NJWSA Acquisition Program

Source Water Protection

Source Water Protection (SWP) has long been recognized as one of the most effective means for ensuring long-term viability of water supply and maintenance of water quality. In recent years, the New Jersey Water Supply Authority (Authority) created and instituted a comprehensive SWP program. The
SWP program consists of several components, including the Watershed Protection Programs Division and the Land and Resource Preservation Program.

The Watershed Protection Programs Division was created to protect the water resources in the watersheds of the Raritan River, the Manasquan River, and the Delaware & Raritan Canal. The Land and Resource Preservation Program was designed to identify, acquire, and manage critical watershed parcels toward protection of water supply.

Land Preservation and Management

In 2001, the Authority commenced the Spruce Run Initiative (SRI) to preserve critical watershed properties in the vicinity of the Spruce Run Reservoir. The SRI involved outreach to landowners within the Spruce Run watershed, exploring the possibilities of Authority-led acquisition of critical parcels. This outreach was guided by the Watershed Protection Programs's report, Preservation of Critical Areas in the Spruce Run Reservoir Watersheds, as well as GIS-based critical area mapping provided by the Watershed Protection Programs. Since that time, the Authority expanded its land preservation efforts to include lands within the watersheds of the North and South Branches of the Raritan River as well as the Lockatong and Wickecheoke watersheds, utilizing the WPP's critical area mapping as a tool for identifying target properties.

The Authority has formed partnerships with non-profit, municipal, County and State entities to maximize its watershed acquisitions. The Authority, along with its partners, has taken a strategic approach at preservation with the intention of creating contiguous areas of preserved open space. In addition, these partnerships have allowed the Authority to cost-share, and to designate management of properties to other entities who wish to utilize the properties for mutually acceptable purposes.

Funding Source Water Protection

The Authority instituted a Source Water Protection (SWP) rate component on July 1, 2002 to fund the SWP program. Since that time, the Authority has utilized this dedicated portion of the rate, paid by water customers, to assist in protection and preservation of critical watershed properties. To our knowledge, the Authority is the first entity in the State to utilize ratepayer funds for preservation purposes.

This ongoing source of dedicated funds allows the Authority to finance land acquisitions through the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust (NJEIT) at very favorable interest rates. The NJEIT is a low interest loan program available to public entities for, among other things, the acquisition of properties benefiting drinking water quality.

Results

To date, the Authority and its partners have participated in the preservation of more than 3,100 acres of critical watershed property, valued at more than $66,000,000. In addition, the Authority holds conservation easements on 316 acres, valued at nearly $2,600,000. The Authority has forged successful partnerships with more than 30 different entities, both for cost sharing and management responsibilities on preserved parcels.

For more information on the NJWSA's Land and Resource Preservation Program, contact Julie Hajdusek at (908) 638-6121 x250 orpreservation@njwsa.org.