| Millstone Watershed Management Area Committee |
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| Problem Statements, Goals, Objectives, and Strategies |
Links to Millstone WMA Subcommittees:
Problem Statement
Many people do not understand or are not aware of their effects on our water resources. Too often, individuals look to government and industries as the source and solution to pollution problems. Education and outreach efforts are needed to link actions and outcomes to water quality resulting in changed behaviors that improve environmental health and protect water resources.
| Goal | Objective | Strategy |
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RBEO-G1 - Residents, landowners and businesses who are educated and informed about the basic aspects of water resources and critical watershed management issues in the Raritan River Basin and are moved to help solve these issues |
RBEO-O1A – By 2010, 50% of Raritan Basin residents understand the critical water resources and watershed issues in the Basin | RBEO-S1A1 (22) - Ensure that stakeholder groups understand the critical issues that affect them. |
| RBEO-S1A2 (12) - Improve education of residential communities through library-based information, news media, neighborhood meeting presentations and other similar opportunities to reach larger groups of people through low-cost approaches. | ||
| RBEO-S1A3 (3)- Develop tool kits for target groups (e.g., educators, farmers, businesses) that contain materials specific to the needs of each group that will build community awareness, appreciation and understanding of the watershed and its importance with stakeholders. | ||
| RBEO-S1A4 (9)- Implement a media campaign to generate awareness of critical water resources issues in the Basin. | ||
| RBEO-S1A5 (16) - Improve education of students (and through them, their parents) about water and Raritan Basin issues through increased training of teachers using existing programs (e.g., Project WET, NJ Audubon Society’s WATERS curriculum, teacher training programs offered by watershed associations) and additional programs as the need is identified. | ||
| RBEO-O1B – Raritan Basin residents, both in general and within specific interests such as schools, business, environmental, government, agricultural, recreational and landowners, understand basic water resource issues and are able to apply the concepts in their lives | RBEO-S1B1 (2)- Improve education of business, commercial and major landowners through expansion of existing programs of educational and outreach organizations (e.g., Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 4-H, watershed associations, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Conservation Districts) and additional programs as the need is identified. Encourage business, commercial and major landowners to implement watershed stewardship and ‘good housekeeping’ practices. | |
| RBEO-S1B2 (6)- Improve education of residents and homeowners (especially those within or near riparian areas and significant ground water recharge areas) through replication and expansion of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association’s River Friendly Resident program or other similar programs. Encourage residents and homeowners to take personal actions beneficial to the watershed. | ||
| RBEO-S1B3 (9) - Improve education of municipal officials (elected and appointed) through direct presentations, presentations at conferences/conventions, education of those the officials rely upon for information (e.g., municipal staff and volunteers). Use Basin strategy RB-S5. | ||
| RBEO-S1B4 (12) - Improve education of a variety of stakeholders through the use of demonstration sites and examples regarding property landscaping and maintenance, stormwater management, septic system management, etc., that focus on the key land management needs of each category of stakeholders. | ||
| RBEO-O1C – During Plan implementation, organizations providing watershed-related education programs shall be aware of opportunities to coordinate their efforts to maximize educational benefits | RBEO-S1C1 (7)- Evaluate the status of environmental education programs and activities in the Basin. Status shall be re-evaluated every 2 years thereafter. | |
| RBEO-S1C2 (11)- Develop and implement a mechanism to ensure communication and coordination among all groups involved in watershed education in the WMA. | ||
| RBEO-G2 |
RBEO-O2A – Stakeholder participants involved in Plan implementation thoroughly understand Raritan Basin issues and watershed management techniques. |
RBEO-S2A1 (12) - Develop and implement educational programs and activities that
address the needs of stakeholder participants in the Raritan Basin. Participants will have a better
understanding of the watershed management issues and techniques through
various media channels, including news articles, web site, technical reports
and educational programs. (Action steps include: demonstration project, field trips, awareness of current issues/news articles, web site with tech reports and other information, etc.) |
| RBEO-O2B – Stakeholder participants involved in Plan implementation have a core competence in the application of watershed management techniques to Raritan Basin issues. | RBEO-S2B1 (4) - Develop and implement training opportunities for stakeholder participants involved in plan implementation. This will include, but is not limited to workshops, demonstration projects, field trips, etc. (Action steps include field trips, demonstration projects, workshops, seminars, training calendar of other organization’s events). | |
| RBEO-G3
|
RBEO-O3A –Public support for watershed management activities is sufficient to ensure implementation of the Raritan Basin Watershed Management Plan | RBEO-S3A1 (20) – Implement a campaign targeted to all key stakeholder interest groups that can influence plan implementation, to develop support and address concerns. |
| RBEO-S3A2 (12) – Implement a campaign to generate public and media support for plan implementation, including regular press releases and press contacts on key stories that help show the need for watershed management (same as Strategy 1a4 above) | ||
| RBEO-S3A3 (20) – Develop a support network for plan implementation through 1:1 contact with key decision makers and influential leaders in the community | ||
| RBEO-O3B – Sufficient public involvement exists to support a steady annual increase in the number of successful stakeholder-driven implementation projects | RBEO-S3B1 (19) – Coordinate and promote participation in implementation projects that will interest a larger variety of stakeholders, resulting in their active involvement. | |
| RBEO-S3B2 (7) – Expand opportunities for incentive-based involvement (e.g., college credits, high school service requirements, AmeriCorps, internships, corporate service days, corporate sponsorship) | ||
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RBEO-G4
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RBEO-O4A – Municipal and county officials receive background training/education to support municipal and county planning and management actions that support the implementation of the watershed management plan. In addition, officials are knowledgeable regarding available tools and ordinances to implement the plan recommendations in their communities. | RBEO-S4A1 (16) – Organizations and individuals that work with municipal officials will develop and implement a program to engage governments at all levels to implement all appropriate strategies and actions in their regulations, programs and activities. |
| RBEO-S4A2 (1) - Provide ordinance tools to municipalities and counties to assist in effective implementation of the plan strategies and actions. Use Basin strategy RB-S5. | ||
| RBEO-S4A3 (16) - Provide municipal training and information to assist in effective implementation of the plan strategies and actions. Use Basin strategy RB-S5. | ||
| RBEO-S4A4 (5)- Develop and implement a program that provides municipalities with the ability to use their master plans to implement watershed management plan recommendations. Use Basin strategy RB-S5. |
OPEN SPACE AND RIPARIAN AREA PRESERVATION
Problem Statement
Open space preservation is a known water resources protection technique; however, not all preserved open space equally protects water resources. Few existing organizations that preserve open spaces consider water resources protection in their prioritization of parcels for acquisition. Criteria are needed to assist decision makers in determining the type and location of additional open space preservation to protect water resources. Uniform methods to rank targeted parcels of land for water resources protection do not exist for the Raritan Basin. Efforts to preserve open space for water resource protection should be coordinated with the efforts of existing organizations and governments. The full range of techniques for water resources protection need to be identified, evaluated, and promoted. Funding for open space acquisition is limited, as is funding for the actions that would restore the water resources values of disturbed lands. Appropriate long-term stewardship of these lands is critical to protecting water resources and often has not been addressed. Natural riparian areas, while rich in biodiversity and performing a wide range of functions with respect to stream health, are currently being lost and converted to other land uses in the Millstone WMA. Continuing riparian losses will result in further water resources degradation. The preservation of open space without the consideration of associated riparian areas will have little impact on protecting water resources.
| Goal | Objective | Strategy |
| MOR-G1: Sufficient preserved open space and stewardship activities to fully protect water resources in the Millstone WMA including: potable water supplies, ground water quality and quantity, surface water quality and quantity, aquatic ecosystem health, wetlands; and maintenance of stream base flow) | MOR-O1A: By 2003, an understanding of the relationship between open space (categories, characteristics and location) and water resources in sufficient detail to establish preservation targets that will achieve effective protection of those resources | MOR-S1A1: Use available research to identify the relationship between open spaces and water resource protection objectives, including statistical relationships, models, etc. and develop guidance for Millstone WMA |
| MOR-O1B: By 2006, application of the full range of land preservation and stewardship techniques for water resources protection including acquisition, conservation easements, riparian area preservation and proactive management in the Millstone WMA | MOR-S1B1: Identify, evaluate, and promote water resources protection open space criteria for use by land preservation entities | |
| MOR-S1B2: Educate governmental officials about conservation easements and stewardship | ||
| MOR-S1B3: Educate the public about the importance of riparian areas and the need for their protection | ||
| MOR-S1B4: Work with SBMWA to get all 26 municipalities to incorporate water resources open space planning and riparian area protection into their master plan | ||
| MOR-O1C: By 2010, 10% of targeted lands are permanently protected | MOR-S1C1: Assist interested land acquisition entities to identify parcels, to develop an action plan for purchase or protection efforts, and to identify funding sources for land preservation or land conservation easement acquisitions | |
| MOR-G2: Coordinated open space preservation efforts in the Millstone WMA | MOR-O2A: A network of open space preservation organizations and governmental agencies giving greater consideration to water resource protection when evaluating parcels in the Millstone Watershed | MOR-S2A1: Encourage all open space and land trust organizations in the Millstone WMA to use the water resources protection open space criteria or the like to achieve and coordinate with their broader organizational purposes |
| MOR-S2A2: Track the effectiveness of the land preservation entities using the water resources open space criteria and adjust as necessary. | ||
| MOR-S2A3: Develop targets for land preservation and evaluate the success at achieving those targets. | ||
| MOR-G3: Protection and enhancement of stream corridors and riparian areas to benefit water resources in the Millstone WMA (Water resources include: potable water supplies, ground water quality and quantity, surface water quality and quantity, aquatic ecosystem health, wetlands; and maintenance of stream base flow) | MOR-O3A: By 2004, mechanisms to maximize protection of (non-impaired) stream corridors and riparian areas in the Millstone WMA from future degradation adopted by NJDEP, local governments, and landowners | MOR-S3A1: Identify, promote, and use effective stream corridor and riparian area protection mechanisms |
| MOR-S3A2: Maximize involvement in the River-Friendly Resident, Farmer, Business, and Golf Course Programs of SBMWA | ||
| MOR-O3B: Restoration of degraded and impaired stream corridors and riparian areas by 2010 | MOR-S3B1: Create an “Adopt-a-Stream” program of stream bank restoration and reforestation opportunities for businesses, schools, and environmental groups | |
| MOR-S3B2: Develop a funding program for restoration efforts | ||
| MOR-S3B3: Continually solicit opportunities for stream bank restoration and riparian area protection from federal and state programs and agencies such as NJDOT, Green Acres, ACOE, FHA, County Road Departments, Mosquito Control Commissions and implement protection mechanisms |
Pollutants captured by
runoff and infiltration of surface water and stormwater flows cause a large
proportion of water quality impairments to surface and ground water. The most significant cause of new or changed
levels of pollutants to surface water flow and infiltration is a change to the
uses and management of land and natural resources. Most activities that control the use and management of land are
not well regulated or managed with respect to stormwater runoff and nonpoint
source pollution. A comprehensive,
viable, and justifiable plan to manage land uses and practices to reduce
pollutants from surface water flow and infiltration does not exist.
| Goal | Objective | Strategy |
| MNP-G5: Non point source loads that allow fishable/swimmable waters, healthy aquatic ecosystems, water-based recreation, and a quality water supply for potable and non-potable uses (drinking water, agricultural livestock water and irrigation) | MNP-O1A: Reduction of nonpoint source pollution through pollution prevention activities such as good housekeeping practices | MNP-S1A1: Develop and Implement lawn clipping and leaf removal/composting programs and household hazardous waste removal programs in communities where they do not exist. Evaluate the feasibility of more frequent collections and implement if feasible. |
| MNP-S1A2: Develop and Implement a recognition program for industries and large commercial areas with successful good housekeeping programs | ||
| MNP-S1A3: Develop and implement municipal good housekeeping practices programs that address street sweeping, municipal maintenance yards, salt and other chemical storage, liter collection and other situations. | ||
| MNP-S1A4: Implement pilot watershed measures, under US Fish and Wildlife Eastern US Migratory Bird Control Program, to reduce resident and non-resident geese waste impact on water resources | ||
| MNP-O1B: Reduce NPS pollution through development of new or better regulatory controls and their enforcement | MNP-S1B1: Develop nonpoint source control ordinance packages and implementation campaigns for no-net-increase-in-NPS-pollution; use of low/no phosphorus fertilizer for landscaping and lawn service companies; septic system maintenance; pooper scooper; do not feed water fowl; and others | |
| MNP-S1B2: Review and evaluate current regulations and determine both effectiveness and areas for improvement. This should also include some evaluation of cost benefits and impact on the affected stakeholders | ||
| MNP-S1B3: Develop a recommended list of needed regulations and improvement of existing regulations. This should be prioritized as to which are the most effective and which could be most easily put in place. Develop a plan to enact new regulations or improve existing ones. | ||
| MNP-S1B4: Strengthen the coordination and enforcement of the State Erosion and Sediment Control regulation (Chapter 251) with other State and local units of government (3) | ||
| MNP-S1B5: Write and adopt regulations requiring nutrient and TPHC removal. Lobby USEPA and NJDEP to add nutrient and TPHC removals to regulations | ||
| MNP-S1B6: Implement a campaign to reduce excess lawn fertilizer use, including a phosphorus fertilizer ordinance | ||
| MNP-O1C: Reduction of NPS pollution through the implementation of appropriate BMPs | MNP-S1C1: Require the use of BMPs from the NJDEP Manual and guidelines in site planning and municipal ordinances for all new development and redevelopment | |
| MNP-O1D: Reduction of NPS Pollution to known sensitive areas | MNP-S1D1: Implement watershed based lake restoration plans to remove excess sediment and control sedimentation rates to approximate natural levels. | |
| MNP-O1E: 75% of operating agricultural land participating in Agricultural Pollution Reduction Programs by 2010 | MNP-S1E1: Encourage farmers to conduct an analysis using the New Jersey Phosphorus Index to quantify phosphorus runoff risk and implement phosphorus reduction practices as outlined by the method | |
| MNP-S1E2: Implementation of agricultural nutrient management plans and integrated crop management | ||
| MNP-G2: An educated public and practitioners (regulators, designers, engineers, constructors, and others) about nonpoint source pollution and its solutions (Best Management Practices, Land Use Regulations, etc.) | MNP-O2A: Municipal officials, homeowners, lawn care companies, developers and landowners educated about the causes and concerns of nonpoint source pollution | MNP-S2A1: Collect and disseminate education materials about NPS pollution |
| MNP-S2A2: Create workshops and educational events for target audiences | ||
| MNP-O2B: Engineers, planners, developers and regulators educated about the regulations, planning documents and best management practices currently available to reduce nonpoint source pollution and appropriate for the Millstone WMA | MNP-S2B1: Create a bi-annual forum for the technical community to air frustrations about the practice and regularly learn of new BMPs | |
| MNP-S2B2: Determine informational needs and general areas of misunderstanding among those facilitating NPS project implementation and create opportunities for education | ||
| MNP-S2B3: Organize training and educational sessions about Best Management Practices, including distribution of useful educational and design materials | ||
| MNP-S2B4: Update National BMP Database |
STORMWATER, FLOWS, AND FLOODING
Problem Statement
Areas of the Millstone WMA receive extensive damage from chronic flooding and received significant damage from Hurricane Floyd.
| Goal | Objective | Strategy |
| MSW-G1: Minimization of flood damages through sustainable environmentally protective approaches | MSW-O1A: Evaluation of the opportunities and constraints for flood damage reduction | MSW-S1A1: Evaluate alternatives for flood control/flood damage reduction |
| MSW-S1A2: Create a public process to solicit opinions on acceptable levels of flood damage reductions and acceptable flood damage reduction solutions Determine public demands and government requirements for flood damage reductions | ||
| MSW-O1B: Reduction of flood damages from past and existing land uses | MSW-S1B1: Conduct watershed based analyses for flood reduction projects | |
| MSW-S1B2: Implement viable flood damage reduction projects (Structural and Non-structural) from SW1.2.1 | ||
| MSW-O1C: Prevention of flood damages from future land uses | MSW-S1C1: Use watershed models to assess problems and evaluate flood damage solutions | |
| MSW-S1C2: Prevent loss of areas critical for flood control to reduce future flood damages (open space, stream corridors, etc.) | ||
| MSW-S1C3: Increase effectiveness of stormwater management from new development | ||
| MSW-S1C4: Offset the effects of increased stormwater volume from new developments | ||
| MSW-G2: Restore and protect the integrity of stream channels affected by scour, erosion and sedimentation from stormwater flows | MSW-O2A: Assessment of scour, erosion and sedimentation problems and identification of solutions | MSW-S2A1: Determine the cause of scour, erosion and sedimentation in degraded stream channels and identify, design and implement projects to remedy |
| MSW-S2A2: Create an hydraulic impact review procedure for all new structures to be constructed in near and around water bodies | ||
| MSW-O2B: Restoration of existing stream channels | MSW-S2B1: Retrofit manmade structures causing scour, erosion, and sedimentation | |
| MSW-S2B2: Implement a stream bank restoration program | ||
| MSW-O2C: Protection of streams from unnatural causes of sedimentation, scour and erosion | MSW-S2C1: Control installation of devices or new inlets to streams | |
| MSW-S2C2: Improve review procedures to catch designs that will cause scour, erosion, and sedimentation | ||
| MSW-O2D: Education of practitioners and public of the importance of minimizing scour, erosion, and sedimentation | MSW-S2D1: Implement education program for general public about work and efforts to reduce scour, erosion, and sedimentation | |
| MSW-S2D2: Implement education program for practitioners about importance of not causing additional scour, erosion or sedimentation and design methods or improvements to minimize scour, erosion, and sedimentation. |
Meetings suspended until
needed.
Problem Statement
Existing water use and
increasing agricultural, commercial, industrial, and residential development
pressures are expected to put a strain on both surface and ground water
supplies in the Millstone WMA. The
current accounting system for water use is inadequate, is not equitable, and
does not properly account for all users of water supply. A better understanding (accounting) of water
use (both surface and ground water) is needed for the Millstone WMA. Based on that better understanding, a
management system is needed that maintains water resources while providing for
legitimate and equitable water supply uses.
| Goal | Objective | Strategy |
| MWS-G1: A sustainable and dependable water supply for human and ecological needs in the Millstone WMA and Raritan River Basin | MWS-O1A: By 2006, allocation of all waters by watershed, subwatershed and regional aquifer so that ecological resources are fully sustained, and reasonable human needs for residential, agricultural, industrial, commercial, recreational and water supply are met and limited to safe and dependable supplies of surface and ground waters | MWS-S1A1: Integrated water budget system (ground and surface water, from subwatershed and local aquifer to Raritan River Basin and major aquifer) by 2005 that includes updated definition (including modifications based on provisions to reduce the need for drought declarations through a more conservative estimate of safe and dependable yields) and estimates of safe and dependable yields (both from within the target area and available through inter-watershed transfers), current water uses and water allocations, adopted through either Statewide Water Supply Plan (advisory document) or Water Quality Management Plans (regulatory) (1) |
| MWS-S1A2: Determine reasonable potential water supply needs of future land uses, availability relative to current water budgets, and appropriate allocation relative to category of water user, using water supplies of quality and dependability that correspond to the legitimate needs of the user (i.e., highest quality and dependability for sensitive ecosystems and potable water supply), and adopt through either Statewide Water Supply Plan (advisory document) or Water Quality Management Plans (regulatory) (2) | ||
| MWS-S1A3: Develop and implement actions to bring into balance water use demands in specific subwatersheds, watersheds, local aquifers and regional aquifers where the water budget indicates that within watershed demands exceed available safe and dependable supplies (both from within the target area and available through inter-watershed transfers) (3) | ||
| MWS-S1A4: NJDEP adopts regulations mandating that no stream or aquifer may be degraded or impaired by regulated withdrawals or NJDEP approval of new land uses, using water budget (4) | ||
| MWS-S1A5: NJDEP adopts regulations requiring that all water allocations be consistent with the water budgets (5) | ||
| MWS-S1A6: Municipalities adopt ordinances requiring that new or modified land uses be assessed against water budgets (6) | ||
| MWS-S1A7: Modify the Water Supply Management Act or other laws (e.g., Municipal Land Use Law) to ensure that water demands are not in excess of safe and dependable supplies, including supplies for ecological uses (7) | ||
| MWS-O1B: By 2005, existing safe and dependable supplies of surface and ground waters are maintained by avoidance and mitigation of impacts from new and modified land uses | MWS-S1B1: NJDEP adopts regulations requiring that WQMP amendments, land use permits, utility infrastructure financing and other actions protect ground water recharge and the natural stream flow regimes (8) | |
| MWS-S1B2: Counties adopt requirements that new land uses requiring county approvals must protect ground water recharge and the natural stream flow regimes | ||
| MWS-S1B3: Municipalities adopt ordinances requiring that land use changes requiring municipal approvals must protect ground water recharge and the natural stream flow regimes | ||
| MWS-S1B4: Artificial ground water recharge and stream flow maintenance practices are operated and managed by entities with sufficient institutional capacity (e.g., finances and personnel) and performance guarantees to ensure no loss in effectiveness and to correct any problems resulting from said operation and management. | ||
| MWS-S1B5: Identification and purchase of ground water recharge areas (link to OSRAP) | ||
| MWS-O1C: Safe and dependable yields of surface and ground waters are improved, where they have been diminished | MWS-S1C1: Implement ground water restoration pilot project in at least one subwatershed in the Coastal Plain and the Piedmont that has experienced significant loss of estimated ground water recharge, to determine the most appropriate methods and most significant limitations to recharge restoration | |
| MWS-S1C2: Based on findings from the pilot projects, implement a systemic approach to restore lost ground water recharge using technically defensible and institutionally effective methods (9) | ||
| MWS-S1C3: Identify and implement a process for addressing contaminated sites on a watershed and aquifer basis to minimize the overall risk of resource loss, the potential for beneficial reuse of treated water, and the potential for restoration of the resource to public and ecological use | ||
| MWS-O1D: By 2007, per capita rates of human water use are reduced to maximize the benefit of existing safe and dependable supplies of surface and ground waters | MWS-S1D1: Implement a watershed-specific public and governmental education program (including cross-media and demonstration project approaches) about structural and non-structural drought water conservation, improved landscaping techniques, water-saving devices, and other methods of reducing water use per capita | |
| MWS-S1D2: Develop and implement site- and watershed-specific beneficial reuse and creative, alternative or non-traditional supply projects to maximize the benefits of used water, within the sustainable capacity identified in the water budget (10) | ||
| MWS-S1D3: Adopt municipal and county requirements, applicable to both government and private land uses, ensuring rapid and effective implementation of and enforcement of drought conservation and other water supply limitations | ||
| MWS-S1D4: Improve the drought declaration system so that declarations are more responsive to regional needs, provide for earlier identification of drought (deficit) conditions | ||
| MWS-S1D5: Implement an incentive-based program to retrofit existing buildings and landscapes to reduce water use and to provide for rapid and targeted drought conservation |