The River-Friendly Certification program was initially developed in the early 2000s by the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association (currently the Watershed Institute).  Soon thereafter the New Jersey Water Supply Authority joined with Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association to expand the geographic range of the programs.  At the time, the partnership was designed to certify businesses, golf courses, schools, and residents.  River-Friendly certification programs promoted clean water and a healthy environment through voluntary action by individuals, businesses, and institutions. 

 

The Raritan Watershed Agricultural Committee secured funding in 2003 to develop a River Friendly Farm program and test pilot it in two small sub-watersheds in the Raritan River Basin.  The pilot was very successful and two years later, North Jersey RC&D, working closely with New Jersey Water Supply Authority, Raritan Watershed Agricultural Committee members and New Jersey Institute of Technology received a New Jersey Conservation and Innovation Grant to implement a River Friendly Farmer recognition program in the Neshanic Watershed. 

Today, the River Friendly Farm program is administered by North Jersey RC&D and the Foodshed Alliance. Over thirty Northern New Jersey farms have been certified as a River Friendly Farm.