In New Jersey, stormwater pollution accounts for 60 percent of the pollution that enters our rivers, streams, lakes and other waterways.
Stormwater carries fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, antifreeze, sediment and many other pollutants from our lawns, driveways, streets, and parking lots into our waterways.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) today adopted an amendment to its stormwater rules that will change how new developments control and manage the polluted stormwater runoff in communities. The new rule requires that all new development use small scale green infrastructure, such as rain gardens or bioswales, to absorb and better control stormwater runoff with trees and vegetation. Every town has up to one year to adopt a new stormwater management ordinance that incorporates the new requirements.
The Watershed Institute and other environmental groups are preparing a new enhanced model incorporating these new NJDEP requirements and additional protections. Contact your town leaders and let them know that you care!
Local Municipal Contacts
Additionally, the Watershed wants to help identify where flooding is a persistent or worsening problem. Does flooding regularly close roads in your neighborhood? Help us locate these trouble spots so we can work with local officials and advocate for better stormwater management.
The Watershed Institute has created an interactive map of flooding in the Stony Brook-Millstone and central Delaware watersheds. Help us understand the problem by dropping a pin on our map and uploading your photos.
