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.
In 2016, GSWA became the official Waterkeeper Alliance Affiliate for the Passaic River, thus expanding its purview to include the entire Passaic River, from the headwaters in the Great Swamp Watershed to Newark Bay.
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.
We are a non-profit, member-based, 501(c)(3) organization with a staff of 10 and over 1,800 members. In addition to our generous member donations, we are supported by local and national foundations, corporations, and our Board and Advisory Council.