Start your 7-day free trial — unlock full access instantly.

Lead Closed

This opportunity is no longer accepting submissions.

RooseveltGreen Risk

ClosedPublic Works & Infrastructure

Watershed Institute Presentation at 3/19/25 EC Meeting

BID #: N/A

ISSUED: 3/18/2025

DUE: TBD

VALUE: TBD

100

Rating

Risk Rank

Green Risk

AI-Powered Lead Insights

Executive Summary

This presentation from the Watershed Institute discusses MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) and regional approaches to watershed management, focusing on Roosevelt Borough and Millstone Township. It covers topics such as the importance of clean water, the roles of green teams and environmental commissions, and the impact of impervious cover on water quality. The presentation outlines the phases of the MS4 permit process, including the development of Watershed Improvement Plans (WIPs), with deadlines for Phase 1 (Watershed Inventory Report) due by the end of 2025, Phase 2 (Watershed Assessment Report) by the end of 2026, and Phase 3 (Watershed Improvement Plan) by the end of 2027. It further highlights the need for regional approaches to address water quality and flooding issues, promoting collaboration between municipalities.

Web Content

Automated discovery link found on Roosevelt website.

Document Text

--- Document: Watershed Institute Presentation at 3/19/25 EC Meeting Document ---
March 18, 2025
MS4 & Regional Approaches:
Roosevelt Borough & Millstone Township
Susan Bristol, AICP, AIA, LEED AP
Municipal Policy Specialist


Who we are & Our Mission 
Visit us at Our Home
Keeping water clean, safe and healthy is the heart of 
our mission.  We work to protect and restore our water 
and natural environment in central New Jersey through 
conservation, advocacy, science and education.
2023 Municipal Community Engagement


Advocacy at the State, County & Local Level
The Watershed’s advocacy at the state 
level is informed by our experience 
working locally with you!
2023 Municipal Community Engagement


Diagram of The Municipal Team
Green Teams and Environmental Commissions are a link between the Public, Elected Officials & 
Professionals. They can influence Municipal work, contribute to NJ DEP regulatory compliance 
and educate the public. They can encourage ENHANCED plans & ordinances.
CITIZENS/RESIDENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL 
COMMISSION &
GREEN TEAM
Planning Board
Connection
ELECTED OFFICIALS
MUNICIPAL
PROFESSIONALS


A watershed is an area of land that drains or “sheds” 
water into a particular body of water, such as a stream, 
river, pond, or lake.
What is a watershed?
Watersheds are “nested” 
like Russian dolls


NJ WMA 10 is the Millstone Watershed. 
Your towns are upstream from Manville 
(approx. 40 miles away) but both are in the 
same Watershed Management Area.
We need to promote Watershed scale 
planning.
State, Regional and Local Scale Watersheds


The Water Cycle
Humans are changing it
Right Images: Millstone River Watershed
Bedens Brook erosion & Manville Flooding
Increased Flooding & Decreased Groundwater 
Recharge


Quantity + Quality Issues 
NJ Streams fail Clean Water Standards
Impervious 
Cover
•Phosphorus & Nitrates
• Fecal coliform bacteria
• Sediment
 
• Chemical contamination 
  (pesticides, solvents, petroleum, etc.)
• Biological “impairment”
Why we have the new
MS4 Water Quality Municipal Permits (January 2023)


IFP (Inland Flood Protection) Rules 
Stormwater Quantity
More Rain + 
Larger Storms + 
More Impervious 
Cover =  
More Runoff
And Flooding!
IFP (July 17, 2023) is
uniquely based on: 
•
Actual storm data 
(current & recent)
•
Future Projections 
(climate change trends). 


New Jersey Water Pollution Issues
Center for Watershed Protection (2003)                                     2022 NJ Integrated Water Quality Assessment Report


Clean Water Act (1972) 
US EPA federal water standards 
MS4 = Municipal 
 
     Separate 
 
     Stormwater 
 
     Sewer 
 
     System


Tier A: Larger, generally located in the more densely populated 
regions of the state
Tier B: Smaller in size, generally located in more rural areas. 
(Prior to the 2023 update, there were 101 tier B municipalities)
Former Tier B Municipalities in our Watershed
Hopewell Borough, Mercer Co.
Millstone Borough, Somerset Co.
Rocky Hill Borough, Somerset Co.
East Amwell Twsp., Hunterdon Co.
Lambertville, Hunterdon Co.
West Amwell Twsp., Hunterdon Co.
Roosevelt Borough, Monmouth Co.
MS4: All NJ Towns are now Tier A
2023 Municipal Community Engagement


MS4: Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System 
• Is a conveyance or system of conveyances 
that is owned by a city, town, or other public 
entity that discharges to US waters
• Is designed to collect or convey stormwater
• Includes storm drains, pipes, ditches
• Is NOT a combined sewer
• Is NOT part of a sewage treatment plant
The Permit: Regulates the discharges from MS4s
The NJ DEP MS4 Permit 
Water Quality


Advocacy
MS4 + IFP = Quality & Quantity
Where the Millstone meets the Raritan
NJ PACT=Protection Against 
Climate Change includes the 
IFP and the next rule 
amendment.
MS4 (January 2023) 
updated
IFP Rules (July 2023) new
Manville, NJ
Confluence of Raritan & Millstone Rivers w/Blue Acres Buyouts


RULE PUBLISHED
ON 08/05/24!
Advocacy
FUTURE DEP Regulations: NJPACT/REAL
 Potential ReDevelopment Improvements
Resilient 
Environments 
And 
Landscapes
• Require redevelopment projects to meet 
same H2O quality standards as new dev.
• Promote retention of SW runoff on site
• Require all Major Developments to meet 
SWM rules
• Nature based solutions
UPSTREAM: Capsizing the Strip Mall, “UnBuilding” Studio, 
Pequannock, NJ  (Green Infrastructure Image by Alex Guimaraes)


Subwatershed Maps 
Roosevelt on left/Millstone on right. Of Millstone’s 10 watersheds, 2 are shared with Roosevelt. 


Subwatersheds & Impervious Cover
Millstone Twsp. covers about 37.2 square miles. Primary Land Use type is ‘urban’ at 28%% - mostly 
rural residential. Impervious surfaces cover approx. 4.5% of the land.
http://water.rutgers.edu/Projects/NFWF/RAP/RAP_Millstone.pdf  (2015)


Subwatersheds & Impervious Cover
Roosevelt Borough covers just under 2 square miles. Primary Land Use type is forest & wetlands 
types. Impervious surfaces cover approx. 4.69% of the land area.
2023 Municipal Community Engagement
https://thewatershed.org/wp-
content/uploads/2021/04/Ro
osevelt-Borough-ICA-
Report.pdf (2020)


Tier A and Public Complex MS4 permits require development of 
Watershed Improvement Plans.
MS4 Permit : Phases
PHASE 1: 
Watershed Inventory Report: MAPPING
    
Due: End of 2025
PHASE 2: 
Watershed Assessment Report: PLANNING
 
   
Due: End of 2026
PHASE 3: 
Watershed Improvement Plan (WIP): 
 
 
 
   
PROJECTS Due: End of 2027


•
Salt Storage Ordinance
•
Tree Replacement Ordinance
•
A Dedicated stormwater 
webpage
•
A WIP: all municipalities must 
develop a “Watershed 
Improvement Plan” (WIP)
•
All WIP Phases require Public Info 
Sessions
MS4 Permit: The 2023 Updates
(Right:http://water.rutgers.edu/Projects/NFWF/R
AP/RAP_Millstone.pdf )


MS4 Timeline : 
Since January 2023
 
 
 
 
 
Time to Budget for the WORK
1 year/Phase 1     
 3 years/Phase 2    
5 years/Phase 3
Watershed Inventory Report: 
MAPPING
DUE DATE:  01/01/2026
Watershed Assessment Report: 
PLANNING
DUE DATE: 01/01/2027
Watershed Improvement Plan: 
PROJECTS
DUE DATE: 12/01/2027
 


MS4 Watershed Improvement Plan or WIP


The WIP Goals for Regional 
Watershed Improvement
A plan describing what 
municipalities will do to:
1. Improve water quality of water bodies that 
have TMDLs.
2. Improve water quality of water bodies that 
are listed as impaired.
3. Reduce or eliminate flooding
https://thewatershed.org/watershed-improvement-plans/


Watershed Improvement Plan
Phase 1: Watershed Inventory Report
Includes an electronic map of the following:
• All outfalls, drainage area for each outfall, and the 
receiving waterbodies for those outfalls
• Water quality classification
• Interconnections into and from municipality into 
another entity
• Drainage areas for those interconnections
• All storm drain inlets
• Areas associated with each TMDL
• Areas associated with water quality impairment
• Overburdened communities
• Impervious areas


Watershed Improvement Plan
Phase 2: Watershed Assessment Report
The Planning Stage
The municipality’s TMDL implementation and 
management schedule includes:
•
Assessment of potential water quality 
improvement projects
•
Estimate of percent reduction in loading of 
TMDL
•
Estimate of funding for each project/funding 
allocation
•
Estimate of implementation schedule
•
Has a public participation/feedback period of 
60 days on the municipal website (summary 
must be included in report)
https://thewatershed.org/wp-
content/uploads/2021/04/Roosevelt-Borough-ICA-Report.pdf


Watershed Improvement Plan
Phase 3: The Final WIP Report
Specific actions laid out by the permittee include:
• Summary of proposed locations and load reductions 
(public and private systems)
• Summary of public comments
• Regulatory requirements of proposed projects
• Proposed implementation schedule
• Schedule of public info sessions
• Problems identified outside of the jurisdiction
• Project costs and funding opportunities
• Prioritization of projects in overburdened communities


PERMITTEE/MUNICIPALITY TASKS
• Regional participants
• Consultant Proposal for Watershed 
Management Plan (WMP)
• Municipal portion % of work/cost
• WMP is used in your Muni WIP
• Public Education Outreach Points
TWI / CONSULTANT TASKS
• Evaluate TMDL and 
Impairments
• Develop BMP Alternative 
Matrix = Proposed Projects
• Complete Subwatershed 
Assessment
• Prepare Watershed 
Management Plan Report
Proposed Watershed Framework:
Create a ‘Regional Watershed Management Plan’


TRENDS:
The Water cycle altered by humans
Climate patterns & projections
Stormwater increasing
Development history and pressure
Land Use
Impervious Cover and Pollution
Old infrastructure
Need for Restoration
REGULATIONS:
•
US EPA CWA
•
NJ DEP MS4
•
IFP 
(Adopted July 2023)
•
NJ PACT REAL rules 
 
(published Aug. 2024)
•
Stormwater Management
PACT=Protection Against Climate 
Threats
• CONNECT UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM COMMUNITIES
• WATERSHEDS ARE NATURAL SYSTEMS THAT DO NOT RESPECT POLITICAL BOUNDARIES
• THE SCIENCE AND DATA ARE WATERSHED BASED
REGIONAL WIP: Why based on a Watershed?


• Identify issues across municipal boundaries
• More efficient to study entire watershed (less $, 
less time, better solutions)
• Identify regional solutions
• More effectively address EJ issues
• Coordinated efforts = less repeated work
Benefits of a Regional 
Watershed-Based Approach


‘Mouth’ of 
The Assunpink 
Creek in Trenton
Where the Assunpink meets the Delaware


The Assunpink
Creek Watershed
Regional Working 
Group
92 sq miles
23 miles of stream
11 Towns
3 Counties


Mapping 
the 
Assunpink
Creek
Watershed 
over
Municipal
Boundaries


pH: Princeton Hydro.com Summary
Phase
Task
Opinion of Cost
1
Stormwater Outfall Mapping
TBD
1
Historical Data and TMDL Review
$12,000
$14,000
1
Water Quality Monitoring
$80,000
$85,000
1
Modeling
$20,000
$24,000
2
Watershed Survey
$35,000
$40,000
2
Stakeholder Meetings and Integration 
of Feedback
$20,000
$25,000
2
Draft WIP
$45,000
$48,000
3
Final WIP
$26,000
$30,000
Total*
$238,000
$266,000
*Dependent on state of outfall mapping and final NJDEP guidance


Municipal Impervious Cover within the AW
MUNI
TOTAL MUNI ACRES
ACRES of MUNI within 
Assunpink Watershed
IC ACRES of MUNI within 
Assunpink Watershed
% of IC ACRES of MUNI 
within Assunpink 
Watershed
EAST WINDSOR TWP
10019.22
513.56
33.30
0.23%
EWING TWP
9956.73
5096.68
2209.68
15.54%
HAMILTON TWP
25753.48
11490.63
4344.21
30.54%
HOPEWELL TWP
37716.23
1581.01
351.75
2.47%
LAWRENCE TWP
14063.22
11680.64
2969.26
20.88%
MILLSTONE TWP
23800.22
3050.05
162.28
1.14%
ROBBINSVILLE TWP
13167.99
10043.85
1521.29
10.70%
ROOSEVELT BORO
1246.51
1046.69
72.23
0.51%
TRENTON CITY
5272.96
2313.09
1619.52
11.39%
UPPER FREEHOLD TWP
30311.22
6100.83
230.34
1.62%
WEST WINDSOR TWP
16800.67
6281.47
709.45
4.99%
Grand Total
188108.45
59198.51
14223.32
100%


The Upper Millstone Watershed:
Drains to Manville at the‘Mouth’ of the Lower Millstone
The Mouth of The 
Millstone River
is at the 
confluence with 
The Raritan River 
in Manville
.


The Lower 
Millstone 
Watershed
Regional
Working 
Group
13 Towns
4 Counties


Urban Land Use (RED)
“An important parameter of land 
use and land cover is the amount 
of developed or urban land in the 
state. Urban land includes land 
with houses, buildings and 
pavement, and other areas that 
are essentially impervious to 
infiltration of rainfall.”
https://dep.nj.gov/wp-
content/uploads/dsr/trends-land-
use.pdf
The Lower Millstone Watershed: Land Use


State Stormwater Management Challenges


Key Components of the Enhanced Stormwater Ordinance
• Redefine Major Development
• Address smaller developments
• Address Redevelopment
• Low Impact Design
• Incorporate Water Quality
• Capture stormwater onsite
• Enhanced analysis of environmental 
     impacts from development
• Permitting and Reporting Requirements
https://thewatershed.org/the-watershed-institute-releases-enhanced-stormwater-management-model-ordinance/


Our ENHANCED SW Ordinance:
2023 Municipal Community Engagement
P. 13 Section IV. SW Mgmt. Req. For Major Development:
C. DEP's model ordinance includes this:
Stormwater management measures shall avoid adverse impacts of concentrated flow on habitat for threatened and endangered species as 
documented in the Department's Landscape Project or Natural Heritage Database established under N.J.S. A. 13:1B-5.147 through 
15.150, particularly Heloniasbu/Iota (swamp pink) and/or Clemmys muhlnebergi (bog turtle).
Our enhanced stormwater control ordinance provides:
D. The development design shall avoid changing the surface and subsurface hydrology of the site so as 
to avoid potential impacts to surface waters, wetlands or groundwater.
P. 18 Design Standards:
DEP's model ordinance includes this:
K.  Design standards for stormwater management measures are as follows:
1.Stormwater management measures shall be designed to take into account the existing site conditions, including, but not limited to, 
environmentally critical areas; wetlands; flood-prone areas; slopes; depth to seasonal high water table; site 
hydrology, soil type, permeability, and texture; drainage area and drainage patterns; and the presence of solution-prone carbonate rocks 
(limestone);
Our enhanced stormwater control ordinance provides: 2.  Stormwater management measures shall be 
designed and demonstrated not to negatively impact wetlands or surface waters on site or adjacent to the 
property. Nor shall the proposed project alter the drainage patterns.


Enhanced Site Analysis
2023 Municipal Community Engagement
Our enhanced stormwater ordinance adds the following items of site analysis in red:
A written and graphic description of the natural and man-made features of the site and its 
surroundings should be submitted.  This description should include a discussion of soil
conditions, slopes, wetlands, waterways surface and subsurface hydrology, and vegetation on the site. In the 
written site analysis, the identification of all waterways and watersheds with names, water and wetland 
classification; existing water quality impairments or approved TMDLs shall  be 
identified. Particular  attention should be given to  unique, unusual, or environmentally sensitive features and to 
those that provide particular opportunities or constraints for development . The map shall also include the 
following: existing surface water drainage, shorelines, steep slopes, soils, erodible soils, karst, springs, seeps, 
intermittent or perennial streams, wetlands and flood plains along with their appropriate buffer strips, 
marshlands and other wetlands, vernal pools, forests and core forests, pervious or vegetative 
surfaces, watersheds, existing man-made structures, roads, bearing and distances of property lines, and 
significant natural and manmade features (including outfalls, inlets, drainage pipes, etc) not otherwise shown.


Roosevelt Proposed Enhanced
Stormwater Ordinance
6.160 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
6.164 Stormwater Management Requirements 
for Major Development
P. 
Groundwater Recharge Standards.


Millstone Twp. SW Map & 
Enhanced Stormwater Ordinance
From M.T. SPPP (June 2023):
Millstone Township Stormwater Control Ordinance 
#21-01 is more stringent than the NJDEP model 
Stormwater Control Ordinance. The thresholds 
necessary to meet the definition of "Major 
Development" are lower than in the NJDEP model 
stormwater control ordinance.
There are 266 municipally owned or operated 
stormwater outfalls in Millstone Township. Each 
year at least 20% of the outfalls are inspected for 
stream scouring. Outfalls with scouring are 
prioritized for repair or restoration within the 
constraints of the existing budget and certified 
annually.


PROTECTION: Wetlands
2023 Municipal Community Engagement
NJ's Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act prohibits municipalities from regulating wetlands 
directly.  N.J.S.A. 12:9B-30.  While municipalities cannot regulate wetlands directly there are 
actions, they may be able to take which will have an indirect benefit of protection wetlands.  For 
example they can adopt:
•  Enhanced Stream Buffers: You can use the (typically Category 1) buffer of 300' for all 
streams/waterways. We are working on finalizing our enhanced model stream corridor 
ordinance.
•  Some enhanced stream buffer ordinances also increase the width if the corridor is 
within a flood plan or steep slopes.
•  you can require that developments do not negatively impact wetlands (surface 
flow/hydrology)
•  you can add a section of our enhanced Stormwater Ordinance to your ordinance:
https://thewatershed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/model-ordinance.pdf
P.12 Definitions:
"Wetlands" or "wetland" means an area that is inundated or saturated by surface water or 
ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal 
circumstances does support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil 
conditions, commonly known as hydrophytic vegetation.


Stormwater Management: NJ PACT REAL rule update


REAL rules: Stormwater-Volumetric Reduction
Reducing Volume- i.e. Flooding
Currently: 
• Standards do not reduce volume.  
• Increases volume. 
• Reduces rate
Proposed:
• Retain on-site- 1.25’ (WQDS) in 2 
hours
• Use Green Infrastructure  or
• Reduction of impervious surfaces 


REAL rules: Reduces Redevelopment Loophole
Currently: sites may not have to address 
Quantity, Quality or Recharge
Proposed:
• Must address Quality-
•
80% TSS removal/95% for C1
•
Nutrients to MEP
• Incorporate- Volumetric Reduction Standard
(NJ PACT REAL rule update)


Other Resources from 
The Watershed Institute
Tell Governor Murphy to Stay the Course | thewatershed.org


Advocacy
Watershed Planning opportunities
1.
Municipal Master Plans
•
Add a Watershed Element to your Municipal 
Master Plan
2. Stormwater Utilities
•
Stormwater Utility Law: the 'Clean SW
     and Flood Reduction Act’ (2019)
•
Regional/County/Collaboration allowed
 
3. County & State Plans
•
Regional WIP’s
•
The State Plan
4. Watershed Plans 
•
by advocates & non-profits
 


THE STATE PLAN: Cross Acceptance
MONMOUTH COUNTY
Mar. 31, 2025
6:30-8:30 PM, 6:30-8:30 PM Monmouth 
County Agricultural Building 4000 Kozloski 
Road Freehold, NJ 07728


Our Website: thewatershed.org
Our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/thewatershedinstitute


Susan Bristol
sbristol@thewatershed.org
Thank you!
2025 Municipal Community Engagement for 
Environmental Commissions & Green Teams