b. Where Were the Samples Taken From?

There were three samples taken: one from the Delaware-Raritan Canal, one from Sandy Hook beach, and one from Tommy Pond in Metuchen.

            The Delaware-Raritan Canal is a place where citizens who seek peace can go to canoe, kayak, jog, bike, and ride horses for 70 miles. The canal has many trails around it that people can walk through. There are many historical houses that surround the canal. There is not a dense amount of population that surrounds the canal. The area is mostly wooded, but on the outskirts of the canal, there are some historic towns. The area is not developed. Motorized vehicles and ATVs are not allowed by the canal, and there are strict garbage disposal rules.

            Sandy Hook is a 1665-acre peninsula that is somewhat developed. There are beach houses that scatter throughout the peninsula, and motor vehicles are a common sight in Sandy Hook especially during the summer. Also during the summer, many people from northern New Jersey and nearby New York travel to Sandy Hook to enjoy the sand and water. There are shops, restaurants, and bars that are also located on Sandy Hook. There is a holly forest on Sandy Hook as well.

            Tommy’s Pond is a pond in Thomas Park in Metuchen, NJ. This pond is 0.4 acres. People from Metuchen and students from nearby Rutgers University travel to Tommy’s pond to fish, skip stones, and walk around. There are many trees in Thomas Park. Metuchen itself is a small town with a few quaint stores, and many of its streets are tree lined. There are many historic sites in Metuchen, and it is a moderately populated town.

Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park. General Info. Retrieved 27 September 2010, from http://www.dandrcanal.com/gen_info.html

Sandy Hook. Home page. Retrieved 27 September 2010, from http://www.sandy-hook.com/index.shtml

Borough of Metuchen, NJ. About Metuchen and Thomas Park. Retrieved 27 September 2010, from http://www.metuchennj.org/