History:

The Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA) was incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization in 1992, committed to protecting and improving the quality of the Musconetcong River Watershed, including its natural and cultural resources, through public education and awareness programs, scientific research, promotion of sustainable land management practices, and community involvement. The region served encompasses the Musconetcong River watershed, a drainage area of 157.6 square miles in northwest New Jersey which includes portions of Morris, Hunterdon, Warren and Sussex counties, and all or parts of 25 municipalities. The Musconetcong River runs 42 miles from Lake Hopatcong to the Delaware River.

Each year we sponsor River Cleanups that involve hundreds of scouts, students and MWA members. Over the past decade, more than 30 tons of trash has been removed from the Musconetcong River and adjacent parks, roadsides and river accesses.

Beginning in 1992, the MWA has worked with the National Park Service, Heritage Conservancy and representatives from 17 municipalities to conduct the Wild and Scenic River Study. Working with other organization, MWA staff produced the Musconetcong Wild and Scenic Rivers Eligibility Report and worked with the Musconetcong Advisory Committee to complete a River Management Plan. Please click on the "Wild and Scenic" link for more details.

MWA is also responsible for active riparian restoration efforts along the Musconetcong River and its tributaries. MWA teamed with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Hackettstown High School students and M&M Mars Inc. to plant a natural buffer along a 1000' stretch of Bowers Brook, a native-trout tributary to the Musconetcong River that flows through the M&M Mars Inc. facility in Hackettstown. This seminal project provided protection to the brook while serving as a demonstration of vegetative river buffers to the community and to other businesses. We've also planted a riparian buffer project at our future River Resource Center property along the river in Asbury.

More recently MWA is leading an effort to remove the badly deteriorated Gruendyke Mill dam that partially blocks the Musconetcong immediately upstream from the Rt. 46 bridge at the border of Hackettstown and Mt. Olive Township. The Gruendyke Mill dam is one of many obsolete dams blocking the river. The removal of this dam is the first step in a long-term effort to restore the river's natural flow, improve water quality and enhance fish migration.