Restoration & Protection Projects
The staff of the Watershed Protection Division brings a variety of expertise to the Authority, including watershed management, water quality monitoring, watershed planning, geospatial information analysis, and public education. The division has been actively involved in many exciting projects funded by USEPA, NJDEP, and other government entities and has worked with various partners including federal, state, county, local, non-profit, and private sectors for the protection of water quality, quantity and the overall watershed.
Please review the list of projects below to see what we've been doing:
Addressing Non-Point Source Pollution in Priority Watersheds
The goal of this project is to increase the amount of agricultural conservation practice implementation in four priority watersheds of the Raritan Basin: Spruce Run, Mulhockaway Creek, Neshanic River, and South Branch/Long Valley. The priority watersheds were selected due to their importance to water supply in the Raritan Basin, the existence of watershed restoration plan recommendations, the known impairments and the presence of a significant amount of agriculture in each watershed.
Aquatic Invasive Species
Aquatic plants are an ongoing and increasing concern for operations and maintenance of the D&R Canal, including dense beds of native plants. These thick weed mats reduce water flow, impair water quality, block sunlight, reduce dissolved oxygen, inhibit recreational activities, and impact habitat for fish, waterfowl and other wildlife within the Canal environment.
Delaware & Raritan Canal Non-Point Source Management Implementation Project
This study aims to identify the streams and stormwater outfalls that contribute the greatest pollutant loads in the last 10 miles of the Delaware & Raritan Canal. Its goal is to design remedial projects that look to reduce canal pollution. Funding is provided from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Water Supply Authority.
The Lockatong & Wickecheoke Creeks Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan
In response to the results and management recommendations presented in the "Lockatong and Wickecheoke Creek Watersheds Restoration and Protection Plan," the New Jersey Water Supply Authority has proposed several "implementation projects" for federal funding from section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act, to be administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Manasquan Watershed
The Manasquan River serves as a significant water supply for portions of eastern Monmouth County. The Manasquan Reservoir has a very small watershed and therefore is almost entirely dependent upon pumpage from the Manasquan River to support its 30 MGD safe yield. The Manasquan River Watershed Management Plan focuses on several key issues: fishery management, habitat protection, drinking water quality and quantity, and cultural heritage. Some of these strategies and action plans directly relate to the movement of pollutants into and down the Manasquan River to the New Jersey Water Supply Authority (NJWSA) water supply intake.
Mulhockaway Creek Stormwater Management and Watershed Restoration Plan
The NJWSA, with a 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Grant from NJDEP, developed the Mulhockaway Creek Stormwater Management and Watershed Restoration Plan. The plan was developed because water quality standards for pathogens (fecal coliform) and temperature were exceeded, aquatic life was rated as moderately impaired and the Mulhockaway Creek is tributary to Spruce Run Reservoir, a major water supply reservoir and recreation area.
Peters Brook Stormwater Initiatives
The Peters Brook watershed is contained in the towns of Bridgewater, Somerville, and Raritan, which are characterized by older, densely populated residential neighborhoods where stormwater retention is minimal. The Peters Brook Stormwater Reduction Project focuses on implementing small, low-cost best management practices (BMPs), such as rain gardens and rain barrels, that will reduce the amount of stormwater, which carries pollutants including fecal coliform, that reaches the Peters Brook.
Property Acquisition and Stewardship
The open space property acquisition program at the New Jersey Water Supply Authority sets a goal of preserving land in the headwaters region of our reservoirs. Pristine, natural landscape is the best way to ensure that water entering our reservoirs starts as clean as possible. Review our interactive map to see one of our open space properties is in your neighborhood.
Franklin Township (Somerset County) Stormwater Basin Retrofit Project
The goal of this project is to identify and retrofit existing stormwater basins that drain to the D&R Canal and the Raritan River. NJWSA worked with Franklin Township to prioritize basins. The retrofit activities may include removing concrete low flow channels and adding native meadow vegetation to increase sediment removal.
Other Projects
Read about some of our other projects here.