SFY 2005 SECTION 319(H) FUNDED PROJECTS

Each year, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (Department) Division of Watershed Management (DWM) publishes a Request for Proposals (RfP) to solicit grant proposals for Section 319(h) Pass-Through Grant funds from eligible entries. For State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2005, proposals for two specific project types were solicited: (1) developing Watershed Restoration and/or Protection Plans in targeted waters, and (2) implementing nonpoing source (NPS) pollution control measures as identified in a proposed, established, approved, or adopted Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) implementation plan. The goal of this RfP is the development of implementable watershed based plans to protect and restore identified water bodies throughout the state as well as the realization of projects that will achieve load reductions as detailed in TMDLs.

In SFY 2005, eleven 319(h) projects received funding through the pass-through grant program; nine of these grants are for the development of Watershed Restoration and/or Protection Plans, while the other two are TMDL Implementation Projects. These projects are:

(View Map with locations of the following projects)

05-05070: Watershed Restoration Plan for the Upper Cohansey River Watershed

Grantee: Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

The Upper Cohansey River watershed is 30 square miles. The river is listed on Sublist 5 of the New Jersey 2004 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report for phosphorus, lead, pH, and aquatic life impairments. Additionallly, a TMDL for fecal coliform has been proposed for 34 miles fo the Upper Cohansey River. This TMDL requires a 66% reduction in nonpoint source bacteria loads from this agriculturally dominated watershed. The goal of this project is to improve the water quality of the Upper Cohansey River by developing a watershed restoration plan that, when implemented, will achieve the required TMDL reduction and reduce the NPS pollutant loading that is contributing to the surface water quality impairments for phosphorus, lead, pH, and aquatic life. This project will determine the courses of action necessary to restore and protect water quality, through the identification and prioritization of specific nonpoint source abatement measures. The plan, one of the first of such "next level" watershed-based planning documents developed for the State of New Jersey, will serve as a blueprint for achieving the stated water quality, quantity, and recharge objectives of the plan.

05-05080: Implementation of Nonpoint Source Management Measures to Reduce the Phosphorus and Sediment Loads Entering Lake Hopatcong

Grantee: Lake Hopatcong Commission

At nearly 2,700 acres, Lake Hopatcong is New Jersey's largest inland lake. Not only is the lake a major year-round recreational center for 500,000 annual visitors, but its watershed also hosts a resident population of over 65,000 people in 2 counties (Sussex and Morris) and 4 municipalities (the Boroughs of Hopatcong and Mt. Arlington and the Townships of Jefferson and Roxbury).

Outflow from Lake Hopatcong enters the smaller and shallower Lake Musconetcong via the Musconetcong River. Water quality impairments exist in both lakes. Lake Hopatcong appears on Sublist 5 of the New Jersey 2004 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report for failing to achieve NJ Surface Water Quality Standards (SWQS) for fecal coliform, fishery community health and mercury concentrations in fish. In addition, water quality monitoring has indicated phosphorus concentrations in excess of NJ SWQS in both Lake Hopatcong and Lake Musconetcong. As a result, both lakes have phosphorus-based TMDLs. As identified in the TMDL, the root cause of the majority of Lake Hopatcong's water quality problemsis elevated phosphorus loading, primarily associated with stormwater surface runoff and septic systems. The TMDL mandates a 41% reduction in phosphorus loading to Lake Hopatcong. A municipal-based Restoration Plan was developed for the Lake Hopatcong watershed to address this impairment.

This 319(h) project will focus on the implementation of specific nonpoint source pollutant management measures designed to make progress towards achieving the required phosphorus load reductions detailed in the refined TMDL for Lake Hopatcong. Specifically, the Lake Hopatcong Commission will work with the Borough of Hopatcong and Jefferson Township to install a number of structural stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) within the municipalities.

A substantial portion of the Borough of Hopatcong's required phosphorus reduction will be attained through its existing sewering project. Through the implementation of the NPS reduction measures identified in this project, as well as the completion of the existing sewering project in the municipality, the Borough of Hopatcong's phosphorus loading will be reduced by 95%. This project will also begin to address Jefferson Township's stormwater contribution of phosphorus to the lake by removing 2% of its targeted reduction in phosphorus originating from stormwater. Overall, this project, combined with the sewering of the Borough of Hopatcong, will remove 33% of the phosphorus load targeted for reduction, as mandated by the TMDL. Pre- and post-installation water quality monitoring will also be conducted to assess BMP efficiency and measure progress toward achieving the phosphorus reductions detailed in the TMDL.

05-05081: Budd Lake Watershed Restoration, Protection, and Regional Stormwater Management Plan

Grantee: Mt. Olive Township

The planning area for this project includes the watershed of Budd Lake, its tributaries, and the segment of the South Branch Raritan River from Budd Lake to Route 46. This area, located in the center of Mount Olive Township, Morris County, is five square miles. Budd Lake is a Category 1 waterbody that has been placed on Sublist 5 of the New Jersey 2004 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report (integrated list) for fecal coliform and mercury impairments. Segments of the South Branch Raritan river are also impaired and have been included on Sublist 5 for phosphorus, fecal coliform, pH, arsenic, chromium, copper, lead, temperature and benthic macroinvertebrates. A 1998 Phase I Diagnostic Feasibility Study describes Budd Lake as having issues such as shallow water depths in shoreline areas and dense, frequent summertime blue-green algal blooms. The primary cause of these problems was cited as the generation of watershed pollution such as nitrogen, phosphorus and suspended sediments. The Phase I report found that 63% of the lake's annual phosphorus loading was the result of stormwater runoff. In order to determine the appropriate management measures needed to address the pollution problems in the watershed, it is necessary to develop a Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan. Due to the known stormwater contributions and need for the additional tools afforded by the Stormwater Management Rule at N.J.A.C. 7:8, the plan will include a Regional Stormwater Management Plan component. This project will determine the course of action necessary to restore and protect wate quality in the watershed through the identification of specific nonpoint source pollution abatement measures. The plan, which will be one of the first of the "next level" of watershed-based plans developed for the State of New Jersey, will serve as a blueprint for achieving the stated water quality, quantity, and recharge objectives of the plan. The Plan will then be incorporated into the Mount Olive Municipal Stormwater Management Plan.

05-05082: Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan for the Lockatong and Wickecheoke Creek Watersheds, Hunterdon County, New Jersey

Grantee: New Jersey Water Supply Authority (NJWSA)

This project will address the 54 square mile combined watesheds of the Lockatong and Wickecheoke Creeks. The Wickecheoke Creek is listed as impaired for fecal coliform, benthic macroinvertebrates, and temperature on Sublist 5 of the New Jersey 2004 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report, while the Lockatong is on Sublist 5 for temperature and phosphorus impairments. Both creeks are designated as Category One waterbodies. This watershed restoration and protection plan will address issues internal to the watersheds, in addition to the protection of the Delaware & Raritan Canal to which both streams flow. The process wil include local and county interests in a project committee, and will rely on a combination of information sources, including existing data assessment, GIS analyses, field assessments for stream health and targeted water quality parameters, BASINS modeling and NRCS assessment of agricultural practices. The result will be a complete watershed restoration and protection plan which will not only include a detailed assessment of which stream segments in the watersheds exceed surface water quality standards for fecal coliform bacteria, phosphorus, and temperature, but will also identify the specific nonpoint source abatement measures to be implemented in order to restore and protect the future water quality integrity. This plan will go beyond a standard watershed restoration and protection plan to include detailed assessment of sediment loads from, and approaches to BMP development for, agricultural lands (a major land use in the watersheds), including cost-benefit analysis.

05-05083: Black Creek Watershed Restoration, Protection, and Regional Stormwater Management Plan

Grantee: Vernon Township Department of Health and Human Services

The planning area for the Black Creek Watershed Restoration, Protection and Regional Stormwater Management Plan contributes to the 32,900-foot long Black Creek in Hardyston and Vernon Townships, Sussex County. The 20 square mile watershed is centered in Vernon Township. Black Creek, an impaired Trout Maintenance (TM) waterbody with Category One (C1) tributaries, discharges to Pochuck Creek. As described in the 2003 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report by NJDEP entitled "Total Maximum Daily Loads for Fecal Coliform to Address 28 Streams in the Northwest Water Region", the waterway has an established TMDL waste load allocation (WLA) for fecal coliform calling for 99% removal. Black Creek has also been placed on Sublist 5 of the New Jersey 2004 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report for benthic macroinvertebrates, phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, and temperature impairments. This project will develop a Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan, utilizing the additional watershed management tools afforded by the development of a Regional Stormwater Management Plan component, to achieve and preserve the load reductions recommended in the NJDEP fecal coliform TMDL, restore stream health, and protect the C1 tributaries. This project will determine the courses of action necessary to restore and protect water quality, through the identification and prioritization of specific nonpoint source abatement measures. The plan, one of the first of such "next level" watershed-based planning documents developed for the State of New Jersey, will serve as a blueprint for achieving the stated water quality, quantity, and recharge ojectives of the plan.

05-05084: Watershed Protection Plan for the Alexauken Creek Watershed

Grantee: West Amwell Environmental Commission

The Alexauken Creek watershed is 15 square miles. The creek runs southwest from its headwaters in West Amwell, Delaware and East Amwell Townships, ultimately draining through the City of Lambertville and crossing under the Delaware & Raritan Canal into the Lower Delaware Wild and Scenic River Area. The Creek drains nearly 10% of the largely forested Sourland Mountain region and flows through a region facing growing development pressures. The Alexauken Creek is a Category 1 (C1) waterbody, based on its connection to the federally-protected Delaware River, its value as habitat for threatened and endangered (T&E) fish and bird species, and the relatively undeveloped nature of its watershed.

Although the Alexauken Creek Watershed is recognized as ecologically significant, it has not been comprehensively characterized or monitored. For example, although the Creek appears on Sublist 1 of the New Jersey 2004 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report as attaining surface water quality standards for aquatic life, little formal assessment of other water quality indicators has been conducted in the Creek and its tributaries. The limited information available suggests that the Alexauken Creek is currently impacted by a variety of nonpoint sources which contribute significant sediment loads. In addition, many of the Creek's headwater streams have never been mapped, excluding them from the protections that the successful C1 designation has now afforded the rest of the waterway.

The 319(h) project will develop the Alexauken Creek Watershed Protection Plan. West Amwell Township will work with Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, and the City of Lambertville, as well as other partners and the public, to develop and implement the plan. This project will determine the courses of action necessary to restore and protect water quality, through the identification and prioritization of specific nonpoint source abatement measures. The plan, one of the first of such "next level" watershed-based planning documents developed for the State of New Jersey, will serve as a blueprint for achieving the stated water quality, quantity, and recharge objectives of the plan. In addition, West Amwell will assess the feasibility of initiating a regional stormwater management planning process to compliment East Amwell Township's current stormwater planning efforts.

05-05086: Preakness Brook Restoration, Protection and Regional Stormwater Management Plan

Grantee: William Patterson University

The planning area for the Preakness Brook Watershed Restoration, Protection and Regional Stormwater Management Plan is the 11 square mile watershed of the approximately nine mile Preakness Brook. This watershed is found almost exclusively within Wayne Township, Passaic County, with only seven percent of its contributing area in Totowa Borough. Preakness Brook, a Trout Production (TP) waterbody in its Category One (C1) designated reaches, enters the impaired Passaic River from the north, directly upstream of Little Falls Township. As described in the 2003 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report by NJDEP entitled "Total Maximum Daily Loads for Fecal Coliform to Address 32 Streams in the Northeast Water Region", the Brook has an established TMDL load allocation (LA) for fecal coliform which mandates a 93% load reduction. In addition, Preakness Brook has been placed on Sulist 5 of the New Jersey 2004 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report as impaired for benthic macroinvertebrates. This project will develop a Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan that will utilize the additional watershed management tools afforded by the development of a Regional Stormwater Management Plan component to achieve and preserve the load reductions recommended in the NJDEP fecal coliform TMDL, restore macroinvertebrate health, and protect the C1 stream segment. This project will determine the courses of action necessary to restore and protect water quality, through the identification and location of specific nonpoint source abatement measures. The plan, one of the first of such "next level" watershed-based planning documents developed for the State of New Jersey, will serve as a blueprint for achieving the stated water quality, quantity, and recharge objectives of the plan.

05-05087: Hurd Park Goose Management and Shoreline Restoration Project

Grantee: Rockaway River Watershed Cabinet (RRWC)

In support of the "Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Fecal Coliform to Address 32 Streams in the Northeast Water Region" (established March 2003), the RRWC will implement a goose management and stream restoration project as Hurd Park, Dover Town. Hurd Park, located on the Jackson Brook just upstream of the NJDEP sampling site on the Rockaway River at Blackwell Street, has been identified as a potential source of fecal coliform in the TMDL for the Rockaway River, which mandates a 92% Reduction in fecal coliform loading.

Hurd Park is a municipal park with mowed turf throughout the site and little or no vegetation along streams running through it. As a result of these conditions, the park contains a large resident goose population throughout much of the year and little or no riparian buffers. In addition, invasive exotic plant species, such as Japanese knotweed and purple loosestrife, have begun to colonize disturbed areas along the streambanks. Efforts are needed to control the goose population, stablilize streambanks, and create an adequate riparian buffer with native vegetation.

To address the known fecal coliform impairment just downstream of the park, the RRWC will partner with Dover Town to:

• Develop and implement a sampling plan to determine fecal coliform concentrations in Jackson Brook and monitor improvements after the successful completion of the project,
• Prepare and implement a goose management plan for the park,
• Work with the community to develop a landscape plan for the park that will provide for the installation of continuous vegetative buffers along the streams in the park (approximately 3,000 feet of shoreline will be stabilized and 1.5 acres of buffer installed), and
• Remove invasive exotic plant species and install desired vegetative buffers.

05-05088: Watershed Restoration Plan for the Papakating Creek and the Surrounding Watershed

Grantee: Wallkill River Watershed Management Group/Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority (WRWMG)

The largely rural, agricultural, and forested Papakating Creek Watershed is approximately 61 square miles and is located within Frankford, Wantage, and Lafayette Townships, and Sussex Borough. The Papakating Creek is the primary surface water within the drainage basin, covering roughly 15 river miles before its confluence with the Wallkill River. The Papakating Creek has been placed on Sublist 5 of the New Jersey 2002 and 2004 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Reports for non-attainment of surface water quality standards for total phosphorus, fecal coliform, benthic macroinvertebrates, and arsenic. As a result, in 2003 the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) approved a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) to address fecal coliform in the Papakating Creek. In addtion, in April 2004, NJDEP proposed a TMDL to address total phosphorus in the Papakating Creek. In response to the TMDLs and the known benthic macroinvertebrate impairments, the WRWMG will develop a Watershed Restoration Plan for the Papakating Creek, specifically for six of the seven HUC 14 watersheds that comprise the entire Papakating Creek Watershed. This project will assess and identify restoration and management techniques which, when implemented, will result in achieving an overall 31% reduction in the estimated total phosphorus (TP) loading and a 99% fecal coliform reduction, as presented in the referenced TMDLs, as well as restoring the health of the benthic macroinvertebrate community. This project includes targeted sampling and technical studies to refine/augment the published TMDL information, pollutant budgets, and proposed control measures for the watershed, and aid in the development of actual relative load contributions and source loads not previously quantified. An extensive education and outreach program will also be developed and implemented, targeting the agricultural community, residents, and project stakeholders in order to obtain support for the developed Restoration Plan.

05-05090: Watershed Restoration Plan for Clove Acres Lake and the Surrounding Lakeshed

Grantee: Wallkill River Watershed Management Group/Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority (WRWMG)

The Clove Acres lakeshed is one of seven U.S. Geological Survey HUC 14 Watersheds that comprise the Papakating Creek Watershed, located primarily in Sussex Borough and Wantage Township. The largely rural, agricultural, and forested Clove Acres lakehsed is approximately 20 square miles and includes Clove Acres Lake, a 34 acre non-private lake. The Clove Brook is the major tributary to the lake and travels approximately ten miles from its headwaters before emptying into Clove Acres Lake. The Clove Brook then exits the lake and travels for another mile to its confluence with the Papakating Creek. Clove Acres Lake has been placed on Sublist 5 of the New Jersy 2004 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report for non-attainment of the surface water quality standards for nutrients and benthic macroinvertebrates. As a result, in April 2004, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) proposed a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) to address total phosphorus in Clove Acres Lake. In response to the proposed TMDL and the benthic macroinvertebrate impairment, the WRWMG will develop a Restoration Plan for Clove Acres Lake and the surrounding lakeshed. This project will assess and identify restoration and management techniques which, when implemented, will result in achieving an overall 77% reduction in the estimated total phosphorus (TP) subwatershed loading, as presented in the referenced TMDL, and restore benthic macroinvertebrate health. The work scope of this project includes a comprehensive assessment of Clove Acres Lake. In addition, targeted sampling and technical studies will be conducted to refine/augment the published TMDL information, pollutant budgets, and proposed control measures for the lakeshed, and aid in the development of actual relative load contributions and source loads not previously quantified. An extensive education and outreach program will also be developed and implemented within the lakeshed, targeting residents and project stakeholders in order to obtain support for the developed Restoration Plan.

05-05101: Watershed Restoration Plan for the Upper Salem River Watershed

Grantee: Cumberland/Salem County Soil Conservation District

The planning area for the Watershed Restoration Plan for the Upper Salem River Watershed is approximately 15 square miles. The Upper Salem River has been placed on Sublist 5 of the New Jersey 2004 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report as impaired for phosphorus. Additionally, a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for fecal coliform has been proposed for 18 miles of the Upper Salem River. The TMDL mandates an 84% reduction in nonpoint source bacteria loads from this agriculturally dominated watershed. This project will develop a Watershed Restoration Plan that, when implemented, will achieve the required TMDL reduction and reduce the nonpoint source pollutant loading that is contributing to the phosphorus surface water quality impairment. In addition, the project will compliment the Phase I Upper Salem River Watershed Restoration Plan, which identifies sources of point and nonpoint pollution in the watershed through a visual stream assessment process.