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THE EFFECT OF CRANBERRY AGRICULTURE ON WETLAND LANDSCAPES, STREAM HYDROLOGY, AND AQUATIC COMMUNITIES
Impact/Purpose:
Results may contribute to cranberry bog policy and management, and to a watershed management plan for the Mullica basin.
Description:
New Jersey contains about 3600 acres of cranberry bogs, and 70% of this acreage occurs within the 1470-km2 Mullica River basin. Cranberry agriculture occupied about 10,000 acres in 1920. Bog construction and management results in channelized stream segments, ditches, dikes, episodic water discharges, and releases of nutrients and pesticides. The Pinelands Commission proposes to investigate the effects of past and present bogs upon stream drainage and wetland landscape patterns, stream discharge, and stream communities (plants, macroinvertebrates, fish). This study will focus upon the eastern portion of the Mullica basin. The project will include GIS analyses, recent discharge data from 11 gages, historical (20-78 years) gage data, and physical/biotic characterization of 40+ stream reaches. Results may contribute to cranberry bog policy and management, and to a watershed management plan for the Mullica basin.