“Stream,” photographed by Masaaki Morikawa, Flickr
Introduction
Keeping track of the water sources that run through Madison and its surrounding areas is crucial for monitoring environmental conditions and ensuring that the water we use for drinking and recreation is safe. This map was created in order to assist with supervising the water quality of two brooks found within Madison’s boundaries.
Data
The data used to generate this map was provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Geographic Information Systems (NJDEP Bureau of GIS). The dataset can be found here.
Results
There are two surface water brooks that run through Madison: Black Brook and Spring Garden Brook. According to Madison’s official website, Spring Garden Brook in particular is prone to flooding during heavy rainfall.
These two brooks have been classified as FW2-NT in accordance with New Jersey state’s Surface Water Quality Standards. FW2 means that these two brooks are water bodies that have come in contact with man-made wastewater discharges, and NT means that they cannot support trout populations very well due to higher water temperatures. While these brooks can be used as a source of drinking water, successful fishing is unlikely.
Conclusion
Knowing the quality of the water sources found in Madison can greatly assist us in providing drinking water for our residents and determining the ecological impact of practices such as recreational fishing. Additionally, it can give us information on how to maintain the natural resources available to us.
About the Data
This digital map uses information from the Surface Water Quality Standards section of the New Jersey Administrative Code. A digital representation of this data was referenced from the NJDEP Bureau of GIS, which can be found here.
An abridged version of the N. J. A. C. 7:9B, including further explanations of classifications and approved uses for New Jersey’s freshwater, can be found on the NJDEP’s Division of Water Monitoring and Standards’ website here.
This map can be found on the ArcGIS Online website here.
A presentation version of this webpage can be found here.
