April showers bring May flowers or so it would seem. Have you ever observed the rainwater when it sheets across your driveway or down your street into the storm drain? Local governments throughout the state are now considering the effects of that runoff due to the new NJPDES Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program.
Why do we need to regulate storm water? The answer is water quality. Everyone relies on clean water to live! Pollution from any source harms our water supply. In the coming months, Borough officials will review the new state requirements and establish a time line for compliance. The implementation of the Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program will take place over the next five years. While the Borough complies with the new regulations in many respects, more is required. Some changes which could affect residents include:
- Establishment of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SPPP)
- Address Post-Construction Stormwater by implementing:
- A stormwater management plan
- A stormwater control ordinance
- New storm drain inlets
- Ensure long term operation and maintenance of Best Management Practices (BMPs) on municipal property
- Local Public Education through workshops and brochures
- Address Improper Disposal of Waste by updating existing ordinances
- Address Solids and Floatable Controls by storm drain retrofitting, road erosion control and outfall pipe remediation.
The Environmental Commission will oversee the Public Education component and will identify ways that you can make a difference. For starters, the New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program has scheduled a presentation on May 1 at the Borough Hall to raise awareness about water issues. The Watershed Ambassadors monitor the rivers of New Jersey through river assessment and biological assessment volunteer monitoring programs. This interactive program will be open to the students and citizens of Peapack-Gladstone to cultivate a stewardship ethic toward our town’s most valuable assets.
If you are interested in these issues or live near a small creek, the Peapack Brook, or Raritan River, the Environmental Commission invites you to share in this opportunity. Not only will you help safeguard this precious resource, but you can assist the town to comply with the new statewide basic requirements. For more information contact the Environmental Commission or Mitch Klasky at the Upper Raritan Watershed Association at (908)234-1852.
