Nine individuals and organizations received Sustainable Raritan River Awards at the 7th Annual Sustainable Raritan Conference and Awards Ceremony at Rutgers’ Douglass Student Center on Friday, June 12, 2015.
Each year at its Annual Conference, the Sustainable Raritan River Collaborative gives awards to recognize outstanding achievement in efforts to revitalize, restore and protect the Raritan resources and promote the area as a premiere place to live, work and raise a family.
The Collaborative established the Sustainable Raritan Awards in 2010 to promote innovation and energize local efforts to restore and protect the rivers, streams and habitat of the Raritan River and Bay. There were originally six categories of awards: Government Innovation, Leadership, Public Access, Public Education, Remediation and Redevelopment, and Stewardship. Due to the breadth of nominees, additional awards have been added over the years. This year, efforts in Non-profit Innovation and Sustainable Business were also recognized. The awards have highlighted extraordinary accomplishments and inspired other groups across the watershed to achieve comparable levels of excellence; 2015 was no exception.
“This year’s honorees really showcase how individuals, organizations and businesses can all help protect and improve the health of the Raritan River and Raritan Bay,” said Debbie Mans, Baykeeper and Executive Director, NY/NJ Baykeeper. “So many people use these local waterways to swim, fish and kayak, it is important to make sure that they are clean and accessible to all.”
This year’s recipients are as follows:
- Government Innovation Award: SCAPE/Landscape Architecture PLLC, Rebuild by Design “Living Breakwater” Project
- Leadership Award: Clyde MacKenzie, NOAA Fisheries Science Center
- Leadership Award: Amy Soli, Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association
- Non-Profit Innovation Award: Heather Fenyk, Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership
- Public Access Award: New Jersey Conservation Foundation
- Public Education Award: James Rokosny – Raritan River Week
- Remediation and Redevelopment Award: Duke Farm
- Stewardship Award: Bayshore Regional Watershed Council
- Sustainable Business Award: Somerset County Business Partnership – Sustainable Somerset Committee
The Awards Committee for this year’s awards included, Michael Catania, Executive Director of the Duke Farms Foundation, William Kibler, Director of Policy for the Raritan Headwaters Association, and Debbie Mans, Baykeeper and Executive Director of the NY/NJ Baykeeper. All three of the organizations that they represent are members of the Collaborative. Michael and Debbie also serve on the Steering Committee for the Sustainable Raritan River Initiative.
Bill Kibler, Director of Policy for the Raritan Headwaters Association and a member of the Awards Committee noted, “We had an incredibly impressive group of nominations to consider this year. The accomplishments of the award winners and the nominees reflect great credit on all the members of the Sustainable Raritan Collaborative.”
To learn more about the Sustainable Raritan Awards and the accomplishments of this year’s recipients, click on the Collaborative link and then on the Awards link.