In high spirits after the successful clean up, volunteers carry some of the 
old tires found in the Dismal Swamp.  In total, 40 tires were collected
during the clean up.  Photo by Diana Lentzsch

The 1,240-acre Dismal Swamp Conservation Area located in Edison, South Plainfield, and Metuchen is home to at least 175 bird species, 25 species of mammals, and 24 species of reptiles and amphibians including at least a dozen threatened, endangered and special concern species.  The largest contiguous natural area left in the region, the Dismal Swamp’s rich variety of plant life acts as a floodplain for the Bound Brook and its headwaters, absorbing excess water and filtering impurities before they empty into the Raritan River.

Frequent flooding carries debris into the Bound Brook, and illegal garbage dumping into the Dismal Swamp Conservation Area still occurs occasionally.  As such, this natural oasis in Middlesex County is in need of volunteers to help keep this scenic area clean.   On July 22^nd, 70 Colgate Palmolive employees joined Edison Wetlands Association (EWA) in the non-profit’s ongoing mission to protect and restore the Dismal Swamp.
   

“The Dismal Swamp Conservation Area is an incredible resource in recovery, even after being neglected for years. EWA can use all the help we can get to restore this incredibly beautiful area,” reported Melanie Worob, Environmental Education Director with EWA.  “I was excited when I found out they were going to helping us do a cleanup, and the amount of garbage collected in the swamp was incredible.  We can't thank the group enough for their enthusiastic and dedicated efforts.“

For this cleanup, 25 bags of recycling, 20 bags of garbage, 40 tires, and countless miscellaneous debris too large for bags was collected during the 3 hour cleanup.  Edison Township assisted through their Clean Communities program with bags, gloves, and also collecting the garbage and recycling. 

The experience was also meaningful for the Colgate Palmolive employees. 

"It was personally very fulfilling to be able to help start to restore and clean up such a naturally beautiful site,” said John Papazian, who coordinated the effort on the ground for the company.  “I would encourage other groups to spend an afternoon here as there still remains much work to do."

“These efforts dovetail EWA’s other efforts to preserve and restore the remainder of the Dismal Swamp Conservation Area,” according to EWA Executive Director Robert Spiegel.  “EWA is working with other conservation groups, surrounding municipalities, elected officials and residents alike to create a unique public access and conservation area where families can interact with their natural environment and children can learn about the environment, farming and gardening first-hand.  This cleanup is part of our ongoing restoration campaign and we look forward to working with this environmental and community minded company and its employees in the future.”


                                    
                        EWA Environmental Education Director Melanie Worob welcomes the 70 Colgate 
                        Palmolive employees to the Triple C Ranch and Dismal Swamp Conservation Area.  

                                    
                          With so many volunteers, it was possible to form 3 separate clean up teams.  
                          One team delved furthest into the Dismal Swamp, pulling large debris out 
                          of the rain-filled wetlands.  

                                    
                           One of the three teams poses proudly with their enormous pile of garbage 
                           and recyling collected during the clean up.  

                                    
                          After collecting the garbage from the Dismal Swamp, each team hauled it 
                          back to the Triple C Ranch to be collected by Edison Township.


                                                        All photos by Diana Lentzsch for WildNewJersey.tv


For more information about participating in a cleanup of the Dismal Swamp Conservation Area, contact Melanie Worob at 732-321-1300 or melanie@edisonwetlands.org.