Bill Koch, recently retired from a 34-year stint as refuge manager at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, will be the guest of honor at this year's Gala Celebration on October 29.

The Great Swamp Watershed Association's 2014 Gala Celebration will take place on October 29 at the Westin Governor Morris in Morristown, NJ!

With more than 300 people expected to attend, the gala represents this year's largest gathering of advocates and boosters supporting the protection of water and land in New Jersey's Great Swamp region. Whether you live, work, or play in this special corner of the state, you are welcome to come and enjoy this evening of celebration. Festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. and will include a cocktail hour, a dinner banquet, and an expansive silent auction.

U.S. Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11), a longtime supporter of Great Swamp preservation efforts, will serve as the honorary chair of this year's event. Under his aegis, the gala will honor the 43-year career of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Refuge Manager Bill Koch.

"I am delighted to be part of this year's Gala Celebration honoring Bill Koch," said Congressman Frelinghuysen. "His love for the Great Swamp, his fellow refuge employees, and the many volunteers has been a great mark of his service over his entire career. His stewardship at the Great Swamp will serve as a model for Wildlife Refuge managers across the country for many years to come."

Koch recently retired from a 34-year stint as manager of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge where he won...

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Seaton Hackney Stables (Loantaka Brook Reservation)
The three-year, $300,000 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) 319 grant for stormwater improvements at Seaton Hackney Stables (Morris Township) concluded this summer. Horses have all been moved a significant distance away from Loantaka Brook, and pastures are now drier and more useable.

The vegetated area protecting the brook from stormwater runoff has been...

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An aerial shot of Seaton Hackney Stables. Hundreds of newly planted trees are visible within the enhanced buffer area on the right side of the photo. This vegetation will help protect and improve water quality along Loantaka Brook. Credit: G. Scully

On September 3, 2014, members of GSWA's staff and Board of Trustees attended a ceremony at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964.

Great Swamp N.W.R. was the first unit under the U.S. Department of the Interior to receive federal wilderness status when president Lyndon B. Johnson signed the legislation into law 50 years ago.

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On Wednesday, September 17, 2014, staff members and volunteers from GSWA and NY/NJ Baykeeper met at North Pulaski Park in Passaic, NJ, for a trash cleanup day along the banks of the Passaic River.

Currently, GSWA is collaborating with Baykeeper on a bacteria monitoring project along the Passaic River. This service event not only provided an opportunity for staff members from both organizations to get to know one another, it also helped GSWA staffers better understand what happens to water leaving the Great Swamp and flowing downstream to Newark Bay.

From Echoes-Sentinel: Echoes-Sentinel Staff Writer Mike Condon outlines the festivities that took place at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge merking the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964. Particular attention is given to the impact that the Swamp's fereal wilderness status has had on Harding Township.

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From TAPintoChatham: Highlights from the address delivered by U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. Jewell was the keynote speaker at a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964 help at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge on September 3, 2014.

From Star-Ledger: In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964, Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) offers a synopsis of the impact that efforts to save and preserve New Jersey's Great Swamp have had on the our state and the nation as a whole.

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In This Issue

Do you think we're doing a good job of protecting the waters and the land of the Great Swamp Watershed? If so, then please help us continue our work by sending in your gift of support right now!

10:30AM-Noon. Parents can hang back and let the kids lead the way during this kid-centric day hike. In the spirit of Columbus Day, staff nature-nut Kelly Martin will be armed with magnifying glasses, binoculars, nets, and more to teach aspiring explorers about wildlife in the Great Swamp region, and how to find it! Recommended for kids 6 to 10 years old.

8AM-9:30AM. When it pours, it stores! Learn how to build and install your own rain barrel. Use it to capture and store the rain running through your home's downspout and you'll routinely have 55 gallons of free water to use around your property. GSWA will walk you through the simple construction process. Cost: $75/rain barrel kit.

6PM-9:30PM. GSWA celebrates its 33rd year of service to the environment and local communities in New Jersey's Great Swamp Watershed region. Please join us at the Westin Governor Morris in Morristown as we honor Bill Koch, former manager and project leader at the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Gala festivities will include our annual silent auction, a cocktail hour, dinner, and presentations.

8AM-9:30AM. Thom Almendinger, director of stewardship at the Duke Farm Foundation will stop by to teach us about some of the innovative approaches to land stewardship being implemented at Duke Farms in Hillsborough, NJ. Like many property owners, land managers at Duke Farms must address the effects that historical land use-particularly agriculture- have had on the current landscape. Learn what Duke Farms is doing to address these issues and take home some ideas for your own property..