Central Jersey Stream Team
Central Jersey Stream Team

November 10, 2018 - Columbia Lake Cleanup

Rescheduled from October 27th, 2018

 

Please join CJST for our first cleanup in Warren County as we partner with The Nature Conservancy and local groups on a watershed wide cleanup of the Paulinskill River.  CJST will be focusing on the former lakebed of Columbia Lake which was exposed several months ago as part of the Columbia Dam removal project.  It's been underwater for over 100 years so the lakebed is loaded with tires and other trash!  Some volunteers will be wading in to the river to pull out trash from the channel.  If you would like to go in the water, please bring tall boots or waders, or wear some old sneakers that can get wet and dirty! (But remember it will be November!)  Of course there is plenty of opportunity to clean along the banks and on the lakebed for those who don't want to go in the water.  We will also need help moving the junk from the river and lakebed to the disposal area.  We hope that many of our regular volunteers will make the trip and we expect to welcome many new volunteers!

The event begins at 10:00 AM and will end around 1:00 PM.  We will meet at the former boat launch within the Columbia Wildlife Management Area.  Use 11 Warrington Road, Columbia, NJ as the closest address (if coming from Route 80, it is the first right about 300 ft beyond the truss bridge).  Look for the Columbia WMA sign and follow the gravel drive to the end.  Look for the CJST truck and trailer.  You will be directed to park along the side of the gravel road so that other vehicles can pass.  Join us for sign up, instructions and safety and enjoy some breakfast on us! 


Please note that registration/RSVP is important so that we know what kind and how many supplies to bring and get a headcount for breakfast.  This is especially true if you are bringing a larger group.  The organizers are going to get t-shirts made so prompt registration will give us an accurate headcount.  There may be a separate webpage created by the organizers for registration.  We will keep you posted.

Volunteer Instructions:

1.  Bring along your family and friends! It's going to be a really fun and great day! The more junk we find the more rewarding the experience!

2. Wear sturdy footwear and clothing you don't mind getting dirty or wet!  Bring waders if you have them and want to get in the water.  And dress for the weather!

 

We will provide garbage bags, work gloves, tools, and water for volunteers.

So please come on out and help the river! We look forward to restoring this small piece of the Paulinskill River watershed with you!

 

Please contact Jens Riedel at jens.riedel@cjstreamteam.org or 908 240-1346 if you have questions or if you plan on bringing a larger group.

 

September 8, 2018 -  Rahway River Community Cleanup

Please join CJST for our first official cleanup outside the Raritan watershed when we help our friends at the Rahway River Watershed Association clean a section of the river behind city hall and the library in Rahway.  This site is full of tires, shopping carts, and other junk and really needs a good cleaning.  This section of river is tidal so we're going to be chasing the low tide when the river bottom becomes accessible.  I won't sugarcoat it, this will be a wet and muddy one!  We will wade in to pull out trash using a few boats for transport.  Please bring tall boots or waders, or wear some old sneakers that can get wet and dirty!  Of course there is plenty of opportunity to clean along the banks for those who don't want to go in the water.  The water team will also need help moving the junk from the river to the disposal area.  Rahway DPW will be handling trash disposal.  We hope that many of our regular volunteers will make the trip and we expect to welcome many new volunteers!

The event begins at 11:00 AM and will end around 2:00 PM.  Please meet next to the library at 2 City Hall Plaza in Rahway.  There is plenty of parking.  Look for the CJST truck and trailer.  Join us for sign up, instructions and safety and enjoy some food for volunteers after the the cleanup sponsored by the Rahway Public Library!  So we can have some solid cleaning time before the tide comes back in, we will not provide the usual breakfast bagels but we will have some snacks available.


Please note that registration/RSVP is important so that we know what kind and how many supplies to bring and get a headcount for lunch.  This is especially true if you are bringing a larger group.

Volunteer Instructions:

1.  Bring along your family and friends! It's going to be a really fun and great day! The more junk we find the more rewarding the experience!

2. Wear sturdy footwear and clothing you don't mind getting dirty or wet!  Bring waders if you have them and want to get in the water.  And dress for the weather!  And bring a change of shoes!

 

We will provide garbage bags, work gloves, tools, and water for volunteers.

So please come on out and help the river! We look forward to restoring this small piece of the Rahway wathershed with you!

 

Please contact Jens Riedel at jens.riedel@cjstreamteam.org or 908 240-1346 if you have questions or if you plan on bringing a larger group.

 

August 18, 2018 - Divide &  Conquer! - South Branch Cleanup

*Due to weather and river conditions, this cleanup changed to land based only at the COnfluence and at Blackpoint.* 
 
Since Mother Nature didn't cooperate for our July cleanup, we're going to try this section again.  We'll re-visit some of the inaugural stretches of the South Branch that started the organization in 2013. We'll be dividing into two teams for this cleanup so we can get a longer river section done. So we invite all our volunteers and friend to come out for a morning of fun and exercise pulling out tires and whatever else we may find!
 
The event begins at 8:00 AM. Please meet at the pull off on Old York Road next to the bridge crossing the North Branch. Use 529 Old York Road, Branchburg, NJ 08876 as the closest address. Look for the CJST truck and trailers. Join us for sign up, instructions and safety and enjoy some breakfast on us! From here, we will split into two teams and shuttle to the starting points in Neshanic Station and at Clawson Avenue in Hillsborough. This will be a mostly in-river event and you will get wet. Due to heavy vegetation, any land cleanup would be limited. Volunteers who don't want to get wet can assist the river team with emptying boats and shuttling volunteers. We encourage volunteers to bring their own canoes or flat bottom boats if they have them.
 
There is a chance that the meet up location may change to Neshanic Station if we can get access approval. We will update this page and notify all volunteers who sign up and provide their email. We also encourge volnteers to follow us on Facebook for updates.
 
Please note that registration/RSVP is important so that we know what kind and how many supplies and food to bring. This is especially true if you are bringing a larger group.
 
Volunteer Instructions:
 
1. Bring along your family and friends! It's going to be a really fun and great day! The more junk we find the more rewarding the experience!
 
2. Wear sturdy footwear (closed toes are recommended) and clothing you don't mind getting dirty and wet! We will be walking in the river most of the time in waist high water or less but there are some deeper sections. Life vests will be provided. Hats and sunscreen are recommended. Keep in ind that there will also be sections with thick aquatic vegetation although these can generally be bypassed.
 
We will provide garbage bags, work gloves, tools, breakfast, and water for volunteers.
 
So please come on out and help the river! We look forward to restoring this small piece of the Raritan wathershed with you!
 
Please contact Jens Riedel at jens.riedel@cjstreamteam.org or 908 240-1346 if you have questions or if you plan on bringing a larger group.

 

July 22, 2018 - Sick & Tired - South Branch Cleanup

*Due to weather and river conditions, this cleanup will be changing to land based only.  We won't be going out with the boats but may still have the opportunity to wade in.*

 

Please join CJST as we re-visit some of the inaugural stretches of the South Branch that started the organization in 2013.  The title of the event reflects our (sometimes) frustration when we re-visit sections of river that we have cleaned before and still find trash.  But we have come to understand that due to shifting sediments, flooding, or on-going dumping, there will always be something to do.  Fortunately, the amount of trash we find is noticeably less.  So we invite all our volunteers and friend to come out for a morning of fun and exercise pulling out tires and whatever else we may find!


The event begins at 8:00 AM.  Please meet at the pull off on Old York Road next to the bridge crossing the North Branch.  Use 529 Old York Road, Branchburg, NJ 08876 as the closest address.  Look for the CJST truck and trailers.  Join us for sign up, instructions and safety and enjoy some breakfast on us!  From here, we will split into two teams and shuttle to the starting points in Neshanic Station and at Clawson Avenue in Hillsborough.  This will be a mostly in-river event and you will get wet.  Due to heavy vegetation, any land cleanup would be limited.  Volunteers who don't want to get wet can assist the river team with emptying boats and shuttling volunteers.  We encourage volunteers to bring their own canoes or flat bottom boats if they have them. 

 

There is a chance that the meet up location may change to Neshanic Station if we can get access approval.  We will update this page and notify all volunteers who sign up and provide their email.  We also encourge volnteers to follow us on Facebook for updates.


Please note that registration/RSVP is important so that we know what kind and how many supplies and food to bring.  This is especially true if you are bringing a larger group.

Volunteer Instructions:

1.  Bring along your family and friends! It's going to be a really fun and great day! The more junk we find the more rewarding the experience!

2. Wear sturdy footwear (closed toes are recommended) and clothing you don't mind getting dirty and wet!  We will be walking in the river most of the time in waist high water or less but there are some deeper sections.  Life vests will be provided.  Hats and sunscreen are recommended.  Keep in ind that there will also be sections with thick aquatic vegetation although these can generally be bypassed.

 

We will provide garbage bags, work gloves, tools, breakfast, and water for volunteers.

So please come on out and help the river! We look forward to restoring this small piece of the Raritan wathershed with you!

 

Please contact Jens Riedel at jens.riedel@cjstreamteam.org or 908 240-1346 if you have questions or if you plan on bringing a larger group.

 

 June 23, 2018 - Rahway River Community Cleanup

*** Canceled due to Expected Thunderstorms *** 

Please join CJST for our first official cleanup outside the Raritan watershed when we help our friends at the Rahway River Watershed Association clean a section of the river behind city hall and the library in Rahway.  This site is full of tires, shopping carts, and other junk and really needs a good cleaning.  This section of river is tidal so we're going to be chasing the low tide when the river bottom becomes accessible.  I won't sugarcoat it, this will be a wet and muddy one!  We will wade in to pull out trash using a few boats for transport.  Please bring tall boots or waders, or wear some old sneakers that can get wet and dirty!  Of course there is plenty of opportunity to clean along the banks for those who don't want to go in the water.  THe water team will also need help moving the junk from the river to the disposal area.  Rahway DPW will be handling trash disposal.  We hope that many of our regular volunteers will make the trip and we expect to welcome many new volunteers!

The event begins at 8:00 AM and will end around 12:00 PM.  Please meet next to the library at 2 City Hall Plaza in Rahway.  There is plenty of parking.  Look for the CJST trailer.  Join us for sign up, instructions and safety and enjoy lunch for volunteers after the the cleanup sponsored by the Rahway Public Library!  So we can have some solid cleaning time before the tide comes back in, we will not provide the usual breakfast bagels but we will have some snacks available.


Please note that registration/RSVP is important so that we know what kind and how many supplies to bring and get a headcount for lunch.  This is especially true if you are bringing a larger group.

Volunteer Instructions:

1.  Bring along your family and friends! It's going to be a really fun and great day! The more junk we find the more rewarding the experience!

2. Wear sturdy footwear and clothing you don't mind getting dirty or wet!  Bring waders if you have them and want to get in the water.  And dress for the weather!  And bring a change of shoes!

 

We will provide garbage bags, work gloves, tools, and water for volunteers.

So please come on out and help the river! We look forward to restoring this small piece of the Rahway wathershed with you!

 

Please contact Jens Riedel at jens.riedel@cjstreamteam.org or 908 240-1346 if you have questions or if you plan on bringing a larger group.

 

May 19, 2018 - Green Brook Park Cleanup in Plainfield

Please join CJST for our next cleanup in Green Brook Park in Plainfield and North Plainfield.  The Green Brook flows through this park after passing through the highly urbanized areas of Plainfield where it picks up a lot of litter and dumped trash.  It's really in need of some TLC.  We will be partnering with Cathy Cole, a local resident who organized a recent cleanup here.  With a handful of volunteers, they were only able to make a small dent in the trash situation.  With a solid CJST crew we can make a bigger impact.  The stream here is knee deep or less in most places so there will be an opportunity to wade in to pull out trash.  Please bring tall boots or waders, or wear some old sneakers that can get wet!  Of course there is plenty of opportunity to clean along the banks for those who don't want to go in the water.  We will be working with Union County Parks who will handle trash disposal. 

The event begins at 9:00 AM on Park Drive between Clinton Avenue and West End Avenue in Plainfield north of Route 28 We will be closer to the CLinton Avenue side.  Park along the road or in the small lot.  Come on out and join us for sign up, instructions and safety...and enjoy some breakfast on us!


Please note that registration/RSVP is important so that we know what kind and how many supplies and refreshments to bring and set up.  This is especially true if you are bringing a larger group.

Volunteer Instructions:

1.  Bring along your family and friends! It's going to be a really fun and great day! The more junk we find the more rewarding the experience!

2. Wear sturdy footwear and clothing you don't mind getting dirty or wet!  Bring waders if you have them and want to get in the water.  And dress for the weather!

 

We will provide garbage bags, work gloves, tools, breakfast, and water for volunteers.

So come on out! We look forward to restoring this small piece of the wathershed with you!

 

Please contact Jens Riedel at jens.riedel@cjstreamteam.org or 908 240-1346 if you have questions or if you plan on bringing a larger group.

 

April 21, 2018 - Dump the Junk Too!  South Bound Brook Floodplain Cleanup!

Please join CJST for our next cleanup between the Raritan River and the Delaware & Raritan Canal in South Bound Brook.     This floodplain downstream of the Queen's Bridge between the river and the canal was used as a dump in the 1960s so there are a lot of old appliances and tires along with the usual trash that gets washed in during floods.  This area is part of the Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park and we will be partnering with the NJ Park Service who will dispose of the trash we collect.  We started cleaning at this site last May but there is still lots to do! 

The event begins at 9:00 AM at the parking area at Canal Park by Lock 11 (use 169 Canal Road, South Bound Brook, NJ 08880 as the closest address and look for the CJST truck and trailer).  This park is across from the South Bound Brook post office.  Additional parking is available along Canal Road.  Come on out and join us for sign up, instructions and safety...and enjoy some breakfast on us!

 

From the parking area, we will have to walk about half a mile to the cleanup spot.  Unfortunately there is no closer parking and access to the canal path will be limited.  It's a good warm-up!


Please note that registration/RSVP is important so that we know what kind and how many supplies and refreshments to bring and set up.  This is especially true if you are bringing a larger group.

Volunteer Instructions:

1.  Bring along your family and friends! It's going to be a really fun and great day! The more junk we find the more rewarding the experience!

2. Wear sturdy footwear and clothing you don't mind getting dirty!  And dress for the weather!

 

We will provide garbage bags, work gloves, tools, breakfast, and water for volunteers.

So come on out! We look forward to restoring this small piece of the wathershed with you!

 

Please contact Jens Riedel at jens.riedel@cjstreamteam.org or 908 240-1346 if you have questions or if you plan on bringing a larger group.

 

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