As defined by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), a watershed is, “the area of land that drains into a body of water such as a river, lake, stream or bay. It is separated from other systems by high points in the area such as hills or slopes. It includes not only the waterway itself but also the entire land area that drains to it. New Jersey’s watersheds are divided into twenty Watershed Management Areas (WMAs), with restoration efforts and characteristics specific to each. Within the Raritan Basin, there are three WMAs. They are WMA08, WMA09 and WMA10 as described below. Together they form the largest riverine ecosystem wholly within the State of New Jersey.
The Upper Raritan – WMA08
Watershed Management Area 8 (WMA08) consists of the Raritan River’s North Branch and South Branch and their tributaries. It includes large parts of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Morris counties. The South Branch’s land use is mostly agricultural, with suburban and industrial development on the increase. The North Branch’s land use is primarily rural, woodland, and agricultural, […]
The Lower Raritan – WMA09
Watershed Management Area 9 (WMA09) covers the main stem of the Raritan River, the South River, and the Lawrence Brook. The main stem of the Raritan spans from the confluence of the North Branch and the South Branch to the Raritan Bay. The watershed includes parts of Middlesex, Somerset, and Monmouth counties. Land use in […]
The Millstone and Stony Brook – WMA10
Watershed Management Area 10 (WMA10) includes the Millstone River and its tributaries. The Millstone River is a tributary of the Raritan River. WMA10 includes parts of Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer, and Monmouth counties. Land use in the area is mainly suburban development with scattered agricultural areas. Extensive, recent development, however, has continued to emerge in […]