The focus of this project is the development of a regional approach to stormwater/watershed management. Guided by expertise from Rutgers’ Water Resources Program and Bergen Save the Watershed Action Network (SWAN), decision makers and stakeholders will engage in a series of information sharing workshops that generate tangible, time-driven results. The meetings will culminate with on-the-ground projects requiring the installation of a demonstration rain garden or streambank restoration project within each of the four towns. The outcomes generated by these meetings and hands-on projects will be used to develop educational materials and other media communications designed to promote the adoption of these techniques more broadly throughout the community.
The principal audience for the stewardship workshops will be elected municipal officials; Planning Board members; environmental commissioners; Dept. of Public Works personnel; and town professionals such as engineers and planners. For the hands-on rain garden and streambank projects Bergen SWAN will reach out to educators, garden clubs, community organizations, and other stakeholders for their input and participation.
There is a dire need to bring new ideas on watershed management to local officials and decision makers. Currently, the prevailing mindset concerning flood control and stream management is to regularly dredge stream beds and move the water quickly down the line to the next town. Such traditional methods inadequately address peak flows and quantity, do not at all address water quality, and seriously damage and stress existing ecological communities.
By providing information on best management practices and low impact stormwater management systems, and by promoting watershed-friendly strategies – floodplain buyout programs, humane geese population control, water conservation inside and outside of homes and buildings, the adoption of no-mow zones, native plants, smaller lawn areas, and other alternative landscaping techniques — municipal officials, land managers, and others will be able to build their capacity for addressing stormwater problems with more creative, long range solutions.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Water Protection, Filtration & Control: Water quality- protection of groundwater recharge areas, restoration of stream buffers, stream bank stabilization, prevention of sedimentation, stormwater projects, reduction of runoff
Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Mitigation: Carbon sequestration- aforestation
Outreach, Recreation & Aesthetics: Environmental education- workshops/training sessions
Total Project Cost: $30,600
CRI granted $4,000 to Bergen SWAN in 2007, and another $4,000 in 2008 for this project through its Franklin Parker Small Grants program.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources Inc.
