Welcome to the web site to

Restore the East Branch of the Rahway River in
South Orange and Maplewood, New Jersey

Dedicated to restoring the beauty and
ecological and recreational value of the River.

Contact information:
Phone 973-313-1218
email kirkrbarrett@yahoo.com
http://www.restorerahwayriver.homestead.com

LATEST INFO 

4/20/2004: US Reps. Pascrell and Payne work to secure 400,000$ in federal funding for Rahway River Rehabilitation Project.  Star ledger story.  Story of Village's web site. 
Click here to email a thank you to Rep. Pascrell. 

Riverfest/River Cleanup, Saturday, June 12 2004.  Clean up starting at 10:00 am; meet by pool house. Other  activities planned: bocce tournament, volleyball, a fishing derby, a bike tour and outdoor concert.  Rain date is Saturday, June 19th.

LINKS

• Proposed conceptual plan for the River Corridor, by Recreation Master Plan committee and Jonathan Felsman
• Aerial photo and USGS quadrangle of the River corridor through South Orange
• Interactive street map of the area   
• Interactive map of all of New Jersey, from NJ DEP
• In 2001, the State Department of Environmental Protection began funding a project to develop a plan for  Watershed Management Area #7 (WMA7), which includes the Rahway River. Go to the WMA7 web site.
• Description of WMA7
• Map of the Rahway River watershed
• Information on the watershed from USEPA
• Map of land use in the Rahway River watershed ;  metadata
• Current and historical flow rate data of the Rahway River in Springfield, NJ
• Essex County flood warning network (gage #6229 on east branch in Maplewood, ~1 mile south of South Orange Ave.; note that as of 4/9/03, this gage is incorrectly located on the map at this target page)

Archived information -- River Rehab Project

(Reverse chronological order)

4/3/2003: The Township of South Orange Village is requesting qualifications from experienced firms or teams to prepare a Concept Design and Master Plan for improvements to the corridor along the East Branch of the Rahway River.  Click for details

November 2002: Representatives of Main Street South Orange have developed a proposal calling for rehabilitation of the river corridor through Meadowlands Park to South Orange Avenue.  The goals of proposed project are to improve the ecological, recreational and aesthetic value of the presently neglected East Branch of the Rahway River and its adjacent lands, and to establish the River as an educational resource for the adjacent Middle School.    Long-term goals include extending the improvements through Waterlands Park and the eventual development of continuous pedestrian and bicycle pathway from Meadowland Park to Memorial Park in Maplewood.   The proposal will be presented to the Village Board of Trustees at their December 9th meeting.  

More info: 

• Press release about the proposal -- text only
• Press release about the proposal with graphics (PDF file, - 400kB)
• Entire proposal (PDF file, ~1MB)

Other Archived information (River Cleanup)

(Reverse chronological order)

MAKE A SPLASH PICK UP SOME TRASH
The 4th Annual South Orange River Clean-Up
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2003 10:30 AM TO 2PM (rain date June 14)
Please help us clean up the river and make it something to be proud of.
Meet at the footbridge between the Pool and the Middle School in Meadowlands Park.
Be sure to bring boots, gloves, rakes if you have them and enthusiasm.
We'll provide trash bags & refreshments

River Cleanup is sponsored by
MAIN STREET SOUTH ORANGE, INC. 
Montrose Park Historic District Association
Newstead Association
Township of South Orange Village
Coalition to Preserve South Orange
 

Special thanks to:
Rapid Print
Bunny's Pizzeria
Dunkin Donuts
Home Depot

River Clean Up 2002 on Saturday June 8th was a big success, click here to read the press release and look at photos

River Cleanup 2001

Was a great success, even though we were rained out on our first attempt.  The weather was beautiful on our second try on June 9th, and over 60 people turned out.  Thanks to everyone who helped!  And to the sponsors,  MAIN STREET SOUTH ORANGE, INC.; Montrose Park Historic District Association; Newstead Association; Coalition to Preserve South Orange; Township of South Orange Village.
Read the press release

RIVER RESTORATION WALK AND TALK, Tuesday, July 10th, 2001 6:30pm

Walk the East Branch of the Rahway River in South Orange NJ with stream restoration specialist Wendi Goldsmith, President and Founder, of The Bioengineering Group, Inc. of Salem, Massachusetts (www.bioengineering.com) - Tuesday, July 10th, 6:30pm. The field visit is open to everyone to discuss challenges and opportunities related to urban stream restoration with Ms. Goldsmith and other participants. Meet at Mead St. and Meadowbrook lane in South Orange NJ  (click for a map).

Following the field visit at 7:45, she will be giving a presentation on "Stormwater Management and Stream Stabilization for Healthy Watersheds and Waterways", sponsored by the South Orange Environmental Commission and open to the public at the Baird Center on Mead St. For details, visit www.restorerahwayriver.homestead.com or contact Kirk Barrett at 973-313-1218 or kirkbarrett@bigfoot.com

A more formal lecture by Ms. Goldsmith with a reception following is being held Tuesday afternoon at Rutgers University in Newark.  Click here for more information.

River Cleanup 2000: Young and Old Turnout For Successful Clean Up Of Rahway River in South Orange, June 3,2000

• Read a participant's account
• See a picture of the crew and their bounty