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Watershed Ambassadors
Embark on Local Environmental Education
Department of Environmental Protection
Commissioner Bob Shinn today announced the start of the
second year of the New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors AmeriCorps
program to raise awareness about watershed issues across
the state.
"AmeriCorps members act as liaisons
to DEP's Division of Watershed Management and as ambassado
rs of their assigned watershed management areas. This program
strives to make a difference in the community and the environment
through river and watershed assessments and through education
efforts demonstrating why watershed protection is should
be important to every citizen in New Jersey," said
Shinn.
Through the Watershed Ambassadors Program,
AmeriCorps members have been placed with host agencies in
each of the state's 20 watershed management areas. The members
will assist the Division of Watershed Management in monitoring
rivers and watersheds as part of River Assessment Teams
(RATS) and Biological Assessment Teams (BATS). The members
will also train community volunteers to assist in these
monitoring programs. Using audio-visual presentations, the
members will provide information to schools and community
organizations.
The Watershed Ambassadors Program is one
part of DEP's many efforts to restore, enhance and protect
the state's waterways. The ambassadors work with all sectors
to improve the quality of waterways which are used for drinking
water as well as agricultural, industrial and recreational
purposes. The program explores the relationships between
people and the environment, fosters community-based environmental
activities and empowers residents to make responsible decisions
regarding their watershed.
AmeriCorps is a national service initiative
started in 1993 with 10,000 citizens serving yearly. The
program is charged with making a difference on a community
level, focusing on four issues - education, public safety,
human needs and the environment. AmeriCorps members complete
1,700 hours of service in return for a living stipend and
an education award.
For more information about the Watershed
Ambassadors Program, contact Fran Varacalli, program manager
in DEP's Division of Watershed Management, at 609-633-0533
or fvaracal@dep.state.nj.us
Use the listing below to contact members
directly for a presentation or to learn how to volunteer
with the RATS and BATS water monitoring program.
AMERICORPS HOST AGENCIES & MEMBERS
>>
Regions: Northwest | Northeast
| Raritan | Atlantic
| Lower Delaware
NORTHWEST REGION
Area
1 North Jersey Resource Conservation & Development
1322 Route 31 North Box 3
Annandale, NJ 08801 |
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Member:
Michelle Ruggiero
e-mail:
mruggiero@upperdelaware.org
Phone: 908-735-0733 |
Area
11 Regional Planning Partnership
870 Mapleton Rd.
Princeton, NJ 08540 |
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Member:
Pat Sachs
e-mail: Pat_sachs@yahoo.com
Phone: 609-452-1717 |
NORTHEAST REGION
Area
3 Skylands Clean, INC.
PO Box 85 / 551 Ringwood Ave.
Ringwood, NJ 07456 |
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Member:
Jen Bernstock
e-mail: bernsjen@yahoo.com
Phone: 973-616-1006 |
Area 4 NJDEP,
Compliance & Enforcement Northern Office
1259 Rt. 46 East Bldg. #2
Parsippany, NJ 07054-4191 |
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Member:
Jon Carlson
e-mail: jcarlson@dep.state.nj.us
Phone: 973-299-7592 |
Area 5 Hackensack
River Keeper
1000 River Rd. T090C
Teaneck, NJ 07666 |
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Member: Marianne
Butler
e-mail: mkb223@mail.com
Phone: 201-692-8440 |
Area 6 Great
Swamp Watershed Association
PO Box 300
New Vernon, NJ 07976 |
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Member: Michelle
Burke
e-mail: mburke@greatswamp.org
Phone: 973-966-1900 |
RARITAN REGION
Area 7 Union
County Engineering Dept.
2325 South Avenue
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 |
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Member: Michael
Aita
e-mail: maita@unioncountynj.org
Phone: 908-789-3673 |
Area 8 Upper
Raritan Watershed Assoc.
PO Box 273
Gladstone, NJ 07934 |
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Member: Annie
Pizza
e-mail: Beatlewho2@aol.com
Phone:908-234-1852 |
Area 9 Middlesex
County Planning Department
40 Livingston Ave.
New Brunswick, NJ 08903 |
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Member: Beth
Sawickie
Phone: 732-745-3016 |
Area 10 Stony
Brook - Millstone Watershed Association
31 Titus Mill Rd.
Pennington, NJ 08534 |
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Member: Brian
Rappaport
e-mail: brappaport@thewatershed.org
Phone: 609-737-3735 |
ATLANTIC REGION
Area
12 Monmouth County Planning Board
Hall of Records Annex - One East Main St.
Freehold, NJ 07728 |
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Member:
Jim Burkitt
Phone: 732-431-7460 |
Area
13 American Littoral Society
PO Box 1306
Tuckerton, NJ 08087 |
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Member: Steve
Janasie
e-mail: jahnasie@hotmail.com
Phone: 609-294-3111 |
Area 15 Atlantic
County Municipal Utilities Authority
6700 Delilah Rd.
Pleasantville, NJ 08232 |
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Member: Amy
Elder
e-mail: aelder@acua.com
Phone: 609-646-5500 |
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Area 16 Wetlands Institute of Stone
Harbor
1075 Stone Harbor Rd.
Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
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Member: Bjorn
Christiano
Phone: 609-368-1211 |
LOWER DELAWARE
REGION
Area
18 NJDEP Compliance and Enforcement Southern Office
One Port Center 2 Riverside Dr.
Camden, NJ 08102 |
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Member:
Christopher Trainor
e-mail: ctrainor@dep.state.nj.us
Phone: 856-614-3655 |
Area 19 Rancocas
Conservancy
Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge
6 Sawmill Rd.
Moorestown, NJ 08057 |
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Member: Andy
Duddleston
e-mail: ajduddleston@yahoo.com
Phone: 856-983-5665 |
Area 20 Mercer
County Soil Conservation Service
508 Hughes Dr.
Hamilton Square, NJ 08690 |
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Member: Pat
Weiss
e-mail: Patrickw1mercer@aol.com
Phone: 609-586-9603 |
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