Through research, restoration, MS4 stormwater management assistance, and community engagement the LRWP works to ensure that our central New Jersey landscape is better able to handle the impacts of climate change, sea level rise and future storms.

Research: We regularly partner with EPA, NJDEP, Rutgers University, and other entities on environmental data gathering as well as demographic, policy and legal research to better understand challenges to resilience in our Lower Raritan communities.

Thank you to the Bloustein School Spring Studio 2020 for their resilience plan development research in South River. A summary of studio efforts, including links to their final report and other resources, are included in this blog post.

Restoration: Our work includes planning and engineer design development. for a 165-acre Eco Park on the South River in Sayreville and South River.

“Preparing for climate change is imperative and should be at the forefront of our coastal communities across the nation. But we will not protect our coast lines with only sea walls and tide gates. This alternative is shortsighted, will have dire environmental consequences, and may result in increased damages from failure.

Coastal resilience must be looked at holistically and regionally. We must include engineering, nature-based, economic, and social solutions to successfully mitigate long term-impacts. Coastal states and communities must focus on developing the capacity for regional coastal resilience management plans that integrate businesses, communities, non-profits, academic institutions, and government (at all levels). Without proper stakeholder engagement, coordination, and participation our proposals will continue to fall short of what is needed to prepare for sea level rise.”

-LRWP Board Member, Johnny Quispe

MS4 Stormwater Management: Through this fee-based program the LRWP helps municipalities in the Lower Raritan Watershed meet their federally mandated stormwater management education & outreach requirements under the Clean Water Act.

Community Engagement: Through #lookfortheriver and other outreach programs we train community members to recognize and document climate-related changes in our landscapes. This includes advancing community understanding of historic hydrology and mapping “hidden streams.“