The watershed management area includes watersheds draining the lower -middle portions of the Delaware River. The principal rivers here are the Rancocas, Cooper, and Pennsauken. The area overlies Burlington and Camden Counties and includes the following watersheds: Cooper River, Rancocas Creek, Newton Creek, Pompeston Creek, Pennsauken Creek, Baldwin Run, Mill Creek and Mc DonaldÕs Branch.

The Cooper River is 16 miles long and its watershed encompasses an area of 40 square miles. The river flows through Camden County to the Delaware River at Camden. The significant tributaries include the North Branch Cooper River and Tindale Run. There is intense development along the mainstem and the areas adjacent to the North Branch. The population centers are Camden, Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, and Haddon Township. Overall land use in this watershed is primarily urban/suburban.

This location is characterized by elevated total phosphorus, poor sanitary quality, and levels of arsenic and lead which could impair the water here for potable use and for aquatic life support, respectively. In spite of what is observed during this review period, water quality here has shown significant improvement over the prior review period (1986 through 1990). Significant reductions in nitrogenous compounds and fecal coliform bacteria are observed. Reductions are also noted in levels of total phosphorus. The water quality problems of the Cooper River had been the result of excessive municipal and industrial wastewater discharges, combined with the effects of urban stormwater runoff, combined sewer overflows and the limited assimilative ability of the stream.

The 16 mile long Cooper River is reported to receive nonpoint source pollution from roadways and housing construction as well as from croplands, storm sewers, combined sewers, suburban surfaces, highway maintenance, various spills, mining, and landfills. These, combined with point sources, are cited as contributing to impaired water quality and occasional fish kills in the river.

The Pennsauken Creek drains 33 square miles of southwestern Burlington County and northern Camden County. This creek flows into the Delaware River near Palmyra, New Jersey. The North Branch of the Pennsauken is in Burlington County, while the South Branch is the boundary between Burlington and Camden Counties. Populations are centered in Mt. Laurel, Maple Shade, Cherry Hill and downstream of Maple Shade. Industry is concentrated at the mouth of the Pennsauken Creek. Much of this watershed is developed urban/suburban area, with the remainder divided between farmland and forested land.

In the South Branch of the Pennsauken, sanitary quality is poor and nutrient levels are very high. When compared to the previous assessment period (data collected from 1986 through 1990), there appear to have been reductions in levels of inorganic nitrogen and total phosphorus. Previous Inventory Reports have discussed high levels of chlordane and PCBs in fish that have been taken from the Pennsauken Creek mainstem and from the South Branch from Strawbridge Lake downstream. These levels were, and are still, regarded as posing a potential health hazard; as a result, recreational fishing continues to be banned in these waterways.

The Rancocas Creek watershed is 360 square miles and the largest in south-central New Jersey. Of this area, 167 square miles is drained by the North Branch and 144 square miles is drained by the South Branch. The North Branch is 31 miles long and is fed by the Greenwood Branch, McDonalds Branch, and Mount Misery Brook. The major tributaries to the South Branch include the Southwest Branch Rancocas Creek, Stop the Jade Run, Haynes Creek, and Friendship Creek. The mainstem flows about eight miles and drains an area of approximately 49 square miles before emptying into the Delaware River at Delanco and Riverside. Population centers are Pemberton Township, Medford Township, Medford Lakes Borough, Evesham Township, Mount Holly, and Willingboro. Major impoundments include Medford Lake, Pine Lake, Browns Mills Lake, and Crystal Lake. About half of this drainage basin is forested, with the remaining area divided between agricultural use and urban/suburban. Significant development is taking place in many former agricultural areas. The eastern part of this watershed drains the Pinelands Protection Area.

The North Branch Rancocas Creek represents good conditions with acceptable nutrient levels and relatively good sanitary quality. The problem here, as in other acid waters, lies in the severely restrictive heavy metals criteria calculated for these waters. As the result, the North branch appears to experience chronic exceedances of copper and lead, and occasional exceedances of zinc.

The South Branch Rancocas represents fair conditions. Although inorganic nitrogen is acceptable, total phosphorous is mildly elevated, and sanitary quality is very good. Warm weather dissolved oxygen levels are suspected to be depressed at night, creating stressful conditions for aquatic life.