Visions for the Whippany Watershed

Whippany River Watershed Action Committee

2010/2011 Annual Report

 The Whippany River Better Stormwater Management in Parsippany serves the only signifi- cant unconsolidated The Whippany River Watershed Action ―The WRWAC’s mission is to preserve, aquifer in northern New Committee (WRWAC) has been protect and maintain the land and water Jersey, the Buried Val- ley Aquifer system. awarded an $185,000 grant for the de- resources of the Whippany River Water- sign, engineering and monitoring of im- shed and to enhance the quality of this  WRWAC has been rec- provements to stormwater run-off at the valuable resource,‖ states WRWAC Fa- ognized with the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Police cilitator Art Vespignani. ―The Whippany USEPAs 2001 Environ- Station and Municipal Court complex. River Watershed supplies drinking water mental Quality Award to hundreds of thousands of people and NJDEPs 2002 Envi- The coveted Green Infrastructure Grant, downstream and also aids in the replen- ronmental Excellence under the auspices of the New England ishment of local aquifers.‖ Award Interstate Water Pollution Control Com- mission (NEIWPCC), was applied for by ―The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills several state organizations. is honored that the NEIWPCC grant will be used to remedy stormwater runoff at Inside this issue: The WRWAC’s winning proposal will our police station and municipal court retrofit the existing parking lot with three complex,‖ states Mayor Jamie Barberio. NPS Grant 2 Filterra units. These units will be inserted ―We are always looking for ways to make into the existing stormwater collection our township more ecologically friendly.‖ system and will filter runoff before it reaches Troy Brook. This is a green in- The project, scheduled for completion in Geese 2 frastructure stormwater management the summer of 2012, is a joint coopera- technique, designed to better manage tive effort of the WRWAC, the Township and improve stormwater runoff making it of Parsippany Troy-Hills, Princeton Hy- Trends 3 more efficient and green-friendly. The dro, and the Rutgers Cooperative Exten- parking lot is located on Route 46 East sion of Morris County. in Parsippany. Troy Brook 3 New Look to the Annual Report Map 4 Our yearly two page 8‖x14‖ folded bro- and to residents of the 16 municipalities chure of bullet points has grown to eight that make up the Whippany River Water- pages of news and highlights of the past shed, as well as to other non-profit wa- 4 year. Readers can easily learn about the tershed organizations and funding agen- Black Brook efforts of the past year and get a good cies. sense of the role of our watershed organization in Morris County, New Jersey. The annual report describes how the Speedwell 5 efforts of WRWAC are making a differ- This report gives a summary of ence through broad based community WRWAC’s program to our members, action, implementation of projects, ongo- made up of governing bodies of member ing assessment and promotion of re- Outreach 6 municipalities and their representatives, source conservation. Activities Page 2 Visions for the Whippany Watershed Reducing Non-Point Source Pollution Understanding the cause and source of bac- Jersey, prepared cost estimates and con- terial contamination in the Whippany River is ducted field sampling. Program Committee: a goal of the program committee. In 2008, the New Jersey Department of Environmental The Morris County Board of Chosen Free- holders, historically strong supporters of the George Van Orden, chairman, Protection (NJDEP) awarded a $617,100.00 WRWAC’s mission and projects, gave pre- Madison grant to the WRWAC to study non-point source pollution in the Whippany River and to liminary approval. Princeton Hydro prepared Sal Iannaccone, Hanover implement a project designed to reduce fecal designs. Meetings were held with County coliform concentrations. officials to work out details of the project. It is Brian Marshall, Mountain Lakes anticipated that bids will be taken in early In December 2009, the DEP approved retro- 2011, a construction contract awarded, and Ralph Rhodes, Mendham Town- fitting sites located in Morris Township and the project well on its way to completion. ship Parsippany as bioretention basins. These sites are located on W. Hanover Avenue at Wet weather water testing and sampling at Hank Sawoski, Morris Plains the county owned Morris View Nursing Home the eight assessment sites are still underway and the Morris County Public Safety Training through the remainder of the grant cycle. Academy. Information gleaned from the reports will sup- ply the committee with more data to combat Starting in early 2010, work began to imple- fecal coliform concentrations in the river sys- ment these projects. The WRWAC’s consult- tem. The Whippany River ing firm, Princeton Hydro of Ringoes, New Watershed Management Group is recognized by NJDEP as the entity representing the various Goose Damage Management Workshop interests within the Whippany Watershed A Goose Damage Management Workshop age and community-based education. The whose purpose is to sponsored by the Whippany Watershed Ac- ultimate goal is to reduce goose damage to improve the condition or tion Committee was held on March 25 at the parks, campuses, water bodies and other prevent further degradation Haggerty Education Center Auditorium lo- public and private lands. of the watershed. cated on the grounds of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown, New Jersey. The Many officials and employees from Morris workshop featured several prominent speak- County, and municipalities around Morris ers and discussed goose damage manage- County attended. The workshop was open to ment techniques that have proven to be suc- the public, and included a continental break- cessful. These included habitat modification, fast. oiling and addling, dog patrols, no feed sign-

Volunteers Work Towards Sustainable Goose Populations Action Committee volunteers are making a trained and join the pool of volunteers splash when it comes to goose management. needed to control geese on a regional basis. A number of WRWAC members are trained by Geese Peace as egg addlers, and have Another member reports regularly to the actively managed many nesting sites in the committee with goose counts taken at 17 Morristown area, using integrated strategies different locations throughout the watershed. to keep the goose population at bay while Big numbers have been showing up, as well respecting wildlife’s right to life. as lower numbers where goose control meth- ods are occurring. Results of 2010 efforts: 62 nests were identi- Promote fied and 300 eggs were addled. It is hoped The efforts of these volunteers are invaluable that in the near future more volunteers from no - feeding in our mission to understand and attempt to surrounding municipalities will become control non-point source pollution in the of waterfowl Whippany River Watershed. Page 3 Morris County Freeholders Continue Funding Trend Analysis The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders allocated temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and conductivity which $9,000 to WRWAC in 2010 to continue the trends analysis were determined in the field, and carbonaceous 5 day bio- sampling and data collection project that has been ongoing chemical oxygen demand (CBOD-5) , total Kjeldahl Nitro- since the 1990s. The information provided by this study will gen (TKN), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), nitrite nitrogen provide a continuous flow of important measurements to (NO2-N), orthophosphorus (ortho-P), total phosphorus insure the improvement of the water quality of the Whippany (Total-P) total suspended solids (TDS), total alkalinity, chlo- River. rophyll A, fecal coliform and enterococcus.

Water quality data was taken from 5 locations along the Water quality improvements observed over time during dry Whippany River in August during dry weather conditions. weather conditions most likely reflect upgrades made in Two more sampling events were scheduled but postponed wastewater treatment and active watershed management due to unfavorable weather conditions and will be sched- techniques. The results of the sampling will be available in a uled for 2011. Water quality parameters analyzed include report after completing and analyzing the sampling. Troy Brook Regional Stormwater Management Plan The Troy Brook watershed, located within the larger Whip- Road, a portion of the upper parking lot was fitted with pervi- pany River Watershed, is approximately 16 mi2, with 24 ous pavement, surrounding the catch basins. This allowed miles of river and more than 400 acres of lakes, including drainage of the parking lot without the cost of retrofitting the Lake Parsippany and Mountain Lake. entire parking lot.

In 2007 a Regional Stormwater Management Plan was de- In the Hills of Troy Neighborhood in Parsippany (across the veloped by Rutgers Water Resources Program (Obropta and stream from the Parsippany DPW) five residences were se- Goodrow 2007) under the New Jersey Stormwater Rules lected to have rain gardens installed. The neighborhood was (N.J.A.C. 7:8). Based upon the New Jersey Department of canvassed and provided with educational literature on rain Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP’s) decision not to pro- gardens and the Troy Brook stormwater plan and five resi- ceed with the regulatory components of the Regional Storm- dences were selected to receive the rain gardens. Mainte- water rules at that time, the Plan was divided into Plan A nance manuals were developed specific to the project. (Regulatory- still awaiting NJDEP review) and Plan B (voluntary – reviewed and approved as a watershed plan to Work is scheduled to be completed at the Tivoli Garden address stormwater in the Troy Brook Watershed. Apartment Complex and The Parsippany-Troy Hills DPW in Spring 2011. The Tivoli Garden Complex will have rain gar- Under the approved Plan B, Rutgers Cooperative Extension den and a step-drop bioinfiltration system installed this has received grant funding from the NJDEP to begin to im- spring. The DPW will have a cascading set of rain gardens plement the Approved Watershed plan. The plan is priori- installed. tized based on those areas where the Regional Stormwater Management Planning Committee has identified the greatest Parsippany-Troy Hills Munici- need; where the modeling conducted during the develop- pal Building Rain Garden ment of the plan has identified the greatest reductions can be obtained; and those areas where implementation can be after a rain event, left achieved in the most cost-effective manner. The following projects have been implemented: 24 hours later, water has infiltrated into the ground, At the Parsippany-Troy Hills Municipal Building two rain gar- below dens were installed in September 2009 after training volunteers from the community and the Whippany River Water- shed Action Committee about rain gardens and how they help address stormwater.

At the Parsippany-Troy Hills Department of Public Works Yard, Turfstone pavers were installed on an emergency road. The road previously allowed stormwater to flow di- rectly to the Troy Brook. Photos by Pat Rector

At the Normandy Property office complex on Cherry Hill Whippany River Subwatersheds

Boonton Township Route 80

Town of Boonton

µv Mountain i

R Lakes

c R Denville i ocka a way s Rive s r a

Parsippany-Troy Hills R oute 80 R o 7 u 8 te Randolph 2 2 e 8 t 0 u o Morris R Plains Hanover East Morris Hanover Township

r e Mendham iv Morristown Township R y n a r p e p i v h i

R W Florham

c Park i a P s ass s a a Mendham ic R iver P Borough R Harding o ut e 24 Madison

Subwatersheds 0 1 2 Miles (010) Whippany River (Above road at 74d 33m) 1 inch = 2 miles (020) Whippany River (Washington Valley Road to 74d 33m) Legend (030) Greystone / Watnong Mountain Tributaries Municipal Borders (040) Whippany River (Lake Pocahontas to Washington Valley Road) Major Roads (050) Whippany River (Malapardis to Lake Pocahontas) Rivers (060) Malapardis Brook Lakes (070) Black Brook (Hanover) Tributaries (080) Troy Brook (Above Reynolds Ave) (090) Troy Brook (Below Reynolds Ave) (100) Whippany River (Rockaway River to Malapardis Brook)

Map by William DiBartolo Page 5 Speedwell Lake Sediment WRWAC has been working on several water quality of the lake itself, including water quality projects at Speedwell Lake measuring water depths, taking water sam- since 2002 in partnership with Morristown, ples, and estimating nutrient and sediment Morris Township, the Passaic River Insti- loading into the lake. In June 2010, repre- tute of Montclair State University, and the sentatives of the Action Committee toured New Jersey Department of Environmental Speedwell Lake in canoes and kayaks to Protection. visually assess the status of the lake. This oar demonstrates the shallow- ness of Speedwell Lake For shoreline restoration, an interceptor A major continuing concern is that Speed- trench was installed and a native vegeta- well Lake is extremely shallow throughout, tion buffer was planted to help remove averaging less than 2.5 ft. deep. Its shal- stormwater contaminants from entering the low depth is primarily from the large lake. The shore was stabilized by install- amount (estimated 40 tons/month) of What is a watershed? ing large boulders, which now serve as stormwater sediment entering the lake and fishing platforms. A shoreline structure from dead plant accumulation. It is consid- A watershed is the area of was rebuilt to prevent erosion and keep ered a eutrophic lake, with excessive algae land that drains into a particu- sediment from entering the lake. and rooted plant growth. Without additional lar receiving waterbody (e.g., active management steps, the lake will river, lake, stream, bay). For Efforts are underway to investigate the continue to age and fill in. example, the watershed of a lake would include not only the streams entering to that lake but also the land area that Black Brook Subwatershed drains into those streams and eventually the lake. The type WRWAC was asked in 2010 to participate of the WRWAC center upon the Black of land use and its associated in the Morristown Municipal Airport Master Brook, a major tributary of the Whippany activities can have a direct Plan update. WRWAC representatives River, which forms the eastern boundary impact on the water quality of attended a meeting of the technical advi- of the airport and the creation and imple- the watershed. When it rains, sory committee in January 2010 and again mentation of a watershed restoration and stormwater carries with it the in November 2010. preservation plan for this watershed. effects of human activities as it drains off the land into the As a result of discussions at these meet- local waterways. ing, the WRWAC submitted comments in The WRWAC will continue to be involved December 2010. The principal concerns as the process continues.

Make a difference, make a donation.

Please join the Whippany River Watershed today with a donation of:

( ) $500 Gold Sponsor (name on sign) ( ) $250 Silver

( ) $100 Bronze ( ) $50 Patriot ( ) $32 Pindar ( ) Other ______

Send your check to: WRWAC, Inc. PO Box 223 Morristown, NJ 07963-0223

The Whippany River Watershed Action Committee is a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation and is registered with the State of New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs as a charitable organization. We are organized for the purpose of preserving, protecting, and maintaining the land and water resources of the Whippany River Watershed. Page 6 Visions for the Whippany Watershed Troy Brook Clean Up In Parsippany The Parsippany Veterans Park The benefits to the town of Parsip- cleanup was a huge success! A pany include a cleaner Troy Brook, a dedicated group of volunteers were cleaner Veterans Park and New able to pick up approximately: 208 Jersey state NJPDES credit, three pounds of garbage, 32 pounds of points worth, for partnering in this recyclables, 1,792 pounds of solid WRWAC sponsored river clean up! material and one wheel. Also found were numerous pieces of large con- crete debris, too large for volunteer hands which require Parsippany's heavy equipment for removal.

Outreach Committee: Earth Day Jim Baranski, Chairman The cold and wind didn’t deter either Whippany River Watershed. Rich Taubald, Hanover Action Committee volunteers or atten- dees to the Annual Earth Day event Also on display was information about Len Cipkins, Parsippany hosted by the Morris County Park proper disposal of medicines, informing Commission. For the fourth year in a people that the widespread idea of Douglas Vorolieff, Morristown row, the WRWAC ―Watershed Jeop- flushing pharmaceuticals down the ardy‖ game kept all ages entertained toilet is no longer valid, and there are Amy DiBartolo, East Hanover and informed of local and global envi- proper ways of disposal. The same drugs that may harm humans and ani- Pat Rector, Rutgers ronmental issues at our booth on the beach of Sunrise Lake In Mendham mals on land can harm aquatic fish Township, which is located in the and animals as well.

Fall Hike on Watnong Mountain

WRWAC hosted an educational fall believed to have been built by the Con- hike at Mountain Way Park in Parsip- tinental Army during the revolutionary pany on Saturday, October 23 from 1-3 war. PM. Two guided 1-mile trails took hik- ers thru native flora and fauna while Mountain Way Park is located on they viewed indigenous glacial rocks. Mountain Way between Meadow Bluff The hikes followed significantly histori- and South Powder Mill Roads in Par- cal foot-paths including stone steps, sippany and is in the Whippany River Watershed. photo by Mary O’Keefe

2010 WRWAC Municipal and  Mendham Township Support and Funding in 2010: County Members  Morris Plains Borough In addition to its member municipalities and the Morris County Free-  Denville Township holders, WRWAC received partner support and/or funding from:  Morris Township  East Hanover Township NJ Department of Environmental Protection  Town of Morristown Rutgers Cooperative Extension  Florham Park  Mountain Lakes Borough Morris County Park Commission; Department of Planning and Devel-  Hanover Township opment; MCMUA; Mosquito Commission  Parsippany-Troy Hills Township  Madison Borough New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission  Representatives of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders  Mendham Borough Trout Unlimited Page 7 Watershed Signage Program You have probably seen this sign throughout 70 square miles of Morris County. Its motto the Whippany River watershed. It is a symbol ―Protect and Preserve‖ is a reminder that of the widespread and numerous brooks, preserving this valuable resourceful is a re- streams and rivers that are tributaries of the sponsibility of all the people who drive or Whippany River. The Whippany flows into walk along (and over) this river on a daily the Rockaway and eventually the Passaic, a basis. major source of industrial power in the 19th century. Today it is a major source of drinking Each of the twenty four signs put up in 2009- water for numerous communities in northern 2010 includes the website www.wrwac.org , New Jersey. which provides more information about the Action Committee’s history, present activities This sign represents the wildlife found in the and plans for the future. Businesses are in- river, on its surface and along its banks. It is vited to sponsor any sign. For more informa- meant to make people aware of the river’s tion, contact [email protected]. meandering ways as it flows through almost

Speaker’s Bureau Waterbucks 2010 Executive Committee: As part of The active volunteer efforts of the committee WRWAC’s continu- were once again recognized in December Sal Iannaccone, Chairman, ing effort of pro- with the popular ―waterbucks‖ program. Cate- Hanover moting watershed gories included: Perfect Attendance, Leader- awareness, two ship, the Sign Team and Action Heroes Jim Baranski, Vice Chair, presentations were (those members who earned over 50 water- Hanover given to the public, one at the Whippanong bucks). Library and one to the Madison Rotary by Brian Marshall, Secretary, Member Rich Taubald. Action Committee WRWAC received a Mountain Lakes members are encouraged to enlist groups generous donation for Amy Di Bartolo, Treasurer, who would like to learn more about the the event from REI East Hanover clean water issues we all face. located at 280 Route 10, East Hanover. Peg Adams, At Large, Morris Township

Donna Bangiola, At Large, Morristown

Rich Taubald, At Large, Guest Speakers in 2010 Hanover

 February: Jeff Hubert, Sierra Club - ―Energy Saving at the Residential Level‖

 March: Dr. Steve Souza, Princeton Hydro - Report on the 319h Non Point Source Pollution Grant

 March: Brian Marshall, WRWAC member reporting on the Great American Backyard Bird Count

 April: Tim Hill, Stop the Lines— Effect of the Susquehanna Roseland power lines on the watershed

 June: Dr. George Van Orden and William Hutchinson - ―Where Our Drinking Water Comes From‖

 September: Sal Mangiafico, Rutgers Cooperative Extension—‖Turf Management for a Healthier Lawn‖

 October: Dr. Steve Souza, Princeton Hydro—status reports on NEIWPPC and 319h grants

 November: Pat Rector, Rutgers Cooperative Extension and Ingrid Witty, Rutgers Environmental Steward - ―Rain Gar- dens in the Troy Brook‖

The Action Committee holds nine public meetings a year at the Morris County Library on the first Wednesday of the month at 5:45 PM. Meetings are not held January, July and August.

Whippany River Watershed Action Committee

PO Box 223

Morristown, NJ 07963

Contact: [email protected]

Art Vespignani, Facilitator [email protected]

Mary O’Keefe, Administrator [email protected]

Editor: A. DiBartolo

W E ’ RE ON THE WEB ! WWW. WRWAC . ORG

The Whippany River Watershed is an area of 69.3 square miles in north central New Jersey. It lies within Morris County and encompasses streams and lakes that flow into the Whippany River. This 16-mile long river is a tributary to the The Whippany River Passaic River and a sub-watershed of the Greater Passaic Watershed, one of the sources of drinking water for more than a million people in Clean it! Protect it! Enjoy it! northern New Jersey.

2010 WRWAC Expenditures

4% 2% Grants

9% Administration

Program

85% Insurance & Accounting

Pervious pavement on this Normandy Property Office Com- plex parking lot infiltrates stormwater that would have been runoff. See Troy Brook RSMP, pg.3 Photo by Pat Rector

The Committee

The Whippany River Watershed Action Committee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grass roots organization whose members represent twelve municipalities and the Board of Chosen Freeholders. Established in 1999 as a result of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s first watershed management program, the committee is responsible for implementing the Whippany River Watershed Management Plan.

This publication has been printed on 50% post-consumer recycled paper.