MUNICIPAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN

for

GREENWICH TOWNSHIP WARREN COUNTY

NEW JERSEY JUNE 8, 2005

REVISED NOVEMBER 7, 2005

FCE #GRWM088C3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1

I. GOALS ........................................................................................................................... 1

II. STORMWATER DISCUSSION ..................................................................................... 2

III. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................ 4

IV. DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS .......................................................... 5

V. PLAN CONSISTENCY .................................................................................................. 5

VI. NONSTRUCTURAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ..................... 5

VII. LAND USE/BUILD-OUT ANALYSIS ............................................................................ 7

VIII. MITIGATION PLANS ................................................................................................. 13

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1: GROUNDWATER RECHARGE IN THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE ...................... 3

FIGURE 2: WATERWAYS OF GREENWICH TOWNSHIP (REV. 1) .................... APPENDIX

FIGURE 3: USGS QUADRANGLE MAP FOR GREENWICH TOWNSHIP ......... APPENDIX

FIGURE 4: GROUNDWATER RECHARGE AREAS FOR GREENWICH TOWNSHIP (REV. 1) ............................ APPENDIX FIGURE 5: WELLHEAD PROTECTION AREAS FOR GREENWICH TOWNSHIP (REV. 1) ............................ APPENDIX FIGURE 6: WETLANDS AND OPEN WATER MAP FOR GREENWICH TOWNSHIP (REV. 1) ................................... APPENDIX FIGURE 7: HYDROLOGIC UNITS (HUC 14) MAP FOR GREENWICH TOWNSHIP .................................................. APPENDIX

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INTRODUCTION This Municipal Stormwater Management Plan (MSWMP) documents the strategy for Greenwich Township (“the Township”) to address stormwater-related impacts. The creation of this plan is required by N.J.A.C. 7:14A-25 Municipal Stormwater Regulations. This plan contains all of the required elements described in N.J.A.C. 7:8 Stormwater Management Rules and is due within twelve months of the effective date of the Township’s stormwater permit authorization. The plan addresses groundwater recharge, stormwater quantity, and stormwater quality impacts by incorporating stormwater design and performance standards for new major development, defined as projects that disturb one or more acre of land. These standards are intended to minimize the adverse impact of stormwater runoff on water quality and water quantity and the loss of groundwater recharge that provides baseflow into receiving water bodies. The plan also describes long-term operation and maintenance measures for existing and future stormwater facilities. A “build-out” analysis based upon existing zoning and land available for development is currently being conducted and will be made part of this plan by December 31, 2005. An evaluation of the Township’s ordinances and Master Plan relative to the incorporation of nonstructural stormwater management strategies is also being conducted and will be made part of this plan by the end of 2005. The final component of this plan is a mitigation strategy for instances where a variance or exemption of the design and performance standards is sought. Specific stormwater management measures to offset variances or exemptions are currently in development and will be incorporated into this plan by the end of 2005. I. GOALS

The goals of this MSWMP are to: • reduce flood damage, including damage to life and property; • minimize, to the extent practical, any increase in stormwater runoff from any new

development; • reduce soil erosion from any development or construction project; • assure the adequacy of existing and proposed culverts, bridges, and other in-stream

structures; • maintain groundwater recharge; • prevent, to the greatest extent feasible, an increase in nonpoint pollution; • maintain the integrity of stream channels for their drainage characteristics and biological

functions. • minimize pollutants in stormwater runoff from new and existing development to restore,

enhance, and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of the state, to protect public health, to safeguard fish and aquatic life and scenic and ecological values, and to enhance the domestic, municipal, recreational, industrial, and other uses of water; and

• protect public safety through the proper design and operation of stormwater basins.

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To achieve these goals, this plan outlines specific stormwater design and performance standards for new development. Additionally, the plan proposes stormwater management controls to address impacts from existing development. Preventive and corrective maintenance strategies are included in the plan to ensure long-term effectiveness of stormwater management facilities. The plan also outlines safety standards for stormwater infrastructure to be implemented to protect public safety.

II. STORMWATER DISCUSSION

Land development can dramatically alter the hydrologic cycle (See Figure 1) of a site and, ultimately, an entire watershed. Prior to development, native vegetation can either directly intercept precipitation or draw that portion that has infiltrated into the ground and return it to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration. Development can remove this beneficial vegetation and replace it with lawn or impervious cover, reducing the site’s evapotranspiration and infiltration rates. Clearing and grading a site can remove depressions that store rainfall. Construction activities may also compact the soil and diminish its infiltration ability, resulting in increased volumes and rates of stormwater runoff from the site. Impervious areas that are connected to each other through gutters, channels, and storm sewers can transport runoff more quickly than natural areas. This shortening of the transport or travel time quickens the rainfall-runoff response of the drainage area, causing flow in downstream waterways to peak faster and higher than natural conditions. These increases can create new and aggravate existing downstream flooding and erosion problems and increase the quantity of sediment in the channel. Filtration of runoff and removal of pollutants by surface and channel vegetation is eliminated by storm sewers that discharge runoff directly into a stream. Increases in impervious area can also decrease opportunities for infiltration, which, in turn, reduces stream base flow and groundwater recharge. Reduced base flows and increased peak flows produce greater fluctuations between normal and storm flow rates, which can increase channel erosion. Reduced base flows can also negatively impact the hydrology of adjacent wetlands and the health of biological communities that depend on base flows. Finally, erosion and sedimentation can destroy habitat from which some species cannot adapt.

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Figure 1: Groundwater Recharge in the Hydrologic Cycle

Source: New Jersey Geological Survey Report GSR-32.

In addition to increases in runoff peaks, volumes, and loss of groundwater recharge, land development often results in the accumulation of pollutants on the land surface that runoff can mobilize and transport to streams. New impervious surfaces and cleared areas created by development can accumulate a variety of pollutants from the atmosphere, fertilizers, animal wastes, and leakage and wear from vehicles. Pollutants can include metals, suspended solids, hydrocarbons, pathogens, and nutrients. In addition to increased pollutant loading, land development can adversely affect water quality and stream biota in more subtle ways. For example, stormwater falling on impervious surfaces or stored in detention or retention basins can become heated and raise the temperature of the downstream waterway, adversely affecting cold water fish species such as trout. Development can remove trees along stream banks that normally provide shading, stabilization, and leaf litter that falls into streams and becomes food for the aquatic community.

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III. BACKGROUND Greenwich Township occupies approximately 11 square miles in Warren County, New Jersey. Township population has grown from 1,899 in 1990 to 4,365 in 2000, a 130% increase, making it the fastest growing municipality in the State over this time period. The increased population and associated development have more than likely increased stormwater runoff volumes and pollutant loads to the waterways of the municipality. Figure 2 illustrates the waterways in the Township while Figure 3 depicts the Township boundaries on the USGS quadrangle map. Waterways of note in the municipality are Pohatcong and Merrill Creeks as well as the Musconetcong River. Both the Pohatcong and Merrill Creek are classified as Category 1 waterways and, therefore, are subject to the 300-ft. buffer restrictions in accordance with the Stormwater Rules. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has established an Ambient Biomonitoring Network (AMNET) to document the health of the state’s waterways. There are over 800 AMNET sites throughout the state of New Jersey. These sites are sampled for benthic macroinvertebrates by NJDEP on a five-year cycle. Streams are classified as non-impaired, moderately impaired, or severely impaired based on the AMNET data. The data is used to generate a New Jersey Impairment Score (NJIS), which is based on a number of biometrics related to benthic macroinvertebrate community dynamics. The New Jersey Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (305(b) and 303 (d)) (Integrated List) is required by the federal Clean Water Act to be prepared biennially and is a valuable source of water quality information. This combined report presents the extent to which New Jersey waters are attaining water quality standards, and identifies waters that are impaired. Sublist 5 of the Integrated List constitutes the list of waters impaired or threatened by pollutants, for which one or more Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) are needed. A TMDL is the amount of a pollutant that can be accepted by a waterbody without causing an exceedance of water quality standards or interfering with the ability to use a waterbody for one or more of its designated uses. The allowable load is allocated to the various sources of the pollutant, such as stormwater and wastewater discharges, which require an NJPDES permit to discharge, and nonpoint sources, which include stormwater runoff from agricultural areas and residential areas, along with a margin of safety. Provisions may also be made for future sources in the form of reserve capacity. An implementation plan is developed to identify how the various sources will be reduced to the designated allocations. Implementation strategies may include improved stormwater treatment plants, adoption of ordinances, reforestation of stream corridors, retrofitting stormwater systems, and other BMPs. A review of this Report and specifically Sublist 5 indicates that no Township waterways are currently impaired and, therefore, no TMDL’s are required. This Report and Sublist will be reviewed upon their five-year update cycle. The Township’s Stormwater Management Plan will be reviewed and revised accordingly.

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IV. DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS The Township will adopt the design and performance standards for stormwater management measures as presented in N.J.A.C. 7:8-5 to minimize the adverse impact of stormwater runoff on water quality and water quantity and loss of groundwater recharge in receiving water bodies. The design and performance standards include the language for maintenance of stormwater management measures consistent with the stormwater management rules as defined in N.J.A.C. 7:8-5.8 Maintenance Requirements, and language for safety standards consistent with N.J.A.C. 7:8-6 Safety Standards for Stormwater Management Basins. During construction, Township inspectors will observe the construction of each project to ensure that the stormwater management measures are constructed and function as designed and approved by the Township.

V. PLAN CONSISTENCY The Township is not within a Regional Stormwater Management Planning Area and no TMDLs have been developed for waters within the Township; therefore this plan does not need to be consistent with any regional stormwater management plans (RSWMPs) nor any TMDLs. If any RSWMPs or TMDLs are developed in the future, this Municipal Stormwater Management Plan will be revised accordingly. The Municipal Stormwater Management Plan is consistent with the Residential Site Improvement Standards (RSIS) as defined in N.J.A.C. 5:21. The municipality utilizes the most current update of the RSIS in the stormwater management review of development in residential areas. This Municipal Stormwater Management Plan will be revised to be consistent with any future updates to the RSIS. The Township’s Stormwater Management Ordinance will require that all new development and redevelopment plans comply with New Jersey’s Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Standards. During construction, Warren County Soil Conservation District inspectors will observe on-site soil erosion and sediment control measures. They will report any inconsistencies to the Warren County Soil Conservation District.

VI. NONSTRUCTURAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES Using the Municipal Regulations Checklist included in the BMP Manual, the Township reviewed existing ordinances relative to the incorporation of nonstructural stormwater management strategies. 1. Vegetation and Landscaping

• Preservation of Natural Areas – Current ordinances require that existing natural and manmade features be shown on site plans to be reviewed by the Township Engineer. Zoning requirements establish minimum yard sizing as well as the minimum percentage of preserved open space to be provided as part of cluster development.

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Although Ordinance 12-1.4 indicates that natural vegetation is to be maintained and protected in new or redevelopment, there are currently no incentives for the use of natural vegetation as filters for stormwater runoff. This should be reviewed as a consideration.

• Tree Protection Ordinances – Although there are no tree protection ordinances per se, current ordinances encourage the retention of natural vegetation and discourage site stripping. The Township should consider the concept of protecting a certain percentage of existing tree stands in proposed development areas.

• Landscaping Island and Screening Ordinances – Ordinance 16-4.14 addresses landscape buffer requirements. The ordinance calls for existing vegetation to be preserved as desired by the Planning Board and does encourage the use of natural vegetation for transition, frontage, and reverse frontage buffers.

• Riparian Buffers – Ordinance 16-4.16 addresses Stream Corridor protection. Specifically the ordinance requires a 250-ft. buffer around the Pohatcong Creek, Merrill Creek, and the Musconetcong River. Any proposed disturbance requires a conservation easement. The ordinance needs to be revised to be consistent with the NJDEP Category 1 stream classification buffer requirement of 300 ft. for Pohatcong Creek and Merrill Creek. The Township also has a Floodplain Ordinance, 18 – 1, which is consistent with State regulatory requirements.

2. Minimizing Land Disturbance • Limits of Disturbance – Setbacks are defined in the Zoning ordinance. All are greater

than the maximum setbacks recommended for low impact development design and, therefore, should be considered for review. Ordinance 12-1.3 requires that existing natural and manmade features are shown on the drawings submitted to the Township Engineer for review. In addition, soil erosion and sediment plans must be submitted and approved by the Warren County Soil Conservation District prior to construction.

• Open Space and Cluster Development – Section 16-7 of the Township ordinances describes the Open Space and cluster development requirements. Maximum allowable impervious cover requirements are established for this type of development as well as the minimum open space requirements. The Township should review the requirements relative to natural vegetation in the open spaces.

3. Impervious Area Management • Streets and Driveways – Section 11-2 of the Township ordinances generally describes

street and driveway requirements. Minimum width requirements are greater than those recommended for low impact development design and should be reviewed by the Township Engineer. This is a similar situation for driveways. However, ordinance 11.2.3(d)(3) does encourage that driveway drainage be directed into natural channels where possible. Township ordinance requires continuous raised curbs. This should be reviewed for the potential allowance of curb cuts or flush curbs with curb stops.

• Parking Areas and Sidewalks – Township ordinance 16-10.2 describes the parking space ratio requirements and stall dimension requirements. All exceed the recommended low impact development criteria. However, this is a rural area with no mass transit options available to potentially reduce parking ratios. The Township does allow for multi level parking and shared parking arrangements.

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• Unconnected Impervious Areas – Current ordinances doe not require disconnected impervious surfaces to promote pollutant removal and groundwater recharge. Continuous curbing is required in all new development. The Township Engineer should consider the appropriate use of disconnected impervious surfaces.

4. Vegetated Open Channels • All streets are required to have continuous, raised curbs. However, nothing prohibits

the conveyance of collected stormwater through vegetated open channels. VII. LAND USE/BUILD-OUT ANALYSIS

A land use and build-out analysis by HUC 14 zone is included in this Plan.

Land CoverTotal Phosphorus

LoadTotal Nitrogen

LoadTotal Suspended

Solids Load(lbs/acre/year) (lbs/acre/year) (lbs/acre/year)

High, Medium Density Residential 1.4 15 140Low Density, Rural Residential 0.6 5 100Commercial 2.1 22 200Industrial 1.5 16 200Urban, Mixed Urban, Other Urban 1 10 120Agricultural 1.3 10 300Forest, Water, Wetlands 0.1 3 40Barren Land/Transitional Land 0.5 5 60

Source: NJDEP Stormwater BMP Manual 2004

GREENWICH TOWNSHIPBUILD-OUT and POLLUTANT LOAD IMPACT

HUC 14 and ZONEEXISTING

IMPERVIOUSEXISTING

IMPERVIOUSCONSTRAINED

AREASDEVELOPABLE

AREADEVELOPABLE

AREAALLOWABLE IMPERVIOUS

BUILD-OUT IMPERVIOUS

(%) (ACRES) (ACRES) (ACRES) (ACRES) (%) (ACRES)

02040105160060R-2 Rural Residential 121 0 4 99.45 99 10 10R-7 Preservation Area/Low Density Residential

3750 70 259.25 259 10 26

ROM Research Office and Manufacturing 113 0 0 96.05 96 50 48

TOTALS 609 0 74 454.75 455 84

02040105140060B-1 Neighborhood Business 7 0 1 5.1 5 70 4

B-2 Highway Business 22 0 0 18.7 19 60 11B-I Business Industrial 150 0 1 126.65 127 50 64I Industrial 138 0 33 89.25 89 50 45PDSFZ Planned Development Single Family

590 3 47.6 48 50 24

R-1 Rural Residential 47 0 1 39.1 39 15 6R-2 Rural Residential 629 0 96 453.05 453 10 45R-7 Preservation/Low Density Residential 715 0 196 441.15 441 10 44R-75 Residential 32 0 20 10.2 10 20 2RO Research Office 52 0 13 33.15 33 45 15ROM Research Office and Manufacturing 768 0 55 606.05 606 50 303TC Town Center 322 0 24 253.3 253 35 89

TOTALS 2941 0 443 2123.3 2123 652

02040105140050B-1 Neighborhood Business 1 0 0 0.85 1 70 1B-I Business Industrial 96 0 0 81.6 82 50 41R-1 Rural Residential 74 0 0 62.9 63 15 9R-7 Preservation/Low Density Residential 725 0 38 583.95 584 10 58

TOTALS 896 0 38 729.3 729 109

TOTAL AREA

(ACRES)DEVELOPED

(ACRES)

GREENWICH TOWNSHIPBUILD-OUT and POLLUTANT LOAD IMPACT

02040105120010B-1 Neighborhood Business 67 0 0 56.95 57 70 40R-75 Residential 3 0 0 2.55 3 20 1

TOTALS 70 0 0 59.5 60 41

02040105120020B-1 Neighborhood Business 29 0 0 24.65 25 70 18

B-2 Highway Business 166 0 23 121.55 122 60 73B-I Business Industrial 38 0 0 32.3 32 50 16PDFSZ Planned Development Single Family

1910 5 158.1 158 50 79

PDZ Planned Development 215 0 4 179.35 179 50 90R-1 Rural Residential 96 0 0 81.6 82 15 12R-7 Preservation/Low Density Residential 133 0 14 101.15 101 10 10R-75 Residential 13 0 0 11.05 11 20 2TC Town Center 293 0 10 240.55 241 35 84

TOTALS 1174 0 56 950.3 950 384

02040105140040B-1 Neighborhood Business 51 0 11 34 34 70 24B-I Business Industrial 84 0 7 65.45 65 50 33R-1 Rural Residential 170 0 22 125.8 126 15 19R-7 Preservation/Low Density Residential 554 0 219 284.75 285 10 29R-75 Residential 74 0 32 35.7 36 20 7

TOTALS 933 0 291 545.7 546 112

TOTAL ALL HUCs 6623 0 902 4862.85 4863 1382

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VIII. MITIGATION PLANS Prior to granting a variance or an exemption from the stormwater management design and performance standards for any proposed development, mitigation plans will be developed and made a condition of the variance or exemption.