Green Infrastructure Implementation, Education, and Outreach in New Jersey

Rosana Da SilvaRutgers Cooperative Extension

Water Resources Program

Urban InnovationNovember 30, 2016

Water Resources Program

Our mission is to identify and address community water resources issues using sustainable and practical

science-based solutions.

About New Jersey• 565 municipalities in 21

counties• Population of 8,958,013

(US Census, 2015)– 10.8% living below the

poverty line• MHI $72,062 (US

Census, 2014)

Home Rule State

New Jersey Challenges• Change in municipal administration and constant change

in municipal representatives• Change in priorities and needs per administration• NJDEP Permit changes

– Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)– Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)

• Township’s stormwater review process revealed widespread inaccuracies

• Neglect on both the project applicants and the Township

• Township failed to:– Identify multiple omissions in

submitted applications– Flawed assumptions or

miscalculations on the submitting engineer

• SHOS filed suit against the Township for failure to completely fulfill the NJ Stormwater Management Rules’ requirements

Case Study: Hamilton Township, Mercer County

Case Study: Hamilton Township, Mercer County

The approval of a developer’s stormwater management plans lies solely with the

municipality.

Case Study: Hamilton Township, Mercer County

State-wide Municipal Stormwater Management Education Program

Stormwater Management Rules (N.J.A.C. 7:8)

NJ Stormwater Guidance

For more information, visit: www.njstormwater.org

State-wide Municipal Stormwater Management Education Program

Asking the Right Questions in Stormwater

Review?• 270 participants over

eight (8) trainings provided to municipal representatives

• 155 surveys collected,100% of the participants demonstrated a core knowledge gain

• Common responses: “My colleagues on the planning board should have also been here for this training.”

Asking the Right Questions in Stormwater Review eLearning Tool

• All eLearning tools are free and available to everyone

• Accessible by visiting: http://water.rutgers.edu/E-learning.html

Available eLearning Tools• Understanding Your

Impervious Cover Assessment (ICA) Report (March, 2015)

• Asking the Right Questions in Stormwater Review (April, 2015)

• Impervious Cover Assessment (ICA) and Impervious Cover Reduction Action Plan: The Answer to All Your Problems (December, 2015)

Available eLearning Tools• Ideas and Resources for

Implementing Green Infrastructure in Your Community - Planning documents, programs, and ordinances (May, 2016)

• Green Infrastructure Overview: Examples and Properties of a aVariety of Stormwater Management Solutions (November, 2016)

Limitations and Challenges• eLearning Tools did not receive the same

reactions as the in-person workshops• Municipal representatives are still unaware

these tools exist for them, at no cost

Lessons Learned• Marketing is key

– Distributing eLearning tools – online, printed, in-person– How can we promote ourselves to our stakeholders as

a “first stop” in learning about water resources?• Asking and Answering Fundamental Questions

– Who needs to know about these eLearning tools? – How can we share this information with them? – Where do our municipal representatives go to get

information? How does information get passed on to new hires, appointees, and elected officials?

– What role can the University play in utilizing these tools as well as promoting them?

Rosana Da Silvardasilva@envsci.rutgers.edu

(848) 932-6714

Questions and/or Comments

Next Steps• When developing an

eLearning tool, know your audience

• Market and promote tools to audience in multiple facets

• Technology has limitations