Chemical, Biological, and Visual Assessment of Stream Health in Beden Brook Beat 2

Group Three Members

Abstract

    The major findings of this study are: 

•  Dissolved oxygen does not vary immediately upstream and downstream of a riffle yet there is a difference in species diversity.

•  Cherry Valley STP effluent is a source of phosphate for Beden Brook.

•  Land use along a tributary did not affect the chemical properties of the water.

  Introduction

The purpose of this study is to investigate the chemical and biological features of a 2-mile section of Beden Brook (BDB2).  Beden Brook is located within Mercer County, New Jersey, and exists within the larger Stony Brook Millstone Watershed.  This watershed covers 265 square miles in Mercer, Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, and Monmouth Counties (see Appendix 1). Beden Brook is one of three major tributaries to the Millstone River, which merges with the Stony Brook River. BDB2 is the two-mile section of Beden Brook located between Great Road and Province Line Road. Some of the features along this stream section include wetlands, a golf course, Cherry Valley Sewerage Treatment Plant, and various tributaries. 

  This study describes the use of chemical and biological assessment techniques in answering three questions regarding the section of the Beden Brook previously described as BDB2.  The following questions were addressed during this study:

1.      Does the dissolved oxygen concentration differ immediately above and below a riffle and can any detectable differences in DO explain any differences (species and/or quantity) in the benthic microorganisms found at these two sampling sites?

2.      Does the Cherry Valley Sewerage Treatment Plant effluent alter the chemical composition of the stream water with special consideration provided to phosphate and nitrate?

Sites and Methods

  Chemical analyses were accomplished using Lamotte water quality test kit. The parameters measured include air temperature, water temperature, pH, nitrates, phosphates, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity.

  Biological sampling was performed by collection from a one square meter into a kick screen during 60 seconds of kicking after conducting a habitat assessment. The screen was carefully moved to the bank and all creatures that moved were placed in a basin filled with stream water and then identified and counted. Organisms were sorted and identified using a macroinvertebrate identification key and categorized according to their sensitivity to water pollution. Finally, the organisms were used to determine the biological water quality total index value (Beal et. al., 2001).

  River assessment was done by completing a visual survey data sheet and creating a map of significant river characteristics including point sources and land use adjacent to the river. Pictures were taken to document specific sites of interest. The Visual Assessment Data Sheet was obtained from Jeff Hoagland, Director of BEES organization in conjunction with Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association.

  Sampling was conducted on five sites. Site one was located immediately upstream of the bridge on Great Road. This chemical data was used as a baseline to compare with the chemistry of all other sites. Site two was a small tributary emerging from a forested area located approximately 1/3 mile upstream from Site one. Site three was the Cherry Valley Sewerage Treatment Plant; chemical tests were conducted on the effluent from a 10-inch diameter PVC pipe. Our fourth site was a riffle located approximately forty yards upstream of the Cherry Valley STP. Both chemical and biological tests were performed upstream and downstream of the riffle. Our last site was a small tributary emerging from an agricultural area approximately 200 yards downstream from Province Line Road.

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