Thank you for joining us for the Sixth Annual New Jersey Watershed Conference. The Watershed Conference was presented in a hybrid format meaning participants could attend in-person at the Watershed Center or virtually. If you have any questions about the conference or the sessions, please contact us at [email protected].
The event was an opportunity for learning, brainstorming, discussing, and planning solutions to the problems faced by New Jersey’s watersheds. We focused on the updates to the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, regional solutions to address polluted stormwater runoff and flooding, environmental justice, and the need for community-wide action. Municipal representatives, engineers, environmental professionals, watershed advocates, business leaders, and community members participated together in roundtable discussions, hands-on sessions, and networking.
The conference was organized into three tracks based on different audiences and stakeholders of MS4 at the local level. Learn more about MS4, the sessions, and other important details below.
Municipal stormwater management is generally comprised of a system of publicly–owned storm drains, outfalls, basins, green infrastructure, and other stormwater management installations. The Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, which is part of New Jersey’s Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program, is an important policy tool for protecting and enhancing our state’s water quality. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection recently issued a new MS4 permit, effective on January 1, 2023.
This new permit will bring about several changes in the standards for towns, including:
Community members are neighbors, organizations, businesses, nonprofit partners, and others who support policymakers and implementers. They can also participate in voluntary actions to protect watersheds on a local level. Sessions will focus on community buy-in, voluntary actions for your home, and how to get involved locally.
February 17
1 p.m. in the Classrooms and Virtually
Submission Deadline: February 6
We provide reduced or free registrations to those with financial need.
One of the goals of The Watershed Institute is to be inclusive and equitable for those who want to learn about what they can do to help improve health, access, and stewardship of waterways in New Jersey. We also recognize that low-income communities often feel exacerbated impacts of overdevelopment and stormwater pollution. These populations also tend to have less access to resources and funding to address these issues. This scholarship helps ensure that those most impacted by the issues have the same opportunity to join the table.
You will be contacted by Pri Oliveira ([email protected]) with a decision regarding your scholarship request. If approved, you will be provided with a scholarship code and instructions on how to register.
Your sponsorship supports our mission to keep water clean, safe, and healthy.
This is a great opportunity to get your name out in front of hundreds of attendees including municipal leaders, engineers, watershed advocates, businesses, and community members who will need to work together across municipal boundaries to solve New Jersey’s environmental problems. Your sponsorship will help defray conference expenses and allow us to keep registration fees low. It will also provide scholarships for students and others requiring financial aid. A table will be reserved for all sponsors who support the conference at the $1,000 level or above.
To become a sponsor, please reach out to Pri Oliveira, The Watershed Institute’s Outreach Specialist, at [email protected] with the subject line: [Watershed Conference Sponsor]. You can also call 609-737-3735 ext. 27 with any questions.
POND PROTECTOR
Rain Garden Guardian benefits, plus:
• (1) Additional registration (Total: 4)
• Company name, logo, and link on conference website page
• Full page advertisement in electronic program booklet
• Announcement of your sponsorship and company at the Watershed Conference
• (3) Social media announcements about your company prior to the conference
CREEK CAPTAIN
Rain Garden Guardian benefits, plus:
• (2) Additional registrations (Total: 3)
• Company name, logo, and link on conference website page
• Half page advertisement in electronic program booklet
RAIN GARDEN GUARDIAN
• Full access to conference sessions and meals for (1) representative
• Company name, logo, and link on all conference outreach emails
• Company name and logo on program agenda
NONPROFIT EXHIBITOR
Same as Rain Garden Guardian benefits:
• Full access to conference sessions and meals for (1) representative
• Company name, logo, and link on all conference outreach emails
• Company name and logo on program agenda
Here are some simple instructions on how to pay by purchase order (PO). Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Step 1: Select the option that you will be paying by purchase order in the registration form. Use the ‘pay later’ option at checkout to bypass immediate payment.
Step 2: Lynn McNulty, The Watershed Institute’s Development & Systems Operations Manager, will send you, and any contacts indicated, a follow-up email with an invoice, further PO and check writing instructions, and some useful documents typically requested such as our business registration, tax ID, and 501 c3. Please reach out to us if you do not receive that email within a week following registration.
Step 3: Follow the PO instructions and email a PO to Lynn McNulty at [email protected]. Lynn will send you a signed copy of the purchase order back.
Step 4: Send a check to The Watershed Institute for the amount on the PO. Make sure to include the invoice number and the full names of all registrants so that we can process the payment in a timely manner.
Note: This document and attachments will be included in the follow-up email from Lynn after you register.
CEUs Package Cost: $35
The Watershed Institute is a certified NJ Professional Engineer (PE) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) provider. We are also applying to provide credits for Certified Floodplain Managers (CFM) and Planners (APA) for applicable sessions.
Interested professionals who can self-report credits are also encouraged to add-on CEUs so that they receive documentation that is typically required (i.e., proof of attendance and a certificate detailing sessions they participated in).
There is an additional cost and basic attendance requirements to receive CEU certificates. The $35 additional charge covers all CEU costs, and attendees can pursue as many as they want and are possible. During the event, attendees who wish to pursue CEUs must:
1) Fully attend the sessions they want credit for (virtual attendance tracking)
2) Sign into sessions when they start and sign out before they leave the room (in-person attendance tracking)
3) Complete any necessary verification forms and/or feedback forms (dependent on the type of CEU)
If you have already registered and are interested in CEUs but didn’t add them to your ticket, you can do so through our additional Add-on CEUs form.
Feb. 10 – Understanding Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) for Public Officials and Implementers
Feb. 10 – Ordinances
Feb. 10 – Regional Approaches to Stormwater Management
Feb. 17 – Stormwater Utilities for Local Officials
Credits are being obtained through partnership with the NJ-AWRA:
All sessions in the Implementers Track offer 1 PE
Site by Scout Digital
