Basin Bulletin Spring 2007

The true test of innovation is success, not the uniqueness of individual project components. The Raritan Basin provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate and evaluate an innovative set of approaches to restore, protect and enhance water resources. It is a manageable watershed (1,100 square miles) with the full spectrum of land uses from urban to forested and agrarian. Most of the Basin is a source water area for surface water supplies. It has significant demographic diversity, and a wide variation in local efforts to protect watershed resources.

The NJWSA is leading an evaluation of existing municipal master plans and land use regulations and assessing the goals of municipal officials in the South Branch and Mainstem Raritan project areas under a USEPA Targeted Watershed Grant (TWG), using an innovative process developed by the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association. The Stony-Brook Millstone Watershed Association is performing the assessments for municipalities located in the Millstone.

The municipal assessment process introduces comprehensive models supported by legal, ecological and policy analysis. The Authority is also conducting municipal assessments in the Raritan-Highlands Region under a NJDEP 604(b) grant and in the Lockatong and Wickecheoke watersheds under a NJDEP 319 grant.

The goal of the municipal assessment project is comprehensive adoption of local ordinances that help protect and preserve natural resources, focusing on stream corridor, stormwater and non-point source pollution.

Township Goal: To protect water quality and prevent flooding. To restore already degraded stream corridor buffers. To prevent the destruction and degradation of freshwater wetlands.

Current Practices: Applicants for subdivision and land development are required to depict all flood hazard areas and wetlands on submitted plans. Principal and accessory buildings are prohibited in these critical areas.

Recommendation: Adopt a comprehensive stream corridor ordinance based on explicit objectives in the Master Plan and Conservation Element. As all of the open waters of Bethlehem Township are classified as Category 1 (C-1) by NJDEP, the environmental resource inventory should be updated to reflect a 300-foot stream buffer in the Highlands Preservation Area.

Implementing Action: The Township has compiled a field inventory of all headwater streams.

Township Goal: To review and revise the Township’s Master Plan, regulatory ordinances and best management practices in ways that anticipate and positively influence the Highlands Regional Master Plan.

Current Practices: Chester Township’s master plan and zoning and land use ordinances have been updated to recognize the Highlands region. In particular, the township land use ordinance regulates activities in the Highlands Planning Area.

Recommendation: Consistent with the provisions of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, the Township’s new land use regulations puts limits on development on steep slopes, provides for a 3% impervious surface limit, zero net fill in floodplains, and regulates the clearing of vegetative cover in the Highlands Planning Area, located in the eastern portion of the municipality (see Chapter 113, LAND USE, Part 5, Zoning ARTICLE 35, Supplementary Regulations § 113-242.3. Planning Area regulations). Certain development is exempt from the regulations.

Implementing Action: The Township has enacted zoning amendments, which implement the resource protection standards of the Highlands Preservation Area in all areas of the community.

Lebanon Township (Hunterdon County) - Strengthening the Role of the Environmental Commission

Township Goal: “The Commission's goal is to maintain and preserve the environmental quality of Lebanon Township. This goal is met through a variety of actions, including working closely with the Planning Board through the review of subdivision and ordinances, informing the Planning, Zoning and Boards of Adjustment about environmental impacts of proposals for development, advocating planned open space preservation at the municipal level, investigating environmental problems and proposing solutions, informing residents on environmental matters and ways to help protect the environment, interacting with neighboring commissions to tackle regional and state issues, and maintaining a data base on the environmental resources of the municipality, which is known as the Natural Resources Inventory (NRI). The EOS also is responsible for the creation and maintenance of an open space database and supporting the Open Space Coordinator.” (see: http://www.lebanontownship.net/EOS/)

Current Practices: The Lebanon Township Environmental Commission has, through the efforts and encouragement of the Township Committee, reorganized with new members and leadership. The Commission has set a number of short and long-term goals including review the township tree protection regulations, updated newsletters and web postings, participation in the regional Biodiversity Study being conducted by the Metropolitan Conservation Alliance, and providing routine advice to the Planning Board.

Recommendation: The Commission should periodically reassess the township’s Natural Resources Inventory, open space acquisition priorities, and public environmental education efforts. The findings and recommendations of the Highland Regional Master Plan should be evaluated by the Commission to determine consistency with local resource protection efforts.

Implementing Action: The Commission, after extensive research, recently provided the Planning Board with a series of recommendations on protecting the Township’s forest resources.

Union Township (Hunterdon County) - Development Pressure and Traffic Mitigation

Township Goal: The Circulation Plan Element of the Master Plan establishes a policy to “Provide planning solutions to the potential circulation problems posed by future growth on inadequately designed existing roads, intersections and bridges.” (p. B3-1). The township has expressed a concern over regional commuter and truck transport traffic on I-78 which can conflict with school bus routes and pose a pollution threat to the Spruce Run Reservoir.

Current Practices: The Master Plan outlines specific recommendations for key roadways throughout the township. New roads are subject to the state Residential Site Improvement Standards. Little attention is paid to regional transportation issues. The existing street system of the Township was developed to support a once prevalent agricultural industry. Although the current Master Plan points out isolated areas of traffic constraints, local roads appear to function adequately for this rural residential community and in fact add to its charm. As a result of the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, future growth in Union Township will be limited. However, an increase in truck transport and commuter traffic on I-78 should be expected due to the expansion of Port Newark as well as residential and commercial growth in both eastern Pennsylvania and northwestern New Jersey.

Recommendation: As noted in the Master Plan, the existing “road network functions efficiently enough today to carry the limited traffic demands imposed by the community’s small residential population, agricultural setting and minimal commercial development.” (p.A11-1). Regional traffic patterns on the other hand impose significant challenges on the township. Local roads are often used to bypass highway congestion on I-78. The influx of otherwise regional (and interstate) traffic conflicts with local traffic and, during morning rush hours, can pose a threat to school children awaiting bus transport. Further, I-78 runoff ultimately enters the Spruce Run Reservoir via the Mulhockaway Creek at three different stream crossings. Regional problems demand regional solutions. Accordingly, the township should seek relief from I-78 issues through regional, state and federal authorities.

Implementing Action: The Township has amended it’s Master Plan and rezoned the I-78 and Route 173 corridor to protect natural resources and accommodate land uses conducive to the needs of local residents.

Highlights of the NJDEP 604(b) Grant Communities (Raritan-Highlands Study Area)

Califon Borough (Hunterdon County) - Monitoring and Performance Standards for Septic Systems

Borough Goal: The Natural Resources section of the 1995 Master Plan Update asserts that “special care should be taken when development takes place in areas underlain with limestone. If public sewerage is not available, development densities should be limited and a source of public water supply should be used instead of individual wells.” Respondents to the opinion survey highlighted the need to adopt regulations governing septic system maintenance, upgrade/repair existing septic systems, and educate homeowners about the importance of septic maintenance. It was also suggested that lot sizes should be increased in an effort to prevent construction of septic systems on small lots.

Current Practices: According to Article VII – Section 709 of the Land Development Ordinance, “where the use of subsurface sewage disposal systems is proposed as a means of sewage disposal, the developer shall construct such facilities in accordance with the Califon Borough Wastewater Management Plan and NJDEP permit requirements and in such a manner as to make adequate sewage treatment available to each lot and building within the development.”

Recommendation: Adopt ordinances and policies to improve performance and monitoring of septic systems. In addition, the Borough should adopt a revised and finalized Wastewater Management Plan as an element of the Master Plan.

Implementing Action: Califon has secured a grant from the Highlands Commission to evaluate individual on-site alternative wastewater treatment technologies in relation to special conditions that are common within the Borough. The Borough has no public sanitary sewer facilities and relies entirely on individual on-site disposal systems. Existing structures suitable for affordable housing and redevelopment projects are severely limited due to poor soils and underlying carbonate rock formations. The evaluation will include identification of alternative systems, discussion of feasibility of implementing alternative systems, including research of case studies, establish contacts for an Innovative/Alternative Wastewater Technologies working group, and cost comparison of alternative systems versus a municipal-wide system. (see: http://www.highlands.state.nj.us/njhighlands/master/case/#2)

Highlights of the NJDEP 604(b) Grant Communities (Raritan-Highlands Study Area) Continued

Township Goal: Protection of the Township’s potable water supply is a key goal of the Conservation Plan. Maintaining a high quality, adequate supply of groundwater to meet the needs of the residents, plant and animal communities and wildlife ecological boundaries remains a high priority. In addition, respondents to the municipal survey indicated a strong desire to protect ground water supplies.

Current Practices: The Township’s zoning and land use regulations require the submission of an inventory of existing conditions as part of the subdivision and land development process to include but is not limited to the following: description of critical areas such as streams, wetlands, flood prone locations and aquifer recharge areas. In addition, the Township developed strategies to prevent contamination of ground water resources, provides proper management of groundwater recharge locations; and reduces permitted residential densities in order to reduce the potential for water quality impairment.

Recommendation: Implement management of the Township’s water resources as referenced in the Conservation Plan. Map wellhead protection areas for public and private wells and establish a Township wide wellhead protection program with wellhead protection standards to prevent contamination within wellhead-designated areas.

Implementing Action: The Township is currently updating its wastewater management plan through the 604(b) grant.