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Home > NJ Watersheds > Organization Profiles > Pequannock
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Watershed Size: 98 sq. mi. (Pequannock River is 25 miles in length)
Major Tributaries: Macopin River, Clinton Brook, Apshawa Brook, Pacock Brook
Location: Northwest New Jersey, WMA 3 , encompassing three counties (Passaic, Morris, Sussex) and 11 municipalities
Year Incorporated: 1991
Staff: 1 Full-Time
Board: 9
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Their mission is … "the preservation of the Pequannock River as a natural, recreational, aesthetic and water supply resource."
STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE
The Pequannock River Coalition (PRC) started as a coalition of stakeholder groups determined to protect the "heart of the Highlands" located in the upper reaches of New Jersey. Over the past seven years this organization has built momentum in the community through strong programs. Sold-out tours and hikes, creating a greenway, and a state and nationally recognized water temperature monitoring program is just the beginning for this organization. Viewed as a balanced and sizeable force in their watershed, PRC now receives funding from diverse sources to enhance and expand their programs.
Permanently Preserving Land:
 PRC is using a multifaceted approach to achieve their mission to preserve the pristine quality of the Pequannock River. The organization works towards permanent preservation of the stream corridor through the creation of a greenway. PRC is actively working to achieve its goals through a collaborative partnership with the Passaic River Coalition to negotiate easements and purchases. The acquisition of three parcels is in the works.
Advocating for Preservation: Utilizing their email alerts PRC members are informed and empowered to act by attending public hearings and meetings to support natural resource protection. A recent target of their effort was the Highlands Watershed Preservation Bill, which strictly limits growth in the "core" preservation area, including more than half the Pequannock River watershed. On August 10, 2004, Governor McGreevey signed the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act into law.
 Fostering Watershed Awareness:
PRC fosters awareness of the pristine Pequannock River through the creation of basic literature, taking citizens on hikes and tours to explore the watershed, hosting river clean ups and educating participants on topics such as nonpoint source pollution and erosion. Remarkably, in the 3 years of their tour program all tours have been sold out.
 Restoring River and Tributaries: PRC is working to restore water quantity, which is threatened by water supply impoundments reducing base flow to the Pequannock River. The health of this trout production stream reached wide spread concern when large fish kills occurred in 1995 and 2001 when water temperatures reached above 75 degrees. This sparked a call to action, leading to a multi-pronged tactic to restore the river. In 1997 PRC began a water temperature monitoring program stringent enough to be licensed by NJDEP and used in the Department's listing of (http://www.nj.gov/dep/wmm/sgwqt/wat/). The monitoring program received the USEPA's Environmental Quality Award and NJDEP's Environmental Excellence's awards in 2003. PRC also recommended a minimum base flow (12.3 cubic-foot-per-second) for the City of Newark's reservoir. This recommendation became a requirement when the NJDEP Bureau of Water Allocation renewed Newark's permit in 2004. PRC also conducts restoration projects on the Pequannock and its tributaries.
 Building the Ground Swell: PRC understands that an informed membership base is key to a long successful relationship. Through a 4-page bi-monthly newsletter, The Pequannock Post, and email list members are notified of upcoming struggles and victories as well as opportunities for volunteer participation. PRC continuously informs and organizes their membership via email alerts with articles, press releases and updates on development pressures. The newsletter also challenges readership intellect in the "Test Your Pequannock River Nature Knowledge" section, a short nature quiz. Readership is also informed of the past year's water monitoring efforts in the December issue.
The Pequannock River Coalition
P.O. Box 392
Newfoundland, NJ 07435
(973) 492 3212
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