Raritan River Initiatives
The Raritan River has a rich history, which includes strong ties to Rutgers University. A number of entities from across the university are collaborating to transform the Raritan Basin into an interactive field laboratory that enhances the student experience, encourages and supports transdisciplinary research, and addresses real-world concerns of regional stakeholders.
Sustainable Raritan River Initiative (SRRI)
Rutgers University launched the Sustainable Raritan River Initiative (“SRRI”) in 2009 to bring together concerned scientists, environmentalists, engineers, businesses, community leaders and governmental entities to craft an agenda that meets the goals of the U.S. Clean Water Act to restore and preserve New Jersey’s Raritan River, its tributaries and its bay.
The Initiative, a joint program of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy (EJB) and the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS), partners with other Rutgers schools, centers and programs to ensure the best contributions from the sciences, planning and policy. The Initiative conducts conferences and topical workshops, provides technical assistance, and develops anchor projects that raise the profile of the Raritan River. Jeanne Herb and Richard G. Lathrop, Jr., serve as co-leaders of the Sustainable Raritan River Initiative.
Rutgers Raritan River Consortium (R3C)
R3C is a collaborative effort at Rutgers University’s New Brunswick-Piscataway campus that recognizes the critical value of the Raritan and its environs to the social, economic and ecological integrity of the region that Rutgers calls home. Our mission is to utilize Rutgers’ proximity to the Raritan to inform university-based education, research and scholarship and to apply our efforts, in collaboration with Raritan partners, to advance improvements in regional planning, policy and decision-making that positively affect the ecology and economy of the Raritan region. Read more in the 2016 Public Announcement.
Johnson Family Chair in Water Resources and Watershed Ecology (JFC)
On December 15, 2015, the Rutgers Board of Governors appointed Richard G. Lathrop Jr., professor of environmental monitoring at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, as the inaugural holder of the Johnson Family Chair in Water Resources and Watershed Ecology.
Besides his teaching responsibilities, Lathrop, a professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, is the faculty director of the Rutgers Ecological Preserve. over 350 acres, the preserve features several streams that feed into the Raritan River and numerous public hiking and biking trails. He also directs the Grant F. Walton Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis, whose mission is to promote the development and application of geospatial information science and technology to address issues in the environment, natural resources and agriculture.
For more information, contact Rick Lathrop at lathrop@crssa.rutgers.edu or (848) 932-1580.
Resources & Updates
Rick Lathrop to hold new Johnson Family Chair and co-lead Sustainable Raritan River Initiative
The Rutgers Board of Governors has appointed Richard G. Lathrop Jr., professor of environmental monitoring at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, as the inaugural holder of the new Johnson Family Chair in Water Resources and Watershed Ecology. The...
South Branch Interactive Trail Map
Brayden Donnelly, a rising junior at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, has immersed himself in the Raritan River Water Trail Project through the 4-credit Raritan Scholar internship program taught by Cook College professor Daniel Van Abs. Working with Lauren Theis,...
Climate Resilient Green Infrastructure for the Raritan Basin
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Climate Resilient Green Infrastructure project will lay the foundation to reduce future flooding impacts from impervious surfaces, improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, and increase resiliency. Rutgers New...
Two States: One Bay – a bi-state testimonial video about the Raritan Bay
On June 12th, 2015, the New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program and the Sustainable Raritan River Initiative at Rutgers University co-produced a conference about the challenges and opportunities facing the bi-state waters of the Raritan Bay. To set the tone...
NY/NJ Baykeeper Pumpout Boat
Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook, and Raritan Bay all fall victim to pollution due to the large number of recreational boats resulting in sewage pollution which can cause oxygen depleting algae blooms, causing fish to die. To combat this harmful reality out on the water,...
“Raritan River Fish Passage and PIT Tagging Study” – Video
Lead by Dr. Olaf Jensen of Rutgers University and funded by the NJDEP Office of Natural Resource Restoration, a migratory fish passage study is being conducted at the Island Farm Weir (located at Raritan River Mile 22.0 near Bound Brook) to assess the passage...
Two States: One Bay — 7th Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony
Two States: One Bay A bi-state conversation about the future of the Raritan Bay 7th Annual Sustainable Raritan River Conference and Awards Ceremony Friday, June 12, 2015 Douglass Student Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey On Friday,...
7th Annual Sustainable Raritan River Conference
Two States: One Bay Friday, June 12, 2015 Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy Rutgers University Douglass Student Center, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 On Friday, June 12, 2015, more than 200 leading representatives from government, educational...
EVENT CANCELLED – A.J. Meerwald – NJ Official Tall Ship Returns to Perth Amboy
Event Cancelled! We are sorry to report that, due to mechanical problems, the A.J. Meerwald will not be coming to Perth Amboy this weekend. Contact the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions for any questions at (973) 539-7547 or www.anjec.org. (Photo of...