About

Raritan Headwaters Association (RHA) is on a mission to protect clean water in the north and south branch region of the Raritan River. The 470-square-mile region provides drinking water to more than 1.5 million residents of 39 municipalities in Hunterdon, Morris, and Somerset Counties and beyond, into the state’s urban areas. We are the largest watershed organization in New Jersey with thousands of members, participants, and volunteers. RHA protects, preserves, and improves water quality and other natural resources through our highly regarded science, education, and advocacy programs. Since 1959 we have:

-Educated 19,000 school children in our WaterWays Program
-Helped protect 6,300 acres of land
-Removed 40 tons of trash from our streams
-Completed 24,000 well tests in 40 municipalities
-Monitored 1,400 miles of streams for pollution with hundreds of citizen scientists

The drainage basin of the entire Raritan River covers approximately 1,100 square miles, making it the largest river basin located entirely within the State of New Jersey. The South Branch of the Raritan River is 51 miles long from its source in Budd Lake to its confluence with the North Branch in Branchburg. The North Branch of the Raritan River originates as a spring-fed stream in Morris County and flows south for approximately 23 miles to its confluence with the South Branch. The Raritan River empties into Raritan Bay on the Atlantic Ocean.

Raritan Headwaters Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was formed from the 2011 merger of the South Branch (SBWA) and Upper Raritan (URWA) watershed associations.