Great Swamp Watershed Association is dedicated to protecting and improving the water resources of the Passaic River region, from the Great Swamp headwaters to Newark Bay, for present and future generations. Through education, advocacy, science, land preservation, and stewardship, in collaboration with partners, we work to instill our communities with an awareness of water’s effect on health and the beauty of the environment, from source to sea.

We organize a variety of educational events for the public; natural history hikes, educational talks and meet-and-greets.

Great Swamp Watershed Association was founded in 1981, nearly twenty years after the battle against the NY Port Authority, by a small grassroots group of concerned citizens who wanted to protect the Great Swamp once again from a new and imposing threat; increased development around the watershed. “Saved But Not Safe” became the organization’s rallying call, which advocated for intelligent and environmentally friendly land use and development.

Today, GSWA, located in Harding Township, NJ, is the nonprofit member-supported environmental organization that monitors and protects water quality, and investigates and participates in land use issues in the Great Swamp Watershed and Passaic River region. GSWA also provides environmental education to community groups, teachers, and students to help everyone understand the important role we each play in protecting our drinking water and preserving the natural beauty of our environment.