CERTIFICATION BASED ON A SET OF STANDARDS THAT GUIDE PARTICIPANTS THROUGH SELF-AWARENESS, BEHAVIOR CHANGE, AND VOLUNTARY ACTION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT.

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC):

- Group of 20-25 individuals of differing backgrounds/organizations

- Meet 2x a year ntroductions and certifications

Partner Organizations:

Currently focused in the Raritan Basin

6 counties: Hunterdon, Morris, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth & Somerset

4 Watershed Management Areas:

Upper Raritan

Lower Raritan

Stony Brook-Millstone

Central Delaware

RIVER-FRIENDLY CERTIFICATION: WHERE?

Residents: survey of at-home actions & behaviors

Schools: levels of certification based on water/wildlife lessons & projects

Business/Golf Course: set of baseline standards plus site-specific actions

RIVER-FRIENDLY CERTIFICATION: WHO?

THINKING DIFFERENTLY

River-Friendly Traditional

RIVER-FRIENDLY STEPS FOR HOMEOWNERS

1. Water quality management

2. Lawn & garden care

3. Water conservation

4. Wildlife habitat enhancement

5. Education & outreach

6. Septic maintenance

WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT

1. Install a rain barrel

2. Plant a rain garden

3. Use mulch or groundcovers to cover exposed soil

4. Do not wash your car on the driveway

5. Dispose of chemicals and prescriptions properly!

Goal: Manage stormwater on property to reduce polluted runoff.

Contact us for a rain barrel workshop or garden evaluation!

LAWN & GARDEN CARE

1. Keep grass at 2-3 inches

2. Limit use of chemicals

3. Leave grass clippings

4. Compost!

5. Convert a portion of your lawn to garden or “no mow”

Non-chemical weed solutions can include:

- Vinegar sprays

- Boiling water

- Hand pulling

- Covering

- Improve soil health

Goal: Improve soil health and reduce chemical use.

WATER CONSERVATION

Goal: Change behaviors that waste water inside and outside.

1. Low flow appliances (EPA WaterSense)

2. Low flow modifications

3. Spray/shut off nozzles on hoses

4. Fix leaks immediately

5. Run dish and clothes washers on full load

6. Shut water off while brushing teeth or shaving

Easy low flow modifications include faucet aerators and toilet tank additions such as the “Toilet Tummy”

WILDLIFE HABITAT ENHANCEMENT

1. Plant native species of plants

2. Remove invasive or non-native plants

3. Install bird houses, bird feeders, and/or bat houses

4. Provide a food source for wildlife, especially

pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and birds!

Native Plant Society:

http://www.npsnj.org/

Goal: Add natural areas with native plants that attract pollinators.

EDUCATION & OUTREACH

Share your at-home efforts with friends, family and neighbors

Volunteer with local environmental groups

Attend cleanups, workshops, classes

Show off your sign!!!

Goal: Educate yourself & spread the River-Friendly message!

RESIDENT CERTIFICATION CRITERIA

COMPETITIONS

Municipal Competition

Based on # of certified residents

2016-2017

Town will be awarded at the

Watershed Annual Meeting as the

most “River-Friendly municipality”

Future: expanding to all of central NJ

COMPETITIONS

13

Resident of the Year

Highlights resident that goes above and beyond

in their at-home actions

-Certified resident in the watershed

-Submit essay

-Summary of environmental stewardship

-Site visit with Coordinator

-Implement at lease one new project focused on

one of these categories: stormwater

management, lawn & garden care, water

conservation or wildlife habitat enhancement.

REPLICABILITY

New program website and materials will bring consistency to the River-Friendly brand

Coordinators available to provide technical support and advice

We can coordinate any organization that is interested in developing their own programs

Cross-Promotion Example

Sustainable Jersey is nonprofit organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support

communities as they pursue sustainability programs

Cross

Promotion

CURRENT PARTICIPANTS

September 29, 2016

GARDEN CLUB CONSERVATION CHAIR MEETING 15

Schools:

Bridgewater Raritan High School, Far Hills Country Day School, Holland Brook School, Rutgers Prep, Van Derveer Elementary School, Three Bridges School, Whitehouse School, Princeton Day School, Princeton Junior School, Princeton Friends School, Montgomery High School, The Pennington School, & Chapin School

Businesses:

Sanofi-Aventis, Raritan Headwaters Association, Raritan Valley Community College, Duke Farms, Johnson & Johnson Information Technology, NJWSA Administration Building, Janssen, Ethicon, New Jersey American Water Raritan-Millstone Treatment Plant, Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, Meadow Lakes, Hightstown Housing Authority, Shiseido, Janssen- Titusville, Johnson & Johnson- Skillman, Lawrence Nature Center, & HomeCare Veterinary Clinic.

Golf Courses:

Neshanic Valley, Heron Glen, Warrenbrook, Spookybrook, Quail Brook, Green Knoll & Jasna Polana

September 29. 2016

GARDEN CLUB CONSERVATION CHAIR MEETING 16

RIVER-FRIENDLY CERTIFICATION: WHY?

-Protects natural resources and preserves New Jersey's native landscapes

-Reduces costs by decreasing use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides

-Lowers operating costs due to decreased use of equipment in no-mow zones and no-spray zones

-Creates healthier landscaping

-Maintains aesthetics and creates a positive working/school/home environment

-Decreases water use

-Increases natural habitat and attracts beneficial wildlife

-Reduces exposure to pesticides and other chemicals

-Promotes a positive relationship between the community and the participant

Interested participants apply through application found online (thewatershed.org).

After application has been submitted, Coordinator will meet with participant at their site.

From this meeting, Coordinator will introduce baseline standards and review timeline.

Participant begins documentation process and selects site-specific projects.

After all baseline standards and site-specific projects are completed, the Technical Advisory Committee will review and either agree to certify or ask for more.

Application

Meeting

Standards Review

Documentation & Projects

Certification

(TAC)

September 29, 2016

GARDEN CLUB CONSERVATION CHAIR MEETING 17

RIVER-FRIENDLY CERTIFICATION: HOW?