Summary
STATEMAP-funded geologic maps in New Jersey are providing direct public benefits by protecting water quality, preventing infrastructure failures, guiding reclamation of abandoned mines, supporting environmental investigations, identifying geologic hazards, and enabling sustainable groundwater development. NGGDPP (Data Preservation) grants are preserving and digitizing archival reports, field notes, and maps dating back to the late 1800s and are being used to make geoscience information available to the public.
STATEMAP
- Water Quality (Lakewood & Lakehurst Quadrangles, 2024–2025):
- Bedrock geologic maps help identify the source of contamination in aquifers and aquifer systems throughout New Jersey, particularly within the Kirkwood–Cohansey aquifer system, which serves as a primary source of drinking water for much of southern New Jersey.
- Mapping helped pinpoint likely sources of elevated nitrate and nitrite—failing septic systems and fertilizer use—informing water-quality protection strategies in the Metedeconk River catchment area.
- Infrastructure & Public Safety (Dover Quadrangle and adjacent quadrangles):
- A heavily traveled interstate highway collapsed after being constructed over an abandoned mine.
- The STATEMAP-funded Dover bedrock map guided roadway reclamation and is now being used, together with other northern NJ bedrock maps, in an interagency program to locate other abandoned mines and assess risks to infrastructure.
- Supports efforts to prevent future roadway failures and enhance public safety.
- Environmental Investigations (Keyport Quadrangle, 2024):
- STATEMAP mapping clarified whether material piles were illegal dumping or naturally occurring.
- The bedrock map confirmed the presence of iron concretions, ruling out dumping and demonstrating the value of geologic mapping in environmental compliance and enforcement.
- Groundwater Development (Cape May County Geologic and Aquifer Map, 2013):
- In an area challenged by saltwater intrusion, the aquifer map provided essential data for new groundwater development projects.
- Detailed logs and shallow geologic descriptions helped guide well siting and sustainable water resource planning.
- Geologic Hazards (New Jersey part of the Easton Quadrangle, Newton East Quadrangle, and Newton West Quadrangle, 2018-present):
- STATEMAP mapping has identified areas of northern New Jersey susceptible to sinkhole development and examined sinkhole features to document and analyze their formation.
- This mapping enhances the understanding of factors contributing to sinkhole development, informs regulatory decision-making, and increases awareness among property owners in affected areas.
NGGDPP (Data Preservation)
- New Jersey has participated in the program since 2007 and used the awards to identify, catalog, secure, and preserve at-risk data. Many of these items scanned have been made accessible to outside entities when requested, including government agencies and the private sector, and are mainly used for research, education, land management, hazard mitigation, and engineering studies.
- With the 2025 USGS Data Preservation Grant, the NJGWS scanned 672 historic photographs from our photographic archives collection. The NJGWS created a webpage to download these scanned historic images. They are available at the following website. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Impact for New Jersey:
- Protects drinking water supplies by identifying contamination sources.
- Provides data to prevent infrastructure collapse and improve mine reclamation planning.
- Supports regulatory enforcement in environmental investigations.
- Enables sustainable groundwater development in coastal communities threatened by saltwater intrusion.
- Contributes to public and institutional awareness of geologic hazards.
- Makes historic photos, topographic maps, and abandoned mine reports and maps available for regulatory agencies and the public.