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The state Assembly and Senate voted with overwhelming bipartisan support on June 25 to give New Jerseyans the choice to support open space, farmland and historic preservation in November! The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association is proud to be a member of the NJ-Keep It Green coalition of 129 organizations working to secure continued funding for preservation in the state.

The Garden State Preservation Trust, the state's bank account for open space, historic site, and farmland preservation, has helped protect nearly 300,000 acres of land throughout New Jersey since its inception in 1998 - including more than 500 acres of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association's own Watershed Reserve in Hopewell Township, but the trust is now essentially out of funds.

The trust's funding, matching contributions and other administrative amenities have enabled hundreds of towns in all 21 counties, nonprofit organizations, and other groups to create new parks, preserve farmland, and protect sources of clean drinking water and our treasured wild spaces.

We'll now be working extremely hard through the November election to remind all of our citizens about the necessity of open space - from protecting clean water and providing wildlife habitat, to maintaining our agriculture industry and local food production, to creating more beautiful neighborhoods as well as tourism and recreation destinations for us all.

Jeff Hoagland Celebrates 25 Wild & Wonderful Watershed Years

The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association isn't the only one celebrating an important milestone in 2009. Education Director Jeff Hoagland was recently recognized for his 25 years of dedicated service to the Watershed Association.

Hired back in 1984, Jeff has successfully built one of the most respected environmental education programs in the region, today serving more than 10,000 children, teachers and adults with more than 400 education programs each year.

Honored by the Board of Trustees, staff, family and friends at a surprise party at the Buttinger Nature Center, Jeff received a handmade journal from staff and a resolution from the Board thanking him for his dedication to the Watershed Association, passion for the environment, and years of hard work striving to connect as many people as possible to our natural world. Congratulations Jeff!

Thank You Volunteers!

The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association has been protecting clean water and the environment for 60 years - important work it could not complete without the support of hundreds of dedicated volunteers. To show our appreciation for all those who gladly donate their time and effort to the Watershed Association, we held a Volunteer Appreciate Picnic on Friday June 5 - and despite the rainy weather - served up hamburgers, hotdogs, and vegetarian fare for a hungry crowd inside the Buttinger Nature Center.

Check out photos from the event at Flickr.com

Watershed Association Celebrates Opening of Lawrence Hopewell Trail

Made possible with a generous grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, the Watershed Association's .8-mile stretch of trail will link cyclists, walkers, hikers and joggers to the Princeton Farms residential neighborhood from the existing Lawrence Hopewell Trail on Bristol-Myers Squibb's Hopewell Township campus.

"Encouraging the use of bicycles and other 'footpower' instead of polluting fossil-fuel automobiles is part of our passion to protect our environment," said Jim Waltman, Watershed Association Executive Director. "For 60 years, the Watershed Association has been protecting clean water and the environment through conservation, advocacy, science and education, encouraging responsible living so that we - and generations to come - can enjoy better health and the beautiful landscapes of the Hopewell Valley."

Read the full press release here. Parking for the June 13 event will be at the Watershed Association's headquarters, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington NJ. See map for details.

The Garden State Preservation Trust (GSPT), the state's bank account for open space funding, has effectively run dry leaving the preservation of critical wildlife, parks, farmland and historic sites hanging in the balance.

As part of the Keep It Green campaign, the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association is working with the Governor's office and members of the state Legislature to identify a stable and renewable source of funding for the GSPT. We now need your help to make this funding a reality.

Legislators have until June 30th to approve an open space funding measure for the November 2009 ballot. Bills A3901/S1858 would let voters support a ballot measure permitting the State to issue up to $600 million in bonds for three more years of vital open space investment. The bills are headed to the Senate and Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committees and will require full Assembly and Senate approval.

Your legislators need to hear from you.

It takes less than 5 minutes. Click on the link to send an email to Governor Corzine, your Assemblyperson and State Senator: http://ga1.org/campaign/support_open_space_in_new_jersey

Ensure YOU have the choice to support open space preservation on this year's ballot. By sending a letter in support of bills A3901/S1858, you will be urging legislators and the Governor to put a measure on the ballot enabling voters to renew the Garden State Preservation Trust. Without renewed funding, the GSPT will not be able to help state, local, municipal and non-profit groups acquire and protect open space, wildlife habitat, parks, farmland and historic treasures.

Thank you for doing your part to protect and preserve public open spaces, historic sites and critical natural resource areas. Visit our Watershed blog to learn more.

Questions? Contact our Community Advocacy Coordinator at Anneli TerryNelson

Mother's Day Hike & Book Signing a Blast!

More than 100 mothers and families came out for the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association's Mother's Day Hike & Book Signing on Sunday May 10 at the Watershed Reserve.

Attendees enjoyed the sunny weather and a guided tour of the Watershed Association's trails with Watershed Association Education Director Jeff Hoagland and author Sophie Glovier and photographer Bentley Drezner - creators of the new trail book "Walk the Trails In and Around Princeton" which features two Watershed Reserve trails!

After checking out the Watershed Reserve's grassland restoration area and Wargo Pond, hikers trekked back to the Buttinger Nature Center for refreshments and the chance to buy signed copies of "Walk the Trails In and Around Princeton" - a handy new pocket-sized local trail book.

Now for sale in the Buttinger Nature Center, all profits from the sale of "Walk the Trails In and Around Princeton" in the Nature Center will benefit the Watershed Association!

To purchase your copy of the book today call: (609) 737-7592.

Check out photos from the Mother's Day Hike & Book Signing at Flickr.com here.

Greening Princeton 5K Helps Protect Clean Water
The Greening Princeton & Beyond: Community 5K for the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association raised more than $665 for the Watershed Association, boosting our efforts to protect clean water and the environment throughout central New Jersey.

Organized by Greening Princeton, a student-run environmental group at Princeton University, 57 runners and walkers took part in the 5K on Saturday May 2. The race began at Forbes College on the university campus and continued along the Delaware & Raritan Canal, one of the many waterways protected by the Watershed Association.

All participants enjoyed free T-shirts, bagels, sports drinks and snacks. Prizes were awarded to the top three male and female finishers as well as youngest runner.

First place: Joe Roy-Mayhew and Shannon M. Brink of Princeton University. Second place: Charles Boatwright of Mt. Laurel and Amy Gobel of Princeton University. Third Place: Dennis Contois of Lawrence Township and Lauren Whatley of Princeton University. Youngest runner: Ethan Colby-Witaneck of Belle Mead.

Special thanks to Greening Princeton for organizing such a great event, and to the event sponsors: Princeton Environmental Institute, Princeton Running Company, Winberries, Panera Bread, House of Cupcakes, La Mezzaluna, Einstein Bros Bagels, The Terra Momo Restaurant Group, and Whole Earth Center.

Check out more event photos at Flickr.com!

To learn more about this event and other important environmental issues, visit our nj.com blog: http://www.nj.com/helpinghands/watershed/

April 28, 2009 (Hopewell, NJ) - The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, central New Jersey's first environmental group, held its 2009 Annual Meeting on Monday April 27, inducting five new trustees and honoring volunteers, community members and environmental leaders as the organization continues to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

"This is a big year for the Watershed Association," said Executive Director Jim Waltman, as he recognized early Watershed Association leaders and touted the organization's successes - both past and present.

Read the full Press Release here.

Check out photos from the event here at Flickr.com!

Want to know what everyone had to say at the Annual Meeting?
    Candace Preston, Board Chair-Welcome
    Jim Waltman, Executive Director-Watershed Past, Present & Future,
    Ron Borsellino, U.S. EPA-Edmund W. Stiles Award for Environmental Stewardship
    Jeff Hoagland,Education Director-Richard Rotter Award for Excellence in Environmental Education
    Anna Drago-Volunteer Service Award

Run for Clean Water!
Princeton 5K Race to Benefit the Watershed Association

Princeton Greening, a student-run environmental organization at Princeton University, is donating all the proceeds of its 12th Annual 5K Run to the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association! Get out your running shoes - or sponsor a friend - and help us raise as much as possible to protect clean water and the environment on Saturday May 2.

Registration for "Greening Princeton & Beyond: Community 5K for the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association" starts at 9 a.m., with the run beginning at 10 a.m. at Forbes College, Princeton University (intersection of Alexander Street & University Place, across from the Wawa) and proceeding along the Delaware & Raritan Canal. Free T-shirts for all who sign up; prizes for race winners!

For Route Details, Event Sponsors, and to Sign Up, visit:
http://www.princeton.edu/greening/5Krun_09.html.

Help Protect Our Streams - Become a StreamWatcher!
As part of our 60th Anniversary celebrations, the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association is hosting a special StreamWatch Training Day on Saturday May 16! Come learn how our StreamWatch program - the largest volunteer water quality monitoring program in New Jersey - helps ensure we all have clean water to drink and use. Become a StreamWatch volunteer and protect your water and environment! Check out our flyer here and sign up today: Contact StreamWatch Coordinator Beth April or (609) 737-3735 x17.

Underwater Worlds a Splashing Success! More than 100 people came out for the Watershed Association's second 60th Speaker event: "Underwater Worlds: A photographic journey" at the Watershed Reserve on Friday March 20. Attendees heard from marine conservationist and Watershed Association Advisory Board member Wendy Benchley before exploring the world's underwater environments with award-winning underwater photographer and watershed resident Jeff Rotman. Thanks to all who attended! The event was one of the Watershed Association's "60 Events for 60 Years" - a year-long series of events planned in celebration of the Watershed Association's 60th Anniversary. To find out what's coming up next, check out our Spring 60th Calendar of Events below.

Underwater photographer Jeff Rotman, marine conservationist Wendy Benchley, and Watershed Association Executive Director Jim Waltman.

Watershed Association Recognized for 6 Decades of Determination!
The Hopewell Valley News, Pennington Post, and Hunterdon Democrat all recently profiled the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, highlighting the importance of our work protecting clean water and the environment in central New Jersey. Read the Hopewell Valley News story here and Pennington Post story here

"Birds of a Feather" Draws More than 100 to Arts Council!

Princeton decoy collector Jay Vawter and Watershed Association Education Director Jeff Hoagland

The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association's first 60th Speaker event - "Birds of a Feather: Two men's passions for birds take flight" featuring Princeton decoy collector Jay Vawter and Watershed Association Education Director Jeff Hoagland - drew a crowd of more than 100 at The Arts Council of Princeton, Thursday Feb. 26. Thanks to all those who attended! The event was one of the Watershed Association's "60 Events for 60 Years" - a year-long series of events planned in celebration of the Watershed Association's 60th Anniversary. To find out what's coming up next, check out our Spring 60th Calendar of Events below.

Celebrating 60 Events for 60 Years!

To celebrate 60 years of protecting clean water and the environment, we're celebrating with "60 Events for 60 Years!" Join us for a wide array of fun programs and events - from how-to sessions and informative speakers, to community-wide celebrations. Be sure to mark your calendar and help us celebrate six decades of determination!

Click on the Spring 60th Calendar of Events to learn more!

Celebrating 60 Years Protecting Clean Water & the Environment.
Watershed Association Marks 60th Anniversary in 2009

January 29, 2009 (Hopewell, NJ) - Today being "green" is all the rage, but 60 years ago only one organization was on the front lines protecting clean water and environment in central New Jersey. The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association - one of the first watershed associations in the nation and the largest and longest-running watershed group in New Jersey - is now celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Founded in 1949 by a handful of citizens concerned about soil erosion and environmentally responsible land use practices, the Watershed Association continues to make the "CASE" for clean water and healthy environments through Conservation, Advocacy, Science, and Education.

"For six decades the Watershed Association has led the way with a farsighted vision of protection for our lakes, rivers and streams," said Jim Waltman, Watershed Association Executive Director. "From soil erosion and sedimentation in the 1950s to challenges associated with climate change and global warming today, the Watershed Association continues to fight for your water and environment. We are your environmental voice."

Don't forget to check out our Calendar of Events and History page!

Looking for older announcements? Visit our Press Room Archives.