The Lower Passaic & Saddle River Alliance

Thomas Pietrykoski(1), Peyton Baker(2), Michele Bakacs(3)

(1) Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners, 600 Wilson Avenue, Newark, NJ 07105 (973) 817-5735, 
(973) 817-5709 TPietrykoski@PVSC.COM

(2) County of Passaic Department of Health, 317 Pennsylvania Avenue, Paterson, New Jersey 07503 
(973) 881-4396, (973) 225-0222 pbaker@passaiccountynj.org

(3) NJ DEP Division of Watershed Management, PO Box 418 401 East State Street, Trenton, NJ 08625 (609)292-9247, (609) 777-1282 michele.bakacs@dep.state.nj.us

The Alliance was initiated as the WMA 4 Public Advisory Committee (WMA 4 PAC) five years ago by the NJDEP to assist Division of Watershed Management staff in identifying water quality issues, implementing Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and providing public outreach and educational programs in the Lower Passaic Watershed.  Since its inception, the WMA 4 PAC has dismissed long held perceptions of urban waterways being “too far gone” for reclamation and restoration and has focused on urban water quality protection in northeastern New Jersey. 

In the Spring of 2005, the WMA 4 PAC changed their name to the Lower Passaic & Saddle River Alliance in order to better communicate its mission and geographic focus.  The goals of the Alliance are to work with its partner organizations to identify and eliminate sources of pollution, improve public access and reconnect communities to the River and to change their often negative perceptions of this valuable public resource.  Alliance members are volunteers and although there exists no dedicated funding, the Alliance has grown to include over 30 municipalities, community groups, businesses, government agencies and local citizens dedicated to reclaiming and restoring the Lower Passaic Watershed. 

The Alliance is focused on helping reconnect local citizens to the Passaic River by experience the River in their own communities.  We do this by helping local citizens become River stewards and adopt stream segments, by organizing canoe and kayak events and organizing River cleanup activities.  The Alliance’s Education and Outreach Program fosters communication between watershed residents by maintaining a listserv where members can learn about and discuss current social and environmental issues affecting the Lower Passaic.  Our website has a calendar of events informing residents of local workshops, trainings, cleanups and nature programs within the watershed.