Passaic River Coalition

Passaic River Basin

The Passaic River Watershed is an interdependent system of water retention, transportation and use formed by nature and adapted to human needs. This water falls as rain in the wilderness headwaters regions of the the Highlands of New York and New Jersey. It then flows through aquifers and rivers into reservoirs and wells to be used by people and industry in the downstream communities of the Lower Valley. The Passaic River moves through vast tracts of wetlands in the central basin, into the heavily urbanized lower valley and out to Newark Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Passaic River Coalition (PRC) is an organization that provides assistance and stewardship for the preservation and protection of over 1,000 miles of waterways. It was established in 1969 and incorporated in 1972.

They works towards positive results, improvements in land-water resource management, and public health issues by working as an advisor to citizens, other environmental organizations, governments, and businesses. They gather scientific data and convert it into informed policy.

An example is one of their objectives to dredge all 17 miles of the Lower Passaic River and Newark Bay in order to significantly improve water quality and ensure that the contaminants will not create problems for future generations. Aspart of this, they want to make sure that the dredged sediment will not be reburied in a Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) in Newark Bay. rather, a land based treatment facility should be built in the region that will decontaminate the dredged material and produce a safe and useful product.

They also want navigability to be taken into consideration when plans are developed to dredge the river. They envision a future where the river is used, particularly for recreational and commercial boating.

PRC has been involved in the creation of new surface supply systems such as the Monksville Reservoir and the development of three Water Supply Master Plans for New Jersey. PRC has assisted in plans to restore Greenwood Lake, a primary water source for northern New Jersey and is creating the overall restoration guide for the Lake. In 1980, PRC established the Ground Water Protection Committee, which obtained federal recognition for the Buried Valley Aquifer system of the central Passaic and published studies on its contamination and protection. They created a Well-Head Protection Program to keep groundwater hazards out of municipal wells.

In 1993, PRC created a Land Trust to acquire properties of ecological significance and unique landscape character for water resource protection. With a policy of offering fair market value, PRC has acquired nearly 1,000 acres of dedicated open space that will never be developed, but will become sites for passive recreation like hiking or birding, outdoor research areas for students and scientists, and places for threatened and endangered species to find sanctuary.

PRC relies on a dedicated Board of Trustees, professional staff, and volunteers. You can donate to them or become a member and help continue their efforts.