Want to make a difference in the health and appearance of your local watershed – in just one morning?

Raritan Headwaters Association, the local nonprofit watershed waterdog, is seeking volunteers for its annual Stream Cleanup on Saturday, April 17, from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will remove trash and recyclables from over 50 sites along waterways in Hunterdon, Somerset and Morris counties.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, this year’s event will be smaller than cleanups in previous years, when more than 1,700 volunteers participated. A maximum of 25 volunteers will be permitted at each cleanup site, and all must wear masks and maintain social distancing.

“Will this event look the same as it did in 2019, the last time we held it? No, it won’t,” said Trish McGuire, volunteer manager for Raritan Headwaters. “But we still expect a successful outcome. We’re going to pick up as much trash as we possibly can while keeping everyone safe.”

Stream Cleanup volunteers in previous years have included individuals, families, scout troops, churches, businesses, civic groups, schools and environmental commissions.

“The Stream Cleanup is in keeping with the spirit of Earth Day,” noted Cindy Ehrenclou, RHA’s executive director. “Not only does it beautify local stream corridors, it also protects drinking water supplies and prevents litter from washing downstream to the Raritan Bay and Atlantic Ocean, where it can become a hazard to marine life.”

To learn more and register, visit www.raritanheadwaters.org/stream-cleanup. All volunteers will receive gloves, trash and recycling bags, and as a thank you, a Raritan Headwaters cloth tote bag. The cleanup will be held rain or shine.

About Raritan Headwaters

Raritan Headwaters has been working since 1959 to protect, preserve and improve water quality and other natural resources of the Raritan River headwaters region through efforts in science, education, advocacy, land preservation and stewardship. RHA’s 470-square-mile region provides clean drinking water to 300,000 residents of 38 municipalities in Somerset, Hunterdon and Morris counties and beyond to some 1.5 million homes and businesses in New Jersey’s densely populated urban areas.

To learn more about Raritan Headwaters and its programs, please visit www.raritanheadwaters.org or call 908-234-1852.