Sheltered in the rural northwest corner of New Jersey and bounded by thousands of acres of the Kittatinny Ridge and Bear Swamp Wildlife Refuge, are two glacial lakes that feed the Paulinskill River. These Delaware Watershed headwaters are two “jewels of nature” that support a flourishing ecosystem filled with fish and wildlife. As the area transitioned from forests to farmland to residential housing, years of sediment and nutrient loading gradually affected the water quality and the biology of Lake Owassa and Culver Lake. The challenge is now to preserve and restore as much as possible for the future.

The Owassa Headwaters Foundation promotes sound watershed management practices, innovative stormwater and nutrient inflow solutions, and visceral experiences of the wonders of these wilderness areas.