A Natural Resource Management Guide for the County of Morris A ...

Western The County
Toward the western part of the county is the band of glacial deposits lying within the Long Valley region.
This aquifer system is an important source of ground water in a region which is steadily increasing its demand.
6
A recently published study investigated these valley-fill aquifers and the underlying carbonate-rock spanning
the valleys of the Lamington River, Rockaway River, Green Pond Brook, Drakes Brook, and South Branch
of the Raritan River.
The Lamington River Valley (Figure 5) stretching from Picatinny Arsenal southwardly to Califon (Hunterdon
County) contains confining clay layers remnant from glacial Lake Succasunna. These impermeable deposits
separate the confined aquifer from the unconfined aquifer present in the valleys.
The underlying carbonate-rock aquifer is of the Leithsville Formation. Its varied water supply capability is
linked to enhanced secondary porosity caused by weathering and resultant solution opening of primary
fractures, joints, or bedding planes. Productive wells have been located in the valleys of Drakes Brook, the
South Branch Raritan River and
the Lamington River. Where
Hardyston Quartzite underlies
the carbonate-rock aquifer,
supply is mainly appropriate
for domestic use.
In the northern parts of the study
area the Green Pond
Conglomerate aquifer overlies
the carbonate-rock aquifer.
Other than in low-lying areas,
this aquifer does not produce
significant amounts of water.
The valley fill deposits, however,
are more permeable and
productive than those to the
south.
Areas relying on water supply
from Precambrian crystalline
rocks benefit from intersecting
fractures, especially those
weathered-induced.Yields
generally are small but are
adequate for domestic supply.
Source: U.S.G.S., Water-Resources
Investigations Report 93-4157, 1996.
Figure 5 - Lamington River Valley
6
RSHuit x… €q†gxB‘p„ sq x s‘ rg€pA„ ‡€pWg†q„@x ‰u€5Vgxxq‘@uxxg€p7g„h €g†qR iw
5ƒ‡urq„S‘…†qyHqg„F €sVgxxq‘u€†tqHq‰Dq„…q‘Bustxg€p…''$
A Natural Resource Management Guide
for the County of Morris 63