By Cathy Miller

A perfect Saturday morning for the Musconetcong Watershed Association’s annual Musconetcong River Clean-Up. Over 300 volunteers – including families, scout troops, and other organizations – came out in droves across 25 locations, between Lake Hopatcong and the Delaware River. They were welcomed with clear and bright orange trash bags and gloves as they prepared to comb trails and river banks to pick up the trash and litter that always finds its way to the River.

In Asbury, the office of the Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA) and the Asbury Grist Mill across the street were bustling with volunteers dropping off their big bags of detritus and stopping in for some refreshments.

Members of the Mohawk Canoe Club help each year cleaning up in-river. They set out at the Graphite Mill and travel downstream, paddles and trash-grabbers in hand, scooping as much junk as they can find from the mighty Musconetcong.

Wilson Bullivant, a 50 year resident of Asbury, a homeowner along the River, and a keen observer of the River, shared some wonderful tales of life along the Musky. Even the ones that might not have been so wonderful held a special spark when retold by Bullivant.

The folks that weren’t busy collecting litter were busy catching fish. A well-known fishing spot, anglers were seen casting their lines from the bridge spanning the River, as well as fly-fishing in the River.

Spring is a busy time for the Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA), with several events on the calendar.

Visitors are invited to the Grand Opening of Musconetcong Island Park, located at 152 Asbury- West Portal Road, Asbury, on April 21 at 10:00am. Decades in the making, the former lab building for Asbury Carbons is now a quiet refuge for people and nature. As the only park in the Musconetcong River, this quarter-acre island provides direct access to the river for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and nature walks. The Island’s platform will enable gatherings and other community activities, and offer a unique view of the River, Historic Asbury Mill and nature. A reception will follow at MWA’s River Resource Center.

A few weeks later, May 7 is the date for this year’s 4K Run/Walk for the River. During this annual fundraiser for the MWA, participants have the option to run or walk the route – a scenic loop passing streams, pastures, historic buildings, and the Musconetcong River on a mostly flat course. Funds generated by the Run for the River will be used to support the MWA education program, River Watcher program, hiking and paddling trips, River Talks, and more.

Start time is 10:00am (walkers begin at 9:45am). The start/finish line is the Franklin Township Fire Department Station 3. Parking is available at 410 Old Main Street, Asbury. Registration and more information can be found online at www.musconetcong.org/run-for-the-river or by
emailing info@musconetcong.org.

Calling all green thumbs and thumbs that yearn to be green! MWA’s Native Plant Sale is slated for May 13 from 9:00am to 2:00pm. More details and an online ordering page will be available at www.musconetcong.org.

Camp Musky returns over the summer for youngsters ages 5 to 12. Campers spend a majority of their time outside, either on the MWA’s nature trail along the Musconetcong River, or wading in the river itself. Registration is now open. Visit www.musconetcong.org/camp-
musky for more information or to register.

The Musconetcong Watershed Association is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and improving the quality of the Musconetcong Watershed and its waters for people and nature. Visit them online at www.musconetcong.org.