Surface Water

Frequently, water withdrawals for public supply are made from the freshwater reaches of rivers and streams across new Jersey. Overall, there is a lack of scientific information describing the movement of saltwater upstream into the tributaries discharging into Delaware Bay. This project is beginning to collect water quality data along three selected tributaries in New Jersey to Delaware Bay in an...

The accurate, long-term monitoring networks of New Jersey Water Science Center provide valuable data in real-time and historical perspective to compare that data to. The longer a monitoring location is in operation, the more valuable it becomes, since more statistical comparisons can be performed. Our field technicians continuously make field measurements and maintain these networks.

The USGS New Jersey Water Science Center streamgage program is part of the nationwide program that provides streamflow information for a variety of purposes—including the protection of life and property, infrastructure design, recreational usage, and long-term trend assessment. This information is critical to resource managers, farmers, fishermen, kayakers, land-use planners, engineers...

The water quality of New Jersey's water bodies is monitored by the USGS New Jersey Water Science Center to characterize waters, identify trends over time, identify emerging problems, determine whether pollution control programs are working, help direct pollution control efforts to where they are most needed, and respond to emergencies such as floods and spills.

The New Jersey Water Science Center provides valuable data augmentation to many locations for: Precipitation, Water and Air Temperature, and even Wind Speed and Direction at some of our coastal sites. Our technicians continuously make field measurements and maintain these networks to ensure the accuracy of these data.

To better protect the City of Elizabeth’s residents and assets, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Rutgers University proposed a joint collaboration to develop a reliable flood risk management platform with the cooperation of the City of Elizabeth and the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management. Our understanding is the broader goal for the City of Elizabeth is to accomplish three primary...

The Flow Photo Explorer (FPE) is a database, machine learning, and data visualization platform using timelapse images to develop new approaches for collecting hydrologic data in streams and other waterbodies where traditional monitoring methods are not feasible or cost-prohibitive. The Musconetcong River was chosen to participate in the early study, and we are expanding the work to other rivers.

Understanding the quality of U.S. streams, rivers, and groundwater requires consistent data collection and analysis over decades for proper context of current conditions. The USGS collects nationally standardized data and information as part of the National Water Quality Network (NWQN). The NQWN is made up of sites across the Nation where USGS scientists regularly measure water-quality conditions.

This project seeks to develop methods to identify when a flooded roadway or bridge crossing condition may exist and to provide a tool for users to select rainfall scenarios in addition to the selected river condition to estimate if road flooding may occur with the selected combination. These tools will provide officials in Hunterdon County and at the state level of management better early warning...

Static webcams have been installed at a number of real-time stream-gaging locations in New Jersey to allow you to view the current river-stage conditions. These webcams provide valuable information to the National Weather Service, emergency managers, and area residents to evaluate real-time conditions in river and coastal environments during storms.

Manning’s Roughness Coefficient (n) is an input to the Manning’s Equation, which can be used for the computation of streamflow during times it is impractical or impossible to make a measurement. ​ Methods and regional equations for determining the value of n have largely been developed in the western United States; New Jersey is comparatively unstudied. New Jersey features a diverse range of...

The temperature, water quality, and channel connectivity along headwater stream networks often show highly dynamic spatiotemporal patterns that are tied to localized hydrogeologic and landcover controls. Groundwater exchanges exert a spatially discontinuous influence on streams that reflect, in part, the preferential nature of groundwater discharge as controlled by recharge, topography, and...