Water testing of PR - 6/26

[buzzbaiter]

Based upon concerns about the river and the fishing in general, I decided to do some quick testing of the water. Being a chemist for over 28 years along with BS in Chemistry, I feel I'm more than qualified. preliminary results:

TSS - measure of suspended solids = <3. Limit can vary but for companies that discharge directly in rivers, its generally around 100 mg/L. Obviously less is better.

pH = 7.07 Usually Limits 6 to 9.

Conductivity = 781 uohms/s Basically a measure of ions - both negative and positive. Examples are sodium, magnesium, chloride, phosphorus, etc

TDS - measure of dissolved solids = 550 mg/L. Limit is 500.

Metals: I checked for 26 different metals. All were ND(non-detect) except for:

• Aluminum = 200 ppb(parts per billion)
• Boron = 120 ppb
• Calcium = 46 ppm(parts per million
• Iron = 655 ppb
• Potassium = 5 ppm
• Magnesium = 14 ppm
• Manganese = 176 ppb
• Sodium = 79 ppm

Nothing unusual there. Normal amounts of mostly naturally occurring metals. Iron is a bit high as is Manganese. These are aesthetic contaminants in that they affect color causing staining.

Ran some bacteria tests(fecal/total coliform; e.coli) as well but they won't be done for another 20-24 hrs or so.

Based upon all this data, river is - at least from a chemistry pov - in great shape. In fact cleaner then most trout streams. I saw fish and even recent spawning beds so fish are there.

[ChaosStarter]

Very cool and good to know. I'm curious if it will vary depending on where you sample. Obviously the closer to the ocean would get a broader randge as opposed to 30-50 miles upstream.

[buzzbaiter]

Originally Posted by ChaosStarter

I'm curious if it will vary depending on where you sample. Obviously the closer to the ocean would get a broader randge as opposed to 30-50 miles upstream.

It will vary being an 80 mile river but not by much. I would expect higher bacteria, cond and solids the further downstream you go as more industries and STP's discharge into it.

Samples were taken along the Morris/Essex border in Montville. River is a bit turbid but nothing unusual there. No noticeable smell either.

[Lard Almighty]

I've always been curious about the chemical loads in NJ's rivers. If I had thousands of dollars burning a hole in my pocket, I would run full TCL/TAL+30 on some major river systems.

Thanks for the info, very informative!

[Gatto1227]

I just think that river is getting a sh*t ton of pressure.. that mixed with poor water quality lately

[AndyS]

I don't believe the fishing pressure idea one bit. I keep thinking back to when my wife caught her state record brown trout from Round Valley. Back then the parking lot would close at 11am because there was no more parking, you could walk across the boats, and she nabs a state record, theory busted !

[Chrisper4694]

When I fish the pr all I smell is that porta John/urinal cake scent haha

[Eskimo]

.


Very interesting chemical analysis.
Were there detectable levels of mercury?

It's theoretically possible that some disease came through and knocked off a percentage of the population. Look what happened to the Smallmouth in the Delaware when the columnaris disease appeared. Those populations still haven't recovered.

Of course increased fishing pressure is always a factor. Especially for big fish that require many years to reach trophy-sized proportions.


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[slider]

Andy: Over fishing has already proved itself to be detrimental to the fish population in a number of lakes and ponds.But when u say your wife caught a record trout at RV when the lake was full of boats..My question then becomes. how many nice size fish to lunker sized fish were caught that day..Signs of a good fishery are catches that contain fish of all sizes from stockie size to mid size to lunker sized fish..Passaic river anglers are concerned because that very productive ares have changed for the worse..Little to no action in previous good locations can cause concern..However as mention, more exploration probably needed to confirm some real problem now exists.. Food sorces (small bait sized fish) may have washed down stream due to heavy rains, deeper holes may have silted in to make big predators relocate further up or down stream reasons could be endless.Thats why river fishing can sometimes drive anglers crazy..Tme will tell, right now I'd advise anglers to fish harder, be more selective in time of day they fish, also consider more stealth in their approach to known good areas.. Fish aren't really super smart, but their instincts are super.

[Suntzu]

P was slightly high very muddy today managed 3 hammer handles in an hour of fishing before mosquitoes chased me out

On the P fishing pressure has a big effect. At summer lows, fish are concentrated and stressed, and these fish are not hard to catch so if the place gets pressure, and it does now, coupled with poor handling technique there is a material adverse impact to the fishery. Are there still fish? Of course. Are there the same number of big fish, no way. There are whole stretches now, miles, where you will not find a fish over 32". Just a few years ago these stretches routinely produced numbers to 40"
Secrets out, fishing pressure will only increase the more pike picture are posted so we need to work hard to teach folks how to approach this fishery responsibly

So;
If you fish without at least a 30lb leader
Fish with trebles, particularly inline spinners
Don't know how to properly hold a pike, or have the proper tools to dehook a pike
Cast from a position where you cannot easily land a fish
Allow a pike to flop around on the first or mud or keep a fish out of the water for more than a few seconds for a pic
YOU are an irresponsible fisherman👿
So protect and treasure this awesome resource 😀