For 60 years, Raritan Headwaters Association (RHA) has been building and maintaining relationships with the 38 municipalities and 3 counties within the Upper Raritan River watershed to promote protection of water resources. Municipalities face unique challenges as well as opportunities to address a host of environmental pressures. RHA provides support and expertise to our municipal partners who are tasked with managing a number of complex water quality and quantity issues impacting their community.

Raritan Headwaters Community Council

The Raritan Headwaters Community Council (RHCC) is a group of dedicated individuals who serve as champions for clean water in their community. RHCC members work collaboratively with RHA staff and partners to support local, on-the-ground watershed protection initiatives and sound local policy to protect water resources. The Council’s goal is to empower citizens to identify local natural resource issues, develop partnerships, and implement collaborative solutions.

To learn more or to join the Raritan Headwaters Community Council, please email Mara Tippett at mtippett@raritanheadwaters.org.

Watershed Tools for Local Leaders seminars

Sound local and regional policy is supported by a strong scientific foundation and input from knowledgeable stakeholders. Active learning opportunities motivate and inform Community Council members so that they have the knowledge a language to convey information about current science and available resources back to their communities. Local leaders and volunteers who are informed about best practices and watershed protection can serve their communities as advocates for clean water.

RHA provides educational opportunities, tools, and resources for municipal officials faced with addressing issues of environmental concern. RHA’s Watershed Tools for Local Leaders seminars and workshops provide practical guidance on scientific principles, useful tools, government regulations and funding sources for watershed protection. For more information about the Watershed Tools for Local Leaders series, see the schedule of upcoming workshops, and view past presentations, please visit www.raritanheadwaters.org/municipal-tools/.

For more information or to suggest a topic for discussion at a future workshop, please email Mara Tippett at mtippett@raritanheadwaters.org.

Open Funding Opportunities

• Highlands Council Approves $50,000 to Help Municipalities Address Warehousing Concerns– The Highlands Council approved a resolution authorizing up to $50,000 for grants to help municipalities examine local zoning to see where they may be vulnerable to inappropriate development, specifically warehouse siting. www.nj.gov/njhighlands/news/pres/2023/HCRelease_ZoningGrants.pdf
• MURPHY ADMINISTRATION OFFERING $19 MILLION IN GRANTS TO ASSIST MUNICIPALITIES WITH NEW STORMWATER PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS- Full details of the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) will be available at https://nj.gov/dep/wlm/grants/swgrant.html  by March 3. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis through Dec. 31, 2023.
• See all DEP administered active funding opportunities as well as all available DEP grants, loans, and financial programs. 
• See Highlands Council Grants.

Events, Conferences, and Workshops

• May 04 – Punching Out Plastic: Celebrate One Year Anniversary of the Plastic Pollution Reduction Law Webinar The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) will host this webinar to discuss plastic pollution in New Jersey along with other invited guests.  Topics include success of the first year of the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act, NJ Plastic Advisory Council recommendations, NJ Clean Communities programs and initiatives, and Environmental Commissions engaging in the communities. Attendance is eligible for one (1) NJ Clean Communities Coordinator Credit. Virtual from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Register Here. 
• May 5- 2023 New Jersey Sustainability Summit The Sustainability Summit is a unique opportunity for change-makers across political, private and public sectors to connect on the most pressing issues we are currently facing, from making our communities more resilient to climate change, to reducing our community carbon footprints, to ensuring equitable access to resources for all, and more. Join us for an inspiring day of networking and learning that will equip you with fresh ideas and new partners. The Summit will feature 14 sustainability sessions, a sustainability exhibit with over 40 businesses, state agencies, and nonprofits, and a post-Summit happy hour. Click here to secure your spot and learn more. 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Rd, Holmdel, NJ 07733. Register here for the Summit.

• Sustainable Jersey and its program partners regularly host trainings and events that support progress toward Sustainable Jersey certification. In general, events posted on the calendar are FREE or of minimal cost. See current list of events here. 

Stakeholder Engagement and Public Comment

• March 7- DEP to Begin Series of Public Engagement Sessions on Next Phase of Climate Pollutant on Reduction Initiative The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will begin a series of public engagement sessions to explore the next phase of Climate Pollutant Reduction (CPR) initiatives. DEP will seek to further reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other climate pollutants that fuel climate change and adversely affect air quality and public health. DEP will launch its public engagement process with a virtual general session on Tuesday, March 7 at 11 a.m. Additional public engagement sessions on the proposed CPR initiatives are planned throughout the spring and summer. Details of these meetings, including meeting links, will be posted on the Department’s website at https://dep.nj.gov/njpact/.
• New Jersey, with its Outside, Together! partnership, wants your input as they update the state’s five-year Outdoor Recreation Plan. This outreach effort will inform new funding policies and acquisition prioritization used by DEP programs: Green Acres, Fish and Wildlife, and Parks, Forestry & Historic Sites. Please click here to take a short, 10-minute survey to help DEP decide how we should expand and improve open space and parks across New Jersey.