Loantaka Brook facts for kids
Loantaka Brook is a small stream, also called a tributary, that flows into the Passaic River in New Jersey, United States. It's an important part of the local environment and a popular spot for outdoor activities.
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Where Loantaka Brook Begins
Loantaka Brook starts in Morris Township. Its main source is found between Madison Avenue (Route 124) and Woodland Avenue. This part of the stream flows near the Parsons Village apartments and Woodland Elementary School.
Another smaller part of the brook also begins near Madison Avenue. It travels through a pipe and past some apartments before joining the main stream near the elementary school.
A second main starting point for Loantaka Brook is near South Street in Morris Township. This section flows into the Loantaka Brook Reservation. It then joins the main brook after passing the Woodland Water Treatment Plant.
The Brook's Journey and Fun Activities
After these parts of the brook come together, the water is held back by a dam. This creates a beautiful spot called Kitchell Pond.
From Kitchell Pond, the stream flows for about three miles through the Loantaka Brook Reservation. This reservation is a large park, covering about 574-acre (2.32 km2). It's one of the most used parks in Morris County.
The park offers many fun things to do outdoors. You can go running, rollerblading, cycling, or even horseback riding. The brook is easy to see from many of the park's paths. This lets visitors see how the stream is doing and how people are working to make it healthier. After leaving the park, Loantaka Brook joins the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Protecting Loantaka Brook
Even though Loantaka Brook is very popular, it faces some challenges. It is considered the most affected stream in its area. This is mainly due to two problems: pollution from many different places and too much water flowing in the stream.
Dealing with Pollution
To help with pollution, the Great Swamp Watershed Association has a special program. It's called "Adopt-A-Stream." Volunteers test Loantaka Brook to find out what kinds of pollutants are entering it.
They check for things like:
- Total dissolved solids (TDS), which are tiny bits of stuff floating in the water.
- E. coli bacteria, which can be harmful.
- Nutrients like phosphorus and nitrates, which can come from fertilizers.
- Sedimentation, which is when dirt and sand settle in the water.
The information they gather helps them plan how to clean up the stream. This cleanup plan for Loantaka Brook will also help other streams in the Great Swamp area.
Managing Water Volume
Another problem for Loantaka Brook is too much water. The Woodland Water Treatment Plant releases thousands of gallons of treated water into the stream every day. This extra water can wash away the stream's banks. It also removes sand and dirt, and can even damage plants and trees along the sides of the stream.
Also, hundreds of storm drains in neighborhoods and businesses send rainwater directly into the brook. All this extra water, from the treatment plant and stormwater, can make the water quality worse. Silt and sediments block sunlight, making the water cloudy.
Too much water also makes the stream wider and shallower. This raises the water temperature. Higher temperatures make it hard for certain native fish and plants to live there. Loantaka Brook actually has the fewest types of living things compared to other streams in the Great Swamp.
The Great Swamp Watershed Association and other groups are working together. They hope to fix these problems. By improving the health of Loantaka Brook, they can help this important stream and the Great Swamp area.
Where the Brook Ends
Loantaka Brook eventually joins Great Brook. This meeting point is located near the parking lot at the end of Woodland Road, inside the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Images for kids
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Kitchell Pond, created by a dam in Loantaka Brook
