URBANWATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP Lower Passaic River The Lower Passaic River Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP) is a collaboration of federal and state agencies, municipalities, and community-based organizations advancing cleanup, restoration, and stewardship of the Lower Passaic River and equitable, sustainable development along its banks. The Partnership is guided by a steering committee made up of two federal co- leads, from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and U.S Army Corps of Engineers, as well as representatives from the NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program, the Trust for Public Land, Ironbound Community Corporation, and NY-NJ Baykeeper. Over the past year, the LPR UWFP gathered multiple federal, state, municipal, and neighborhood partners for river-wide meetings with the goals of sharing major project updates, discussing current and upcoming priorities, and exploring ways to encourage and facilitate partner collaboration within the Passaic River Watershed. As a result of those partnership discussions, the LPR UWFP adopted the framework below, featuring the Partnership's six core principles and partnership objectives for the next two years. The LPR UWFP's six core areas of work were developed in alignment with, but not limited to, the National Urban Waters Federal Partnership's Vision. Mission. & Principles. 2022-2024 LPR UWFP Core Principles and Partnership Objectives: 1. Implement and support opportunities that help identify, reduce, and prevent sources of pollution in the Lower Passaic River Watershed that strengthen our shared efforts to achieve a fishahle, swimmahle, and resilient Passaic. Related Urban Waters national principle: Promote clean urban waters. 2. Advance new and improve existing riverfront recreation opportunities in the Lower Passaic River, including enhancing public understanding of the River, to enhance the value to our communities. Related Urban Waters national principle: Reconnect people to their waterways 3. Sustain our community-based participatory partnership, fostering an environment of mutual learning and understanding of members' strengths, assets and limitations and sharing of resources and creative ideas that address community needs in the Lower Passaic River Watershed. Related Urban Waters national principle: Encourage community improvements through active partnerships NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program Hudson River Foundation, 17 Battery Place, Suite 915, New York, NY 10004 • 212-483-7667 www.hudsonriver.org/estuary-program#partnerships • ebaiiadares@hudsonriver.org ------- URBAN WATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP Lower Passaic River 4, Engage the public and agencies to build the shared knowledge that will advance the protection and restoration of the Lower Passaic River Watershed and its shorelines. Identify the impact of climate change on public access, water quality, habitat, and equity and help communities address natural hazards exacerbated by climate change like erosion, extreme weather events, flooding, and sea level rise. Related Urban Waters national principle: Encourage community improvements through active partnerships 5. Support equitable and sustainable development on the Passaic River waterfront by sharing anti-displacement strategies and promoting policies and practices that ease displacement pressures and balance environmental investments with equitable development. Related Urban Waters national principle: Use urban water systems as a way to promote economic revitalization and prosperity NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program Hudson River Foundation, 17 Battery Place, Suite 915, New York, NY 10004 • 212-483-7667 www.hudsonriver.org/estuary-program#partnerships • ebaiiadares@hudsonriver.org ------- |