Union County Review

Six Kean University students have developed an Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI) for the Town of Westfield as part of their senior capstone project. This initiative, completed in collaboration with the Westfield Green Team, aims to support future planning decisions and save the town significant time and money.

The ERI, described as a "living document," was created by students from the Department of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences (DESS). It will be integrated into Westfield's master plan. Daniela Shebitz, Ph.D., DESS chair and professor, emphasized the value of this student-led project: “The environmental resource inventory the students created is something that many towns pay $10,000 to $20,000 for. The students integrated their knowledge, talent and experience, so the final ERI is a valuable tool to assist with the town's decision-making."

The 271-page document provides comprehensive details on various aspects such as land use characteristics, parks, vegetation and trees, wildlife, history, among others. It includes maps created using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to highlight important features like areas prone to flooding and contamination sites.

“This document is not simply a static snapshot frozen in time; it is a living document intended to evolve alongside the changing world,” states the inventory. “In the face of mounting environmental challenges, the imperative to understand and responsibly manage our natural resources has never been more urgent.”

Lois Kraus from the Westfield Green Team collaborated closely with the students. She noted that the inventory would be instrumental for developing policies related to stormwater management and serve as an educational resource for residents. Kraus added that it would also support applications for Sustainable Jersey certification.

Amanda Cunningham ’24 of Rahway expressed her satisfaction with completing this challenging project: “The amount I've learned during this assignment is beyond measure.” Keith Wamah ’24 of Newark echoed similar sentiments about teamwork and its significance in achieving such projects.

Other members of the student team included Kenya De Dios ’24 of Paterson; Nataly Galarza of Hamilton; Jacqueline Park Albaum of Bloomfield; and Francisco Antonio Rodriguez of Edison.