Community-Based Green Infrastructure Initiative for New Jersey Presented at the Penn State Center Philadelphia Delaware Valley Stormwater Dialogue March 23, 2017 Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program water.rutgers.edu Christopher C. Obropta, Ph.D., P.E. obropta@envsci.rutgers.edu Jeremiah Bergstrom, LLA, ASLA jeremiah.bergstrom@rutgers.edu
Water Resources Program Our Mission is to identify and address community water resources issues using sustainable and practical sciencebased solutions. The Water Resources Program serves all of New Jersey, working closely with the County Extension Offices.
Program History Created in 2002 Statewide focus $1,500,000 annual operating budget All grant funded Diverse staff Effective partnerships Measurable impact
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEW JERSEY
Definitions Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs): structural or non-structural management measures designed to control stormwater runoff Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs): name given BMPs by professionals conducting research on stormwater related issues
New Jersey s Combined Sewer Communities Municipality Permit Holder Entity County # CSOs Bayonne Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Hudson 30 Camden City Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority Camden 28 CCMUA Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority Camden 1 East Newark Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Hudson 1 Elizabeth Joint Meeting of Essex & Union Union 28 Fort Lee Bergen County Utilities Authority Bergen 2 Gloucester Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority Camden 7 Guttenberg North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority-Woodcliff Hudson 1 Hackensack Bergen County Utilities Authority Bergen 2 Harrison Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Hudson 7 Jersey City Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Hudson 21 Kearny Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Hudson 5 Newark Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Essex 17 North Bergen North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority-Woodcliff Hudson 1 North Bergen Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Hudson 9 Paterson Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Passaic 24 Perth Amboy Middlesex County Utilities Authority Middlesex 16 Ridgefield Park Bergen County Utilities Authority Bergen 6 Trenton Trenton Mercer 1 Union City North Hudson Sewerage Authority-Adams Hudson 8 West New York North Hudson Sewerage Authority-West NY Hudson 2 Total 217
New Jersey s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Communities 457 Tier A Stormwater Permits 99 Tier B Stormwater Permits (mostly rural municipalities) 75 Public Complex Stormwater 33 County and State Highway Stormwater Permits
Interesting Facts New Jersey is 8,723 square miles Population is 8,864,590 (1,170.64/mi 2 )* 1,055 square miles of impervious cover = 12.1% One inch of rain = 18.2 billion gallons 90% of NJ s rivers are impaired * CT population density is 722.65/mi
Green Infrastructure is... an approach to stormwater management that is cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Green Infrastructure projects: capture, filter, absorb, and reuse stormwater to restore the natural water cycle.
Addressing Impervious Cover Can we eliminate it? Can we change it? Can we disconnect it? Can we reuse it?
Programs New Jersey Technical Assistance Program for CSO Communities Creating municipal action team for GI Conducting education and outreach programs for a variety of audiences (dischargers, politicians, residents, businesses, community groups) Developing GI Feasibility Studies Designing demonstration projects Soliciting funding including EIT applications
Programs Stormwater Management for Impervious Surfaces for Climate Resiliency Conducting Impervious Cover Assessments (ICAs) Hosting community meetings and delivering workshops Developing Impervious Cover Reduction Action Plans (RAPs) Designing and implementing demonstration projects Updating ordinances, building codes, and master plans
Programs Stormwater Management in Your Schoolyard Delivering K-12 educational programs Engaging student in design process Building GI Practices on school properties Assisting with green certification for schools
Funding Sources Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA) Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC) NJ Department of Environmental Protection 319h Program Surdna Foundation Geraldine Dodge Foundation Hamilton Township NJ Sea Grant Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Program
4.9% 4.9% 4.6% 37.5% 21.1% 26.9% Foundation State Utility University Municipality Federal
Green Infrastructure Feasibility Studies Bergen County Township of Saddle Brook Camden County City of Camden Essex County Township of Montclair City of Newark Township of West Orange Hudson County City of Bayonne Town of East Newark Town of Harrison City of Jersey City Town of Kearny Town of North Bergen City of Union City Mercer County City of Trenton Middlesex County City of Perth Amboy Passaic County Township of Little Falls City of Paterson
The Process Green Infrastructure Feasibility Plan Project Partner Meetings Site Investigations Surveys Design Funding & Contracting Education & Training Newark, Essex County Camden, Camden County
CAMDEN SMART STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCE TRAINING Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA)
The Camden SMART Team (Stormwater Management and Resource Training) City of Camden Cooper s Ferry Partnership New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA) Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program New Jersey Tree Foundation
The Camden SMART Initiative Community Education Creating a Sustainable Network Green & grey infrastructure project implementation Green infrastructure training Park Boulevard Rain Garden in Parkside
City of Camden, NJ Yorkship Elementary **Map created with help from The Nature Conservancy School Rain Garden Camden SMART Accomplishments 2011... 2011 2013 PHILADELPHIA, PA Tree Planting Green Infrastructure Yorkship Elementary Project School Rain Garden 29th St. Biobasins Tree Planting 304 State St. Rainwater Harvesting System Since 2011... + Yorkship Elementary School Rain Garden St. Anthony's Rain Garden Pyne Poynt Middle School Rain Garden 3.1 million Cramer Hill Community Rain Garden Front St. Community Garden Rainwater Harvesting System + = Urban Promise Academy Rain Garden gallons of stormwater captured annually Woodrow Wilson High School Rain Garden Federal Street Sewer Outfall CAMDEN, NJ 992 Trees Planted 27 Green Infrastructure Projects Installed 120 Rain Barrels Distributed + + Baird Boulevard Sewer Outfall 3.1 million + Neighborhood Center Rain Garden & Rainwater Harvesting System 120 Rain Barrels Distributed Camden County Technical School Rain Garden Jackson Street Sewer Outfall stormwater captured annually Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority Rain Garden en Infrastructure jects Installed Parkside Neighborhood Rain Garden # 2 27 Green Infrastructure 120 Rain Barrels Projects Installed gallons of Distributed = gallons stormw captured a Admiral Wilson Blvd & Thorndyke St Sewer Outfall Parkside Neighborhood Rain Garden # 1 Farnham Park Rain Garden 992 Trees Planted = Puerto Rican Unity for Progress Rain Garden 3.1 mil Waterfront South Rain Gardens Sumner Elementary School Rain Garden RT Cream School Rain Garden Dr. Charles E. Brimm Medical Art High School Rain Garden Ferry Avenue Library Rain Garden 3.8 Million Green Infrastructure Project Estimated Gallons of Stormwater Managed Annually Tree Planting Yorkship Elementary School Rain Garden Since 2011...
3,119,950 gallons of stormwater captured annually Camden SMART 2011-2013 Accomplishments SMART Stormwater Management and Resource Training 2011-2013 IN NUMBERS 992 trees 3,890 community members 33events and workshops 27 green infrastructure projec 35 project partners 120 rain barrels ts
SMART Green Infrastructure Projects Rain Gardens Cisterns Rain Barrels Trees
Green Infrastructure on Waterfront South Rain Gardens 1, 850 tons of contaminated soil 12 USTs removed from site Brownfield Sites 4 rain gardens designed to manage about 1 million gallons of stormwater per year A green gateway into the Waterfront South neighborhood
Green Infrastructure in Action Waterfront South Rain Gardens
Green Infrastructure in Action The Neighborhood Center Cistern
2014 Project Sites & Partners Project # Project Site Property Owner 1 Acelero Learning Center Acelero Learning Center 2 Adventure Aquarium State of New Jersey 3 Dr. Charles E. Brimm Medical Arts School Camden Board of Education 4 Octavius V. Catto Community School Camden Board of Education 5 Cooper Sprouts Community Garden Cooper Lanning Civic Association 6 Dudley Grange Park City of Camden 7 Henry H. Davis School Camden Board of Education 8 Neighborhood Center The Neighborhood Center 9 Ferry Avenue Branch Library City of Camden 10 St. Joan of Arc Church St. Joan of Arc Church 11 St. Bartholomew s Church St. Josephine Bakhita Parish 12 Haddon Avenue Pocket Park Camden Redevelopment Authority 13 Vietnamese Community Garden Camden Board of Education (vacant lot) 14 Respond Inc. Respond, Inc. 15 U.S. Wiggins Elementary School Camden Board of Education 16 Yorkship Elementary School Camden Board of Education 17 Mt. Zion Highway of Holiness Mt Zion Highway of Holiness Church
What s Next? Conduction a Percolation Test in Camden Evaluate existing infrastructure for green opportunities Identify local partners and technical assistance Prioritize needs Educate residents, officials, staff, and professionals Identify funding mechanisms Develop implementation strategy
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program www.water.rutgers.edu Christopher C. Obropta, Ph.D., P.E. obropta@envsci.rutgers.edu 848.932.5711 Jeremiah D. Bergstrom, LLA, ASLA jbergstrom@envsci.rutgers.edu 848.932.5708