NEW JERSEY WATERSHED AMBASSADORS PROGRAM
Watershed Management Area 5
Hackensack, Hudson, Pascack

Hola! Me llamo Matthew Manthey. In translation, my name is Matthew Manthey. I am the AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassador for 2007-2008. As the ambassador for Watershed Management Area (WMA) 5, which consists of the Hackensack River, Hudson River and Pascack Brook, I am responsible for the stewardship and ecological health of rivers and streams within the watershed. Encompassing Bergen and Hudson Counties, WMA 5 is the most urbanized watershed in New Jersey. This distinction has been accompanied by many environmental impacts, such as point and nonpoint source pollution. They threaten water quality and those who use the watershed to sustain their daily activities. As a Watershed Ambassador, I will be conducting visual and biological monitoring assessments of local WMA 5 waterways. The information from these assessments will then be processed and analyzed by the Department of Environmental Protection to determine whether or not these waterways are in poor condition.

Born and raised in New Jersey, I am privileged to serve my home state's efforts in protecting its watershed resources. Additionally, I am proud to serve the Hackensack Riverkeeper in fulfilling its goals towards public education and outreach, and protecting Hackensack River's water resources. I graduated from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida with a B.A. in Environmental Studies, and minors in Political Science and Spanish. During my studies, I traveled to Tanzania, Argentina, Belize and Nicaragua. In addition, I spend a semester in Costa Rica conducting field research on wildlife ecology, agroforestry systems, water quality of streams, and tourism's social and environmental impacts on a community's natural resources. During my summer breaks, I interned with the National Marine Fisheries Service assisting a research scientist in collecting data related to the predator-prey relationships among several fish species. I also worked for the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium in Sandy Hook, providing environmental education tours of marsh and ocean habitats for school-age children.

Through my initial greeting and extensive travels to Latin America, I am obviously fluent in Spanish. I am available to raise awareness and provide educational presentations to students, teachers, citizens and community leaders about watersheds and the importance of protecting them. Also, for those who want to become actively involved in maintaining their watershed, I can train anyone as part of a volunteer monitoring program of environmental initiatives that extends throughout the state.

For more information of WMA 5, giving presentations to your school, organization, or community, or becoming involved in watershed management, please contact me. All my services are FREE! You can become rich in knowledge when you learn about the value of watersheds for present and future generations and why they make New Jersey a great place to live.

Matthew Manthey
Ambassador@hackensackriverkeeper.org
(201) 968-0808 x105

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