USDA Great Swamp Hydrologic Unit Area Project
April 24, 1996

This hydro report will influence action in the Great Swamp watershed for a decade so pay attention!

25 people attended the hydro report meeting. In addition to the speakers listed on the agenda below (Michael Mirage couldn't attend), several members of the audience made comments, including Helen Fenske (Great Swamp icon), Bailey Brower (Chatham Twp. Planning Board), Len Hamilton (GSWA), Bill Koch (G.S. Refuge manager), Peter Hofmann (Chatham Twp. Committee). Most of their concerns revolved around social & political issues -- they did not question the technical assessments presented in the hydro report. Off the subject of water management but very much on the subject of pollution, deer & geese occupied the discussion for several minutes. One speaker said that border collies are the only truly effective defense against geese. The dogs round up the geese & run them out of town. We have been informed, however, that trumpeter swans are the absolute answer. Put a pair of swans on your pond & no goose will even think of touching down. NOTE: a macroinvertebrate is a bug, worm, or larva-type animal. GIS means "Geographic Information System", a mapping system which uses data gathered by GPS (Global Positioning System) radio-type receivers. The receivers listen for position & other signals from satellites.

Watch this space for more details -- excerpts & the recommendations will appear as we find time to type them in. Phone Kent Hardmeyer at 201-538-1552 to get your copy of the Executive Summary, and the USDA NRCS (*) at 201-538-1552 for the full report, which may also be found at the Morris County and Long Hill Township libraries. (* -- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service). NOTE: the summary and full report contain lots of maps, which are not reproduced here.

Excerpts from the Executive Summary and Recommendations

Water Quantity ........ The quantity of stormwater affecting the Great Swamp watershed has increased over the last 30 years due to land use changes such as development, redevelopment, and the increase in impervious surfaces. Other concerns include rising groundwater tables that may cause septic systems to malfunction and contaminate groundwater, and the effects of stormwater detention basins on peak flows. Using two NRCS hydrologic models (TR-20 and TR-55), and a Geographic Information System (GIS) specifically developed for the HUA, calculations were developed to estimate the runoff potential from each of 21 subwatersheds that drain into the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. These calculations included soil types, land use, vegetation type, hydrologic conditon, amount of impervious cover and surface storage area. Data was collected during 1993 at nearly 100 sites in the field to assess the watershed's hydrology.

Products/Findings

• 1% of the watershed's soils are in USDA NRCS hydrologic soil group "D", which have the highest runoff potential and the lowest capacity to absorb precipitation.
• Over 31 different types of land use/cover were analyzed and no significant changes were predicted between 1991 and 2001.
• Water quantity entering Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was predicted based upon current and projected residential, commercial and industrial development in the subwatersheds. No conclusions could be drawn from the TR-20 hydrologic model because additional data was needed.
• Lack of proper maintenance impairs the effective functioning of many stormwater detention basins in Great Swamp watershed.

Sediment ........ Quantifying the amounts of sediment (eroded soil) that enter Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge from its watershed was an important HUA project objective. Other contaminants (such as nutrients and petroleum residues) adhere to sediment and are carried in stormwater runoff to Great Swamp. Estimating sediment from specific tributaries thus provides clues to current land-use changes and where to focus sediment-reduction efforts. Estimates were developed using a well-established formula that acounted for six relevant factors. The factors include rainfall, soil erodibility, slope of the land, length of the slope, land cover, and erosion control.

Products/Findings

• The greatest potential for sediment contamination -- considering present and future land uses in the watershed -- is from wooded land being developed into residential or commercial properties.
• Three of Great Swamp's five major tributary drainage basins -- the Primrose, Great and Loantaka brooks -- impact the swamp with increased sediment.
• Approximately 1,963 tons of sediment per year reach the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge through the three major tributaries listed above. This estimate reflects only sheet and rill erosion, or the type of erosion that occurs on broad, continuous landscapes as calculated in the USDA Universal Soil Loss Equation.
• Streambank erosion needs further analysis to quantify its impact as a potential source of nonpoint contamination.

Water Quality ........ Two types of analysis were used to identify and assess the extent of water quality problems in the Great Swamp watershed. The first was a biological survey that focused on evaluating the types and density of specific benthic (bottom-dwelling) macroinvertebrates found at 17 sampling sites in the Great Swamp's five tributaries. Each tributary had two or three sampling sites. The second was a prediction of water quality in Great Swamp's 21 subwatersheds based upon the degree of imperviousness (including roads, parking lots, sidewalks, rooftops, and other impermeable surfaces) in each watershed. Based upon the percentage of imperviousness, streams in each subwatershed were given a generic ranking. Moreover, a comparative analysis of Great Swamp watershed imperviousness and the macroinvertebrate survey results was demonstrated using the GIS.

Products/Findings

• Passaic River and Primrose Brook, with lightly developed, predominantly wooded watersheds, rated good to excellent water quality with the largest numbers of pollution-intolerant macroinvertebrates found.
• Great Brook, draining a watershed that contains wooded, open areas as well as a large number of lawns, residential/commercial development, and roads had intermediate water quality.
• Loantaka and Black brooks generally had poor water quality due to larger developed areas, lower flow rates, and possible past impacts from wastewater treatment plant effluent.
• The headwater subwatersheds of Great and Loantaka brooks -- found to contain the highest amounts of imperviousness in a GIS analysis -- also contained the poorest macroinvertebrate results based on the annual macroinvertebrate survey.
• The amount of imperviousness in Great Swamp's subwatersheds is a good indicator of the health of streams in the subwatershed.
• Great Brook showed improvement in water quality as it flowed downstream from an urban environment into a more rural residential area.

Water Quality Modeling ....... Generally, a water quality model attempts to simulate specific conditions that exist within a watershed such as soil types, elevations, and particular types of land uses such as housing and farms, to predict what types of water quality impacts will occur there. Using data from earlier water quantity studies, a Rutgers University Ph.D. candidate developed a model called the Water Resources Assessment Tool (WRAT). Application of this model helped to evaluate what areas may be contributing more sediment (and attached nutrients) to the National Wildlife Refuge.

Products/Findings

• A WRAT simulation corroborated the results of the USDA's stream macroinvertebrate sampling on sgreams that showed good to excellent water quality.
• Sediment loss could be predicted well in the watershed using the WRAT model.
• Loantaka Brooks's water quality problems are not being caused by sediment.
• The impacts of "point sources" and best management practices need to be taken into account when assessing the role of sediment contamination in a subwatershed.

Demonstration Projects ........ The purpose of demonstration projects is to show the benefits of certain tyhpes of management techniques (i.e. best management practices) that assist farmers, homeowners, and other target audiences to enhance their property in ways that will also improve and protect the water quality. The two demonstration projects undertaken focused on increasing forested buffer areas along a stream and increasing the use of low-input (less fertilizers, pesticides, and water) grass types by watershed homeowners.

A forested buffer was planted along 1,100 feet between Primrose Brook and an adjacent Harding Township farm to show the short- and long-term benefits of a streamside forested buffer on water quality and fish and wildlife habitat. Cooperating on the streamside forest buffer planting effort was a private landowner, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Forest Service, Morris county Soil Conservation District, and the Passaic River Coalition. The forest buffer effort is ongoing.

A low-input lawn care demonstration site was developed and maintained at Morris County Park Commission's Frelinghuysen Arboretum by Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County. Visitors learned that low-input grasses provide a green lawn with less maintenance and expense and reduce the potential for surface or ground water contamination by nutrients that may run off to streams or leach to groundwater supplies. The low-input lawn care demonstration site will be maintained through 1997.

Products/Findings

• Approximately 200 trees were planted to establish a riparian buffer between adjacent farmland and the Primrose Brook.
• A Tree nursery to supply trees to continue establishing riparian forest buffers was begun at a site supplied by the Somerset County Park Commission.
• 437 acres next to Great Swamp tributaries need forested riparian buffers.
• 76% of watershed residential soil samples were found to have high or very high phosphorus levels versus 15% for agricultural lands.
• Only 21% of watershed homeowners surveyed had tested their soil before applying fertilizers and other soil amendments.
• Approximately 70,000 pounds of nitrogen is applied annually by homeowners.
• Approximately 17,000 to 32,000 pounds of phosphorus fertilizer may being applied unnecessarily by homeowners who follow a common multi-step fertilizer program.
• "Repel" perennial ryegrass (a low-input grass demonstrated at the low-input site) had an 80% survival rate following a drought while the fescues and bluegrass had less than 20% survival rate.
• More than 100 coupons requesting information/assistance were returned by visitors to the HUA Project low-input lawn care site since June 1993.

Information and Education ........ Rutgers Cooperative Extension (Cook College) has used traditional and innovative public information, education, and marketing programs to promote the HUA project's efforts and educate its target publics. Five audiences were targeted to build a consensus for action and implementation among watershed individuals, organizations, and agencies.

Traditional methods included development of a mailing list of watershed stakeholders. A free quarterly eight-page newsletter, Swamp Sounds, focused on different project themes and provided timely updates to 3,100 subscribers. Return coupons in the newsletter and brochures at the low-input lawn care demonstration site measured audience interest. Other traditional techniques included two audiovisual presentations (30-minute and 10-minute), education displays on homeowner soil testing and homeowner backyard composting, news releases on HUA project activities, and presentations and testimony at watershed forums.

Innovative methods have included presenting 10 "Wednesday Watershed Workshops" at sites throughout the watershed that provided residents with the information, tools, and resources necessary to address local nonpoint sources of contamination; a pilot homeowner soil sampling outreach program that promoted residential soil testing and the correct application of fertilizers; a coordinated storm drain stenciling campaign that involved groups in six watershed communities; a free raffle of composting equipment at Morris County 4-H Fiar; and an ongoing Great Swamp Photo Contest that highlights the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge's natural assets throughout the seasons.

Products/Findings

• 16 quarterly issues of Swamp Sounds were produced (4 more are planned in 1996).
• An up-to-date, 3,100-name mailing list broken in 21 separate mailing categories that can be used to target specific watershed audiences.
• Audiovisual presentations were made to approximately 2,000 citizens.
• Approximately 120 watershed homeowners participated in the HUA pilot soil sampling outreach program in 1993 and 1994. This successful pilot program has been adapted and funded in two northern NJ watersheds that are the focus of nonpoint source prevention and management efforts by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.
• Individuals/organizations interested in the HUA project grew from 200 in 1991 to 3,100 in 1995 due to effective outreach efforts at watershed events.
• Educational displays describing the USDA Great Swamp Project were seen by approximately 300,000 people at public events/buildings from 1991 through 1995.
• Monthly workshops on USDA Great Swamp Project initiatives were conducted in 1993 and 1994 and attended by approximately 350 citizens and community leaders.
• Conducted surveys of septage haulers, local departments of public works, local elected officials, and watershed homeowners to evaluate related water quality concerns.
• Overlay maps for several towns in the Watershed were prepared by local groups using USDA HUA stencils. The stenciling demonstrated to residents the connection between storm drains and local water quality.
• Over 200 photographs were submitted by outdoors photographers for the quarterly 1995 "Seasons of the Swamp" photo contest.
• Established private-sector partnerships with a videographer, newspaper publishing company, and an environmental store to promote HUA programs to new audiences.

After five years of research, education, outreach, and implementation, the United States Department of Agriculture Great Swamp Hydrologic Unit Area Project will present its newly released USDA Great Swamp HUA Project Final Report and the USDA Great Swamp HUA Project Executive Summary and Recommendations at this free public forum. All interested citizens, public officials, and watershed activists should attend the meeting. Reservations are requested.

Reservations were requested due to limited seating. Coffee, tea, cookies, and doughnuts were served (hadn't had ginger snaps in 10 years). Phone Michael Olohan at 908-932-9634 or 908-932-8264 for information.