WE MAKE NEW JERSEY’S RIVERS HEALTHIER – JOIN US!
Since 2010, the Ridge & Valley Chapter has been working to care for and recover rivers and fisheries in Warren and Hunderton Counties. Most of our work focuses on the cold trout streams in our area, including the South Branch of the Raritan, the Musconetcong, and our numerous small, often unnamed native brook trout streams. .
We work together with TU staff and partners in our Priority Waters, (which includes the upper SBR watershed) we advocate for our rivers, restore our stream habitat, plant native trees, help connect kids to the outdoors, and so much more.
Our conservation and restoration work relies on volunteers and supporters to be successful, and thanks to all of you, we are able to:
- Clean up trash along local rivers and streams
- Plant native trees and shrubs to keep rivers cool and prevent erosion
- Restore degraded habitat through in-stream projects
- Support TU’s national network of Priority Waters through advocacy, volunteerism, and contributions
Last year, we completed planted hundreds of native trees, collected over 500 pounds of trash, and recorded more than thousands of volunteer hours from our members, supporters, and partners in the community. We have also been strong advocates through civil engagement and partnership with local watershed organizations for the removal of dams on the South Branch of the Raritan and Musconetcong Rivers.
Support our river restoration work today! As an all-volunteer organization, we need your time, expertise, and donations to continue our great work!
Protect, Reconnect, Restore & Sustain
Our river restoration work uses Trout Unlimited’s “landscape approach” to conservation in order to address the many issues impacting the health of our rivers, streams, and the watersheds in which they flow. It is not enough to simply plant trees along a river to reduce erosion and shade, and cool the water. Nor is it adequate to just focus on removing dams and culverts that block fish migration. And just reducing the volume of polluted stormwater runoff flowing into streams – while positive – on its own is not enough to turn the tide.
To truly restore our local rivers, we must do all of the above – and more – so that the entire ecosystem is brought back into balance.
Not only are we working to repair the damage caused by historic activities such as logging, agriculture, industry and development, but now we are also driving to build resilience into our rivers and streams so they can withstand the coming pressures of man-made climate change and the expected increase in droughts, floods, temperature and volatility in the coming years and decades.