Sarah Staab

Map Information:

Map Title:
Hurricane Sandy: Storm surge affects on AMNET Biological Monitoring Sites

Name(s) of Author(s):
Sarah Staab

Organization:
NJDEP - Division of Water Monitoring and Standards

Email Address:
sarah.staab@dep.state.nj.us

Software Used to Make Map:
ArcGIS and Power Point

Data Sources:

ESRI, NJDEP DATA

Map Description:

AMNET Biological Monitoring is used by the Department of Environmental Protection to determine the health of freshwater streams. Highlighted are areas in the state where, prior to Hurricane Sandy, AMNET Biological Sites had the most scores of "excellent" and "good." Furthermore, these sites experienced the greatest saltwater intrusion. It can take a freshwater biological community several years to recover from a catastrophic event such as inundation of saltwater.

Looking forward, the Department will use this information for its biennial Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report to develop the list of impaired waters, known as the 303(d) List. The monitoring sites that scored "excellent" or "good" during there last sampling will be watched closely to determine whether the conditions observed are the result of a naturally occurring transient event (Hurricane Sandy) or other anthropogenic factors. If a decrease in biological quality at these sites is determined, and the cause proven to be from this transient event, it will be justification not to list the waterbody on the 303(d) List required by the Clean Water Act. This information may also be applied to other sites like fish and chemical monitoring stations affected by Hurricane Sandy with the same justification that a negative trend due to this transient event may be reason for not listing the waterbody on the 303(d) List.

Map Title:	Hurricane Sandy: Storm surge affects on AMNET Biological Monitoring Sites
Name(s) of Author(s):	Sarah Staab
Organization:	NJDEP - Division of Water Monitoring and Standards
Email Address:	sarah.staab@dep.state.nj.us
Software Used to Make Map:	ArcGIS and Power Point
Data Sources:	ESRI, NJDEP DATA
Map Description:	AMNET Biological Monitoring is used by the Department of Environmental Protection to determine the health of freshwater streams. Highlighted are areas in the state where, prior to Hurricane Sandy, AMNET Biological Sites had the most scores of "excellent" and "good." Furthermore, these sites experienced the greatest saltwater intrusion. It can take a freshwater biological community several years to recover from a catastrophic event such as inundation of saltwater. Looking forward, the Department will use this information for its biennial Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report to develop the list of impaired waters, known as the 303(d) List. The monitoring sites that scored "excellent" or "good" during there last sampling will be watched closely to determine whether the conditions observed are the result of a naturally occurring transient event (Hurricane Sandy) or other anthropogenic factors. If a decrease in biological quality at these sites is determined, and the cause proven to be from this transient event, it will be justification not to list the waterbody on the 303(d) List required by the Clean Water Act. This information may also be applied to other sites like fish and chemical monitoring stations affected by Hurricane Sandy with the same justification that a negative trend due to this transient event may be reason for not listing the waterbody on the 303(d) List.