Ramapo River Watershed Conference at Ramapo College on Earth Day, April 22

For Immediate Release

Contact: Geoff Welch, geoffwelch@gmail.com


Mahwah, NJ--This year the annual Ramapo River Watershed Conference at Ramapo College welcomes Suzy Allman, creator of the popular site MyHarriman, and Dan Van Aps, noted Rutgers professor and water resource expert. Other speakers include US Environmental Protection representatives, environmental activists and college students who developed an environmental report on the proposed Pilgrim Pipeline.  

The event, which is free and open to the public, is at the Trustees Pavilion, Ramapo College, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ. 

The conference begins at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, April 22 with coffee and bagels and a greeting from Ramapo College President Peter Mercer at 10 a.m. The conference ends at 4 p.m. with a reception immediately following.

The program includes a presentation by Ramapo College Professor Chuck Stead on the progress of Ford Motor Company’s paint sludge cleanup along Torne Brook in Hillburn, NY. That will be followed by a presentation by EPA officials on “Community Engagement at Superfund Sites in North Jersey” with a focus on Pompton Lakes, Ringwood and the lower Passaic River.

Another point of view on the Pompton Lakes cleanup of Du Pont industrial contamination will be presented by Bill Wolfe of NJ PEER.

Suzy Allman will share another aspect of the region, talking about popular “Trail Towns along the Ramapo River.” Geoff Welch will present slides of historic Ramapo River bridges. And Nancy Gibbs will offer a multimedia show titled “A Sludge Dumping Song for the Ramaoughs/Ramapos featuring the Sludge Dumper Blues.”

Daniel Van Aps, who previously worked on the NJ Highlands Regional Master Plan, will speak about protecting water resources through county and municipal master plans. 

Kate Hudson of the Hudson River Keeper and Matt Smith of Food & Watch will address environmental issues of the proposed Pilgrim Pipeline, which would cut a path along the Ramapo River and through Highlands forests to carry crude and refined oil. 

An environmental impact statement on the proposed pipeline will be presented by members of the Ramapo College environmental studies capstone class. 

Emile DeVito, chief scientist at the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, will address additional threats to the New Jersey Highlands forests. 

For more information and reservations, contact GeoffWelch@gmail.com.

--Jan Barry