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Welcome to the New Jersey Water Science Center

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We monitor hydrologic conditions so you can make informed decisions

Our Scientists operate state-of-the-art data networks that provide spatially-consistent data to compare to historic trends

NJWSC Real-Time Data

We investigate and study our world and its relation to water

NJWSC is highly involved in research into our ecosystems, streams, groundwater, and their health and water quality

Our Science

USGS National Water Dashboard for New Jersey

USGS Mobile Flood Tool highlighting New Jersey

NJ Water Dashboard

USGS StreamStats in New Jersey

A water-resource web tool

StreamStats Application

Groundwater Resources of the New Jersey Coastal Plain

A New Jersey Geonarrative

NJ Coastal Geonarrative

Hurricane Sandy - 10 years later

Learn what we've done

Sandy Science

New Jersey Water Science Center

Welcome! Since 1903, the New Jersey Water Science Center has been collecting high-quality hydrologic data and conducting unbiased water-science research to address the water-resource priorities of the Nation, global trends and support statewide water-resource infrastructure and management needs.

Current Water Data for New Jersey

New Jersey Current Water Conditions

National Water Data Dashboard map highlighting New Jersey

Real-time New Jersey Streamflow, Groundwater, and Water-quality conditions available through the National Water Data Dashboard interactive map application.

Water Data Dashboard

Water Science In New Jersey

USGS Technician wading across a river toward an arch bridge.

New Jersey WSC science Projects

NJWSC Sciences

NJ WSC Quick Links

Explore some of our more popular science and tools

Connect with Us

News

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USGS Works with Partners in 15 Cities to Improve Urban Waterways

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Increasing radium concentrations in low-pH aquifer potentially related to road salt application

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Northeastern U.S. Streams During Tropical Storm Henri

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Publications

Simulation of flow and eutrophication in the central Salem River, New Jersey

The central Salem River in New Jersey is subject to periods of water-quality impairment, marked by elevated concentrations of phosphorus and chlorophyll-a, and low concentrations of and large diurnal swings in concentrations of dissolved oxygen. These seasonal eutrophic conditions are controlling factors for water quality in lower reaches, where the river is more lacustrine than in upper reaches,
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Frederick J. Spitz, Vincent T. DePaul
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Water Resources Mission Area, New Jersey Water Science Center

Density declines, richness increases, and composition shifts in stream macroinvertebrates

Documenting trends of stream macroinvertebrate biodiversity is challenging because biomonitoring often has limited spatial, temporal, and taxonomic scopes. We analyzed biodiversity and composition of assemblages of >500 genera, spanning 27 years, and 6131 stream sites across forested, grassland, urban, and agricultural land uses throughout the United States. In this dataset, macroinvertebrate dens
Authors
Samantha L. Rumschlag, Michael B. Mahon, Devin K. Jones, William A. Battaglin, Jonny Behrens, Emily S. Bernhardt, Paul Bradley, Ethan Brown, Frederik De Laender, Ryan A. Hill, Stefan Kunz, Sylvia S. Lee, Emma J. Rossi, Ralf Schafer, Travis S. Schmidt, Marie Simonin, Kelly Smalling, Kristofor Voss, Jason R. Rohr
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Water Resources Mission Area, New Jersey Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

Predicted aquatic exposure effects from a national urban stormwater study

A multi-agency study of 438 organic and 62 inorganic chemicals measured in urban stormwater during 50 total runoff events at 21 sites across the United States demonstrated that stormwater discharges can generate localized, aquatic exposures to extensive contaminant mixtures, including organics suspected to cause adverse aquatic-health effects. The aggregated risks to multiple aquatic trophic level
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Paul Bradley, Kristin Romanok, Kelly Smalling, Jason R. Masoner, Dana W. Kolpin, Stephanie Gordon
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Water Resources Mission Area, New Jersey Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC), Central Midwest Water Science Center
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Science

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USGS Scientists in float vests climbing on rocks of jetty collecting samples of algae

Monitoring Harmful Algal Blooms in a Coastal System to Identify the Factors that Affect HAB Production and the Downstream Transport of Cyanobacteria and Associated Cyanotoxins from Freshwater to Marine Environments

Across the nation, Ccyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater coastal lakes and ponds have become a major environmental and public health concern. Under the right conditions, cyanobacteria can produce cyanotoxins that can pose health risks to both animals and humans (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 2020) and have been shown to have severe impacts on water quality...
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New Jersey Water Science Center
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Monitoring Harmful Algal Blooms in a Coastal System to Identify the Factors that Affect HAB Production and the Downstream Transport of Cyanobacteria and Associated Cyanotoxins from Freshwater to Marine Environments

Across the nation, Ccyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater coastal lakes and ponds have become a major environmental and public health concern. Under the right conditions, cyanobacteria can produce cyanotoxins that can pose health risks to both animals and humans (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 2020) and have been shown to have severe impacts on water quality...
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USGS Scientists fish sampling in the McDonald's Branch in Byrne State Forrest

USGS National Water Quality Network

The USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Project (NAWQA) is now part of the USGS National Water-Quality Network (NWQN). NWQN provides nationally consistent data and information on the quality of the Nation’s water. Studies provide information on current water-quality conditions, a baseline for trend evaluation, and an understanding of what factors affect water quality. Groundwater studies for...
By
New Jersey Water Science Center
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USGS National Water Quality Network

The USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Project (NAWQA) is now part of the USGS National Water-Quality Network (NWQN). NWQN provides nationally consistent data and information on the quality of the Nation’s water. Studies provide information on current water-quality conditions, a baseline for trend evaluation, and an understanding of what factors affect water quality. Groundwater studies for...
Learn More
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Conceptual diagram showing the major mechanisms of the fate, transport, and exposure pathways of PFAS

Improving Understanding and Coordination of Science Activities for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Issue: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries in the United States since the 1940s. PFAS are ubiquitous and persistent in the environment and have the potential to have adverse human and ecological health effects. The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnerships has concerns about how PFAS will affect the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The CBP...
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Chesapeake Bay Activities, New Jersey Water Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center
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Improving Understanding and Coordination of Science Activities for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Issue: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries in the United States since the 1940s. PFAS are ubiquitous and persistent in the environment and have the potential to have adverse human and ecological health effects. The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnerships has concerns about how PFAS will affect the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The CBP...
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