Regional Planning & Tracking our Progress: Lessons from the Highlands New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council Christine Danis, PP, AICP Director of Planning and Science 5 th Annual Sustainable Raritan River Conference June 11, 2013
Agenda Highlands Region Raritan Basin Raritan Basin and Highlands Communities Raritan Basin TMDL Action and Collaboration
Highlands Region
Federal Highlands Region The federal Highlands Region is a 3.5 millionacre region stretching across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.
New Jersey Highlands 859,358 acres (1,343 square miles) 88 municipalities 7 counties Divided into Preservation Area and Planning Area in the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act.
Who s drinking and using Highlands Water? The Highlands Region makes up less than 15% of state land, but provides drinking water for more than half its residents.
The Highlands Act & Council The New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act (2004) The Highlands Regional Master Plan (2008) Highlands Council 15 appointed members Supported by professional planning, science and GIS staff Administers plan conformance program, reviews proposed projects Shared jurisdiction with NJDEP Regional Planning Entity
Raritan Basin
1 Map from Carl showing Highlands Region with Raritan basin overlay. 1 Map from Carl with the Raritan Basin Highlands Region municipalities
Raritan Basin Preservation Area Exemption Analysis Acreage of exempt parcels: 4,705.61 acres # of exempt parcels: 730 # of parcels where development occurred*: 589 # of parcels where no development occurred*: 117 Impervious surface area created: 51.37 acres Forest cover lost: 181.03 acres *As of 2010 aerial imagery review
Map from Carl showing Exemptions in the Raritan basin from Anthony s project.
Raritan Basin and Highlands Communities
Map from Carl showing Highlands Munis (labeled) in Raritan basin with PC status overlay
Raritan Basin Highlands Communities Highlands Approved Conformance Petitions Highlands Pending Approvals Non-Conforming Municipalities Alexandria Township Clinton Township Chester Borough Bedminster Township Far Hills Borough Bernards Township Bethlehem Township Union Township Bernardsville Borough Chester Township Mendham Borough Clinton Town Mendham Township Glen Gardner Borough Mine Hill Township Hampton Borough Peapack-Gladstone Borough High Bridge Borough Lebanon Borough Lebanon Township Mount Arlington Borough Mount Olive Township Randolph Township Roxbury Township Tewksbury Township Washington Township (Morris)
How Plan Conformance Supports Sustainable Raritan River Initiative Grant funding and expertise to support: Water Use & Conservation Management Stream Corridor Protection/Restoration Lake Restoration/Management Stormwater Management Wastewater Management Septic System Management/Maintenance
Raritan Basin TMDL
Importance of TMDL DEP Final TMDL Report with Technical Report details anticipated Fall 2013 Anticipate TMDL adoption Winter 2014 Phosphorus and TSS TMDLs implemented through NJPDES permit revisions for wastewater and stormwater sources, and programs designed to encourage the application of agricultural BMP s
Importance of TMDL TMDL Condition for WWTP Sources (via NJPDES Permit renewal) Stormwater TMDL Conditions (via regulated Municipal MS4 area only) Nonpoint Source TMDL Conditions (via non regulated encouraged actions) Agricultural NPS Percent Reduction Urban NPS Percent Reduction
Action and Collaboration
Proposal Highlands Council currently seeking partners for potential pilot program Address TMDL, stormwater and stream corridor protection implementation in conforming Highlands municipalities Using a Comprehensive, Integrated and Collaborative approach Grant funding available (part of Plan Conformance municipal/county grant funding)
Let us help you craft your Sustainable Raritan River action
Christine Danis, Director of Planning and Science Staff Liaisons for Conforming Raritan Basin Communities Hunterdon County Alexandria Township, Keri Benscoter Bethlehem Township, Jim Hutzelmann Califon Borough, Maryjude Haddock-Weiler Clinton Town, Chris Ross Clinton Township, James Humphries Glen Gardner Borough, Maryjude Haddock-Weiler Hampton Borough, Judy Thornton High Bridge Borough, Chris Ross Lebanon Borough, Keri Benscoter Lebanon Township, Judy Thornton Tewksbury Township, James Humphries Union Township, James Humphries Highland Council Office (908) 879-6737 www.nj.gov/njhighlands/planconformance/liaisons.html Morris County Chester Township, James Humphries Mount Arlington, Borough Chris Ross Mount Olive, James Humphries Randolph Township, Maryjude Haddock- Weiler Roxbury Township, Chris Ross Washington Township, Keri Benscoter Somerset County Bedminster Township, Judy Thornton Far Hills Borough, Corey Piasecki