Cleanups

By: centraljersey.com
The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association will hold its fifth annual Stream Cleanups the first two weekends in April. Volunteers from 10 towns and four counties will be getting dirty to help keep lakes, rivers and streams clean and healthy.
Cleanups in East Windsor and Hightstown will be held April 2 and 3, respectively.
"Our everyday decisions have a real impact on the health of our water and environment," said Jim Waltman, Watershed Association executive director. "From the chemicals we use to treat our lawn, to the cup from the coffee shop that we toss aside – each year thousands of pounds of trash and pollutants are washed from our streets and yards into our lakes, rivers and streams." In 2010, more than 329 volunteers hauled 8,993 pounds of trash from area waterways. Since their inception, the Stream Cleanups have removed more than 15 tons of trash from in and around local streams and rivers. This year, the Watershed Association is partnering with municipal and environmental leaders in 10 towns across Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Somerset counties.
The East Windsor cleanup is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 2. The Watershed Association, members of the East Windsor Environmental Commission and Department of Public Works, municipal leaders and volunteers will meet at Etra Lake Park on Disbrow Hill Road to clean up the park area.
In 2010, 16 volunteers removed 262 pounds of trash from Anker Park on Hickory Corner Road.
The Hightstown cleanup is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 3. The Watershed Association, members of the Hightstown Environmental Commission and Department of Public Works, and volunteers will meet at Tavern on the Lake restaurant on Main Street. Participants will disperse from that site to clean up the area around Peddie Lake as part of a townwide cleanup effort. In 2010, 35 volunteers picked up 1,296 pounds of trash in the borough.
To volunteer, contact Watershed Association Community Advocacy Coordinator Leslie Brecknell at 609-737-3735, ext. 30, or [email protected].
Volunteers should wear boots and long sleeves, and bring a water bottle and work gloves if they have them. T-shirts are provided as well as in-kind refreshments from Whole Foods Market.
To learn more visit www.thewatershed.org.