2023 Year in Review
Friday, December 08, 2023
Here's a look back at what the SCMUA-WRWMG was able to accomplish over the past year!
Volunteer and Community Engagement
SCMUA-WRWMG Installs New Rain Garden/Porous Asphalt Sign at Halsted Middle School
Friday, December 08, 2023
The SCMUA-WRWMG and its AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador installed a new interpretive sign at Halsted Middle School. The sign will educate students, parents, and teachers about the benefits of rain gardens and porous asphalt for managing stormwater runo
Happy World Soil Day!
Tuesday, December 05, 2023
Why should we care about soil on #WorldSoilDay? Healthy soil ensures a steady supply of food, preserves clean water, increases biodiversity, and mitigates the effect
AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors Participate in Riparian Reforestation Training Day
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
The entire class of AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors worked with the Wallkill River Watershed Management Group as part of a riparian reforestation training day hosted at the SCMUA’s Paulinskill Water Treatment Facility. The Watershed Ambassado
Floodplain Reforestation Tree Tubes Recycled on “America Recycles Day”
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
The SCMUA-Wallkill River Watershed Management Group is excited to be celebrating “America Recycles Day” by sending out its first shipment of tree tubes to be recycled. The tree tubes were installed around each tree that the Wallkill River Watershed M
Sussex Tech Students Visit Paulinskill Water Treatment Plant and Restoration Site
Thursday, November 09, 2023
Sussex County Technical School students worked with the SCMUA-WRWMG to learn about the watershed restoration practices installed at the Paulinskill Water Treatment Facility. They also went on a wastewater treatment plant tour and learned about th
Newton Middle School Students Make Porous Pavers
Thursday, November 02, 2023
Halsted Middle School students enrolled in the C2C after school program recently worked with Kristine Rogers (WRWMG Education and Outreach Specialist) in a hands-on lab where they experimented with cement, pebbles, and playground sand to decide which materials should b
COMMISSIONER LATOURETTE CONGRATULATES NJ CORPORATE WETLANDS RESTORATION PARTNERSHIP ON ITS 20th ANNIVERSARY
Thursday, October 26, 2023
TRENTON – As climate change continues to adversely affect wetlands across the globe, New Jersey must continue to advance efforts at restoring and enhancing these critical ecosystems, Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said today to mark the 20th anniversary of the New Jersey Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership (
Sussex County Technical School Gets New Rain Garden
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
The SCMUA-Wallkill River Watershed Management Group worked with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to install a new rain garden along White Lake Road on the campus
Watershed Director Presents at Virtual Rutgers Workshop
Friday, October 13, 2023
Nathaniel Sajdak recently presented about the success of the WRWMG’s new floating treatment wetlands stormwater management installations at Kemah Lake and Lake Owassa as part of a webinar series organized by Rutgers Water Resources Program.
5th Annual Northwest NJ Rivers Conference Hosted at Centenary University
Monday, October 02, 2023
This weekend, the 5th annual Northwest NJ Rivers Conference returned to Centenary University’s Lackland Center in Hackettstown. The event was planned as part of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative by staff from the Wallkill River Watershed
SCMUA-WRWMG Welcomes New AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador
Monday, September 25, 2023
SCMUA-WRWMG Welcomes Ethan Melniczik as the 2023-2024 AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador for the Wallkill River Watershed
Ethan is available to work with your class or volunteer group. If you have ideas for how to partner on a l
Sussex County Day Draws a Huge Crowd!
Monday, September 18, 2023
Kristine Rogers (WRWMG Education and Outreach Specialist) and Dawn Latincsics (SCMUA Recycling Coordinator) attended the 2023 Sussex County Day at the Fairgrounds on Sunday. Residents from across the county learned about the work of the SCMUA-W
Halsted Middle School 6th Graders Clean-Up Memory Park
Friday, September 15, 2023
The entire class of Newton 6th grade students participated in a litter clean-up at Memory Park using clean-up supplies provided by Sussex County Clean Communities. This clean-up is one of many being organized in different towns in the Paulins Kill Watershed this fall.
Floating Treatment Wetlands Installed at Fairview Lake
Monday, September 11, 2023
The SCMUA-Wallkill River Watershed Management Group worked with Fairview Lake YMCA staff, board members, and local homeowners to install 3 floating treatment wetlands in Fairview Lake. The islands were paid for by a grant from the NJ Corporate Wetla
Come Learn About Funding Programs to Support Birds, Pollinators, and Other Wildlife!
Sunday, September 10, 2023
SCMUA-WRWMG Installs Beaver Dam Analogs in Paulins Kill Wetlands
Thursday, September 07, 2023
The SCMUA-WRWMG worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge staff to construct 2 beaver dam analogs on wetlands property owned by the Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority. Beaver dam analogs are artificial b
Princeton University Freshmen Install Floating Treatment Wetlands with SCMUA-WRWMG
Saturday, September 02, 2023
24 Princeton University students from across the United States and around the world ventured to the Princeton-Blairstown Center in Hardwick, NJ to install floating treatment wetlands to improve the health of Bass Lake in the Paulins Kill Watershed. The students wer
SCMUA-WRWMG Awarded New Grant to Restore Culver Lake Golf Course
Friday, September 01, 2023
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced 36 grant awards totaling over $14.9 million to improve wildlife habitat, enhance resilience to changing climatic conditions, and engage communities throughout the Delaware River watershed in conservation activities. Funding includes more than $4.5 million
Contractors Complete Tree Trench and Porous Asphalt Projects
Thursday, August 31, 2023
New porous asphalt and tree trench projects have been installed on the campus of Halsted Middle School in Newton, NJ using grant funding that the SCMUA-Wallkill River Watershed Management Group secured from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
High Point High School Rain Garden Underway
Monday, August 21, 2023
The SCMUA-WRWMG, Rutgers Water Resources Program, and Wantage Excavating broke ground on a new rain garden project at High Point High School in Wantage. The project will manage the stormwater runoff from the school’s paved parking lot, helping to kee
SCMUA Hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to Celebrate Completion of Landfill Construction Project
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Local officials and SCMUA staff gathered at the SCMUA’s Solid Waste Facility to commemorate the completion of the landfill expansion project. The event consisted of a ribbon cutting ceremony, bus tours around the landfill, and breakfast for all attendees.
Contractors Break Ground on Porous Asphalt Paving Project
Monday, August 14, 2023
The SCMUA-WRWMG is providing National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and NJDEP grant funding to the Newton School District to pay for the installation of porous asphalt in the
NJ State Fair Opens in Augusta! Come See Our Display!
Friday, August 04, 2023
The Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority (SCMUA) and the Wallkill River Watershed Management Group (WRWMG) created a joint display at the NJ State Fair. Come check it out for yourself in the Sussex County Building at the Sussex County Fairgrounds.
Come to Green Day at the NJ State Fair!
Thursday, August 03, 2023
Visit the Performing Arts Tent on Monday, August 7th at the NJ State Fair in Augusta to meet the WRWMG staff and interact with environmental organizations from throughout northern NJ. We will be using our tabletop watershed model to teach fair attendees how water pollution enters our rivers and streams. We hope to see you there!
Crandon Lakes Stewardship Day Draws Volunteers from Local Community
Monday, July 31, 2023
The Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority-Wallkill River Watershed Management Group (SCMUA-WRWMG) partnered with Crandon Lakes Country Club’s Lake Resource Committee to organize the 1st annual Crandon Lakes Stewardship Day on July 29th. 27 volunteers fr
SCMUA-WRWMG Partners with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Restoration Project
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
The SCMUA-WRWMG recently partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife-Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program and the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge staff to complete a wetlands restoration project at the SCMUA’s wastewater treatment
Get Your Early Bird Tickets Now!
Thursday, July 06, 2023
Early Bird tickets are almost gone for the 5th annual Northwest New Jersey Rivers Conference. This year’s Conference, held at Centenary University’s Lackland Center in Hackettstown on September 30, focuses on funding open space and stewardship in New Jersey with workshops focused on
AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador Recruitment is Now Open!
Friday, June 23, 2023
The New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program is an environmental stewardship-oriented AmeriCorps program designed to raise awareness about water concerns. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has hosted the program since 2000, and while the prog
Get Your Tickets for the Northwest NJ Rivers Conference!
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Save the Date! The Fifth Annual Northwest New Jersey Rivers Conference will be making its return to the Lackland Center at Hackettstown’s Centenary University on September 30.
The 2023 Conference comme
WRWMG Welcomes New Summer Intern
Monday, June 12, 2023
The Wallkill River Watershed Management Group welcomes Ally Karanikas as its new summer intern! Ally is a recent graduate from Pope John High School and is a rising freshman at Cornell University who will be majoring in environmental science. Ally will be helping WRWMG
Happy World Environment Day!
Monday, June 05, 2023
Did you know that trees absorb thousands of gallons of water, making them critical tools in efforts to address flooding and water pollution? This #WorldEnvironmentDay celebrate the power of trees around the world and right here in Sussex Count
WRWMG Education Specialist Attends Newton Healthy Family Fun Night
Monday, June 05, 2023
The WRWMG Education and Outreach Specialist participated in the 2nd annual Healthy Family Fun Night for the Newton School District last Friday. Students and their families spoke to Kristine and learned about the various stormwater management and educati
SCMUA-WRWMG Kicks Off Emerald Ash Borer Tree Replacement Program
Thursday, June 01, 2023
The Wallkill River Watershed Management Group has begun distributing and planting native trees for homeowners from the Paulins Kill lake communities who participated in the emerald ash borer informational workshop organized by the WRWMG. The newly p
SCMUA-WRWMG Conducts Maintenance at Wallkill Reforestation Site
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
The SCMUA-Wallkill River Watershed Management Group removed tree tubes and stakes from the Wallkill River reforestation site near Sparta High School. Some of the trees are getting so large that they are beginning to shade the river and cool the water t
Merriam Avenue School Students Work at Memory Park Rain Garden
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Students in the Recycling Club at Merriam Avenue School in Newton worked with the SCMUA-Wallkill River Watershed Management Group to conduct spring maintenance on the Memory Park rain garden. Students helped to pull weeds and clear dead
McKeown Students Mulch Rain Garden
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
McKeown Elementary School 5th and 6th grade students worked alongside the SCMUA-Wallkill River Watershed Management Group to spread a fresh layer of mulch on the school’s rain garden. The current 6th graders were only in Kindergarten when the
Long Pond Students Build Rain Garden
Thursday, May 18, 2023
6th grade students from Long Pond School worked with the SCMUA-Wallkill River Watershed Management Group, Rutgers Water Resources Program, and the Andover Department of Public Works to construct a rain garden on their school grounds. The garden w
Construction of Long Pond Rain Garden Begins
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
The Andover DPW began excavating the Long Pond School rain garden. The garden will be planted by students later this week and is intended to reduce the volume of polluted stormwater runoff entering the Pequest River.