Communities across New Jersey are facing growing climate-related challenges, from frequent flooding to prolonged droughts. The 2025 New Jersey Watershed Conference on February 20-21, presented by The Watershed Institute in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, brought together experts, community leaders, and professionals to explore how restoring degraded watersheds can enhance resilience against these impacts.
“The theme of this year’s conference—Resiliency Through Restoration—is more important than ever.” said Jim Waltman, Executive Director at The Watershed Institute. “We can no longer be satisfied with simply preventing further harm. Instead, we must take action to restore and repair the damage caused by past planning decisions, incomplete data, and changing environmental conditions. Now that we have a deeper understanding of the impacts of climate change, we have both the knowledge and the responsibility to do better.”
The conference featured engaging sessions, expert panels, and valuable networking opportunities for both in-person and virtual attendees including a plenary session of NJ DEP Leaders and lunch remarks by U.S. Representative, Bonnie Watson Coleman.
As climate change intensifies, communities across New Jersey are grappling with unprecedented water challenges—repeated flooding, harmful algal blooms, and prolonged droughts. The 2025 New Jersey Watershed Conference addressed these pressing issues under the theme, “Resiliency through Restoration.” This conference united environmental leaders, professionals, and community stakeholders to explore how watershed restoration can help mitigate these challenges. Attendees will gain insights into integrating nature-based solutions and policies into long-term strategies for clean water and climate resilience.
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