Rahway River Environmental Clean-up

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - New York District

On Saturday, May 3rd the New York District participated in an environmental clean-up of the North Branch of the Rahway River in Winfield Park and Clark, New Jersey. The event was organized by St. John the Apostle Cub Scout Pack #30. Joe Seebode, Harbor Program Manager for the Corps, and a leader with Pack 30 developed the logistics for this very successful effort.

Over 125 folks participated, including girl scouts, cub scouts, boy scouts, fishermen, local activists, citizens and four representatives of the Corps of Engineers. District Commander John O'Dowd brought along his daughter Katie. Sponsors came through with coffee, bagels, danish, donuts, cookies, bottled water, and juice boxes, as well as water bottles, coloring books, posters and T-shirts as giveaways for the participants. The team cleaned up over a one-mile stretch of the river through Rahway River Park. A link to some photos taken at the event is enclosed. An inventory of some of the major debris that was removed follows:

105 Garbage bags of floatable and small debris
13 Tires
2 Fire Extinguishers
5 Milk Crates
1 Propane Tank
1 Couch (dug out of the bank of the river)
2 Chairs
1 Air Conditioner (removed from the middle of the river)
3 pipes
1 Computer Monitor
2 Fences (including one piece of about 60 square feet that took
1/2 hour to be dug from the riverbank)
1 Wheel Barrow (dilapidated)
1 Tire axle (part)
1 Hockey Stick
1 Baseball Bat
1 Door

2 Barrels (or parts thereof)
2 Garbage cans
4 Garbage can lids
1 Table
1 Shovel
1 Rake
1 Hose
1 Backpack
1 Suitcase
1 Tricycle
1 Lawnmower (in pieces)
1 Bicycle Helmet
1 Electric Saw (engine)
1 Fishing Reel
1 Window frame
1 House gutter
1 Large piece of aluminum flashing

The event got good reviews from nearly everyone that participated, and everyone left feeling they made a positive impact on their community.

NOTE: FOR LARGER VIEW OF THE PHOTOS BELOW, SIMPLY CLICK ON THEM.






For questions regarding the Rahway River Environmental Clean-up, please email Public Affairs