Initiative to shed light on Raritan River issues

Academic and municipal leaders came together at the newly renovated Boyd Park to announce the Sustainable Raritan River Initiative, a new plan to raise awareness of the environmental problems, recreational possibilities and economic potential of the Raritan River.
Organized by Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences students and faculty, the plan aims to foster cooperation of all members of the local community. This will include representatives from state and local governments.
The goal of the initiative is to motivate municipal, business and community leaders to become more aware of the environmental challenges facing the Raritan, as well as the potential it has for recreation and economic development.
Their first public event will be the Raritan River Collaborative’s Inaugural Fall Float at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, in which kayakers and canoers will paddle six miles on the Raritan from Piscataway to the Rutgers Boathouse at Boyd Park in the city.
“The goal here is to recover from over a century of industrial growth,” said Judy Shaw, senior program associate at the Bloustein School’s National Center for Neighborhood and Brownfields Redevelopment and project manager for the initiative. “Our challenge is to simultaneously protect the resource and redevelop this regional asset to ensure its sustained value into the future.”
There are several environmental factors that are hindering progress along the Raritan. The fish and shellfish in the river are in danger due to the high nitrogen levels present in runoff water, Shaw said. There are more than 130 polluted areas and more than 20 federal Superfund sites near the Raritan River.
Accessibility is also an issue, with only 10 access points along the lower stretch of the river, she said. This area is home to more 750,000 residents.
Bill Schultz, Raritan Riverkeeper, is a conservation advocate and showed his support  at yesterday’s event.
“The river is greatly underappreciated,” Schultz said. “Even local school kids around here don’t understand anything about the river. They don’t even know the river’s here.”
The best thing the Raritan can offer, other than supplying water, is recreation, Schultz said. A solid recreation base makes for a happier community.
“I have been working on the Raritan River Initiative ... in the belief that planning should incorporate environmental and public recreation areas,” said Jessica Ferrer, a Bloustein School graduate student.
She said her interest is in public access to the Raritan and hopes this weekend’s events will help people become more familiar with the river and recognize where its access points are.
“You see the river while you’re driving by, but you’re not necessarily sure where you can get down to it and whether or not it’s even safe,” Ferrer said.
She said the paddling event will hopefully inform the public that it is safe.
“It is fairly shallow and a mild stretch of river,” Ferrer said. “This is not whitewater by any means.”