DEP providing $50,000 grant to Millstone
By: Frank C. D’Amico
MILLSTONE – The state Department of Environmental Protection has tentatively earmarked for the township a $50,000 grant to assist in watershed protection.
At the Aug. 16 Township Committee meeting, members from the township Watershed Preservation Council and the Environmental Commission sketched out a plan for how they will use the money.
The township has until Aug. 31 to submit a formal proposal to the DEP for final approval.
Nancy Grbelja and Pat DiGange, who head the council’s efforts, and Environmental Commission member Mark Cascella discussed their plans with the committee.
New Jersey has five state-delineated watershed areas. These areas are the Millstone River, the Assunpink, the Crosswicks Creek, the Metedeconk and the Toms River.
The speakers then went over some of their proposal.
Included in the plan are a call for more water quality testing programs, creating assessments for pollution points and defining major issues, creating public awareness of watershed protection through informative brochures and school programs and disseminating information through a Web site.
Members of the Township Committee suggested the watershed information could be posted on the township Web site rather than a new one.
The report also stated a need to incorporate watershed data into the township’s Geographic Information System.
After Ms. Grebelja, Mr. DiGange and Mr. Cascella stated their 18-point plan, Committeeman Evan Maltz said the scope seemed large for $50,000.
Mr. Cascella agreed, but said if the township continues working, it will be eligible for more DEP grants.