Ramapo River Watershed: Is it Safe?

By Kerry Hadrava

Despite covering over 211 square miles of land in Southeastern New York State, the Ramapo Watershed is one of the smallest watersheds in New York. This watershed is drained predominantly by the Ramapo and Hackensack Rivers, which both flow downstream into Bergen County in New Jersey.

The Ramapo Watershed is made up of 35 smaller bodies of water such as ponds, lakes, rivers and reservoirs. In recent years, questions have been raised about the quality of the water within these bodies that make up the watershed. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reports that around 66% of the rivers and streams and around 58% of the ponds, lakes and reservoirs have been tested; the rest remains untested.

Good water quality: Fully supports designated activities and uses.
Satisfactory: Fully supports designated activities, but with minor impacts.
Poor (Impaired): does not support designated activites and uses.
Unassessed: Insufficient data available.(source: NYSDEC)

Findings suggest that around 22% of rivers tested and 24% of ponds, lakes and reservoirs tested are in poor quality. This is theorized to be a result of urbanization as well as commercial development (factories, shopping malls, etc.). This is a significant growing concern, as the Hackensack and Ramapo Rivers provide water to many Rockland County residents and North Jersey residents downstream.

"Controlling overdevelopment while creating more affordable housing options has been a major issue for Rockland, one of the fastest growing counties in New York. Additional housing often means more cars on already-congested streets and greater pressure on limited water resources," the Rockland Journal recently noted.


For more information on this issue and on the Ramapo Watershed please visit www.dec.ny.gov/lands/48022.html