The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association (Watershed) has received the “Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award” in recognition of the organization’s innovative new Watershed Center for Environmental Advocacy, Science and Education.
The Governor’s Award is the third prestigious award received by the Watershed this year. In April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented the organization with its “Environmental Champion Award” and, in October, the Watershed received the “Emerald Award” from the U.S. Green Building Council’s New Jersey Chapter.
Opened to the public in May of 2015, the new Watershed Center actively demonstrates ways to improve the management of energy and water. Located on the 930-acre Watershed Reserve in Hopewell Township, the Center provides a compelling platform from which the association advances its mission to protect water and the natural environment in central New Jersey. The new facility received LEED-Platinum certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.
Special features include: solar photovoltaic electricity generation; solar evacuated tube hot water, geothermal heating and cooling; green roof; rainwater capture for flushing toilets; onsite wetlands-based wastewater treatment; reduced use of pavement and lawns; rain gardens; stormwater wetlands and bioswales. The center features modern classrooms, a science laboratory, GIS (geographic information systems) computer training room, interactive exhibits and live animal displays, community meeting spaces and staff offices.
The Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award is the state’s premier environmental awards program for recognizing outstanding environmental performance, programs and projects in the state. The program has recognized 140 winners since 2000. The awards program is sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust and the New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology, in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.
For more information about the new Watershed Center in Pennington, visit www.thewatershed.org/watershed-center, call (609) 737-3735, or stop by Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm or Saturdays from 10am to 4pm 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington, NJ 08534.
Feature image: NJDEP Commissioner Bob Martin, SBMWA Development Director Jenny-Ann Kershner, Jim Waltman, Executive Director SBMWA, Mike Pisauro, SBMWA Policy Director, Jeff Hoagland, SBMWA Education Director , Erin Stretz, SBMWA Stream Watch, NJEIT Executive Director David Zimmer.
About the Watershed Association: The Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association is dedicated to keeping Central New Jersey’s water clean, safe and healthy. Founded in 1949, the Watershed Association protects and restores water and the environment through conservation, advocacy, science and education.
