2005 ESP Grants in the Raritan Basin

Thirteen communities within the Raritan Basin will receive 2005 Environmental Services Program (ESP) Grants from The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), totaling more than $30,000.  ESP offers matching grants of $1000 to $2500 to environmental commissions and soil conservation districts to help finance environmental projects.

The 2005 ESP recipients in the Raritan Basin are:

Hunterdon  County:

Bethlehem Township: $2,500.00 to map the headwaters of the Musconetcong River within the township and implement a stream-monitoring program.

Clinton Township:  $1,525.00 to educate the residents, landowners and businesses about the Stormwater Management Regulations mandated by the NJDEP in Feb. 2004. 

Raritan Township: $2,500.00 to prepare a pedestrian walkway and bikeway planning study for the township.

Readington Township:  $2,500.00 to create environmental trails designed to allow public access throughout the 100-acre Cushetunk Nature Preserve.   

Mercer County

East Windsor Township:  $2,500.00 to promote a greater appreciation for the environment and in particular native trees in Etra Lake Park by educating middle school and high school children about the various species of trees in the park. 

Hopewell Township:  $2,500.00 to create model baseline documentation for a sample of the local stream corridor conservation easements and to discuss the findings with Township officials.

Middlesex County

Cranbury Township:  $2,500.00 for the collection, analysis and evaluation of surface water samples along Cedar Brook to assess both point source and non-point source pollution contributions. 

Morris County

Chester Township:  $2,500.00 to map the existing stormwater system using Global Positioning System (GPS).

Roxbury Township:  $2,500.00 to disseminate information to the public on environmental issues by providing educational materials on the potential damage to the environment and safety hazards inherent in the use of Off Road Vehicles (ORVs) within the Township. 

Somerset County

Bernardsville Township:  $2,500.00 to restore the Mine Brook Stream, an important tributary of the Raritan River, to a natural healthy state. 

Bridgewater Township:  $2,500.00 to design an extension to the Middle Brook Trail in Bridgewater as well as updating the Middle Brook Trail Guidebook.

Hillsborough Township:  $2,500.00 to research and develop an updated Greenway Plan for Hillsborough Township last updated over ten years ago. 

Montgomery Township:  $2,500.00 to begin the development of a Sustainable Community Plan. This first phase of the project will focus on evaluation, recommendations and implementation of the Environmental Sustainability portion of the Plan. 

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