Summer 2019 | from COVER Engaging Students in Remediation
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Engaging Students in Environmental Remediation ...p3 A Category One Upgrade ... p10 An Incurable What do stronger protections for streams mean for clean water in New Jersey? p6... Curiosity FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Nature Rx by Jim Waltman Unfortunately, spending time outdoors in nature is much less common than it once was—and that may be at least part of laying in the woods and the reason for the extraordinary increase in attention deficit Pfields for hours on end. disorder, depression, anxiety, and other physical and mental Enjoying burgers on the grill health disorders witnessed in America’s children in recent with ripe Jersey tomatoes and sweet corn. Enduring those decades. hot, sweaty days and warm, sticky nights in a house without air conditioning. The arrival of summer always brings back Nearly fifteen years ago, author Richard Louv introduced the memories of my childhood. term “nature deficit disorder” to describe this phenomenon in his book “Last Child in the Woods.” Louv posited that I grew up in Princeton, near what is now the Billy Johnson unscripted, outdoor play is essential to the healthy develop- Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve. In my youth, the park ment of the human mind, of creativity, and of our five senses. was a vast private estate—a highly inviting place to trespass Children today are bombarded instead by unnatural sights on and explore. One of my most memorable “watershed and sounds delivered through hand-held devices, which may moments” as a boy was following Mountain Brook on its be leading to an unbalanced development of the senses and westward journey. On that summer day, my friends and the mind. I discovered that the stream led us from the estate all the way to Johnson Park Elementary School—our school - after Since Louv’s book was first published, a movement has joining the Stony Brook! emerged of pediatricians and other physicians who pre- scribe time in nature for their patients. In 2016, Dr. Nooshin My children have had their own wild places to explore. Razani, a pediatrician at the University of California at San Growing up in Hopewell Borough, they sought out Bedens Francisco’s Benioff Children’s Hospital, founded the coun- Brook in the town’s park and the preserved open space try’s first hospital-based nature research program (The UCSF owned by Mercer County that surrounds the park. And, Center for Nature and Health). Her program and the “Nature of course, every summer my children explored the vast Rx” movement is the subject of a long feature story in Out- Watershed Reserve—which now measures nearly 1,000 side Magazine (“Science’s Newest Miracle Drug is Free”). acres—during Watershed Nature Camp. The concept of “Nature Rx” registered immediately with my children’s pediatrician when I mentioned it to him. He told me that time spent outdoors was one of two things that he wished his patients had more of (the other being sleep). This year, my children graduated from college and high school, respectively. Like all parents, my wife and I are ex- tremely proud of our kids and hope that we’ve imparted wis- dom that will serve them well in adulthood. Looking back, the most important thing we may have helped them find was their own loving relationships with nature. And that may just be the most important thing that our staff at The Watershed Institute does too. Emma and Jimmy Waltman at ages 8 and 4 years old. 2 Summer 2019 | www.thewatershed.org FROM COVER Engaging Students in Remediation our small floating wetlands were installed recently at the Meadow Lakes retirement community in East Windsor with the Fhelp of about 20 Peddie School students involved in Earth Day activities. This action is part of a larger project to study and clean up the watershed of Peddie Lake, which is downstream from Meadow Lakes. About 400-square-feet of floating wetlands will help tackle the algae growth in Meadow Lakes’ interconnecting lake and ponds and improve the quality of the water without using chemicals. Joe Greipp, the arboretum director for the Meadow Lakes continuing care retirement community, said these small floating wetlands add to those previously installed in 2017 and 2018. Steve Tuorto, Ph.D., Director of Science and Stewardship, said the Watershed plans to continue this innovative project until about 1,200-square-feet of floating wetlands are in place. “We’ve had success in removing pollution with small wetlands and without using chemicals,” he said. “We’re eager to expand our efforts at Meadow Lake and are grateful to the Peddie School for their help.” The small wetlands are designed to reduce the nutrients in the wa- ter – primarily nitrogen and phosphorus. They also decrease the suspended solids and mitigate the loss of dissolved oxygen in the waterways, which will improve the aquatic life in the ponds and lake. The students and Watershed staff planted about 180 plugs of ninebark, silky dogwood, red twig dogwood, button bush and soft rush plants into the wetlands, which are composed primarily of Peddie students add plants, soil covering, and direct Poly-Flo filter material and marine foam. seed components to the wetlands before launch. Shani Peretz, chair of the science department and advisor for the school’s environmental club, said the Earth Week activi- ties helped students connect environmentalism to something beyond recycling a container. “The environmental science and bioremediation of floating wetlands connected well with concepts that we’re trying to teach them. There is more than you can do than just plant a tree,” she said. “Additionally, the students don’t necessarily think of career opportunities besides being a lawyer, a doctor or a teacher. No one thinks, ‘I could work to conserve waterways or be a landscape architect.’ Seeing the engaged and passionate Watershed staff may encourage kids to change what they do in their futures.” The Peddie students helping with the wetlands came from the environmental and robotics clubs, as well as from the track and football teams. Sophomore Peddie students Hanah Lee of New York City and Kaya Gorsline of Flemington, NJ, said “It seems simple, but it can really impact the people in our community by helping the environment”. Korey Smith, 18, of Madison, VA, said, “I thought it would be good to be out with friends and help the community. I’ve never heard of a floating wetlands before. It is cool to explore how this is done.” Erin Landis, River-Friendly Coordinator at the Watershed, said the floating wetlands are part of Meadow Lakes’ goal of attaining a Students help launch and anchor the wetland floats. River-Friendly Business Certification. Summer 2019 | www.thewatershed.org 3 A MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY Annual Meeting Reflects on 70 Years t our recent Annual Meeting, The Watershed Institute celebrated and thanked several longtime members. Jim Waltman, AExecutive Director of the Watershed, paid tribute to Rev. David H. McAlpin Jr., and his father, the late David McAlpin Sr., whose terms on the Board of Trustees spanned 35 years. “The McAlpin Family has served this organization with vigor,” Waltman said. “We are humbled by their vision and care as they guided this institution forward." The Water- shed honored them by dedicating the McAlpin Library to acknowledge their contributions. Longtime supporter Scott McVay provided a historical account of the McAlpins' contributions. Jeff Hoagland, Education Director, was recognized for his 35 years of service to the Watershed. “Jeff is our institutional memory, a pioneer and innovator," Waltman said. “His en- thusiasm for the natural world and passion for teaching the next generation of environmental science leaders is unparal- Exec. Dir., Jim Waltman and David McAlpin Jr. at the newly leled.” Former trustees Meg Gorrie and Nelson Obus praised commemorated McAlpin Library at The Watershed Center. Jeff at the meeting. Fredric J. Spar was commemorated posthumously for his integrity, dedication and years of service as a Trustee and envi- ronmental leader. Fred had a passion for the environment, history, and education, and contributed significantly to the Wa- tershed's programs. His wife, Winnie, accepted the Edmund W. Stiles Award for Environmental Stewardship on his behalf. Kate Dunham was saluted for her creative leadership in environmental science education at the Village Elementary School in Montgomery Township. She was presented with the Richard Rotter Award for Excellence in Environmental Education. Retiring trustees Beth Behrend, Laura Hanson, Catherine Sidamon-Eristoff and Greg Vafis were honored for their years of service. Board members from the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s & ’90s, ’00s & ’10s were also recognized. A joint resolution from state lawmakers was presented, commemorating the Watershed’s 70 years of “tribute to the meritorious record of service and commitment of its leaders, staff and volunteers.” Edu. Dir., Jeff Hoagland, presents the Rotter Award to Kate Dunham with her Village Elementary School students present. Did You Know... last year New Jersey experienced the largest precipitation total since record keeping began in 1895? The rainfall record has been broken six times in our 70 year history, but the 64.78 inches marks only the second time it has ever exceeded 60 inches (2011) - an astounding 19 inches over the average! National Weather Service | NOAA - NJ 365 Day Precipitation Departures - https://www.weather.gov/marfc/NJPrecipitation365Day 4 Summer 2019 | www.thewatershed.org Summer 2019 | www.thewatershed.org STREAMWATCH A Look at Rocky Brook rom extensive patches of farmland to the dense residential center Fof Hightstown, the Rocky Brook passes through a variety of land uses as it runs northwest from its headwaters in Millstone Township to its confluence with the Millstone River in East Windsor. Centuries worth of human impacts are still evident today in the three dams along its 10.5 mile length that form Perrinville Lake, Etra Lake and Peddie Lake, remnants of the area’s industrial past.