An online geonarrative consisting of an interactive discussion and maps of the groundwater resources of 10 confined aquifers beneath Central and Southern New Jersey, provides a view of the geology, hydrology and water use in this area. A regional-scale groundwater-level survey of the New Jersey Coastal Plain by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is highlighted. These assessments, performed every 5 years, provide an overview of groundwater conditions that help water resource managers to identify vulnerabilities of the fresh water supply and ensure groundwater sustainability for current and future use.
Millions of people and businesses are dependent on groundwater from the confined aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal Plain for water supply. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, created an online, interactive geonarrative that depicts groundwater resources of the New Jersey Coastal Plain. Clickable map layers display potentiometric-surface contours, well construction details, measured groundwater levels, groundwater-level hydrographs at wells, population trends by county, and water use by aquifer and county.
Link to geonarrative: njcp_groundwater_resources (usgs.gov)
This interactive geonarrative provides an easy to use and informative interface that combines written summaries and maps displaying the distribution of groundwater levels. Users can compare groundwater level trends and magnitude at wells to population and water use county-wide summaries. Potentiometric-surface maps of the confined Cohansey aquifer of Cape May County, the Rio Grande water-bearing zone, Atlantic City 800-foot sand, Piney Point aquifer, Vincentown aquifer, Wenonah-Mount Laurel aquifer, Englishtown aquifer system, and Upper, Middle, and Lower aquifers of the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer system indicate where persistent, regionally extensive cones of depression occur.
The USGS NJ Water Science Center began mapping the major confined Coastal Plain aquifers in 1978, reevaluating the same aquifers every 5 years since to provide regional assessments of groundwater conditions and water-level trends over time. During late 2013, USGS, measured and evaluated groundwater levels in 10 confined aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal Plain at 983 wells located in New Jersey, and adjacent parts of Pennsylvania and Delaware. The potentiometric surface maps are a tool for visualizing the directions of groundwater flow and indicate the impact of 2013 groundwater withdrawals that total about 190 million gallons per day from the 10 confined aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal Plain.
Surficial Aquifer Studies
New Jersey Water-Transfer Data System (NJWaTr)
Geospatial data representing wells open to, and 2013 potentiometric-surface contours of, the confined aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal Plain
Water-level conditions in the confined aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal Plain, 2013
A hydrologic primer for New Jersey watershed management
- Overview
An online geonarrative consisting of an interactive discussion and maps of the groundwater resources of 10 confined aquifers beneath Central and Southern New Jersey, provides a view of the geology, hydrology and water use in this area. A regional-scale groundwater-level survey of the New Jersey Coastal Plain by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is highlighted. These assessments, performed every 5 years, provide an overview of groundwater conditions that help water resource managers to identify vulnerabilities of the fresh water supply and ensure groundwater sustainability for current and future use.
Physiographic Provinces and Counties of New Jersey Millions of people and businesses are dependent on groundwater from the confined aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal Plain for water supply. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, created an online, interactive geonarrative that depicts groundwater resources of the New Jersey Coastal Plain. Clickable map layers display potentiometric-surface contours, well construction details, measured groundwater levels, groundwater-level hydrographs at wells, population trends by county, and water use by aquifer and county.
Link to geonarrative: njcp_groundwater_resources (usgs.gov)
This interactive geonarrative provides an easy to use and informative interface that combines written summaries and maps displaying the distribution of groundwater levels. Users can compare groundwater level trends and magnitude at wells to population and water use county-wide summaries. Potentiometric-surface maps of the confined Cohansey aquifer of Cape May County, the Rio Grande water-bearing zone, Atlantic City 800-foot sand, Piney Point aquifer, Vincentown aquifer, Wenonah-Mount Laurel aquifer, Englishtown aquifer system, and Upper, Middle, and Lower aquifers of the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer system indicate where persistent, regionally extensive cones of depression occur.
The USGS NJ Water Science Center began mapping the major confined Coastal Plain aquifers in 1978, reevaluating the same aquifers every 5 years since to provide regional assessments of groundwater conditions and water-level trends over time. During late 2013, USGS, measured and evaluated groundwater levels in 10 confined aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal Plain at 983 wells located in New Jersey, and adjacent parts of Pennsylvania and Delaware. The potentiometric surface maps are a tool for visualizing the directions of groundwater flow and indicate the impact of 2013 groundwater withdrawals that total about 190 million gallons per day from the 10 confined aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal Plain.
Screenshot from the Geonarrative visualizing the wells sampled in Gloucester County, New Jersey - Science
Surficial Aquifer Studies
The series of surficial aquifer studies were completed to evaluate the unconfined aquifer system of the NJ Coastal Plain for use as a potential source of water. As the demand for water in the State increases and the restrictions continue on the use of water from certain confined aquifers, withdrawals on the unconfined aquifer system are expected to increase. Detailed study of the unconfined...New Jersey Water-Transfer Data System (NJWaTr)
The State of New Jersey strives to allocate water resources to meet human demands and ecological needs. The New Jersey Water Transfer Data Model (NJWaTr) is a database system that compiles, stores, and distributes New Jersey’s water use data for research and modeling purposes. NJWaTr helps officials understand the movement and uses of water throughout the State over time. - Data
Geospatial data representing wells open to, and 2013 potentiometric-surface contours of, the confined aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal Plain
A study conducted by USGS in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, measured and evaluated water levels in 10 confined aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal Plain to provide a regional overview of groundwater conditions during the fall of 2013. Water levels were measured in 987 wells in New Jersey, and parts of Pennsylvania and Delaware. Potentiometric-surface maps w - Publications
Water-level conditions in the confined aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal Plain, 2013
The Coastal Plain aquifers of New Jersey provide an important source of water for more than 3.5 million people. In 2013, groundwater withdrawals from 10 confined aquifers of the New Jersey Coastal Plain totaled about 190 million gallons per day. Steadily increasing withdrawals from the late 1800s to the early 1990s resulted in declining water levels and the formation of regional cones of depressioA hydrologic primer for New Jersey watershed management
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and many other agencies and organizations are striving to educate the public about New Jersey’s water resources. In 1996, the NJDEP began implementing a “watershed management approach” to maintain the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of New Jersey’s waters. This approach concentrates on manag - Web Tools
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