Baseline Water-Quality Inventory for Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park, New Jersey Active
The Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (PAGR) in the historic city of Paterson, New Jersey was established in 2011 and consists of natural, cultural, and historic resources associated with the Great Falls of the Passaic River. Due to the park’s young age and limited resources, the park does not have the natural resource data needed to guide future park management and planning decisions. Therefore, it is extremely important to gather and evaluate existing information about the park’s fundamental natural resources, particularly water-quality, to help inform future park priorities. This study provides an evaluation of the historic water quality in the park to build an understanding of what is needed to sustain healthy aquatic ecosystems, support the recreational purposes of the park, and attain all designated beneficial uses. This baseline water-quality inventory will greatly enhance the ability of the park to protect its outstanding resources by identifying park priorities concerning water management, delineating water resources issues, identifying alternative actions and clarifying responsibilities of park staff, supporters, and the local community.
The Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (PAGR), located on the Passaic River just 15 miles west of New York City in Paterson, New Jersey, was established as a unit of the National Park System in 2011. Site of America’s first planned industrial city, the park provides visitors the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the Great Falls of the Passaic while exploring the historic and cultural resources of Paterson, New Jersey.
The park currently does not have the natural resource data needed to guide future park management and planning decisions, to include the most basic baseline water quality data. The park’s Foundation Document (2018) identified an immediate need to perform a detailed natural resource inventory and condition assessment, including long-term monitoring for water quality and quantity within the park.
The Passaic River segment that flows through the park, and the sub-watershed surrounding the park, supports its designated uses for agricultural and industrial water supply but does not support its designated uses for aquatic life, fish consumption, primary contact recreation (swimming), or public water supply. The Passaic River, from the Pompton River confluence downstream to Goffle Brook about 10 miles upstream and 2 miles downstream, respectively, of the PAGR), is listed as an impaired segment under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act due to several contaminants exceeding limits established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This includes pH, elevated arsenic in public water supplies, and several fish tissue contaminants, such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlordane, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloro-ethane (DDT), that have resulted in fish consumption advisories (NJDEP, 2019).
Soils in some areas of the park may contain contamination from the previous industrial land uses that encompassed much of the park at various points throughout the site’s history. Additional threats to the park’s water quality include recurring sedimentation from floods and non-point source runoff. Floatable debris in the river frequently collects at the base of the falls and is visible from the park’s primary overlook. Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) have also historically contributed chemical contamination, along with disease-causing pathogens, to the Passaic River.
As part of the NPS/USGS Water Quality Partnership Program, this project will compile and evaluate the historic water quality in the park to build an understanding of what is needed to sustain healthy aquatic ecosystems, support the recreational purposes of the park, and attain all designated beneficial uses. The baseline water quality inventory will greatly enhance the ability of one of NPS’ newest urban national parks to protect its outstanding resources by identifying park priorities concerning water management, delineating water resources issues, identifying alternative actions and clarifying responsibilities of park resource managers, as well as state and local governments and not-for-profit partners. This information will also help identify key discussion points for inclusion into the development of the park’s resource stewardship strategy.
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USGS/NPS PAGR Science Team
New Jersey Water Science Center
Pam Reilly, Liam Kenefic, Eileen Brown
National Park Service
Darren Boch, Superintendent PAGR
Urban Waters Federal Partnership
Elizabeth Balladares, Lower Passaic River UWFP Ambassador
Elizabeth Butler, U.S. EPA Region 2 Water Division
For More Information:
NPS/USGS Water Quality Partnership: https://webapps.usgs.gov/nps-partnership/about/default.twig
Paterson Great Falls NHP: https://www.nps.gov/pagr/index.htm
Lower Passaic River Urban Waters Federal Partnership: https://www.epa.gov/urbanwaterspartners/urban-waters-and-passaic-rivernewark-new-jersey
The Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (PAGR) in the historic city of Paterson, New Jersey was established in 2011 and consists of natural, cultural, and historic resources associated with the Great Falls of the Passaic River. Due to the park’s young age and limited resources, the park does not have the natural resource data needed to guide future park management and planning decisions. Therefore, it is extremely important to gather and evaluate existing information about the park’s fundamental natural resources, particularly water-quality, to help inform future park priorities. This study provides an evaluation of the historic water quality in the park to build an understanding of what is needed to sustain healthy aquatic ecosystems, support the recreational purposes of the park, and attain all designated beneficial uses. This baseline water-quality inventory will greatly enhance the ability of the park to protect its outstanding resources by identifying park priorities concerning water management, delineating water resources issues, identifying alternative actions and clarifying responsibilities of park staff, supporters, and the local community.
The Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (PAGR), located on the Passaic River just 15 miles west of New York City in Paterson, New Jersey, was established as a unit of the National Park System in 2011. Site of America’s first planned industrial city, the park provides visitors the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the Great Falls of the Passaic while exploring the historic and cultural resources of Paterson, New Jersey.
The park currently does not have the natural resource data needed to guide future park management and planning decisions, to include the most basic baseline water quality data. The park’s Foundation Document (2018) identified an immediate need to perform a detailed natural resource inventory and condition assessment, including long-term monitoring for water quality and quantity within the park.
The Passaic River segment that flows through the park, and the sub-watershed surrounding the park, supports its designated uses for agricultural and industrial water supply but does not support its designated uses for aquatic life, fish consumption, primary contact recreation (swimming), or public water supply. The Passaic River, from the Pompton River confluence downstream to Goffle Brook about 10 miles upstream and 2 miles downstream, respectively, of the PAGR), is listed as an impaired segment under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act due to several contaminants exceeding limits established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This includes pH, elevated arsenic in public water supplies, and several fish tissue contaminants, such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlordane, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloro-ethane (DDT), that have resulted in fish consumption advisories (NJDEP, 2019).
Soils in some areas of the park may contain contamination from the previous industrial land uses that encompassed much of the park at various points throughout the site’s history. Additional threats to the park’s water quality include recurring sedimentation from floods and non-point source runoff. Floatable debris in the river frequently collects at the base of the falls and is visible from the park’s primary overlook. Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) have also historically contributed chemical contamination, along with disease-causing pathogens, to the Passaic River.
As part of the NPS/USGS Water Quality Partnership Program, this project will compile and evaluate the historic water quality in the park to build an understanding of what is needed to sustain healthy aquatic ecosystems, support the recreational purposes of the park, and attain all designated beneficial uses. The baseline water quality inventory will greatly enhance the ability of one of NPS’ newest urban national parks to protect its outstanding resources by identifying park priorities concerning water management, delineating water resources issues, identifying alternative actions and clarifying responsibilities of park resource managers, as well as state and local governments and not-for-profit partners. This information will also help identify key discussion points for inclusion into the development of the park’s resource stewardship strategy.
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USGS/NPS PAGR Science Team
New Jersey Water Science Center
Pam Reilly, Liam Kenefic, Eileen Brown
National Park Service
Darren Boch, Superintendent PAGR
Urban Waters Federal Partnership
Elizabeth Balladares, Lower Passaic River UWFP Ambassador
Elizabeth Butler, U.S. EPA Region 2 Water Division
For More Information:
NPS/USGS Water Quality Partnership: https://webapps.usgs.gov/nps-partnership/about/default.twig
Paterson Great Falls NHP: https://www.nps.gov/pagr/index.htm
Lower Passaic River Urban Waters Federal Partnership: https://www.epa.gov/urbanwaterspartners/urban-waters-and-passaic-rivernewark-new-jersey