Regional watershed experts, professionals and guardians will gather at Ramapo College of New Jersey in Mahwah, NJ, for the 20th Annual Ramapo River Watershed Conference.

From Torne Valley paint sludge to Sterling Forest vs Genting Casino to the progress of the proposed Pilgrim Pipeline, all facets of regional watershed health and discussed.

The event is free and begins with a reception of coffee and bagels at 9:30 a.m. at Ramapo College, which is at 505 Ramapo Valley Road in Mahwah.

According to Ramapo River Keep Geoff Welch, who organizes the Watershed Conference, the Ramapo River watershed is a federal Sole Source Aquifer area supplying all or part of the public water supply for over two million people in New York and New Jersey. The conference explores and reports on issues impacting the lives and health of not only the watershed itself, but the people who depend on water in this region.

According to Ramapo River Keep Geoff Welch, who organizes the Watershed Conference, the Ramapo River watershed is a federal Sole Source Aquifer area supplying all or part of the public water supply for over two million people in New York and New Jersey. With 21st-century escalating climate change stress, continuing developmental pressure, and framework of weak environmental regulatory systems on the municipal, state and federal levers, can the Ramapo River watershed be sustained?

The conference ends with a wine and cheese get-together at 4 p.m.