Issue #15 

Spring 2007

The Basin Bulletin

Newsletter for Stakeholders of the Raritan River Basin

Prepared on behalf of the Raritan Basin Watershed Alliance

Neshanic Watershed Restoration Plan Project Kick-Off

A water quality project aimed at restoring the water quality in the Neshanic River Watershed, held a Kick-Off Meeting on March 22^nd in Raritan Township.  The Neshanic River watershed drains a 31-square mile region that includes portions of Raritan, Delaware, East Amwell and Flemington. Local residents and representatives from the four municipalities in the project area attended the Kick-Off Meeting. An interdisciplinary project team of watershed experts provided attendees with a brief description of the key project tasks as well as some of the opportunities for volunteer involvement in the project.

New Jersey Institute of Technology oversees the process of developing the watershed restoration plan for the Neshanic River watershed.  Although data clearly show problems in the Neshanic watershed, the sources and causes of the problems are not clear.  When completed, the plan will identify the management measures necessary to reduce fecal coliform and attain water quality standards for total phosphorus and total suspended solids, to reduce the aquatic life impairments, and to examine the possibility of restoring the base flow of the Neshanic River.  Funding is provided by the Division of Watershed Management at New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) through a federal Clean Water Act Section 319(h) grant.  Researchers and practitioners from Rutgers University, New Jersey Water Supply Authority, North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council, South Branch Watershed Association, Hunterdon County Soil Conservation District, Natural Resource Conservation Service and NJDEP Division of Watershed Management are collaborating with NJIT on the project.

A visual assessment of stream health is an important step of a comprehensive data collection effort in the watershed.  Stream visual assessments provide valuable information on stream conditions and can be conducted by trained volunteers with little expertise in stream ecology. The South Branch Watershed Association (SBWA), along with the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, will hold a Stream Visual Assessment Protocol training event for volunteers on May 5.  This event will be held in Raritan from 8:30 – 12:30.  

Volunteers are also invited to serve on the Watershed Restoration Planning Committee.  This committee will meet 4-5 times per year to review data and provide feedback about project findings.  

To register for the Stream Visual Assessment training or to know more information on how you can become involved with the project, please contact Ellen Cronan, SBWA at 908-782-0422 x 15.