Featured Center City Busines: Citizens United Maurice River

Photo by Bill Horin/ArtC (l-r Jane Galetto, Karla Rossini). Story by Sal Emma.

Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River. Some organizations quietly make a big difference in their communities. CU Maurice River is one of them. Board President Jane Galetto & Executive Director Karla Rossini have been the guiding forces. It's amazing what they & their dedicated team have accomplished.

Since 1979, Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries has brought people together with a common interest – taking care of the Maurice River watershed.

“At the heart of it, we engage the public to build community around environmental stewardship. We empower individuals with ways to make a difference,” says Karla Rossini, executive director.

CU Maurice River orchestrates field work, advocacy and research – a powerful combination that was the driving force behind the National Park Service designating the Maurice as a Wild and Scenic River in 1993.

The Maurice and its tributaries support a wide diversity of both plants and animals. Its drainage basin provides critical habitat for 53 percent of New Jersey’s endangered species. CU Maurice River is the federal government’s partner, working to protect those habitats by keeping the river clean and free flowing.

“Back in the late 1960s and 70s, the first rivers to be designated were surrounded mostly by public land, many in western parks. The Park Service created a partnership program to help protect Eastern rivers that flow through private land with little or no federal land ownership, like the Maurice,” Karla explains.

Truly grassroots, hundreds of volunteers donate thousands of hours to the effort, each year. They raise osprey platforms, save horseshoe crabs, collect river health data, pick up litter, raise money and awareness – plus a lot more. “We’re very fortunate to have such an engaged community,” Karla says.

Contact: Karla Rossini, Executive Director

Website: https://cumauriceriver.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CUMauriceRiver