Conferences and Symposiums

Passaic River Symposium V

Today’s Status, Tomorrow’s Perspective

Organized by the Passaic River Institute of Montclair State University

Friday October 19, 2012

Montclair State University Conference Center

1 Normal Ave., Montclair, NJ

The fifth Passaic River Symposium will be a day-long event featuring the Lower Passaic River Restoration Project. The symposium will include invited keynote speakers and plenary sessions/presentations on all aspects of environmental management challenges relevant to the Passaic River Basin. This conference year will focus on sediment remediation as part of the Lower Passaic Interim Remedial Measure, the release of the Focused Feasibility Study, ecosystem restoration and environmental advocacy and public outreach efforts. Projects in the upper river and tributary watersheds will also play a prominent role in this conference.

The Symposium will include a panel discussion on “Science Informing Policy: Environmental Management of the Passaic River Watershed”.  Panelists will share their visions on two selected topics:

  1. Integrated approaches and strategies to remediation, restoration and economic re-vitalization, and  
  2. Applications of regional sediment management for a sustainable future.

Opening Remarks and Panel Discussion Video

The 2 hour and 40 minute long video of the Passaic River Symposium V opening remarks and panel discussion is now available for viewing online. The video can be watched from NJVID's CSAM Collection at: http://handle.njedge.net/10423/27206

Symposium Program

The full symposium program and schedule is now available for download in Adobe PDF format from the following link:

Passaic River Symposium V Program

Presentations

Session A: CHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF LOWER PASSAIC RIVER SEDIMENT

  • Betsy Ruffle, "Update on Cooking Loss Factors of PCDD/PCDFs, PCBs and Chlorinated"
  • John Collin, "Evaluation of Activated Carbon Treatment Technologies in a PCB-Contaminated Wetland"

Session B: INNOVATIVE SEDIMENT RESTORATION

  • Rachel Gruzen, "Case Study of Remediation and Restoration in Woodbridge, New Jersey:  Lessons for the Passaic River"

Session C: IMPACTS OF THE URBAN SETTING ON AQUATIC AND WETLAND CONDITIONS

  • Sarath Chandra K. Jagupilla, "Modeling and Analysis of E coli Concentrations for Boundaries and Sources in the Lower Passaic River"
  • Josh Galster, "The Impact of Japanese Knotweed on Water Supply in Northern New Jersey"

Session D: LIVING WITH THE PASSAIC; PRESENT CHALLENGES AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES

  • Laura Kelm, "The State of the Streams along the Headwaters of the Passaic River in the Great Swamp Watershed"
  • Chris Reitman, "Relict Effects of New Jersey’s Mosquito Eradication Efforts on the Environment"
  • Brian Frank, "Hydraulic Signs of Well Contamination Risk for the Sand and Gravel Wells along the Canoe Brook Branch of the Passaic River, Livingston NJ"

Session E: REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION AND REMOVAL

  • Mark Kluger, "Tracking the Origin of Contaminated Groundwater Discharges to Subaqueous Sediments"
  • Robert Law, "Update on the Lower Passaic River Study Area Ecological Risk Assessment"

Session F: WATER RESOURCE CHALLENGES IN THE GREATER PASSAIC WATERSHED

  • Hormoz Pazwash, "Suggested Measures for Flood Mitigation of the Passaic River"
  • Andre Berthier, "FEMA Flood Opening Requirements for Enclosed Spaces below the BFE"
  • Jonathan Cloud, "Electrifying the Passaic: An Inquiry into the Once and Future History of Hydroelectric Power in NJ"

Session G: NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND RIVER RESTORATION

  • Alan Parsons, "The Effectiveness of Using the Gulf Savers® Bag for Spartina alterniflora in Marsh Restoration at Popcorn Beach, Pass a Loutre WMA, Venice, Louisiana"

Session H: COMMUNITY-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES: FOSTERING COOPERATION THROUGH EDUCATION

  • Carol Johnston, Elizabeth Butler, "Community, Government & the PRP: How Working Together Led to Success during the Passaic River Removal"
  • Meiyin Wu, "Passaic Basin Eco-explorers Program in Ecology, Environmental Science and Computer Technology"
  • Amy Rowe, "Stormwater Education Program to Control CSO Discharges in Newark"
  • Nicole Esposito, "Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission: Creating Community Awareness and Action through Education"
  • Pat Rector, Art Vespignani, "If Green Infrastructure Is Such a Hot Topic, How Cool Are We at Getting the Word Out?"

For More Information

Direct any inquires or questions to Dr. Meiyin Wu, Director of the Passaic River Institute and chair of the Symposium at pri@mail.montclair.edu or 973-655-5423.