Lawrence Brook


Lawrence Brook is a tributary of the Raritan River in Middlesex County, New Jersey, in the United States.

Course

Originally a stream, its course now includes man-made lakes created by dams built in the 19th and 20th centuries: Deans Pond, Davidsons Mill Pond, Farrington Lake, Mill Pond, and Westons Mill Pond. Its lowest section, near the Raritan River, is tidal; it hosts marine wildlife and is regarded as a coastal area.
Its drainage basin, the Lawrence Brook watershed, is a area, identified by the USGS code HUC 02030105130.
At the stretch at Weston's Mill Pond, Lawrence Brook crosses Rutgers University's Cook Campus, along the vegetable research farm, the equine research farm, Rutgers Gardens, and Helyar forest.
Lawrence Brook is a wildlife corridor, a bird migration area and a highly sensitive body of water. Power boats, except with an electric motor, are not permitted on the brook.

History

  • This stream was called Piscopeek by the Unami Lenni Lenape Indians. Its current name comes from Mr.Thomas Lawrence, a New York City baker, who acquired its surrounding land in the 17th century. Some historical maps show the spelling Lawrence's Brook.
  • In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Farrington Lake area served as a resort area, with a trolley line running from New Brunswick through Milltown then turning south to eventually end at the State Fair Grounds in Trenton. The lake was formed by a dam built above a lower working dam that powered a snuff mill built in the mid 19th century.

    Pictures

Succession and pathway of Lawrence Brook

The Lawrence Brook, a 30-mile inland waterway, connects from the Raritan Bay to the lesser known end; splitting apart into two branches in South Brunswick, this is a list of important landmarks in Central New Jersey where the Lawrence Brook is present.
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • Raritan Bay to the Mouth of Raritan River
  • Raritan River
  • Raritan River
  • Westons Mills Pond
  • Lawrence Brook
  • Farrington Lake
  • Lawrence Brook
  • Davidson's Mill Pond
  • Lawrence Brook
  • Lawrence Brook and splits into two branches:
  • 1: Intersects New Road, Continues Roughly Parallel to The Grande Subdivision, and connects with the Devils Brook into Lake McCormack
  • ''2: Continues Through Marsh, enters Forested Areas, and Ends North of the Tall Timbers Cricket Park in a Smaller Marsh.''

    Parks along Lawrence Brook

  • Davidsons Mill Pond County Park
  • Ireland Brook County Park
  • Bicentennial Park
  • North Brunswick Memorial Park
  • Brook Park
  • Mill Pond Park
  • Rutgers Gardens and Helyar Woods

    Main tributaries

  • Brook from the beaver pond to Davidsons Mill Pond
  • Ireland Brook
  • Oakeys Brook
  • *Cow Yard Brook, a branch of the Oakeys Brook
  • Beaverdam Brook
  • Sucker Brook
  • Sawmill Brook
  • Brook in Rutgers Gardens, sometimes called Doc Brook
  • Brook in Rutgers' Helyar Woods, sometimes called Helyar Brook
  • Terhune Run
  • Great Ditch