Association to assess watershed practices

Committee puts forth effort to save river system

By: Matt Kirdahy
   The Township Committee wants to work to protect its river system from erosion.
   On Monday, it agreed to work with the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association to assess the township’s watershed management.
   Noelle MacKay, director of watershed management at the association, said the association is going to make it its job to assess the township’s current watershed management practices with an eye toward improvement. The association proposed the plan Monday.
   The project is expected to begin this month. There is no expected date for completion.
   The township watershed practices refer to the protection of any flowing water that affects the township rivers or river system. The assessment will cost between $10,000 and $15,000 and will be funded by grants from the William Penn Foundation and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.
   Mayor Pari Stave said the committee "enthusiastically" and "whole-heartedly" endorses the project.
   David Stout of the Environmental Commission said the assessment will benefit the town and every commission involved.
   The assessment will include a look at land use ordinances, conservation easements and stormwater management; the township’s plan for natural resources, including its open space plan and funding for land acquisition; an assessment of how effective the Planning Board and Environmental Commission are and a look at the Public Works Department’s management practices as well as the recycling program; and stewardship projects such as community education, possible partnerships with other municipalities to protect the watershed and if stream monitoring, streambank restoration and reforestation are encouraged.
   "This assessment will provide a clearer view of the township’s Master Plan," Ms. MacKay said.
   The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association is a 52-year-old nonprofit regional association overseeing the 265 square miles that make up the Millstone watershed. Its headquarters is in Hopewell. It’s the second largest watershed association in the United States.
   Ms. MacKay encouraged the involvement of any township commission and said their participation would "make for a more efficient project."
   "We recognize the workload elected and appointed officials bear in day-to-day township affairs," Ms. MacKay said in a memo. "It is to this end that we developed a municipal assessment protocol to assist (Cranbury) in developing additional proactive measures to protect the environment, plan for the future and ensure that residents feel a sense of community."