Photo Gallery
Headwaters
Babcock Creek
Sampling 7Jun 2004
Sampling 20 Nov 04

SECTION 3
Video: caddis larva
Title 2
Title 3
Title 4
Title 5

SECTION 4
Title 1
Title 2
Title 3
Title 4
Title 5
Title 6

Adams Branch, canalized section near Cologne Ave.

I. Introduction

The goal of this project is to characterize stormwater control and water quality problems in Adams Branch, Great Egg Harbor River watershed, and to develop a preliminary plan for mitigation of those problems. The project will be a partnership between the Richard Stockton College of NJ, the Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association, and the NJDEP. Other cooperating agencies are Atlantic County Division of Regional Planning and Economic Development, the Township of Hamilton and the NJ Pinelands Commission
The amount received from DEP to support this project is $24, 716.

II. Background

Adams Branch is a small tributary stream of the Great Egg Harbor River (GEHR), located in Hamilton Township, Atlantic County. The drainage basin of this stream, area: 1608 acres [651 hectares, 2.4 mi.2] has been heavily developed since the 1950’s, with major facilities including the Atlantic City Race Course, Hamilton Mall, Woodlands Condominiums and Hamilton Green Condominiums. Maps 1 and 2 show the stream and the regional setting.

As a consequence of increased impervious cover, the natural pineland hydrology of Adams Branch appears to have been significantly altered, so that flash flooding occurs following rainstorms. The flooding has affected roads which cross the stream, and portions of the stream have been canalized and adjacent wetlands partially cleared in an attempt to control the flooding.

Sedimentation from headwater developments has been a documented issue in this sub-basin, with sediment from the unpaved Race Track parking lot affecting water quality all along Adams Branch to Babcock Creek and the GEHR for the last two years.

Babcock Creek, the receiving waters of Adams Branch, are listed on the 2002 Integrated List 5 with a medium priority ranking for pH as a Non-Attaining Parameter. USGS site id. 01411196, Babcock Creek and Rte 322, is located approximately ¼ mile down stream from the confluence of Adams Branch. AMNET site AN0640 is also at the same location, and the AMNET water quality rating is on Sublist 3 of the 2002 Integrated List for Aquatic Life. Since these waters are in the Pinelands, the state has recognized that more data is required to address water quality issues related to pH. As tributaries of the Great Egg Harbor River in the Pinelands Protection Area, both Adams Branch and Babcock Creek and their associated wetlands are designated as PL Waters in N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.15, and are therefore entitled to anti-degradation protection under both state and Federal agencies for their designation as Outstanding National Resource Waters.

Detention and retention basins exist to receive stormwater from the developments, but many are not meeting design specifications. Some stormwaters do not reach the basins that they were intended for, and some basins are overflowing and suffering bank erosion. Much of the stream channel in the housing areas is fenced off because of the flash flood hazard (see figures 1-6)

In the western end of the basin, Adams Branch has been massively ditched as part of a failed golf course development scheme. The natural stream channel has been completely altered (figure 7)
Preliminary sampling by Stockton College students and faculty has shown that Adams Branch has suffered significant alteration from natural chemical conditions and has a severely impoverished macroinvertebrate fauna. Fishes in the stream are predominantly species not native to the NJ pinelands.

Surveys of residents in the two condominium complexes adjacent to Adams Branch by students in the Stockton Environmental issues class, collected in October 2003, indicate both concern about water quality issues and a lack of awareness of the specific conditions in the Adams Branch watershed. Summary of the survey

Stockton College and the Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association believe that Adams Branch is a suitable subject for further investigation as a demonstration project on Phase II stormwater management compliance and environmental remediation of a severely impacted stream. We propose to study Adams Branch to document in detail the effects of past alteration on current hydrologic, chemical and biological conditions and to develop a plan for a phased remediation consistent with current and future landuse.

Stockton College and the Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association will work closely with local and state government and all responsible parties in developing the plan. We will survey to obtain local residents’ input on economic, recreational, aesthetic and other goals as a central part of the remediation plan. We also plan to use the project as an educational resource for local residents, students and teachers in Atlantic County schools and undergraduates at Richard Stockton College.
 

III. Project Objectives

The first phase of this project will consist of six objectives as follows:

• A. Property owner identification and coordination in the project area.
  B. Stream corridor visual assessment study of the project area using customized USDA and Rosgen protocols.
  C. Water quality and biota characterization of the project area drainage and analysis of soils within the drainage basin.
  D. Flood prone area characterization and current hydrologic stream flow performance during storm events.
  E. Detailed location and characterization of the existing storm drain infrastructure and capacity.
  F. Aging basin location and characterization study to determine potential maintenance and remediation requirements.
  G. Preparation of a plan for a second phase, to consist of a remediation feasibility and cost study in the context of Phase II Stormwater Rules and future development objectives.