The Lawrence Brook Watershed Partnership   

Watershed Adopted: Lawrence Brook Watershed (USGS HUC 02030105130)   

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Thank You,  cub scouts  of Pack 61 (East Brunswick) for cleaning  up the park along  Washington Avenue in Milltown (4/12/2008). You  picked up an old bicycle, tires, old coolers, crates and lots  of plastic  bottles , many  things  that  don't   belong  in nature.

 

Definitions:

riparian buffer (often known as riparian forest): vegetated area that  borders a water body. This area is  essential  to  protect  the  body  of  water from erosion and  from  run-off pollution. Damaging the  riparian buffer is  regarded as damaging the  body of  water itself. (Riparian = "of the river.")
watershed :   geographic area that collects water for a given body  of  water. A large watershed is  called a basin (e.g. the  Mississippi  Basin). In a mountain area, any  valley is  a watershed. The Lawrence Brook watershed spreads over 5 towns in NJ (East Brunswick, North Brunswick, New  Brunswick, South  Brunswick and Milltown).
 

 

 Canoeing on the Lawrence Brook, water lilies, cattails and  painted turtles

LBWP Events (Details below)

1. Partner in Raritan River Cleanup, Saturday, April 19th, 9:30AM-1PM.  Meet at Loew's Theatre on Route 1 just north of Route 18.

2. April Nature Walk.  Sunday, April 20th, 1PM.  Ireland Brook.

3. Exhibitor - Rutgers Coop. Research & Ext. EARTH Day Event, Tuesday, April 22nd, 4:00PM-7:00PM, Davidsons Mill Pond Park. 

4. April Membership meeting with  conference, Tuesday, April 22nd, 7:00PM.  Davidsons Mill Pond Park, Earth Center, Speaker, Professor William Hlubik.

5. Exhibitor at Rutgers Ag-Field Day, Saturday, April 26th, 9AM - 4PM.

6. 7th Annual Farrington Lake Cleanup, Saturday, May 10th, 9AM to 12 Noon, based at BiCentennial Park, East Brunswick.

7. Milltown area cleanup, Saturday, May 17th.  9AM to 12 Noon.  Meet at Milltown Borough Hall.

8. May Nature Walk.  Probably Milltown Mill Pond Park.  Leader, Brian Racin.

9. Exhibitor at Water Festival, North Brunswick Sabella Park, Saturday, May 31st.  12PM to 2PM. Details to follow.

10. June Membership meeting with    conference, Tuesday, June 17th, 7:30PM, Milltown Senior Center. Speaker, Dr. David Robinson, NJ State Climatologist. 
 

Other Environmental Meetings/Events

A. Raritan River Cleanup, Sat. April 19th, organized by NJ Community Water Watch.  Meet at Loew's Theatre parking lot, Rte 1 North of Rte 18 at 9:30AM.

B. Rutgers Coop. Rsrch & Ext. EARTH Day Event, Tues, April 22nd, 4PM-7PM. EARTH Center, Davidsons Mill Pond Park, South Brunswick.

C. Rutgers Ag-Field Day, Saturday, April 26th, Cook College Campus, New Brunswick.  8AM to 4PM.

D. South River Arbor Earth Day Event, Sunday, April 27th, 1PM, Grekoski Park.  Details to follow.

E. Sustainable Bus. Incubator at Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. presents "Growing the Next Generation of Green Ventures", Friday, May 2nd, 8AM to 4PM.

F. 19th NEIWPCC NPS Conference, Mystic Marriott, Groton, Conn.  Monday - Wednesday, May 19th-21st.

G. Water Festival North Brunswick Sabella Park, Saturday, May 31st, 12PM - 2PM.  Details to follow.


======================== Details ==================================

1. Partner in Raritan River Cleanup, Saturday, April 19th, 9:30AM to 1PM.  We will be partnering the NJ Community Water Watch group in this cleanup.  If you would like to volunteer please contact us.  See A below.

 

2. April Nature WalkSunday, April 20th, 1PM.  Ireland Brook, Riva Avenue, East Brunswick.  Leader, Andrew Besold, LBWP Naturalist.  We will meet at BiCentennial Park, Riva Avenue and Hardenburg Lane, in the main parking lot to the right and we will car pool to Ireland Brook, as parking at the Brook is very limited. See flier.

3. Exhibitor - Rutgers Coop Research & Ext. EARTH DAY, Tuesday, April 22nd, 4PM-7PM, Davidsons Mill Pond Park, EARTH Center.  We shall have a table at this event.  We will need volunteers to help at this event from 3PM.  See B below. 

4. April Membership Meeting, Tuesday, April 22nd, 7PM, Davidsons Mill Pond Park, Earth Center,  Riva Avenue, South Brunswick.  Speaker: Professor William T. Hlubik, Director of the EARTH Center.  Topic:  "Earth-Wise Lawn and Landscape Care"  In this presentation, Professor Hlubik will provide tips on design principles, establishment, care and pest control for landscape plants.  He will focus on practical methods to keep plants healthy while reducing or eliminating the excessive or unnecessary use of pesticides, fertilizer and water.


5. Exhibitor at Rutgers Ag-Field Day, Saturday, April 26th, 9AM - 4PM.  We have participated in this event for several years and for the past three years selling our organic products.  We will need a number of volunteers to help on the day and during the previous week to organize our presentations.  See C below.

6.    7th Annual Farrington Lake Cleanup, Saturday, May 10th, 9AM -12 Noon.  Meet at BiCentennial Park at 9AM for assignment.  We expect to be cleaning up around Farrington Lake in East Brunswick, Milltown and North Brunswick.  We will be needing lots of volunteers for this event.  Refreshments provided. 

7. Additional area cleanups, MayDates and location to be confirmed.  We are interested in doing cleanups in Milltown, North, East or South Brunswick before the weather becomes too warm and the vegetation has grown too long to be able to see the trash.  Individuals and groups, please contact us to volunteer.


8. May Nature Walk.  Probably Milltown Mill Pond Park.  Leader, Brian Racin.  Date to be determined.


9. Exhibitor at Water Festival, North Brunswick, Sabella Park, Saturday, May 31st, 12PM - 2PM.  Details to follow.

10. June Membership Meeting, Tuesday, June 17th, 7:30PM, Speaker, Dr. David Robinson, NJ State Climatologist.  Title of presentation to follow.
 

A. Raritan River Cleanup, Sat. April 19th, organized by NJ Community Water Watch.  Meet at Loew's Theatre parking lot, Rte 1 North of Rte 18 at 9:30AM.  Cleanup  will take place between 10:30AM and 1PM at Loew's Theatre area and at the Lawrence Brook Westons Mill Pond and below the Westons Mill Dam.

B. Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension of Middlesex County, EARTH DAY Event, Tuesday, April 22nd, 4PM-7PM, at Davidsons Mill Pond Park, EARTH Center, off Riva Avenue in South Brunswick.  Event is being held on the actual Earth Day.  See the attached flier below.  http://www.co.middlesex.nj.us/extensionservices/

C. Rutgers Ag-Field Day, Saturday, April 26th, Cook College Campus, New Brunswick.  The activities start from about 8AM and continue until at least 4PM with many exhibits and demonstrations and musical events.  Many Rutgers plants and seedlings sold early in the day.  Many exhibits by students.  Farm exhibits and some indoor exhibits also in various college rooms.  Takes place between College Farm Road in the south and extends as far as Georges Road to the north, including events and displays around Passion Puddle.

D. South River Arbor Earth Day Event, Sunday, April 27th, 1PM onwards, Grekoski Park.  Details to be provided shortly by Brian Racin, Env. & Shade Tree Commission  Chair.

E. The Sustainable Business Incubator at Fairleigh Dickinson University presents "Growing the Next Generation of Green Ventures" Sustainable Entrepreneurship Symposium and Expo  An NCIIA Invention to Venture Workshop, Friday, May 2nd, 8AM to 4PM.  Followed by a networking reception 4PM - 6PM and Green Enterprise Showcase. Fairleigh Dickinson University's Silberman College of Business College at Florham, 285 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ.  

To register, see http://www.invention2venture.org/greenventures08/   Non-profit rate $35 for early registration.


 

F. 19th NEIWPCC NPS Conference, Mystic Marriott, Groton, Conn. Monday - Wednesday, May 19th - 21st.  The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission is now accepting registrations for the 19th Annual NPS Conference on May 19-21, 2008, at the Mystic Marriott in Groton, Connecticut.  This year's conference, "Progress Through Partnerships: Collaborating to Protect Our Watersheds," will feature presentations, field trips, and a one-day workshop on Stormwater Funding & Utility Development taught by Andrew Reese and Charlene Johnston of AMEC Earth and Environmental.  To view a detailed agenda, please go to: http://www.neiwpcc.org/npsconference/nps_pdfs/08Agenda.pdf


 

Register by May 1 to take advantage of the early-bird discount.  To register online, please visit the conference website at: http://www.neiwpcc.org/npsconference.

**Please note that the conference room rates at the Mystic Marriott ($149/night for conference attendees; $98/night for conference attendees with government- issued ID) will only be held until April 22 or until the room block is sold out.  Please contact the Mystic Marriott directly at 860-446-2600 to make your reservations and mention the Nonpoint Source Conference to access the room block.

Since 1990, New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC), in partnership with its member states, has been coordinating the Annual Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Conference, the premier forum in our region for sharing information and improving communication on NPS pollution issues and projects. The three-day conference brings together all those in New England and New York State involved in NPS pollution management, including participants from state, federal, and municipal governments, private sector, academia, and watershed organizations.

The importance of partnerships among local, regional, state, and federal agencies cannot be overstated.  At the 2008 NPS conference, we will focus on building partnerships and integrating programs to work towards the common goal of reducing NPS pollution in our watersheds.

Opportunities are also available for sponsoring or exhibiting at the conference.  For more information, please contact Laura H. Chan, Environmental Analyst at  lchan@neiwpcc.org or  ph. 978-323-7929 x253.  fax 978-323-7919   New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, 116 John Street, Boott Mills South, Lowell, MA 01852

G. Water Festival, North Brunswick, Sabella Park, Saturday, May 31st. 12 Noon to 2PM.  Details will be supplied by Debbie Druker shortly.

 

past  events

Saturday March 29th, 2PM,

 

 

Davidsons Mill Pond Park 42 Riva Ave

 South Brunswick.

 Nature Walk with observation of beaver constructions Medium difficulty, about  2.5 h

We will  observe  the emerging  spring  vegetation and remnants of past  beaver activity (1 large beaver  dam, 2  beaver lodges and beaver felled trees). Beavers are no  longer present, however, we will learn about their habitat  requirement and their interaction with  the ecosystem. The tour   will  take us through the woods,  in rocky  areas and across small  streams.  Hervé Barrier and Brian Racin will be our  guides.

Saturday, March 29th, 9AM-3PM. Trinity Presbyterian Church, 367 Cranbury Rd. East Brunswick.   Creation Care Conference.  We plan to have an environmental exhibit table. 
Friday, April 4th, 2008 University Hall, Room 1060, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
Workshop :  Tackling Floatable Trash and Debris in the Passaic River, Hackensack River and Newark Bay: Current Efforts and New Approaches, 
 
The purpose of this workshop is to learn about the sources and effects of floatable pollution, what it is currently being done to control floatables (and how effective these efforts are), and what more needs to be and can/should be done to reduce floatables.
Sat., April 5th, 8AM - 5:30PM, Rutgers University School of Law, 123 Washington Street, Newark.  New Jersey Environmental Federation's 22nd Annual Conference,  "The Heat is On". Registration $30. (732) 280-8988 www.cleanwateraction.org/njef/events.html

Registration 8AM-9AM, Theme for the Day, 9AM-9:15AM, Sharon Finlayson and Amy Goldsmith. Workshops Session 1, 9:30AM-11AM. Lunch & Grassroots leadership awards, 11:15AM -12:40PM. Sustainable Cities: Strengthening the Voice, Urban plenary featuring Mayor Cory Booker and Mayor Douglas Palmer, (invited) Moderated by Phil Thompson, MIT (invited). Workshops Session II, 2PM -3:20PM. Keynote Speaker Governor Jon Corzine, (invited) 3:30PM - 4:30PM. Reception with key political and environmental leaders, 4:30PM -5:30PM.

Workshops include topics such as: EJ, eminent domain & brownfields; Growing the green generation; Climate change & children's health; Drugs down the drain; Healthy towns and schools; What's on tap for global warming; Critical water & land use decisions imminent; Green jobs, green economy.
Sat  April 12  Parks along the  Lawrence Brook Spring  Cleanup of the  parks along the Lawrence Brook. Sorry  about  the miscommunication about  the  event

The  cub scouts  of Pack61  came and did   a wonderful job cleaning  up  the park near Washington Avenue in Miltown.

     
     

Our Headquarters in Milltown is staffed on Saturday mornings from 9AM-12Noon for your convenience, to discuss any environmental matters and to see our environmentally-friendly home/garden products.  Other times by arrangement. Contact  us  at mailto:contact@lbwp.org