Local Watershed Association Receives ANJEC’s 2007 NJ Environmental Achievement Award

Clinton Township, NJ – The South Branch Watershed Association (SBWA) has received Honorable Mention for the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions’ (ANJEC) 2007 New Jersey Environmental Achievement Award.  SBWA was the only non-profit to receive the award this year and was recognized for the award at ANJEC’s 2007 Environmental Congress held on October 12, 2007 in West Windsor, NJ.

SBWA received the award for their just released Volunteer Monitoring Program Comprehensive Report.  The monitoring program was started in 1994 with ten monitoring sites to collect baseline data on the water quality of the South Branch of the Raritan River and its tributaries.  Bill Kibler, Executive Director for the SBWA, explained, “This area stretches from the river’s source in Mount Olive Township, through Washington, Roxbury, Tewksbury, Clinton, Readington, Raritan, Flemington, Neshanic Station, Hillsborough, and East Amwell Townships, to its confluence with the Raritan River proper in Branchburg Township.  2007 marked the fourteenth year of the program with eighteen monitoring sites, and over sixty dedicated volunteers without whom this program would not be possible.”  This accumulation of data was analyzed to produce the comprehensive report.

Nicole Rahman, Program Director for the SBWA, stated, “The comprehensive report will allow us to look at the water quality trends in the watershed since 1994, give us an idea as to where any sources of impairment may be coming from, and provide guidance as to what steps we should take next for monitoring, restoration, and preservation.”  To view the full report visit www.sbwa.org.  For more information about SBWA’s Volunteer Monitoring Program, call Nicole Rahman at 908-782-0422 ext. 14.