Issue #15 

Spring 2007

The Basin Bulletin

Newsletter for Stakeholders of the Raritan River Basin

Prepared on behalf of the Raritan Basin Watershed Alliance

South Brach River Monitoring Workshop

Clinton Township, NJ – The South Branch Watershed Association will hold its 14th Annual River Monitoring Workshop on Saturday, June 2, 2007 at Echo Hill Park in Clinton Township.  The workshop is designed to train new volunteers who are interested in monitoring the health of the river and to provide a refresher course for the Association’s current river monitors.  

The Association’s river monitoring program relies on volunteers to sample the South Branch Raritan River and its tributaries at 18 sites throughout the watershed every year during the last two weeks in June.  Through the program, citizens have the opportunity to take part in a scientific study to assess the condition of the natural resources in their community and the greater South Branch Raritan River watershed.

All those who participate in the workshop will receive “hands-on” training from environmental scientists on sampling protocols and other techniques used to gather information and assess impacts to the river.   Data collected through the Association’s river monitoring program augments data collected by the State and other entities and is used to identify existing and potential sources of pollution in the watershed.  The data will also assist state and local organizations in making informed decisions regarding the preservation of our water resources.

The workshop will take place on Saturday, June 2 from 8:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., rain or shine, at the office of the South Branch Watershed Association, Lechner House, Echo Hill Park, Clinton Township, NJ.  Please contact Nicole Rahman, Program Director, at 908-782-0422 ext 14 for more information or to register by Wednesday, May 30.