The watershed management area includes watersheds draining the central northern portion of New Jersey that flow into the Hudson River in New York. The Area is comprised of mostly Sussex and Passaic Counties and includes the following watersheds: Wallkill River, Papakating Creek, Pochuck Creek, Black Creek, Clove River, Lake Lookout Brook, Beaver Run.

The Wallkill River drains from New Jersey into New York and has a 203 square mile watershed in New Jersey. The 27 mile length of this river in New Jersey is located in Sussex County. This area is predominantly rural with the largest towns being Vernon, Sparta, Franklin and Sussex. The land use in this watershed is primarily forested and agricultural, although the amount of developed land is increasing. Mildly elevated phosphorus and slightly elevated bacterial levels characterize the Wallkill River as monitored near Sussex and Unionville. Elevated lead levels may be a problem near Sussex.

Agricultural runoff from crop production, pasture lands, and animal holdings are believed to have contributed to what local officials term as widespread eutrophic conditions in the Upper Wallkill. The Lower Wallkill River is also experiencing the effects of increased urbanization - largely in the form of construction site runoff. Crop production, pasture lands, and a zinc mine at Franklin are all suspected of affecting water quality in the lower segment of the Wallkill.

Both the Papakating Creek at Sussex and Black Creek near Vernon showed elevated bacterial levels. Nutrient values in the Black Creek were acceptable; in the Papakating Creek phosphorus was elevated. Elevated lead levels may be a problem in the Papakating Creek.

Clove Brook suffers from excessive nutrient loading which causes low dissolved oxygen levels and excessive algae growth. The known sources are agricultural, including feedlot, pasture land, and crop runoff.