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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Related Links

• NJDEP Watershed Management Program
  http://www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt/