The Watershed Institute

Keeping water clean, safe and healthy is the heart of our mission. We work to protect and restore our water and natural environment in central New Jersey through conservation, advocacy, science, and education. Our staff includes policy advocates, scientists, land and water stewards, naturalists and educators. We speak out for water and environment, protect and restore sensitive habitats, test our waterways for pollution and inspire others to care for the natural world. We focus our work in the Stony Brook-Millstone and the adjacent part of the Central Delaware River Watersheds. From our nearly 1,000-acre Watershed Reserve in Hopewell to locations across the region, Watershed staff and volunteers work to protect and restore our natural habitats. The Reserve hosts the Watershed Center for Environmental Advocacy, Science and Education; the Kate Gorrie Butterfly House; the Honey Brook Organic Farm; 4-acre Wargo Pond and more than 10 miles of hiking trails. For nearly seven decades, The Watershed Institute has led the fight to preserve our region’s water and land. We engage local and state officials, urging them to strengthen environmental protections, improve planning and zoning, and make more informed decisions about our future. We work cooperatively with local towns and speak out against development proposals that would harm the environment and our quality of life. Across the region, we collect key data on the health of our streams and on other environmental factors. We distribute the information to residents and public officials, and work with them to address pollution of our water supplies and waterways. The Watershed Institute also serves more than 10,000 children, teens and adults through more than 300 programs and events each year. Our experts teach environmental science through NGSS, an inquiry-based, problem solving model, serving our Watershed Nature Camp, high school Watershed Academy, and school groups throughout the year.