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We Need Your Help To Protect Stony Brook

October 15, 2007

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has proposed important new protections for the Stony Brook in portions of Hopewell, Lawrence, Pennington, and Princeton. Please help us protect this cherished waterway by submitting a letter or email to urge the Department to finalize this bold initiative.

Sample Letter/Email     Send email to gary.brower@dep.state.nj.us               More Information

Background

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has proposed designating portions of the Stony Brook and its tributaries as “Category One” under the state’s Surface Water Quality Standards. The Watershed Association nominated the Stony Brook for this designation in 2003. Category One designation protects streams from measurable changes in water quality and prohibits most new development within 300 feet of their banks.

The state defines Category One waters as those having clarity, color, scenic setting, other characteristics of aesthetic value, exceptional ecological significance, exceptional recreational significance, exceptional ecological significance, or exceptional fisheries resources.

Specifically, 42 miles of the Stony Brook and its tributaries in Hopewell, Lawrence, Pennington, and Princeton have been proposed for Category One designation because of the presence of several threatened and endangered freshwater mussels, which are highly dependent on clean water. These species include the brook floater, triangle floater, eastern pondmussel, and green floater (Stony Brook is the location of the last known sighting of the green floater in the state.) In addition, lands surrounding the Stony Brook and its tributaries provide habitat for a variety of other threatened and endangered species, including the wood turtle.

Surprisingly, DEP did not propose Category One designation for the headwaters of the Stony Brook. Located in the Sourland Mountains of Hopewell, East and West Amwell, this northernmost segment of the Stony Brook contains its cleanest waters. The Watershed Association included the Stony Brook headwaters in our 2003 nomination and are now urging DEP to expand their proposal to include these areas.

Take Action

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is accepting comments on the proposed new protections for the Stony Brook until August 20. Please use the sample below to create your own letter to DEP urging adoption of their proposed rule to protect the Stony Brook as a Category One stream. Please urge them to expand the proposal to also protect the headwaters of the Stony Brook in the Sourland Mountains. Please send us an e-mail to let us know you sent a comment to DEP.

Sample Comment Letter

Mail or send your comment letter to gary.brower@dep.state.nj.us

Notify us at watershedwatch@thewatershed.org