tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7052029371496759782023-11-16T08:25:53.388-05:00Watershed WanderingsUpdates from the New Jersey Water Supply Authority Watershed Protection Programs Division: information about our River Friendly Programs, field work, current and upcoming projects, and some random thoughts.Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-2459959446903903722015-02-24T16:05:00.001-05:002015-02-24T16:05:53.848-05:00National Invasive Species Awareness Week<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJrBDKrsV2MOc9WxDfhq87ZOi5IFtwEzctziRfTmX9s-V4lVUBNsud_LS6rLp5R7GuAoI68rMeTBhvqlXWbSW4kwqniZ_rWeO2T2buPGnCKN4ammfVliS8ggXFxbcd8VHkyHZ6ALi3r4/s1600/P9060191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJrBDKrsV2MOc9WxDfhq87ZOi5IFtwEzctziRfTmX9s-V4lVUBNsud_LS6rLp5R7GuAoI68rMeTBhvqlXWbSW4kwqniZ_rWeO2T2buPGnCKN4ammfVliS8ggXFxbcd8VHkyHZ6ALi3r4/s1600/P9060191.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>It is National
Invasive Species Awareness Week!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Please visit the National Invasive Species Awareness Week
Website to learn more: <a href="http://www.nisaw.org/">http://www.nisaw.org/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #5c3f17; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Here Are Nine Ways You Can Help (from
nisaw.org)<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #5c3f17; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Learn about invasive species, especially those found in
your region. Your<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/index.html"><span style="color: #0080c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">county extension office</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/index.shtml"><span style="color: #0080c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">National Invasive Species Information
Center</span></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">are
both trusted resources.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #5c3f17; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Clean hiking boots, waders, boats and trailers,
off-road vehicles and other gear to stop invasive species from hitching a
ride to a new location. Learn more at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://playcleango.org/"><span style="color: #0080c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PlayCleanGo.org</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #5c3f17; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Avoid dumping aquariums or live bait into waterways.
Learn more at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.habitattitude.net/"><span style="color: #0080c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Habitattitude.org</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #5c3f17; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don't move firewood - instead, buy it where you'll burn
it, or gather on site when permitted. Learn more at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.dontmovefirewood.org/"><span style="color: #0080c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DontMoveFirewood.org</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #5c3f17; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Use forage, hay, mulch and soil that are<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.naisma.org/weed-free-forage"><span style="color: #0080c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">certified as "weed free."</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #5c3f17; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Plant only non-invasive plants in your garden, and
remove any known invaders.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #5c3f17; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Report new or expanded invasive species outbreaks to
authorities. Here is a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.invasive.org/report.cfm"><span style="color: #0080c0; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">state-by-state list of contacts</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #5c3f17; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Volunteer to help remove invasive species from public
lands and natural areas.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #5c3f17; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ask your political representatives at the state, local
and national level to support invasive species control efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
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More great websites to visit for additional information
about invasive species:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.wildlifeforever.org/invasive-species">http://www.wildlifeforever.org/invasive-species</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.protectyourwaters.net/">http://www.protectyourwaters.net/</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://njisst.org/">http://njisst.org/</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-51580094651590568402015-01-28T10:39:00.000-05:002015-01-28T10:39:47.380-05:00Rain Garden Rebate Program 2015 for Residents of Bridgewater, Raritan and Somerville<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEhlp-XKozft8cmp8fLNShsHTxDoM_dKsBa7Q3Lwfs_hRwdv5vwoq28jUMwn3NxWcCVwShJ57xC61D5I00u0NlItvciikAeMzCWOymRiTqIYih8leyg_tR_YwMibdmVBH6GneLfYkHCo/s1600/Rain+Garden+pic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEhlp-XKozft8cmp8fLNShsHTxDoM_dKsBa7Q3Lwfs_hRwdv5vwoq28jUMwn3NxWcCVwShJ57xC61D5I00u0NlItvciikAeMzCWOymRiTqIYih8leyg_tR_YwMibdmVBH6GneLfYkHCo/s1600/Rain+Garden+pic+2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Rain Garden Rebate Program
2015: For Bridgewater, Raritan, and Somerville Residents</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">What is a rain garden and
why do I want one?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 118%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-contextual-alternates: yes; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As the rain falls to the earth, some of
it evaporates, some is used by plants and some goes down into the soil as groundwater. The rest of the rain flows across the land
surface collecting pollutants and carrying them into rivers and reservoirs that
are the sources of our drinking water.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 118%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-contextual-alternates: yes; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rain Gardens are shallow depressions
planted with native plants that live well in wet areas. They are designed to collect water primarily
from roof tops, but also from driveways and patios. They look like regular flower gardens, but
when it rains, a rain garden will hold a few inches of water and allow it to slowly
seep in to the ground instead of running into storm drains, streams and
gullies. This can help prevent erosion
and allows the water to be filtered naturally.
Rain gardens also provide wildlife habitat and add beautiful flowers to
your yard and neighborhood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 113%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-contextual-alternates: yes; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">Rain gardens are a perfect way to add beauty
to your landscape and make a difference in water quality for your community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfOWkU2Cu4cl-4YTQaQj2KRUNCeWSSnJKDb66cd6mZz-QTC8OaSUMOnc18nZFxK6t87GUIFw1gnCDmWPAm9DI6mNYyxuQcsjB_HwoP_UfcwMVflhNI72yDJWCeUO_4ScT1CjSI_MZMO0/s1600/Rain+Garden+pic+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfOWkU2Cu4cl-4YTQaQj2KRUNCeWSSnJKDb66cd6mZz-QTC8OaSUMOnc18nZFxK6t87GUIFw1gnCDmWPAm9DI6mNYyxuQcsjB_HwoP_UfcwMVflhNI72yDJWCeUO_4ScT1CjSI_MZMO0/s1600/Rain+Garden+pic+1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 113%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-contextual-alternates: yes; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">And
I can get some money back if I do this in my yard?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Water Resources Program
has partnered with the New Jersey Water Supply Authority (NJWSA) Watershed
Protection Program to offer rebates to homeowners that build rain gardens.
Since 2013, more than 60 area residents have attended these workshops, and more
than 10 rain gardens were installed in 2014 through this rebate program.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Rain Garden Rebate Program is being offered again for 2015!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This program is open to residents of Bridgewater, Raritan and
Somerville to learn the basics of rain garden installation and design a rain
garden for your home. At the workshop, attendees will be offered the
opportunity to sign up for free rain garden design sessions with Rutgers
landscape professionals. With detailed guidance in hand, rebates of up to
$450 may be awarded to participating residents who install a rain garden on
their property. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Your garden must be created from an approved design to qualify for
the rebate. So please join us at one of
these informative workshops!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Workshops will be held on Thursday, March 12, 6pm-8pm and
Saturday, March 14, 10am-12pm at the Duke Farms Coach Barn, Dukes Parkway East,
Hillsborough, NJ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To register, contact Michelle at </span><a href="mailto:mrollman@raritanbasin.org"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">mrollman@raritanbasin.org</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> or
908-730-0270 x223, or visit </span><a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">www.raritanbasin.org</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikG8BIYAfvM87AI08dqVzsrH7IbY6xOAv4XlTCSs99r02p4rsZKT_oRZgWY_dB5MQPZFZD-IyJSNKMtxEe5QHzbQCrpPe9ALV27Yjn4aI3_TBrgye7Z0on166fQ3q5E1Ts5xr01ks_Ye0/s1600/Rain+Garden+pic+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikG8BIYAfvM87AI08dqVzsrH7IbY6xOAv4XlTCSs99r02p4rsZKT_oRZgWY_dB5MQPZFZD-IyJSNKMtxEe5QHzbQCrpPe9ALV27Yjn4aI3_TBrgye7Z0on166fQ3q5E1Ts5xr01ks_Ye0/s1600/Rain+Garden+pic+3.jpg" height="536" width="640" /></a></div>
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Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-37564009492185320822014-12-30T09:31:00.000-05:002014-12-30T09:55:59.081-05:00Happy New Year!<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Happy New
Year!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Whether
you do it for yourself or for your kids, for now or for the future, for your
health or the environment, taking care of our water resources is an important
responsibility that we all should share.
So why not make a<b> resolution</b>
to be </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">more River-Friendly this year? Here are some tips and ideas to protect water
resources and, in some cases, save money!
Visit </span><a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/Projects/riverfriendly/resident_tech_materials.html"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">http://www.raritanbasin.org/Projects/riverfriendly/resident_tech_materials.html</span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> for more information on these topics.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Landscape with native plants to help reduce
your yard’s water needs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Native
plants evolved in the region in which they are found, so they are adapted to
the local weather, soil and geology.
Native plants typically require less maintenance and less irrigation
than non-natives and are generally more resistant to pests and diseases. By using natives, you can reduce your need
for irrigation, pesticides and herbicides.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Use a soil test to guide your fertilizer use.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tests will tell you exactly how much
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, lime, sulfur or other nutrients to add to your
soil. Too much nitrogen and phosphorus can cause harm to lakes, rivers and
drinking water. Other excess nutrients can weaken and even kill your plants and
grass.</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Use less pesticides and fertilizers. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Only use pesticides and fertilizers
when you need them. Excess nitrogen and
phosphorus can be carried by the rain to lakes and streams. Too much nitrogen or phosphorus in the water
can cause a reduction in oxygen which is harmful to small children and young
animals that drink it. It can also cause
an overgrowth of aquatic plants and algae leading to clogged water intakes and
fish kills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Conserve
Water!</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The U.S. population is growing and with it, the demand on our
water resources. At least 36 states faced water shortages through 2013, making
water conservation a very important issue.
Save money on your water bill by conserving water whenever you can and
become a part of the solution instead of the problem. </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Repair leaky faucets and toilets right
away. Save up to 50 gallons of water a day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Install a water saving
showerhead. Save up to 20 gallons per
person per day! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;">§<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Turn off the tap while you’re brushing
your teeth. Save 3-5 gallons each time
you brush your teeth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Collect water in rain barrels and use it later
to water your garden.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Rain Barrels are a great way to
conserve water for your non-drinking needs as well as to slow down stormwater,
preventing it from picking up pollutants and eroding stream banks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Clean up after your pets.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Not scooping your dog poop can lead to high levels of fecal
coliform<span class="apple-converted-space"> in lakes and streams as it is picked
up from where you left it and carried by stormwater.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 0.4in; text-indent: -0.3in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Dispose of household cleaners, paints and
other chemicals safely, such as at a household hazardous waste day.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Replace one household chemical with an
environmentally friendly alternative.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Keep toxic chemicals from the water by
using products with natural ingredients.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Get involved in a local watershed
organization.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Participate in a stream clean-up or
other activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Plant a tree!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Trees are important for many reasons, not
only do they provide oxygen for us to breathe, but they can protect our water
by slowing down stormwater runoff and filtering pollutants. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The New Jersey Water Supply Authority wishes
you a wonderful year and we thank you for any steps that you might take towards
cleaner, healthier water. It is all of
us together that will make a difference!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-85205138249088044092011-11-03T14:13:00.000-04:002011-11-03T14:14:00.863-04:00Welcome to "The Source"<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our first new e-newsletter goes out today! Check out <a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/Enewsletter.html">"The Source!" </a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Happy reading!</span></span>Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-70755184388531530332011-09-02T09:00:00.001-04:002011-09-02T09:00:05.862-04:00Somerville Rain Barrel Workshop<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Last week, we held our first rain barrel workshop of the year. Our <a href="http://www.regionalcenterpartnership.org/peters-Brook.html">Peters Brook Residential Rain Barrel Rebate Program</a> had just kicked off in July, and we had a big calling for another workshop in the Somerville area.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On a Tuesday night in late August, we had 28 rain barrels built and approximately 40 people attend the workshop. This was the first time we had a waiting list days before the event! We had a great turn out. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Not only did we go over the benefits and how to build a rain barrel, we covered the Rebate Program as well. Over 60% of the workshop attendees live within the Peters Brook Watershed. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here are some pictures!<br />
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</div>Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-9041936145104346272011-09-01T08:45:00.002-04:002011-09-01T11:13:29.370-04:00Rain garden in Farmingdale<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Last fall I was invited to attend an outreach event in the <a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/manasquan.html">Manasquan Watershed</a>. The event was the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore Groundwater Festival. I had been requested to bring information about rain gardens. Little did I know at the time, a few months later, we would be planning a <a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/rain_garden.html">rain garden</a> and getting one installed!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cadette Girl Scouts from Troop 68 in Toms River had begun working on their Silver Award project--to design and install a rain garden. In March, we met with Rutgers Water Resources Program to determine the best site, and in April the planning had really begun. The girls worked hard through the spring to secure plant donations from local nurseries. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicp_4d_PHs7WK1xhnvk4-kqqp7HU5SqA9mpxW_sVgT09wvIUhlc-MNd-07ue8pKSHsK64QUObe5U37sP7kkR-z93ioUqYcbKBg5_Nb68IF7otjHwhSYCWdm_UgKZXQeh6tVBdSlQqnHUc/s1600/P3220203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicp_4d_PHs7WK1xhnvk4-kqqp7HU5SqA9mpxW_sVgT09wvIUhlc-MNd-07ue8pKSHsK64QUObe5U37sP7kkR-z93ioUqYcbKBg5_Nb68IF7otjHwhSYCWdm_UgKZXQeh6tVBdSlQqnHUc/s200/P3220203.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJPD4TfU60nqPb9zh4HoKOwzuSDTyK__27tDrYjRRk4DJv788HIFq4oMyIVz3VjnKeXEExFKeoZTCvy9WqJL0qVvQx5zA8qHVFbZHo1cpHWfufAyZnU4WH1mi5m8rfX3gNopZ2Wk1hDE/s1600/P3220198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJPD4TfU60nqPb9zh4HoKOwzuSDTyK__27tDrYjRRk4DJv788HIFq4oMyIVz3VjnKeXEExFKeoZTCvy9WqJL0qVvQx5zA8qHVFbZHo1cpHWfufAyZnU4WH1mi5m8rfX3gNopZ2Wk1hDE/s200/P3220198.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpYh7W0DbaMs_6LTFX1HnqP7Hov2enBmHFLABiut9V3yxqXP0SVQpEkHKJowJprNJoAhpvfIq3XUdJbHHjp2vIxHKmDHBsdLvv66VZY9sdF5BsWQ8fDaZb32t6wWhygu_CfqvSrM9C80/s1600/P3220193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpYh7W0DbaMs_6LTFX1HnqP7Hov2enBmHFLABiut9V3yxqXP0SVQpEkHKJowJprNJoAhpvfIq3XUdJbHHjp2vIxHKmDHBsdLvv66VZY9sdF5BsWQ8fDaZb32t6wWhygu_CfqvSrM9C80/s200/P3220193.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In July, we planned for the installation. Staff from the Girl Scouts prepared the site, which was to be a 550-square foot rain garden, which drained a 1200-square foot section of roof from a downspout. The garden was oversized--the steep slope of the roof meant that the roof area being drained was actually much larger than 1200 square feet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The area was dug out, and the night before our planting it poured. When I arrived at the site, the 550-square foot x 1 foot deep hole was completely filled with water. Between two pumps and the scouts acting as the bucket brigade, all of the water was out in less than 2 hours. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We moved on to prepping the rain garden with the help of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County. We added topsoil and compost and leveled out the garden. We created a berm with additional material. It doesn't sound like much, and took a lot of work over the next few hours. Everyone was beat, so we called it a day, and met back the following day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On Sunday, we planted. And planted and planted. We had laid landscape fabric along the berm to prevent weeds from coming through, and put landscape fabric in the trench that would feed the rain garden. Troop 68 had designed the rain garden, which included<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">: </span>Butterfly Milkweed, Turtlehead, Purple Coneflower, Cinnamon Fern, and Witchhazel, to name a few. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For all photos, visit our </span><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/njwsa.wpu/GirlScoutsRainGardenFarmingdale" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">photo album</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thanks to everyone who was a part of this project!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cadette Troop 68 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rutgers Water Resources Program</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County</span><br />
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</span>Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-53190421990751918732011-06-08T08:32:00.039-04:002011-06-13T08:14:17.462-04:00Rain Barrels for Habitat<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">A few months ago, we were contacted by <a href="http://www.rvhabitat.org/">Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity</a> about rain barrels. They are building nine houses in Bridgewater, close to the Raritan River, and they were interested in rain barrels. The NJ Water Supply Authority purchased rain barrels, automatic downspout diverters, and soaker hoses to outfit each house with two rain barrels to conserve water and reduce stormwater runoff. The Habitat staff learned how to build the barrels, and built 18 inch high stands for the rain barrels. Habitat staff and volunteers put the rain barrels together and so far, have installed 9 barrels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">This setup is different than the typical setup we have promoted in the past, and from what is in our rain barrel <a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/rain_barrel.html">brochure</a>. The automatic diverter eliminates the need for a separate inflow and outflow, as well as the need to reconfigure the downspout each winter. The diverter can stay on your downspout, as it is metal rather than plastic, and only the plastic tubing needs to be removed and the holes plugged up. The barrel should still be drained in late fall.</span><br />
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</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7hYAET6lIFJrhLjWeP0hyiMsmPdcgo7JhxhFEwBWlotVD1zoN35UUk7GPzg1z4NL0lEgwywdTPrd6KmtN8Zp7XkoNoFAmGxYICUAyz49PVEfKg3VywTLgDLP9k3cDgVPYLB4FfELFbI/s1600/P5130268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7hYAET6lIFJrhLjWeP0hyiMsmPdcgo7JhxhFEwBWlotVD1zoN35UUk7GPzg1z4NL0lEgwywdTPrd6KmtN8Zp7XkoNoFAmGxYICUAyz49PVEfKg3VywTLgDLP9k3cDgVPYLB4FfELFbI/s320/P5130268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
The setup takes a little more time than just cutting the downspout and adding a flexible downspout attachment, plus an overflow hose to the top of the barrel. In this setup, when the barrel is full, it backs up water in the flexible green hose, which sends the rain water down the regular downspout, which may drain to your yard (we hope), driveway, or the street.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2IaAhSzEpRDP8OcZ4P61FMtSFzIuimFJmgdCzZqgU8hd71jOtUFnJpNec0AvtffRFyGs09u1XKLVYaSbpB6wTcvsfXbGL7ikM9f6sxdI7D6iEyHo9inorM6WNK20prfLCKyATBxPJDM/s1600/automaticdiverter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2IaAhSzEpRDP8OcZ4P61FMtSFzIuimFJmgdCzZqgU8hd71jOtUFnJpNec0AvtffRFyGs09u1XKLVYaSbpB6wTcvsfXbGL7ikM9f6sxdI7D6iEyHo9inorM6WNK20prfLCKyATBxPJDM/s320/automaticdiverter.jpg" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How the automatic diverter works</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">If you are interested in installing a rain barrel on your house, you should check into an automatic diverter system. Be aware of the material of the diverter (plastic vs. metal) and fully understand the installation before purchasing. Also realize that a diverter system may affect the construction design of the rain barrel itself. These barrels do not have an open top (they are screw off for cleaning) and do not require a mosquito screen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Happy rain barreling!</span>Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-12562459505780702762011-06-03T08:30:00.000-04:002011-06-03T08:30:58.242-04:00Permeable pavement @ EPA<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yesterday, I had the fortunate opportunity to attend a presentation at the Edison EPA office and to tour their stormwater best management practices (BMPs). I was especially intrigued by their permeable pavement parking lot. They are testing the three types of permeable pavement out there: pervious concrete, porous asphalt, and porous pavers.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now, why are these important, and what makes them a best management practice? Traditional pavement--asphalt and concrete, what makes up roads, sidewalks, parking lots, etc--is impermeable, meaning that water is not able to pass through. Natural spaces, like forests, have pervious grounds surfaces, which means that water does pass through the soil, replenishing the groundwater supply. As development occurs, heavy machinery runs over our native soil (which may have been pervious in the past), which compacts the soil, making it impervious.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Modern stormwater practices carry water away from these impervious areas (storm drains, detention basins, etc) and do not allow water to enter the soil below, which also acts as a filter for pollutants, like sediment and motor oil. In short, permeable pavement allows water to pass through and eliminates some stormwater (and pollutants) from reaching our streams. Some flooding is caused by excess stormwater from development, which historically had been held on site and infiltrated into the ground.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So at EPA, they have a demonstration parking lot, where they are testing out these permeable pavement options. This is an active office parking lot, and they have hundreds of instruments under the parking lot to be able to measure the effectiveness of the pavement options.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The three options</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0U4qzPror34LtF69eh2R5zWGJrLPF-EytdXzIQqVJKazkiTD5ACjwZq0hdBOH20ZYd_5PkCNjFHOI2SIlUZ0QZFIzBZyCZn-CoTgpeXhww98x6FsAZt9bT9e_37rjD4vanMnzOdxAfA/s1600/pavers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0U4qzPror34LtF69eh2R5zWGJrLPF-EytdXzIQqVJKazkiTD5ACjwZq0hdBOH20ZYd_5PkCNjFHOI2SIlUZ0QZFIzBZyCZn-CoTgpeXhww98x6FsAZt9bT9e_37rjD4vanMnzOdxAfA/s320/pavers.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">porous pavers</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGgBGCxWg3AoRSyJxVtLNmGEbhGFwrrVtdlpD4OpcniYeHvMlO5LKHn1xxfX5QMft_cRoTgA0chvD1mnjygqnSecMWSvuqZXJkP-tnHjznAeRkby_8VPVRB2l18RW4ogo71yWz-sJdbM/s1600/asphalt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGgBGCxWg3AoRSyJxVtLNmGEbhGFwrrVtdlpD4OpcniYeHvMlO5LKHn1xxfX5QMft_cRoTgA0chvD1mnjygqnSecMWSvuqZXJkP-tnHjznAeRkby_8VPVRB2l18RW4ogo71yWz-sJdbM/s320/asphalt.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">porous asphalt</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6V8SG-uu8BDBQRCiOlo90PsJorfMhsl7vaniNcHVgFcI61kJ-hPp3kFzqfNPQooHnzRwYjMZazpI2WnbTLEH-kOr2L2sevKtkwlki_hePPhdMpy96j0U9Lswn3fNQPgK10iDMtT-WBk/s1600/concrete.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6V8SG-uu8BDBQRCiOlo90PsJorfMhsl7vaniNcHVgFcI61kJ-hPp3kFzqfNPQooHnzRwYjMZazpI2WnbTLEH-kOr2L2sevKtkwlki_hePPhdMpy96j0U9Lswn3fNQPgK10iDMtT-WBk/s320/concrete.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pervious concrete</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6V8SG-uu8BDBQRCiOlo90PsJorfMhsl7vaniNcHVgFcI61kJ-hPp3kFzqfNPQooHnzRwYjMZazpI2WnbTLEH-kOr2L2sevKtkwlki_hePPhdMpy96j0U9Lswn3fNQPgK10iDMtT-WBk/s1600/concrete.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br />
</a>Each has their challenges, but they all have big benefits. Just take a look at how effective these pavement options can be:</div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5NvCSw_uXZY" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For more information about the project, here's the video from EPA, or visit their </span><a href="http://www.epa.gov/region02/sustainability/parking/" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">website</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Mu0jXJtF-90" width="425"></iframe>Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-62187868179318176162011-03-22T07:35:00.001-04:002011-03-22T07:38:16.485-04:00World Water DayMarch 22 is WORLD WATER DAY. Water is a basic requirement for all life, yet water resources are facing increasing demands from, and competition among, users. In 1992, the UN General Assembly designated 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water.<br /><br />Visit <a href="http://www.worldwaterday.org/">http://www.worldwaterday.org/</a> to learn more! This year's topic is Water for Cities: Responding to the Urban Challenge.Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-2003667151490833692011-03-14T07:34:00.004-04:002011-03-14T07:43:15.524-04:00Fix a Leak Week!It's Fix a Leak Week! March 14-20, 2011!<br /><br />According to the U.S. EPA, more than 1 trillion gallons of water leak from U.S. homes each year. So check your plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems this week to make sure you aren't contributing.<br /><br />You can take the pledge here: <a href="http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pledge/">http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pledge/ </a><br /><br />Fix a Leak Week is sponsored by the U.S. EPA's WaterSense program.<br /><br />Become a fan of NJWSA on Facebook!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/likebox.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpages%2FNJ-Water-Supply-Authority-Watershed-Protection-Programs-Division%2F131204606889743&width=292&colorscheme=light&show_faces=false&stream=false&header=false&height=62" style="border: medium none; overflow: hidden; width: 292px; height: 62px;" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-78133496286285553332010-12-02T11:51:00.007-05:002010-12-02T12:53:55.105-05:00rain, rainIn this field, every time it rains (at least an inch of rain), we've got projects and sites to visit. And yesterday, it rained, so out we went. I do enjoy donning my knee-high rubber boots, and this gives me the perfect opportunity.<br /><br />We visit some of our rain gardens.... (below is one of the <a href="http://njwsawpu.blogspot.com/2010/06/van-derveer-rain-gardens.html">Van Derveer School rain gardens</a> from a September 2010 storm)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1PooYfL-VEUQUWgLCSnNNbGiDH1AUBeGL7SGRK0cA3yHlkpUvDyG9YRVbbrP46Q_Oh8h623mS0GvjH6jKBS966ZUQS7mdu7JukkAmqB0upPL8sedegcEvKyxiRCBxKo2toYsBpdRInU/s1600/PA011044.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1PooYfL-VEUQUWgLCSnNNbGiDH1AUBeGL7SGRK0cA3yHlkpUvDyG9YRVbbrP46Q_Oh8h623mS0GvjH6jKBS966ZUQS7mdu7JukkAmqB0upPL8sedegcEvKyxiRCBxKo2toYsBpdRInU/s320/PA011044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546129404728786642" border="0" /></a><br />we look for other potential problem areas...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhbYAY9rWYvmmjtR5FBAaAKQ4szc80uk3otaTKI-vbWBBx5db2eGht0RbcQ_BhlMOwQsGwr4P1JM8W4veFgJajtM8QbEEbx7dhkbmBU4Jy6Sdkdf48nmEDBlrWEEPGLFsO7_-Sd9Hms4/s1600/P8231002.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhbYAY9rWYvmmjtR5FBAaAKQ4szc80uk3otaTKI-vbWBBx5db2eGht0RbcQ_BhlMOwQsGwr4P1JM8W4veFgJajtM8QbEEbx7dhkbmBU4Jy6Sdkdf48nmEDBlrWEEPGLFsO7_-Sd9Hms4/s320/P8231002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546130141549941634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLABNQ8BTnyVrrtFo7pCwnHkrhZYIXxZYIFHrHajcexPimvcnorg8f5n0ujlxgnzwD6YIPwk6JWSfxGeYxa85X6yjgyfYZFOFPnPvllLfWaKZLgl19RCqV5MGFQ1QGNSe8iCsCPKZrWL4/s1600/PA011040.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLABNQ8BTnyVrrtFo7pCwnHkrhZYIXxZYIFHrHajcexPimvcnorg8f5n0ujlxgnzwD6YIPwk6JWSfxGeYxa85X6yjgyfYZFOFPnPvllLfWaKZLgl19RCqV5MGFQ1QGNSe8iCsCPKZrWL4/s320/PA011040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546130146155285778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgt0OZ6Y-8clLeA9pUiqY2Nxi92PoXowSKc0XL9sD1Qeg3sXXV-IfbfZswk_jFEUaZrdcStcSN-5B5vu1l51nIaovg-Gek8MmYSIALs9VfK8tEa7BDiPZBpTDwsD0Z4jwFR1er7yHNLE/s1600/PA011072.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgt0OZ6Y-8clLeA9pUiqY2Nxi92PoXowSKc0XL9sD1Qeg3sXXV-IfbfZswk_jFEUaZrdcStcSN-5B5vu1l51nIaovg-Gek8MmYSIALs9VfK8tEa7BDiPZBpTDwsD0Z4jwFR1er7yHNLE/s320/PA011072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546131504466025058" border="0" />(This is the Peters Brook)</a><br /><br /></div><br />and sometimes we take samples...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBE8RCTvoDcTBENltBC040cjefsC8xEBtIjYWuA73cd6f12Mnij1ZjMA64gJGOq0eYI9v5iuEPmcfLu69Ik8lj_D6TwqrkUtCf6m8U-ibaiDLAn_njNgEisPLL1JVfB3DRoof5iJylvS0/s1600/P9301035.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBE8RCTvoDcTBENltBC040cjefsC8xEBtIjYWuA73cd6f12Mnij1ZjMA64gJGOq0eYI9v5iuEPmcfLu69Ik8lj_D6TwqrkUtCf6m8U-ibaiDLAn_njNgEisPLL1JVfB3DRoof5iJylvS0/s320/P9301035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546130159476517506" border="0" /></a><br />All of this gives us insight into what might be negatively affecting water quality and how we can potentially improve it.Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-85645724337689450212010-08-25T11:25:00.008-04:002010-08-25T11:37:13.329-04:00Raritan Rain Barrel Workshop - Photos of the Week!Last Thursday, about 30 people gathered in Elizabeth Avenue Park in Raritan to build rain barrels. This is part of the ongoing <a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/peters.html">Peters Brook Stormwater Reduction Project</a>, which Rutgers Cooperative Extension is a partner. We made the <a href="http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/08/raritan_residents_construct_ra.html">news</a>!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rtl8EV0YTkNnAKQknJRFqtQy_pKjASSdzri9k5xQlG428WYa7v_qaE60DFPUKiz525c2Cln-2uk8rFyg9jctgFcqXN9-PFNMbi34SCzg1aFzEOHE-qxxYcq6pnGTaIz0sh-IRAotVwU/s1600/DSC_0386.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rtl8EV0YTkNnAKQknJRFqtQy_pKjASSdzri9k5xQlG428WYa7v_qaE60DFPUKiz525c2Cln-2uk8rFyg9jctgFcqXN9-PFNMbi34SCzg1aFzEOHE-qxxYcq6pnGTaIz0sh-IRAotVwU/s320/DSC_0386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509371382876326530" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIqVwbiffp3ooE35JY8FFI_p7ZQ4lNVDmVULSdaIVe8WQimYLXYFNaBttOm6BAr3LPTENQl0pwJcTMsPb2Q1musNHZajYEGiFyxswAb6jCvPcntB-vsVB2b3Eqw4KXYD1I3fSKsjDW7o/s1600/DSC_0426.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIqVwbiffp3ooE35JY8FFI_p7ZQ4lNVDmVULSdaIVe8WQimYLXYFNaBttOm6BAr3LPTENQl0pwJcTMsPb2Q1musNHZajYEGiFyxswAb6jCvPcntB-vsVB2b3Eqw4KXYD1I3fSKsjDW7o/s320/DSC_0426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509369961737120354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_C0XH68Z6ajSDlBQbXBRB3cH_pt44zhlX8mo-KvwQRpSFn1g6dMJ1PPsL91Ac7REpsuo9luCZsn50TY12Cu78QxWePoAJxJonDw6y7phMzstCmD_3AMtFYgGdbKc2gdwsZHvYZfVyqpw/s1600/DSC_0435.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_C0XH68Z6ajSDlBQbXBRB3cH_pt44zhlX8mo-KvwQRpSFn1g6dMJ1PPsL91Ac7REpsuo9luCZsn50TY12Cu78QxWePoAJxJonDw6y7phMzstCmD_3AMtFYgGdbKc2gdwsZHvYZfVyqpw/s320/DSC_0435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509370944566115362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9fHGSrlKf6e_K3GF8bN0xPIrgXkINdCpA7hNXEHJWJNo-YXr3ObogoUAASJZ9qeqB3W1dw6Kuek4BhNKa_Qem-0BvIA-qae5OWlZeL3GfoHD0YsJ3eAcvmaJrpURyaumvEv61_EzPpo/s1600/DSC_0410.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9fHGSrlKf6e_K3GF8bN0xPIrgXkINdCpA7hNXEHJWJNo-YXr3ObogoUAASJZ9qeqB3W1dw6Kuek4BhNKa_Qem-0BvIA-qae5OWlZeL3GfoHD0YsJ3eAcvmaJrpURyaumvEv61_EzPpo/s320/DSC_0410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509370601523453346" border="0" /></a><br />For more information about rain barrels, visit our <a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/rain_barrel.html">rain barrel page</a>.Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-38173056790569897972010-08-02T12:52:00.005-04:002010-08-02T13:04:26.637-04:00Upcoming Rain Barrel Workshops<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6cHByKEvx42_bwIhUtPFYDMRUObCr5PNmr7S39raEf-RUrJdub5ZYb_xZnpKJv2_vd2-24sppc2ueAExYgLDqOGteAZl_gLggf5r9yOkEZImkdY-bL481g4dp0OkkkcxhdUGH3Aa6cE/s1600/rain_barrel_1.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6cHByKEvx42_bwIhUtPFYDMRUObCr5PNmr7S39raEf-RUrJdub5ZYb_xZnpKJv2_vd2-24sppc2ueAExYgLDqOGteAZl_gLggf5r9yOkEZImkdY-bL481g4dp0OkkkcxhdUGH3Aa6cE/s320/rain_barrel_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500859154284985858" border="0" /></a>We (NJWSA and Rutgers Cooperative Extension) will be hosting three rain barrel workshops in the month of August! The popularity of the Somerville workshop in June sparked quite an interest, so we have expanded our <a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/peters.html">Peters Brook project</a> to include two additional neighborhoods (in addition to the initial neighborhood in Somerville around Walck Park): a neighborhood near Elizabeth Ave Park in Raritan, and a neighborhood just off of Foothill Road in Bridgewater.<br /><br />The dates:<br /><h4> </h4><h4>Raritan: August 19, 6-8pm at Elizabeth Ave Park<br />Somerville: August 26, 6-8pm at Walck Park<br />Bridgewater: August 28, 10am-noon at Somerset County Vo-Tech<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></h4><h4></h4><h4> </h4><span style="font-size:100%;">If you are interested in one of the rain barrel workshops, please contact Pat Rector at rector@njaes.rutgers.edu<br /><br />Read more information about <a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/rain_barrel.html">rain barrels on our website</a>!<br /></span>Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-70277792442479266192010-08-02T07:20:00.005-04:002010-08-05T13:28:20.191-04:00Facebook!We're on Facebook! So please become a fan of our<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Somerville-NJ/NJ-Water-Supply-Authority-Watershed-Protection-Programs-Division/131204606889743?ref=ts"> page!</a><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/likebox.php?id=131204606889743&width=292&connections=0&stream=true&header=true&height=427" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:292px; height:427px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-48335314651701014392010-07-06T14:24:00.008-04:002010-07-06T14:49:57.782-04:00Rain barrels!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEljzUY2VgQqjrGlEUFYIpgntTFTd90gLvRo3UNJYmF09nuIFXAVBN5vrX1utGPgVvgLq4RnI_FmAWEeH9SsUmPUGh8ZQdHzLuNW45Il6HD3sWzD1zl8csoylywWcpOJGzDzBa_MjRyE/s1600/DSC_0407.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEljzUY2VgQqjrGlEUFYIpgntTFTd90gLvRo3UNJYmF09nuIFXAVBN5vrX1utGPgVvgLq4RnI_FmAWEeH9SsUmPUGh8ZQdHzLuNW45Il6HD3sWzD1zl8csoylywWcpOJGzDzBa_MjRyE/s320/DSC_0407.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490863911933498802" border="0" /></a> On June 10, we (along with Rutgers Cooperative Extension) held a Build-A-Barrel workshop that was targeted for a community along the Peters Brook in Somerville. The general premise behind the targeted community is that Rutgers (as well as us) are looking to quantify the effect of small best management practices--or BMPs-- (such as rain barrels and rain gardens) on stream flow. We're hoping that these BMPs will reduce the amount of water that reaches the Peters Brook, and in turn, will carry less pollutants to the waterway and reduce erosion due to high volume flows.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4ovBN6nchFbHU0-zB33LHl1tvq2pcDPncUo8RuFyq9YJYb9ejjREHe8UgN3IgN3SsGukaVUrSq-xcT4Nv-mV1svEidw26dF_ftFLIbTTbJbESCke_P78DGKpOOySfkhEXutrcrJT78o/s1600/DSC_0434.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4ovBN6nchFbHU0-zB33LHl1tvq2pcDPncUo8RuFyq9YJYb9ejjREHe8UgN3IgN3SsGukaVUrSq-xcT4Nv-mV1svEidw26dF_ftFLIbTTbJbESCke_P78DGKpOOySfkhEXutrcrJT78o/s320/DSC_0434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490865257945711362" border="0" /></a>So we held the workshop, and about 35 people showed up, many from the targeted community, and 26 barrels were built. Nearly everyone that attended wanted at least one extra barrel, and many people walked by the park and wanted to join if we held another workshop. So, I would say that it was a success!<br /><br /><br />Here are some more photos from the evening (or visit our <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/njwsa.wpu/SomervilleRainBarrelWorkshop#">photo gallery</a> for the complete collection!):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsLvoLrC5c02dE8qheZ-tWB-Wi8oxUxgRFU5YvequV8KN6tipOpUk-iOzYauMTNT6GMaVRZyiQlWWgKHE-d_pCn9ur9j5TEPULKIJN1RF588tb3Q3yZvZGwvcE7GG2fwfxLeOiyrPLEk/s1600/DSC_0416.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsLvoLrC5c02dE8qheZ-tWB-Wi8oxUxgRFU5YvequV8KN6tipOpUk-iOzYauMTNT6GMaVRZyiQlWWgKHE-d_pCn9ur9j5TEPULKIJN1RF588tb3Q3yZvZGwvcE7GG2fwfxLeOiyrPLEk/s320/DSC_0416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490861581766324738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWM0bUvDrxvEx42rMr79eCMn1RT20b23ZcuYY7cBaDPKyaJMqga3uHGc4Q2fJfwqfr8fBCaMaC5o3S3ISu1pcs0aDPU6aDMujqmt14ulb1UTJYuSF9F83AgXbtIGN6a7WXO2WBnU2Qr6k/s1600/DSC_0419.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWM0bUvDrxvEx42rMr79eCMn1RT20b23ZcuYY7cBaDPKyaJMqga3uHGc4Q2fJfwqfr8fBCaMaC5o3S3ISu1pcs0aDPU6aDMujqmt14ulb1UTJYuSF9F83AgXbtIGN6a7WXO2WBnU2Qr6k/s320/DSC_0419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490865646499847842" border="0" /></a><br />More information about the stormwater project on our <a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/peters.html">Peters Brook page</a> or you can read some of the press about this event on our <a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/news.html">News page.</a><br /><br />We are planning additional Build-A-Barrel workshops to be held in each of the three Peters Brook communities (Bridgewater, Somerville, and Raritan). We are planning for August 2010. In the meantime, you can learn more about <a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/rain_barrel.html">rain barrels!</a>Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-76622618133260595472010-06-16T09:57:00.008-04:002010-06-16T10:30:49.410-04:00Van Derveer Rain Gardens!Last week, our staff, along with Rutgers Water Resources staff, NJ Watershed Ambassadors, Somerset County Park Commission staff, and students and staff from Van Derveer Elementary school installed two rain gardens at the school to add to their outdoor classroom.<br /><br />Photos from Rain Garden #1<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRrE6UWazr6rGYhJXjNgPnKpWTwe8yHBZ2Peojqh7XcgW3ITh240xV9InSM_uA5aeHp0nCUEaeJgqdfOVy1GoLTDn1yakE697ZE1UH8jgPFV-MoLfgF9M0JGizwHOVpTalFXmGrYqOtU/s1600/DSC_0173.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRrE6UWazr6rGYhJXjNgPnKpWTwe8yHBZ2Peojqh7XcgW3ITh240xV9InSM_uA5aeHp0nCUEaeJgqdfOVy1GoLTDn1yakE697ZE1UH8jgPFV-MoLfgF9M0JGizwHOVpTalFXmGrYqOtU/s320/DSC_0173.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483370777701288898" /></a><br /><br />pre-installation<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiCD76yIdu7FPMtU-wKQ2kcOc_WRNOwYVUKH4njkEHgpV4X6hKOM9HsApD0eNa2kq_02ESBtqeBVNKdf0hqclOnd3B7w3NqcWacxGzwL6ApeA8gM9KhxCtmq_9OFfuRk5cSRHSkspYss/s1600/DSC_0312.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiCD76yIdu7FPMtU-wKQ2kcOc_WRNOwYVUKH4njkEHgpV4X6hKOM9HsApD0eNa2kq_02ESBtqeBVNKdf0hqclOnd3B7w3NqcWacxGzwL6ApeA8gM9KhxCtmq_9OFfuRk5cSRHSkspYss/s320/DSC_0312.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483372098677761202" /></a><br /><br />After soil amendments and a thin mulch layer<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z01co_bQ9axVUpnBDBN2bJ8ikTo057k2n4j1h1FZyhXed38mHRZeY2tSwLxxQi4VzB2Q_HLHJubaxBAg76t9typshbB6ECS3i-38ZXDRty-oviPgpO1T03-qQonrghtMw1ZW7tQVCDM/s1600/IMGP3252.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Z01co_bQ9axVUpnBDBN2bJ8ikTo057k2n4j1h1FZyhXed38mHRZeY2tSwLxxQi4VzB2Q_HLHJubaxBAg76t9typshbB6ECS3i-38ZXDRty-oviPgpO1T03-qQonrghtMw1ZW7tQVCDM/s320/IMGP3252.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483373924690002066" /></a><br /><br />After planting!<br /><br />Photos from Rain Garden #2<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDPAf0mQB03x8k65B5WYbhwq9EVNvr0wxKfoNtZ22L7qNIhjveYBSGiuCVzaWiQlPLcsYTOAJ3bplE6JVDrADkcqkhyphenhyphen4IIqVG944qOOSKCwo1O79W_6PHfxuBedEG4NHW-J0h8fv_J9k/s1600/DSC_0170.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDPAf0mQB03x8k65B5WYbhwq9EVNvr0wxKfoNtZ22L7qNIhjveYBSGiuCVzaWiQlPLcsYTOAJ3bplE6JVDrADkcqkhyphenhyphen4IIqVG944qOOSKCwo1O79W_6PHfxuBedEG4NHW-J0h8fv_J9k/s320/DSC_0170.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483377058711984850" /></a><br /><br />pre-installation<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOB_QqDIKoaTiRdS6w607vOeubBH1tALyMbeNol3hvTk0XG3mPkMWarPlLY4zEIJoTmad_-R-i3aA5ftMwvbWEKpbDkXOJNba9XtKH1RTa45snZPAyksLKfj8L6s0jlWSyaP1INyTngAU/s1600/DSC_0299.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOB_QqDIKoaTiRdS6w607vOeubBH1tALyMbeNol3hvTk0XG3mPkMWarPlLY4zEIJoTmad_-R-i3aA5ftMwvbWEKpbDkXOJNba9XtKH1RTa45snZPAyksLKfj8L6s0jlWSyaP1INyTngAU/s320/DSC_0299.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483377323866771282" /></a><br /><br />after soil amendments and thin mulch layer<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhG-c31i1AUSwPDzEuAoGqw4ToxcC7uNJhdynEorLxc6h4-nXT1XSU-n5vEu51xDKGKCHPnae15V23qv8Ol_gP8fwh7yxNWRCRNtoodA9vcGgUTRAlJc9O__9Tc8jULJfS9eQP5NZbpk/s1600/IMGP3255.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhG-c31i1AUSwPDzEuAoGqw4ToxcC7uNJhdynEorLxc6h4-nXT1XSU-n5vEu51xDKGKCHPnae15V23qv8Ol_gP8fwh7yxNWRCRNtoodA9vcGgUTRAlJc9O__9Tc8jULJfS9eQP5NZbpk/s320/IMGP3255.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483377574668796962" /></a><br /><br />After planting!<br /><br />Things are very busy around here, so I will update soon with some more information about the gardens!Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-18704798971142080192010-06-02T09:38:00.003-04:002010-06-02T09:45:26.979-04:00Photo of the Week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNs6qRTBw2U0NZ5wkTxQEQm3VjsVJpsv5OqnuFiRcUDO2HMHzqdZjBu9ph4D9HeOsIBdgExcBDc2SAxLNEXpiQDpEcJ5AJyPvo7lXuksGVQJ3v9iMzTKHCeouj2k9xRYAZjrP-Lqbx0Q/s1600/IMGP3641.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNs6qRTBw2U0NZ5wkTxQEQm3VjsVJpsv5OqnuFiRcUDO2HMHzqdZjBu9ph4D9HeOsIBdgExcBDc2SAxLNEXpiQDpEcJ5AJyPvo7lXuksGVQJ3v9iMzTKHCeouj2k9xRYAZjrP-Lqbx0Q/s320/IMGP3641.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478170563894490194" /></a><br /><br /><br />The fog this morning reminded me of this picture, which is from the feeder canal at Bull's Island Recreation Area, just north of Stockton, NJ. Photo taken October 2006.Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-52240473758224683222010-05-28T15:15:00.009-04:002010-05-28T15:38:45.334-04:00rain gardens on the brain!I have been spending the past few days preparing for our upcoming rain garden project at Van Derveer Elementary School in Somerville (part of the Peters Brook Watershed - WMA9), which we'll be working with the students to plant in just under two weeks. I was looking to take a picture of a rain garden nearby, so I went to <a href="http://water.rutgers.edu">Rutgers Water Resources Program website</a> and looked up their demonstration gardens. I came across one at Hillsborough High School (which is within the Royce Brook Watershed, which is part of the Millstone Watershed - WMA 10), just down the road from us, so I took a trip over.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfHaOAFhkLuB0FhsPiywyTkHxP3uK-DaQUWPvjC9TMDYLj5dBx0NFC-ed8f46PUAvoKyocOHT3U0QL6CiHcgj6USLLs1f5yasE-QUyfQhTjBXrE5TbeyC12q2aaOdh9LoYb0-HhAApV8/s1600/IMGP3241.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfHaOAFhkLuB0FhsPiywyTkHxP3uK-DaQUWPvjC9TMDYLj5dBx0NFC-ed8f46PUAvoKyocOHT3U0QL6CiHcgj6USLLs1f5yasE-QUyfQhTjBXrE5TbeyC12q2aaOdh9LoYb0-HhAApV8/s320/IMGP3241.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476401874353247874" /></a><br /><br />Upon further investigation, I learned that this garden was designed and constructed by an Eagle Scout and is maintained by the school's Special Education department "World Readiness/Community Work" program. I think that's really neat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbir3ZYjqyZSxCWifcnkOuCkKMVvfVmX9KqkhNsi6FpkTisTJBsCqVquspg7hWHF72XqIHX3crQAuvxznjSACWsUE__rG1q1M3YFbPY2H0XFQiZXtK4MNefJHtdJGDG_r9GrJPTBkzcA/s1600/IMGP3243.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbir3ZYjqyZSxCWifcnkOuCkKMVvfVmX9KqkhNsi6FpkTisTJBsCqVquspg7hWHF72XqIHX3crQAuvxznjSACWsUE__rG1q1M3YFbPY2H0XFQiZXtK4MNefJHtdJGDG_r9GrJPTBkzcA/s320/IMGP3243.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476402037536455714" /></a><br />I liked the sign that they had on each side of the garden. It describes the water quality benefits as well as the habitat enhancement and native plant aspects in a clear concise way.<br /><br />I can't wait to see Van Derveer's gardens when they are completed!<br /><br />Also, we recently updated the <a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/peters.html">Peters Brook page on our website</a>, so please check it out!Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-79874556922132275432010-04-29T09:35:00.009-04:002010-06-08T16:09:56.588-04:00Thompson Park Rain GardenOn Tuesday, April 27th, a rain garden was installed in Thompson Park (Jamesburg/Monroe Twp), as part of the Manalapan Brook Watershed Protection and Restoration Plan. The garden was planted by 'students' of the Rutgers Rain Garden Certification Workshop. <br /><br />The rain stayed away, and we ended out having some sun for our planting. Here are some photos of the garden and the planting event: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfx724HP0e715xu0-ln9x3tgX9qPITJAaCvS8BRn9TfXjofW_S2i2fMS24iHOkFljfPMo0nxAAgP727bLAnVR3OftM8DkcNScgK_cmiXqwotAOs6bAb1mVBwkzK5hE51D_KPwjWeFl04/s1600/4_21_10raingarden_sandlayer_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfx724HP0e715xu0-ln9x3tgX9qPITJAaCvS8BRn9TfXjofW_S2i2fMS24iHOkFljfPMo0nxAAgP727bLAnVR3OftM8DkcNScgK_cmiXqwotAOs6bAb1mVBwkzK5hE51D_KPwjWeFl04/s320/4_21_10raingarden_sandlayer_2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465553792167009490" /></a><br />sand layer of rain garden during the week prior to planting<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNshRdVIi46YmtyC6NTGBJLp2tP0DB_sk9gZkybOavODR2NLwYoTbN0vJN7RRVAw_p276N1w0tnk_5QjLxmrFIcNEDnZIHJjkeQzM2rhucdpAdsTYvrpnnE6t03AM3hwXLK6Vg4uKolls/s1600/DSC_0824.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNshRdVIi46YmtyC6NTGBJLp2tP0DB_sk9gZkybOavODR2NLwYoTbN0vJN7RRVAw_p276N1w0tnk_5QjLxmrFIcNEDnZIHJjkeQzM2rhucdpAdsTYvrpnnE6t03AM3hwXLK6Vg4uKolls/s320/DSC_0824.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465554491029987970" /></a><br />ready for the compost layer<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKIMW7F2Ruyo75OvS48L5BxIBaT93g1U0hNAJlMal3gFuSwpyIZwopgqGxhyphenhyphenxY3bZfibooxvZfOx8hyIk8rAQvHn7AA6yDGJLutE9N5-r1t1dzhyphenhyphenezuHZwiPDH53_NT9xmrVxznbd89c/s1600/DSC_0856.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKIMW7F2Ruyo75OvS48L5BxIBaT93g1U0hNAJlMal3gFuSwpyIZwopgqGxhyphenhyphenxY3bZfibooxvZfOx8hyIk8rAQvHn7AA6yDGJLutE9N5-r1t1dzhyphenhyphenezuHZwiPDH53_NT9xmrVxznbd89c/s320/DSC_0856.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465555535552703858" /></a><br />volunteers planting the rain garden<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZBMngSbpFWF6rCcvxLO6RMEG71vWQbOVIwXUzHBTw7RAbEqiRTEyUa4apIhJmzQMFaYz5rJYG3FfCLZ46l70BLBrpWXa0UCQ_uJ5RX1jJT4XttAcX0BvHgfqQOLJWYxUEQ0f6PF56BU/s1600/DSC_0975.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZBMngSbpFWF6rCcvxLO6RMEG71vWQbOVIwXUzHBTw7RAbEqiRTEyUa4apIhJmzQMFaYz5rJYG3FfCLZ46l70BLBrpWXa0UCQ_uJ5RX1jJT4XttAcX0BvHgfqQOLJWYxUEQ0f6PF56BU/s320/DSC_0975.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465563300262655026" /></a><br />finished rain garden, with soil erosion control blankets and geese deterrents.<br /><br />This 1,300-square-foot rain garden, will treat nearly 13,000 square feet of parking lot at Thompson Park, before polluted water can run into the Manalapan Lake.<br /><br />To read the full article or for more information: <a href="http://njtoday.net/2010/04/29/county-installs-rain-garden-to-treat-water-before-it-flows-into-lakes-streams/">click here</a>.Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-90145382114014144842010-03-30T15:36:00.002-04:002010-03-30T16:03:30.312-04:00Photo of the Week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckcGNKDAG7i9xBLnGoJ7Uf_hcmRcVRpR-C_RlGp43OqRzTAEWKQ4P6t9XXYCruVlAiqsEQv2st3DIg-b95QJUf_ng9FCXeLbFHaJWBljGwmBnPgGjOvjOyt35Kllx06Am0sGkRSJX8KQ/s1600/Walnut+Brook+3.17.09+032.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckcGNKDAG7i9xBLnGoJ7Uf_hcmRcVRpR-C_RlGp43OqRzTAEWKQ4P6t9XXYCruVlAiqsEQv2st3DIg-b95QJUf_ng9FCXeLbFHaJWBljGwmBnPgGjOvjOyt35Kllx06Am0sGkRSJX8KQ/s320/Walnut+Brook+3.17.09+032.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454513572556980386" /></a><br /><br /><br />Walnut Brook, on 3/17/2010, after significant storm.Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-30436952198175459232010-03-22T08:09:00.004-04:002010-03-22T09:24:56.288-04:00World Water DayToday, we will look at water on a global scale because March 22 is World Water Day. This international observance grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.<br /><br />This year's theme is "Clean Water for a Healthy World." About 396 trillion gallons of wastewater are produced each year. In developing nations, about 80 percent of that water goes untreated, and ends up waterways that people will use for drinking water supplies. This is as a result of a lack of regulations and resources. <br /><br />All over the world, groups and schools are hosting events to raise awareness about water availability, sanitation, and hygiene.<br /><br />Read more <a href="http://www.worldwaterday.org/">here</a>.Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-43055281813300159912010-03-18T10:13:00.010-04:002010-03-18T10:52:22.623-04:00In the aftermath of the storm...If you haven't heard yet, New Jersey was hit hard this past weekend by a nor'easter that brought 2-5 inches of rain in many areas. Work in the water resources field makes you look at storms in a different way. I sat at my house on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, looking at hydrographs on the internet, wondering how our restoration project sites are doing, and the other places that I have been to around the area. <br /><br />Hydrographs show the discharge (think: the amount of water) of a stream vs. time. Here is an example of a hydrograph from the Mulhockaway Creek from this past weekend:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkB2pcyqoj1BctoNxKMlnwnTJu2ID3Wes0X0uSo_ftjQ0NZsAkhx57Cq5n5xToOm4iULDx1NPe-RkkEuhqq3U1yvEMQpe1l8ieEvf1nD6cSb8GK2FqVukiuwWoG9x5DhRtP2BLyusQJOQ/s1600-h/USGS.01396660.01.00060..20100311.20100318.log.0.p50.pres.gif.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkB2pcyqoj1BctoNxKMlnwnTJu2ID3Wes0X0uSo_ftjQ0NZsAkhx57Cq5n5xToOm4iULDx1NPe-RkkEuhqq3U1yvEMQpe1l8ieEvf1nD6cSb8GK2FqVukiuwWoG9x5DhRtP2BLyusQJOQ/s320/USGS.01396660.01.00060..20100311.20100318.log.0.p50.pres.gif.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449980341450545314" /></a><br /><br />The peak of the hydrograph lags behind the peak in rainfall. Where the peak is on the hydrograph (compared to the peak in rainfall), and how long the peak lasts depends on the characteristics of the watershed and the stream itself(some of which may include: slope, soil type, streambed sediment size, etc). <br /><br />Hydrographs for streams that have United States Geological Survey (USGS) gauges can easily be found. If you are any of our project areas (Raritan Basin, Delaware & Raritan Canal, Manasquan), you can look up the USGS pages through <a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/USGSGauges.html">our website</a>. <br /><br />If you are interested in other areas around the country, you can visit <a href="http://http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/current/?type=flow&group_key=state_cd">this USGS page</a> and find your stream or river of interest by state.<br /><br />So aside from spending time looking at hydrographs, I mentioned that we're interested in looking at our restoration site. Below is a video, recorded by our very own Rick Anthes, on Monday afternoon (3/15) at Hoffman Park in Union Township, NJ on the Mulhockaway (learn more about the Mulhockaway project <a href="http://www.raritanbasin.org/mulhockaway.html">here</a>). The area he is focused on is the floodplain interceptor, which is used to slow down water before it enters the stream during high-flow events. Hoffman Park's stream restoration took place in the summer of 2006. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzUcd8asFqXI7qeom81OeyVcjtdq59GBOcUu8lI2mK6Op8knkUmDrQFEN5H1PRFUcaeCROu8BQmbfpPX2b5bQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-14101850035246719422010-03-12T14:38:00.002-05:002010-03-12T14:54:47.641-05:00Photo of the Week!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlAn7fnY3EZ8kXVvA71BvgJqSVIsq5t5CdVJtN_A3OFA2PZpSLTGTo6ynL-14yRQ6bz3DT5ZkyGIedHlz-5RvvUblyQ6S9sKgYLfdzfBicUXbrwnYJFBHAE7sNC2AlBTMIdo610FNJ1U/s1600-h/DSC_0726.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlAn7fnY3EZ8kXVvA71BvgJqSVIsq5t5CdVJtN_A3OFA2PZpSLTGTo6ynL-14yRQ6bz3DT5ZkyGIedHlz-5RvvUblyQ6S9sKgYLfdzfBicUXbrwnYJFBHAE7sNC2AlBTMIdo610FNJ1U/s320/DSC_0726.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447834372640915634" /></a><br /><br />Wickecheoke Creek, March 10, 2010<br />Photo by H. Barrett<br /><br />The section of streambank that I'm standing on to take this picture is actually gabions, which were put into place as the streambank was eroding and had the potential to destroy the road.Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-44367995383409104032010-02-26T09:38:00.004-05:002010-02-26T10:32:51.981-05:00To salt, or not to salt....In the wake of yet another snow storm for Central Jersey, I feel constantly bombarded with road salt. I drive 33 miles to work each direction every day, so I want the roads to be clear and safe for my drive to work (or wherever else I need to go that day). I can't help but feel torn though, as I work in water resources, and I think about the other implications of road salt (not just the safer roads and high costs to municipalities and NJDOT). I'm talking about the waterways.<br /><br />If you've ever been swimming in the ocean, you know that a mouthful of seawater does not taste good. There are plenty of aquatic organisms, including fish, that face this every time we get a snow storm and use road salt. These salty freshwater bodies won't have the same 35 parts per million concentration at ocean water, but it is enough to make a difference. Salty streams, rivers, and lakes can lead to contaminated groundwater (affecting wells), and also can affect public water supplies.<br /><br />When I was a <a href="http://www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt/ambassadors_index.htm">NJ Watershed Ambassador</a>, I conducted one of my visual and biological assessments on the Peters Brook in Somerville just one day after a snow storm. We use macroinvertebrates (read: aquatic bugs) as indicators of stream health. The Peters Brook does not usually score well in this area for many reasons (urbanization, lots of impervious cover, etc). On this particular day in December 2008, I had found mostly tolerant species, meaning that they can handle some water pollution, but I had also come across a few sensitive species--meaning that they can handle a bit of water pollution, but not as much as the tolerant species (I found no intolerant species--which can handle little to no pollution at all). The odd thing was that the sensitive species, the sowbugs, were all dead. I've never had an entire group of macros be dead upon sampling before. The only explanation is that the roads had just been salted, and the snow melted enough to send some of that salt into the Peters Brook, which killed the sowbugs. <br /><br />Safety is of the utmost concern, so make sure that your driveways, walkways and roadways are clear and safe. There are alternatives out there that have less of an effect on the environment. Calcium chloride and magnesium chloride are the most popular alternatives, which usually require less amount per area of application than traditional sodium chloride and they work at lower temperatures; however, they are often more expensive. <br /><br />Check out more information on road salt from <a href="http://www.saltinstitute.org/Issues-in-focus/Road-salt">the Salt Institute</a> or <a href="http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/post_138.html">this article from the Star Ledger from Feb 15th</a>.Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705202937149675978.post-66556734943492788312010-02-16T13:17:00.002-05:002010-03-18T10:47:42.474-04:00Freshwater Fish Trivia!It has been a very long time since I have updated the blog (and I have missed several weeks for the Photo of the Week). <br /><br />While I work on finding a good photo by the end of this week, Ken gave me some freshwater fishing trivia questions!<br /><br />1. Which type of Sunfish is common to all 50 states?<br />a. Pumpkinseeds<br />b. Bluegills<br />c. Redears<br /><br />2. Rainbow trout are originally from what region of the US?<br />a. Pacific Coast<br />b. South West<br />c. North East<br /><br />3. Which is not a typical food for a Largemouth bass?<br />a. Crayfish<br />b. Frogs<br />c. Bats<br /><br />4. The world record Muskellunge with a weight of 69 lbs 11 oz was caught in which state?<br />a. Maine<br />b. Ohio<br />c. Wisconsin<br /><br />5. Trolling would not be used on which body of water?<br />a. Lake<br />b. Stream<br />c. River<br /><br />Good luck! <br /><br />Answers are posted in the comments section!Watershed Protection Programshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01291626183792868096noreply@blogger.com1