Volunteers are sought for the second annual event.
When it comes to cleaning up a large area like the Delaware River watershed, every little bit helps.
A cleanup scheduled next weekend for the Lopatcong Creek aims to do its part.
It's the second such local event after $35 million in grants was announced last year, launching a three-year effort to improve the entire 13,500-square-mile Delaware River watershed, which includes portions of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Delaware.
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A portion of the grant from the Philadelphia-based William Penn Foundation funds the Lopatcong Creek Initiative, which with the Ridge and Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited is holding its second annual cleanup event 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 26.
Volunteers are needed. Aiding in the effort helps residents see how their actions impact the health of the waterway and their community, said Juniper Leifer, Lopatcong Creek Initiative's project coordinator.
Save the Date to do something GREAT!
Posted by Lopatcong Creek Initiative on Monday, August 31, 2015
"They're more likely to be aware of the decisions they make," Leifer said. "Everybody lives in a watershed."
The creek's 22-square-mile watershed includes Harmony, Lopatcong, Greenwich and Pohatcong townships, the borough of Alpha and the town of Phillipsburg.
Though small, Leifer said it includes many of the land uses that would more commonly be seen in larger watersheds -- heavily forested upstream, a more urban downstream, and suburban developments and farmland throughout.
"We want to help people understand how the choices they make every day impact the water quality," she said.
IF YOU GO
What: Second annual Lopatcong Creek Cleanup.
Who: The Lopatcong Creek Initiative and Trout Unlimited's Ridge and Valley chapter.
When: 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 26.
Where: Meet at 1014 South Main St. in Phillipsburg.
Volunteers do not need to sign up in advance, but should wear appropriate attire and bring work gloves.
To learn more: Visit the Lopatcong Creek Initiative's website, lopatcongcreek.org, or the group's Facebook page.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.