Sussex County Homestead Complex Riparian Restoration Project

The Wallkill River Watershed Management Group (WRWMG) and North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council (NJRC&D), in partnership with the County of Sussex installed a riparian restoration and water quality improvement project at the Sussex County Homestead Complex in Frankford Township. 

Representatives from Sussex County Master Gardeners, the AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador Program, Cerbo's Nursery, Fredon Township Elementary School, and McKeown Elementary School donated significant physical contributions to the project, while an Environmental Designer and Landscape Architect volunteered more than 100 volunteer hours of professional time to create a formal landscape design that served as the foundation of the project.

Project Results:

• Restored shade cover along the banks of the ponds to decrease summertime water temperature
• Minimized degradation to pond areas caused by stormwater drainage flows
• Stabilized eroding pond banks
• Improved existing wildlife and fish habitats
• Increased recreational usage of the project area
• Utilized the visible project location to promote active watershed stewardship

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