The PVSC River Restoration Program conducted two cleanups of the Great Falls in Paterson in 2018.  The cleanups were conducted in conjunction with the National Park Service.

The first was held in preparation for National Park Week (April 21 to April 29) and Earth Day (April 22).  Also attending on behalf of PVSC was Julia Besnan, our Watershed Ambassador. Julia is part of the New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program, a community-oriented AmeriCorps program designed to raise awareness about water issues in New Jersey. AmeriCorps is a national service initiative. Through this, AmeriCorps members are placed at local host sites in twenty program, Watershed Management Areas (WMAs) in New Jersey. The program works with all sectors of society to improve the quality of waterways, nurturing community-based environmental activities and empowering residents to make responsible and informed decisions regarding their watershed.

She asked several of her Watershed Ambassador colleagues to attend the Great Falls cleanup. The group included Adam Iaccheo (Watershed 3, Pompton, Wanaque, Ramapo & Pequannock), Gigi Graham (Watershed 3, Upper Passaic, Whippany, Rockaway), Erica Rossetti (Watershed 8, North & South Raritan), Robert Hughes (Watershed 9, Lower Raritan, South & Lawrence Rivers), and Alexandra Cavagrotti (Watershed 1, Upper Delaware).

Next, PVSC conducted a cleanup of the Great Falls in Paterson on Tuesday, June 19.  This required "turning off" the Great Falls by diverting the flow of the Passaic River through an adjacent hydroelectric plant so that the cleanup could be safely performed.  Once the flow was diverted, PVSC River Restoration Program team members removed fallen trees, litter and other debris that had accumulated along the shores and in the rocks above the falls.

 Below are photos from our cleanups