The second pathogen monitoring session of the season took place on Thursday, May 28th. Each week during the summer, from May to October, the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer-based monitoring program along the Raritan River. We collect water quality samples at six non-bathing public access beach sites, provide our samples to the Interstate Environmental Commission for analysis in their laboratory, and report the results to the public. Our mission is to share this data with the community and partners to ensure the safe use of the Raritan river for all.
Our lab results for water quality samples taken on Thursday, May 28th, 2026 show Enterococcus bacteria levels exceeding the EPA federal water quality standard of 104 cfu/100mL at one of our monitoring sites this week. The problem site is indicated by the red frown on the map and chart: Riverside Park (Piscataway). Green smiles on the chart and map indicate the sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation, and include the following: Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Edison Boat Basin (Edison), Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Sayreville)2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy).
Interestingly, while the presence of fecal coliform indicates the presence of fecal matter, it is not considered to be a good predictor of disease causing bacteria. Thus, our sites in New Brunswick, South Amboy, and Perth Amboy all received green smiley faces even though our samples had thousands of fecal colony forming units…
Pathogens/Enterococci levels are used as indicators of the possible presence of disease-causing bacteria in recreational waters. Such pathogens may pose health risks to people coming in primary contact with the water (touching) through recreational activities like fishing, kayaking or swimming in a water body. Possible sources of bacteria include Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), improperly functioning wastewater treatment plants, stormwater runoff, leaking septic systems, animal carcasses, pet waste, wildlife waste, and runoff from manure storage areas.
In order to better understand why Riverside Park, Piscataway is our worst performing site over the past six years, we have started sampling further upstream. On May 28th, we sampled the Raritan Canal, Lock 11 in South Bound Brook. The lab analysis produced an estimate of 41 enterococci per 100 mL. That’s good news for folks who fish or paddle in the canal!
Our goal in reporting these results is to give residents a better understanding of the potential health risks related to primary contact during water-based recreation. If you are planning on recreating on the Raritan this weekend, make sure to stay safe and wash up after any activities!
The ebbing tide leaves Eastern mud snails (Ilyanassa obsoleta) and baby wipes on the beach at Perth Amboy. Perth Amboy is believed to have the only remaining combined sewer outfalls in Middlesex County. During dry weather, their sewage gets pumped across the river to the Middlesex Sewage Authority’s sophisticated modern plant. During wet weather, the pumps get overwhelmed and the sewage gets discharged into Raritan Bay. Ergo the numerous baby wipes on the beach.
May is a wonderful time to spot horseshoe crabs along the shore. As this carcass attests, not all horseshoe crabs survive mating season, as they sometimes die of exhaustion and stranding. The shell of this large horse shoe crab stands sentinel as our volunteers (Art, Sofi, Paula, Endurance) gather the sample and record the data.
This summer, we have asked some of our pathogen monitoring volunteers and interns to share their story of encountering the Raritan River during out sampling sessions. Our first contributor is Rutgers student Endurance Laryea.
May 28th, 2026.
Today was a lovely, clear, and sunny day. It was about 65°C when we started calibrating the measuring probe used to collect data. Calibration started around 7:30 AM and was done by 8:00 AM.
By 8:00 AM, all participating volunteers had arrived, and we began sampling the water at our first site. Riverside Park was calm and beautiful. Some parent geese guided their goslings across the playground and the parking lot close to us, and we were surprised that they didn’t hiss at us.
Canada goslings march past. — Photo by J. M. Meyer.
We also noticed a disturbance in the middle of the river — Art told us it was two carp rushing through the water together.
Sofi and Paula record data from the YSI sonde. — Photo by J.M. Meyer.
This site does not have a dock that extends very far into the current, so whoever is taking the sample must put on waders and a pair of gloves to get into the water. The person with the measuring probe in the water reads out the values of temperature, pH, salinity, oxygen saturation, etc., while another records the values. As I stepped into the river to collect a sample and take measurements, my colleagues noticed a carp swim around my leg, and it moved too fast for anyone to get a picture. It was a nice start to our day.
While preparing to take a sample the river, I look for the carp swimming past me. — Photo by J.M. Meyer.
The next site was the canal at South Bound Brook. The first thing you notice when you get there is the loud noise of the water rushing through small outlets and falling steeply into a lower canal–it sounds exactly like a natural waterfall. The speed of the water is also faster compared to the previous site; hence, it is very dangerous to get into the water! We collected the sample by dipping a sampling rod into the canal along with the measuring probe.
The third site was at the Rutgers Boat House in New Brunswick. There Dr. John thought he spotted two bald eagles on the other side of the river across from the dock. One of the volunteers used his binoculars to verify and lo and behold, two bald eagles! Unfortunately, they were so far away that we could not take clear pictures of them.
At Edison Boat Launch, groups of men were gathered under a pavilion at the bank conversing, a couple of them in their cars, and two men with their line and hook in the river as they sat at the dock to wait for their catch. We had not observed any human interactions with the river at the previous sites, so this was a lovely sight for me. I was happy to see people relax and enjoy the river, and I was reminded of the reason this pathogen monitoring program is so important. Our goal to monitor the conditions of the lower Raritan is to preserve it for the organisms whose habitat is the river and ensure that it is safe enough for individuals such as these men to enjoy.
Our next site at Sayreville also a couple of men and kayaks at the dock. My view of the water was beautiful and wide, and I wondered how freeing it would feel to be on the water. At this site, the three-hour mark for pH calibration on our probe had been met so, we recalibrated it and went on to take our samples and measurements. At the parking lot, a huge osprey nest has been built on an electricity pole, and I learnt that it had been there for a long while. Ospreys are fish-only eating birds, known for their notorious habit of building nests on poles.
The next site, Raritan Bay Waterfront Park, South Amboy made me feel as though I was at the seashore. But I must emphasize that there are many rocks at the bank. It is the site closest to the sea, and our salinity measurement for this site is testament to that fact. It also has the highest tides of all the sites. Once again, one of the volunteers got to put on the wader and get into the water for the sample and measurements. At the bank of the river we discovered a mysterious looking animal part; Art later told us that Jenna from Save Coastal Wildlife believed it was the gills of a striped bass. She explained that fishermen may have discarded the heads and guts on the beach.
Photo (and hand) by Art Allgauer.
We made our final stop at 2nd Street Park, Perth Amboy. This side of the river also has beachy vibes to it because of how wide it is and its salinity, but the tides are lower than they are at the South Amboy site. The same sampling method as the previous site was used here. I was told by one of the volunteers that they had encountered schoolchildren from a school nearby exploring this site with their teachers in the past. The team got to share information about their work, and the children were genuinely happy to learn about it.
By the time we finished our work at about 11:48 am, the sun was fully out, and it was about 78°F. We dried our waders and recalibrated the measuring probe. It was an exciting day out, and it was heartwarming to be able to communicate so easily with volunteers I barely knew prior to today.
The first pathogen monitoring session of the season took place on Thursday, May 21st. Each week during the summer, from May to October, the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer-based monitoring program along the Raritan River. We collect water quality samples at six non-bathing public access beach sites, provide our samples to the Interstate Environmental Commission for analysis in their laboratory, and report the results to the public. Our mission is to share this data with the community and partners to ensure the safe use of the Raritan river for all.
Our lab results for water quality samples taken on Thursday, May 21st, 2026 show Enterococcus bacteria levels exceeding the EPA federal water quality standard of 104 cfu/100mL at four of our monitoring sites this week. Problem sites are indicated by red frowns on the map and chart: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Edison Boat Basin (Edison), Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Sayreville). Green smiles on the chart and map indicate the sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation, and include the following: 2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy). For South Amboy, we were unable to analyze enough fluid to complete the membrane filtration process required to measure Colony Forming Units. We have therefore marked that site with an asterisk. Statistical analysis of the sample produced a ‘Most Probable Number’ of 97 enterococci per 100 mL. If this estimate is correct, it would place South Amboy right at the border of acceptable levels of bacteria, so please proceed with caution.
Pathogens/Enterococci levels are used as indicators of the possible presence of disease-causing bacteria in recreational waters. Such pathogens may pose health risks to people coming in primary contact with the water (touching) through recreational activities like fishing, kayaking or swimming in a water body. Possible sources of bacteria include Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), improperly functioning wastewater treatment plants, stormwater runoff, leaking septic systems, animal carcasses, pet waste, wildlife waste, and runoff from manure storage areas.
Rainy weather, such as the Thunderstorm we saw on Wednesday evening, often flushes fecal matter into our waterways, and so it is not surprising that so many of our sites failed to meet the safe standard for primary contact.
In order to better understand why Riverside Park, Piscataway is our worst performing site over the past six years, we have started sampling further upstream. On May 21st, we sampled the Queen’s Bridge in Bound Brook. The lab analysis produced an estimate of 2,909 enterococci per 100 mL.
Our goal in reporting these results is to give residents a better understanding of the potential health risks related to primary contact during water-based recreation. If you are planning on recreating on the Raritan this weekend, make sure to stay safe and wash up after any activities!
Before sampling begins, Christina calibrates the sonde. Photo credit: — J. Meyer.
Once calibrated, the sonde provides a rich array of data about each our sites. This week, we noticed unusually low levels of oxygen at Riverside Park. — Photo credit: J. Meyer.
A fisherman bags a large American eel at the Edison Boat Basin. Eels are an important part of the diet in many cultures, but they are also extremely vulnerable to environmental degradation and climate change. Photo credit: — J. Meyer.
Despite the rain, Susana and Olesia continued to record crucial data in South Amboy.
Paula grips the sonde in the chilly waters off South Amboy Waterfront Park.
This past Monday, the Interstate Environmental Commission joined us to train our volunteers. We learned how to collect samples and data with safety and scientific rigor.
Having completed this training, our volunteers will be able to sign-up to help with sample collection, sample preparation, analysis of findings, and science communication. Thank you to all our volunteers, and to the Interstate Environmental Commission!
Here at the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership (LRWP), we believe that a healthy Raritan River and Lower Raritan Watershed is possible, restored and sustained through collaboration, participatory science, and stewardship.
Our work connects the dots between individual action and collective impact, realizing healthy ecological connections on the path to a healthy watershed. As a growing 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a slate of new programs coming on line in 2026, the LRWP is looking for Board Members and Technical Advisory Committee Members to join us in this shared work. While we are open to contributions from individuals with expertise of all kinds, we are also seeking individuals with experience in fundraising.
Please see our Board Member/Technical Advisory Committee Member Application Package (below).
The Board of Directors (“Board”) of LRWP is a working and governing board and is responsible for oversight of the strategic, financial, operational, and policy decisions for the organization. At present, the Board manages the administration of policy and practice as well as operations. Membership of the Board should represent leaders who demonstrate significant commitment and passion for the organization’s mission, strategic planning, and organizational success. Reporting to the Board Chair, Board Members typically serve three-year terms and make a meaningful financial commitment to the organization on an annual basis.
About the Technical Advisory Committee
Our Technical Advisory Committee meets 2-3x a year, providing “on call” expertise and often serving on behalf of the LRWP as liaison or representative with other organizations, committees or boards. The Technical Advisory Committee members report to the Chair of the LRWP Organizational Support Committee. Membership of the Technical Advisory Committee should represent field experts or community leaders whose knowledge and work dovetails in significant way with the LRWP’s initiatives. Technical Advisory Committee Members typically serve three-year terms and are expected to participate in key annual organizational events (TAC meetings, the LRWP Annual Meeting, etc).
LRWP is proud to welcome Heather Fenyk as our first-ever Executive Director. As the organization continues to grow in scope and impact, this new chapter reflects both momentum and intention. I spoke with Heather about stepping into this role and her vision for the watershed’s future.
NC: Congratulations on becoming LRWP’s first Executive Director! What does this moment mean for the organization? HF: Thank you — it’s truly an honor. This role represents an evolution for LRWP. For years, we’ve accomplished so much as an all-volunteer organization. Moving to a structure with dedicated staff signals that we’re ready to deepen and expand our impact. It doesn’t change who we are at our core — we remain rooted in partnership and volunteer energy — but it allows us to be more strategic, responsive, and consistent in our work across the watershed.
NC: What are your priorities as you step into this position? HF: Along with strengthening our internal processes, building systems, and continuing our fundraising efforts, I want to focus on cultivating a true “watershed ethic.” That means helping people understand how data connects to policy and how policy connects to lived experience.
We need stronger vertical integration — from scientific monitoring to municipal decision-making. For example, pathogen monitoring data should inform MS4 planning and then ultimately support stormwater utilities. Hyper-local data needs to translate into concrete examples communities can act on.
We must think regionally and at the county level. Watershed-scale planning and implementation allow us to address flooding, wildfire risk, land management, and ecological restoration as interconnected systems rather than isolated issues.
NC: LRWP was recently awarded the DEP’s Extreme Weather Resiliency Grant — our largest grant to date. What does this project represent? HF: This grant is both a milestone and a responsibility. We will be developing an Extreme Weather Resilience Plan focused on remediated and contaminated sites in Middlesex County, selecting ten priority sites — five impacted by flooding and five affected by wildfires — and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments.
This project embodies our watershed approach. Extreme weather doesn’t respect municipal boundaries, and neither do environmental risks related to pollutant flows. By examining these sites through a resilience lens, we can help municipalities better understand vulnerabilities and integrate those findings into planning and implementation. It’s about preparing for the future with science-based, regionally informed solutions.
NC: LRWP has grown significantly over the past decade. How do you see your role building on that momentum? HF: LRWP has earned tremendous credibility. People recognize it as a trusted voice for the watershed. My role is to build on that trust — strengthening our educational programming, supporting thoughtful advocacy, and helping translate big-picture watershed issues into meaningful local action. Residents need to see how what happens in their town connects to the health of the entire watershed system.
NC: Partnership has always been central to LRWP’s identity. How will that continue? HF: Partnership is everything! I see LRWP as both a convener and a collaborator. Whether we’re working with elected officials, environmental commissions, schools, or community groups, our approach is rooted in shared purpose. We want to create opportunities for people to talk to each other — not at each other — and to build solutions grounded in respect, data, and common goals.
NC: What do you see as your goals as Board President? DT: LRWP is, at its heart, a volunteer board. That shapes how I see this role. My primary goal is to support the work of our subcommittees and make sure they have what they need to thrive. If I can help remove administrative hurdles and keep us organized and focused, that’s a win. I also see my role as offering strong support to Heather Fenyk as she steps into her new position as Executive Director. Leadership works best when it’s collaborative, and I’m committed to making sure she has the partnership she needs.
NC: How has LRWP grown over the past ten years? DT: We’ve grown from being a volunteer group to becoming THE volunteer group — “the Voice of the Watershed”. That reputation has been earned through consistency and credibility. Today, people are listening. Municipal leaders, residents, and partners recognize LRWP as a trusted resource. We’ve also become more strategic in our advocacy. For example, in 2020 we joined East Brunswick Township in litigation to protect a highly environmentally sensitive area from development. Actions like that aren’t taken lightly — they’re part of a broader effort to influence policy and strengthen protections across the watershed. We want our work to lead to systemic change.
NC: LRWP remains a relatively small organization, even as we welcome our first compensated Executive Director. How can we best serve the 50 municipalities within the watershed? DT: Capacity is still a challenge. We can’t be everywhere at once, but we can model what partnership looks like. That means building strong relationships with local governments, community organizations, educators, and residents. Our strength has always been collaboration. If we continue to connect people, share resources, and amplify good work, we can have an impact far beyond our size.
NC: What advice would you give to someone who wants to better appreciate the Lower Raritan Watershed? DT: Slow down. Pay attention. Listen carefully to what’s around you — the water, the landscape, the human communities. Ask questions and stay curious. The watershed isn’t just a physical place; it’s a living system we’re part of with a rich history and ever changing landscape. The more we practice that kind of attentive appreciation, the more motivated we become to protect it.
NC: Why should someone consider volunteering as an LRWP Board member?DT: Serving on the LRWP Board is a meaningful way to extend your commitment to your community, the environment and LRWP. It’s an opportunity to step back and look at the entire watershed — beyond municipal boundaries — and help shape its future. We welcome people who bring professional expertise, lived experience, and passion to the table. If you care about the Lower Raritan and want to make a tangible difference, we are actively looking for new board members to join us.
The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership, working in partnership with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County and the Interstate Environmental Commission, will add four new monitoring sites for intermittent water quality monitoring starting May 2026 (register now to join us for monitoring training on May 18). These sites include the non-bathing public access Queens Bridge Recreational Access/Kayak Launch site along the Raritan River in Bound Brook, and three sampling stations along the Delaware & Raritan Canal.
By adding these sites we aim to better understand why, year after year, presence of enterococcus and fecal contamination is highest at our current most upstream monitoring location: Piscataway’s Riverside Park. In including sites further upstream of Riverside Park we hope to be able to pinpoint the source(s) of contamination and identify specific sanitary sewage infrastructure for repair.
By sampling from the Delaware & Raritan Canal, we will begin to improve our understanding of how water quality results differ based on the “bathtub” like conditions of the canal vs. the moving riverine flows of the Raritan. 2026 sampling at these D&R Canal sites will serve as a baseline for future testing for presence of Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and Harmful Algal Blooms (HABS), which occur more often in still, stagnant or slow-moving water bodies like lakes, ponds, and canals.
Filamentous Mat Algae on the Raritan River, 2011 – photo by John Jengo
1. The Queens Bridge Recreational Access/Kayak Launch site.
There are three big steps in our process. First, we collect a sample of the water to send back to the lab at the Interstate Environmental Commission. The sample must be kept in an ice chest to keep it cool until it can be analyzed by technicians back at the lab. Second, we use a device called a sonde to collect data on pH, temperature, oxygen levels, sediment, chlorophyl, salinity, and more. Third, we also conduct a quick habitat assessment, and then pick up any litter we see.
Pathogens/Enterococci levels are used as indicators of the possible presence of disease-causing bacteria in recreational waters. Such pathogens may pose health risks to people coming in primary contact with the water (touching) through recreational activities like fishing, kayaking or swimming in a water body. Possible sources of bacteria include Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), improperly functioning wastewater treatment plants, stormwater runoff, leaking septic systems, animal carcasses, and runoff from manure storage areas.
Our goal in reporting these results is to give residents a better understanding of the potential health risks related to primary contact during water-based recreation. If you are planning on recreating on the Raritan this weekend, make sure to stay safe and wash up after any activities.
The sonde disappears into the Raritan River at our site in Riverside Park, Piscataway. Photo credit: J.M. Meyer.
With huge thanks to our partners including Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County, the Fahrenfeld Lab at Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey, and NJ Sea Grant, the LRWP is pleased to share that findings based on our Summer Raritan River civic science pathogens monitoring and data gathering efforts were published by Elsevier in Science of the Total Environment:
Ehasz, G., Almosd, L., Ahamed, P., Bakacs, M., Fenyk, H., Fahrenfeld, N.L. 2026. Comparison of propidium monoazide and total-DNA based qPCR and long-read sequencing for microbial source tracking in an estuarine river. Science of the Total Environment. 1013, 181271. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.181271
Recap: Fecal pollution is a common cause of water pollution and improved microbial source tracking techniques are needed. A NJ Sea Grant funded team from Rutgers, Middlesex County Extension, and the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership conducted microbial monitoring on the Lower Raritan River. Total-DNA and viable-cell DNA techniques were compared.
Results: Using viable-cell DNA rather than total DNA resulted in better correlations between fecal pollution and source measurements. The techniques demonstrated in the Lower Raritan can be applied in any watershed with fecal pollution issues and may improve results.
With huge thanks to partners including Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County, the Fahrenfeld Lab at Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey, and NJ Sea Grant, the LRWP is pleased to share that findings based on our Summer Raritan River civic science pathogens monitoring and data gathering efforts were published by Elsevier in Science of the Total Environment:
Ehasz, G., Almosd, L., Ahamed, P., Bakacs, M., Fenyk, H., Fahrenfeld, N.L. 2026. Comparison of propidium monoazide and total-DNA based qPCR and long-read sequencing for microbial source tracking in an estuarine river. Science of the Total Environment. 1013, 181271. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.181271
Recap: Fecal pollution from humans and birds was identified using DNA-based techniques in the Lower Raritan. Fecal pollution is a common cause of beach and shellfish harvest closures and microbial source tracking can help identify the source of this pollution. A NJ Sea Grant funded team from Rutgers, Middlesex County Extension, and the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership conducted microbial monitoring on the Lower Raritan River. Multiple techniques for fecal source tracking were tested and compared.
Results: Microbial pollution in the Lower Raritan was linked to both human and bird sources using both qPCR and microbiome-based techniques that focus on living cells rather than total DNA. Results were shared with local utilities and governmental agencies who can find solutions for these pollution sources. The techniques demonstrated in the Lower Raritan can be applied in any watershed with fecal pollution issues.
