The Lower Hackensack River: The Lower Hackensack River: What Does Continuous 24 hour What Does Continuous 24 hour Monitoring Tell Us? Monitoring Tell Us? Joseph Grzyb Joseph Grzyb Environmental Chemist Environmental Chemist Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute
Abstract Abstract The lower Hackensack River has a legacy of pollution that goes back more than ack more than 100 100 The lower Hackensack River has a legacy of pollution that goes b • • years. Today, over 20 million people live in its watershed which years. Today, over 20 million people live in its watershed which supports one of the supports one of the highest population densities and industrial infrastructure footp highest population densities and industrial infrastructure footprint in the country. rint in the country. The lower Hackensack River is tidally influenced from Newark Bay and by and by The lower Hackensack River is tidally influenced from Newark Bay freshwater discharges from two water treatment facilities and 20 freshwater discharges from two water treatment facilities and 20 miles upriver miles upriver from the Oradell Dam. These factors, along with industrial and r from the Oradell Dam. These factors, along with industrial and residential runoff esidential runoff during storms, greatly affect the water quality. Understanding h during storms, greatly affect the water quality. Understanding how these factors ow these factors impact the spatial and temporal patterns of water quality is crucial for managing cial for managing impact the spatial and temporal patterns of water quality is cru this resource and the wildlife associated with it. The New Jersey Meadowlands y Meadowlands this resource and the wildlife associated with it. The New Jerse Commission (NJMC) operates a distributed network of sensors that Commission (NJMC) operates a distributed network of sensors that continuously continuously monitors the water quality of the lower Hackensack River and mak monitors the water quality of the lower Hackensack River and makes this es this information available in real time. Currently there are water quality monitors Currently there are water quality monitors information available in real time. strategically placed at 4 locations measuring water depth, dissolved oxygen, lved oxygen, strategically placed at 4 locations measuring water depth, disso conductivity, salinity, pH, temperature, and turbidity. This stu conductivity, salinity, pH, temperature, and turbidity. This study will show a few dy will show a few phenomena recorded by the monitoring system that illustrate the phenomena recorded by the monitoring system that illustrate the spatial and spatial and temporal effects on water quality by the man made discharges and natural events natural events temporal effects on water quality by the man made discharges and affecting the estuary. Our monitoring activity has shown for example that after a mple that after a affecting the estuary. Our monitoring activity has shown for exa significant storm or discharge of fresh water from the Dam it ta significant storm or discharge of fresh water from the Dam it takes 1 kes 1 – – 2 weeks for 2 weeks for the river to return to its brackish baseline. Similarly, daily tidal pulses as always idal pulses as always the river to return to its brackish baseline. Similarly, daily t associated with increase turbidity and decrease oxygen levels also greatly affected so greatly affected associated with increase turbidity and decrease oxygen levels al by temperature. Due to the increased temperatures and the unusual amount of l amount of by temperature. Due to the increased temperatures and the unusua rainfall in June and July of 2009, the dissolved oxygen concentration fell below the rainfall in June and July of 2009, the dissolved oxygen concentr ation fell below the criteria a couple times in August and September. Water level on criteria a couple times in August and September. Water level on the other hand is the other hand is significantly affected by freezing temperatures and sea surge events from tropical ents from tropical significantly affected by freezing temperatures and sea surge ev storms. storms.
Objectives Objectives • Summarize a year of hourly water quality Summarize a year of hourly water quality • measurements from four locations on the Lower measurements from four locations on the Lower Hackensack River. Hackensack River. • Show seasonal and spatial differences in salinity, Show seasonal and spatial differences in salinity, • dissolved oxygen, and temperature. dissolved oxygen, and temperature. • Show how natural effects (tide cycle) and man Show how natural effects (tide cycle) and man • made effects (dam discharges) affect water made effects (dam discharges) affect water quality of the lower estuary. quality of the lower estuary.
Data points per parameter and site Data points per parameter and site January 2009 and January 2010. January 2009 and January 2010. Dissolved Dissolved Site Site Temperature Temperature Oxygen Oxygen pH pH Turbidity Turbidity Salinity Salinity Conductivity Conductivity Depth Depth Kearny Kearny 7562 7562 7258 7258 6771 6771 7498 7498 7562 7562 7562 7562 8051 8051 Berry’ Berry ’s Creek s Creek 8984 8984 5887 5887 8932 8932 8780 8780 8997 8997 9002 9002 8896 8896 Mill Creek Mill Creek 6885 6885 6089 6089 6794 6794 6366 6366 6796 6796 6851 6851 8762 8762 FDU 7126 6616 7126 6159 7126 7126 7126 FDU 7126 6616 7126 6159 7126 7126 7126 FDU 10.3 km 2.74 km Mill Creek Berry’s Creek Weather Station 7.72 km Kearny
Average Max, Min, and Median of the parameters measured between Average Max, Min, and Median of the parameters measured between January 2009 and January 2010 for each station. January 2009 and January 2010 for each station. Kearny Kearny Temperature Temperature DO DO pH pH Turbidity Turbidity Salinity Salinity Conductivity Conductivity Depth Depth Average Average 15.64 15.64 7.39 7.39 7.63 7.63 17.84 17.84 11.89 11.89 19.31 19.31 1.63 1.63 Max 29.45 14.04 8.21 173.70 21.82 34.64 6.13 Max 29.45 14.04 8.21 173.70 21.82 34.64 6.13 Min Min 1.17 1.17 3.01 3.01 7.30 7.30 3.60 3.60 3.72 3.72 6.78 6.78 -4.71 - 4.71 Median Median 15.31 15.31 8.53 8.53 7.76 7.76 88.65 88.65 12.77 12.77 20.71 20.71 0.71 0.71 Berry’ Berry ’s Creek s Creek Temperature Temperature DO DO pH pH Turbidity Turbidity Salinity Salinity Conductivity Conductivity Depth Depth Average Average 13.11 13.11 5.58 5.58 7.36 7.36 44.06 44.06 7.01 7.01 12.21 12.21 0.46 0.46 Max 29.85 21.83 8.57 493.30 16.50 26.87 5.14 Max 29.85 21.83 8.57 493.30 16.50 26.87 5.14 Min Min -0.98 - 0.98 2.01 2.01 6.43 6.43 4.70 4.70 1.01 1.01 2.004 2.004 -3.77 - 3.77 Median Median 14.435 14.435 11.92 11.92 7.50 7.50 249 249 8.76 8.76 14.437 14.437 0.68 0.68 Mill Creek Mill Creek Temperature Temperature DO DO pH pH Turbidity Turbidity Salinity Salinity Conductivity Conductivity Depth Depth Average 17.28 5.21 7.39 86.51 5.53 9.65 0.35 Average 17.28 5.21 7.39 86.51 5.53 9.65 0.35 Max Max 33.31 33.31 18.35 18.35 8.73 8.73 594.80 594.80 15.36 15.36 25.37 25.37 5.08 5.08 Min Min 0.85 0.85 2.02 2.02 6.62 6.62 5.30 5.30 1.12 1.12 1.508 1.508 -4.23 - 4.23 Median Median 17.08 17.08 10.34 10.34 7.68 7.68 300.05 300.05 8.24 8.24 13.44 13.44 0.43 0.43 FDU Temperature DO pH Turbidity Salinity Conductivity Depth FDU Temperature DO pH Turbidity Salinity Conductivity Depth Average Average 15.88 15.88 8.11 8.11 7.95 7.95 48.66 48.66 0.73 0.73 1.43 1.43 -0.04 - 0.04 Max Max 29.51 29.51 25.8 25.8 9.94 9.94 393.40 393.40 3.64 3.64 6.62 6.62 4.83 4.83 Min Min -0.1 - 0.1 2.02 2.02 7.06 7.06 5.10 5.10 0.09 0.09 0.20 0.20 - -6.81 6.81 Median 14.705 14.0 8.50 199.25 1.865 3.41 -0.99 0.99 Median 14.705 14.0 8.50 199.25 1.865 3.41 -
Seasonal Patterns of Temperature Seasonal Patterns of Temperature Kearny Temperature Berry's Creek Temperature 35 35 Berry's Creek Temperature (C) Kearny Temperatures (C) 30 30 25 25 Temperature (C) Temperature (C) 20 20 15 15 10 10 5 5 0 0 -5 Winter Spring Summer Fall Winter Spring Summer Fall Seasons Seasons FDU Temperature Mill Creek Temperature 35 35 Mill Creek Temperature FDU Temperature (C) 30 30 25 25 Temperature (C) Temperature (C) 20 20 15 15 10 10 5 5 0 0 -5 Winter Spring Summer Fall Winter Spring Summer Fall Seasons Seasons
Seasonal Patterns of Salinity Seasonal Patterns of Salinity Kearny Salinity Berry's Creek Salinity 24 18 Kearny Salinity Berry's Creek Salinity 22 16 20 14 18 12 16 Salinity (ppt) Salinity (ppt) 10 14 12 8 10 6 8 4 6 2 4 2 0 Winter Spring Summer Fall Winter Spring Summer Fall Season Seasons FDU Salinity Mill Creek Salinity 4 18 Mill Creek Salinity FDU Salinity 16 3 14 12 Salinity (ppt) 2 Salinity (ppt) 10 8 1 6 0 4 2 Winter Spring Summer Fall 0 Winter Spring Summer Fall Seasons Seasons *Summer rainfall was 7-8 inches more than normal in 2009.
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