RARITAN HEADWATERS ASSOCIATION

WATER QUALITY MONITORING EFFORTS ENCOMPASSED THE ANALYSIS OF BIOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL, AND BACTERIAL DATA FROM 72 SITES WITHIN THE RARITAN RIVER HEADWATERS REGION, CULMINATING IN AN ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE NJDEP, EPA, MUNICIPALITIES, AND THE PUBLIC VIA RHA'S ONLINE REPORT CARD. RARITAN HEADWATERS CONDUCTED 21 COMMUNITY WELL TEST EVENTS AND NUMEROUS INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD DRINKING WATER QUALITY TESTS THROUGH ITS WELL TESTING PROGRAM. REAL-TIME DATA WAS COLLECTED FROM 5 STREAM-BASED CLIMATE STATIONS.ENGAGEMENT IN CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION (STUDENTS, CORPORATE GROUPS, AND SCOUTS) IN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TREE PLANTING, TRAIL CLEARING, AND INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL. THROUGH RHA'S "WOODS AND WATERWAYS" PROGRAM 1,625 TREES WERE PLANTED AT FIVE LOCATIONS WITHIN THE WATERSHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL ENTITIES. THESE LOCATIONS INCLUDED THE CHAMBERS BROOK CONSERVATION AREA, MINE BROOK PARK AND BERNADETTE MORALES NATURE PRESERVE, FAR HILLS FAIRGROUNDS, ROCKABYE MEADOW, AND CALIFON ISLAND PARK, ALONG THE WATERWAYS OF CHAMBERS BROOK, WALNUT BROOK, NORTH BRANCH RARITAN RIVER, PEAPACK BROOK, AND SOUTH BRANCH RARITAN.RHA'S EDUCATION INITIATIVES INCLUDED "NATURE DAYS" FOR YOUNG CHILDREN (AGES 3-8) AT THE FAIRVIEW FARM PRESERVE AND "WATERSHED UNIVERSITY," A WEEK-LONG SUMMER PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. "WATERSHED TOOLS FOR LOCAL LEADERS SEMINARS" PROVIDED EDUCATION ON CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS TO CITIZENS AND DECISION-MAKERS.POLICY ADVOCACY FOR WATER PROTECTION WAS UNDERTAKEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE NJ HIGHLANDS COALITION AND THE NJ WATERSHED COUNCIL. COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PARTNERS FOCUSED ON PLANNING THE REMOVAL OF 5 DAMS IN THE SOUTH BRANCH WATERSHED.AS AN ACCREDITED LAND TRUST, RHA ACTIVELY PURSUED THE PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE. STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES INCLUDED ANNUAL INSPECTIONS OF 33 CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND 9 RHA-OWNED PRESERVES. FURTHERMORE, RHA COLLABORATED WITH THE NJ HIGHLANDS COUNCIL, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY WATER RESOURCES PROGRAM, AND THE NJ WATER SUPPLY AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR 3 SUBWATERSHEDS IN THE HIGHLANDS REGION.