Streams, Streams, Lakes, and Lakes, and

Hydrology of Hydrology of the Pine the Pine BarrensBarrens

Definition of Definition of HydrologyHydrology::

The study of the The study of the properties, properties, distribution, and distribution, and effect of water in effect of water in an ecosysteman ecosystem

What happens when What happens when it rains?it rains?

Hydrological Hydrological BudgetBudget

114 cm of precipitation falls 114 cm of precipitation falls on the Pinelands every yearon the Pinelands every year

- 15 cm is intercepted- 15 cm is intercepted

- 42 cm evaporates- 42 cm evaporates

- 6 cm flows into streams - 6 cm flows into streams

- 51 cm sinks into the - 51 cm sinks into the groundground

Ground Ground WaterWater

The Pinelands is famous The Pinelands is famous for its large for its large aquifersaquifers- - underground body of underground body of water that is bounded water that is bounded by water-saturated by water-saturated layers of sedimentlayers of sediment

The The CohanseyCohansey aquifer aquifer lies above the lies above the KirkwoodKirkwood

Together they containTogether they contain

17 TRILLION17 TRILLION gallons of water!!!!gallons of water!!!!

Cross Cross SectionSection of the of the PinelandsPinelands

CohanseyCohansey

KirkwoodKirkwood

Mt. Mt. Laurel-Laurel-WenonahWenonah Potomac Potomac

Raritan MagothyRaritan Magothy

BedrockBedrock

Delaware Delaware RiverRiver

Atlantic Atlantic OceanOcean

Cohansey Sand Wedge Cohansey Sand Wedge

What is a What is a watershed?watershed?A watershed is the area of A watershed is the area of

land, based on topography, land, based on topography, that drains to a particular that drains to a particular water body.water body.

LakesLakesDue to the flat terrain, Due to the flat terrain, and sandy soils there and sandy soils there are no natural lakesare no natural lakes

Most of the lakes Most of the lakes were created to were created to supply water for supply water for power and industriespower and industries

RiversRiversLow in pH (range 3.6-5.2, Low in pH (range 3.6-5.2,

mean 4.4 (lower in the mean 4.4 (lower in the winterwinter

Over 5 there is an impact Over 5 there is an impact from development (fertilizer from development (fertilizer runoff)runoff)

Low levels of calcium and Low levels of calcium and magnesiummagnesium

7 Major Pine Barrens 7 Major Pine Barrens RiversRivers

MetedeconkMetedeconk

TomsTomsOswegoOswegoWadingWading

BatstoBatstoMullicaMullicaGreat Great Egg Egg HarborHarbor

StreamsStreamsAll of the Pinelands All of the Pinelands rivers drain to the rivers drain to the AtlanticAtlantic, except for , except for Rancocas Creek Rancocas Creek (which drains into (which drains into the Delaware)the Delaware)

Biological Biological Characteristics…Characteristics…

Snails and mollusks Snails and mollusks can’t deposit can’t deposit calcium in their calcium in their shells if pH < 5.8shells if pH < 5.8

Crustaceans are Crustaceans are scarce in waters <6scarce in waters <6

Many fish species Many fish species cannot reproduce cannot reproduce <5<5

Many streams are Many streams are stocked with game stocked with game fish, which are fish, which are unable to unable to reproducereproduce

Characteristic Characteristic SpeciesSpecies

FishFish: sunfish, pirate : sunfish, pirate perch, chain pickerel,mud perch, chain pickerel,mud minnow and brown and minnow and brown and yellow bullhead catfishyellow bullhead catfish

InsectsInsects: dragonflies, : dragonflies, damselflies, and whirligig damselflies, and whirligig beetlesbeetles