ADOPTION NOTE: In 2006, the Pinelands Commission adopted a new set of stormwater management regulations. These amendments to the Comprehensive Management Plan became effective on May 1, 2006. By law, Pinelands municipalities are required to incorporate the provisions of any Comprehensive Management Plan amendments into their land use ordinances within one year of the effective date of such amendments. Thus, May 1, 2007 is the deadline for municipal adoption of Stormwater Control Ordinances applicable to the Pinelands Area. Pursuant to DEP regulations, Pinelands municipalities were also required to adopt Stormwater Management Plans as a component of their master plans by January 1, 2006.
PLEASE NOTE: The July 19, 2006 Model Stormwater Control Ordinance (Section III.A.1.) for Pinelands Area Municipalities includes language that indicates alternative calculation methods to the NRCS methodology may be utilized to calculate runoff rates and volumes. This language is consistent with the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan at N.J.A.C. 7:50-6.84(a)6.i(1).
Both the CMP and the Model Ordinance require the use of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Runoff Equation, Runoff Curve Numbers, and Dimensionless Unit Hydrograph, as described in the NRCS National Engineering handbook Part 630 – Hydrology and Technical Release 55 – Urban Hydrology for Small Watersheds. The reference to the use of alternative methods is provided to recognize that the adoption of a regional stormwater management plan may result in alternative computational methods, and may supersede this standard if adopted. However, unless a regional stormwater management plan has been adopted by the NJDEP, certified by the Pinelands Commission, and specifically revises the computational methods, alternative computational methods may not be utilized to comply with this requirement.
