Watershed Management in New JerseyUpper Navesink Water Qualtiy Meeting

Robert A. Mancini, Section ChiefDivision of Watershed Management

Bureau of Watershed Planning Department of Environmental Protection

September 21, 2005

New Jersey’s Watershed Management Areas

What is the purpose of watershed

management?

• Holistic Approach to:– Water quality– Water quantity– Ecosystem health

• Develop Partnerships• Continuously

Improve• Provide Coordination

of NJDEP Activities

Summary of Watershed Management

Continuing Planning Process

TMDL • WLAs to individual point sources• LA to nonpoint Sources• Showing that LA is “reasonably

achievable”

Point Source NPDES Permits

Control Nonpoint Sources

List Impaired Waters

Monitor/Assess WQS Attainment

Water Quality Standards

Integrated Watershed

Plan

Comprehensive Strategy for Addressing Water Quality Impairments

• Total Maximum Daily Loads

• NJPDES Phase II (NJAC 7:14)

• Stormwater Management (NJAC 7:8)

• C – 1 Surface Water Classifications

• Watershed Restoration & Protection Plans

• Regional Stormwater Management Plans

• Implementation Projects w/Partnerships

Comprehensive Strategy for Addressing Water Quality

Impairments

• Total Maximum Daily Loads

• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

• Watershed Plan / Segments

• NJPDES Phase II

• Stormwater Management

“Category One waters” are those special waters identified for

protection from measurable changes in water quality characteristics because of their clarity, color,

scenic setting, other characteristics of aesthetic value,

exceptional ecological significance, exceptional recreational significance,

exceptional water supply significance, or exceptional fisheries resources.

Category One Waters (HUC14s)

Watershed Plans/Restoration Plans/Priority Stream Segment Plans/RSWMP

• Determine Root Cause for environmental problems

• Identify restoration/implementation projects actions:• Responsible parties

• Funding sources - CBT, 319(h), Infrastructure Trust, USEPA Grants, NRCS, NY/NJ Harbor Estuary Program, NJCVA Program, Wetlands Mitigation Council, NOAA, etc.

• Timelines for implementation

• Track Progress on achieving water quality standard

Watershed Protection/Restoration/Priority Stream Segment and RSWMP Plans

• Working with PAC’s/TAC’s partnerships, developed basic criteria to prioritize waterbodies and stream segments of interest

Some of the criteria include:• Headwater areas• Proximity to drinking water supply• Proximity to recreational/exceptional valued areas (Shellfish

Harvesting, primary contact etc.)• Possibility of Adverse Human Health Conditions• Number of use impairments• Possibility to evaluate several impairments

• Measurable change

• Probability of human source

• Availability of Partnerships

• High Anticipated Success Level

WMA12 Watershed Protection/Restoration Plans/RSWMP (continued)

WMA 12 Waterbodies and stream segments of interest:

• Shark River near Neptune (TMDL and Priority Stream Segment)

• Shrewsbury (C-1)

• Wreck Pond Watershed (RSWMP)

• Ramanessin Brook Watershed (RSWMP)

• Deal Lake Watershed (TMDL and RSWMP)

• Manasquan River (C-1 and various WQ Impairments)

• Navesink/Swimming River (Shellfish Waters and RSWMP)

DEVELOP PLANS THAT IDENTIFY IMPLEMENTATION

PROJECTS AND STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE WQ IMPAIRMENTS

Information

Division website: www.nj.gov/dep/watershedmgt

Division address:

Division of Watershed Management

401 E. State Street, PO Box 418

Trenton, NJ 08625-0418

(609) 984-0058