The work that our staff and volunteers do is in the service of our greater Delaware Watershed, towns lining the banks of the Paulins Kill, and the many ecosystems in our watershed that bring us the healthy rural lifestyle we are accustomed to and treasure. Documentation of our work can be shared with governments, the public and grantors through time so they can access, evaluate, and implement mitigation efforts, if and when determined necessary. We present here water quality data we and our essential volunteers have collected.

Enjoy learning about the health of our local environment and utilize this resource, if necessary, to initiate and guide future protective efforts.

Water Quality Data

Partners: The Watershed Institute and NJDEP Division of Water Quality

The Paulins Kill Watershed (PKW) Watchers group was established in April of 2021. As stewards of the Watershed, we felt the need to detect and mitigate any emerging problems as early on as possible. Subsequently we became accredited as a NJDEP Tier 3.1 monitoring program and sample each spring and fall, at 3 locations, with staff, and PK Watcher volunteers certified by NJDEP. The public is encouraged to attend these sampling events.

Following the certified data collection protocol, we are able to evaluate biological and habitat health and to share this information with our river-wide townships. This data is also periodically entered into the WQX or EPA Water Quality Exchange where it can be accessed by interested parties local, state and nationwide.

In fall of 2025 we began including ‘informal’ physical measurements, for our own use, which allow us to attain a more complete understanding of the Paulins Kill ecosystem’s health. This new abiotic data is also found in a table below.

See below the 3 current NJDEP Tier 3.1 PKW monitoring locations (Upper, Middle, Lower).

Sample locations were determined in large part by consideration of site accessibility, potential vulnerability to current and
future degradation and sampling safety. The intent is to provide as much coverage as possible, through time, using current
capacity, throughout the Paulins Kill Watershed.

LOCATION KEY:
Upper Section PKLP: Paulins Kill at Lafayette Pond Park, Lafayette, NJ 07848
Latitude, Longitude: 41.0988, -74.691
Sussex County
Middle Section PKLS: Paulinskill Lake Spillway, Stillwater, NJ 07860
Latitude, Longitude: 41.0526, -74.8289
TNC-PKRB-9
Sussex County
Lower Section PKT: Jacksonburg Tributary, Blairstown, NJ 07825
Latitude, Longitude: 40.9877, -74.9789
TNC-PKRB-15
Warren County

Total Paulins Kill Watershed Area: 176 Sq. Mi.,  River Length: 41.6 Mi.

Harmful Algal Bloom (HABS) and Physical/Chemical Factors Monitoring

Partners: NJCWST – New Jersey Center for Water Studies and Technology, Montclair State University, NJ and the PK Watcher Volunteers.

Due to the intermittent presence of HABS in the waters of lake communities throughout our region, the PK River Watchers provided monitoring for the presence of the cyanobacteria which produces the toxin microcystin, this pollutant was monitored in 3 locations within the vicinity of the Paulinskill Lake Community which is a dammed segment of the river 3 miles long stretching from Hampton Township in the north to Stillwater Township in the south.

2025 Seasonal Bi-Monthly HAB Monitoring Dates:

  • July 7th and 21st
  • August 4th and 18th
  • September 2nd and 15th

ALL 2025 SAMPLE RESULTS: NEGATIVE for MICROCYSTINS ALERT

Physical/Chemical data was collected during HAB sampling on 7/7, 7/21, 8/4, 8/18, 9/2, and 9/15.

Road Salt Monitoring

Partners: The Watershed Institute and Stroud Water Research Center, Wallkill River Watershed Management Group, Sparta Township EC and PK Watcher Volunteers.

The tonnage of road salt dropped on our roads, driveways, parking lots, walkways, etc., increases every year. The application of salt does not stay on the surfaces for which it was intended. It washes into soil, groundwater and surface waters and through time it accumulates. Road salt applications directly impact the health of surface waters as concentration levels frequently rise above maximum levels determined as safe. PK Watchers reason that the continued degradation of our water resources, needs to be monitored through time and, if necessary, alert municipalities as to the salinity changes and trends, if any, of their water supplies. We currently participate in the Fall and Winter Salt Snapshot Programs hosted by Stroud Water Research Center and the NJ Winter Salt Watch through The Watershed Institute.

a. 2025 Fall Salt Snapshot Baseline Data

Partners: Stroud Water Research Center, Wallkill River Watershed Management Group, Sparta Township Environmental Commission

Map Locations Key: Blue – Sparta Township, Yellow – Western Sussex County, Red – Warren County, Other colors indicate sites unavailable.

Data was taken within a two week period (3rd & 4th weeks of October 2025) to measure chloride levels our ground water.

b. 2024/25 PKW Community Winter Road Salt Monitoring Program

Partners: The Watershed Institute, Sparta Environmental Commission, Wallkill River Watershed Management Group

For locations see map on at top of page. 124 samples taken by 16 volunteers

View Map

2024-2025 NJ Salt Watch Standards

Chloride Measurement (ppm)
Exceeds test limit (Over 650 ppm)
Exceeds water quality standard (>230 – 650 ppm)
Rising chloride levels (>50 – 230 ppm)
Low chloride levels (0 – 50 ppm)

Restoration of Floodplains – Floodplain Forestry Project

Partners: The Nature Conservancy and the Wallkill River Watershed Management Group (Sussex Co.) and Sparta Scout Troop 150, ~ 12 FA Volunteers.

Floodplains in their natural state provide necessary ecological services to keep rivers clean and healthy. Reversing past damage by planting native vegetation protects our drinking water, wildlife habitat and recreational activities for the future. We are proud to lend a hand at this time in the removal of >30,000 tree tubes from mature plantings done by major conservation organizations on floodplains throughout the watershed.

COMPLETED!
Fall 2024 – Winter 2025

COMPLETED!
Fall 2025 – Winter 2026

NOTE: Additional results are currently being compiled. This page will be updated as more data becomes available.