RIVER AND STREAM SURFACE WATER MONITORING

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NJDEP's current ambient monitoring program has developed from monitoring networks established in the mid-1970's. Some stations have a continuous water quality record from that time. Components of today's monitoring program include:

1. the Ambient Surface-Water Quality Monitoring Network (ASWQMN), a cooperative DEP / USGS program that monitors 115 stations quarterly
2. the Supplemental Ambient Surface Water Monitoring Network (SASWMN), a NJDEP program monitoring an additional 100 stations quarterly, providing improved spatial coverage

Together these networks provide data to:

1. track status and trends in ambient water quality
2. establish background water quality
3. correlate water quality with specific land uses
4. coordinate water chemistry and biological data