Cumberland County Improvement Authority

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 4, 2008

CUMBERLAND COUNTY WELCOMES NEW WATERSHED AMBASSADOR

MILLVILLE, NJ: The Cumberland County Improvement Authority is again proud to be a host location for the New Jersey Watershed Ambassador Program. The program is a community-oriented AmeriCorps Environmental Program coordinated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and is designed to raise awareness about watershed issues in New Jersey.

“We are very pleased to be a host location for the Watershed Ambassadors Program for the sixth consecutive year,” said Cumberland County Improvement Authority Executive Director, Steven R. Wymbs. “The Ambassador’s Program works with all sectors of the community to improve the quality of New Jersey’s waterways. This year’s Ambassador, Jonathan Shaffer, will work with the citizens of Cumberland County to nurture community-based environmental activities and help residents to make informed decisions regarding their watershed. Jon comes to us with a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a minor in Anthropology from the University of Connecticut. He is planning to attend graduate school to study Marine Biology.”

“The Ambassador’s Program allows citizens to be involved in the process of studying our waterways,” said Improvement Authority Board Recycling Committee Chairperson, Virginia Curliss. Volunteers are able to work with the local Ambassadors to collect data which is then used by the Department of Environmental Protection when prioritizing watershed restoration projects. Watershed Ambassadors are also available to make presentations to the community. The interactive presentation provides educational information about watershed issues and enables those interested to get involved.”

“Watershed Ambassadors monitor the community’s rivers and other waterways through River and Biological Assessment Teams, which are volunteer monitoring programs,” said Dennis DeMatte, Jr., Cumberland County Recycling Coordinator. “Jon will train community volunteers in these two techniques, which allow community members to assess the health of their waterways. The teams monitor the waterways through visual assessment techniques, and biological surveys. The volunteers will learn about their local watersheds and communities while gaining valuable skills in research, observation, and organizing data.”

“I am thrilled to have been chosen for this project,” Shaffer said. “I look forward to working with the Improvement Authority in their efforts to educate the community on issues related to watersheds and the effect non-point source pollution has on the environment. I am also available as a free resource to perform presentations for schools and community groups to promote watershed awareness.”

“On behalf of the Improvement Authority Board, Administration, and Staff, I would like to welcome and thank Jonathan for his participation and interest in the program,” Wymbs concluded. “We are all looking forward to another successful year.”
For more information on the Watershed Ambassadors Program or other recycling programs, please contact the Cumberland County Improvement Authority at 825-3700.

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For more information about this press release, please contact Dennis DeMatte, Jr. at 825-3700.