Royce Brook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royce Brook |
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Map of Royce Brook
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| Country | United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | 40°30′6″N 74°41′48″W / 40.50167°N 74.69667°W |
| River mouth | 20 ft (6.1 m) 40°31′51″N 74°35′14″W / 40.53083°N 74.58722°W |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Millstone River, Raritan River, Atlantic Ocean |
| River system | Raritan River system |
Royce Brook is a small stream in New Jersey, United States. It flows through Hillsborough and Manville. This brook is a tributary of the Millstone River. Sometimes people call it Royces Brook or Royces Branch.
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Where Royce Brook Flows
Royce Brook doesn't have one exact starting spot. It's made up of many smaller streams. These streams all flow together within its 16-square-mile (41 km2) watershed. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into one main river or stream.
The Royce Brook Watershed website says it begins near Sourland Mountain. From there, it mostly flows towards the northeast. Finally, it empties into the Millstone River in Manville. The Millstone River then flows into the larger Raritan River.
The Name of the Brook
No one knows for sure how Royce Brook got its name. But there are some clues! A road in Hillsborough, "Royce Brook Road," runs right next to it. There's also a local golf course called "The Royce Brook Golf Club."
One of the first people to settle in Hillsborough was a man named John Royce. This was a long time ago, in the late 1600s. Records show that he owned a very large piece of land. This land is pretty much where the entire town of Manville is today. It's possible the brook was named after him.
Understanding Flooding
Just like the Millstone River, Royce Brook can flood a lot. When there's heavy rain, the water level can rise very high. For example, Hurricane Floyd was a super powerful storm. It changed the land around the brook. It also left a lot of mud and dirt behind.
One person who lives near the brook said the water rose about 7 feet (2.1 m) during Hurricane Floyd. Normally, the water is only about 1-foot (0.30 m) deep in that spot. Most big rainstorms can also wash away the riverbed. This carries trash and pollution into the water.
In April 2007, a storm dropped over 7 inches (180 mm) of rain into Royce Brook. This was the most rain recorded since 1882! But the flooding was not as bad as during Hurricane Floyd. That's because Hurricane Floyd also brought about 6 to 7 inches (150 to 180 mm) of rain.
Pollution in the Brook
Scientists tested Royce Brook for pollution in 2006. They did tests during rainstorms in July and October. They looked for things like dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate, and phosphate. They also checked the water's temperature and pH level.
The tests showed that Royce Brook had low levels of dissolved oxygen. It also had very high levels of phosphate. Phosphates are often found in fertilizers used on farms or lawns. When it rains, these chemicals can wash into the brook.
High phosphate levels can cause too many water plants to grow. These plants use up the dissolved oxygen in the water. This leaves less oxygen for fish and other animals. The pH of Royce Brook was also often basic. Fertilizers tend to be basic, which supports this idea. Also, large bubbles often appear on the water's surface when it flows over rocks. This can also be a sign of high phosphate levels.
Another study was done in 2004, at the same place. It also found low dissolved oxygen and high phosphate levels. It seems these problems have been around for a while.
Sadly, there's also a lot of trash in Royce Brook. Things like rusty iron, soda cans, plastic bottles, and plastic bags were found in the 2006 study.
Roads and Railroads Crossing Royce Brook
Many roads and railroads cross over Royce Brook.
- In Hillsborough
- U.S. Route 206
- Amwell Road
- Hamilton Road
- Falcon Road
- Sunnymead Road
- Central New York Railroad
- In Manville
- Whalen Street
- South Main Street
