To the Editor:
A group of dedicated Princeton University students
have a solution to New Jersey's water quality woes: stewardship. We are
members of the group, Princeton Water Watch, and we need your help.
We have found Princeton's streams lacking in aquatic
life. We generally find large numbers of pollution-tolerant bugs
indicating poor water quality. Last spring, we found a large dump site
in the woods by one stream, indicating the level of neglect our
waterways receive. Though trash is relatively easy to pick up, we're
seeking systemic change for a long-term solution.
Last week, the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection released a report about New Jersey's water quality known as
a 303(d). The report says that the Millstone River and Stony Brook,
which join to become Lake Carnegie, contain high levels of phosphorous
and silt.
The unnatural amount of silt is a direct result of
development and we need to compensate for this rather than ignore the
problem. When rain falls on impervious paved surfaces like roads and
rooftops, there's nothing to slow it down. Thus the rain flows quickly
and in large quantities, carrying soil with it. The answer is to slow
the water down and allow it to flow through the least expensive water
filter around: dirt. Trees do us a favor by holding dirt in place, so
we can plant more trees and vegetation around our streams to provide a
buffer between urban pollution and our water.
What can we do about high levels of phosphorous?
Before using fertilizers and pesticides on lawns,
homeowners should think about whether the benefits are worth the
long-term environmental cost. Unabsorbed fertilizer flows into our
streams and creates a harmful cycle of algal blooms that depletes
oxygen levels and threatens aquatic life. There are non-toxic ways to
improve lawns, and the Princeton Environmental Commission can provide
information about organic lawn care.
If each of us does her or his part, we can create a ripple effect of positive change.
We welcome community members to become environmental
stewards with us through stream monitoring, river cleanups, and
environmental education. To get involved, please visit our website at
www.princeton.edu/NJh2o. We would really appreciate the help.
LEXI GELPERIN
Member, Princeton Water Watch
