Pequannock River Surveys
The presence of a spawning trout population is great bonus for any river or stream. Under New Jersey law such waterways and the wetlands that drain to them have stricter standards for pollutants, temperature and other water quality elements.
Bob Papson of the Division of Fish and Wildlife measures a wild brown trout from the Pequannock River before releasing it.
With this in mind the Pequannock River Coalition has worked with the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife to survey segments of the Pequannock and it's tributaries. Where previously unknown trout spawning has been documented these waters are upgraded in status.
Due to our efforts, upgrades to "trout production" have been adopted or will soon be adopted in the following river segments and streams:
- Pequannock River from junction with Pacock Brook to Oak Ridge Reservoir
- Pequannock River from Oak Ridge Reservoir to Charlottesburg Reservoir
- Pequannock River from Charlottesburg Reservoir to Macopin Reservoir
- Macopin River from Echo Lake to Pequannock River
- Kakeout Brook from Butler Reservoir to Pequannock River
- Weber Tract Tributary, through Kinnelon and Butler
- Unnamed tributary, Riverdale
These changes would not have occurred without hard work and generous assistance from Division of Fish and Wildlife staff, particularly Bob Papson, the Division biologist in charge of the Pequannock basin.
We have also addressed other critical components of waterway health through a series of intensive and specific surveys:
Pequannock River
- 2000 Photo documentation of the entire Pequannock River from West Milford to Pompton Plains.
- 2003 Survey of Pequannock River headwaters (Vernon to Hardyston) to determine influences of beaver colonies.
- 2003 Mapping of all stormwater outfalls from Jefferson to Pompton Plains.
- 2003 Water temperature and flow study of all river tributaries from West Milford to Pompton Plains.
- 2004 Survey of Macopin River to determine sources of bacterial pollution and development of a plan to address them.
- 2004 Development of comprehensive Watershed Management Plan for the entire Pequannock River including surveys of riparian tree canopy, stormwater discharges, vacant lands, impoundments and other water quality factors.
- 2005 Collection of detailed river characteristics for intricate flow/temperature modeling to support the NJDEP's recommended flow regimes.
- 2008 R2CROSS survey, evaluating stream and river levels for adequacy under summer low flow conditions.
As you can see, at the Pequannock River Coalition we truly believe that "knowledge is power." Few watersheds in the state are so extensively studied or so well protected. Please help us to continue these efforts by joining us today.