Proposal would impact Stony Brook area
On Tuesday, under the burning sun overlooking Wargo Pond on the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association’s Reserve, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Commissioner Lisa Jackson announced two measures the first of which focuses, in particular, on the Stony Brook area to protect water quality and some 900 miles of New Jersey’s streams.
The second focuses on septic system impacts and wastewater management.
First, NJDEP is proposing some 900 additional miles of streams and rivers be classified as "Category One" for exceptional ecological significance, exceptional fisheries resources, and exceptional water supply significance. This designation affords them a greater level of protection, including a prohibition on most development within 300 feet of these streams.
"Most exciting was the inclusion of 41 miles of the Stony Brook and its tributaries from the Hopewell Valley Golf Club to the D&R Canal as ‘Category One.’ We originally nominated this area for protection in 2003," said the commissioner.
About Stony Brook, the DEP says: "The department is proposing ‘Category One’ designation for a portion of Stony Brook from Pennington-Hopewell Road (Route 654) to the Delaware and Raritan Canal, including all unnamed and unlisted tributaries to that segment. This portion of Stony Brook flows through Hopewell, Lawrence, and Princeton townships. This segment of the Stony Brook provides critical habitat for several of the state’s important freshwater mussel species, including the State Endangered Brook Floater, the State Threatened Triangle Floater and Eastern Pondmussel. In addition, it is the location of the last known sighting of the State Endangered Green Floater. These species require clean, well-oxygenated water, and are susceptible to infrequent periods of low flow, especially during the summer."
Second, NJDEP says it is proposing bold new regulations governing the Water Quality Management Planning process in New Jersey. The nearly 500 pages of rules in the proposal, as outlined by staff, will go a long way toward improving the planning process and will help protect environmentally sensitive areas from sprawl.
According to the NJDEP: "For the first time, the proposed water quality management planning rules address the impacts of septic systems on groundwater, and establish new standards for wastewater management planning, removing environmentally sensitive lands from sewer service areas.
"Further, the new rules, once adopted, would give counties a nine-month grace period to submit an application to update their wastewater management plan or face withdrawal of their sewer service area designation. Without a sewer service area designation, developers cannot obtain sewer hookups for new development. The rules propose that upon completion of a wastewater management plan, the appropriate sewer-service area designation will be restored."
NJDEP will provide a 60 day public comment period on both rules beginning on May 21 before final adoption.

