Troubled Watershed

Matawan got involved with the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Program back in 2005 as part of a scouting project. Based on the project's description, which I found at the estuary program's website, the borough's environmental commission supported the endeavor to help protect the Raritan Bay from runoff pollution. Four years later, the commission's itinerary isn't even posted on the borough's webpage. I see that the commission sponsors an annual clean up day. Maybe the commission could develop another environmental project? Check out the video at the bottom to see what Lake Erie residents are doing to keep prescription drugs from their water supply.

Matawan Creek & Pews Creek Educational Outreach Program in Raritan Bay Subwatershed

The Bayshore Regional Watershed Council (BRWC) will partner with the Borough of Matawan Environmental Commission and with the Friends of Pews Creek volunteer group to label approximately 400 storm drain inlets that empty into Raritan Bay with a marker that reads "No Dumping - Drains to Bay." These partners, along with local scout and school groups, will label drains along Matawan Creek/Lefferts Lake and Pews Creek, waterways that are bounded by heavy residential and commercial development. BRWC will distribute informational door hangers to local property owners to emphasize that stormwater is not treated before entering the bay, and to inform residents on how to mitigate nonpoint source pollution. This will be one step in educating people about local water quality so that they can change their attitudes and behaviors to help solve the problem. To further educate local residents, BRWC will also hold a stream clean up and a free public nature walk for Matawan Creek and Pews Creek.