Lame Duck Policy Update: Actions for EC’s and Your Town

Wednesday, April 8
7:00-8:00PM
Via Zoom Meeting

Click here to Register

As of January 2026, Food Waste Reduction, Invasive Species Management and Skip the Stuff are now laws!

Join us to learn what these new laws mean for your municipality and the practical steps your EC can take to support local implementation and community education.

Presenters include:

-Matthew Wasserman, Vice-President, NJ Composting Council

-Michael Van Clef, Stewardship Director, Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, Program Director, NJ Invasive Species Strike Team

-N. Dini Checko, Project Director, ANJEC

LEC Meetings are held the 1st Thursday of every month

Meetings will be held at the Livingston Senior/Community Center, 204 Hillside Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039

Conference Romm 116

View Meeting Calendar

Plant for Pollinators Webinar #4: The Extraordinary Caterpillar – Nature’s Tiniest Superhero!

Enjoy a special home-screening of The Extraordinary Caterpillar, a beautifully shot documentary that reveals the vital—and often overlooked—role caterpillars play in our ecosystems. Experience the incredible cinematography as the film follows experts Dr. Doug Tallamy and Sam Jaffe who highlight the incredible lives and roles caterpillars play in our yards. You’ll also learn simple steps you can take to create habitat in your own yard or community. This is a chance to see nature in a whole new light—and just in time to get the right plants to help bring these amazing creatures to your yards.

A Q&A session will follow the movie.

This event is free; a $10 donation is greatly appreciated to help offset the fees we pay to bring you expert speakers through our Plant for Pollinators program series.

Registration closes at 5 PM the day of each webinar.

Important — Zoom Link: A Zoom link will be emailed to registrants at 5:00pm the day before the webinar and again by 5:30pm day-of. Please add ifilippini@greatswamp.org to your email contacts to avoid it being sent to your spam folder.

If you don’t see it in your inbox or spam folder by 6pm the day of the webinar, please email ifilippini@greatswamp.org.

The webinar is recorded, and all registrants will receive the replay link within 2 business days of the end of the webinar. 

Mark your calendar: The 2026 Plant for Pollinators sale runs online April 1-21 with pickup at a wide variety of regional locations on May 2-3.

Plant for Pollinators - Plant Sale is Opens Today!

• Plant Sale Opens: April 1 at noon, 12:00 PM. CLICK HERE for the Plant Sale Order Form. (To Come)

• Before April 1, use the downloadable Interactive 2026 Native Plant Catalog to explore the Garden Kits, Individual Species and Additional Items that will be available, and the downloadable Printable Planning List to easily organize your thoughts while simplifying your ordering experience.

• Every plant in the program serves a purpose: providing critical habitat and food sources for pollinators. While our Plant – Pollinator Interactions highlights many of these beneficial relationships, the truth is, the connections between native plants, wildlife, and pollinators are virtually endless.

• Curious of the natural range of the plant species offered? Check out the range maps from bplant.org.

• Plant Sale Closes: April 21 at 5:00 PM

• Order Pickup: 2026 order pickups are on May 2/3, with plants distributed locally to your chosen partner-operated pickup location. At checkout, you’ll need to select one of our local sites to finalize your order. Please note that your selection cannot be changed after submission. Explore our 2026 Pickup Locations, available through our trusted 2026 native plant partners, and plan ahead! (Locations subject to change.)

Plant for Pollinators Webinar #3: Get Ready to Shop with GSWA’s Hazel England

The plant sale opens at noon, April 1.

What should you plant where–and what pollinators  will your plants attract?

Join GSWA’s Director of Education and Stewardship  for an in-depth look at the 43 native perennials on this year’s  list, including bulk and specialty groundcovers. Hazel will talk through five carefully curated kits suitable for  all types of yard conditions. She’ll  focus on site preparation and help you shop with the “right plant right place mindset.”

Webinar is free; suggested donation is $10.

Registration closes at 5 PM the day of each webinar. Important -- Zoom Link: A Zoom link will be emailed to registrants at 5:00pm the day before the webinar and again by 5:30pm day-of.

Please add ifilippini@greatswamp.org to your email contacts to avoid it being sent to your spam folder. If you don’t see it in your inbox or spam folder by 6pm the day of the webinar, please email ifilippini@greatswamp.org. The webinar is recorded, and all registrants will receive the replay link within 2 business days of the end of the webinar. 

Mark your calendar: The 2026 Plant for Pollinators sale runs online April 1-21 with pickup at a wide variety of regional locations on May 2-3.

Learn about NRDAR Process!

Dear Community Members and Partners,

The Federal Natural Resource Trustees for the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site—NOAA and the U.S. Department of the Interior—are excited to announce the launch of a new Restoration Project Submission Webportal.

We are looking for your input. This portal allows community members to suggest restoration ideas that will help shape a formal plan to restore natural resources in the following areas:

• Lower Passaic River & Hackensack River

• Newark Bay

• Arthur Kill & Kill van Kull

• Associated Watersheds

Please Join Us for a Public Meeting

We invite you to join us to learn more about the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) process, our restoration planning goals, and how to use the new webportal.

We will be hosting two sessions (one in-person and one virtual) to share information and answer your questions:

Virtual

March 25, 2026

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

GoToWebinar Registration

In-Person

March 31, 2026

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Kearny Town Hall, 402 Kearny Ave, Kearny, NJ

2026 Fundamentals for Effective Environmental Commissions Virtual Sessions

Tuesday, March 24, 7pm Wednesday, March 25th, 7pm Thursday, March 26th, 7pm

Join ANJEC staff and expert presenters for our annual Environmental Commission Training! This comprehensive training is designed to equip environmental commissioners with essential knowledge and practical tools to effectively serve their communities.

Register here!

Session Topics:

Tuesday, March 24th:

• Environmental Commission Powers & Responsibilities

• Insight from Somerville Environmental Commission on organizing and managing an effective environmental commission

Wednesday, March 25th:

• The Municipal Land Use Processes:

  • The Environmental Resource Inventory

  • The Municipal Master Plan

  • Municipal Ordinances

  • Development/Site Plan Review

Thursday, March 26th:

• Effective Communication strategies for Environmental Commissions

• Resources for Strong Advocacy Solutions

Registration:ANJEC Members, No charge to attend Non-Members: $35 for all sessions

Register Here!

What is Community Solar and how can I benefit?

Join us with Tracey Woods from Sustainable Jersey to learn more.

Community Solar saves you money on your utility bills!

Regulated by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) Community solar refers to local solar facilities shared by multiple community subscribers who receive credit on their electricity bills for their share of the power produced.

Come and find out more, ask questions and find out next steps.

Resources at:

Meet us in the Main Program Room at the Livingston Public Library.

2026 Fundamentals for Effective Environmental Commissions Virtual Sessions

Tuesday, March 24, 7pm Wednesday, March 25th, 7pm Thursday, March 26th, 7pm

Join ANJEC staff and expert presenters for our annual Environmental Commission Training! This comprehensive training is designed to equip environmental commissioners with essential knowledge and practical tools to effectively serve their communities.

Register here!

Session Topics:

Tuesday, March 24th:

• Environmental Commission Powers & Responsibilities

• Insight from Somerville Environmental Commission on organizing and managing an effective environmental commission

Wednesday, March 25th:

• The Municipal Land Use Processes:

  • The Environmental Resource Inventory

  • The Municipal Master Plan

  • Municipal Ordinances

  • Development/Site Plan Review

Thursday, March 26th:

• Effective Communication strategies for Environmental Commissions

• Resources for Strong Advocacy Solutions

Registration:ANJEC Members, No charge to attend Non-Members: $35 for all sessions

Register Here!

Learn about NRDAR Process!

Dear Community Members and Partners,

The Federal Natural Resource Trustees for the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site—NOAA and the U.S. Department of the Interior—are excited to announce the launch of a new Restoration Project Submission Webportal.

We are looking for your input. This portal allows community members to suggest restoration ideas that will help shape a formal plan to restore natural resources in the following areas:

• Lower Passaic River & Hackensack River

• Newark Bay

• Arthur Kill & Kill van Kull

• Associated Watersheds

Please Join Us for a Public Meeting

We invite you to join us to learn more about the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) process, our restoration planning goals, and how to use the new webportal.

We will be hosting two sessions (one in-person and one virtual) to share information and answer your questions:

Virtual

March 25, 2026

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

GoToWebinar Registration

In-Person

March 31, 2026

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Kearny Town Hall, 402 Kearny Ave, Kearny, NJ

2026 Fundamentals for Effective Environmental Commissions Virtual Sessions

Tuesday, March 24, 7pm Wednesday, March 25th, 7pm Thursday, March 26th, 7pm

Join ANJEC staff and expert presenters for our annual Environmental Commission Training! This comprehensive training is designed to equip environmental commissioners with essential knowledge and practical tools to effectively serve their communities.

Register here!

Session Topics:

Tuesday, March 24th:

• Environmental Commission Powers & Responsibilities

• Insight from Somerville Environmental Commission on organizing and managing an effective environmental commission

Wednesday, March 25th:

• The Municipal Land Use Processes:

  • The Environmental Resource Inventory

  • The Municipal Master Plan

  • Municipal Ordinances

  • Development/Site Plan Review

Thursday, March 26th:

• Effective Communication strategies for Environmental Commissions

• Resources for Strong Advocacy Solutions

Registration:ANJEC Members, No charge to attend Non-Members: $35 for all sessions

Register Here!

LEC Meetings are held the 1st Thursday of every month

Meetings will be held at the Livingston Senior/Community Center, 204 Hillside Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039

Conference Room 116

View Meeting Calendar

Understanding NJPACT REAL: New Rules for Resilient Development and Flood Protection

Thursday, March 5th 7:00pm Via Zoom Webinar Register Here

Presenter: Vincent J. Mazzei, Jr., P.E.; NJ State Floodplain Administrator, NJDEP Two Sessions via Zoom (Note: the sessions will be identical) Tuesday, March 3rd at Noon Thursday, March 5th at 7pm

The New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats Resilient Environments and Landscapes (NJPACT REAL) rules will create safer communities throughout New Jersey by supporting development that is more resilient to the impacts of climate change, reducing flooding impacts with stormwater requirements for redevelopment projects, improving wetlands protections, streamlining permitting for nature-based solutions, and more. JOIN US for a virtual session to learn more about the NJPACT REAL rules, how they apply to your municipality and projects in your community, and what actions you need to take to comply with the rules. This webinar is curated for planners and engineers engaged in site plan design and infrastructure planning and/or review, as well as planning and zoning board members, and environmental commissioners. Bring your questions and get answers from the expert. Sponsored by ANJEC and The New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers

Registration: ANJEC Members: No charge to participate Non-Members: $25 Click here to register now!

Let's get together and delve into engaging green themes through a variety of books, articles or podcasts. Whether storytelling or documented research - we can share our perspectives, take-aways and how the themes relate to actions we could take in our community, and for the planet. The discussion will be moderated by Alison Barmas Chair of LivGreen.

The Livingston Public Library welcomes you to our first LivGreen Book Club on Tuesday, March 3rd at 7pm. LivGreen is a virtual book club for the environmentally curious! Registration begins on Tuesday, February 17th at 10am.

The meeting is free and open to everyone ages 18 and up. The Zoom link will be emailed the day before the event.

Registration is required. Information on how to access the Zoom event will be emailed to you the day before the program.

Register here

Homegrown National Park:

A virtual conversation with New York Times Best Selling Author, Doug Tallamy

Presented by New Jersey Native Plant Society

Don’t miss this online opportunity to hear about how we can take action in our own backyard and plant native to increase biodiversity and support wildlife.

https://npsnj.org/event/homegrown-national-park-free-on-zoom/

Understanding NJPACT REAL: New Rules for Resilient Development and Flood Protection

Tuesday, March 3rd Noon Via Zoom Webinar Register Here

Presenter: Vincent J. Mazzei, Jr., P.E.; NJ State Floodplain Administrator, NJDEP Two Sessions via Zoom (Note: the sessions will be identical) Tuesday, March 3rd at Noon Thursday, March 5th at 7pm

The New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats Resilient Environments and Landscapes (NJPACT REAL) rules will create safer communities throughout New Jersey by supporting development that is more resilient to the impacts of climate change, reducing flooding impacts with stormwater requirements for redevelopment projects, improving wetlands protections, streamlining permitting for nature-based solutions, and more. JOIN US for a virtual session to learn more about the NJPACT REAL rules, how they apply to your municipality and projects in your community, and what actions you need to take to comply with the rules. This webinar is curated for planners and engineers engaged in site plan design and infrastructure planning and/or review, as well as planning and zoning board members, and environmental commissioners. Bring your questions and get answers from the expert. Sponsored by ANJEC and The New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers

Registration: ANJEC Members: No charge to participate Non-Members: $25 Click here to register now!

The Native Plants of the Lenape Nation (via Zoom)

February 23 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

With Clan Mother Shelley DePaul

Please join us for an in-depth discussion of the relationship between the Lenape Nation and the native plants of NJ and Pennsylvania. Clan Mother Shelley DePaul will discuss the protocols of respect for the plant community, spiritual associations and cultural practices with native plants, and how plants are gathered. The Lenape historically have approached plants and other living entities with respect and humility. Today, they apply these traditions to encouraging conservation landscaping and the reintroduction of native plants.

Clan Mother Shelley DePaul has served on the Council of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania since 2002 as Genealogical and Historical Researcher, Lenape Language Specialist, and Educator. She teaches Lenape Language classes and workshops and presents lectures and educational programs on Lenape History and Culture. She is an expert on Lenape horticulture and medicinal plant practices and has published three books on Lenape Language and Lenape Ethnobotany. She is a Pennsylvania State Certified teacher with an MA in History.  

Sign Up HERE for Native Plants of the Lenape Nation

ANJEC: The Stormwater MS4 Permit:
What, Why and How

Wednesday, February 11
7:00pm
Via Zoom Webinar

Register

The Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit is a 5 year permit held by every municipality in New Jersey. The goal is to ensure good management and stewardship of stormwater infrastructure. Each year brings new requirements that build on the previous year’s work.

Join this webinar to learn about the tasks that should have been completed in your municipality by the close of 2025, how to catch up if you are behind, and what you need to work on in 2026 to ensure compliance with your permit.

MS4 permit requirements include: a dedicated municipal stormwater page to track progress, and inventory of stormwater facilities, annual public outreach and education, watershed improvement planning, and more.

Guest presenter:

• Chris Obropta, PhD, P,E. Rutgers Water Resources Cooperative Extension

Registration:
ANJEC Members: No charge to participate
Non-Members: $25
Click here to register now!

Breakfast Briefing:

Intro to NJ Backyard Bird ID

February 10 at 8:00 am - 9:30 am

Great Swamp Watershed Association HQ

Become a backyard bird extraordinaire at GSWA’s intro to bird ID breakfast briefing!

Come enjoy a light breakfast with GWSA’s Hazel England and Sandra Lavigne and learn all about bird identification and how to identify some common backyard birds found in New Jersey. If the weather permits, after the presentation, we will grab some binoculars and head outside to put your new bird ID skills to work!

Space is limited, and registration is required.
Get tickets below: GSWA Members are Free | Non-members $10 (Adult) and $5 (Child)
Eco Pro Tip: Purchase a discounted annual GSWA Family Membership today to attend this program for free!

Questions or need to cancel? Email Izzy at ifilippini@greatswamp.org. Ticketing closes on 2/9 at 3:00 PM.

Cancellation Policy: Great Swamp Watershed Association (GSWA) makes every effort to assure all programs and events take place as planned. Should an event be cancelled due to severe weather or other unexpected reasons, GSWA will promptly notify all registrants via email and the event page will reflect the status. To accommodate people on the waitlist, participants needing to cancel should do so ASAP. Cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance will not be refunded unless they are due to a health emergency. Unused registration fees may be converted into a tax-deductible donation.

Light Pollution: An Overview

Light pollution is practically ubiquitous, yet for most it goes unnoticed each night. Artificial light has creeped into our yards and forest, disrupting circadian rhythms of wildlife, plants, and us humans. Nocturnal animals, who have evolved to thrive in dark conditions, no longer have the upper hand against their prey. Trees and other plants growing under the glow of streetlights are shown to be less resilient than those given a nights rest. Even people need natural darkness to reset, and with studies finding those who live in excess of light pollution can higher rates of depression, diabetes, and more. At times the solution can be as easy as switching off the lights, but in our fast-paced society that is not always an option.

Join Great Swamp Watershed Association’s Ginger Van Ryzin to learn what exactly is light pollution, its effects on the flora and fauna, and what we can do to protect our ecosystems against it. Sponsored by the Environmental Commission of Chatham Borough, Chatham Township and Madison.

Location: Lundt Room at Library of the Chathams

Registration required! Note: Registration ends February 5 at 3:00pm.

“Meat Me Halfway” Documentary Film Screening

Hungry for a way you can fight the climate crisis as an individual? The SOEC and Green Team are proud to endorse Meat Me in the Middle’s month-long sustainable food celebration, “Veggie Vebruary”. Led by South Orange resident Jennie Aylward, Meat Me in the Middle (MMITM) is a local project that promotes a more plant-forward diet as a way to do your part towards fighting climate change. Compared to crop agriculture, animal agriculture is disproportionately responsible for greenhouse gas pollution that is warming our planet, contributing to climate change’s extreme weather events and ecosystem disruptions. In fact, animal agriculture is responsible for 12-20% of greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors, as reported by The Breakthrough Institute.

To kick off the month, there will be a free screening of the documentary “Meat Me Halfway” at 3pm on Sunday February 1st, to highlight motivations for reducing meat consumption. You can RSVP for that event here, then follow up on the film’s inspiration with a simple vegetarian “recipe of the week” that MMITM will publish each week of February.

ANJEC: Dam Removal In New Jersey

Wednesday, January 28, 2026
7:00pm
Via Zoom Webinar

Register

There are over 1,700 dams in New Jersey that are regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Dam Safety, about one third of those dams are owned by towns or counties. Some of those dams are still performing the function for which they were built, many others are obsolete.

This webinar, presented by The New Jersey Statewide Dam Removal Partnership (SDRP) and ANJEC will explore dam removal in NJ and include case studies. The SDRP, a coalition of state and federal agencies and nonprofit partners, works with willing dam owners to address dams that are obsolete, unsafe, or harmful to local waterways.
There will be ample time for questions.

Removing a dam:

• eliminates long-term inspection and maintenance costs,

• reduces public safety liability,

• provides safer recreation for anglers, paddlers, and waders,

• provides opportunities for new trails or recreation in the former impoundment,

• restores healthier waterways,

• and has the potential to reduce nearby flooding*.
  *Engineering studies are needed to investigate this.

For those who are interested in exploring dam removal further there will be a spring workshop for municipal and county officials and engineers.  There will be additional training for local governments seriously investigating removal including a free two-day Project Manager Training. For some dams, the ecological benefit of removal is quite high and in those cases funding to complete removal may be available.

Registration:
No charge to participate
Click here to register now!

Join us at the Livingston Public Library for a Winter Sowing Workshop and learn an easy way to get started with your spring planting.

The program will be led by Alison Barmas Chair of LivGreen.

No experience needed. Sponsored by the Friends of the Livingston Public Library.

Register here

Make Polluters Pay: NJ Kick Off

Join us for the National Week of Action Make Polluters Pay New Jersey kickoff with Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill and Senator Sponsor John McKeon.

This virtual event brings together legislators, advocates, and organizers to launch the 2026–2027 legislative session for the campaign to pass the Polluters Pay for a More Affordable New Jersey Act. The kickoff will feature remarks from the bill’s prime sponsors on why New Jersey must hold major polluters accountable and invest in affordability and climate resilience. We’ll outline the bill’s updated name, recap where the legislation stood at the end of the last session, and lay out what it will take to move it in the new legislative session.

Virtual event. Open to all.

The Green Scene - Sustainability in Action

An opportunity to talk with local sustainability experts and learn how you can support sustainable action in our community and in your home. 
Become a part of SOMA's Green Scene!

Participants include:
ElectrifySOMA
MMITM (Meat Me In the Middle)
Cute as New
Java's Compost
WalkBikeRide
BikeBus
Oakland Road Art Club
SOMA Tool Share
Repair Cafe
Maplewood Environmental Advisory Committee
South Orange Environmental Commission
Maplewood Library/Children's Room 
LS Impact Consulting
SomaCycle
SOMa Action Climate

Speakers, all SOMA residents, include:
Walter Clarke, South Orange Recycling Coordinator
Tracey Woods, Energy Program Manager for Sustainable Jersey
Julia Sommer, Environmental Educator for NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection
Lauren Sklaver, owner, LS Impact Consulting (consultant for mission based businesses and local sustainability advocate)
Catherine Redd, owner, SomaCycle (local recycling business owner and sustainability advocate)