395

01398300

01398070

01395200

01391490

01390900

01383505

01382410

01380100

01378855

01377500

01367860

01376970

01442760

01411955

01396550

01368820

01440000

01411000

01408000

01396500

01464500

01384500

Figure 1. Locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey streams, water year 1998.
Introduction 3

DELAWARE

NEW YORK

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

RARITAN BAY

DELAWARE

BAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN

17

01

14 13

15

08

18

06

09

19

10 12

11

20

16

03

02

04

07

05

75°30' 75° 74°30' 74° 73°30'

41°

40°

30'

40°

39°

30'

39°

0 15 30 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graph files 1:24,000,

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 18, NAD83

New York City

Trenton

Philadelphia

Atlantic 

City

02

EXPLANATION

Site type and number

Watershed management 

area boundary and number

1999 Statewide Status station

1999 Background station

Index streamgaging station

Statewide Status station

01465893

01368820

01411000

01476600

01467327

01465893 01465884

01464529 01464420

01462739

01461220

01443600

01443550

01411780

01411453

01411444

01411441

01411241

01411220

01409408

01409050

01408152

01407997

01407360

01405195

01404470

01401700

01400690

01399780

01396219

01393960

01393350

01390510

01390470

01387500

01387010

01379680

01378855

01378387

01377499

01367780 01367715

0140941070

01464500

01440000

01411000

01396500

01396550

01442760

01411955

01408000

01384500

01368820

Figure 2. Locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey streams, water year 1999.
4 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

DELAWARE

NEW YORK

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

RARITAN BAY

DELAWARE

BAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN

17

01

13 14

15

08

18

06

09

19

12

10

11

20

16

03

02

04

07

05

75°30' 75° 74°30' 74° 73°30'

41°

40°

30'

40°

39°

30'

39°

0 15 30 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graph files 1:24,000,

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 18, NAD83

New York City

Trenton

Philadelphia

Atlantic 

City

02

EXPLANATION

Site type and number

Watershed management 

area boundary and number

2000 Statewide Status station

2000 Background station

Index streamgaging station

Statewide Status station

01411444

01411955

01411000

01482560

01477440

01466200

01465950

01464529

01464504

01458710

01445000

01443370

01413065

01412200 01411444

01411428

01411050

01411035

01409690

01409600 01409570

01409050

01408285

01407720 01407630

01405285

01403300

01401200

01400585

01399900

01399100

01396003

01395000

01390445

01389860

01387500

01384500

01381050

01380320

01377500

01377499

01367850

01367770

01464020

01442760

01411955

01396550

01368820

0144000

01396500

01464500 01408000

01411000

Figure 3. Locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey streams, water year 2000.
Introduction 5

DELAWARE

NEW YORK

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

RARITAN BAY

DELAWARE

BAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN

17

01

13 14

15

08

18

06

09

19

12

10

11

20

16

03

02

04

07

05

75°30' 75° 74°30' 74° 73°30'

41°

40°

30'

40°

39°

30'

39°

0 15 30 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graph files 1:24,000,

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 18, NAD83

New York City

Trenton

Philadelphia

Atlantic 

City

02

EXPLANATION

Site type and number

Watershed management 

area boundary and number

2001-02 Statewide Status station

2001-02 Background station

Index streamgaging station

Statewide Status station

01409525

01411955

01411000

*

01411427

01411300

01411290

01409435

01408702

01408300

01407806

01407617

01405340

01403171

01400560 01400530

01397950

01396900

01396030

01393960

01391550

01389850

01387014

01382410

01380098

01378660

01367780 01367715

0140940050

01378560

01378387

01464500

01440000

01411000

01408000

01396500

01384500

01466500

01442760

01411955

01396550

01378780

01368820

01482530

01475090

01467155

01466100

01464504

01464380

01461282

01445900

01443250

01413013

01411452

01411444

01411428

Figure 4. Locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey streams, water years 2001–02.
6 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

DELAWARE

NEW YORK

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

RARITAN BAY

DELAWARE

BAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN

17

01

13 14

15

08

18

06

09

19

12 10

11

20

16

03

02

04

07

05

75°30' 75° 74°30' 74° 73°30'

41°

40°

30'

40°

39°

30'

39°

0 15 30 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graph files 1:24,000,

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 18, NAD83

New York City

Trenton

Philadelphia

Atlantic 

City

02

EXPLANATION

Site type and number

Watershed management 

area boundary and number

2003-04 Statewide Status station

2003-04 Background station

Index streamgaging station

Statewide Status station

01412005

01411955

01411000

01466500

01442760

01411955

01396550 01378780

01368820

01477440

01475042

01467312

01465965

01465857 01465835

01465808

01464532

01464280

01463610

01460860

01458710

01458300 01457400

01455120

01412005

01411444

01411440

01410865

01410455

01409601

01409030

01408460

01408110

01407900

01407210

01405180

01405003

01400808

01399200

01398090

01398060

01395700

01394200

01390800

01390400

01382960

01381498

01379870

01378475

01367880

0140941075

01464500

01440000

01411000

01408000

01396500

01384500

Figure 5. Locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey streams, water years 2003–04.
Introduction 7

DELAWARE

NEW YORK

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

RARITAN BAY

DELAWARE

BAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN

17

01

13 14

15

08

18

06

09

19

12

10

11

20

16

03

02

04

07

05

75°30' 75° 74°30' 74° 73°30'

41°

40°

30'

40°

39°

30'

39°

0 15 30 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graph files 1:24,000,

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 18, NAD83

New York City

Trenton

Philadelphia

Atlantic 

City

02

EXPLANATION

Site type and number

Watershed management 

area boundary and number

2005-06 Statewide Status station

2005-06 Background station

Index streamgaging station

Statewide Status station

01409600

01411955

01411000

01442760

01400860

01378780

01378400

01368820

01455700

01445100

01440097

01407538 01407012

01404400

01403385

01401700

01399520

01399295

01395500

01395000

01390510

01388850

01387811

01380320

01378760

01378583

01368825

01367902

01440000

01396500

01384500

01466500

01411955

01477510

01476640

01476625

01467325

01467066

01465854

01464527

01463661

01444990

01411495

01411487

01411427

01411196

01410810

01409930

01409600

01408598

01408460

01408100

01407253

01400560

01464460

01464500

01411000

01408000

Figure 6. Locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey streams, water years 2005–06.
8 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

DELAWARE

NEW YORK

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

RARITAN BAY

DELAWARE

BAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN

17

01

13

14

15

08

18

06

09

19

12

10

11

20

16

03

02

04

07

05

75°30' 75° 74°30' 74° 73°30'

41°

40°

30'

40°

39°

30'

39°

0 15 30 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graph files 1:24,000,

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 18, NAD83

New York City

Trenton

Philadelphia

Atlantic 

City

02

EXPLANATION

Site type and number

Watershed management 

area boundary and number

2007-08 Statewide Status station

2007-08 Background station

Index streamgaging station

Statewide Status station

01411457

01411955

01411000

01442760

01400860

01378780

01378400

01368820

01464460

01462800 01463810

01461250

01460870

01457400

01455240

01407806

01407520

01407090

01403575

01403190

01401520 01400823

01399820

01397000

01395000

01390610

01388720

01381330

01381260

01380320

01367625

01462730 01400808

01377499

01440000

01396500

01384500

01466500

01411955

01482645

01482520

01477110

01467080 01467000 01465854

01411458

01411295

01411208

01408290 01408152

0146708130

0140941070

0140940200

01411457

01411000

01411400

01464500 01408000

Figure 7. Locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey streams, water years 2007–08.
Introduction 9

DELAWARE

NEW YORK

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

RARITAN BAY

DELAWARE

BAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN

17

01

14 13

15

08

18

06

09

19

12

10

11

20

16

03

02

04

07

05

75°30' 75° 74°30' 74° 73°30'

41°

40°

30'

40°

39°

30'

39°

0 15 30 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graph files 1:24,000,

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 18, NAD83

New York City

Trenton

Philadelphia

Atlantic 

City

02

EXPLANATION

Site type and number

Watershed management 

area boundary and number

2009 Statewide Status station

2009 Background station

Index streamgaging station

Statewide Status station

01409525

01411955

01411000

01476600

01467359

01467021

01465950

01465893

01465865

01464512

01463850 01463520

01461840

01457120

01443466

01438500

01411907

01411695

01411490

01411438

01411220

01410150 01409525

01409455

01408598

01408380 01408495

01407988

01407450

01407280 01406040 01401595

01400870

01400775

01399570

01399565

01399545 01393440

01391500

01382170 01382280

01381515

01378770

01376273

01368950

01440000

01411000

01408000

01396500

01466500

01442760

01411955

01400860

01378780

01378400

01368820

01384500

01464500

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

# #

#

#

#

# # #

#

#

#

# #

#

#

# #

#

#

# #

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

# #

#

#

#

#

Figure 8. Locations of selected water-quality monitoring stations in New Jersey streams, water year 2009.
10 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

DELAWARE

NEW YORK

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

RARITAN BAY

DELAWARE

BAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN

Delaware River

17

01

13

14

15

08

18

06

09

19

12

10

11

20

16

03

02

04

07

05

75°30' 75° 74°30' 74° 73°30'

41°

40°

30'

40°

39°

30'

39°

0 15 30 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graph files 1:24,000,

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 18, NAD83

New York City

Trenton

Philadelphia

02

EXPLANATION

Station type

Watershed management 

area boundary and number

Delaware River main stem

Agriculture land-use indicator

Mixed land-use indicator

Undeveveloped land-use indicator

Urban land-use indicator

Watershed indicator

Figure 9. Locations of Delaware River main stem, Land Use indicator and Watershed Integrator stations within the Ambient SurfaceWater-Quality Monitoring Network in New Jersey, water years 1998–2009.
Introduction 11

Delaware River main stem stations are located on the 

main stem of the Delaware River, the physical boundary 

separating New Jersey and Pennsylvania (fig. 9). Stations 

designated as Watershed Integrator are located in 17 of the 20 

WMAs, near the farthest downstream point that is unaffected 

by tides. These stations are used to monitor the integrated 

effects of different types of land use and point and nonpoint 

sources within each WMA on the quality of the surface water 

(fig. 9). Data obtained from Land Use Indicator stations are 

used in contaminant-load studies to assess the effects of the 

dominant type of land use (urban, agriculture, forest, barren, 

wetland, and water) on constituent loads to streams. The purpose of the Status stations within the Network was to establish 

a surface-water-quality dataset from which statistical analyses could be conducted and trends could be determined and 

compared statewide (DeLuca and others, 2005). Background 

stations that represent each physiographic province throughout the State are located on reaches of streams unaffected by 

human activity and have been used to establish a baseline of 

water quality representative of the physiographic province in 

which they are located. 

Of particular interest to the NJDEP is the existence 

or nonexistence of significant variations in concentrations 

of water-quality constituents among sets of stations designated as Status stations within the study period, water years1

1998–2009. The USGS, in cooperation with the NJDEP, conducted a study to examine changes in concentrations of waterquality constituents between sets of Status stations during 

water years 1998–2009. Datasets obtained from each of the 

eight sets of Status stations—one set for each of water years 

1998, 1999, 2000, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2007–08, and 

2009—were compared. The water-quality constituents total 

dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved chloride, dissolved nitrite 

plus nitrate, dissolved phosphorus, total phosphorus, and total 

nitrogen were chosen for statistical analysis in cooperation 

with the NJDEP. These constituents are of particular interest 

because of the existence of an in-stream standard (New Jersey 

Department of Environmental Protection, 2010) or because 

of the constituent’s relevance to the eutrophication of flowing 

freshwaters. Year-round measurements of five water-quality 

constituents and measurements of chloride made only during 

winter months (January to March) were evaluated. Datasets 

obtained from Background stations were used as baselines 

for comparison of changes in water quality during the study 

period. This comparison of Status and Background data is 

informative because Background stations are located in basins 

that are relatively unaffected by human activity and, therefore, 

show little change in water quality over time. 

The data for this study came from samples collected 

quarterly during November–December, February–March, 

May–June, and August–September. In addition to the measurement of physical characteristics at each station, samples 

were collected and analyzed for concentrations of various 

1

 A water year is the 12-month period beginning October 1 and ending 

September 30. It is designated by the year in which it ends. 

water-quality constituents including, but not limited to, total 

and dissolved nutrients, dissolved major ions, and dissolved 

organic carbon. These data are stored in the USGS National 

Water Information System (NWIS) computer database 

(described in Mathey, 1998) and are available to the public at 

the USGS NWIS website (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nj/nwis/

qw/).

The approach utilized to evaluate variations in statewide 

water quality was to use two statistical tests, the KruskalWallis and Tukey’s multiple comparison tests. The KruskalWallis method was used to test the equality of the medians 

of a particular constituent among subsets of stations (sets of 

Status stations for each 1- or 2-year period). Tukey’s multiple 

comparison test (Tukey’s test) was used to determine whether 

the differences, if any, between the population medians were 

statistically significant. 

Purpose and Scope 

This report presents the results of statistical analyses used 

to identify significant variations in surface-water quality in the 

State of New Jersey among eight time periods ranging from 

water year 1998 to water year 2009. Water-quality data from 

randomly selected stations representative of streams throughout New Jersey were used in the analyses. Consistent increases 

or decreases in concentrations of selected water-quality constituents are identified and compared with results from previous investigations. Summary statistics for each water-quality 

constituent for each of the eight time periods, as well as results 

of statistical analyses of variations in statewide water quality, 

are discussed and presented in figures and tables.

Year-round measurements of TDS, dissolved nitrite plus 

nitrate, dissolved phosphorus, total phosphorus, and total 

nitrogen were statistically analyzed. Concentrations of dissolved chloride measured only from January to March, when 

road salt application is likely to occur, were also statistically 

analyzed. Differences between water quality measured at Status stations and water quality measured at Background stations 

during the selected time frame are identified. Some changes in 

water quality are compared to variations in annual streamflow 

at representative streamgaging stations. Results of statistical 

analyses of variations in statewide water quality are discussed 

and presented in tables and figures. 

Study Area

The Fall Line, which divides New Jersey into the 

northern and southern regions, marks the geologic boundary of sedimentary and crystalline bedrock to the north and 

gravel, sand, silt, and clay to the south (fig. 10). The elevation 

is greater, and the topographic relief is more variable, in the 

northern region than in the southern region. New Jersey has 

been divided into five water regions—Passaic, Raritan, Upper 

Delaware, Lower Delaware, and Atlantic Coastal (fig. 11). 

These regions were further divided into Water Management 

Areas (WMAs), established by the NJDEP to protect New 
12 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

DELAWARE

NEW YORK

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

RARITAN BAY

DELAWARE

BAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN

New York City

Trenton

Philadelphia

Atlantic 

City

EXPLANATION

Land-use classes

Station type

Agriculture

Barren land

Forest

Urban

Water

Wetlands

Background station

Index streamgaging station

Statewide Status station

FALL LINE

75°30' 75° 74°30' 74° 73°30'

41°

40°

30'

40°

39°

30'

39°

0 15 30 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graph files 1:24,000,

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 18, NAD83

Figure 10. Location of the Fall Line, land use, and station types in New Jersey.
Introduction 13

DELAWARE

NEW YORK

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

RARITAN BAY

DELAWARE

BAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN

Delaware River

17

01

13 14

15

08

18

06

09

19

12 10

11

20

16

03

02

04

07

05

75°30' 75° 74°30' 74° 73°30'

41°

40°

30'

40°

39°

30'

39°

0 15 30 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graph files 1:24,000,

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 18, NAD83

New York City

Trenton

Philadelphia

Atlantic 

City

EXPLANATION

02

New Jersey Department of

Environmental Protection

water region

Station type

Background station

Delaware River station

Index streamgaging station

Land-use indicator

Statewide Status station

Watershed Integrator

Raritan

Passaic

Atlantic Coast

Upper Delaware

Lower Delaware

Watershed management area boundary 

and number

Figure 11. Location of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection water regions and Watershed Management Areas with 

locations of water-quality stations in New Jersey.
14 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Jersey’s freshwater resources, then subdivided into over 100 

individual watersheds. Land use varies considerably throughout the State of New Jersey. Urban land is concentrated in the 

northeastern part of the State near New York City and along 

the Atlantic coast. Agricultural land tends to be in the western 

half of the State, and forests are dense in the northwestern and 

southeastern part of the State (fig. 10). 

Previous Investigations

Three previous studies reported on trends in the water 

quality at Network stations throughout New Jersey. Hickman 

and Gray (2010) report trends in water-quality constituents 

at fixed stations (Watershed Integrator and Land Use Indicator) within the Network during water years 1998 to 2007. 

Hickman and Gray conducted trend tests on six water-quality 

constituents for 70 water-quality stations—69 fixed stations 

and 1 station on the main stem of the Delaware River—during 

the period of study. Monotonic trends were identified using 

procedures in the ESTREND computer program (Schertz and 

others, 1991). Flow-adjusted values of dissolved oxygen, pH, 

TDS, total phosphorus, total organic nitrogen plus ammonia, 

and dissolved nitrite plus nitrate were analyzed for trends. 

Values of water quality were adjusted for flow to reduce some 

of the effects of streamflow on the variations in water quality. 

Hickman and Barringer (1999) analyzed data from 83 

fixed stations and identified changes in 24 water-quality 

constituents that were unadjusted and streamflow-adjusted for 

water years 1986 to 1995. Hay and Campbell (1990) identify 

changes in 48 water-quality constituents during two periods—

water years 1976 to 1986 and water years 1980 to 1986.

Study Methods and Design

Water-quality data at Status stations and Background 

stations, and streamflow at selected Index stations discussed 

in this report, were retrieved from the USGS National Water 

Information System (NWIS) computer database (described in 

Mathey, 1998) and are available2 to the public at http://www.

waterdata.usgs.gov/nj/nwis

The streamwater quality in New Jersey is monitored by 

the USGS New Jersey Water Science Center in cooperation 

with several other State and local agencies. These data, accumulated over many water years, have contributed to a better 

understanding of the water quality in the State.

Selection of Water-Quality Stations

A total of 371 stations sampled for water quality were 

included in the study. Of the five station types in the Network, 

2

 The data are published annually in data reports for individual water years. 

Data reports were printed through water year 2005 and are available at http://

wdr.water.usgs.gov/. Beginning with water year 2006, only electronic versions 

of data reports were published. 

this report focuses on two—Status and Background (appendixes 1–8). 

A different set of Status stations was chosen annually 

for water years 1998 to 2002; beginning with water year 

2003 and continuing through 2009, a different set was chosen 

biennially. With the exception of water year 1998, when 38 

Status stations were chosen for inclusion in the Network, 42 

Status stations were selected for each 1-year or 2-year period 

electronically by a random-number generator from the more 

than 800 stations in the NJDEP Ambient Monitoring Network 

(AMNET), which is an existing universe of stations throughout the State that are intended to represent all non-tidal New 

Jersey stream reaches.

During water years 1998–2000, there were four Background stations in the Network. Two additional stations were 

added in 2001. In 2005, one Background station was relocated, 

and one was added to the Network for a total of seven Background stations.

The drainage basins of most of the Status stations 

included in this study range from 0.25 to 804 square miles 

and lie entirely within New Jersey or within New Jersey and 

adjacent parts of southern New York. One station is on the 

main stem Delaware River and has a drainage area of 3,480 

square miles, including large parts of Pennsylvania and New 

York. Drainage basins of Background stations are generally 

much smaller than those of Status stations and, in this study, 

range from 0.35 to 6.46 square miles and lie entirely within 

New Jersey or within New Jersey and adjacent parts of eastern 

Pennsylvania.

Field and Laboratory Measurements and Sample 

Collection

Field measurements and sample collection at each station were conducted by personnel of either the USGS or the 

NJDEP. Field methods for the collection of water-quality 

data are described in the USGS National Field Manual (U.S. 

Geological Survey, variously dated). Samples of surface water 

were collected from multiple points across a cross section 

and composited in a churn splitter (U.S. Geological Survey, 

variously dated). In compliance with standard USGS protocols, the sample-collection vessel varied depending on stream 

velocity. For samples collected from wadeable streams or 

with a weighted-bottle sampler from a bridge at unwadeable 

reaches, an open-mouth bottle was used at stations with velocities less than 1.5 feet per second. A DH-81 or DH-95 sampler 

was used for isokinetic sample collection from wadeable 

streams or sample collection from a bridge, respectively, when 

velocities equaled or exceeded 1.5 feet per second (U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated). Depth-and-width-integrated 

samples from multiple points across the cross section were 

composited in a churn splitter; the composite was then split 

into subsamples for laboratory analysis for individual constituents (U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated). Additionally, 

the composite sample was filtered and split into subsamples to 

be analyzed for dissolved constituents.
Study Methods and Design 15

Concentrations of TDS, total phosphorus, dissolved phosphorus, dissolved chloride, and dissolved nitrite plus nitrate 

were measured analytically at the National Water Quality 

Laboratory in Denver, Colorado; total and dissolved phosphorus were analyzed by the USGS laboratory in Ocala, Florida, 

for a brief period of time during water year 2004. Laboratory 

methods used to determine concentrations of total phosphorus, dissolved phosphorus, and dissolved nitrite plus nitrate 

changed throughout the study period. Methods of laboratory 

analysis are listed in table 1. Concentrations of total nitrogen 

were calculated using methods described later in this report. 

Streamflow

The USGS, in cooperation with Federal, State, and local 

agencies, collects a large amount of streamflow data in New 

Jersey each water year. These data constitute a valuable database for developing an improved understanding of the water 

resources of the State. 

In an effort to provide an areal depiction of annual 

streamflow in the State, six continuous-recording gaging 

stations, maintained and operated by the USGS New Jersey 

Water Science Center, with relatively long periods of record 

were chosen as Index streamgaging stations for this study 

(figs. 1–8 and 10–12; appendix 9). The periods of record for 

the six Index stations range from 69 years at Crosswicks Creek 

at Extonville, NJ, (01464500) to 90 years at South Branch 

Raritan River near High Bridge, NJ (01396500). These six 

gages were selected because the variation in annual streamflow measured by them is believed to accurately represent the 

variation in unregulated annual streamflow in the different 

water regions throughout the State. One Index streamgaging station was chosen from each of the following four water 

Table 1. References for methods of laboratory analyses of selected water-quality constituents in New Jersey, water years 

1998–2009.

Water-quality

constituent Comment Reference for method of laboratory determination

Total dissolved solids For period of study Fishman and Friedman (1989)

Dissolved chloride For period of study Fishman and Friedman (1989)

Dissolved nitrite plus nitrate

From the beginning of the period of study through 

September 30, 2003 Fishman (1993)

October 1, 2003, to July 31, 2004 Fishman and Friedman (1989)

August 1, 2004, to the end of the period of study Fishman (1993)

Dissolved phosphorus

From the beginning of the period of study through 

September 30, 2003 Fishman (1993)

October 1, 2003, to July 31, 2004 Fishman and Friedman (1989)

August 1, 2004, to the end of the period of study Fishman (1993)

Total phosphorus

From the beginning of the period of study through 

December 31, 2002 Patton and Truitt (1992)

January 1, 2003, to September 30, 2003 Patton and Kryskalla (2003)

October 1, 2003, to July 31, 2004 Fishman and Friedman (1989)

August 1, 2004, to the end of the period of study Patton and Kryskalla (2003)

Total nitrogen For period of study

Calculated1 from laboratory-reported 

concentrations of dissolved organic 

nitrogen plus ammonia (Fishman, 

1993), dissolved nitrite plus nitrate, 

and total particulate nitrogen (U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, 

1997)

1

Method of calculation is described in the text.
16 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

DELAWARE

NEW YORK

P E N N S Y LVA N I A

RARITAN BAY

DELAWARE

BAY

ATLANTIC OCEAN

17

01

13 14

15

08

18

06

09

19

12 10

11

20

16

03

02

04

07

05

New York City

Trenton

Philadelphia

Atlantic 

City

02

EXPLANATION

Site type

Watershed management 

area boundary and number

Background station

Index streamgaging station

Statewide Status station

1998

1999

2000

2001−02

2003−04

2005−06

2007−08

2009

75°30' 75° 74°30' 74° 73°30'

41°

40°

30'

40°

39°

30'

39°

0 15 30 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital line graph files 1:24,000,

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 18, NAD83

Figure 12. Locations of Statewide Status stations, by 1-year and 2-year groups, Background stations and Index streamgaging stations 

in New Jersey.
Study Methods and Design 17

regions of the State —Passaic, Raritan, Upper Delaware, and 

Lower Delaware; two stations were chosen from the Atlantic 

Coastal water regions—one in each of the upper and lower 

Atlantic Coastal water regions. 

In order to compare annual streamflows among Index 

streamgages to one another, annual mean streamflows during 

1998–2009 were converted to nonexceedance values. For each 

Index streamgage, each annual mean streamflow was compared to the range of annual mean streamflows measured during the period of record; the nonexceedance value is the percentage of all annual mean streamflows not exceeded by the 

annual mean streamflow in that year (fig. 13). As an example, 

a nonexceedance value lower than 50 percent indicates that the 

annual mean streamflow for that particular year is less than the 

annual mean streamflow measured in most years of the period 

of record. Likewise, a nonexceedance value of 20 percent 

indicates that the annual mean streamflow for that particular 

year was exceeded 80 percent of the time that the streamgage 

has been in operation.

The flow-duration curve is a cumulative frequency curve 

that shows the percentage of time specified discharges were 

equaled or exceeded during a given period (Searcy, 1959). The 

flow-duration curve combines the streamflow characteristics 

of a stream throughout the range of discharge in one curve 

(Searcy, 1959). 

Daily mean discharge data, the mean of instantaneous 

discharge values for a day (Buchanan and Somers, 1976) 

from each of the six Index streamgaging stations were used 

to calculate flow durations. Daily mean streamflows for the 

streamgaging stations are available on the World Wide Web 

(http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nj/nwis/). 

Preparation for Statistical Analysis

The water-quality constituents investigated in this study 

were selected in cooperation with NJDEP. As previously 

discussed, the constituents were chosen on the basis of the 

availability of the data and applicability to New Jersey streamwater standards, as well as the likelihood that the constituents 

would exhibit changes over time that reflect the fluctuations in 

New Jersey land use and management practices (New Jersey 

Department of Environmental Protection, 2010).

Laboratory Reporting Conventions

Three types of water-quality values are discussed in this 

report—estimated values, less-than censored values (nondetects), and uncensored values. The reporting convention that 

the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory (NWQL) uses 

for these constituents is the laboratory reporting level (LRL). 

The LRL is generally equal to twice the yearly determined 

long-term method detection level (LT-MDL), a detection level 

derived by determining the standard deviation of a minimum 

Water year

Time annual mean streamflow not exceeded, in percent

20

90

0

10

30

40

50

60

70

80

100

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

01384500

01408000

01440000

Fifty percent of time 

that annual mean streamflow for 1998–2009 did not

exceed annual mean streamflow for period of record

Vertical lines separate the 

period of study into one- or

two-year intervals according

to the study design

01464500

01396500

01411000

Figure 13. Percentage of time that annual mean streamflow did not exceed annual mean streamflow for the period of record at six 

Index streamgaging stations in New Jersey, water years 1998–2009.
18 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

of 24 method detection limit spiked-sample measurements 

over an extended period of time. A spiked sample is a qualitycontrol sample used to evaluate the effects of sample matrix 

on the performance of an analytical method (U.S. Geological 

Survey, variously dated). The LT-MDL controls false positive 

error. The probability of falsely reporting a concentration at 

or greater than the LT-MDL for a sample that did not contain 

an analyte is predicted to be less than or equal to 1 percent. 

The LRL controls false negative error. The probability of 

falsely reporting a non-detection for a sample that contained 

an analyte at a concentration equal to or greater than the LRL 

is predicted to be less than or equal to 1 percent. Analytes 

detected at concentrations between the LT-MDL and the LRL 

and that pass identification criteria are “estimated” (noted with 

a remark code of E) by the laboratory. 

Less-than censored values, or nondetects, are measurements whose values are known only to be less than a threshold. Nondetects indicate that the reported concentration was 

less than the reporting level. For samples in which the analyte 

is not detected, the value of the LRL is reported with a “less 

than” (<) remark code. Uncensored values, or detects, indicate 

that the concentration was reliably determined to be greater 

than or equal to the laboratory reporting level.

As a result of changes in methods or reporting protocols, 

the reporting level for a given constituent sometimes changed 

during the period of study. Water-quality data used for this 

study were modified in an effort to provide a more accurate 

determination of changes in water-quality constituents than 

those that would have been calculated from unmodified data 

retrieved directly from the NWIS database. These modifications are described below. 

Recensoring of Nondetect Data

For some nondetect results, the USGS NWQL set laboratory reporting levels to twice the concentration of the longterm method detection limit to reduce the possibility of reporting false positives (Oblinger-Childress and others, 1999). This 

practice complicates statistical interpretation. Typically, results 

of statistical analyses calculated with nondetects reported with 

laboratory reporting levels are biased (Hickman and Gray, 

2010). To avoid such bias, laboratory reporting levels for nondetect values were set back to the long-term method detection 

limit (half of the laboratory reporting level), as recommended 

by Helsel (2005). There were multiple LRLs associated with 

each analyte during the period of study as a result of changing laboratory methods of analysis and precision of analytical 

instruments. In these cases, censored values were corrected to 

the highest LT-MDL.

Calculation of Total Nitrogen

As noted in table 1, values of total nitrogen (TN) were 

not determined by laboratory methods but were determined by 

a calculation summing laboratory results for concentrations of 

dissolved organic nitrogen plus ammonia (Kjeldahl) (DKN), 

dissolved nitrite plus nitrate (NO2+NO3), and total particulate 

nitrogen (TPN). Because any of the contributing constituents 

can potentially be a non-detect, total nitrogen values are often 

censored. If the value for total nitrogen was censored below 

the reporting level, then the following set of rules was applied 

to the recalculation of total nitrogen:

If DKN or NO2+NO3 or TPN was not detected (ND)

and if

∑ (ND) < 0.1 (TN),

then TN was determined using

TN = ∑ (DKN + (NO2+NO3) + TPN) - ∑ (ND); (1)

If DKN or NO2+NO3 or TPN was not detected (ND)

and if

∑ (ND) ≥ 0.1 (TN),

then TN was determined using

TN = ∑ (DKN + (NO2+NO3) + TPN); (2)

If DKN and NO2+NO3 and TPN were not censored < LRL,

then

TN = ∑ (DKN + (NO2+NO3) + TPN), (3)

where

TN = concentration of total nitrogen, in mg/L 

(milligrams per liter);

DKN = concentration of dissolved ammonia plus 

organic nitrogen, in mg/L as N;

NO2+NO3 = concentration of dissolved nitrite plus 

nitrate, in mg/L as N;

TPN = concentration of total particulate nitrogen, 

in mg/L as N; and

ND = concentration of the water-quality 

constituent(s) that was not detected.

The sum of the contributing constituent LRLs, equal 

to 0.18 mg/L, was used to impose an overall LRL for total 

nitrogen. A rule was imposed so that 10 percent of the total 

nitrogen concentration would be greater than the sum of contributing constituent LRLs (0.18 mg/L) (Jacob Gibs, U.S. Geological Survey, oral commun., 2010). Of the concentrations of 

total nitrogen in the dataset, the nearest existing concentration 
Study Methods and Design 19

to 1.80 mg/L was 1.76 mg/L, which was used as the LRL for 

total nitrogen (Jacob Gibs, U.S. Geological Survey, oral commun., 2010). Using the same recensoring techniques as the 

other water-quality constituents included in this study, concentrations of total nitrogen at or below the LRL were recensored 

to half of the LRL, or in this case 0.88 mg/L. 

Calculation of Summary Statistics

Summary statistics include the number of measurements, 

the number of censored results, the maximum reporting level 

for censored results, the minimum and maximum values, and 

the 25th percentile (Q1), median (Q2), and 75th percentile 

(Q3) values. The quartile components of the summary statistics for this study were produced by use of Minitab statistical 

software (Minitab, Inc.), whereas the minimum and maximum values reported are the concentrations reported from the 

laboratory. One of four methods was used to determine the 

quartiles. Selection of the method was based on the percentage 

of measurements made up of nondetects. Summary statistics 

for datasets without nondetects were calculated by Minitab 

statistical software’s descriptive statistics function. The three 

remaining methods used by Minitab are briefly described 

below.

Kaplan-Meier Method

As recommended by Helsel (2005), the Kaplan-Meier 

method was used for estimating summary statistics if one or 

more measurements of a water-quality constituent were nondetects and if fewer than 50 percent of the measurements were 

nondetects. The Kaplan-Meier method, as discussed by Helsel, 

is used to estimate summary statistics on “survival” data, 

which comprise uncensored data and right-censored data. For 

this study and in the case of datasets with left-censored data, 

the survival data need to be mathematically flipped before 

computing statistics, then re-transformed. Within Minitab, 

calculations were done with a macro obtained from the 

“Practical Statistics for the Sciences” website at http://www.

practicalstats.com/ (Helsel, 2011). 

Regression on Order Statistics Method

If nondetect measurements accounted for 50 to 80 percent of the data for an individual water-quality constituent, 

the Regression on Order Statistics (ROS) method was used 

to determine the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile 

values of that dataset (described in Helsel, 2005). The ROS 

approach is based on developing a linear regression for data 

or logarithms of data versus their normal quantiles (Helsel, 

2005). Because the datasets in this study were not normally 

distributed, the robust approach to the ROS method was used. 

Using this approach requires less assumption of normality than 

the fully parametric method (Helsel, 2005). Calculations were 

done with a macro obtained from the “Practical Statistics for 

the Sciences” website at http://www.practicalstats.com/.

Highly Censored Datasets

If greater than 80 percent of the results for a particular 

water-quality constituent during the entire period of study 

were censored, then only a high-sample percentile (95th percentile) was reported, as recommended by Helsel (2005). The 

remaining statistics in the suite of summary statistics were not 

reported. 

Identification of Variations in Statewide 

Water-Quality 

Procedures used to identify trends in the selected waterquality constituents were performed using Minitab statistical software (Minitab, Inc). The Anderson-Darling test for 

normality established that all constituents for both Status and 

Background stations deviated widely from a normal distribution. Nonparametric statistics were used to evaluate the data 

using three statistical tests—Kruskal-Wallis, Tukey’s test on 

ranks, and Mann-Whitney. For each water-quality constituent, Kruskal-Wallis was used first to determine whether the 

median water-quality values were or were not the same. If the 

medians differed, then Tukey’s test on ranks was performed to 

determine the median water-quality values that were different. 

Both statistical tests were performed using water-quality data 

that had been re-censored, if applicable (previously discussed), 

back to the long-term method detection limit. Lastly, the 

Mann-Whitney test determined whether a statistical difference existed between the results for Status and Background 

stations.

For the purpose of this study, the level of significance, or 

alpha value, was specified at 0.05. The level of significance 

indicates how likely it is that the results of trend analyses 

were due to a random factor rather than a pattern of change in 

water-quality constituent or trend. The smaller the significance 

level, the less likely it is that the results of trend analyses were 

due to random change in water quality. At a significance level 

of 0.05, there is only a 1 in 20 chance that the test result was 

due to a random change in water quality rather than a trend. 

Kruskal-Wallis Test

The Kruskal-Wallis method tests the equality of median 

concentrations among groups of data. This nonparametric test 

typically is performed to determine whether all populations 

have the same median or whether at least one median is different (Helsel and Hirsch, 1992). In this study, Kruskal-Wallis 

was applied to the ranks of concentrations of each waterquality constituent to determine whether median concentrations varied among sets of stations. The null hypothesis (Ho) 

states that median rank concentrations are equal at each set of 

stations. The alternate hypothesis states that the median rank 
20 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

concentrations from at least one set of stations differ from the 

others. The test results in a level of significance, indicating the 

probability that a difference among median ranks exists. If the 

level of significance produced was less than 0.05, then the null 

hypothesis was accepted, indicating the median rank concentration from one set of stations was statistically different from 

that in at least one other set of stations. 

Tukey’s Multiple Comparison Test

If the null hypothesis of the Kruskal-Wallis method was 

rejected, then Tukey’s test was performed on ranks to identify 

which median rank concentrations were significantly different 

at the 0.05 level. Tukey’s groups are represented by the letters, 

or a combination of the letters, A through C. Sets of stations in 

group A have the highest mean rank concentration, and those 

in groups B through C have successively lower median rank 

concentrations. Groups of data with at least one letter in common do not differ significantly from one another. 

Mann-Whitney Test

The Mann-Whitney test is a rank-sum test that determines 

whether or not there is a statistical difference between two 

independent sample groups. The null hypothesis of the MannWhitney test states that the median values of the two groups 

are the same. Differences were considered to exist at the 0.05 

level of significance, indicating that the median concentrations 

are different (Ott, 1988). In this study, this nonparametric test 

was used to verify that concentration data for Background stations differed from concentration data for Status stations. 

Graphical Representation of Data

Distributions of constituent data that were re-censored 

using methods previously discussed are graphically displayed 

in boxplots. If the dataset was composed solely of detected 

concentrations, then those unadjusted concentrations were 

plotted. Because the boxplots contain results from re-censored 

data, values may differ slightly between the boxplots and 

tables containing summary statistics obtained from uncensored data using the Kaplan-Meier method or ROS. The plots 

show the median [midpoint of the data (50th percentile) — the 

center line of the box], the variation [interquartile range (25th 

to 75th percentiles) — the box height], the spread (upper and 

lower adjacent values — vertical lines or whiskers), and the 

presence or absence of extreme values or outliers (individual 

points). 

Variations in Statewide Water Quality 

of Streams in New Jersey 

Summary statistics for the data analyzed are presented in 

tables 2 and 3. Summary statistics for five of the six constituents were calculated from year-round data; summary statistics 

for dissolved chloride were calculated only from the data 

obtained from January to March when road salt application 

was likely to occur.

Statistical analyses determined whether the median 

concentrations of selected water-quality constituents were 

significantly different for each set of Status and Background 

stations during water years 1998–2009. For each water-quality 

constituent, the levels of significance that were achieved by 

performing Kruskal-Wallis for Status stations and for Background stations as well as results of Tukey’s test, if applicable, appear in tables 4 and 5, respectively. Additionally, the 

distribution of median ranked concentrations for each group 

of stations is shown in the boxplots in figures 14–25 with 

Tukey’s test results presented as letters A through C where the 

lowest median concentrations are in group A and the highest 

are in group C. 

Only a small change in level of significance indicated 

whether changes in median concentrations of selected constituents were significant. For example, a 0.051 level of 

significance indicates no significant variation in median concentrations, but a 0.050 level of significance indicates that the 

variation in median concentrations is statistically significant. 

For their own purposes and with caution, readers may consider identifying variations in concentrations using different 

guidelines. 

Identification of Variations in Statewide Water 

Quality 

Statistical analyses of the six selected water-quality constituents in samples collected during water years 1998–2009 

are discussed below. The Kruskal-Wallis method tests median 

concentrations for levels of significance, whereas Tukey’s test 

groups data with respect to mean concentrations. Results of 

both tests of Status and Background stations are presented in 

tables 4 and 5, respectively. Additionally, Tukey’s groups are 

shown in figures 14, 16, 18, 22, and 24. 

Total Dissolved Solids

The median concentrations of TDS measured during 

1998–2009 for Status stations were determined to vary significantly within the study period with the lowest median concentration occurring in water year 1998 (105 mg/L) and the 

highest concentration in water year 2007 (142 mg/L) (fig 14). 

In contrast, a statistical difference among median concentrations of TDS for Background stations during water years 

1998–2009 was not established (fig. 15). 
Variations in Statewide Water Quality of Streams in New Jersey 21

Table 2. Summary statistics for selected water-quality constituents at selected Statewide Status stations in New Jersey, 

water years 1998–2009.—Continued

[<, less than; E, estimated]

Nondetect measurements Statistic, in milligrams per liter

Water 

year(s)

Number 

of stations

Number of 

measurements

Number 

of

nondetects

Percentage 

of all 

measurements

Reporting level, 

maximum during 

period of study, 

in milligrams 

per liter 

Minimum 25th 

percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum

Total dissolved solids 

1998 38 150 0 0

10

15 60 105 176 714

1999 40 157 1 0.6 19 68 109 202 1,172

2000 40 159 0 0 15 53 117 195 904

2001–02 40 319 2 0.6 10 76 129 239 4,190

2003–04 42 336 0 0 31 79 128 204 656

2005–06 42 336 0 0 22 88 141 243 1,127

2007–08 42 336 0 0 22 96 142 244 1,082

2009 42 168 0 0 17 58 114 187 1,171

Dissolved chloride

1998 38 38 0 0

0.33

2.9 7.2 14.7 39.9 290.5

1999 40 40 0 0 4.9 13.4 22.5 50.8 583.7

2000 40 40 0 0 3.1 8.8 36.4 81.3 466.5

2001–02 40 80 0 0 3.0 14.8 27.3 67.8 2,231.8

2003–04 42 84 0 0 2.8 15.4 38.6 103.0 272.5

2005–06 42 84 0 0 1.2 22.6 35.1 77.8 571.5

2007–08 42 84 0 0 4.7 22.7 42.2 110.9 578.1

2009 42 42 0 0 3.3 13.3 23.2 78.0 634.0

Dissolved nitrite + nitrate

1998 38 150 24 16

0.06

<0.05 0.10 0.40 0.85 5.32

1999 40 159 13 8 <0.037 0.18 0.68 1.30 7.62

2000 40 159 18 11 E0.021 0.08 0.50 1.24 6.12

2001–02 40 318 28 9 E0.02 0.12 0.54 1.27 9.77

2003–04 42 336 28 8 <0.02 0.29 0.88 1.66 5.46

2005–06 42 336 20 6 E0.033 0.32 0.70 1.27 13.31

2007–08 42 336 6 2 E0.021 0.32 0.70 1.34 12.83

2009 42 168 17 10 E0.02 0.12 0.38 1.22 6.00

Dissolved phosphorus

1998 38 150 85 57

0.05

<0.01 0.002 0.006 0.021 1.126

1999 40 159 119 75 0.015 0.026 0.040 0.058 1.209

2000 40 159 20 13 E0.003 0.006 0.012 0.042 0.800

2001–02 40 319 18 6 E0.0018 0.005 0.012 0.034 1.776

2003–04 42 336 42 13 E0.0018 0.005 0.013 0.028 0.451

2005–06 42 336 14 4 E0.002 0.006 0.010 0.026 1.110

2007–08 42 336 10 3 E0.004 0.009 0.016 0.031 0.646

2009 42 168 17 10 E0.0041 0.008 0.014 0.030 0.834
22 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Table 2. Summary statistics for selected water-quality constituents at selected Statewide Status stations in New Jersey, 

water years 1998–2009.—Continued

[<, less than; E, estimated]

Nondetect measurements Statistic, in milligrams per liter

Water 

year(s)

Number 

of stations

Number of 

measurements

Number 

of

nondetects

Percentage 

of all 

measurements

Reporting level, 

maximum during 

period of study, 

in milligrams 

per liter 

Minimum 25th 

percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum

Total phosphorus

1998 38 150 46 31

0.05

<0.01 0.008 0.023 0.056 1.355

1999 40 159 72 45 0.016 0.035 0.043 0.061 1.251

2000 40 159 5 3 E0.004 0.016 0.035 0.090 0.859

2001–02 40 319 5 2 E0.002 0.015 0.036 0.077 1.762

2003–04 42 336 19 6 E0.0019 0.013 0.037 0.071 0.515

2005–06 42 336 4 1 E0.0037 0.018 0.039 0.084 3.023

2007–08 42 336 1 0 E0.004 0.020 0.035 0.067 0.885

2009 42 168 7 4 E0.0044 0.015 0.030 0.070 0.845

Total nitrogren 

1998 38 150 31 21

1.76

<0.15 0.42 0.77 1.26 7.14

1999 40 159 15 9 <0.114 0.55 1.07 1.69 8.22

2000 40 159 18 11 E0.13 0.49 1.01 1.70 7.65

2001–02 40 316 34 11 E0.11 0.48 0.85 1.75 10.50

2003–04 42 335 86 26 E0.17 0.58 1.21 1.94 5.94

2005–06 42 334 50 15 E0.147 0.74 1.14 1.80 14.11

2007–08 42 336 39 12 E0.247 0.70 1.12 1.89 13.90

2009 42 168 28 17 <0.212 0.47 0.85 1.67 6.90

Because significant variations in median concentrations 

of TDS were not identified at Background stations, Tukey’s 

test was performed on Status data only. Results of Tukey’s test 

show that mean concentrations of TDS in waters years 1998, 

1999, 2000, and 2009 are unlike mean concentrations in water 

years 2005–06 and 2007–08 (table 2). The results also indicate 

that mean concentrations are lowest in water years 1998, 1999, 

2000 and 2009, whereas mean concentrations are highest in 

water years 2005 through 2008. With the exception of water 

year 2009, results of Tukey’s test indicate a consistent increase 

in mean concentrations of TDS during water years 1998–2009 

(fig 14).

Dissolved Chloride

Concentrations of dissolved chloride are often highest 

during the winter as a result of runoff of road de-icing agents 

entering waterways. To eliminate seasonal bias, only measurements from January to March were used in the determination of the statistical significance of changes in median 

concentrations of dissolved chloride for Status and Background stations. For Status stations, the median concentrations 

differed significantly among water years 1998 to 2009 with the 

lowest median concentration in water year 1998 (14.7 mg/L) 

and highest in water year 2007 (42.2 mg/L) (fig. 16). Median 

concentrations of dissolved chloride for Background stations did not show a significant difference during water years 

1998–2009 (fig. 17). 

Because significant differences in median concentrations of dissolved chloride were not identified at Background 

stations, Tukey’s test was not performed on data collected 

at Background stations. Results from Tukey’s test revealed 

that the mean concentrations of dissolved chloride for 

Status stations for water year 1998 were statistically different from those for water years 2003–04, 2005–06, and 

2007–08 (table 2). The lowest mean concentrations of dissolved chloride occurred in water year 1998, whereas the 

highest mean concentrations occurred during water years 2003 

to 2008 and were not significantly different from one another. 

With the exception of 2009, results of Tukey’s test indicate a 
Variations in Statewide Water Quality of Streams in New Jersey 23

Table 3. Summary statistics for selected water-quality constituents at selected Background stations in New Jersey, water years 

1998–2009.—Continued

[<, less than; E, estimated; -, no data due to highly censored dataset]

Nondetect measurements Statistic, in milligrams per liter

Water 

year(s)

Number 

of stations

Number of 

measurements

Number 

of

nondetects

Percentage

of all 

measurements

Reporting level, 

maximum during 

period of study, 

in milligrams 

per liter

Minimum 25th 

percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum

Total dissolved solids 

1998 4 16 0 0

10

19 24 51 113 135

1999 4 16 0 0 18 24 60 117 164

2000 4 16 0 0 20 24 52 112 133

2001–02 6 47 0 0 11 24 42 98 179

2003–04 6 48 0 0 18 28 66 99 167

2005–06 7 56 0 0 18 27 83 109 172

2007–08 7 56 0 0 18 24 83 108 169

2009 7 28 0 0 18 27 89 113 171

Dissolved chloride

1998 4 4 0 0

0.33

1.0 1.7 7.6 28.3 34.0

1999 4 4 0 0 1.2 2.0 8.3 28.5 33.9

2000 4 4 0 0 0.9 1.7 7.7 27.7 33.0

2001–02 6 12 0 0 1.2 3.1 4.8 15.9 38.8

2003–04 6 12 0 0 1.1 3.6 5.0 15.5 47.3

2005–06 7 14 0 0 1.0 3.4 5.0 18.2 47.7

2007–08 7 14 0 0 1.0 3.7 5.3 15.6 40.9

2009 7 7 0 0 1.2 3.4 5.4 22.3 38.8

Dissolved nitrite + nitrate

1998 4 16 6 38

0.06

<0.05 0.05 0.11 0.30 0.53

1999 4 16 3 19 <0.05 0.07 0.10 0.28 0.74

2000 4 16 1 6 E0.02 0.03 0.10 0.29 0.85

2001–02 6 47 13 28 E0.02 0.02 0.12 0.29 1.59

2003–04 6 48 14 29 <0.02 0.02 0.10 0.37 1.19

2005–06 7 56 22 39 E0.04 0.05 0.06 0.16 0.56

2007–08 7 56 15 27 E0.03 0.03 0.08 0.18 0.41

2009 7 28 8 29 E0.02 0.03 0.07 0.16 0.33

Dissolved phosphorus

1998 4 16 11 69

0.05

<0.001 0.003 0.006 0.012 0.024

1999 4 16 14 88 <0.05 - - 0.05* 0.054

2000 4 16 6 38 E0.003 0.004 0.007 0.009 0.010

2001–02 6 47 14 30 E0.002 0.004 0.004 0.006 0.021

2003–04 6 48 15 31 E0.002 0.003 0.004 0.008 <0.02

2005–06 7 56 14 25 E0.002 0.004 0.004 0.006 0.020

2007–08 7 56 21 38 E0.004 0.006 0.008 0.010 0.016

2009 7 28 14 50 E0.004 0.008 0.008 0.010 0.019
24 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Table 3. Summary statistics for selected water-quality constituents at selected Background stations in New Jersey, water years 

1998–2009.—Continued

[<, less than; E, estimated; -, no data due to highly censored dataset]

Nondetect measurements Statistic, in milligrams per liter

Water 

year(s)

Number 

of stations

Number of 

measurements

Number 

of

nondetects

Percentage

of all 

measurements

Reporting level, 

maximum during 

period of study, 

in milligrams 

per liter

Minimum 25th 

percentile Median 75th percentile Maximum

Total phosphorus

1998 4 16 8 50

0.05

<0.001 0.007 0.010 0.020 0.031

1999 4 16 14 88 E0.036 - - 0.04* 0.050

2000 4 16 4 25 E0.004 0.004 0.010 0.012 0.024

2001–02 6 47 8 17 E0.002 0.003 0.007 0.013 0.044

2003–04 6 48 10 21 <0.002 0.003 0.007 0.015 0.032

2005–06 7 56 6 11 E0.002 0.003 0.007 0.014 0.106

2007–08 7 56 15 27 E0.004 0.005 0.008 0.018 0.044

2009 7 28 10 36 E0.004 0.007 0.007 0.017 0.025

Total nitrogren 

1998 4 16 7 44

1.76

<0.15 0.21 0.21 0.56 0.75

1999 4 16 4 25 <0.12 0.23 0.37 0.54 0.91

2000 4 16 3 19 <0.12 0.23 0.37 0.54 0.91

2001–02 6 47 19 40 E0.09 0.09 0.25 0.44 1.70

2003–04 6 48 35 73 <0.12 0.13 0.18 0.32 1.40

2005–06 7 56 38 68 <0.14 0.16 0.20 0.32 0.86

2007–08 7 56 43 77 <0.14 0.12 0.14 0.22 1.90

2009 7 28 15 54 <0.11 0.19 0.23 0.35 0.50

*

95th Percentile Value

consistent increase in mean concentrations of dissolved chloride during the water years 1998–2009 (fig. 16).

Dissolved Nitrite Plus Nitrate

Median concentrations of nitrite plus nitrate for Status 

stations during water years 1998–2009 were determined to 

vary significantly with the lowest (0.38 mg/L) and highest 

(0.88 mg/L) median concentrations occurring in water years 

2009 and 2003–04, respectively (fig. 18). In contrast, nitrite 

plus nitrate concentrations for Background stations show no 

statistical difference among median concentrations during 

water years 1998 to 2009 (fig. 19). 

Tukey’s test was not performed on concentrations of 

nitrite plus nitrate for Background stations because median 

concentrations did not vary significantly. For Status stations, 

results of Tukey’s test show that water years 1998 and 2009 

had the lowest mean concentrations, and mean concentrations 

are statistically similar to each other, yet different than the 

mean concentrations for the remaining sets of stations for the 

water years 1998–2009 (table 2). Mean concentrations were 

relatively low in water years 1999, 2000, and 2001–02 but 

not as low as those in water years 1998 and 2009. Finally, the 

highest mean concentrations occurred in water years 2003–04, 

2005–06, and 2007–08, signifying that the sets of Status 

stations in those years have statistically similar mean concentrations of dissolved nitrite plus nitrate. With the exception 

of 2009, results of Tukey’s test indicate a general increase in 

mean concentrations of dissolved nitrite plus nitrate during the 

study period (fig. 18). 
Variations in Statewide Water Quality of Streams in New Jersey 25

Table 4. Results of statistical tests to determine whether constituent concentrations differ among years at selected Statewide 

Status stations in New Jersey, water years 1998–2009.

[A, B, C, differing letters indicate significant differences in mean values, according to the Tukey multiple-comparison test]

Kruskal-Wallis Tukey’s Test Kruskal-Wallis Tukey’s Test

Water 

year(s)

Significance 

level achieved 1

Ho A B C Water 

year(s)

Significance 

level achieved 1

Ho A B C

Total dissolved solids Dissolved phosphorus

1998

0.000 Reject

B 1998

0.059 Accept

1999 B 1999

2000 B 2000

2001–02 A B 2001–02

2003–04 A B 2003–04

2005–06 A B 2005–06

2007–08 A B 2007–08

2009 B 2009

Dissolved chloride Total phosphorus

1998

0.000 Reject

B 1998

0.023 Reject

B

1999 A B 1999 A B

2000 A B 2000 A B

2001–02 A B 2001–02 A

2003–04 A B 2003–04 A B

2005–06 A B 2005–06 A

2007–08 A B 2007–08 A B

2009 A B 2009 A B

Dissolved nitrite + nitrate Total nitrogen

1998

0.000 Reject

C 1998

0.000 Reject

B

1999 A B C 1999 A B

2000 B C 2000 A B

2001–02 B C 2001–02 A B

2003–04 A 2003–04 A

2005–06 A B 2005–06 A

2007–08 A 2007–08 A

2009 C 2009 A B

1

Ho, Null hypothesis: no difference in median concentrations among years.

Dissolved Phosphorus

Median concentrations of dissolved phosphorus for Status 

stations show no statistically significant changes in concentration among water years 1998 to 2009 at an achieved statistical 

significance level of 0.059, just outside the standard of 0.050 

chosen for this study. Because there were no significant differences among median concentrations at Status stations (fig. 20), 

Tukey’s test was not performed on data obtained from Status 

stations. For Background stations, all median concentrations 

were less than the highest LT-MDL, and therefore, the data 

were not considered to be significantly different (fig. 21).

Total Phosphorus

Median concentrations of total phosphorus at Status 

stations show a statistical difference among water years 1998 

to 2009 with the lowest median concentration (0.023 mg/L) 

in 1998 and the highest (0.043 mg/L) in 1999 (fig. 22). 
26 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Table 5. Results of statistical tests to determine whether constituent concentrations differ among years at selected Background 

stations in New Jersey, water years 1998–2009.

[A, B, C, differing letters indicate significant differences in mean values, according to the Tukey multiple-comparison test]

Kruskal-Wallis Tukey’s Test Kruskal-Wallis Tukey’s Test

Water 

year(s)

Significance 

level achieved 1

Ho A B C Water 

year(s)

Significance 

level achieved 1

Ho A B C

Total dissolved solids Dissolved phosphorus

1998

0.791 Accept

1998

1.000 Accept

1999 1999

2000 2000

2001–02 2001–02

2003–04 2003–04

2005–06 2005–06

2007–08 2007–08

2009 2009

Dissolved chloride Total phosphorus

1998

0.998 Accept

1998

0.369 Accept

1999 1999

2000 2000

2001–02 2001–02

2003–04 2003–04

2005–06 2005–06

2007–08 2007–08

2009 2009

Dissolved nitrite + nitrate Total nitrogen

1998

0.148 Accept

1998

0.586 Accept

1999 1999

2000 2000

2001–02 2001–02

2003–04 2003–04

2005–06 2005–06

2007–08 2007–08

2009 2009

1

Ho, Null hypothesis: no difference in median concentrations among years.

Concentrations of total phosphorus for Background stations 

do not show a statistical change during water years 1998–2009 

(fig. 23). For Background stations, because greater than 80 

percent of the data for total phosphorus at Background stations 

were nondetects, a median concentration was not computed 

for water year 1999. 

Because a significant difference in mean concentrations 

of total phosphorus was not found at Background stations 

for the study period, Tukey’s test was not performed on 

data obtained from Background stations. Tukey’s test was 

performed on data from Status stations to determine which 

years were statistically different from others. Results of 

Tukey’s test confirmed that water year 1998 had the lowest 

mean concentration, which is unlike mean concentrations for 

the remainder of the study period (table 2). Keeping in mind 

that the Kruskal-Wallis method tests median concentrations, 

whereas Tukey’s test groups data with respect to mean concentrations, results of Tukey’s test indicate that the highest mean 

concentrations occurred in water years 2001–02 and 2005–06. 
Variations in Statewide Water Quality of Streams in New Jersey 27

Data value less than or equal to 

1.5 times the interquartile range 

outside the quartile

EXPLANATION

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

Outlier data values less than or 

equal to 3 and more than 1.5 times 

the interquartile range outside the 

quartile

(150) Number of observation

Differing letters indicate significant differences in mean values, 

according to the Tukey multiplecomparison test

Minimum reporting level

A,B

B(150) B(157) B(159) AB(319) AB(336) A(336) A(336) B(168)

199819992000

2001–02

2003–04

2005–06

2007–08

2009

(16) (16) (16) (48) (48) (56) (56) (28)

199819992000

2001–022003–042005–06

2007–08

2009

Water year

Water year

Concentration of total dissolved solids, in milligrams per liter

10

100

1,000

8

20

30

40

50

60

80

200

300

400

500

600

800

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

10

100

9

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

200

Concentration of total dissolved solids, in milligrams per liter

Data value less than or equal to 

1.5 times the interquartile range 

outside the quartile

EXPLANATION

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

Outlier data values less than or 

equal to 3 and more than 1.5 times 

the interquartile range outside the 

quartile

(16) Number of observation

Minimum reporting level

Figure 14. Distribution of total dissolved solids for selected Statewide Status stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009.

Figure 15. Distribution of total dissolved solids for selected Background stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009.
28 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Data value less than or equal to 

1.5 times the interquartile range 

outside the quartile

EXPLANATION

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

Outlier data values less than or 

equal to 3 and more than 1.5 times 

the interquartile range outside the 

quartile

(38) Number of observation

Differing letters indicate significant differences in mean values, 

according to the Tukey multiplecomparison test

A,B

199819992000

2001–02

2003–04

2005–06

2007–08

2009

(4) (4) (4) (12) (12) (14) (14) (7)

199819992000

2001–022003–042005–06

2007–08

2009

Water year

Water year

Concentration of dissolved chloride, in milligrams per liter Concentration of dissolved chloride, in milligrams per liter

0.1

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

B(38) AB(40) AB(40) AB(80) A(84) A(84) A(84) AB(42)

Long-term method detection level

Laboratory reporting level

0.10

1.00

10.00

100.00

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.80

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

8.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

80.00

Data value less than or equal to 

1.5 times the interquartile range 

outside the quartile

EXPLANATION

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

Outlier data values less than or 

equal to 3 and more than 1.5 times 

the interquartile range outside the 

quartile

(4) Number of observation

Long-term method detection level

Laboratory reporting level

Figure 16. Distribution of dissolved chloride for selected Statewide Status stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009.

Figure 17. Distribution of dissolved chloride for selected Background stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009.
Variations in Statewide Water Quality of Streams in New Jersey 29

Data value less than or equal to 

1.5 times the interquartile range 

outside the quartile

EXPLANATION

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

Outlier data values less than or 

equal to 3 and more than 1.5 times 

the interquartile range outside the 

quartile

(150) Number of observation

Differing letters indicate significant differences in mean values, 

according to the Tukey multiplecomparison test

A,B,C

199819992000

2001–02

2003–04

2005–06

2007–08

2009

(16) (16) (16) (48) (48) (56) (56) (28)

199819992000

2001–022003–042005–06

2007–08

2009

Water year

Water year

Concentration of dissolved nitrite plus nitrate, 

in milligrams per liter as N 

Concentration of dissolved nitrite plus nitrate, 

in milligrams per liter as N 

C(150) AB(159) BC(159) BC(318) A(336) AB(336) A(336) C(168)

Long-term method detection level

Laboratory reporting level

0.01

0.10

1.00

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.08

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.80

2.00

0.10

1.00

10.00

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.08

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.80

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

8.00

20.00

Data value less than or equal to 

1.5 times the interquartile range 

outside the quartile

EXPLANATION

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

Outlier data values less than or 

equal to 3 and more than 1.5 times 

the interquartile range outside the 

quartile

(16) Number of observation

Long-term method detection level

Laboratory reporting level

0.03

Figure 18. Distribution of dissolved nitrite plus nitrate for selected Statewide Status stations in New Jersey during water years 

1998–2009.

Figure 19. Distribution of dissolved nitrite plus nitrate for selected Background stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009.
30 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Data value less than or equal to 

1.5 times the interquartile range 

outside the quartile

EXPLANATION

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

Outlier data values less than or 

equal to 3 and more than 1.5 times 

the interquartile range outside the 

quartile

(150) Number of observation

199819992000

2001–02

2003–042005–06

2007–08

2009

(16) (16) (16) (47) (48) (56) (56) (28)

199819992000

2001–022003–042005–06

2007–08

2009

Water year

Water year

Concentration of dissolved phosphorus, in milligrams per liter as P Concentration of dissolved phosphorus, in milligrams per liter as P 

Long-term method detection level

Laboratory reporting level

0.0

0.10

1.0

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.60

0.80

2.0

0.50

0.05

(150) (159) (159) (319) (336) (336) (336) (168)

0.00

0.010

0.002

0.003

0.004

0.005

0.006

0.008

0.020

0.030

0.040

0.050

0.060

0.070

Data value less than or equal to 

1.5 times the interquartile range 

outside the quartile

EXPLANATION

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

Outlier data values less than or 

equal to 3 and more than 1.5 times 

the interquartile range outside the 

quartile

(16) Number of observation

Long-term method detection level

Laboratory reporting level

0.007

Figure 20. Distribution of dissolved phosphorus for selected Statewide Status stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009.

Figure 21. Distribution of dissolved phosphorus for selected Background stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009.
Variations in Statewide Water Quality of Streams in New Jersey 31

Data value less than or equal to 

1.5 times the interquartile range 

outside the quartile

EXPLANATION

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

Outlier data values less than or 

equal to 3 and more than 1.5 times 

the interquartile range outside the 

quartile

(150) Number of observation

Differing letters indicate significant differences in mean values, 

according to the Tukey multiplecomparison test

A,B

199819992000

2001–02

2003–042005–06

2007–08

2009

(16) (16) (16) (48) (48) (56) (56) (28)

199819992000

2001–022003–042005–06

2007–08

2009

Water year

Water year

Concentration of total phosphorus, in milligrams per liter as P Concentration of total phosphorus, in millgrams per liter as P 

Long-term method detection level

Laboratory reporting level

0.0

0.1

1.0

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.08

0.20

0.30

0.40

0.50

0.60

0.80

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

B(150) AB(159) AB(159) A(319) AB(336) A(336) AB(336) AB(168)

0.01

0.10

0.001

0.002

0.003

0.004

0.005

0.006

0.008

0.02

0.03

0.04

0.05

0.06

0.08

0.20

Data value less than or equal to 

1.5 times the interquartile range 

outside the quartile

EXPLANATION

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

Outlier data values less than or 

equal to 3 and more than 1.5 times 

the interquartile range outside the 

quartile

(16) Number of observation

Long-term method detection level

Laboratory reporting level

Figure 22. Distribution of total phosphorus for selected Statewide Status stations in New Jersey during water years 

1998–2009.

Figure 23. Distribution of total phosphorus for selected Background stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009.
32 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Data value less than or equal to 

1.5 times the interquartile range 

outside the quartile

EXPLANATION

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

Outlier data values less than or 

equal to 3 and more than 1.5 times 

the interquartile range outside the 

quartile

(150) Number of observation

Differing letters indicate significant differences in mean values, 

according to the Tukey multiplecomparison test

A,B

199819992000

2001–02

2003–042005–06

2007–08

2009

(16) (16) (16) (48) (48) (56) (56) (28)

199819992000

2001–022003–042005–06

2007–08

2009

Water year

Water year

Concentration of total nitrogen, in milligrams per liter as N Concentration of total nitrogen, in milligrams per liter as N

Long-term method detection level

Laboratory reporting level

1.0

10.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

20.0

5.0

B(150) AB(159) AB(159) AB(316) A(335) A(334) A(336) AB(168)

0.8

1.0

0.9

2.0

Data value less than or equal to 

1.5 times the interquartile range 

outside the quartile

EXPLANATION

25th percentile

Median

75th percentile

Outlier data values less than or 

equal to 3 and more than 1.5 times 

the interquartile range outside the 

quartile

(16) Number of observation

Long-term method detection level

Laboratory reporting level

Figure 24. Distribution of total nitrogen for selected Statewide Status stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009.

Figure 25. Distribution of total nitrogen for selected Background stations in New Jersey during water years 1998–2009.
Variations in Statewide Water Quality of Streams in New Jersey 33

Total Nitrogen

Results of statistical analyses show a significant difference among median concentrations of total nitrogen for Status 

stations but not for Background stations during water years 

1998–2009 (figs. 24–25). The lowest median concentration 

of total nitrogen for Status stations, 0.77 mg/L, occurred in 

water year 1998, whereas the highest median concentration, 

1.21 mg/L, occurred during water years 2003–04 (fig. 24). 

Results of Tukey’s test on data from Status stations 

confirm that the lowest mean concentration of total nitrogen 

occurred in water year 1998 and is significantly less than the 

mean concentrations from the remainder of the study period 

(table 2). The mean concentrations of total nitrogen in water 

years 2003–04, 2005–06, and 2007–08 are statistically similar, 

and these mean concentrations are the highest for the study 

period. With the exception of 2009, results of Tukey’s test 

indicate a general increase in mean concentrations of total 

nitrogen during the study period (fig. 24 ).

Identification of Consistent Increases or 

Decreases in Statewide Water Quality

Except for water year 2009, median concentrations of 

TDS, dissolved chloride, dissolved nitrite plus nitrate, and 

total nitrogen increased significantly for Status stations during 

water years 1998–2009 (fig. 14–25). No significant variations 

of median concentrations of any of the selected water-quality 

constituents were observed for Background stations during the 

study period. Furthermore, no significant decreases in median 

concentrations of any water-quality constituent were observed 

during the study period.

Comparison of Water Quality between 

Statewide Status Stations and Background 

Stations

A final test was performed to determine whether median 

concentrations of constituents measured for Status stations 

were different from the median concentrations measured for 

Background stations. Samples collected at Background stations are believed to represent basins that are unaffected by 

human activity. Therefore, the water quality at these stations 

was expected to differ from the water quality at Status stations, which are located in basins with various land uses. The 

Mann-Whitney test, a rank sum test, confirmed that median 

concentrations of all constituents differed among samples collected at Background and at Status stations. 

Comparison of Variations in Water Quality to 

Streamflow

Streamflow information aids in the interpretation of 

water-quality data. Although streamflow was not measured 

at the Status stations, generalizations about regional streamflow patterns could be made by comparing the percentage of 

time that streamflow was not exceeded during water years 

1998–2009 at each Index station (fig. 13). Non-exceedances of 

annual mean streamflow for the period of the study could provide insight when observing annual changes in water-quality 

constituents.

In general, an increase in streamflow results in decreased 

concentrations of many dissolved constituents in the water 

column as a result of dilution. In contrast, when drought conditions are present, dissolved constituents generally become 

concentrated in the water column. This phenomenon may 

work in reverse for certain water-quality characteristics, such 

as turbidity, which tend to increase during periods of rain as 

runoff enters waterways. 

Median concentrations of dissolved chloride, dissolved 

nitrite plus nitrate, dissolved phosphorus, total phosphorus, 

and total nitrogen at Status stations increased significantly 

from water year 1998 to water year 1999, whereas the percentage non-exceedances of annual mean streamflow at the Index 

streamgaging stations decreased during the same time period 

(figs. 13, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24). Just the opposite was observed 

from water year 2008 to 2009 for concentrations of TDS, 

dissolved chloride, nitrite plus nitrate, and total nitrogen at 

Status stations (figs. 13–14, 16, 18, 24). Although the percentage of time that mean annual streamflow was not exceeded at 

four of the six Index stations increased from 2008 to 2009, the 

concentrations of these constituents decreased significantly. 

Comparisons were not made for the years not mentioned 

because both annual mean streamflow and concentrations of 

constituents showed no clear upward or downward change 

during those times.

Extreme drought conditions were observed throughout the State in water year 2002 (New Jersey Department 

of Environmental Protection, 2002). The percentage of time 

that annual mean streamflow in water year 2002 was not 

exceeded clearly deviated from the percentage of time that 

annual mean streamflow for water years 1998–2009 was not 

exceeded (fig. 13). The maximum concentrations of TDS, dissolved chloride, dissolved phosphorus, and total phosphorus 

at the Status stations during the study period occurred during 

water years 2001–02; similarly, the maximum concentrations 

of TDS, dissolved nitrite plus nitrate, dissolved phosphorus, 

total phosphorus, and total nitrogen for Background stations 

occurred during water years 2001–02 (figs. 14–16, 19–23, 25). 

The extremely low streamflow conditions in water years 2001 

and 2002 resulted in elevated concentrations of many dissolved constituents in waterways. These conditions help to 

explain why the maximum concentrations of several constituents occurred during 2001–02. 

Comparison of Variations in Annual Water 

Quality to Results of Previous Trend Tests

Previous investigations examined potential trends in the 

water quality of streams at Network stations that were not 
34 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

categorized as Status or Background; this group of stations 

(including Delaware River main stem, Watershed Integrator, 

and Land Use Indicator stations) is referred to as fixed. Results 

from two previous studies of trends conducted during water 

years 1986–95, Hickman and Barringer (1999), and water 

years 1998–2007, Hickman and Gray (2010), were compared 

to results of this study on variations of water quality at Status 

stations. Both previous trend analyses used streamflowadjusted concentrations of water quality for selected waterquality constituents, whereas this study did not correct for 

instantaneous discharge because the data values were unavailable. One other investigation of trends in New Jersey water 

quality by Hay and Campbell (1990) specified a higher significance level (0.10) to identify trends; therefore, results from 

Hay and Campbell were not used for comparison. Only trends 

identified at the 0.05 level of significance were considered for 

comparison because this was the significance level chosen for 

this particular study. 

Previous analyses by Hickman and Barringer (1999) 

and Hickman and Gray 2010) indicate trends of increasing 

or decreasing concentrations of selected water-quality constituents during the periods of study 1986–95 and 1998–2007, 

respectively. Because the list of stations designated as Status 

changed every 1 to 2 years during water years 1998–2009, 

specific trends could not be established during the study 

period. Instead, only significant variations in water quality 

could be identified by this study rather than trends. Therefore, 

comparisons between previous studies and this one are made 

on the basis of general changes in concentrations of waterquality constituents during the study period. 

Previous trend analyses by Hickman and Barringer 

(1999) and Hickman and Gray (2010) identify a trend of 

increasing concentrations of TDS at fixed stations. Hickman 

and Barringer (1999) identified trends at 26 fixed sites—24 

fixed stations with increasing concentrations and 2 with 

decreasing concentrations. Similarly, Hickman and Gray 

identified trends at 24 fixed sites, all with increasing concentrations. Although specific trends were not identified in this 

investigation of Status data, there are some similarities to 

results of previous studies of trends. An increase in median 

concentrations of TDS is seen from water years 1998 to 2008, 

which generally agrees with the upward trends identified in 

Hickman and Barringer (1999), as well as Hickman and Gray 

(2010). 

The study by Hickman and Barringer (1999) identified an 

upward trend in dissolved chloride concentrations at most of 

the fixed stations from 1986 to 1995. Trends were identified 

at 32 stations, 29 with increasing concentrations and 3 with 

decreasing concentrations. Likewise, results of statistical analyses of concentrations of dissolved chloride at Status stations 

show significant variations during water years 1998–2009. 

Median concentrations increased significantly from 1998 to 

2008, which is comparable to the results of Hickman and Barringer (1999). 

Trends in dissolved nitrite plus nitrate were compared 

with results from Hickman and Barringer (1999) and Hickman 

and Gray (2010); both studies identified more stations with 

increasing concentrations than decreasing concentrations. 

Hickman and Barringer identified increasing and decreasing 

trends of nitrite plus nitrate at 19 and 8 stations, respectively. 

Similarly, 19 of the 23 stations that exhibited trends in the 

study by Hickman and Gray had increasing concentrations. 

Median concentrations of dissolved nitrite plus nitrate at Status stations also showed a significant change in concentrations 

during water years 1998–2009. In general, concentrations of 

dissolved nitrite plus nitrate increased significantly during the 

study period. 

Trends in concentrations of total phosphorus were 

determined in the two previous trend studies. Results from 

Hickman and Barringer (1999) indicated that all 24 stations 

that exhibited a trend had decreasing concentrations. Trends 

in total phosphorus concentrations over the period of study 

analyzed by Hickman and Gray (2010) were identified at 17 

stations with decreasing concentrations identified for 12 stations and increasing concentrations identified for 5 stations. 

Although median concentrations of total phosphorus varied 

significantly during the study period of this investigation, 

the variations were not consistently increasing or decreasing 

concentrations. 

Hickman and Barringer (1999) found trends in concentrations of total nitrogen at 42 of the 83 stations studied. Of the 

42 stations where trends were identified, 41 had decreasing 

trends. In contrast, median concentrations of total nitrogen 

at Status stations during water years 1998–2009 generally 

increased significantly. 

Summary and Conclusions 

Variations in concentrations of selected water-quality 

constituents measured year-round during water years 

1998–2009 were determined for 371 stations on New Jersey 

streams. Water-quality constituents included in the statistical analyses are TDS, dissolved chloride, dissolved nitrate 

plus nitrite, dissolved phosphorus, total phosphorus, and total 

nitrogen. Statistical analyses of dissolved chloride were conducted on measurements made only during January to March; 

the other constituents were measured throughout the year. 

Samples for the analyses of all water-quality constituents were 

collected by the NJDEP or the USGS as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface-Water-Quality Monitoring Network. 

Stations were divided according to the 1-year or 2-year 

period that the stations were part of the Ambient SurfaceWater-Quality Monitoring Network with respect to each 

station type. Data were obtained from the eight groups of 

Statewide Status stations for water years 1998, 1999, 2000, 

2001–02, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2007–08, and 2009. The data 

obtained from each of the eight groups of Status stations were 

statistically compared to each of the other groups and then to 

baseline data obtained from Background stations during the 

same time period. 
References Cited 35

Variations in concentrations of water-quality constituents 

were determined using two statistical tests, the Kruskal-Wallis 

and Tukey’s multiple comparison tests. Both were conducted at a 0.05 level of significance to indicate a significant 

change in constituent concentrations during the selected time 

frame. The Kruskal-Wallis test determined whether median 

concentrations of a selected water-quality constituent were 

significantly different from those measured in other 1-year 

or 2-year periods during water years 1998–2009. If median 

concentrations were found to differ significantly among years 

or groups of years, then Tukey’s multiple comparison test on 

ranks identified which periods had equal or different median 

concentrations of selected water-quality constituents. A third 

test, the Mann-Whitney rank-sum test, was used to determine 

whether water quality at Status stations differed from that at 

Background stations.

Results of statistical analyses showed significant variations in median concentrations of some water-quality constituents during water years 1998–2009. On the basis of statistical analyses, median concentrations of dissolved chloride 

measured from January to March and TDS, dissolved nitrite 

plus nitrate, total phosphorus, and total nitrogen measured 

throughout the year varied significantly among water years 

1998 to 2009 for Status stations but did not differ significantly 

for Background stations. Furthermore, median concentrations 

of dissolved chloride, TDS, dissolved nitrite plus nitrate, and 

total nitrogen significantly increased from the beginning to the 

end of the study period at Status stations. 

Results of analyses of median concentrations of dissolved 

phosphorus showed no significant change for either Status stations or Background stations. Additionally, results of statistical 

analyses of water quality at Status stations and at Background 

stations confirmed the statistical difference between the two 

different types of stations. 

Excluding water year 2009, median concentrations of 

TDS, dissolved chloride, dissolved nitrite plus nitrate, and 

total nitrogen increased significantly for Status stations during 

water years 1998–2009, whereas no significant variations of 

median concentrations of any of the selected water-quality 

constituents were observed for Background stations during the 

study period. No significant decreases in median concentrations of any water-quality constituent were observed during 

the study period. 

Streamflow data offered some insight into the interpretation of changes in water-quality constituents. For example, 

the maximum concentrations of TDS, dissolved chloride, 

dissolved phosphorus, and total phosphorus for water years 

1998 to 2009 at Status stations occurred during an extreme 

drought in 2002 when dissolved constituents generally were 

concentrated in the water column as a result of low streamflow 

conditions.

Ultimately, the significant variations in median concentrations of water-quality constituents that were observed 

in this study occurred only at Status stations during the 

11-year period of this study. Because Background stations are 

representative of baseline water quality in New Jersey, it was 

expected that no significant changes occurred at those stations.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Jacob Gibs and 

R. Edward Hickman, both of the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS), for providing technical guidance and invaluable 

statistical advice. Special thanks are due to the many individuals of the USGS and the NJDEP who dedicated staff resources 

and allotted time for field work. Field support from many 

individuals of the Hydrologic Data Assessment Program of 

the USGS New Jersey Water Science Center for the collection, quality assurance, and publication of water-quality data, 

as well as streamflow data, is immensely appreciated. The 

authors gratefully acknowledge the NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring for field and administrative 

support.

References Cited

Buchanan, T.J., and Somers, W.P., 1976, Discharge measurements at gaging stations: U.S. Geological Survey 

Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 3, 

chap. A8, 71 p.

DeLuca, M.J., Heckathorn, H.A., Lewis, J.M., Gray, B.J., 

Melvin, E.-L., Riskin, M.L., and Liu, N.A., 2005, Water 

resources data, New Jersey, water year 2004, volume 3, 

Water-quality data: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Data 

Report NJ–04–3, 683 p.

Fishman, M.J., ed., 1993, Methods of analysis by the U.S. 

Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory–

Determination of inorganic and organic constituents in 

water and fluvial sediments: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 93–125, 217 p.

Fishman, M.J., and Friedman, L.C., 1989, Methods for 

determination of inorganic substances in water and fluvial 

sediments: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of WaterResources Investigations, book 5, chap. A1, 545 p.

Hay, L.E., and Campbell, J.P., 1990, Water-quality trends 

in New Jersey streams: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 90–4046, 297 p.

Helsel, D.R., 2005, Nondetects and data analysis, statistics for 

censored environmental data: Hoboken, New Jersey, John 

Wiley & Sons, Inc., 78 p.

Helsel, D., 2011, Practical Stats, accessed May 19, 2011 at 

http://www.practicalstats.com/index.html.
36 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Helsel, D.R., and Hirsch, R.M., 1992, Statistical methods in 

water resources: New York, Elsevier Science Publishing 

Company, Inc., 522 p.

Hickman, R.E., and Barringer, T.H., 1999, Trends in water 

quality of New Jersey streams, water years 1986–95: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 

98–4204, 23 p.

Hickman, R.E., and Gray, B.J., 2010, Trends in the water quality of New Jersey streams, water years 1998–07: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5088, 

70 p.

Ott, Lyman, 1988, An introduction to statistical methods and 

data analysis: Boston, PWS-Kent Publishing Company, 

6 p.

Mathey, S.B., ed., 1998, National Water Information System 

(NWIS): U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS–027–98, 

2 p.

Minitab 16 Statistical Software, 2010, Software for quality 

Improvement: State College, Pa., Minitab, Inc. 

(www.minitab.com).

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 2002, 

New Jersey drought information drought update, accessed 

October 18, 2011, at http://www.njdrought.org/030102a.

html.

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 1997, 

Statewide watershed management framework document for 

the State of New Jersey: Trenton, N.J., New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 78 p.

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 2010, 

Surface water quality standards: New Jersey Department of 

Environmental Protection, N.J.A.C 7:9B, accessed October 

6, 2010, at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wms/bwqsa/2008_

revised _final_Integrated_List.pdf.

Oblinger-Childress, C.J., Foreman, W.T., Connor, B.F., and 

Maloney, T.J., 1999, New reporting procedures based on 

long-term method detection levels and some considerations 

for interpretation of water-quality data provided by the U.S. 

Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 99–193, 19 p. 

Patton, C.J., and Kryskalla, J.R., 2003, Methods of analysis 

by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality 

Laboratory, evaluation of alkaline persulfate digestion as 

an alternative to Kjeldahl digestion for determination of 

total and dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus in water: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 2003–4174, 33 p.

Patton, C.J., and Truitt, E.P., 1992, Methods of analysis by 

the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory–Determination of total phosphorus by a Kjeldahl 

digestion method and an automated colorimetric finish that 

includes dialysis: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 92–146, 39 p.

Schertz, T.L., Alexander, R.B., and Ohe, D.J., 1991, The computer program EStimate TREND (ESTREND), a system for 

the detection of trends in water-quality data: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 91–4040, 

63 p.

Searcy, J.K., 1959, Flow-duration curves, Manual of hydrology, part 2, low-flow techniques: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Supply Paper 1542–A, 33 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1997, Method 440.0–

Determination of carbon and nitrogen in sediments and 

particulates of estuarine/coastal waters using elemental 

analysis, Revision 1.4: Cincinnati, Ohio, National Exposure 

Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, 

10 p.

U.S. Geological Survey, variously dated, National field manual for the collection of water-quality data: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, 

book 9, chaps. A1–A9, variously paginated. (Also available 

online at http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/twri9A.)

U.S. Geological Survey, 2011, National Water Information 

System: Web interface, accessed June 24, 2011, at http://

waterdata.usgs.gov/nj/nwis/.
Appendixes

1. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water year 1998.

2. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water year 1999.

3. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water year 2000.

4. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water years 2001–02.

5. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water years 2003–04.

6. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water years 2005–06.

7. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water years 2007–08.

8. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water year 2009.

9. Descriptions of selected Index streamgaging stations included in the study of variations in statewide water quality of 

New Jersey streams, water years 1998–2009.
38 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Appendix 1. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water year 1998.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Background stations

01368820 Double Kill at Wawayanda NJ 411113 742512 NAD83 02020007 6.46

01396550 Spruce Run at Newport NJ 404329 745433 NAD83 02030105 5.67

01411955 Gravelly Run at Laurel Lake NJ 392014 750303 NAD83 02040206 3.19

01442760 Dunnfield Creek at Dunnfield NJ 405815 750736 NAD83 02040104 3.56

Statewide Status stations

01367860 Papakating Creek near Sussex NJ 411139 743716 NAD83 02020007 36.70

01376970 Hackensack River at Old Tappan NJ 410044 740028 NAD83 02030103 51.60

01377500 Pascack Brook at Westwood NJ 405934 740116 NAD83 02030103 29.60

01378855 Black Brook at Madison NJ 404413 742521 NAD83 02030103 0.42

01380100 Beaver Brook at Rockaway NJ 405408 743005 NAD83 02030103 22.20

01382410 Macopin River at Echo Lake NJ 410252 742424 NAD83 02030103 4.42

01383505 Wanaque River near Awosting NJ 410949 741905 NAD83 02030103 27.80

01390900 Ramsey Brook at Allendale NJ 410144 740806 NAD83 02030103 2.55

01391490 Saddle River at Rochelle Park NJ 405401 740452 NAD83 02030103 55.50

01395200 Robinsons Branch trib at Scotch Plains NJ 403732 742048 NAD83 02030104 2.89

01398070 South Branch Raritan River at Elm St at Neshanic 

Station NJ

403034 744336 NAD83 02030105 248.00

01398300 Dawsons Brook near Ironia NJ 404815 743741 NAD83 02030105 1.04

01400395 Peters Brook at Rt 28 at Somerville NJ 403358 743617 NAD83 02030105 9.55

01400585 Rocky Brook at Perrineville NJ 401338 742621 NAD83 02030105 2.83

01401400 Heathcote Brook at Kingston NJ 402210 743658 NAD83 02030105 9.00

01403470 Green Brook at North Plainfield NJ 403815 742454 NAD83 02030105 8.01

01407090 Town Brook at Middletown NJ 402320 740617 NAD83 02030104 0.92

01408009 Mingamahone Brook near Earle NJ 401245 741006 NAD83 02040301 3.32

01408480 Shannoc Brook trib at Colliers Mills NJ 400339 742625 NAD83 02040301 3.15

01408500 Toms River near Toms River NJ 395911 741324 NAD83 02040301 123.00

01409449 Indian Mills Brook at Indian Mills NJ 394735 744447 NAD83 02040301 4.33

01409960 Papoose Branch near Sim Place NJ 394432 742710 NAD83 02040301 4.40

01410455 South Branch Absecon Creek near Pomona NJ 392623 743358 NAD83 02040302 5.73

01411196 Babcock Creek near Mays Landing NJ 392808 744133 NAD83 02040302 16.30

01411400 Fishing Creek at Rio Grande NJ 390139 745347 NAD83 02040206 2.29

01411440 Old Robins Branch near North Dennis NJ 391150 745209 NAD83 02040206 2.96

01411458 Little Ease Run at Porchtown NJ 393549 750432 NAD83 02040206 14.30

01411950 Buckshutem Creek near Laurel Lake NJ 392051 750346 NAD83 02040206 12.90

01439830 Big Flat Brook at Tuttles Corner NJ 411200 744855 NAD83 02040104 28.30

01444970 Pequest River at Rt 206 below Springdale NJ 410052 744601 NAD83 02040105 10.10
Appendix 1 39

Appendix 1. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water year 1998.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station 

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Statewide Status stations—Continued

01458570 Nishisakawick Creek near Frenchtown NJ 403239 750247 NAD83 02040105 10.10

01461262 Plum Brook near Locktown NJ 402925 745620 NAD83 02040105 1.87

01464440

01464578

Lahaway Creek at Route 537 at Prospertown NJ

Annaricken Brook near Jobstown NJ

400802

400319

742741

744207

NAD83

NAD83

02040201

02040201

3.54

2.82

01466500

01467155

01467325

01467359

McDonalds Branch in Byrne State Forest NJ

North Branch Cooper River at Kresson NJ

South Branch Big Timber Creek at Turnersville NJ

North Branch Big Timber Creek at Glendora NJ

395306

395133

394619

395004

743019

745544

750257

750401

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040202

02040202

02040202

02040202

2.35

1.04

7.70

18.80
40 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Appendix 2. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water year 1999.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Background stations

01368820 Double Kill at Wawayanda NJ 411113 742512 NAD83 02020007 6.46

01396550 Spruce Run at Newport NJ 404329 745433 NAD83 02030105 5.67

01411955 Gravelly Run at Laurel Lake NJ 392014 750303 NAD83 02040206 3.19

01442760 Dunnfield Creek at Dunnfield NJ 405815 750736 NAD83 02040104 3.56

Statewide Status stations

01367715 Wallkill River at Scott Road at Franklin NJ 410800 743443 NAD83 02020007 40.60

01367780 Papakating Creek near Wykertown NJ 411000 744337 NAD83 02020007 1.99

01377499 Musquapsink Brook at River Vale NJ 405932 740123 NAD83 02030103 7.07

01378387 Tenakill Brook at Old Closter Dock Rd at Closter NJ 405843 735800 NAD83 02030103 8.69

01378855 Black Brook at Madison NJ 404413 742521 NAD83 02030103 0.42

01379680 Rockaway River at Longwood Valley NJ 405714 743416 NAD83 02030103 22.10

01387010 Wanaque River at Highland Ave at Wanaque NJ 410214 741708 NAD83 02030103 96.40

01387500 Ramapo River near Mahwah NJ 410553 740946 NAD83 02030103 120.00

01390470 Saddle River at Saddle River NJ 410155 740559 NAD83 02030103 15.40

01390510 Saddle River at Ridgewood Ave at Ridgewood NJ 405821 740532 NAD83 02030103 22.30

01393350 West Branch Elizabeth River near Union NJ 404132 741437 NAD83 02030104 2.53

01393960 West Branch Rahway River at Northfield Ave at West 

Orange NJ 404611 741659 NAD83 02030104 3.92

01396219 Stony Brook at Fairview Ave at Naughright NJ 404819 744502 NAD83 02030105 3.32

01399780 Lamington River at Burnt Mills NJ 403805 744112 NAD83 02030105 100.00

01400690 Cranbury Brook near Prospect Plains NJ 401819 742823 NAD83 02030105 7.64

01401700 Pike Run near Rocky Hill NJ 402512 743827 NAD83 02030105 22.20

01404470 Ireland Brook at Patricks Corner NJ 402513 742904 NAD83 02030105 6.52

01405195 Matchaponix Brook at Englishtown NJ 401852 742141 NAD83 02030105 23.60

01407360 Yellow Brook near Marlboro NJ 401634 741306 NAD83 02030104 3.76

01407997 Marsh Bog Brook at Squankum NJ 401001 740932 NAD83 02040301 4.91

01408152 South Branch Metedeconk River near Laurelton NJ 400442 740924 NAD83 02040301 30.80

01409050 North Branch Forked River near Forked River NJ 395127 741320 NAD83 02040301 13.40

01409408 Pump Branch near Waterford Works NJ 394159 745039 NAD83 02040301 9.78

0140941070 Great Swamp Branch below US Rt 206 near Hammonton NJ 394104 744547 NAD83 02040301 8.07

01411220 South River near Belcoville NJ 392625 744520 NAD83 02040302 20.40

01411241 Gibson Creek at Route 50 near Corbin City NJ 392111 744521 NAD83 02040302 3.95

01411441 Savages Run in Belleplain State Forest NJ 391432 745233 NAD83 02040206 5.55

01411444 West Creek near Leesburg NJ 391536 745441 NAD83 02040206 6.64

01411453 Still Run near Malaga NJ 393507 750454 NAD83 02040206 26.90

01411780 Muddy Run near Norma NJ 392813 750535 NAD83 02040206 56.50
Appendix 2 41

Appendix 2. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water year 1999.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station 

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Statewide Status stations—Continued

01443550

01443600

01461220

Jacksonburg Creek near Millbrook NJ

Jacksonburg Creek near Blairstown NJ

Wickecheoke Creek at Croton NJ

410221

405915

403035

745753

745842

745549

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040105

02040105

02040105

2.43

8.34

3.81

01462739 Jacobs Creek at Bear Tavern NJ 401826 745001 NAD83 02040105 5.16

01464420

01464529

01465884

01465893

Crosswicks Creek near New Egypt NJ

Bacons Run near Mansfield Square NJ

Sharps Run at Route 541 at Medford NJ

Little Creek at Chairville NJ

400503

400627

395418

395353

743227

744105

744929

744718

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040201

02040201

02040202

02040202

45.80

4.41

4.41

6.32

01467327

01476600

South Branch Big Timber Creek trib at Grenloch NJ

Still Run near Mickleton NJ

394646

394719

750314

751526

NAD83

NAD83

02040202

02040202

4.27

3.98
42 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Appendix 3. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water year 2000.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Background stations

01368820 Double Kill at Wawayanda NJ 411113 742512 NAD83 02020007 6.46

01396550 Spruce Run at Newport NJ 404329 745433 NAD83 02030105 5.67

01411955 Gravelly Run at Laurel Lake NJ 392014 750303 NAD83 02040206 3.19

01442760 Dunnfield Creek at Dunnfield NJ 405815 750736 NAD83 02040104 3.56

Statewide Status stations

01367770 Wallkill River near Sussex NJ 411138 743431 NAD83 02020007 60.80

01367850 West Branch Papakating Creek at Mccoys Corner NJ 411149 743754 NAD83 02020007 11.00

01377499 Musquapsink Brook at River Vale NJ 405932 740123 NAD83 02030103 7.07

01377500 Pascack Brook at Westwood NJ 405934 740116 NAD83 02030103 29.60

01380320 Stony Brook at Boonton NJ 405544 742615 NAD83 02030103 12.10

01381050 Crooked Brook near Towaco NJ 405618 742219 NAD83 02030103 1.68

01382410 Macopin River at Echo Lake NJ 410252 742424 NAD83 02030103 4.42

01387500 Ramapo River near Mahwah NJ 410553 740946 NAD83 02030103 120.00

01389860 Diamond Brook at Fair Lawn NJ 405637 740830 NAD83 02030103 3.19

01390445 West Branch Saddle River at Upper Saddle River NJ 410424 740554 NAD83 02030103 3.12

01395000 Rahway River at Rahway NJ 403708 741700 NAD83 02030104 40.90

01396003 Robinsons Branch at Central Ave at Rahway NJ 403634 741717 NAD83 02030104 21.70

01399100 Middle Brook at Burnt Mills NJ 403858 744054 NAD83 02030105 6.67

01399900 Chambers Brook at North Branch Depot NJ 403532 744059 NAD83 02030105 10.20

01400585 Rocky Brook at Perrineville NJ 401338 742621 NAD83 02030105 2.83

01401200 Duck Pond Run at Clarksville NJ 401824 744005 NAD83 02030105 3.74

01403300 Raritan River at Queens Bridge at Bound Brook NJ 403334 743140 NAD83 02030105 804.00

01405285 Barclay Brook near Englishtown NJ 402053 742126 NAD83 02030105 4.94

01407630 Poplar Brook at Deal NJ 401523 735946 NAD83 02030104 3.36

01407720 Jumping Brook at Green Grove NJ 401410 740455 NAD83 02030104 2.58

01408285 Maple Root Branch at Bowman Rd near Holmansville NJ 400452 741936 NAD83 02040301 5.63

01409050 North Branch Forked River near Forked River NJ 395127 741320 NAD83 02040301 13.40

01409570 Landing Creek at US Rt 30 at Egg Harbor City NJ 393208 743927 NAD83 02040301 3.57

01409600 Landing Creek near Egg Harbor City NJ 393324 743610 NAD83 02040301 14.70

01409690 West Branch Wading River at Chatsworth NJ 394851 743249 NAD83 02040301 9.24

01411035 Hospitality Branch at Blue Bell Road near Cecil NJ 393840 745909 NAD83 02040302 4.51

01411050 Hospitality Branch near Cecil NJ 393714 745538 NAD83 02040302 14.20

01411428 Dennis Creek trib 2 at Dennisville NJ 391134 744932 NAD83 02040206 4.00

01411444 West Creek near Leesburg NJ 391536 745441 NAD83 02040206 6.64

01412200 Pages Run at Newport NJ 391818 750951 NAD83 02040206 3.86

01413065 Canton Drain at Maskell Mill NJ 392909 752358 NAD83 02040206 6.53
Appendix 3 43

Appendix 3. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water year 2000.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station 

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Statewide Status stations—Continued

01443370

01445000

01458710

01464020

01464504

Dry Brook at County Route 519 near Branchville NJ

Pequest River at Huntsville NJ

Copper Creek near Frenchtown NJ

Assunpink Creek at Peace St at Trenton NJ

Crosswicks Creek at Groveville Rd at Groveville NJ

411006

405851

403039

401302

401002

744411

744635

750242

744607

744039

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02030105

02040105

02040105

02040105

02040201

2.69

31.00

2.52

91.40

98.00

01464529

01465950

Bacons Run near Mansfield Square NJ

North Branch Rancocas Creek at Hanover Furnace NJ

400627

395846

744105

743129

NAD83

NAD83

02040201

02040202

4.41

13.50

01466200

01477440

01482560

Pole Bridge Branch near Browns Mills NJ

Oldmans Creek at Jessups Mill NJ

Two Penny Run near Danceys Corner NJ

395648

393944

394122

743321

751352

752430

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040202

02040202

02040206

24.90

4.15

3.44
44 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Appendix 4. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water years 2001–02.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Background stations

01368820 Double Kill at Wawayanda NJ 411113 742512 NAD83 02020007 6.46

01378780 Primrose Brook at Morristown National Hist Park NJ 404554 743147 NAD83 02030103 1.07

01396550 Spruce Run at Newport NJ 404329 745433 NAD83 02030105 5.67

01411955 Gravelly Run at Laurel Lake NJ 392014 750303 NAD83 02040206 3.19

01442760 Dunnfield Creek at Dunnfield NJ 405815 750736 NAD83 02040104 3.56

01466500 McDonalds Branch in Byrne State Forest NJ 395306 743019 NAD83 02040202 2.35

Statewide Status stations

01367715 Wallkill River at Scott Road at Franklin NJ 410800 743443 NAD83 02020007 40.60

01367780 Papakating Creek near Wykertown NJ 411000 744337 NAD83 02020007 1.99

01378387 Tenakill Brook at Old Closter Dock Rd at Closter NJ 405843 735800 NAD83 02030103 8.69

01378560 Coles Brook at Hackensack NJ 405440 740225 NAD83 02030103 7.00

01378660 Passaic River at Tempe Wick Rd near Mendham NJ 404617 743411 NAD83 02030103 1.80

01380098 Beaver Brook at Morris Ave at Denville NJ 405421 742949 NAD83 02030103 22.10

01382410 Macopin River at Echo Lake NJ 410252 742424 NAD83 02030103 4.42

01387014 Wanaque River at Wanaque Ave at Pompton Lakes NJ 410025 741733 NAD83 02030103 98.00

01389850 Goffle Brook at Hawthorne NJ 405620 740947 NAD83 02030103 8.77

01391550 Saddle River at Garfield NJ 405150 740559 NAD83 02030103 60.40

01393960 West Branch Rahway River at Northfield Ave at West 

Orange NJ 404611 741659 NAD83 02030104 3.92

01396030 South Branch Rahway River at Colonia NJ 403457 741803 NAD83 02030104 9.31

01396900 Capoolong Creek at Lansdowne NJ 403628 745457 NAD83 02030105 14.10

01397950 Third Neshanic River at Copper Hill NJ 402829 745147 NAD83 02030105 10.30

01400530 Millstone River at Bairds Rd near Perrineville NJ 401428 742406 NAD83 02030105 4.58

01400560 Millstone River at Applegarth NJ 401628 742821 NAD83 02030105 15.00

01403171 West Branch Middle Brook at Chimney Rock Rd at 

Martinsville NJ 403521 743348 NAD83 02030105 6.29

01405340 Manalapan Brook at Federal Road near Manalapan NJ 401746 742352 NAD83 02030105 20.90

01407617 Whale Pond Brook at Larchwood Ave at Oakhurst NJ 401631 740035 NAD83 02030104 5.25

01407806 Hannabrand Brook at Old Mill Rd near Spring Lk Hghts NJ 400836 740312 NAD83 02030104 3.13

01408300 Toms River at Whitesville NJ 400342 741628 NAD83 02040301 45.20

01408702 Jakes Branch at Dover Rd near Double Trouble NJ 395455 741625 NAD83 02040301 0.25

0140940050 Mullica River at Constable Bridge near Batsto NJ 393933 743932 NAD83 02040301 47.00

01409435 Skit Branch near Hampton Gate NJ 394709 743930 NAD83 02040301 4.91

01411290 Tuckahoe River near Estell Manor NJ 392219 745113 NAD83 02040302 8.78

01411300 Tuckahoe River at Head of River NJ 391825 744914 NAD83 02040302 30.80

01411427 Dennis Creek trib 2 above Johnson Pond at Dennisville NJ 391223 744921 NAD83 02040206 2.77

01411428 Dennis Creek trib 2 at Dennisville NJ 391134 744932 NAD83 02040206 4.00
Appendix 4 45

Appendix 4. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water years 2001–02.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station 

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Statewide Status stations—Continued

01411444

01411452

01413013

01443250

01445900

01461282

01464020

01464380

West Creek near Leesburg NJ

Still Run at Little Mill Road near Clayton NJ

Barrett Run at Bridgeton NJ

Paulins Kill at Warbasse Jct Rd near Lafayette NJ

Honey Run near Hope NJ

Wickecheoke Creek at Sergeantsville NJ

Assunpink Creek at Peace St at Trenton NJ

North Run at Cookstown NJ

391536

393808

392646

410508

405333

402638

401302

400258

745441

750558

751451

744157

745841

745758

744607

743346

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040206

02040206

02040206

02040105

02040105

02040105

02040105

02040201

6.64

10.60

7.58

11.40

10.20

22.80

91.40

7.28

01464504 Crosswicks Creek at Groveville Rd at Groveville NJ 401002 744039 NAD83 02040201 98.00

01466100

01467155

01475090

Mount Misery Brook at Upton NJ

North Branch Cooper River at Kresson NJ

Edwards Run at Jefferson NJ

395544

395133

394448

743152

745544

751142

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040202

02040202

02040202

28.40

1.04

2.92

01482530 Major Run at Sharptown NJ 393856 752228 NAD83 02040206 3.04
46 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Appendix 5. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water years 2003–04.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Background stations

01368820 Double Kill at Wawayanda NJ 411113 742512 NAD83 02020007 6.46

01378780 Primrose Brook at Morristown National Hist Park NJ 404554 743147 NAD83 02030103 1.07

01396550 Spruce Run at Newport NJ 404329 745433 NAD83 02030105 5.67

01411955 Gravelly Run at Laurel Lake NJ 392014 750303 NAD83 02040206 3.19

01442760 Dunnfield Creek at Dunnfield NJ 405815 750736 NAD83 02040104 3.56

01466500 McDonalds Branch in Byrne State Forest NJ 395306 743019 NAD83 02040202 2.35

Statewide Status stations

01367880 Clove Brook trib at Rose Morrow Road near Colesville NJ 411541 743726 NAD83 02020007 4.46

01378475 Dorotockeys Run at Harrington Park NJ 405914 735829 NAD83 02030103 4.10

01379870 Mill Brook at Randolph NJ 405243 743131 NAD83 02030103 4.83

01381498 Whippany River at Ridgedale Ave at Morristown NJ 404804 742757 NAD83 02030103 27.70

01382960 Green Brook near West Milford NJ 410909 742133 NAD83 02030103 1.85

01390400 Saddle River at Old Stone Ch Rd at Upper Saddle River NJ 410416 740518 NAD83 02030103 6.32

01390800 Valentine Brook at Allendale NJ 410153 740909 NAD83 02030103 2.48

01394200 Rahway River at Morris Ave at Springfield NJ 404229 741807 NAD83 02030104 18.10

01395700 Robinsons Branch trib 2 at Westfield NJ 403730 741940 NAD83 02030104 1.93

01398060 Furmans Brook at Furmans Corner NJ 402750 744709 NAD83 02030105 5.00

01398090 Pleasant Run at Neshanic Station NJ 403111 744407 NAD83 02030105 10.80

01399200 Lamington (Black) River near Ironia NJ 405007 743839 NAD83 02030105 10.90

01400808 Bear Brook at Cranbury Rd at Princeton Junction NJ 401905 743644 NAD83 02030105 12.00

01405003 Lawrence Brook at Riva Ave at Milltown NJ 402655 742646 NAD83 02030105 36.10

01405180 McGellairds Brook at Englishtown NJ 401806 742125 NAD83 02030105 14.90

01407210 Hop Brook at Willow Brook Road near Holmdel NJ 401947 741020 NAD83 02030104 6.37

01407900 Manasquan River at West Farms NJ 401134 741143 NAD83 02040301 33.50

01408110 Haystack Brook near Southard NJ 400847 741158 NAD83 02040301 1.77

01408460 Manapaqua Branch at Lakehurst NJ 400044 741809 NAD83 02040301 6.32

01409030 Long Branch near Wells Mills NJ 394902 741735 NAD83 02040301 1.69

0140941075 Cedar Brook at Columbia Road at Hammonton, NJ 393953 744556 NAD83 02040301 3.57

01409601 Indian Cabin Creek at Fifth Avenue near Elwood NJ 393415 743951 NAD83 02040301 1.89

01410455 South Branch Absecon Creek near Pomona NJ 392623 743358 NAD83 02040302 5.73

01410865 Squankum Branch at Malaga Rd near Williamstown NJ 394004 745738 NAD83 02040302 3.02

01411440 Old Robins Branch near North Dennis NJ 391150 745209 NAD83 02040206 2.96

01411444 West Creek near Leesburg NJ 391536 745441 NAD83 02040206 6.64

01412005 Menantico Creek at Route 49 at Millville NJ 392311 745921 NAD83 02040206 26.30

01455120 Pohatcong Creek at Janes Chapel Rd at Mount Bethel NJ 405019 745400 NAD83 02040105 1.80

01457400 Musconetcong River at Riegelsville NJ 403533 751110 NAD83 02040105 156.00
Appendix 5 47

Appendix 5. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water years 2003–04.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station 

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Statewide Status stations—Continued

01458300

01458710

01460860

01463610

01464280

Harihokake Creek at Harpence Rd near Mount Pleasant NJ

Copper Creek near Frenchtown NJ

Lockatong Creek at Route 12 at Baptistown NJ

Assunpink Creek at Edinburg NJ

South Run near Cookstown NJ

403601

403039

403101

401528

400138

750151

750242

745930

743704

743336

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040105

02040105

02040105

02040105

02040201

0.98

2.52

8.46

25.00

6.06

01464532 Blacks Creek at Fieldsboro NJ 400831 744301 NAD83 02040201 23.05

01465808

01465835

South Branch Burrs Mill Brook near Hedger House NJ

South Branch Rancocas Creek at Retreat NJ

395134

395523

743555

744304

NAD83

NAD83

02040202

02040202

7.09

44.10

01465857 Southwest Branch Rancocas Creek at Elmwood Rd at Pine 

Grove NJ 395323 745300 NAD83 02040202 2.67

01465965

01467312

01475042

Ong Run at Browns Mills NJ

Newton Creek at West Collingswood NJ

Mantua Creek at Mantua Ave at Wenonah NJ

395835

395405

394727

743436

750541

750937

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040202

02040202

02040202

1.87

4.51

29.20

01477440 Oldmans Creek at Jessups Mill NJ 393944 751352 NAD83 02040202 4.15
48 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Appendix 6. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water years 2005–06.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Background stations

01368820 Double Kill at Wawayanda NJ 411113 742512 NAD83 02020007 6.46

01378400 Dwars Kill at Anderson Ave at Alpine NJ 405836 735603 NAD83 02030103 0.35

01378780 Primrose Brook at Morristown National Hist Park NJ 404554 743147 NAD83 02030103 1.07

01400860 Stony Brook trib 3 at Rileyville NJ 402506 744714 NAD83 02030105 1.28

01411955 Gravelly Run at Laurel Lake NJ 392014 750303 NAD83 02040206 3.19

01442760 Dunnfield Creek at Dunnfield NJ 405815 750736 NAD83 02040104 3.56

01466500 McDonalds Branch in Byrne State Forest NJ 395306 743019 NAD83 02040202 2.35

Statewide Status stations

01367902 Clove Brook at Loomis Avenue at Sussex NJ 411228 743633 NAD83 02020007 19.80

01368825 Double Kill at Wawayanda Road at Wawayanda NJ 411131 742458 NAD83 02020007 9.70

01378583 Overpeck Creek at Englewood NJ 405424 735808 NAD83 02030103 2.09

01378760 Loantaka Brook near Morristown NJ 404618 742738 NAD83 02030103 1.33

01380320 Stony Brook at Boonton NJ 405544 742615 NAD83 02030103 12.10

01387811 Ramapo River at Lenape Lane at Oakland NJ 410212 741429 NAD83 02030103 135.00

01388850 Packanack Brook at Packanack Lake NJ 405558 741510 NAD83 02030103 1.90

01390510 Saddle River at Ridgewood Ave at Ridgewood NJ 405821 740532 NAD83 02030103 22.30

01395000 Rahway River at Rahway NJ 403708 741700 NAD83 02030104 40.90

01395500 Robinsons Branch at Goodmans Crossing NJ 403655 742020 NAD83 02030104 12.70

01399295 Tanners Brook near Milltown NJ 404717 744332 NAD83 02030105 2.78

01399520 Herzog Brook near Pottersville NJ 404224 744300 NAD83 02030105 4.91

01400560 Millstone River at Applegarth NJ 401628 742821 NAD83 02030105 15.00

01401700 Pike Run near Rocky Hill NJ 402512 743827 NAD83 02030105 22.20

01403385 Bound Brook at Route 28 at Middlesex NJ 403451 742957 NAD83 02030105 23.90

01404400 Oakeys Brook near Patricks Corner NJ 402506 742952 NAD83 02030105 4.75

01407012 Gravelly Brook at Church Street at Matawan NJ 402427 741343 NAD83 02030104 2.36

01407253 Willow Brook near Holmdel NJ 401947 741025 NAD83 02030104 7.56

01407538 McClees Creek near Fairview NJ 402309 740420 NAD83 02030104 2.50

01408100 North Branch Metedeconk River at Lakewood NJ 400635 741309 NAD83 02040301 19.40

01408460 Manapaqua Branch at Lakehurst NJ 400044 741809 NAD83 02040301 6.32

01408598 Sunken Branch near Toms River NJ 395803 741432 NAD83 02040301 4.58

01409600 Landing Creek near Egg Harbor City NJ 393324 743610 NAD83 02040301 14.70

01409930 Plains Branch near Warren Grove NJ 394551 742428 NAD83 02040302 5.04

01410810 Fourmile Branch at New Brooklyn NJ 394147 745624 NAD83 02040302 7.74

01411196 Babcock Creek near Mays Landing NJ 392808 744133 NAD83 02040302 16.30

01411427 Dennis Creek trib 2 above Johnson Pond at Dennisville NJ 391223 744921 NAD83 02040206 2.77

01411487 Green Branch near Six Points NJ 393253 750603 NAD83 02040206 3.05
Appendix 6 49

Appendix 6. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water years 2005–06.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station 

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Statewide Status stations—Continued

01411495 Blackwater Branch at Norma NJ 393020 750421 NAD83 02040206 12.50

01440097

01444990

01445100

01455700

01463661

01464460

01464527

Vancampens Brook at Millbrook NJ

Kymers Brook at Brighton NJ

Pequest River at Long Bridge NJ

Musconetcong River above Lubbers Run at Lockwood NJ

Shipetaukin Creek near Lawrenceville NJ

Lahaway Creek near Hornerstown NJ

Blacks Creek at Chesterfield NJ

410422

405907

405516

405512

401746

400625

400634

745745

744553

745025

744351

744217

743211

743830

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040104

02040105

02040105

02040105

02040105

02040201

02040201

5.16

16.90

48.40

36.20

5.93

21.40

8.91

01465854

01467066

01467325

01476625

01476640

01477510

South Branch Rancocas Creek at Eayrestown NJ

North Branch Pennsauken Creek at Gaither Drive at 

Fellowship NJ

South Branch Big Timber Creek at Turnersville NJ

Rattling Run at Tomlin NJ

Pargey Creek at Swedesboro Ave at Repaupo NJ

Oldmans Creek at Porches Mill NJ

395649

395615

394619

394617

394734

394157

744727

745658

750257

751551

751712

752000

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040202

02040202

02040202

02040202

02040202

02040202

66.40

6.61

7.70

2.51

4.44

21.00
50 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Appendix 7. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water years 2007–08.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic unit 

code

Drainage 

area

Background stations

01368820 Double Kill at Wawayanda NJ 411113 742512 NAD83 02020007 6.46

01378400 Dwars Kill at Anderson Ave at Alpine NJ 405836 735603 NAD83 02030103 0.35

01378780 Primrose Brook at Morristown National Hist Park NJ 404554 743147 NAD83 02030103 1.07

01400860 Stony Brook trib 3 at Rileyville NJ 402506 744714 NAD83 02030105 1.28

01411955 Gravelly Run at Laurel Lake NJ 392014 750303 NAD83 02040206 3.19

01442760 Dunnfield Creek at Dunnfield NJ 405815 750736 NAD83 02040104 3.56

01466500 McDonalds Branch in Byrne State Forest NJ 395306 743019 NAD83 02040202 2.35

Statewide Status stations

01367625 Wallkill River at Sparta NJ 410225 743747 NAD83 02020007 5.88

01377499 Musquapsink Brook at River Vale NJ 405932 740123 NAD83 02030103 7.07

01380320 Stony Brook at Boonton NJ 405544 742615 NAD83 02030103 12.10

01381260 Dismal Brook at Mt Pleasant Rd at Mount Freedom NJ 404843 743409 NAD83 02030103 0.99

01381330 Whippany River at Whitehead Rd at Washington Val NJ 404748 743148 NAD83 02030103 8.91

01388720 Beaver Dam Brook at Ryerson Rd at Lincoln Park NJ 405535 741734 NAD83 02030103 13.10

01390610 Hohokus Brook at De Yoe Pond outlet at Campgaw NJ 410134 741137 NAD83 02030103 1.16

01395000 Rahway River at Rahway NJ 403708 741700 NAD83 02030104 40.90

01397000 South Branch Raritan River at Stanton NJ 403420 745205 NAD83 02030105 147.00

01399820 Chambers Brook near North Branch NJ 403726 743947 NAD83 02030105 4.71

01400808 Bear Brook at Cranbury Rd at Princeton Junction NJ 401905 743644 NAD83 02030105 12.00

01400823 Devils Brook at New Road near Monmouth Junction NJ 402143 743242 NAD83 02030105 3.81

01401520 Beden Brook near Hopewell NJ 402302 744427 NAD83 02030105 6.67

01403190 Middle Brook at Route 28 at Bound Brook NJ 403405 743313 NAD83 02030105 16.90

01403575 Stony Brook at West End Ave at North Plainfield NJ 403651 742646 NAD83 02030105 7.92

01407090 Town Brook at Middletown NJ 402320 740617 NAD83 02030104 0.92

01407520 Pine Brook at Tinton Falls NJ 401815 740604 NAD83 02030104 12.10

01407806 Hannabrand Brook at Old Mill Rd near Spring Lk Hghts NJ 400836 740312 NAD83 02030104 3.13

01408152 South Branch Metedeconk River near Laurelton NJ 400442 740924 NAD83 02040301 30.80

01408290 Dove Mill Branch at Whitesville NJ 400408 741730 NAD83 02040301 7.87

0140940200 Hays Mill Creek near Chesilhurst NJ 394502 745027 NAD83 02040301 7.13

0140941070 Great Swamp Branch below US Rt 206 near Hammonton NJ 394104 744547 NAD83 02040301 8.07

01411208 Gravelly Run at Route 559 at Gravelly Run NJ 392538 744206 NAD83 02040302 8.63

01411295 Tuckahoe River at Route 49 at Hunters Mill NJ 391926 745140 NAD83 02040302 17.80

01411400 Fishing Creek at Rio Grande NJ 390139 745347 NAD83 02040206 2.29

01411457 Little Ease Run at Grant Ave near Franklinville NJ 393806 750419 NAD83 02040206 12.40

01411458 Little Ease Run at Porchtown NJ 393549 750432 NAD83 02040206 14.30

01455240 Merrill Creek near Stewartsville NJ 404056 750629 NAD83 02040105 6.14
Appendix 7 51

Appendix 7. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water years 2007–08.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station 

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic unit 

code

Drainage 

area

Statewide Status stations—Continued

01457400

01460870

01461250

Musconetcong River at Riegelsville NJ

Lockatong Creek at Kingwood NJ

Wickecheoke Creek at Locktown NJ

403533

402816

402909

751110

750116

745814

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040105

02040105

02040105

156.00

15.00

9.24

01462730 Jacobs Creek at Woosamonsa Rd near Harbourton NJ 402027 745018 NAD83 02040105 1.84

01462800 Jacobs Creek at Somerset NJ 401642 745113 NAD83 02040105 13.30

01463810 Shabakunk Creek near Lawrenceville NJ 401519 744416 NAD83 02040105 11.70

01464460

01465854

01467000

Lahaway Creek near Hornerstown NJ

South Branch Rancocas Creek at Eayrestown NJ

North Branch Rancocas Creek at Pemberton NJ

400625

395649

395812

743211

744727

744104

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040201

02040202

02040202

21.40

66.40

118.00

01467080

0146708130

01477110

South Branch Pennsauken Creek at Maple Shade NJ

South Branch Pennsauken Creek at Main St at Maple Shade NJ

Raccoon Creek at Mullica Hill NJ

395625

395715

394410

745854

750048

751329

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040202

02040202

02040202

8.10

12.40

15.60

01482520

01482645

Salem River at Sharptown NJ

Swedes Run at Swedes Bridge near Portertown NJ

393909

393546

752204

752233

NAD83

NAD83

02040206

02040206

27.30

3.55
52 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Appendix 8. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water year 2009.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Background stations

01368820 Double Kill at Wawayanda NJ 411113 742512 NAD83 02020007 6.46

01378400 Dwars Kill at Anderson Ave at Alpine NJ 405836 735603 NAD83 02030103 0.35

01378780 Primrose Brook at Morristown National Hist Park NJ 404554 743147 NAD83 02030103 1.07

01400860 Stony Brook trib 3 at Rileyville NJ 402506 744714 NAD83 02030105 1.28

01411955 Gravelly Run at Laurel Lake NJ 392014 750303 NAD83 02040206 3.19

01442760 Dunnfield Creek at Dunnfield NJ 405815 750736 NAD83 02040104 3.56

01466500 McDonalds Branch in Byrne State Forest NJ 395306 743019 NAD83 02040202 2.35

Statewide Status stations

01368950 Black Creek near Vernon NJ 411321 742832 NAD83 02020007 17.30

01376273 Sparkill Brook at Piermont Road at Northvale NJ 405923 735607 NAD83 02030101 0.50

01378770 Great Brook at Woodland Road at Green Village NJ 404330 742827 NAD83 02030103 14.10

01381515 Whippany River at Malapardis NJ 404908 742627 NAD83 02030103 31.60

01382170 Pequannock River at NJ Route 23 near Oak Ridge NJ 410440 742923 NAD83 02030103 19.30

01382280 Mossmans Brook near Uttertown NJ 410625 742604 NAD83 02030103 3.41

01391500 Saddle River at Lodi NJ 405325 740450 NAD83 02030103 54.60

01393440 Elizabeth River above Ursino Lake at Elizabeth NJ 404037 741335 NAD83 02030104 16.80

01399545 Lamington River at Lamington NJ 403938 744345 NAD83 02030105 53.60

01399565 Rockaway Creek at Rockaway Rd at Mountainville NJ 404124 744840 NAD83 02030105 9.07

01399570 Rockaway Creek at McCrea Mills NJ 403942 744557 NAD83 02030105 17.00

01400775 Bear Brook at Route 535 near Locust Corner NJ 401641 743438 NAD83 02030105 6.69

01400870 Stony Brook trib 3 near Hopewell NJ 402412 744806 NAD83 02030105 2.60

01401595 Rock Brook near Blawenburg NJ 402447 744102 NAD83 02030105 9.03

01406040 Deep Run at Route 516 near Old Bridge NJ 402429 742035 NAD83 02030105 15.60

01407280 Big Brook at Route 79 at Marlboro NJ 401926 741440 NAD83 02030104 2.58

01407450 Mine Brook at Colts Neck NJ 401729 741010 NAD83 02030104 5.48

01407988 Marsh Bog Brook near Shacks Corner NJ 401252 741054 NAD83 02040301 2.05

01408380 Blacks Branch at Lakehurst NJ 400031 741948 NAD83 02040301 7.61

01408495 Union Branch at Pine Lake Park NJ 400023 741450 NAD83 02040301 62.50

01408598 Sunken Branch near Toms River NJ 395803 741432 NAD83 02040301 4.58

01409455 Springers Brook near Hampton Furnace NJ 394519 744146 NAD83 02040301 18.30

01409525 Lucas Branch at Sweetwater NJ 393704 743747 NAD83 02040301 3.94

01410150 East Branch Bass River near New Gretna NJ 393723 742629 NAD83 02040301 8.11

01411220 South River near Belcoville NJ 392625 744520 NAD83 02040302 20.40

01411438 Dennis Creek trib 1 near North Dennis NJ 391141 745029 NAD83 02040206 2.74

01411490 Green Branch at Brotmanville NJ 393132 750450 NAD83 02040206 7.63

01411695 Indian Run at Husted Station Road at Palatine NJ 393208 751103 NAD83 02040206 7.49
Appendix 8 53

Appendix 8. Description of selected Background and Statewide Status water-quality stations included in the study of variations in 

statewide water quality of New Jersey streams, water year 2009.—Continued

[All stations were sampled as part of the cooperative Ambient Surface Water-Quality Monitoring Network. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles]

Station 

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Statewide Status stations—Continued

01411907 White Marsh Run at Millville NJ 392323 750240 NAD83 02040206 8.77

01438500

01443466

Delaware River at Montague NJ

Neldons Brook at Swartswood Road at Swartswood NJ

411833

410505

744743

744937

NAD83

NAD27

02040104

02040105

3480.00

9.68

01457120

01461840

01463520

01463850

01464512

01465865

Musconetcong River at Route 579 at Bloomsbury NJ

Alexauken Creek tributary at Mount Airy NJ

Assunpink Creek at Roosevelt NJ

Miry Run at Route 533 at Mercerville NJ

Doctors Creek at Red Valley NJ

Barton Run at Tuckerton Road near Medford NJ

403920

402422

401243

401449

400941

395243

750520

745511

742837

744112

742807

745137

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040105

02040105

02040105

02040105

02040201

02040202

145.00

3.48

1.50

10.70

3.83

12.00

01465893 Little Creek at Chairville NJ 395353 744718 NAD83 02040202 6.32

01465950 North Branch Rancocas Creek at Hanover Furnace NJ 395846 743129 NAD83 02040202 13.50

01467021

01467359

01476600

Mill Creek at Levitt Parkway at Willingboro NJ

North Branch Big Timber Creek at Glendora NJ

Still Run near Mickleton NJ

400209

395004

394719

745337

750401

751526

NAD83

NAD83

NAD83

02040202

02040202

02040202

9.12

18.80

3.98
54 Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009

Appendix 9. Description of selected Index streamgaging stations included in the study of variations in statewide water quality of 

New Jersey streams, water years 1998–2009.

[All stations are maintained and operated by the U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center. Latitude in degrees minutes seconds; longitude in 

degrees minutes seconds; NAD83, North American Datum of 1983. Drainage area is in square miles. Annual mean streamflow is in cubic feet per second]

Station

number Station name Latitude Longitude

Datum for 

latitude/ 

longitude

Hydrologic 

unit code

Drainage 

area

Period of 

record

Annual mean 

streamflow 

for period of 

record1

01384500 Ringwood Creek near Wanaque NJ 410738 741557 NAD83 02030103 17.9 1935-present 33.6

01396500 South Branch Raritan River near 

High Bridge NJ 404040 745245 NAD83 02030105 65.3 1919-present 123

01408000 Manasquan River at Squankum NJ 400941 740917 NAD83 02040301 44.0 1932-present 73.5

01411000 Great Egg Harbor River at Folsom 

NJ 393541 745106 NAD83 02040302 57.1 1925-present 85.2

01440000 Flat Brook near Flatbrookville NJ 410622 745709 NAD83 02040104 64.0 1924-present 112

01464500 Crosswicks Creek at Extonville NJ 400814 743600 NAD83 02040201 81.5 1940-present 133

1

Annual mean streamflow for beginning of period of record through September 30, 2009.
For additional information, write to:

Director

U.S. Geological Survey

New Jersey Water Science Center

Mountain View Office Park

810 Bear Tavern Rd., Suite 206

West Trenton, NJ 08628

or visit our Web site at:

http://nj.usgs.gov/
Heckathorn and Deetz—Variations in Statewide Water Quality of New Jersey Streams, Water Years 1998–2009—Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5047

Printed on recycled paper