SJRCD Council

 
Friendly Farms

 

 

 

What is Friendly Farms?

Friendly Farms is an outreach program to agricultural producers in the Annaricken-Assiscunk-Barkers Brook watersheds. The Outreach Specialist will discuss with each farmer how best management practices will help reduce the fecal coliform and phosphorus load in the streams.

This outreach program is part of a larger grant obtained by Burlington County. The grant is designed to monitor and improve water quality in the Annaricken Brook watershed.

RickP-Gary Garrison

Rick Parenteau (left) & Garry Garrison
discuss a drainage channel on the Garrison farm.

Garrison dog

The Garrison dog steals the show!

Rick & Gary on bridge

Gary Garrison describes the changes
to Annaricken Creek over the years.

Annaricken Creek looking South

Annaricken Creek looking South from the Garrison farm.

Annaricken Creek looking North

Annaricken Creek looking North.
 

The Assiscunk Creek Headwater Restoration and Protection Plan

A watershed restoration plan has the goal of improving water quality and/or quantity with respect to known problems in the targeted watershed. The project area for this planning initiative consists of the headwaters of the Assiscunk Creek, an 11.2 square mile drainage area including the Annaricken Brook and the 4.8 square mile North Branch of Barkers Brook. Within this planning area, there are approximately 40 miles of mapped streams designated Category One, with the exception of Barkers Brook. The project area is completely within Burlington County and contains portions of Mansfield Township and Springfield Township. Of the land uses within the subject watershed, approximately 70 percent is designated as agricultural and agricultural wetlands with some suburban and typical small village development (NJDEP 1995/97 Land use/Land cover Update, Assiscunk, Crosswicks and Doctors Watershed Management Area, WMA-20). According to the New Jersey 2004 and 2006 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report, segments of the Assiscunk Creek do not meet the criteria for the aquatic life designated use and are documented as impaired for pH, total phosphorus, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fecal coliform. Several total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) have been developed to address these water quality impairments. They are as follows:
  • Ninety-five percent (95%) reduction in fecal coliform for the Assiscunk Creek;
  • Sixty-six percent (66%) reduction in total phosphorus for the Annaricken Creek
    (8.2 river miles);
  • Fifty-four percent (54.6%) reduction in total phosphorus for the North Branch of Barkers Brook (3.9 river miles).

Burlington County is working with two partners on this project, Rutgers Extension Service – Water Resources Program and the South Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council. Tasks include characterization and assessment, modeling sources of impairments, identifying specific restoration projects and educating land owners in the project area. The Extension Service will conduct the majority of the assessment and modeling tasks, while the SJRCD will be conducting outreach and education.

How will Landowners be contacted?

All farm assessed landowners were contacted by letter in the Spring of 2008. Rick Parenteau, the Outreach Specialist, will make field appointments with as many farmers as possible through the remainder of 2008.

Watershed Map

Click here for a larger detailed map in PDF format.

 
Annaricken & Barkers Brook Watersheds

 
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