This document summarizes a workshop on green infrastructure for municipal leaders in the Pinelands region. It discusses the impacts of increased stormwater runoff from development, including water quality issues and flooding. Regulations that address stormwater management for new development are outlined. The benefits of green infrastructure approaches are presented, including cost savings, aesthetics, and environmental protection. Challenges municipalities face with stormwater are discussed and funding opportunities for green infrastructure projects are mentioned.

1. Pinelands Regional
Municipal Leaders
Green Infrastructure
Workshop
May 3rd, 2016

2. Introduction

3. What’s The Fuss About a Little
Runoff?
• Increased volume and velocity
• Altered stream flows
• Increased non-point source
pollution
• Degraded water quality
• Impaired wetland, riparian and
aquatic habitats
• Compromised ecosystem functions

4. What’s The Fuss About a Little
Runoff?
Source: US EPA

5. Stormwater Runoff Comparison
STORM EVENT RUNOFF
1 YEAR 2 YEAR 10 YEAR
VOLUME (GAL) VOLUME (GAL) VOLUME (GAL)
MEADOW (CN 58) 20,203 39,102 120,891
COMPACTED GRAVEL (CN 96) 238,849 296,199 391,347
RUNOFF VOLUME INCREASE PER STORM
(GALLONS)
218,646 257,096 270,456
RUNOFF VOLUME INCREASE PER STORM (%) 1082% 658% 224%
VS

6. Regulations
Municipal Permits
Legal Issues

7. Regulatory Responsibility
New Development and Redevelopment
• NJDEP
– Stormwater Management Regulations
• Peak flow management (3 options)
• Quality management
• Recharge (2 options)
– Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan
• Major difference is recharge requirement

8. Regulatory Responsibility
New Development and Redevelopment
– Peak flow management (3 options)
• Controlling the 2-, 10- and 100-year storms
• Not volume, but rate of runoff
i.e. cubic feet per second

9. Regulatory Responsibility
New Development and Redevelopment
– Volume
management
• Maintaining where
the water goes and
how much of it
i.e. cubic feet
In NJ, volume
management is
achieved via
groundwater recharge

10. Regulatory Responsibility
New Development and Redevelopment
– Quality management
• Treating or protecting water from contamination by pollutants
via or detention times, mechanical or filtration
– TSS removal 80% and 90% (some specific loading area in Pinelands)

11. Municipal Requirements
MS4 Permit
(municipal separate stormwater system)
Phase II Rules (non-point source pollution)
Subchapter 25. Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program
– Tier A and B Municipalities
– Public Complex
– Highway Agencies

12. Municipal Requirements
MS4 Permit
Statewide Basic Requirements
1. Public involvement/participation
2. Post-construction stormwater
management in new
development and redevelopment
3. Public education
4. Prohibiting improper disposal of
waste
5. Control of solid and floatable
materials
6. Maintenance of yards and roads
7. Employee training
Public official,
usually the
Mayor signs the
NJPDES
General
Stormwater
Permit

13. Legal Issues
• NJ Environmental Rights Act
• Hydrologic Trespass
• Continuing Nuisance Claims
• Construction Defects

14. Physical Manifestations of Non-
Management or Ineffective
Management of Stormwater

15. Stormwater Impacts
Failed Recharge
Basins
Flooding

16. Stormwater Impacts
Fish Removal Permit
Infiltration Basin

17. Stormwater Impacts
Water Quality
Degradation
Beach/Lake Closures

18. What is Green
Infrastructure?

19. What is Green Infrastructure?
Green infrastructure is an approach to water management that protects,
restores, or mimics the natural water cycle. Green infrastructure is
effective, economical, and enhances community safety and quality of life.
It means planting trees and restoring wetlands, rather than building a
costly new water treatment plant.
Green stormwater infrastructure includes a range of soil-water-
plant systems that intercept stormwater, infiltrate a portion of it
into the ground, evaporate a portion of it into the air, and in some
cases release a portion of it slowly back into the sewer system.

20. The Sweet Spot in the
“Triple Bottom Line”
Cost effectiveness
Lower lifecycle costs
Property values
Aesthetics
Social Justice
Livable communities
Safe and clean water
Ecological integrity

21. The New Stormwater
Management Paradigm
Vegetated, “at the Source”
BMPs

22. • Understanding how a site
functions naturally and
following through design
with this knowledge
• Less impervious is more
• Reviewing stormwater
needs in parallel with
zoning bulk standards,
rather than as an
afterthought.
• Viewing stormwater as a
resource rather than a
waste.
Nature Finds a Way

23. Using biology to increase time
between maintenance

24. Financial
Initial and lifecycle cost benefits
• Extends life cycle of infrastructure
• End of the pipe doesn’t always work with
higher Pinelands regulations and/or high
groundwater tables
• Such approaches emphasize runoff
reduction, stormwater infiltration, and
pollutant removal ….not simply peak
flow attenuation

25. Financial
Initial and lifecycle cost benefits
http://www.cnt.org/tools/green-values-stormwater-toolbox

26. Social/Health
www.kidsfishingfoundation.com

27. Environment

28. Issues in your town
Open discussion

29. What Are You Dealing With?

30. Green Infrastructure
Making it happen

31. Getting it Right the First Time
New Development
• Revamping ordinances
– Stormwater model ordinance
THE MINIMUM
– Incentivize Green
Infrastructure
– Mitigation projects
• Careful review of
development applications
– Challenge the design
– Know your town; soils,
groundwater
– Enforce ordinances

32. Existing Development
• Enforcement only
maintains status quo
• Disconnect
• Retrofit
• Mitigation
opportunities, tied back
to new development

33. Infrastructure Replacement
2 Birds, 1 Bioswale
• Reduce localized
flooding
• Efficient use of funds
• Complete Streets
• Road DietOhiopyle, PA www.waterworrld.comc

34. Demonstration Projects
Start with Public Buildings
• Demonstration projects
help gain community
support
• Provides educational
opportunity
• Improves existing
landscape

35. It’s raining…money?
Funding Sources
• 59% of NJ towns listed funding as a barrier to GI
• 48% said their weren’t even looking for funding
• Municipal funding
• 319(h) Grants
• NJEIT
• Developer mitigation
• Private Foundations

36. Let’s take a closer look at
your town

37. Let’s Look at Your Town
Red Dots
• Where do streets usually flood?
• Are there neighborhoods with wet basements after
a storm?
• Any stormwater basins that never drain? Or other
standing water?
Green Dots
• Where are churches, community centers, or schools
in the town?
• Any parcels that are likely to develop or
redevelop in the next few years?