New Jersey Highlands Council | Water Use and Conservation Management

Water Use and Conservation Management

A Water Use and Conservation Management Plan (WUCMP) outlines water use priorities and establishes methods for conservation within a town. The Highlands Council can provide funding and technical assistance to Highlands municipalities seeking to develop WUCMPs that align with the Highlands Regional Master Plan (RMP).

Program and Planning Guidance

There are 183 HUC14 subwatersheds within the Highlands region and one of the highest priority objectives described in the RMP is to protect, restore, and enhance water resources within the Highlands region. The Highlands Council has developed guidance to be used by municipal and public works professionals who will be actively engaged in water use and conservation management planning within the municipality.

Highlands Region Water Use and Conservation Management Program Guidance (pdf)

WUCMP Pilot Program

The Highlands Council WUCMP Pilot Program focused on nine (9) pilot areas in 17 subwatersheds in the Region to test assessment techniques and deficit reduction methods. While the pilot areas were not developed based on municipal boundaries, the pilot WUCMPs are intended to be used as planning tools to help municipalities develop their own plans.

The documents below are the results of the WUCMP Pilot Program and may assist in the development of municipal WUCMPs in support of Plan Conformance. Please contact your Highlands Council liaison for assistance in completing the required components of the grant-funded work.

Pilot areas include all or portions of the municipalities indicated below.

Pilot Area 1 WUCMP (7.54 MB pdf) - Jefferson Township (Morris County), Sparta Township (Sussex County)
Pilot Area 2 WUCMP (11.1 MB pdf) - Washington Township and Washington Borough (Warren County)
Pilot Area 3 WUCMP (7.13 MB pdf) - Ringwood and Wanaque Boroughs (Passaic County)
Pilot Area 5 WUCMP (6.42 MB pdf) - Vernon Township (Sussex County)
Pilot Area 6 WUCMP (12.1 MB pdf) - Glen Gardner Borough and Lebanon Township (Hunterdon County)
Pilot Area 7 WUCMP (4.74 MB pdf) - West Milford Township and Ringwood Borough (Passaic County)
Pilot Area 8 WUCMP (7.81 MB pdf) - Mount Olive Township (Morris County)
Pilot Area 9 WUCMP (10.9 MB pdf) - Oakland Borough (Bergen County)
Pilot Area 10 WUCMP (8.04 MB pdf) - Chester Township, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township (Morris County)

The following table may help in identifying the most appropriate pilot program study area for use in a particular municipality. Please contact your Highlands Council liaison for additional assistance.

Pilot Area #	Public Water Utility	Multiple Public Water Utility	Public Wastewater Utility	Wastewater Discharge		Significant Industrial Users	Multiple Subwatersheds	Multiple Municipalities
Pilot Area #	Public Water Utility	Multiple Public Water Utility	Public Wastewater Utility	Ground Water	Surface Water	Significant Industrial Users	Multiple Subwatersheds	Multiple Municipalities
PA1	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
PA2	x		x	x	x	x	x	x
PA3	x		x		x			x
PA5	x
PA6	x			x				x
PA7	x		x	x	x			x
PA8	x	x	x	x		x	x
PA9	x					x
PA10	x			x	x	x		x