The award fuels local restoration efforts to protect the Passaic River which provides drinking water to over two million New Jersey residents

MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY - Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) proudly announced today that it has become the first environmental organization to receive a $100,000 grant from Impact100 Garden State at a June 10 reception. The award will provide funding to restore the ecosystem of Loantaka Brook in Morristown, a tributary to the 83-mile-long Passaic River from where over two million New Jersey residents get their drinking water.

Loantaka Brook is the most impaired stream within the Great Swamp watershed due to the heavy development which surrounds it, causing severe stormwater runoff, high road salt levels, and water pollution.

“This innovative program is the first step in restoring our beloved Loantaka Brook to a healthy stream,” said Sandra LaVigne, GSWA Director of Water Quality Programs. “With the funding from Impact100, GSWA will work with experts from Rutgers University to formulate and execute a strategic plan to restore the stream’s health for generations to come.”

GSWA was selected to receive one of Impact100 Garden State’s $100,000 grants from a field of more than 100 applicants. Impact100 Garden State grants are awarded based on a thorough evaluation of applications and a finalist vote by all Impact100 Garden State members, whose donations fund the grants each year. The partnership between GSWA

and Impact100 Garden State continues through the implementation process to support the program’s success.

"We are honored and excited to be the first environmental organization to receive an Impact award,” said Bill Kibler, GSWA Executive Director. “We deeply appreciate the members of Impact100 who demonstrated their commitment to clean water. They are making a crucial investment in the health and vitality of their communities."

Impact100 Garden State is a women-led, all-volunteer organization for collective giving. The group pools member donations to provide high-impact grants to nonprofits serving Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Union counties. Since 2013, Impact100 Garden State has awarded close to $4.5 million to area nonprofits.

“We’re delighted and proud to present this grant to Great Swamp Watershed Association, an outstanding organization that makes such a positive difference in our community,” said Impact100 Garden State President Celeste Campos. “As we celebrate our thirteenth year of grant-making, I continue to be amazed by the passion, creativity, and effectiveness of our nonprofit partners.”

To learn more about Great Swamp Watershed Association, visit GreatSwamp.org or email info@GreatSwamp.org. To learn more about Impact100 Garden State, visit www.impact100gardenstate.org or email info@impact100gardenstate.org.

This announcement comes in the midst of two major milestones for the organization. Established on March 31, 1981, GSWA celebrated 45 years as a premier environmental nonprofit dedicated to protecting local water resources and preserving the natural beauty of the region. Additionally, the organization's 73-acre Conservation Management Area (CMA) located on Tiger Lily Lane in Harding Township marks its 30th anniversary this year. GSWA is proud to celebrate three decades of transforming this critical sanctuary from an initial 18-acre acquisition into a thriving hub for ecological restoration, community education, and passive recreation.

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About the Great Swamp Watershed Association

Now in its 45th year, the Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and improving the water resources of the Passaic River region, from the Great Swamp headwaters to Newark Bay, for present and future generations. Through education, advocacy, science, land preservation, and stewardship, in collaboration with partners, we work to instill our communities with an awareness of water’s effect on health and the beauty of the environment, from its source in Mendham to Newark Bay. Each year, the organization educates over 3,000 students, monitors over 30 stream locations, and holds approximately 50 public events