DWM Publications > Table of Contents > Chapter Twelve

THE CLEAN WATER BOOK:
CHOICES FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION

CHAPTER 12:
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

New Jersey is fortunate in having a large number of active state wide and regional associations who focus on water protection. To find out whether there is a watershed association or other environmental organization in your area, call your municipal clerk's office, or refer to the Additional Resources List at the end of this booklet. You may also want to find out from your municipal clerk if your municipality has an environmental commission. If not, you might work with others in your community to encourage your local government to start one. If an environmental commission does exist, find out what they are doing and support their efforts.

If there is not an existing active local program or organization, consider organizing your own. Nearby organizations can be contacted for assistance in how to start and organize your own community environmental group.

If you decide to join an existing organization or start a new one, there are a wide range of potential activities that can assist in raising awareness about nonpoint source pollution and the value of local water resources in general.

Storm Drain Stenciling: Encourage students or youth organizations to stencil storm drains with fish or crabs in order to raise awareness that what goes down the storm drain goes into local waterways. Stenciling text such as "Drains to Bay" or "Drains to Lake" helps get the message out.

Recreational Events: Plan boating or canoe trips to get to know your stream. These are also useful to enlighten local officials and the press about the value of your local waterway and concerns about its future.

Community Event Participation: If special events such as fairs and festivals are held in your community, this is an opportunity to reach a new audience by setting up a table to distribute materials or holding some type of educational program or event.

Local School Involvement: Volunteer to speak to local students about nonpoint source pollution and what can be done at a local level. Hold a poster, bumper sticker or essay contest on an NPS or water related theme.

Environmental Education Walks: Invite area experts to participate and share their knowledge about the stream's animal and plant life. Make the event a family occasion and include fishing, swimming and hiking as appropriate.

Water Quality Monitoring: Monitoring water quality can provide valuable information about the waterway and serve as an educational tool for students and the community.

Monitor Soil Erosion: Some community groups have actively monitored agricultural and construction sites for violation of State laws relating to erosion and soil loss.

Health Departments: These agencies have the authority to focus on NPS as part of their ongoing program activities, such as complaint inspections, water sampling, dye testing and enforcement of various health and sanitation codes. They will probably be aware of all NPS control programs in your area and they can tell you about them.

Environmental Commissions: The environmental commissions should be sensitive to NPS considerations as they review new development projects. They can also play an important role in public education concerning NPS problems affecting their community. Boards of Public Works: Boards of Public Works can provide services, such as street sweeping and cleaning of catch basins and storm sewers on a regular basis and can report NPS problems that affect their community. Planning Boards: Through their impact on local land use, planning boards have many environmental responsibilities related to NPS. These boards are responsible for adoption of appropriate zoning ordinances for stormwater and nonpoint source controls. They regulate land use through their preparation of municipal master plans, zoning ordinances and site plan review for new construction.

Zoning Boards of Adjustment:

These boards are responsible for the interpretation of zoning ordinances passed by the planning board. They have the power to grant variances under certain circumstances, thereby allowing deviations from zoning ordinances and adding a certain amount of flexibility in land use. This includes the ability to grant variances for NPS related ordinances.

Soil Conservation Districts: Soil Conservation Districts are responsible for soil erosion and sediment control on construction sites, as well as programs to control NPS from agriculture, silviculture and mining operations.

NJ Department of Environmental Protection

Division of Watershed Management

PO Box 418

Trenton, NJ 08625-0418

1-877-WTRSHED (987-7433)

www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt