The Watershed Institute is nonprofit organization that manages a 950-acre watershed reserve in central New Jersey. 1 It also advocates for environmentalist policies related to water conservation and banning conventional energy sources. 2
In 2020, following the Black Lives Matter protests due to the death of George Floyd, the Watershed Institute created a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Council to incorporate identity politics in its activities and advocacy. 3
Background
The Watershed Institute is nonprofit organization based in central New Jersey. It operates a 950-acre watershed reserve, which is maintained by volunteers whom it also trains to advocate for environmentalist policies. 1 4
The Watershed Institute states that in 2017 it began diversity initiatives that eventually led to its Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) council, which dictates its policy advocacy. According to its 2017 to 2023 JEDI Report, the Watershed Institute states that the objective of the JEDI Council is to influence environmentalist policies to recognize “some communities in our region are particularly vulnerable to environmental threats due to systemic racism.” 3
The Watershed Institute offers “River-Friendly Certification Programs” to New Jersey residents, public, and private organizations to advise them on how to practice water and environmental conservation. The programs advise to minimize “unnecessary” water usage, avoid allowing so-called pollutants to enter stormwater drains, advocate for conservation, and “enhance property features” to support wildlife. 5
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Council
Under the direction of its Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Council, the Watershed Institute began giving diversity training to staff and partners in 2019. 3
In 2020, The Watershed Institute formally recognized its JEDI Council in response to the police-custody death of George Floyd and released a “values statement” defining its JEDI initiative. The JEDI Council’s “value statement” states that it promotes the idea that people of all backgrounds should receive “effective protection from environmental and health hazards, access to green spaces, and equal access to the decision-making processes for creating healthy environments in which to live, learn, and work.” 3
In 2021, the Watershed Institute’s board of directors formed a DEIJ Task Force that worked with the JEDI Council to create “concentrated efforts” to hire ethnic minorities and work in ethnic minority communities. 3
From 2021 to 2022, the JEDI Council’s Youth Environmental Leadership Programs taught students from Trenton and Hightstown how to engage local policymakers and advocate on behalf of environmentalist issues. 3
Advocacy
The Watershed Institute engages advocacy before municipalities, New Jersey state legislators and agencies to advocate for environmentalist policies. 6 Its advocacy is, as it states, grounded in the belief that climate change is being influenced by humans. Consequently, it advocates for funding the construction of new or reconstructing existing floodplains and stormwater management systems and funding a transition to reliance on environmentalist energy. 2
Additionally, the Watershed Institute advocates for ending new construction projects of natural gas pipelines. It argues the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection should deny all water quality certifications of natural gas pipeline projects to circumvent the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s eminent domain authority to create new pipelines. 7
Leadership
Jim Waltman has served as the Watershed Institute’s executive director since 2005. Previously, Waltman served as director of the refuges and wildlife program for the Wilderness Society for 10 years, engaging members of congress, federal agencies, and the media to represent the organization’s environmentalist campaigns. He is also a member of the New Jersey’s Agriculture Development Committee, which oversees the state’s farmland preservation program. 8
Financials
According to its tax returns, the Watershed Institute reported $7.0 million in total revenue, including $584,000 in investment income in 2021. 9 It also reported spending $1.0 million in grants and $2.1 million in salaries and employee compensation out of its $4.0 million in total expenses for the year. 10
References
- “About Us.” thewatershed.org, June 22, 2023. https://thewatershed.org/about/.
- “Responding to Climate Change.” thewatershed.org, July 8, 2019. https://thewatershed.org/climate-change/.
- “2017-2023 JEDI Report.” Thewatershed.org, 2023. https://thewatershed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Watershed_JEDI_report_2023_web.pdf
- “Volunteer.” thewatershed.org, June 1, 2021. https://thewatershed.org/volunteer/.
- “River-Friendly Certification Programs.” Thewatershed.org, Accessed August 13, 2023. https://thewatershed.org/river-friendly/.
- “Safeguarding Our Communities.” thewatershed.org, August 22, 2019. https://thewatershed.org/safeguarding-our-communities/.
- “Opposing Damaging Pipelines.” thewatershed.org, December 12, 2019. https://thewatershed.org/pipelines/.
- “Watershed Staff.” thewatershed.org, July 27, 2023. https://thewatershed.org/staff/.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). The Watershed Institute Inc. 2021. Part I, Lines 10-12.
- Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). The Watershed Institute Inc. 2021. Part I, Lines 13-18.