NJ DEP Announces New Water Quality Initiatives, Releases Updated Land Use Data

NJ DEP announced two new water-quality initiatives to mark the 37th anniversary of Earth Day, as well as releasing new information showing land use changes and development trends throughout New Jersey.

Under the first water quality initiative, more than 900 miles of waterways and 1,300 acres of reservoirs that supply drinking water in 11 counties to millions of New Jerseyans will receive Category One protection from the dangers of development. Along with recommending Category One protection for high-quality waters, DEP also advanced a major regulatory proposal that will address the impacts of septic systems on groundwater, and establish new standards for wastewater management planning. Both sets of proposed regulations will be published in the May 21 edition of the New Jersey Register. Following a 60-day public comment period, final rules will be adopted. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/newsrel/2007/07_0023.htm 

The DEP also recently released the results of a high-resolution aerial photograph study comparing the current results with data from previous years. The results indicate that New Jersey is losing open space at the rate of 15,000 acres a year, roughly the same rate as reported between 1986 and 1995. DEP will use the findings from the new study to develop strategies to curb overdevelopment. Among the initiatives that are being considered are increased flood hazard control measures, sustainable growth planning, and regulatory protections for threatened and endangered species. The land use data have been incorporated into the Department’s interactive mapping tool, i-MapNJ. http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/lulc02shp.html