Musconetcong Watershed Association

THE MUSCONETCONG WATERSHED ASSOCIATION IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROTECTING AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE MUSCONETCONG RIVER WATERSHED, INCLUDING ITS NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS, WATER MONITORING, SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

RIVER WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND RIVER CLEANUPS: MWA WORKS TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY THROUGH SEVERAL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. THE MWA RIVER WATCHER PROGRAM IS A GROUP OF CITIZEN SCIENTISTS TRAINED AND LED BY THE MWA WATER QUALITY MONITORING COORDINATOR. RIVER WATCHERS CONDUCT QUARTERLY WATER TESTING AT SEVEN LOCATIONS ON THE MUSCONETCONG RIVER AND ASSIST ON SPECIAL TASKS SUCH AS: MONITORING RESTORATION PROJECTS, MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING AND SUPPORTING OUR CONTINUOUS MONITORING SENSORS. DATA PROVIDED BY THE PROGRAM HELPS MWA PRIORITIZE RESTORATION ACTIVITIES, MAINTAIN WATER QUALITY, AND IMPROVE ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN THE MUSCONETCONG WATERSHED TO ENSURE THAT IT REMAINS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AS WELL AS FISH, SWIM, AND BOAT. ANNUALLY, MWA HOSTS AN AWARD-WINNING RIVER CLEAN UP, WHERE OVER 400 MWA VOLUNTEERS COLLECT HUNDREDS OF BAGS OF GARBAGE, RECYCLABLE MATERIALS, AND TRUCKLOADS OF LARGE MISCELLANEOUS DEBRIS FROM THE RIVERBANKS AND STREAMBED.

OTHER PROGRAM EXPENDITURES RELATING TO THE ASSOCIATION'S MISSION TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE MUSCONETCONG RIVER WATERSHED.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & OUTREACH: THE MWA WATERSHED EDUCATION PROGRAM REACHES HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS EACH YEAR, FROM FIFTH GRADERS TO COLLEGE AGED STUDENTS, PROVIDING EXPERIENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL AGES. OUR "CAMP MUSKY," IS A SUMMER DAY CAMP FOR CHILDREN AGED 5 TO 12, OFFERING AN OUTDOOR, HANDS-ON, RIVER-BASED PROGRAM. IN THE SPRING AND FALL, WE OFFER A PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS THAT MEETS THE NJ CORE CURRICULUM CONTENT STANDARDS FOR SCIENCE, AND INCLUDES A CLASSROOM PROGRAM AS WELL AS IN-STREAM FIELD EXPERIENCE. THE MWA CONDUCTS A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND PROMOTES WATERSHED MANAGEMENT FOR MUNICIPALITIES. OUR RIVER WATCHER WATER MONITORING PROGRAM INCLUDES AN INTENSIVE 6-HOUR TRAINING WITH BOTH CLASSROOM AND FIELD SESSIONS AND IS APPROPRIATE FOR THOSE HIGH SCHOOL AGED AND OLDER. WE ALSO OFFER A SERIES OF "RIVER TALKS," WHICH ARE EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS THAT ADDRESS VARIOUS ASPECTS OF RIVER ECOLOGY AND RESTORATION, AS WELL AS CURRENT ISSUES IN THE MUSCONETCONG WATERSHED. IN ADDITION, THE MWA OFFERS MANY RECREATIONAL AND INTERPRETIVE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES TO SUIT ALL INTERESTS AND SKILL LEVELS. ADDITIONALLY, THE MWA IS RESTORING AND ADAPTING THE CIRCA 1865 ASBURY GRIST MILL AS AN INTERPRETATIVE CENTER FOR WATERSHED EDUCATION UTILIZING THEMES OF NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY, MILLING TECHNOLOGY, AGRICULTURE, AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND RESTORING AN ADJACENT ISLAND FOR PUBLIC RECREATIONAL USE.

DAM REMOVALS AND RIPARIAN RESTORATION: THE MWA PROVIDES PROJECT LEADERSHIP FOR THE REMOVAL OF DAMS IMPEDING THE FREE FLOW OF THE MUSCONETCONG RIVER, THUS IMPROVING WATER QUALITY, WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND RECREATIONAL USE. THE MWA HAS MANAGED THE REMOVAL OF FIVE DAMS AND IS ENGAGED IN THE PLANNING PHASE OF THREE OTHER DAM REMOVALS. FOR THESE PROJECTS, THE MWA WORKS WITH LANDOWNERS TO SECURE AGREEMENTS, COMMUNICATES WITH LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND STAKEHOLDERS, AND IS THE APPLICANT FOR ALL LOCAL AND STATE PERMITS. MWA WORKS WITH ENGINEERS, PARTNERS, AND THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY DURING FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND USES INFORMATION GARNERED DURING THOSE STUDIES TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT RESULT IN SUCCESSFUL DAM REMOVALS. THE MWA HOLDS OUTREACH AND EDUCATION FORUMS FOR COMMUNITIES DURING THESE PROJECTS, AND ALSO WORKS TO RESTORE AND MAINTAIN RIPARIAN BUFFERS ALONG THE RIVERBANKS TO PREVENT EROSION AND PROTECT AGAINST POLLUTION.