DEP GIVES $1 MILLION FOR 10 GRANTS IN DELAWARE RIVER
WATERSHEDS KICKS OFF WATERSHED MONTH WITH STORM DRAIN STENCILING
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Shinn
today kicked off a week-long Trenton storm drain stenciling project and
awarded $1.1 million in grants for projects in the Lower Delaware and
Northwest watershed regions.
Local students will stencil storm drains with the message "No Dumping
Drains to River" to remind children and adults that our actions
on land impact our waterways.
Acting Governor Donald T. DiFrancesco signed a proclamation declaring
May 2001 as Watershed Awareness Month.
"I urge all New Jersey residents to increase their awareness about
their watershed community, make decisions that will benefit it, increase
their positive environmental activities and teach others to protect and
conserve our natural resources," DiFrancesco stated.
At a ceremony next to the Assunpink Creek in Mill Hill Park today, Shinn
said, "Storm drain stenciling is one of many projects we use to remind
people that we are part of the pollution problem and must become part
of the solution by taking action to reduce runoff into our waterways."
Participants in today’s storm drain stenciling included The Partnership
for the Delaware Estuary, the Isles Group, the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed
Association, Trenton Central High School’s Twilight Program, DEP staff
teams, Americorps Watershed Ambassadors, Home Depot and grant recipients.
The projects receiving grants to reduce runoff and other types of nonpoint
source pollution include actions to restore streambanks and improve water
quality in streams and lakes in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon,
Mercer and Warren counties.
Lower Delaware Region- $643,230 for seven projects
- Rowan University/Gloucester County - $120,315 to repair erosion problems
and improve water quality in Plank Run, Alcyon Lake, Mantua Creek
- Mt. Holly - $145,215 to construct wetlands at Woolman Lake to filter
runoff.
- Camden County - $159,450 to construct wetlands at Cooper River Lake
to filter runoff.
- Pompeston Creek Watershed Assoc. - $80,000 to stabilize stream banks
and retrofit detention basins.
- Riverside Township - $70,000 to map urban stormwater system, monitor
discharges and recommend best management practices to reduce runoff
- Woodbury Township - $59,900 to restore Woodbury Creek streambanks
and improve water quality in Woodbury Lake
- Delaware Riverkeeper Network - $8,450 to complete buffer project
along Cooper River Lake
Northwest Region (Upper Delaware)
- North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council - $412,000
for regional stream buffer assessment and open space program to install
buffers and implement best management practices in the Pohatcong and
Musconetcong watersheds.
- Hamilton Township - $70,000 for restoration of Pond Run and Robert
Martin Lake
- Lawrence Township - $20,000 to stabilize Colonial Lake streambank
through wetland plantings
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