State of the Watershed Inventories Reserve Increasing Population and Steady Con- Version of Forests, Fields, and Wetlands to 6
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VOL. 56, NO. 4 Winter 2009–10 A publication of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, central New Jersey’s first environmental group. HOLIDAY Your water. Your environment. Your voice. OPEN HOUSE see back cover Inside 3... Testing for Bacteria 4... Ted Stiles Intern State of the Watershed Inventories Reserve Increasing population and steady con- version of forests, fields, and wetlands to 6... asphalt and concrete have had a direct, Celebrating 60 negative effect on the health and quality at FEST of our water and environment. This is the conclusion of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association’s first ever “State of the Watershed” report, scheduled to be released at the end of 2009. A comprehensive look at where central New Jersey stands in terms of land use, water quality and environmental policy, our report aims to give local government leaders, businesses and concerned residents a clear snap-shot of the conditions we face today and the challenges ahead. “For the first time in our 60-year history, the Watershed Association has taken on the challenge of examining and synthesizing the available information on the condition of our watershed as a whole,” said Jim Waltman, Watershed Association Executive Director. “We are confident that this report will help shed new light on the problems facing our watershed and help identify solutions for the future.” Using data collected from our own programs and initiatives, as well as state sources, the “State of the Watershed” report illustrates the Is our watershed healthy? Our “State of the Watershed” report shows which areas are - and aren’t. Continued on page 8 Conservation Advocacy Science Education FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Princeton Ridge Preserve With its mature forests, Watershed Association and others, he has agreed to abundant wetlands, steep deed more than 75 percent of the land to a conserva- slopes and boulder fields, tion organization for permanent preservation. the Princeton Ridge is one of the most important and Adjacent to that property is land owned by the Ricciardi sensitive environmental family, which sought a variance on the property to areas in central New Jersey. build nearly 100 housing units several years ago. The Watershed Association and others fought against that According to the New proposal and are now working to preserve the land Jersey Department of as permanent open space. Earlier this year, in fact, we Environmental Protection, the Ridge provides habitat secured a $250,000 grant towards its preservation and for several endangered and threatened species, including we are working with the New Jersey Conservation the wood turtle, eastern box turtle, Cooper’s hawk and Foundation and Friends of Princeton Open Space to Barred owl. In addition to these endangered and threat- secure additional funds. ened species, the Ridge provides migration and nesting habitat for a number of migratory birds that require large, Princeton should seize the opportunity to establish a contiguous deep forests to live and breed. Princeton Ridge Preserve to permanently protect a continuous greenbelt on the Princeton Ridge and provide Key parts of the Ridge have been preserved over the years unique educational and recreational opportunities to as Herrontown Woods Arboretum, Autumn Hill Reservation, residents and visitors of the region. Woodfield Reservation and John Witherspoon Woods. But commercial and residential development has destroyed large portions of the area and development pressures continue. The Watershed Association has been active in opposing proposals that threaten the Ridge’s delicate ecology and could exacerbate an already bad flooding situation down slope. Building on past successful preservation efforts, Down Memory Lane an exciting opportunity now exists to establish a We recently had the great joy of Princeton Ridge Preserve that would better protect hosting Connie Harvey (center), and connect these natural features. daughter of Watershed Association patron Muriel Buttinger, at the Watershed Princeton Township Committeewoman Liz Reserve. Board Chair Candace Preston, Lempert has taken up the cause of the Ridge. In U.S. Representative and former Watershed September she proposed a resolution to endorse Association Board Chair Rush Holt, Upper a Princeton Ridge Preserve and the committee Raritan Watershed Association Trustee and passed the resolution without dissent. good friend of Connie’s Mary Johnston, and URWA Executive Director Cindy Ehrenclue Several relatively large undeveloped parcels joined me for lunch, a tour of Connie’s old still exist which, if preserved, would expand home (our main office), the barn, and the network of preserved lands on the the grounds. Education Director Jeff Ridge. Princeton-based architect J. Robert Hoagland joined the group for a tour Hillier has been seeking approvals to develop of the Buttinger Nature Center and a 22-acre parcel on Bunn Drive for several a short hike on the trails. years. After steady pressure from the 2 Winter 2009–10 www.thewatershed.org StreamWatch MANVILLE k o o Bacteria Monitoring r B STREAMWATCHING e FRANKLIN NEW yc o Site Locations R JERSEY MILLSTONE HILLSBOROUGH BORO S O M E R S E T Si x M il e R r u Cr P e n use i v k i r Br R ook e H U N T E R D O N T R e u e l n n n o a R t n s M o ill a ck B PR1 M C i a l EAST c e k n B B a r it NORTH AMWELL o r r R o o a k o u BRUNSWICK Focus on k R n d n a e r a M I D D L E S E X MONTGOMERY w la e D rook en B ROCKY HCB1 HOPEWELL Bed HILL BORO BD3 k SOUTH BRUNSWICK roo teB co WEST HCB5 ath He AMWELL S B t H o r PRINCETON CL1 n o o y o n B k e r e Bacteria Monitoring o y i o k g e ke n HO2 SB2 r a ok a L ro C B HL1 PRINCETON ls If you have been wondering where it is safe to go swim- vi S BORO e h D al CL2 low B PLAINSBORO ro SB4 ok MONROE HOPEWELL ok CL3 ming, the Watershed Association’s newest monitoring ro B MR2 PENNINGTON ny C to ra S nb ury Brook B D i u g ck P B CRANBURY program helps answer that question. This summer we o e n d a r Bacteria R un B r LAWRENCE o Monitoring Site o k Bacteria and Chemical began sampling for Escherichia coli (abbreviated as E. coli) M Monitoring Sites illstone River WEST MANALAPAN Major Stream WINDSOR HIGHTSTOWN PL1 bacteria at seven locations. E. coli are bacteria that live in Major Road EAST M O N M O U T H Municipal Boundary M E R C E R WINDSOR Rocky the intestinal tracts of animals and humans. While E. coli County Boundary Brook MILLSTONE Stony Brook-Millstone ROBBINSVILLE Watershed Association 0 1 2 3 Miles contamination of food can cause serious food poisoning, Reserve ROOSEVELT Data Source: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Major Stream, Municipal Boundary, and County Boundary; NJ Department of Transportation - Major Road; Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association. This secondary map product has not been verified or authorized by the source agencies. Cartography by The GIS Center at the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, September 2009. Project: 200909SWBacteriaMonsites.mxd this bacteria’s existence in water bodies is usually harmless, MILLSTONE but is an indicator that other pathogens of fecal origin— Bacteria Monitoring Scorecard disease causing bacteria, viruses and parasites—may be Beden Brook (BD3) ...................................................................... present. Therefore, swimming or wading in streams with high E. coli levels is considered a human health risk. Honey Lake (HL1) ........................................................................ Millstone River (MR2) .................................................................. According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Peddie Lake (PL1) ....................................................................... Protection, waterways are safe for swimming and wading Pike Run (PR1) ............................................................................ when there are less than 235 colonies of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water. Initial test results from our bacteria Stony Brook (CL3) ........................................................................ sampling show that stream levels of E. coli bacteria are Stony Brook (SB4) ...................................................................... less than 235 colonies per 100 mL of water and therefore RANKINGS Good Fair Poor healthy. In July, only one sample on the Stony Brook came up high, following a rain event. Rain events help to wash Note: Results are from July 17, 2009 and are averaged from two samples bacteria into streams coming from leaking septic or sewer per site. systems, waterfowl in the stream, wading cows or polluted StreamWatch is made possible by generous support from the Geraldine R. runoff that has picked up animal (dog, goose, cow, etc.) Dodge Foundation and Janssen Pharmaceutica. waste en route to the stream. George Hawkins For swimmers in Hightstown, the low bacteria Former Executive levels were welcome news. We sampled weekly Director (1992-2004) at Peddie Lake and sent the data to the Hights- General Manager, DC town Borough Parks and Recreation Com- Water and Sewer Authority, mittee. The data was used to determine Washington, DC the lake’s safety for Friday night summer swims. Reports from Hightstown indicate that the swims were successful and What did you learn while at the popular with local residents. Watershed Association? The Watershed Association will continue “The Watershed Association employs almost every tool in the non-profit arsenal. It is the whole that is more monitoring for bacteria on a quarterly meaningful than the pieces—for every child and parent basis at 13 sites and is hopeful that touched by a Fungus Among Us program can stand up streams will remain safe for swimming. to advocate for sustainable choices, based on science from the same place—a credible source.