The boat shop is closed this weekend to allow our very wonderful boat build team to enjoy a relaxing long weekend.
The Sunday July 2 moonrise/fireworks paddle is cancelled due to anticipated storms. To take advantage of what looks to be a beautiful evening, we will host the paddle instead (sans fireworks) TOMORROW Saturday July 1. Email Anton for more info!
Thank you!
By LRWP Monitoring Outreach Coordinator Jocelyn Palomino
The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer pathogens monitoring program from May to September every summer along the Raritan River. We collect water quality samples at 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 on Friday afternoons.
Our lab results for water quality samples taken on June 29, 2023 show Enterococcus bacteria levels exceed the EPA federal water quality standard of 104 cfu/100mL at five of our monitoring sites this week. Problem sites are indicated by red frowns on the map and chart which includes: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Edison Boat Basin (Edison), Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Sayreville),and 2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy). Green smiles on the chart and map indicate sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation and includes: South Amboy Waterfront Park (South Amboy).
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 fishing and 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 area residents an understanding of potential health risks related to primary contact (touching) the water during water based recreation. Please remember to always wash thoroughly after all activities if you choose to recreate on the Raritan!
Every week, we look forward to our Thursday mornings of monitoring! Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino
Many people were out recreating on the Raritan after a long week of rain, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino
Our volunteers work diligently on completing tasks at each of our sites, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino
We arrived at Perth Amboy site right at the low tide, which allowed us to get a clear view of the combined sewer outfall on 2nd. Street, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino
As always, big thanks to our team of volunteers for the week: Genevieve Ehasz, Colleen Georges, Sheyla Casco, and Frank Dahl, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino
By LRWP Monitoring Outreach Coordinator Jocelyn Palomino
The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer pathogens monitoring program from May to September every summer along the Raritan River. We collect water quality samples at 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 on Friday afternoons.
Our lab results for water quality samples taken on June 22, 2023 show Enterococcus bacteria levels that exceed the EPA federal water quality standard of 104 cfu/100mL at one of our monitoring sites. Problem sites are indicated by red frowns on the map and chart and includes Edison Boat Basin (Edison) this week. Green smiles on the chart and map indicate sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation and includes: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Sayreville), South Amboy Waterfront Park (South Amboy), and 2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy).
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 fishing and 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 area residents an understanding of potential health risks related to primary contact (touching) the water during water based recreation. Even though our results show water quality levels are safe for recreation this week, please wash thoroughly after all activities if you choose to recreate on the Raritan!
Our team of volunteers were ready to collect this week’s samples despite a very cloudy Thursday morning, Photo Credit: Monica Orso
At each of our sites, one volunteer uses the YSI and fluorometer (being held in the picture) that reads specific parameters like pH or salinity, while other volunteers collect the water samples and record data on field observations, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino
A mallard drake and one of his young ones needed our help getting untangled from a fishing line at the Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park, we always enjoy encountering all sorts of animals while we’re monitoring, Photo Credit: Monica Orso
Quite a few folks out on the South Amboy Waterfront this Thursday despite the light rain, Photo Credit: Monica Orso
Special thanks to our amazing team of volunteers who came out this week: Monica Orso, Colleen Georges, Sheyla Casco, and Genevieve Ehasz! Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino
By LRWP Monitoring Outreach Coordinator Jocelyn Palomino
The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer pathogens monitoring program from May to September every summer along the Raritan River. We collect water quality samples at 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 on Friday afternoons.
Our lab results for water quality samples taken on June 15, 2023 show that Enterococcus bacteria levels DO NOT exceed the EPA federal water quality standard at any of our sites this week. Green smiles on the chart and map indicate sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation which includes all of our sites this week: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Edison Boat Ramp and Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Edison), South Amboy Waterfront Park (South Amboy), and 2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy).
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 fishing and 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 area residents an understanding of potential health risks related to primary contact (touching) the water during water based recreation. Even though our results show water quality levels are safe for recreation this week, please wash thoroughly after all activities if you choose to recreate on the Raritan!
Views as we collect our samples from the Rutgers Boat Dock, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
We had a large group on the docks this week with a few visitors from Rutgers who joined the team to observe, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino
Rose Lawless carefully logging the data onto the YSI, Colleen Georges collecting samples in the back, and Frank Dahl observing the area with his binoculars behind her, Photo Credit: Jocelyn Palomino
Colleen is always happy to jump into the waders and collect some samples, Photo Credit: Genevieve Ehasz
At our last stop in Perth Amboy, we were joined by the 4th Grade class of Mrs. Laura Toto who came out to observe our work, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
Special thanks to Mrs. Toto and the 4th Grade students at RN Wilentz Elementary School in Perth Amboy for joining us at our last site to learn all about water quality! Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
By LRWP Monitoring Outreach Coordinator Jocelyn Palomino
The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer pathogens monitoring program from May to September every summer along the Raritan River. We collect water quality samples at 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 on Friday afternoons.
This week we experienced severely heavy air pollution in the Northeast due to the wildfires happening in Canada. The Air Quality Index (AQI) almost reached 400 in several areas of New Jersey, becoming one of the worst smoke outbreaks the Northeast has seen in the last two decades.
Our lab results for water quality samples taken on June 8, 2023 show that Enterococcus bacteria levels DO NOT exceed the EPA federal water quality standard at any of our sites this week. Green smiles on the chart and map indicate sites with bacteria levels safe for recreation which includes all of our sites this week: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Edison Boat Ramp and Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Edison), South Amboy Waterfront Park (South Amboy), and 2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy).
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 fishing and 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 area residents an understanding of potential health risks related to primary contact (touching) the water during water based recreation. Even though our results show water quality levels are safe for recreation this week, please wash thoroughly after all activities if you choose to recreate on the Raritan!
Special thanks to our monitoring team this week for enduring the weather conditions to provide the community with the water quality results to make the appropriate decisions regarding their recreational plans for the weekend: Colleen Georges, Rose Lawless, Sheyla Casco, and Genevieve Ehasz with the Fahrenfeld Lab.
While exploring at our Piscataway site, Rose Lawless spotted Garlic Mustard, a non-native plant. Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
From the Rutgers boat dock, we could see the trees along the Raritan surrounded by smoke from the Canadian wildfires, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
A great blue heron surfing on the debris while we collected samples at the Edison Boat Launch, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
A great image of the team at our Sayreville site with what used to be a coal power plant pictured behind us, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
Genevieve decided to wade in as we finished up the day in Perth Amboy by 2nd. Street Park, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
Due to horrible air conditions (fires in Canada), we are CANCELLING boat building for tonight Wednesday June 7. See you on Saturday.
By LRWP Monitoring Outreach Coordinator Jocelyn Palomino
The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership and Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County run a volunteer pathogens monitoring program from May to September every summer along the Raritan River. We collect water quality samples at 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 on Friday afternoons.
Our lab results for water quality samples taken on June 1, 2023 show that Enterococcus bacteria levels DO NOT exceed the EPA federal water quality standard at any of our sites this week. Green smiles on the chart and map indicate sites with bacteria levels below the standard safe for recreation which includes all of our sites: Riverside Park (Piscataway), Rutgers Boathouse (New Brunswick), Edison Boat Ramp and Ken Buchanan Waterfront Park (Edison), South Amboy Waterfront Park (South Amboy), and 2nd Street Park (Perth Amboy).
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 fishing and 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 area residents an understanding of potential health risks related to primary contact (touching) the water during water based recreation. If you choose to recreate on the Raritan, please do so safely and be sure to wash thoroughly after all activities!
Frank Dahl and Sheyla Casco at Riverside Park ready to take on the day, Photo Credit: Colleen Georges
This week’s team lined up at the Rutgers Boat dock with a beautiful view behind us, Photo Credit: Colleen Georges
Rose Lawless captured a great image of the team from the docks at our Sayreville site, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
The team giving Sheyla some safety tips for her first-time wading at our South Amboy site, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
Sheyla enjoyed the water so much she decided to keep on the waders for our next site, Photo Credit: Rose Lawless
