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Sussex County, New Jersey · Est. 2022 · 501(c)(3)

Clean Water
Begins at the
Source.

The Owassa Headwaters Foundation protects Lake Owassa, Culver Lake, and the Paulinskill River — the glacial headwaters feeding the Delaware River — for the communities and ecosystems that depend on them.

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501(c)(3) Nonprofit Delaware Watershed Founded 2022
275+
Acres of Lake Surface
Under Stewardship
2
Glacial Lakes
Monitored & Protected
2022
Year Founded &
IRS 501(c)(3) Granted
4
Headwater Bodies
in Our Watershed Focus
Northern landscape view of Lake Owassa shoreline and surrounding forest in Sussex County, NJ
501(c)(3) Nonprofit
Our Mission

Protecting the Headwaters of the Delaware

The Owassa Headwaters Foundation was formed in 2022 with a clear vision: abundant, clean water flowing through Sussex County, New Jersey to the Delaware River. Sheltered in the rural northwest corner of the state, Lake Owassa and Culver Lake are glacial jewels bounded by thousands of acres of Kittatinny Ridge and Bear Swamp Wildlife Refuge.

As the area transitioned from forest to farmland to residential housing, years of sediment and nutrient loading gradually degraded water quality in these two irreplaceable lakes. Today, we work to reverse that trend — through long-term planning, science-based management, and community partnerships.

Our geographic focus covers Lake Owassa, Culver Lake, Dry Brook, and the Upper Paulinskill River — the critical headwaters that shape water quality for the entire region downstream.

Water Quality
Reducing phosphorus & stormwater runoff
Restoration
Riparian buffers & native habitat
Partnerships
Working with lake associations & NJDEP
Education
Empowering community stewardship
See Our Programs

These Delaware Watershed headwaters are two jewels of nature — supporting a flourishing ecosystem filled with fish and wildlife. Our challenge, and our commitment, is to preserve and restore as much as possible for the future.

— Owassa Headwaters Foundation, Sussex County, NJ
Our Initiatives

How We Protect the Watershed

From reducing nutrient runoff to educating homeowners and building community partnerships, we tackle water quality from every angle.

Stormwater Management

We identify priority areas where stormwater carries phosphorus and sediment into Lake Owassa and Culver Lake, then work with homeowners and municipalities to implement rain gardens, riparian buffers, and rock-channel runoff controls that intercept contaminants before they reach the water.

Our approach

Water Quality Monitoring

Science-based monitoring of phosphorus, cyanobacteria, sediment loads, and biological indicators across Lake Owassa, Culver Lake, Dry Brook, and the Upper Paulinskill River — supporting Watershed Based Planning in partnership with Clean Waters Consulting LLC and the NJDEP.

Our science

Community Education & Outreach

Seminars, workshops, and hands-on programs empower lakefront property owners to become stewards of the watershed — from planting native vegetation to redirecting downspouts and managing lawn fertilizers that fuel harmful algal blooms in Lake Owassa and Culver Lake.

Get educated
Understanding the Threat

Why Our Headwaters Need Protection Now

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

When excess phosphorus enters Lake Owassa or Culver Lake — carried by stormwater from lawns, roads, and developed shorelines — it creates conditions for Harmful Algal Blooms. These blooms of cyanobacteria can restrict lake use for the entire season, harm wildlife, and produce toxins dangerous to humans and pets.

Heavy rain events mobilize nutrients from fertilizers and impervious surfaces, delivering a sudden nutrient spike that triggers explosive algae growth. The best treatment is prevention at the source — before runoff ever reaches the lake.

Primary Pollutant
Phosphorus from stormwater runoff
Lakes at Risk
Lake Owassa & Culver Lake
Best Prevention
Riparian buffers & rain gardens
Downstream Impact
Paulinskill River Delaware River

What You Can Do at Home

Every lakefront property owner plays a role. Planting native trees and shrubs along your shoreline, installing a rain garden, redirecting downspouts away from impervious surfaces, and maintaining your septic system all reduce the nutrient load entering our shared lakes.

Get Involved
Watershed Diagram
Future enhancement — an infographic or aerial map showing:

Kittatinny Ridge

Lake Owassa + Culver Lake

Paulinskill River

Delaware River

Showing stormwater flow paths & nutrient sources
Our Approach

From Data to Action

We follow a science-driven cycle to identify, plan, implement, and sustain solutions that restore our headwaters.

1

Monitor & Assess

Continuous water quality monitoring measures phosphorus, cyanobacteria, and sediment loads across the watershed to identify problem areas and track long-term trends.

2

Plan & Prioritize

Data-driven Watershed Based Planning calculates pollutant loads and identifies priority intervention areas where conservation investments will have the greatest impact per dollar.

3

Partner & Implement

We work with lake associations, property owners, municipalities, and state agencies to design and install rain gardens, riparian buffers, and stormwater management systems.

4

Educate & Sustain

Long-term success requires community stewardship. We provide education programs, grant guidance, and workshops that equip residents to maintain conservation practices independently.

Join Our Work

Be a Headwaters Steward

Whether you live on the lake, care about New Jersey's natural resources, or want to make a measurable difference in your community — there's a role for you.

Donate

Your tax-deductible gift funds water quality monitoring, community outreach, and conservation projects that protect Lake Owassa and Culver Lake for future generations.

How to Give

Volunteer

Join our monitoring team, help at community planting events, assist with homeowner education workshops, or lend your professional expertise to our conservation mission.

Get in Touch

Take Action at Home

Plant native trees and shrubs along your shoreline, install a rain garden, minimize fertilizer use, redirect downspouts, and maintain your septic system. Every property makes a difference.

Learn How
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

The Owassa Headwaters Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2022 to protect and restore water quality in Lake Owassa, Culver Lake, Dry Brook, and the Upper Paulinskill River in Sussex County, New Jersey. We promote watershed management practices, innovative stormwater solutions, and environmental education to ensure abundant, clean water flows to the Delaware River.
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are excessive growths of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) triggered by excess phosphorus entering a water body via stormwater runoff. In Lake Owassa, HABs can restrict swimming for the entire season, harm fish and wildlife, and produce toxins dangerous to humans and pets. The Foundation works to reduce nutrient loading at the source through riparian buffers, rain gardens, and community education before problems ever reach the lake.
As land around our glacial lakes transitioned from forest to farmland and residential housing, stormwater began carrying sediment and phosphorus directly into Lake Owassa and Culver Lake. This nutrient loading — called eutrophication — degrades water clarity, fuels algae growth, and harms the aquatic ecosystem over time. Reducing these nutrient inputs through on-the-ground conservation and homeowner education is central to the Foundation's mission in Sussex County, NJ.
A riparian buffer is a vegetated strip of native trees, shrubs, and plants that borders a waterway. It slows and filters polluted stormwater before it reaches the lake, allowing nutrients to be absorbed by plant roots rather than washing into the water. Native plants are especially effective because their deep root systems stabilize banks and absorb far more water than lawn grass. Even a narrow planted border along your shoreline can meaningfully improve water quality in Lake Owassa and Culver Lake.
There are many ways to get involved: donate to fund our conservation work, volunteer for water quality monitoring or restoration projects, attend community education workshops, plant native vegetation along your waterfront, or become a partner organization. Contact us through our website to learn about current volunteer opportunities and upcoming programs in Sussex County, NJ.
Yes. The Owassa Headwaters Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization with EIN 87-4238934. Charitable donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Please consult your tax advisor for guidance specific to your situation. You will receive a donation acknowledgment letter for your records.
Community Partners & Affiliates
Lake Owassa
Community AssociationLOCA
Greater Culver Lake
Watershed FoundationGCLWCF
NJ Dept. of
Environmental ProtectionNJDEP
Wallkill River
Watershed GroupSussex County MUA
Clean Waters
Consulting LLCTechnical Partner
Connect With Us

Get in Touch

Questions about our work, volunteer opportunities, grants, or partnerships — we'd love to hear from you.

owassafoundation@gmail.com

Newton & Branchville, NJ
Sussex County, New Jersey

www.owassafoundation.org

87-4238934

Send Us a Message