Great Swamp Watershed Association The Passaic River WATERKEEPER® ALLIANCE Affiliate Across the Watershed Spring-Summer 2019

Protecting our Waters and our Land for More Than 35 Years

Bring on the 2019 Plastic Bag Challenge by Hazel England, Director of Education, Outreach and Stewardship t’s trite but true, it’s not always easy with fear of being shown up by the kids! being green! It’s easy to be horrified We found that although we owned huge by photos of oceans filled with plastic, numbers of reusable shopping bags declaring saddenedI by turtles entwined in plastic bags colorful support to NJ’s finest nonprofits, or determined to say no to the straw, and and we were effective in using them at large pledging to be part of the solution. Our new weekly shops, our quick trips to CVS, the microplastic sampling program is looking at local bakery, or whilst holiday shopping sources of plastic in freshwater systems, and were still netting the house many single use though it will be some time before results plastic bags. We stored and dutifully recycled yield where plastics in the Passaic emanate them at supermarket collection points, but from, we know that as New Jerseyans we use we realized we had to up the ante. One of huge amounts of single use plastics. Many our family’s 2019 resolutions was to strive to plastics we use daily bring become plastic-bag-free us ease and convenience, in 2019. As a house full of and quitting them can be scientists, we needed data. harder than saying no to Our statistics-minded that second brownie! daughter made the family So how do you put a chart to record our your money where your moments of forgetfulness mouth is, and become week by week, (with effective in changing pencil attached to make your own behaviors in it impossible to forget saying no to plastic? As to record the shameful with many things, in my event). We mark on the own household it’s down chart when we forget to competition, coupled (continued on page 4) From the Desk of the Executive Director GSWA is Thrilled to Announce the Addition of Five New Members to our Board of Trustees by Sally Rubin e are pleased to welcome these Environment and Sustainable Development. outstanding leaders, each of Passionate about her home state, she whom brings with them a moved back to New Jersey and worked in deepW commitment to the environment. environmental policy in New York and New Their unique experiences and insights will Jersey. She earned her real estate license in undoubtedly help advance our mission order to work in her hometown with her of protecting and improving the water father, Jim Barry. Kate currently lives in resources of the Passaic River region, from Harding with her husband and family, which the Great Swamp headwaters to Newark includes a cat, donkey, and two goats. Bay, for present and future generations. Jordan Glatt: As Director of Strategic Incoming members of the GSWA Board of Partnerships at the Community Foundation Trustees: of New Jersey (CFNJ), Jordan works with Reed Auerbach: Reed has been a GSWA corporations, entrepreneurs, and families member since 2000 and has served on the to design charitable vehicles that deliver GSWA Advisory Council for the last six impact in New Jersey communities. Previous months. He recently completed his tenure as to the Community Foundation, he was a member of the Board of Trustees at Franklin President of Magla Products, a $90 million & Marshall College and currently serves on consumer products company. A graduate the Advisory Board of Columbia University of Drew University where he later served School of International and Public Affairs as a trustee, Jordan is a former two-term and the Board of the Structured Finance Mayor of Summit and served as an at-large Industry Group. Recognized as one of the councilman in the town. He was recently nation’s leading structured finance lawyers, appointed by New Jersey Governor Phil Reed currently serves as the global leader of Murphy as co shared services czar alongside the structured transactions group at Morgan GSWA’s Chair, Nicolas Platt. He resides in Lewis in New York City. Reed and his wife Springfield with his wife. reside in Bernardsville. Eric Inglis: An attorney at Schenck, Kate Barry: Born in Morristown and Price, Smith & King, Eric is certified by the raised in New Vernon, Kate graduated from Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil The College of Charleston then attended Trial Attorney. He co-chairs Schenck, Price, graduate school at University College Smith & King’s Litigation Department and London where she pursued a degree in (continued on page 13)

2 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org GSWA Board of Trustees Across the Watershed Debra Apruzzese is a publication of the Great Swamp Reed Auerbach Watershed Association. Kate Barry GSWA is a member-supported non­ Gerry-Jo Cranmer profit organization that has been protecting Michael Dee, Vice Chairman the waters and the land of the Great Swamp Jay DeLaney, Jr. Watershed for more than 35 years. Anthony DellaPelle Jordan Glatt Editor: Sally Rubin Eric Inglis Designer: Ann Campbell Matthew Krauser Contributors: Teresa Lane Hazel England Cathy Lee, Ph.D. Wade Kirby Chris Obropta, Ph.D., P.E. Sandra LaVigne Alan Pfeil Sue Levine Kathy Pfeil Adam Palmer Guy Piserchia, Treasurer Rick Porter Nic Platt, Chairman Debbie Rice Anthony Sblendorio Sally Rubin Lisa Stevens Val Thorpe Dorothea Stillinger Kevin Sullivan Nadine Vitro Giorgios Vlamis

In This Issue: Bring on the 2019 Plastic Bag Challenge 1 So You Want to be an Intern 20 New Board Members 2 2019 Spring Interns 23 Music Festival 5 Thank You to The Watershed Institute 24 Upcoming Events 6 “2100 Members By 2021” 25 Environmental Hot Spots 11 Climate Change Impact on Biological Clock 26 “Change-1-Behavior” Challenge 12 Gala: Stellar Finish to 2018 28 GSWA and Students2Science 14 Thank You to the Victoria Foundation! 29 Plastivores 16 Financial Report 30 GSWA Begins Microplastic Sampling 18

www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 3 Plastic Bag Challenge (continued from page 1) and take a plastic bag. We decided on rules of sometimes it is not. You may swap ease of use engagement, and the competition began… or convenience for virtuous feelings, or pay We discussed the difficulties of purchasing more money for the ethical or environmental loose vegetables in the produce market, how alternatives that avoid single use plastics. do you avoid the produce bags? What about Where along the continuum of difficulty do the bag the newspaper comes in on a wet day? you fall off the wagon and just use the darn The long protective bag the dress for the dance bag! We’ve found that by recording what we came in? Our personal rules of engagement do, where we fail, and verbalizing the daily state that you record the bag only when you difficulties, we are more likely to stay on track had a choice in taking it — so every store plastic and reduce our use. bag gets a tally, however, we note produce bags Our family realized that once we set the and newspaper bags just for a full data set! Just goal and it became the ‘norm’ to avoid single being more aware has changed our behavior. use plastic, and we felt good old fashioned We are using newspaper bags again as storage guilt at forgetting, then we were prepared to go bags, reducing the already low number of the extra mile and forgo some inconvenience Ziploc bags we might be tempted to use. We for the sake of our pride. We are not perfect- become creative in refusing or limiting the but we are making changes that are having number of produce bags, and kick ourselves at ripple effects, and if magnified by our friends the Chinese takeaway that by calling ahead the and coworkers, could make a discernable food came pre-bagged! difference! I mentioned our quest at a staff meeting So if you want to join our plastic bag and coworkers also pledged to try our plastic challenge, we’d love to hear from you. What bag challenge. More discussion ensued- what creative single use plastic alternatives have about dog owners who must pick up the you found? How do you motivate yourself to poop to be good citizens-are there realistic stay on track? We lay down the gauntlet- can plastic free alternative pet waste bags? More you also commit to reducing your reliance discussion and some research- there are, but on single use plastics in 2019? Email hazele@ they are often more expensive. And so here greatswamp.org to tell us your successes, and is where it gets tricky. When you pledge to your difficulties as you reduce your reliance on change your behavior, sometimes it is easy, and single use plastics. 

Interested in volunteering? If you are interested in getting actively involved in efforts to protect and preserve the watershed, GSWA has a number of volunteer opportunities (see GreatSwamp.org/volunteer/). Please send an email to [email protected] if you would like to volunteer!

4 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org Save the Date

GSWA 2nd Annual Music Festival Live music, food trucks, local vendors, beer & wine, fun! Sunday, June 9 12 - 5 pm 9 Hartley Farms Road, Morristown, NJ Tickets and details GreatSwamp.org / 973-538-3500

www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 5 Upcoming Events

Evening Briefing: Environmentally Friendly Frog Watch & CoCoRaHS Training Cleaning Solutions Workshop Wednesday, February 27, 7—8:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, 6—8 p.m. Madison Public Library, 39 Keep St., GSWA Headquarters, 568 Tempe Wick Road, Madison, NJ Morristown, NJ White vinegar, baking soda, and lemon Do you know your spring peepers juice. Believe it or not, these are the key from your wood frogs? Have a passion ingredients of many environmentally safe for weather? Hop on over to GSWA cleaning products. And it Headquarters for this dual, all works! Learn about the hands-on citizen science ingredients found in our program training session personal and household where you can become an cleaning products you official FrogWatch and/or may want to avoid, and CoCoRaHS neighborhood how products labeled as volunteer. Eric Jackson, “environmentally safe” are not Environmental Educator all created equal — and why at Hartshorn Arboretum, you should be concerned. will train you to properly Common ingredients in many log your frog and toad household products can have sightings, which helps detrimental environmental estab­lish long-term and Spring Peeper impacts on you, our local Credit: FynKynd Photography large-scale data on amphi­ environment and our regional bian populations. David water supply. You will leave with some DIY Robinson of CoCoRaHS (Community cleaning product recipes to make your own Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow homemade cleaning products! Registration Network) will teach you to measure is required. Register online at GreatSwamp. and map precipitation (rain, hail and org or call (973) 538-3500. This free program snow) joining a network of other is co-sponsored by GSWA and Madison Public backyard weather observers of all ages Library. and backgrounds who do the same in their local communities. This is a free Like GSWA workshop. Registration is re­quired. Register and join the cause on online at GreatSwamp.org or call (973) 538- 3500.

6 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org Breakfast Briefing: Lawncare & Gardening: River from its headwaters in Great Swamp Environmentally Friendly Techniques through the Florham Park/Livingston Tuesday, March 12, 8—9:30 a.m. region. GSWA’s new microplastics sampling GSWA Headquarters, 568 Tempe Wick Road, program will also be discussed. Registration Morristown, NJ is required. Register online­ at GreatSwamp. A lush, green lawn, beautiful native org or call (973) 538-3500. This free program plants, and a garden that yields healthy is co-sponsored by GSWA and the Summit Free produce. This is something many of us Public Library. strive for each year. But at what cost to our water supply and environment? There Evening Briefing: Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Solutions are a variety of ways to conserve water Tuesday, March 14, 6:30—8 p.m. and eliminate weeds using sustainable Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library (Main techniques. And now is the time to find out Library), 449 Halsey Road, Parsippany, NJ about these solutions, before the last bit of See description for February 27 (opposite snow melts. Join us as Amy Rowe, Ph. D., page). This free program is co-sponsored by County Agent, Rutgers NJ Agricultural GSWA and Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Experiment Station, demonstrates environ­ Library. mentally sound techniques to get the most out of our gardens this year! This program is Vernal Pool Exploration Hike free to all GSWA members; a $10 donation Friday, March 29, 7—9 p.m. is appreciated from non-member adults. GSWA Conservation Management Area Registration required. Register online at (CMA), 83 Tiger Lily Lane, Harding GreatSwamp.org or call (973) 538-3500. Township, NJ With temperatures rising, the forest Evening Briefing: Water Quality Report Card floor will be hopping with new life as frogs Tuesday, March 12, 6:30—8 p.m. and other amphibians crowd into shallow Summit Free Public Library, 75 Maple St., puddles of water to breed and lay their eggs. Summit, NJ These puddles, better known as vernal pools, Everyone still asks, “So how’s the water?” provide a perfect opportunity to learn more Come out and learn about the water quality about Mother Nature here in New Jersey. along your stretch of the Passaic River and But we have to hurry! They disappear quick- get the answers. Great Swamp Watershed ly. This annual Vernal Pool Exploration pro- Association Director of Water Quality, Sandra vides a fun, outdoor learning experience for LaVigne, will present the 2018 water quality kids and adults alike. Discover the differenc- year in review, with data from our in-depth es between a spring peeper, a chorus frog, sampling program that covers the Passaic (more events on next page)

www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 7 Upcoming Events (continued from previous page) and a wood frog. Find out how far an endan- Evening Briefing: Environmentally Friendly gered spotted salamander will walk to find Cleaning Solutions a mating pool. And, learn how much every- Thursday, April 4, 6:30-8 p.m. thing we have come to appreciate about the Summit Free Public Library, 75 Maple St., springtime depends upon a few unassuming Summit NJ puddles of water on the forest floor. Warm See description for February 27 (page 6). clothing and waterproof footwear, especially This free program is co-sponsored by GSWA hiking boots, are strongly recommended. and Summit Free Public Library. This hike is free to all GSWA members; a Stream Assessment Training $10 donation is appreciated from non-mem- Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m.—2 p.m. ber adults, $5 for children. Registration re- Florham Park Public Library, 107 Ridgedale quired. Register online at GreatSwamp.org or Ave., Florham Park, NJ call (973) 538-3500. Interested in becoming a stream monitoring volunteer or just learning more Paterson Falls Explorer Hike and Tour Sunday, March 31, 12:30—3 p.m. about stream health? This is the training for Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, you! An indoor classroom session teaches you 72 McBride Ave, Paterson, NJ how to conduct visual and biological stream Explore Paterson from the other end of the assessments, identify macroinvertebrates, Passaic. Join us for an afternoon of nature and and recognize environmental factors that natural history. Ilyse Goldman, Interpreter at may impact stream health. An outdoor the Paterson Great Falls National Historical session lets you practice your new-found Park, will guide us on an informative hike skills at a local stream site. By afternoon, through the area where we will check out the you will be a fully trained visual-stream new viewing platform to explore the 77-foot assessment volunteer and ready to conduct high waterfall. From there we’ll hike along an assessment! Bring a pair of boots and the old raceway, and we’ll even squeeze in a clean shoes to change into. There will be a museum visit. It’s a great opportunity to gain short walk to reach the stream. Tools and insight into the importance of Paterson, the supplies are provided. Preferred volunteers first planned industrial city that was centered are 15 or older. Includes indoor and outdoor around the Great Falls, and how it changed sessions. This training will be conducted the face of our country. We will meet at the in conjunction with the AmeriCorps New Great Falls and go from there. Dress for the Jersey Watershed Ambassador Program. weather, hiking boots recommended for Registration is required for this free training potentially muddy conditions. This hike is session. Register on­line at GreatSwamp.org, free to all GSWA members; a $10 donation or call (973) 538-3500. is appreciated from non-member adults, $5 for children. Registration required. Register on­line at GreatSwamp.org or call (973) 538- 3500.

8 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org Breakfast Briefing: Disposing of Non- we adventure alongside the Blue Brook, recyclables the Right Way and we may even stop at Lake Surprise! (It’s Tuesday, April 9, 8—9:30 a.m. a…surprise.) This hike is free to all GSWA GSWA Headquarters, 568 Tempe Wick Road, members; a $10 donation is appreciated Morristown, NJ from non-member adults, $5 for children. Can I throw my old computer in the Registration is required. Register online at garbage? What do I do with my leftover GreatSwamp.org, or call (973) 538-3500. medications? Is shredded paper recyclable? Disposing of our trash can be somewhat Breakfast Briefing: 2018 Water Quality tricky, leaving us with more questions Report Card Tuesday, May 14, 8—9:30 a.m. than answers. Gone are the days of tossing GSWA Headquarters, 568 Tempe Wick Road, everything in a dented metal trash can and Morristown, NJ forgetting about it. And thank goodness See description for March 12 (page 7) for that! April, known as “spring cleaning” Registration is required. Register online at month, is a time to get rid of the stuff that GreatSwamp.org, or call (973) 538-3500. has accumulated around us during our winter hibernation. Let us help you get Workshop: Create Your Own Walking Stick your home in tip-top shape while keeping Thursday, May 16, 5:30—8:30 p.m. Mother Nature happy. We have solutions GSWA Conservation Management Area for the proper disposal of those pesky items (CMA), 83 Tiger Lily Lane, Harding we know shouldn’t go in the trash, and Township, NJ we’re pretty sure we can’t recycle. Come get Learn how to make your very own the facts. This program is free to all GSWA walking stick so you can hit the trails with members; a $10 donation is appreciated confidence. Retired science teacher turned from non-members. Registration is required. walking-stick-guru, Brad Koller, leads a fun- Register online at GreatSwamp.org, or call filled DIY workshop where you will choose (973) 538-3500. from a variety of rough sticks including red cedar, maple, beech, and iron wood, and Hike at Watchung Reservation walk away with a finished product — and the Friday, April 26, 6—8 p.m. ability to create one on your own! All tools Watchung Reservation, 452 New Providence and safety equipment will be provided. This Road, Mountainside, NJ is one of our most popular workshops and Want to explore a deserted village? space is limited, so don’t miss out - sign up Do you like scenic gorges and trails that today! $30/person includes everything you follow the water? Our hike at Watchung will need. Register online at GreatSwamp.org Reservation will have all those things and or call (973) 538-3500. more! Join us for an adventure through (more events on next page) the reservation led by GSWA Education Associate, Adam Palmer. We will walk and talk about the winding paths and forest as

www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 9 Upcoming Events (continued from previous page) Full Moon Hike at the CMA Full Moon Hike & Campfire Stories at Saturday, May 18, 7:30—9 p.m. Jockey Hollow GSWA Conservation Management Area Friday, June 14, 8:30—10 p.m. (CMA), 83 Tiger Lily Lane, Harding Jockey Hollow section of Morristown National Township, NJ Historical Park, 600 Tempe Wick Road, May’s full moon is known as the “Flower Morristown, NJ Moon” to signify the flowers that bloom Take a moon-lit stroll through Jockey during this month. Join Hazel England, Hollow. Look and listen for owls and other GSWA Director of Education and Outreach, nightlife creatures by the light of a full moon. Land Steward, as she leads us on a hike to Later we will relax by a roaring bonfire and discover some gentle nighttime creatures. hear stories that 18th century colonists told May is a great time to enjoy a moonlit hike at around their own campfires and learn about the CMA. The canopy and bright moonlight their views on the darkness. Don’t miss out provide the perfect backdrop to hear and on this unique opportunity with two highly spot owls. This hike is free to all GSWA experienced and knowledgeable naturalists, members; a $10 donation is appreciated Adam Palmer, GSWA Education Associate, from non-member adults, $5 for children. and Eric Olsen, Park Ranger and local Registration is required. Register online at historian. Space is limited and it will fill up GreatSwamp.org, or call (973) 538-3500. fast! This hike is free to all GSWA members; a $10 donation is appreciated from non- Fungus Walk Through the Swamp member adults, $5 for children. Registration Thursday, May 23, 6—7:30 p.m. is required. Register online at GreatSwamp. GSWA Conservation Management Area org, or call (973) 538-3500.  (CMA), 83 Tiger Lily Lane, Harding Twp., NJ Join your fellow fungus enthusiast and GSWA Education Associate, Adam Palmer, on a foray into the mysterious world of mushrooms, slimes and molds. Enjoy a hike around our Conservation Management Please be sure to let us know if you Area as we look for and talk about the change your e-mail address. Send a note important roles of decomposers, symbiotic with your name, address, and old e-mail relationships, and even parasites in an address to [email protected] so ecosystem. Register today as there won’t you don’t miss out on our new monthly be mush-room left on this hike if you wait! e-newsletters. This hike is free to all GSWA members; a $10 donation is appreciated from non- member adults, $5 for children. Register at GreatSwamp.org, or call (973) 538-3500.

10 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org Watershed Watch— Environmental Hot Spots

by Sally Rubin, GSWA Executive Director olling Knolls Landfill in Chatham facilitate community stake­holder partici­ Township has been and will continue pation in the Superfund cleanup process to be a hot spot for many years. As we and planning for the site’s future use, mentionedR in our last newsletter, GSWA was and to ensure all cleanup is adequately in the process of establishing a Community protective of human health and the Advisory Group (CAG) through the EPA environ­ment and provides ecological to facilitate public participation in the revitalization. Superfund process. Our first meeting was The next meeting, held in December, held on September 17, 2018, with almost included a site visit to the landfill. Addition­ 50 local residents participating. The EPA ally, the EPA gave a presentation on its provided an independent facilitator for the Remedial Investigation at the site. CAG. The meeting provided an overview The next meeting of the CAG will of the site and an orientation to the CAG take place on March 11 at 6 p.m. at the process. The group selected Sally Rubin as its Chatham Township Municipal Building. chairperson. Additional information about The agenda will include an EPA presentation Rolling Knolls and the CAG is available on of the human health risk assessment and the greatswamp.org website. ecological risk assessment conducted at the The second meeting, held in October, site. The Great Swamp National Wildlife provided an overview of the Technical Refuge will make a presentation on some Assistance Services to Communities site remediation options and the different (TASC) pro­vided by EPA to sup­port the requirements for working in the management CAG. The CAG also adopted its mission area versus the wilderness area and what statement: those designations mean. The meetings are The mission of the Rolling Knolls open to the public and anyone interested is Community Advisory Group is to encouraged to attend. 

GSWA Experts Available to Speak to Area Groups Do you wonder, “What is in my water?” or “What can I do to keep water clean for my children?” These and other questions about water quality, land preservation, and local efforts to protect the environment can be answered by the Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA). GSWA speakers give interesting, hands-on presentations that will educate and inspire members of your local club or group. Call (973) 538-3500 or e-mail [email protected] for more details.

www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 11 Take the “Change-1-Behavior” Challenge by Val Thorpe, Director of Communications and Membership e’ve all heard the many daily actions, and think about the cumulative “challenges” that our friends effects. dare us to take: the ice bucket So, what’s the point? This enlightened, challenge,W the 30-day no carbs challenge, environmentally conscious person (me) the “a year of my trash fits in a mason jar” walks into the supermarket and forgets her challenge (now THAT’S a challenge!) reusable bags every time. Every time! How is And you may even remember the Pepsi this possible?!! I’m aware! challenge. I’d like to propose a new one, the I’m not proud to expose this fact about “Change-1-Behavior” challenge. It’s sounds myself, but I’m sharing this for a reason. I self-explanatory, but there’s a back story believe most of us have the best of intentions that goes along with it that I hope will drive when it comes to taking care of our planet. home my point. I’ll be brief: But life is hectic, and we are often pulled in Chapter 1: I’ve always prided myself many different directions. We know there are on being pretty darned environmentally a lot of behaviors that we need to change, and conscientious. I was a girl scout. I’ve always it can be overwhelming. Hence, my challenge been an outdoor enthusiast, following the to you… Change just 1 behavior and focus rule that we should leave a place cleaner on it until it’s as routine as brushing your than when we arrived. I recycle, reduce, and teeth. Once that happens, change another. make big plans to reuse, which explains my A great way to do this is to make it a true cabinets being packed with things like old challenge. Make a family chart. Engage your jelly jars, lettuce containers, and gently used friends. Take ownership. plastic sandwich bags. Not bad, right? Chapter 2: A lot of what I do at GSWA “You have to be inconvenienced to do the right thing sometimes.” is gather and share meaningful information —Rick Porter, GSWA Director of with our membership base and the general Institutional Relations public. So, I do a lot of research, and pick the brains of my extremely knowledgeable I’m not going to sugar-coat it — at first, co-workers and other experts on a variety of changing our old behaviors can take a little environmental topics. What I’ve learned is more time. According to a research team at that our planet is in for a world of hurt if we the University College London, on average keep going in this trajectory. it takes 66 days for something to become Chapter 3: At the risk of annoying my habitual. During this time, we need to friends and family, I’m tenderly sharing my consistently refocus and remind ourselves knowledge with them. My hope is that they to do things differently; but eventually it will really engage, put extra effort into their happens. We retrain our brain and voila — a

12 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org new behavior is born. And check the math, Here are some other “Change-1- this means we can essentially change about Behavior” ideas for consideration: six behaviors in one year. That’s a lot of • Don’t buy bottled water. Use refillable change for the better! bottles. At GSWA, our entire staff has signed up • Refuse plastic straws and purchase a for a plastic bag challenge. We took a pledge portable straw to keep with you. to eliminate our use of single use plastic bags • Keep some reusable containers in your from grocery stores, department stores, and car to serve as “doggie bags” for restaurant even restaurants. Read all about it in Hazel leftovers. England’s 2019 Plastic Bag Challenge article. • Refresh your knowledge on recycling rules — visit your town’s website to learn “Change requires effort.” the specifics (rules vary with each town, —Kristina Necovska, municipality, county, and they can change GSWA Membership Associate (continued on page 19)

Board of Trustees (continued from page 2) its Commercial Litigation Practice Group. YMCA on Lake George in New York. With Additionally, he is the past president and a B.S. in mathematics from the University current board member of the Morristown of Rochester, an M.S. in mathematics from and Morris Township Library Foundation, Yale, and additional computer science and past president and current member of coursework at NYU, Dot enjoyed a 40-year the West Morris Soccer Club. Eric resides in career as a computer systems consultant at Mendham with his wife and children. Bell Labs before retiring in 2000. Dot resides Dorothea Stillinger: Dorothea (Dot) in Chatham Township with her husband, is a returning GSWA board member who Frank, who is also an active GSWA volunteer. has served several terms on the board in The GSWA staff and Board of Trustees the past, most recently from 2012-2017. A gratefully acknowledge the considerable member and active volunteer since 1995, contributions made by the trustees who Dot offers her institutional history of the completed their terms at the end of 2018, area and the organization. In addition, Dot and who will now serve as Advisory Council serves as Chatham Township Environmental members. These individuals are: Mary Commission Chair. During the summer she Horn, Jane Kendall, John Neale, and Lois works in the nature program of the Silver Bay Olmstead. 

www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 13 GSWA and Students2Science Fall Review by Hazel England, Director of Education, Outreach and Stewardship ow can you look at an area of land place in state of the art labs, where scientists in a short period of time and yet in lab coats can share valuable insight about still make a sound assessment the role of STEM careers in solving real world onH its ecological value? What can chemical chemistry, biology and physics problems. testing tell you about possible threats to Now, with the expansion to partnership with water quality due to upstream activities? GSWA, this learning can also showcase a How does knowledge of what constitutes broader range of STEM careers, including a wetland soil inform what development scientists who wear jeans, binoculars and activities can occur in a given area? rubber boots as their daily uniform, and These were some of the questions and whose lab includes the soils, water, animals challenges that more than 170 9th through and plants of the Great Swamp Watershed 11th grade high school students from Cristo Association’s Conservation Management Rey High School in Newark attempted to Area and the Great Swamp National Wildlife answer last fall as they undertook five, day- Refuge. long, field-based environmental assessments Students rolled off their school bus and as part of GSWA’s new collaboration with straight into hands-on outdoor experiential Students2Science. Students2Science is a learning opportunities. After a quick nonprofit organization dedicated to im­ stop to be pre-assessed to enable us to proving scientific literacy and knowledge better track growth in knowledge through and interest in STEM careers for under­ undertaking the program, students ven­ served students through authentic STEM tured out with GSWA education­ staff, experiences. These have previously taken interns and volunteers into one of their three environmental assessment rotations. The premise given was that GigantiCorps is plan­ ning to build a giant office com­plex with parking and other associated develop­ ment right upstream, next

Ecological assessment team brave the rain to observe a variety of floodplain habitat at Great Swamp National Wildlife Reserve

14 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org Using binoculars for the first time at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

door to the property. How could we look at potential impacts to inform what GSWA’s response should be to this development? Students conducted hands- on chemical,­ visual or macro­ invertebrate sampling of the water, identi­fying which parameters might salamanders and slugs, or soil corers to highlight impaired water quality, and recorded sample and examine by feel the makeup of data to be able to support their conclusions wetland soils to inform their assessment. in the afternoon’s discussions. They hiked They sampled and sorted macroinvertebrates the property to survey the ecological values with buckets and tweezers to enable swift the property provided. Assessment included assessments of the health of the stream, looking at the biodiversity, constructing food then put all their learning together into chains and webs from the species observed an analysis of whether the GigantiCorps as being present, examining the variety of development would be detrimental to the ecosystem services the land provided; such area. We brainstormed solutions that might as recreational space, flood storage or other reduce that impact, talked about some of non-tangible values. the skills field ecologists and soil scientists For many students this type of possess, and how we personally gained the environment was unfamiliar and dis­con­ experience to have the STEM jobs that certing. Muddy trails, overgrown forests and we do. Then it was back on the bus for the wetlands with bugs, and unexpected wildlife students, to regale each other how they held such as snakes, salamanders and spiders, a salamander, a harvestman, or spotted a bald initially caused discomfort. eagle directly overhead — all After curiosity overcame initial equally novel species for many hesitations however, students of these students! became engaged in dis­ Our initial season proved covering what species called popular with students and the area home. They learned (continued on page 17) the use of the ecologist’s tools, using binoculars to observe woodpeckers, chickadees and hawks in their native environ­ ment, sticks to poke under Holding worms discovered during rotting logs to find worms, decomposition study.

www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 15 Plastivores: Examples of Using Bioremediation to Tackle the Plastics Problem by Adam Palmer, Education Associate ollution, waste, runoff, toxic, plastic. usually are water based, so bacteria which More and more we hear these words breakdown natural polymers can have when we talk about our environment. a hard time breaking down man-made PIt has been an issue for decades, yet somehow non water based polymers. However, we still can’t figure out a great way to get rid researchers in 2016 discovered a novel of our waste. Even more worrying is that bacterium in a Japanese recycling center we can’t find a good way to fix ecosystems Ideonella sakainesis, which was found to that have been inundated and impacted by produce two enzymes which broke down it. Sometimes, even when we do figure out the world’s most popular plastic, poly­ how to fix a problem, we end up altering ethylene (PET)1. Springboarding off of the ecosystem inadvertently or introduce that discovery, scientists accidentally another substance or species (see Cane modified the enzyme to be even more Toads) into the environment that may have effective at breaking down PET while unintended consequences. So what other studying its evolution and origin. options are there? Enter, bioremediation. These discoveries could help lead Bioremediation is the process of using to an environmentally friendly and microorganisms and other forms of life effective way of removing PET from to remove toxins and pollutants from an the environment or to more sustainable environment using their normal biological recycling methods. functions. Bioremediation has been explored 2. Plastic-eating fungus: As the resident in the past, but it is still an emerging concept fungus enthusiast I cannot pass up an and the pros and cons of which need to be opportunity to talk about Aspergillus further evaluated. However, it does provide tubingensis, aka the plastic-eating fungus. a glimpse of promise and every day new A 2017 study published in Environmental discoveries are being made to help further Pollution identified a novel soil-dwelling the progress. Check out a few examples fungus at a landfill site in Pakistan. below of some of the ways bioremediation The study not only discovered that the might be able to help us with environmental fungus degraded polyester polyurethane crises and remediation in the future. (PU), but that its mycelium actually 1. Plastic-eating bacteria: Plastic has colonized the plastic surface and moved to the forefront of the pollution caused visual scarring when viewed issue and it’s no surprise that these hardy under a scanning electron microscope2. polymers are an issue in the environment. Because we produce so many different Man-made polymers are much different types of plastics, it will not only be the than natural occurring polymers, which popular PET that we will face problems

16 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org A piece of polyester polyurethane (PU) colonized and degraded by the fungus A. tubingensis Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ article/pii/S0269749117300295?via%3Dihub

for larger-sized pieces. When placed back into a non-inundated environment, the scallop was able to purge its body of the majority of plastics within three days, with no traces of the 24nm particles after 14 days, and no traces of the 250nm after 3 with. That is whyA. tubingensis is so 48 days . In some parts of the world, important, because it shows other man- filter-feeders like scallops are already made polymers like PU can be naturally being used to improve water quality in degraded as well. places like the Chesapeake Bay. Further studies into the implications, benefits and 3. Microplastic-filtering mollusks: To downfalls of using filter-feeders to help finish our exploration into the exemplary filter microplastics could be the right step field of bioremediation, we look to an towards making a notable impact on the organism which could potentially help effort to clean our waters. rid the waters of microplastics. A study conducted in 2018 and published in Works Cited: Environmental Science and Technology 1. Yoshida et al., 2016. http:// exposed freshwater scallops to six- science.sciencemag.org/ hour bursts of spherical polystyrene content/351/6278/1196 . nanoparticles of two different sizes 2. Khan et al., 2017. https://www. (24nm and 250nm). After the six-hour sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ period, 30% of the 24nm and 15% of the S0269749117300295?via%3Dihub 250nm particles had been accumulated 3. Al-Sid-Cheikh et al., 2018. https://pubs. into the scallop. Under these rates a acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.8b05266.  scallop could accumulate 95% of its capacity in microplastics in just eleven hours for smaller particles and 30 hours

S2S (continued from page 15) educators, and we will host an­other ten field days this spring. Students from Jersey City, Newark, and Somerville and Bound Brook @GSWA will engage with our staff and volunteers for a messy, but rewarding day of hands-on field- based STEM learning. 

www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 17 GSWA Begins Microplastic Sampling by Sandra LaVigne, Director of Water Quality his fall, GSWA began our first round of sampling for microplastics in the Great Swamp Watershed and the TUpper Passaic River. Our goal is to begin to understand the extent of microplastics pollution in our local waters so we can begin to work with local communities to address the issue. This first round of sampling was designed to help us pinpoint potential hotspots for microplastics so that, with the help of a grant from The Watershed Institute, we can do a further, more in-depth study later this year.

throughout the area including seven sites on the Passaic River and one site each on Black Brook, Primrose Brook, Loantaka Brook and Great Brook. Due to excessive flooding at the end of November we were only able to sample ten sites. Stream Team volunteers John Kramer, Cathy Lee and Kathy Schwartz as well as To get started, we needed to have the William Patterson University Intern Chris right equipment, specifically a sampling Gocklin and GSWA Education Associate net that would allow us to work in the Adam Palmer all came out to help sample areas we selected for our study. Through a and brave the cold. At each site we collected grant from Captain Planet, we were able to two samples, one with the net and one grab purchase a net designed for the collection sample in a glass jar, a visual assessment, and of microplastics in streams. The design was stream flow data. Our samples were brought based on existing nets used in open ocean back to GSWA for processing and sorting. waters but scaled down for sampling in Early in 2019, we began to strain and smaller, wadeable, streams like those in our dry the samples so they could be examined headwater areas. Eleven sites were selected under a microscope. Reem Shair, one of our

18 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org new interns, began sorting and counting microplastics once the samples were ready. This is a slow process as each sample has to be sorted. The microplastics are mixed with leaves and twigs that were also collected during sampling. In our first samples, we are finding many fibers and small chips of plastics that have broken off from larger items such as bottles and bags. As we compile our data and finish sorting our samples in the coming months, we will continue to post updates on our findings to our GSWA website and social media pages. them into a restaurant if you might have Here are some ideas that everyone can use to leftovers to bring home. help reduce plastics in our waters while we • At restaurants, ask for a drink with no await further results from our sampling: stirrer or straw. If you like to use a straw, • Use reusable bags — not just at the super bring a reusable one. market but wherever you shop. • Carry your own travel cutlery in your car • Bring your reusable coffee or tea mug for take-out or on the go eating. to the coffee shop and ask them to fill it • And support local businesses that are instead of a disposable cup with a plastic making changes to reduce their plastic lid. use.  • Put a reusable bag with a few reusable storage containers in your car and bring

“Change-1-Behavior” (continued from page 13) periodically). Create a recycling area and Let’s make a pact with the planet to post directions for your family. keep the momentum going. Whatever • Buy in bulk ands split it up into reusable motivates you to make a change, do it! And containers when you get home. then challenge your family and friends to do the same. Brag about your progress “It’s not about perfection, it’s about on our Facebook page: facebook.com/ progress.” GreatSwamp. This is the type of challenge —Kelly Dresser, my friend where everyone wins! 

www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 19 So You Want to be an Intern? Here’s the Inside Scoop! by Hazel England, Director of Education, Outreach and Stewardship hile water quality monitoring, about the types of skills, traits and attributes environmental education, a good intern or prospective employee advocacy and land stewardship must cultivate, they are often nonplussed areW the primary focus of GSWA, we also have by the necessary soft skills we, as potential a responsibility to share knowledge with employers, are looking for. future scientists, educators and advocates. In my own home, we joke that these are Learning by doing is a good way to build ‘Essential Life skills’ — the things you really experience, and we’ve developed a robust need to know to survive in the world and intern program to do just that! Over the don’t learn in class! Everybody’s life skills years we’ve engaged countless interns, from list differs. Mine includes such critical skills local area high schoolers undertaking senior as knowing how to change a flat tire, write a year experiences, to semester long college good thank you letter (even for a horrendous interns from area colleges such as Drew, gift), do a disaster-free load of washing, to FDU or William Paterson University. We being able to cartwheel, make an acorn cap get many requests from returning college whistle, or conduct polite conversation with students or recent graduates home for a total airhead! summer and desperate to build resumes While the essential life skills will change and glean job experience, or under pressure over time — it’s no longer necessary to know from long suffering parents to get out and do how to balance a check book — focusing something! Our email inboxes begin pinging on employing good soft skills as a potential in January with the onslaught of requests for intern can enable you to be a successful potential internship advice and guidance, or employee. During Capstone program available summer opportunities. discussions I often ask what skills students For the last few years I have spoken about think successful interns/prospective my own work experience and pathway as employees should have. Students call out part of Drew University’s Capstone series, responses, and their list often includes speaking to classrooms of Environmental traits such as: Good data analysis, relevant Science seniors just a few months away from environmental courses, field research skills entering the job market. Since GSWA staff and competency in Microsoft Office. While have all been in that unenviable position, we these are all valuable skills, students are often try to give people time and advice. surprised that the life skills I think most College students are focused on the here valuable have little overlap to their own! and now — their grades, course selections, Great communication skills top my list and ensuring they meet prerequisites for as the life skill most underrated by prospective their degree. It can be daunting to also think interns as one to demonstrate, and yet most about the future. When we speak to students valued by organizations for potential interns

20 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org and employees to possess! Whether you want to be a field ecologist, work as a researcher, or save the world through your novel sustainability idea, you will without a doubt need to know how to talk and write well and to communicate effectively with different audiences. Blanket emailing a generic letter to fifty area organizations asking for a job will never be as effective as a personalized show us they are interested in learning what letter showcasing your good writing and we have to offer by their tenacity. Over the research skills. We can immediately tell the years, the best interns have often been those difference! Interns who effectively show that quickly learn how to get and hold our they have dug a little deeper into the work attention. If we say to call us at a particular we do, and speak specifically to what they time, call us — if you are running late or can’t would like to get out of an internship as well make a meeting, let us know. This may sound as what they can offer, stand out. Impress us like du-uh — simple common sense, and it with your thoroughness and writing ability, is, but it’s amazing how many prospective don’t write to us as if we were an old friend interns passively wait to be chased up. If you are texting to arrange a get-together this is the organization you have targeted at Starbucks! If you feel your writing or for an internship, demonstrate your interest speaking skills need bolstering, tell us those be following though. If we contact you with are skills you wish to strengthen — this type potential opportunities several times and of honesty tells us you want to grow through you don’t get back to us, we’ll stop including your internship and are prepared to work you in future offers. Follow up, follow up, hard to gain essential resume skills. and follow up. Tenacity and persistence. Most non­ Be Flexible and Available! We under­ profit staff are overloaded. We are super busy stand you may need to work a paying job or checking emails from the field or on the go, take classes while you intern with us, and so if you send an email and don’t hear back, we support many interns who do just that. reach out again. Show some persistence. Our experience shows that the more you Though it happens unintentionally, we invest, the more you will learn and grow might ignore your first communique, from your internship. Perhaps you can spare so always follow up! Leave a voicemail. two full weeks and are available every day Demonstrate interest — just as colleges for that time period. Great! Or around work often require prospective students to do, commitments you can offer up a Tuesday we tend to respond positively to those who (continued on next page)

www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 21 Intern (continued from previous page) and Friday every week all summer — fine connected. Recommendations from GSWA, by us. When prospective interns are upfront whether you were a high school or college about their constraints, but show willingness intern, can highlight relevant skills when you to be flexible in order to gain experience, we apply for your next position. If, as an intern are more likely to respond in kind. Telling us you often showed up late, didn’t finish tasks that you are available one day a week after or demonstrate much enthusiasm, it’s hard 3:30 p.m. and another before 11 a.m. doesn’t for us to rave about you to your potential show that this internship is a priority for you, new employer! The more you engage and especially if we happen to be water sampling opt to try new things, the more you learn from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. or conducting a about what you like and don’t like in your stewardship workday all day! chosen career field. Realizing what you don’t Give a little, get a little. It’s important like can often be as instructive as learning to understand that in internship experience what you do! is a give and take between the organization What’s the goal? I often ask our interns and the individual. We invest energy in what ideal job they see themselves working offering you training and field experience, in their future. If there were no limits, what and in return you help on a variety of tasks would be their dream job? Sometimes it we need accomplished. isn’t a question they have We are more willing to put thought much about before. ourselves out to show you Visualizing exactly what new skills if we see the same you would love to be doing level of commitment from in five years’ time may help you. Interns need to be you to focus on what skills realistic about their value you need to gain now to get to an organization. If you you there, and help get more want to add to your resume out of work experiences you that you have chemical and undertake. Being realistic biological water sampling about what you know and experience, then you have to put in the don’t know at this point in your fledg­ling required effort be gain those skills. It can environ­mental career can help you make be frustrating to invest time in training more informed choices about what should interns in a technique, and then have them be your next steps. Nowadays it is not as easy unavailable to help whenever you need to to walk into a great job straight out of college. put that skill to work! Relevant work experience, and honed Engage! I recently received a request to essential life skills, whether gleaned from write a graduate school recommendation dealing with difficult customers as a waitress, from an intern from five years ago. Since they conducting data analysis for a nonprofit, had stayed in touch, sent occasional updates, or striving to make an urban high school and stopped in to say hello when they were student excited about macroinvertebrates home, I was happy to do it — we were still (continued on opposite page)

22 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org 2019 Spring Interns

Diana Karamourtopoulos Reem Shair Diana is a sophomore at Drew University, Reem is a senior at William Paterson pursuing a degree in international relations University studying public health. After with a double minor in environmental graduation she will be attending graduate studies and Spanish. She was interested in school and hopes to get a master’s in preserving the environment from a young healthcare administration. She is very age. Diana got involved with the Office of passionate about public health and Sustainability and decided she would like environmental health and hopes to make to continue to work in that field. She is very it her career. Other interests of hers are excited to gain experience at GSWA and is reading, hiking and animal rights. hoping to go into environmental policy or Chris Gocklin advocacy work after college. Aside from her As a senior at William Paterson University studies, she also is passionate about music majoring in Earth Science, Chris is pursuing and has recently started playing guitar! a second bachelor’s degree with plans to Rebecca Schuman teach high school earth science. He would Rebecca (Becky) is a sophomore at Drew like to center his career around scientific University and is from Baltimore, Maryland. research, earth and environmental science She is majoring in both environmental education, as well as communication. This studies and studio art. She grew passionate is Chris’s third semester interning with about environmental advocacy after learning GSWA. Chris’s favorite part about having of environmental and animal rights issues the opportunity to intern with the GSWA, both domestic and abroad at an early age. other than conducting raw science to ensure After school, she is interested in pursuing water and soil quality, is teaching.  a career in animal rights, veganism, and environmental activism. On the side, she loves to oil paint, hike, and collect records.

Intern (continued from opposite page) and their role in water quality, can often be If you are interested in interning with the edge you will need to get called for an us, bear the above in mind, then email us — interview, or receive the next step on your Hazel England, [email protected], or pathway to your dream job! Sandra Lavigne, [email protected]. Good luck! 

www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 23 Thank You to The Watershed Institute and The Nature Conservancy by Rick Porter, Director of Institutional Relations n October, 2018, The Watershed depend and raise awareness about the Institute in Pennington, N.J., through importance of freshwater conservation. a partnership with The Nature Starting in early spring 2019, GSWA IConservancy, offered a new cycle of grants will be working on restoring an additional for the Roots for Rivers Reforestation Grant 750-foot-length of the banks of Silver Brook and Technology Assistance Program. at our Conservation Management Area Great Swamp Watershed Association (CMA) in Harding, NJ. Several groups of (GSWA) is very grateful for the support corporate work day volunteers and GSWA of the Watershed Institute, and proud to volunteers will be removing invasive plants announce that we recently were awarded a in the targeted areas and replanting with grant of $7,350 under this program. native shrubs and trees. Funds from the The Roots for Rivers Reforestation grants Roots for Rivers Reforestation grant will be support municipalities, school districts used to pay for the cost of the 750 plants that and local non-profit land conservation will be planted in this area. organizations’ efforts to undertake flood­ The CMA is a 73-acre contiguous parcel plain reforestation initiatives. Planting of wetlands and deciduous upland forest, trees within floodplain areas that have been and is a “living laboratory” and classroom degraded is an excellent way to protect the for our environmental education activities, lands and waters on which the citizens of as well as a free, public space for passive our communities, and future generations, recreational opportunities for the public such as hiking our trails and bird watching. More than 1,000 stu­ dents from schools across the greater Passaic River region utilize the CMA each year for environmental education purposes. 

One of the areas along Silver Brook awaiting restoration.

24 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org “2100 Members By 2021”

by Wade Kirby, Director of Development e here at the Great Swamp to Livingston, our newest water quality Watershed Association are on initiative is the sampling for microplastics, a quest! The participation and a serious and growing contamination supportW we receive from our members is issue in our local waterways. so important that four current and former • Working with the EPA in New Jersey, a Board Chairmen are committed to helping Community Advisory Group has been us grow from 1,800 to 2,100 members by formed to keep residents informed of and the year 2021. Reconnecting prior members engaged in the ongoing investigation and with our mission is a welcome task given the ultimate clean-up of the Rolling Knolls latest developments and accomplishments Superfund Site. As described in the of which they may be unaware, but about previous issue of Across the Watershed, which we are very proud: this was a 200-acre-plus landfill, which • We recently became an accredited land operated for 30 years and closed in the trust through the national Land Trust 1960s, that contains some toxic materials; Alliance, a mark of distinction, showing 37 acres of which are located in the Great that we meet the highest standards for Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. land conservation. This, in turn, enhances Our Board Chairmen have sent a letter the credibility of our organization by to approximately 100 prior members demonstrating superior ethical operating informing them of these accomplishments standards and practices. and requesting their renewals. If you haven’t • In November 2017, we acquired 20 yet renewed your membership, please help additional acres for a total of 73 con­ us to reach this goal by doing so. If you have tiguous acres at our Conservation friends who you feel would be interested in Management Area (CMA) in Harding. our work to preserve the health and beauty The CMA is used as a “living laboratory” of this special part of New Jersey, please for our many educational programs and introduce them to us. Our goal is achievable is being restored to ecological health by reacquainting our past, present and through hundreds of volunteer hours. future constituency with the Great Swamp • While our water quality testing continues Watershed Association of 2019!  at 16 different sites from the Great Swamp

GSWA is blogging at GreatSwamp.org/blog

www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 25 April Flowers Bring May Showers... Wait, What? How Climate Change Impacts the Biological Clock by Adam Palmer, Education Associate henology is a field that you may not depends on a multitude of abiotic conditions have heard of but with the looming including climate. How is it possible that all risk of a shifting climate, it becomes of that data is able to observed and collected? Pever more important every day. As defined Through the power of people! by the International Biological Program, it is While most of the professional studies “the study of the time of recurrent biological are done by scientists with degrees and events, the causes of their timing with working with institutions, a large majority regard to biotic and abiotic forces and the of phenology is done through the help interrelation among phases of the same or of citizen scientists. Citizen scientists are different species.”1 Essentially, phenology is everyday people who work collaboratively the study of seasons and seasonal biological with researchers, botanists, and educators events, looking at the non-living conditions to answer “specific, timely, and critical such as temperature, day length etc., and the ecological research questions by making relationship those have with the lifecycle and careful observations of the timing of plant behavior of living things like animals and [and animal] life cycle events.”2 Every plant plants as cues. species has different phenophases but they So what does a Phenologist actually usually all include leafing, flowering, and study? According to project Budburst, a fruiting phases of the plants including the citizen science group based in the Chicago changes in leaf color. The USA National Botanic Garden, phenology aims to answer Phenology Network is a collective database questions like “how animals know when where people can login and record these it’s time to hibernate, and how plants know signs of spring and other sets of data which when to bloom.”2 Plants and animals don’t are important to global and local climate use clocks or calendars, but a lot of them research. (If you are interested in citizen science take cues from the change in seasons. make sure you come to our spring training March Changes in weather with the seasons, such as 6th, featuring Frogwatch and CoCoRAHS.) This temperature and precipitation, signal many can be a fun way for families to get outside to organisms to enter new phases of their lives, observe and appreciate the nature all around also called phenophases. For example, buds us, while learning the biotic and abiotic form on plants as temperatures warm in the signs of changing seasons and contributing spring. As temperatures get cold in the fall, important data to ongoing and future deciduous trees and shrubs lose their leaves research! and enter dormancy. Phenology seeks to So why is phenology such an important understand the timing of these changes. But field to be paying attention to today? A recent there are a lot of cues all working in tandem brief from the US National Park System across large areas, and timing of seasons states “changes in phenology constitute

26 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org one of the most proximate responses to ecosystem processes, such as flowering and climate change.”3 As the climate shifts, the the emergence of pollinators, is disrupted.”4 abiotic forces determined by climate trends Beyond just studying and understanding do too, ultimately affecting the arrival of these changes, phenologists are also working changes in season. In 2016, a collaborative on solutions to the big problems they may team evaluated the timing of spring onset bring to industries like agriculture which for the past 10-30 years in 276 US natural depend heavily on plants and pollinators. So resource parks. Of those 276 parks, “spring go on out there this spring and start looking is advancing in three-quarters, and half for and recording the signs! Who knows, are experiencing an extreme early spring maybe the data you help collect could be the exceeding 95% of historical conditions.”3 difference to finding an answer in the future? These shifts in arrival of spring as well Works Cited as other seasons can have major impacts 1. Badeck, et al.,2004. https://www.jstor. to the ecosystem. Because some species org/stable/1514502 also depend on other species to properly 2. Project Budburst, https://budburst.org/ interpret clues, things like pollination and index.php/ migration face serious threat as phenophases 3. US National Park System, 2016. https:// begin to fall out of sync. A study conducted www.nps.gov/subjects/climatechange/ by Chung et al. in 2011 “projected changes in springonset.htm phenology will especially have a substantial 4. Chung, et al., 2011. https://www. effect on the reproduction, distribution and ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ productivity of [plants] as the coincidence of PMC3210174/ 

Saving The Great Swamp: Battle to Defeat the Jetport Now on iTunes, Amazon Prime and Google Play Saving The Great Swamp: Battle to Defeat the Jetport is familiar to many GSWA members who attended the 2016 premiere or viewed the film on PBS last year. Narrated by Blythe Danner, the award‐winning 64-minute documentary chronicles the historic struggle to preserve the Great Swamp between 1959 and 1968. For those who missed it or would like to own a copy, the film is now available to purchase or rent online. You can find direct links to the three online stores at https://conta.cc/2RCivtT and at www. savingthegreatswamp.com. And, if you like the film, please post a rating and review!

www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 27 Gala Concludes 2018 with a Stellar Finish by Debbie Rice, Office Manager and Event Coordinator lamorous Brooklake Country Club 175 great prizes and gifts, and our first- in Florham Park was the site of our ever Paddle Raise that generated nearly 2018 Great Swamp Gala and Silent $30,000 in support of GSWA’s expansion to AuctionG which we are proud to boast was our microplastics monitoring work. most successful gala fundraiser yet! Swamp We are so very grateful to Governor Kean lovers and distinguished guests, numbering as well as our many outstanding sponsoring close to 400 in attendance, gathered to organizations and individuals, advertisers, enjoy fine food and drink and to celebrate donation vendors, and ticketholders—all GSWA’s many recent successes. We were of you helped make the evening the great delighted that Thomas Kean, former New success that it was. The combination of Jersey Governor, was in attendance as the your participation, contributions, and year’s Gala Honoree, and many guests took auction sales carried the Gala to an all-time advantage of the evening’s private meet- high, grossing $228,375 from the event! and-greet to spend some personal time with Rest assured that revenue generated by the this remarkable man and environmentalist. Gala will be put to good use towards future Other highlights of the evening included GSWA funding and program expansion a heart-warming talk by Governor Kean, for the environmental health and vibrancy a delectable sit-down dinner, a fun Live of our beautiful communities and the life- Auction segment with fantastic grand giving water they supply to us all.  prizes, our famous Silent Auction with

U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill shares a laugh with (left to right) GSWA Executive Director Sally Rubin, former NJ Governor Tom Kean, GSWA Board Chairman Nicolas Platt and Lucy Shurtleff at the 2018 Great Swamp Gala fundraiser on October 11, 2018, at Brooklake Country Club, Florham Park.

28 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org Thank You to the Victoria Foundation!

reat Swamp Watershed Association • Establish new partnerships with schools is very grateful for the generous in Newark for Environmental Education. support of the Victoria Foundation. Over the past two years we have reached GOver the past two years, the Victoria more than 1,200 Newark students from a Foundation has awarded grants to GSWA wide variety of schools. that have had a measurable impact on our • Present public environmental education organization’s ability to fulfill goals of the events to residents of downstream strategic mission expansion we adopted communities on the Passaic River. in 2016 to protect the Passaic River from GSWA’s programs give them an “source to sea.” understanding and awareness of the With the foundation’s help, we have been integral connection between their health able to: and quality of life and the health of our • Develop and strengthen relationships waters and land. Events have reached with Newark-based organizations more than 1,000 people in communities focused on the environment and water like: Newark, Livingston, Millburn, quality such as the Trust for Public Land, Summit, and Berkeley Heights. Newark D.I.G. (Doing Infrastructure The current round of funding received Green), and the Lower Passaic Superfund from the Victoria Foundation will allow CAG (Community Advisory Group). for further expansion downstream of our • Launch a new education collaboration programs and activities in 2019.  with Students 2 Science (S2S), a not- for-profit organization dedicated to involving students from urban-centered communities like Newark, Jersey City, and Irvington in S.T.E.M. education. More than 750 Newark high school students will participate this school year in the environmental education programs GSWA has developed for S2S.

Students from an S2S class at Cristo Rey High School in Newark studying salamanders they discovered during their program at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 29 Financial Report: Statement of Activities for the Fiscal Year Ended JuneFINANCIAL 30, 2018 REPORT: STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2018 by Sue Levine, Director of Finance & Human Resources 2018 INCOME Individual Contributions $ 317,463 Foundation Support 161,850 INCOME Corporate - see Note 1 67,240 Annual Events (Gross) 239,339 Programs Endowment transfer in (4% draw) - see Note 2 42,283 4% Programs 13,106 Interest Income Miscellaneous & Interest Income 1,610 1% Total from Primary Operations 842,891

Individual Annual Event Contributions 28% 38% Other Income - Pilgrim Pipeline 1,752 TOTAL INCOME $ 844,643

Advocacy - EXPENSES restricted Programs: Corporate0% Water Quality and Monitoring $ 156,230 8% Foundations Education and Outreach $ 247,425 19% Land Use & Advocacy $ 263,186 Depreciatopm

Total Program Expense 666,841

Management and General 49,241 Fund Raising 81,514 Direct Benefit to Donors 14,997 EXPENSES Total from Primary Operations 812,593

TOTAL EXPENSES $ 812,593 Direct Benefit Fund Raising to Donors 10% 2% SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) - see Note 2,3 (a) $ 32,050 Management Water and General Quality and 6% Monitoring Loss on Disposal of Corporate Assets (b) $ (9,997) Advocacy - 19% restricted 0% ENDOWMENT ACTIVITY Market Value 6/30/17 $ 1,160,542

Education Investment Income & Interest Earned (c) 27,645 and Outreach Gain/Loss on Investments (d) 74,454 Land Use & 31% Net change - see Note 3 102,099 Advocacy 32% Board Reserve / Prior Year Adjustments 18,539 Transfer to Board Designated (4% draw) - see Note 2 (e) $ (42,283) Market Value 6/30/18 $ 1,238,897

30 Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years www.GreatSwamp.org

Note 1: Income from the Corporate category includes matching gifts $6,684

Note 2: Depreciation is $3500. In addition, the organization did not use the 4% allotted to operations from the endowment which will become Board Reserve The funds were set aside as Board Discretionary in an Investment Account The Endowment has $65,080 permanently restricted funds.

Note 3: To tie to the audited financial statement's "change in net asset" line, you need to add (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) above The audited financials reflect a gain of $81,869 FINANCIAL REPORT: STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2018

2018 INCOME Individual Contributions $ 317,463 FINANCIAL REPORT: STATEMENT OFFoundation ACTIVITIES Support 161,850 INCOME FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNECorporate 30, 2018 - see Note 1 67,240 Annual Events (Gross) 239,339 Programs Endowment transfer in (4% draw) - see Note 2 42,283 4% Programs 13,106 Interest 2018 Income INCOME FINANCIAL REPORT: STATEMENT OF MiscellaneousACTIVITIES & Interest Income 1,610 1% Individual Contributions FOR THE FISCAL YEAR$ ENDED317,463 JUNE Total 30, 2018from Primary Operations 842,891 Foundation Support 161,850 INCOME Individual Corporate - see Note 1 67,240 Annual Event Contributions 28% Annual Events (Gross) 2018 239,339 38% Other Income - PilgrimPrograms Pipeline 1,752 INCOMEEndowment transfer in (4% draw) - see Note 2 42,283 TOTAL INCOME 4% $ 844,643 IndividualPrograms Contributions $ 317,463 13,106 Interest Income Advocacy - FoundationMiscellaneous Support & Interest Income 161,850 1,610 1% EXPENSES INCOME restricted Corporate Total from - see Primary Note 1 Operations 842,891 67,240 Programs: Corporate0% Annual Events (Gross) 239,339 Water Quality and MonitoringPrograms Individual $ 156,230 8% Foundations Endowment transfer in (4% draw) - see Note 2 42,283 Annual Event Contributions 19% Education and Outreach4% Interest $ 247,425 Programs 13,106 28% 38% Other Income - Pilgrim Pipeline 1,752 Land Use & Advocacy Income $ 263,186 Miscellaneous & Interest Income 1,610 Depreciatopm 1% Total TOTAL from INCOME Primary Operations $ 842,891 844,643

Total ProgramAdvocacy Expense - Individual 666,841 EXPENSES Annualrestricted Event Programs: Contributions Management28%Corporate0% and General 38% 49,241 Other Water Income Quality - Pilgrim and Monitoring Pipeline $ 156,230 1,752 Fund Raising8% Foundations 81,514 19% Education TOTAL andINCOME Outreach $$ 844,643 247,425 Direct Benefit to Donors 14,997 Land Use & Advocacy $ 263,186 EXPENSES Total Advocacyfrom Primary - Operations 812,593 EXPENSESDepreciatopm restricted Programs: TOTALCorporate0% EXPENSES $ 812,593 Direct Benefit Total Water Program Quality Expenseand Monitoring $ 156,230 666,841 8% Foundations Fund Raising to Donors 19% 10% 2% Education and Outreach $ 247,425 SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) - see Note 2,3 (a) $ 32,050 Management Water Management Land Use & andAdvocacy General $ 263,186 49,241 and General Quality and DepreciatopmFund Raising 81,514 6% Monitoring Direct Benefit to Donors 14,997 Loss on Disposal of Corporate Assets (b) $ (9,997) Advocacy - 19% EXPENSES restricted Total Total Program from Primary Expense Operations 666,841 812,593 0% ENDOWMENT ACTIVITY Management TOTAL EXPENSES and General $ 812,593 49,241 Market Value 6/30/17 Direct Benefit $ 1,160,542 to Donors Fund Raising 81,514 Fund Raising 10% 2% Education SURPLUS/(DEFICIT)Direct Benefit to- see Donors Note 2,3 (a) $ 14,997 32,050 InvestmentManagement Income & Interest Earned (c) Water 27,645 and Outreach Gain/Lossand onGeneral Investments EXPENSES (d) Quality and 74,454 Total from Primary Operations 812,593 Land Use & 31% Net change6% - see Note 3 Monitoring 102,099 Loss on Disposal of Corporate Assets (b) $ (9,997) Advocacy - 19% Advocacy TOTAL EXPENSES $ 812,593 restricted Direct Benefit 32% Board Reserve0% / PriorFund RaisingYear Adjustments to Donors 18,539 ENDOWMENT ACTIVITY 10% 2% Transfer to Board Designated (4% draw) - see Water Note 2 (e) $ (42,283) SURPLUS/(DEFICIT)Market Value - 6/30/17see Note 2,3 (a) $$ 1,160,542 32,050 Management Marketand Value General 6/30/18 Quality and $ 1,238,897 6% Monitoring Education $ (9,997) LossInvestment on Disposal Income of & Corporate Interest Earned Assets (c) (b) 27,645 Advocacy - and19% Outreach Gain/Loss on Investments (d) 74,454 restricted 31% 0% Land Use & ENDOWMENT Net change ACTIVITY - see Note 3 102,099 Advocacy Market Value 6/30/17 $ 1,160,542 32% Board Reserve / Prior Year Adjustments 18,539 Education Transfer to Board Designated (4% draw) - see Note 2 (e) $ (42,283) Investment Income & Interest Earned (c) 27,645Note 1: Income from the Corporate category includes matchingand Outreach gifts $6,684 Gain/LossMarket Value on Investments 6/30/18 (d) $ 1,238,897 74,454 Land Use & 31% Net change - see Note 3 102,099 Advocacy Note 2: Depreciation is 32%$3500. In addition, the organization did not use the 4% allotted to operations from the endowment which will become Board Reserve Board Reserve / Prior Year Adjustments 18,539 The funds were set aside as Board Discretionary in an Investment Account Transfer to Board Designated (4% draw) - see Note 2 (e) $ (42,283) The Endowment has $65,080 permanently restricted funds. Market Value 6/30/18 $ 1,238,897 Note 3: To tie to the audited financial statement's "change in net Note 1: Income from the Corporate category includes matching gifts $6,684 asset" line, you need to add (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) above The audited financials reflect a gain of $81,869

Note 2: Depreciation is $3500. In addition, the organization did not use the 4% allotted to operations from the endowment which will become Board Reserve The funds were set aside as Board Discretionary in an Investment Account Note 1: IncomeThe Endowment from the Corporatehas $65,080 category permanently includes restricted matching funds. gifts $6,684 www.GreatSwamp.org Protecting our waters and our land for more than 35 years 31

Note 3: To tie to the audited financial statement's "change in net Note 2: Depreciationasset" line, you is $3500.need to Inadd addition, (a), (b), the(c), organization (d) and (e) above did not use the 4%The allotted audited to financials operations reflect from a the gain endowment of $81,869 which will become Board Reserve The funds were set aside as Board Discretionary in an Investment Account The Endowment has $65,080 permanently restricted funds.

Note 3: To tie to the audited financial statement's "change in net asset" line, you need to add (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) above The audited financials reflect a gain of $81,869 Great Swamp Watershed Association Non-Profit Org. The Passaic RiverWATERKEEPER® ALLIANCE Affiliate US Postage Post Office Box 300 PAID New Vernon, NJ 07976 Permit #38 (973) 538-3500 Chester, NJ www.GreatSwamp.org

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