Our Projects

Stewardship of Open Space (SOS)
North Jersey RC&D recieved funding from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the Victoria Foundation and Conservation Resources Inc. to begin a feasibility study and business plan for the management of open space in the six counties we serve.

Dry Hydrant
Community development is one of North Jersey RC&D’s main objectives! The planning and installation of non-pressurized dry hydrants throughout our six county area helps communities fight fires in economically and ecologically smart ways!

Walnut Brook Restoration
Walnut Brook has had major erosion concerns throughout Mine Brook Park in Raritan Township. North Jersey RC&D and project partners are working to restore this section of Walnut Brook for enhanced stream ecology and to provide a safe environment for visitors.

Paulins Kill Watershed Management Plan
Project partners are looking to evaluate the upper Paulins Kill watershed in Sussex County to determine management needs and challenges.

Watershed Protection & Restoration Plan for the Musconetcong Watershed from Hampton to Bloomsbury
This project will assess and identify restoration and management techniques appropriate for this watershed. When implemented the plan will result in achieving the necessary fecal colifom loading reductions, improve benthic macroinvertebrate communities and address pH impairments.

Watershed Protection & Restoration Plan for the Neshanic Watershed
The Neshanic River is impaired for several parameters including phosphorus and fecal coliform. Once complete, this plan will lay out the needed actions to restore water quality and quantity in the Neshanic River Watershed.

Riparian Restoration Plan for Agricultural Lands in the Raritan Basin
This project uses Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to evaluate and prioritize agricultural lands within riparian areas for buffer improvements. Working with producers, this will help identify areas for riparian buffer precedence.

Morris Canal/Lopatcong Creek
Working with Warren County, we are integrating historic preservation of the Morris Canal with stream preservation of the Lopatcong Creek. To preserve the integrity of the Morris Canal it is vital to preserve and protect the Lopatcong Creek.

Protection of Critical Sources Areas for Achieving Long-term Sustainability of Water Resources in the Rockaway Creek
Using GIS technology, North Jersey RC&D is working to help municipalities identify and protect critical source areas for overall watershed protection.

Protecting and Improving Wildlife Habitat through Riparian Restoration
Working within the Upper Delaware and Wallkill Watersheds, North Jersey RC&D staff and partners are implementing riparian buffers at various locations.

Farm Energy Audits
This program provided energy audit data collection training to North and South Jersey RC&D affiliates. Energy audits can be performed on farms across the state.

Stewardship of Open Space
North Jersey RC&D received funding from the Victoria Foundation and Conservation Resources Inc. to begin a feasibility study and business plan for the management of open space in the six counties we serve. This program will allow municipal officials to properly manage open space according to community needs. The Stewardship of Open Space (SOS) program provides the framework for communities to achieve enduring protection of open space for future generations. A comprehensive package of services, offered to municipal governments, will incorporate topics such as: renewable energy production, local food systems, outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat, threatened and endangered species protection, local culture, invasive species management, water quality enhancements, and stormwater management.

To learn more about this project, contact Jen House!
908-735-0733 ext. 107
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Dry Hydrant
North Jersey RC&D is working with Warren, Sussex, Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, and Union Counties to improve rural fire protection by installing non-pressurized dry hydrants in lakes, ponds, and rivers. A dry hydrant allows the fire department to draft from the natural water source without the costs of pressurized hydrants. The installation of a dry hydrant in a natural water source has many benefits for the community and environment:

Dry Hydrant
1. Increased water supply availability for local fire departments and NJ Forest Fire Service
2. Collaboration between rural fire departments, emergency management organizations, and regional fire entities.
3. Increase resident’s awareness towards rural fire protection issues.

Currently, North Jersey RC&D and local fire departments have identified 15 sites throughout Warren and Sussex Counties for dry hydrant installation in the spring/summer of 2009!

To learn more about this project, contact Jen House!
908-735-0733 ext. 107
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Walnut Brook Restoration
The North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council (RD&D) recently received funding from New Jersey Freshwater Wetlands Mitigation Council to undertake riparian restoration and create new wetlands along and near Walnut Brook in Raritan Township. Walnut Brook runs through Mine Brook Park and the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance’s Dvoor Farm on the Route 12 circle. The project will take place from June through November of 2009; it continues efforts begun by the RC&D in Mine Brook Park in 2005.

The project is a cooperative effort between North Jersey RC&D and the following partner organizations:
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Hunterdon County Soil Conservation District
- Princeton Hydro, LLC
- Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance
- Raritan Township
- South Branch Watershed Association
- Trout Unlimited
- NJ Department of Environmental Protection Watershed Management Division
- NJ Institute of Technology
- Hunterdon County Roads, Bridges and Engineering Department (through the Hunterdon County Freeholders)
- Beazer Homes, Inc.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: River Engineering Branch

The Walnut Brook Riparian Restoration project will include elements of wetland restoration, creation, and enhancement that will serve as a public demonstration project for the transferable technology of riparian restoration. Major items of work will include: earthmoving, installing stream stabilization measures, restoring floodplain wetland areas, and planting riparian areas with native species.

This riparian buffer will be established on farm fields on each side of Walnut Brook and it’s tributary to protect the stream from any agricultural runoff or other nonpoint source pollutants such as lawn fertilizers and pesticides, and road runoff. Buffer areas will be planted to native floodplain trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs. A small portion of the riparian buffer restoration will take place at the upstream end of the HLTA property in Mine Brook Park owned by Raritan Township (lot 2.01).

Check out the this fact sheet to learn more!

To learn more about this project or to volunteer, contact Grace Messinger!
908-735-0733 ext. 110
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River-Friendly Farm Certification Program
The River-Friendly Farm Program is a voluntary certification program designed to recognize farms that protect our shared natural resources through responsible management. Today, progressive farmers recognize that environmental excellence is part of a sustainable operation, impacting the viability of their business into the future. Whether located on five or 500 acres, farms that manage their land to protect the soil and water are an asset to the larger community.

The River-Friendly Farm Program recognizes farmers who take leadership roles as environmental stewards. Once the applicant farm meets the criteria for this certification, the producer may use the River-Friendly label as a marketing tool to reach environmentally conscientious customers and raise awareness of local water quality issues.

Currently, farms in the Raritan River Basin are eligible to apply for the voluntary certification. North Jersey RC&D works with each individual applicant to plan, find funding for, and implement practices that help protect and enhance water quality in the Raritan River Basin, which provides drinking water for 1.5 million people.

Be sure to check out the RFF website!
For more information contact the Patrick Natale.
908-735-0733 x102
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Paulins Kill Watershed Management Plan
North Jersey RC&D is working with the Wallkill River Watershed Management Group (WRWMG) to evaluate the upper Paulins Kill Watershed through visual stream assessments, as well as, compiling a threatened and endangered species report. This project will describe the Paulins Kill in its current state. Therefore, allowing project partners to determine improvements, challenges, and tasks for future conservation efforts in Sussex County.

Watershed Protection & Restoration Plan for the Musconetcong Watershed from Hampton to Bloomsbury
The restoration area for the Musconetcong River watershed area is approximately 19.6 square miles in size and includes Lebanon Township, Hampton Borough and Bethlehem Township in Hunterdon County and Franklin and Washington Townships in Warren County. The Musconetcong River at the Route 31 USGS monitoring station is currently identified as not meeting surface water quality standards for aquatic life and at the downstream monitoring station near Bloomsbury has also been identified as not meeting water quality standards for fecal coliform and pH.

North Jersey RC&D is working to identify sources of concern for the Musconetcong River from Hampton to Bloomsbury. Identification of fecal coliform loading sources will drastically help improve water quality. Rutgers University is able to identify bovine and human fecal coliform through DNA testing. Through North Jersey RC&D’s sampling, restoration efforts and management techniques can be focused directly on the cause of the problem.

North Jersey RC&D was awarded funds by the State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Watershed Management to evaluate the potential pollution sources within this watershed. North Jersey RC&D has partnered with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Water Resources Program, and the Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA) to complete this project. This effort includes determining the sources of fecal coliform, and other pollutants that are contributing to the river’s failing water quality and designing a plan for the watershed so that water quality standards may once again be met in the Musconetcong River.

This project will include visual, chemical and biological sampling of the Musconetcong River. Together, the collected data will aid in characterizing water quality and in identifying specific sources of pollutants impairing this river system. Identification of fecal coliform loading sources will drastically help improve water quality. Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program is able to further identify bovine and human fecal coliform sources through DNA testing.

The final plan will define projects with the most cost-benefit advantage that will restore water quality to the Musconetcong River when implemented. The Watershed Restoration Plan will include Best Management Practices, both structural and nonstructural, that can be used to repair this ecosystem. Guidance from landowners in the watershed and support from the municipalities will ensure that the projects defined for this area are both welcomed by the community and in support of our common goal, an improved Musconetcong River.

For more information, contact Grace Messinger!
908-735-0733 ext. 110
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Watershed Protection & Restoration Plan for the Neshanic Watershed
The restoration planning area of the Neshanic River Watershed is a 31 square mile area of mixed land use within the Raritan River Basin. A majority of the stream reaches are impaired based on New Jersey State standards for surface water quality in the parameters of phosphorus, total suspended solids, copper and aquatic life and listed on Sublist 5 of the New Jersey 2004 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report. A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for fecal coliform has been approved and adopted for the Neshanic River. This TMDL requires 87% reductions in nonpoint source bacteria loads throughout the watershed. Additionally, a TMDL for total phosphorus in the Neshanic River was completed in 2006.

Another concern in the watershed is the increasing occurrences of no/low base water flow during later summer. The goal of this project is to improve the health of the Neshanic River by developing a watershed restoration plan that achieves the required TMDL reductions for fecal coliform and total phosphorus and obtains water quality standards for total suspended solids, and aquatic life impairments and evaluate the possibility of restoring the base water flow.

Several team members along with North Jersey RC&D are partnering on the various facets of this restoration plan.

Project tasks include:
- chemical and biological water quality monitoring;
- stream visual assessment;
- stormwater infrastructure inventory;
- development, selection, and effectiveness and economic assessments of stormwater management measures and agricultural best management practices; and
- biophysical and economic modeling.

A watershed restoration planning committee will be established and operated to bring broad public participation into the planning process and to evaluate the project outputs and the final watershed restoration plan.

For more information, contact Patrick Natale!
908-735-0733 ext. 102
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Riparian Restoration Plan for Agricultural Lands in the Raritan Basin
This project’s objective is to develop a riparian restoration plan for agricultural lands in New Jersey’s Raritan River Basin. The plan will consist of the following steps:

1. Identification of agricultural lands in riparian areas
2. Prioritization of lands for restoration projects
3. Identification and evaluation of available funding sources, institutional needs and methods for implementation of riparian buffers
4. Creation of a comprehensive education and outreach plant

The project area, the Raritan River Basin, includes 149 surface water bodies, which 59% of assessed streams are impaired for phosphorous. The Raritan River and its tributaries are the primary source of public water supply for approximately 1.5 million people! Seven central New Jersey counties contribute to the Raritan River Basin: Somerset, Hunterdon, Morris, Mercer, Middlesex, and Union counties.

To learn more about this project, contact Jen House!
908-735-0733 ext. 107
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Morris Canal/Lopatcong Creek
This is a very unique project! The Lopatcong Creek served as a water supply for the Morris Canal througout its life. When the Morris Canal was decommissioned in 1924, the Lopatcong Creek was pushed out into a field to save the integrity of the Morris Canal. Today, the stream has migrated back towards the Morris Canal and is actually eroding the towpath away.

The Warren County Planning Board would like to preserve the Morris Canal and restore the towpath to create recreational opportunities for local residents. The challenge of this project is to preserve the Morris Canal without degrading the Lopatcong Creek.

North Jersey RC&D and Warren County Planning Board will be working with NJDEP, State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and other project partners to establish the best method of restoring the Morris Canal and preserving the Lopatcong Creek.

To learn more about this project, contact Jen House!
908-735-0733 ext. 107
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Protection of Critical Sources Areas for Achieving Long-term Sustainability of Water Resources in the Rockaway Creek
The objective of the proposed project is to protect/preserve critical source areas at the municipal level for achieving the long-term sustainability of water resources through community-based land use planning and ordinances.

To support the objective, we propose
1) to establish and maintain an effective network of scientists and agency personnel for protecting the critical source areas at the municipal level;
2) to identify the critical source areas for protection by applying the variable source area hydrology modeling techniques in Rockaway Creek watershed, Hunterdon County, New Jersey;
3) to review the existing municipal land use plan, zoning and ordinances and develop land use plans, ordinances and best management practices that are adoptable by municipalities to protect the critical source areas in local communities in the selected watershed; and
4) to design and implement a set of education and outreach programs that help municipalities adopt the proposed land use plans and ordinances to protect critical source areas in their communities based on social and economic analyses

Expected benefits include (1) connecting hydrological science and technology to feasible water resource protection actions; (2) going beyond the education to stakeholders and focuses on the actions related to land use planning and decisions at the municipal levels; (3) coordinating various federal and state programs for achieving locally identified water resource management objectives; and (4) developing a series of land use planning tools and protocols that are transferable to other communities.

To learn more about this project, contact Grace Messinger!
908-735-0733 ext. 110
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Protecting and Improving Wildlife Habitat through Riparian Restoration
Through this project North Jersey RC&D and project partners will implement eight riparian restoration projects in the Upper Delaware and Wallkill Watersheds. The implementation of riparian buffers provides numerous wildlife benefits including thermal modification for cold water fisheries, establishment of native plant communities, and restoration of streamside forest communities. Sites for buffer installation will be selected utilizing a proven method used by North Jersey RC&D for several years through other grant funded projects. RC&D site will work with project site owners to develop and implement the restoration plan. The RC&D Watershed Specialist will also coordinate volunteer labor and equipment needed to implement the project. Site maintenance plans will be developed for each site and annual monitoring conducted to ensure that the plan is being followed.

Have a site in mind? Click Here to download the form.

To learn more about this project, contact Grace Messinger!
908-735-0733 ext. 110
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Farm Energy Audits
This program provided energy audit data collection training to North and South Jersey RC&D affiliates. Through this project RC&D recruited 5 data collector trainees, assisted in setting up the training program, and identified 4 local farms to be used for data collection training. Participating farms received a free energy audit. Learn more here!
To learn more about this project, contact Christine Hall!
908-735-0733 ext. 105
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Our Projects