As we travel through our communities, few of us think about the hidden world of streams and rivers that once flowed across the landscape. In the face of climate change and increased precipitation, real life has shown us that stormwater runoff and flooding have intensified. Centuries of piping, culverting and development have hidden the vast majority of waterways and significantly changed hydrological paths in communities like Highland Park. The impact of these factors can be devastating: communities are alienated from their streams and historic ecologies, habitats are degraded, and water quality is compromised. In this presentation, join Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership (LRWP) Executive Director Heather Fenyk, Ph.D., AICP/PP in an examination of the changes made to local Highland Park streams and hydrology over time. How to read a topographic map, identify watersheds, and #lookfortheriver – to empower community members to explore their own local landscapes – will be included in this program too.

Please plan to join us for Part II of #hiddenstreams programming for Highland Park on Sunday November 22, 2-4pm, a walking tour to “find” the heritage hydrology and hidden streams in town. Pre-registration required.