Pequannock River
Encyclopedia
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Pompton River
Pompton River
The Pompton River is a tributary of the Passaic River, approximately 8 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States....
, approximately 20 miles (32 km) long, located in northern New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
It rises in eastern Sussex County
Sussex County, New Jersey
The County of Sussex is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 Federal decennial census, 149,265 persons resided in Sussex County...
, near Highland Lakes on the north side of Hamburg Mountain. It flows southeast to Stockholm
Stockholm, New Jersey
Stockholm, New Jersey is an unincorporated area, located in the southeastern part of Hardyston Township in Sussex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its ZIP Code is 07460...
, then ESE, in a gap north of Green Pond Mountain and other ridges, past Butler
Butler, New Jersey
Butler is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,539.Butler was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1901, from portions of Pequannock Township.-Geography:Butler is located at...
and Bloomingdale. It joins the Ramapo River
Ramapo River
The Ramapo River is a tributary of the Pompton River, approximately 30 mi long, in southern New York and northern New Jersey in the United States.-Course:...
near the Pompton Plains area of Pequannock Township
Pequannock Township, New Jersey
Pequannock Township is a Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 13,888....
to form the Pompton.
In its upper course, it forms part of the county line between Passaic
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
and Morris
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
counties.
It is impounded near its source to form the Oak Ridge Reservoir. The river is relatively unspoiled compared to other rivers in the region. It is a popular spot for recreation trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
fishing in its upper reaches.
The Pequannock watershed is the source of most of Newark's
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
water supply. The lands and water were purchased under the mayoralty of Joseph E. Haynes
Joseph E. Haynes
Joseph Emmett Haynes was the twentieth mayor of Newark, New Jersey 1884 to 1894. A Democrat who explicitly appealed to the working class, Haynes is chiefly remembered for securing Newark a safe and abundant water supply, and his mayoralty is seen as a turning point in the prosperity of...
.