The Lawrence brook, in New Jersey, is
a scenic 10-mile tributary of the Raritan River. Several man-made dams have created 4
elongated lakes (Davidsons Mill Pond, Farrington Lake, Mill Pond and Westons Mill
Pond). It flows through 5 towns (South Brunswick, East Brunswick,
North Brunswick, New Brunswick and Milltown). The Lenni Lenape
Indians
called it the 'Piscopeek.'
Canoeing on the
Lawrence brook is the best way to explore its
wild beauty and its surprising biodiversity. A wildlife corridor, it
is visited by bald eagles, ospreys, red-shouldered hawks, red-tailed hawks, great blue herons,
wild turkeys, black bears (4 sightings in 2008), otters, beavers, red foxes, coyotes
and many other animals; its flora includes wild orchids and wild azaleas.
The Lawrence Brook is
also a water supply for local towns.
Thank you to
all who already care about the Lawrence Brook. Join the regular
spring and fall riverside cleanups, which are advertised in local
papers. Always leave the place a little bit cleaner than it was.
Succession
of reservoirs : |
Deans Pond
(empty)
Davidsons Mill Pond Farrington Lake Milltown Mill
Pond
Westons Mill Pond (created by Westons Mill Dam and Horseshoe
Dam)
|
Main tributaries of the Lawrence Brook
Great Ditch Brook from beaver pond (flows into Davidsons
Mill Pond) Mayes Brook (flows into Farrington Lake) Oakeys
Brook (flows into Farrington Lake)
Ireland Brook (flows into Farrington Lake) Beaverdam Brook (flows
into Farrington Lake) Sucker Brook (flows into Millpond) Bog
Brook (flows into Millpond) Sawmill Brook (flows into Westons Mill
Pond) Brook near bamboo forest flows into Westons
Mill Pond) Brook in Helyar Forest (flows into Westons Mill Pond)
|
|
Note : The mouth of the brook is tidal and hosts
marine wildlife. Anadromous fish (migrating into rivers
to spawn), such as alewife are blocked by the dams. Some catadromous fish (migrating into the ocean to spawn), such as
the American eel,
are able to climb the first 3 dams and have been observed
attempting to climb the huge Farrington Dam one step at
a time.
Related Web sites:
-
Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership
http://lbwp.org
(local watershed association)
-
Nature Notes (Friends
of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission)
|