- Eric Evenson (USGS District Chief, Water Resources Division)
Mr. Evenson began by reviewing the hydrological cycle. In the Barnegat Bay
Watershed, all water begins as precipitation. Much of this precipitation, in an ideal
case, filters into aquifers (groundwater). Aquifers near the surface are usually
unconfined. Further down, aquifers are often confined by layers of clay or other
impervious material. Water remains in these aquifers for varying lengths of time. Water in
surface aquifers is often only days or years old. Water samples taken from a deep,
confined aquifer five miles offshore of Atlantic City were carbon dated at 25,000 years.
Under ideal conditions in southern New Jersey, this groundwater, rather than
runoff, is responsible for the base flow to streams. Urbanization brings in people who
need fresh water. In many coastal areas, especially the Barnegat Bay Watershed, this fresh
water comes from wells, i.e. the groundwater. This puts a strain on nature’s ability
to replenish the groundwater supply. Decreased groundwater supply leads to decreased
stream flow. Mr. Evenson mentioned the case of the southern shore of Long Island, where
overuse of groundwater resources has depleted the aquifers to the point that many streams
there are dry year round, and run only immediately after precipitation. The problem is
made worse if the water drawn into wells for human use is discharged outside of the
watershed, as is the case in Ocean County where wastewater is discharged offshore. This
results in a net loss of stream flow in the watershed.
Mr. Evenson then addressed the correlation between stream flow and water
quality. In addition to water, streams carry pollutants and nutrients to the Barnegat Bay.
Increased stream flow leads to decreased concentrations of pollutants and higher water
quality. Conversely, decreased stream base flow causes higher concentrations of pollutants
and nutrients and an overall drop in water quality. In the bay itself, this can result in
increased flushing rates and increased incidences of algal blooms.
Mr. Evenson then discussed current studies concerning the connection between
land use and water quality. The Barnegat Bay Watershed is composed of innumerable smaller
watersheds. The USGS has been examining the historical data from the oldest water quality
assessment sites in the watershed. The watersheds containing these sites were then
examined for the most prevalent land use found within them. In this way, a connection
could be drawn between land use and overall water quality. The results of the study showed
a direct correlation between increased development and increased nutrient amounts,
especially nitrates, in the local watershed. At the Toms River site, the data was examined
with and without corrections for long-term flow changes. In either case, nitrates were
found to be increasing within the watershed.
Mr. Evenson then gave the USGS estimate for the nitrogen load in the Barnegat
Bay Watershed at 1.1 million pounds per year. Of that amount, the majority comes from
surface water. The phosphorus load is estimated at 23 thousand pounds per year, almost all
of which comes from surface water. Other studies indicate that the Barnegat Bay is limited
by nitrogen, not phosphorus. It can be assumed, then, that that 1.1 million pounds has an
impact on the health of the Barnegat Bay.
From here, Mr. Evenson addressed the question of how to respond to the
aforementioned situations. It is important to decide what type of watershed is desirable
now and in the future. Because of the myriad uses people have for water, opinions as to
what is desirable and acceptable vary from person to person. Once it is decided what goals
to pursue, it is important to manage resources to reflect those goals. We must also
actively pursue controls on sprawl. We must work with professionals to develop these
controls to ensure that the controls will be effective, and we must remain active
participants in the process.
Eric Evenson, District Chief, United States Geological Survey, Water
Resources Division, 810 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 206, West Trenton, NJ 08628.
Phone: 609-771-3900, Fax: 609-771-3915. mailto:dc_nj@usgs.gov.
http://wwwnj.er.usgs.gov
- Penny Griber (Monmouth/Ocean Development Council)
The Monmouth/Ocean Development Council is a private, non-profit organization
founded in 1965 to work on responsible development, specifically addressing concerns of
the business community, in Ocean and Monmouth Counties. Ms. Griber is also an
environmental consultant. She began by discussing current environmental protections in
Ocean County. Pinelands or CAFRA regulations protect eighty-nine percent of the county.
The remaining eleven percent is mainly in the northwest part of the county.
Ms. Griber then addressed the various federal, state, and local regulations
currently in place to protect natural resources. She began with the Development
Feasibility Studies needed to determine how a property can be developed. This study
examines the project to see that it complies with all existing regulations.
On the local level, the Municipal Master Plan contains the Land Use Plan that
guides a municipality’s development. The plan must be updated every six years. It
contains explanations of the local zoning ordinances as well as planned population
projections. The Zoning Ordinances are the part of the Master Plan that are of the most
concern to developers. They include provisions for, among other things: public use and
open space, protection of water resources, adequate utilities, and shade trees. Any
deviation from the Zoning Ordinance requires a variance. The local Planning Board develops
the Master Plan in public sessions. Many people are surprised to find out that
"controversial" new developments have often been planned for years, with public
input about zones projected for development.
The Feasibility Report then must examine the requirements of the site in terms
of the availability of potable water and the disposal of sewage. It must be decided
whether public utilities are available (i.e. municipal water and sewers) or if it will be
necessary to use wells and septic systems. Septic systems, especially, are restricted and
cannot be built in areas that would compromise water or soil quality.
At the state level, the NJDEP regulations are found in Title 7 of the New Jersey
Administrative Code. The most common regulations that apply to Ocean County, according to
Ms. Griber, are the Coastal Permit Program Rules, the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act
rules, and the Coastal Zone Management Rules. The Coastal Permit Program Rules establish
which activities require a CAFRA, Tidal Wetlands or Waterfront Development Permit. The
Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act Rules establish which activities are lawful with
respect to freshwater wetlands. The regulation of wetlands in New Jersey is now performed
by the NJDEP, which assumed this responsibility from the Army Corps of Engineers in 1994.
The NJDEP classifies wetlands into "Ordinary’’,
"Intermediate-’’, or "Exceptional Value Wetlands". The NJDEP has
sole discretion in wetland delineation and classification. The Coastal Zone Management
Rules are those that must be met in order to obtain a CAFRA permit. The project must be
examined with respect to each of the 109 CAFRA policies.
Once it can be established that all of these regulations can be met, an
Environmental Site Assessment should be prepared. This report will provide information on
possible on-site or off-site pollution. Under the law, the owner of a piece of land is
responsible for the negative effects of any development on the land, even if the
development occurred during previous ownership. Ignorance of pre-existing conditions is
not a viable defense. The site assessment examines if negative conditions are present, and
recommends clean-up solutions, if required.
Ms. Griber concluded by listing the professional resources necessary for
implementation of a development project. She re-emphasized all of the requirements
necessary and hit home the point that most development is planned years in advance and is
based on a town’s stated development plan.
Penny Griber, Monmouth/Ocean Development Commission, 2520 Highway 35,
Manasquan, NJ 08736. Phone: 732-223-6632, Fax: 732-223-1516.
http://www.MODC.com
- Richard Kunze (Ocean County Utilities Authority)
Mr. Kunze outlined the history of The Ocean County Utilities
Authority, stating at the outset that, "wastewater treatment is a necessary
evil." He pointed out that water purification happens naturally, but that when too
many humans are introduced, the natural rate of purification cannot keep up with the
increase in wastewater. In the mid-sixties, a decrease in surface water quality was
noticed in Ocean County. At that time, there were about 45 small to medium sized
wastewater treatment plants in Ocean County. Most of the plants on the barrier island
performed only primary treatment (settling out of solids) before discharging the effluent
about 500 feet offshore. Most of the inland plants provided secondary treatment with
discharge to streams or Barnegat Bay.
Mr. Kunze pointed out that tourism was the primary concern that led to the creation of
the OCUA. Beach closures and fishing restrictions in Ocean County lead to decreased
revenue. In the 1960’s plants along the coast waited until after Labor Day to
discharge the accumulated solids through the outfall lines into the ocean. In addition to
the existing plants discharging to the Barnegat Bay watershed, many Ocean County residents
had septic systems. The water table being as high as it is in much of Ocean County, these
systems can quite easily leach into the groundwater or the surface water if located near
Barnegat Bay. The end result of these concerns was that in 1970, the Ocean County Board of
Chosen Freeholders created the OCUA.
The OCUA shut down the forty-five or so small plants and built three large state of the
art treatment plants, in Brick, Bayville, and Manahawkin, to handle all of Ocean
County’s wastewater. Each of the plants is capable of handling millions of gallons of
wastewater per day (28 million in the case of the Brick plant, enough for about 280,000
people). The typical residence discharges 250 gallons of wastewater per day.
The OCUA treatment plants perform primary and secondary treatment. Primary treatment
settles out the solids using gravity in large circular tanks called clarifiers. The
velocity of the wastewater is reduced so that any solids with a specific gravity greater
than water will settle out. Secondary treatment removes finely suspended solids that will
not settle and dissolved solids by mixing the water with naturally occurring bacteria,
which consume the suspended particles and then the bacteria and other forms of
microorganisms settle out in secondary clarifiers. This removes over 90 percent of the
solids. Tertiary treatment, which is not done in Ocean County, involves further treatment
to remove even more solids and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus). One treatment process
used in some locations includes releasing the secondary effluent into an area with high
plant growth (i.e. a wetland or a marsh) to remove nitrogen. After secondary treatment,
OCUA plants disinfect the water with chlorine. After the treatment is done, their effluent
is required to meet the same requirements as bathing beach water (200 fecal coliform
colonies per 100 ml of water). The water is discharged a mile offshore at three locations
along the Ocean County shore. The OCUA plants formerly sent the stabilized solids that
settled out in the clarifiers to the Ocean County Landfill. Today, however, after
stabilization with further bacterial treatment, the solids are dried, turned into pellets,
and used as fertilizer.
Mr. Kunze also addressed the difference between combined and separate sewers. Combined
sewers, such as those found in large cities like New York, combine storm water runoff from
streets with wastewater from homes and businesses. The major disadvantage of this system
is that during heavy precipitation, the treatment plants cannot handle the extra water and
there are overflows, or untreated water released into the environment. This is not a
problem in Ocean County, as all municipalities use separate systems. He did not touch on
the problems of storm drain runoff.
Richard Kunze, Ocean County Utilities Authority, 501 Hickory
Lane, Bayville, NJ 08721. Phone: 732-269-4500 x8226, Fax: 732-237-2193.
mailto: rkunze@ocua.com.
http://www.ocua.com
- Dave McKeon (Ocean County Office of Planning)
In his talk, Mr. McKeon addressed the nation-wide rise of suburbia, the
responses to that rise, and the outlook for the future. According to Mr. McKeon, the roots
of suburbia lie in the 1940's and 1950's. People at that time wanted to reap the benefits
of city life (jobs, goods, proximity to cultural and political events) without
experiencing the disadvantages (crowding, crime and an unhealthy environment). This was
accomplished thanks to the availability of the automobile and the growth of roads. People
began to live in the rural areas outside of cities.
In Ocean County, the growth of the suburbs is inextricably linked with the
construction of the Garden State Parkway in the fifties. The attractions of Ocean County
then were the same as any suburban area: inexpensive land, a rural esthetic (in close
proximity to New York, Philadelphia and Atlantic City) and low crime. Then, as now, much
of the growth came from North Jersey, especially retired people. This retired population
is reflected in the employment growth of the county as well. The largest employer in the
county is the health services industry. The population of Ocean County in 1940 was 37,000.
By 1990, it had grown to 433,000, and the projected population in 2000 is 485,000. The
highest period of growth was from 1950 to 1970, when the population doubled. Ocean County
has been the fastest-growing county in the state since 1940, according to the U.S. Census
Bureau.
Mr. McKeon then mentioned some of the negative results of growth of the suburbs.
People must travel further for services, which leads to an increased reliance on the
automobile. The increased use of the automobile causes traffic problems, which necessitate
more roads. Lack of a central area of habitation leads to increased utilities costs to
people and municipalities. All of these factors increase pollution, both air and water,
and decrease open space.
The responses to these problems has been, according to Mr. McKeon, programs on
the federal, state and local level to address these problems. He divides the programs into
two types: regulatory and direct purchase. Regulatory programs can address specific
problems such as air pollution or water pollution, or regulation of how land can be used.
Unfortunately, there is often a backlash against these programs from private property
owners who find that their plans to develop are blocked by regulations, especially when
those regulations were created after the purchase of the land. As a result, private
property rights overshadow environmental protection efforts, even if both parties
basically agree on the goal.
The other measure taken to address the problems inherent in suburban sprawl are
direct purchase of property programs. In 1998, 118,000 acres of land in Ocean County was
owned by federal and state agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the state
park system, the NJ Natural Lands Trust, and the Forest Service. In addition, 4,000 acres
of land were in the county parks system. In addition to the direct acquisition of land,
the county purchases the development rights on agricultural land to prevent development.
In addition to being an open space initiative, then, it becomes an agricultural initiative
as well. Mr. McKeon mentioned that some of the concerns of the municipalities looking to
preserve open space and halt development were the effects that such preservation would
have on the local tax base. In the past, the effects were assumed to be negative across
the board. In recent years, however, municipalities are realizing that the tax benefits
gained by putting in hundreds of single-family homes do not necessarily outweigh the costs
of providing services to those homes (school, utilities, etc.)
In conclusion, Mr. McKeon commented on continuing efforts to deal with sprawl in
Ocean County. He mentioned that sprawl is not unique to Ocean County or to New Jersey. In
the future, the population of Ocean County will grow, but at a lesser rate. While legal
efforts to combat sprawl are not always successful, some towns have been very successful
in adopting ordinances to protect natural resources. Stafford Township is an example of
the success of this tactic. In addition to traditional water problems associated with
sprawl, we are learning more about how soil compaction affects water quality. Mr. McKeon
warned that while many Planning Boards have initiatives to combat certain issues, it is
just as important to re-evaluate and educate the public about the existing regulations.
David McKeon, Ocean County Department of Planning, 129 Hooper Ave, PO Box
2191, Toms River, NJ 08754. Phone: 732-929-2054, Fax: 732-244-8396.
- Jackie Savitz (The Coast Alliance)
The Coast Alliance is a non-profit group started in 1979 by groups and
individuals concerned about the negative effects of pollution and development pressure on
the coasts of the U.S. They are centered in Washington D.C. to serve as the eyes and ears
of coastal policy in the federal government. Ms. Savitz explained the reasons for controls
on coastal runoff. It was the goal of the Clean Water Act of 1972 that 100 percent of
lakes and streams be fishable and swimmable by 1983. This goal was not achieved. Today,
only 40 percent of lakes and streams are safe for swimming and fishing. In 1996, there
were 2,500 beach closures in the U.S. Algal blooms are still a problem and have been on
the rise in many areas, especially Pfiesteria in the South. Red tides, brown
tides, and the existence of a "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico all point the
serious threat posed by coastal runoff.
Section 319 of the Clean Water Act provides for well funded but voluntary
programs to combat coastal runoff. Unfortunately, these programs lack enforcement
measures. The Coastal Non Point Pollution Control Program was passed in 1990 to provide
regulatory measures that were enforceable. The act allows voluntary programs to be tried,
but requires enforcement if they are not successful. Unfortunately, the Coastal Non Point
Pollution Control Program is not well funded. It does require that states come up with
plans to reduce/control the largest sources of coastal runoff, and provided some funds to
the states for the development and enforcement of those plans. Two advantages of this
system are that the federal government must approve the plans, and may not take actions in
state coastal zones that are not consistent with the plans.
Ms. Savitz then discussed the specific importance of controlling pollution from
coastal runoff in New Jersey. In doing so, she reiterated the importance of coastal health
to the economy of the state. Tourism, according to the state government, brings in 304
billion dollars per year in New Jersey. In addition, wildlife recreation brings in $3
billion, sport fishing brings in $1 billion, commercial fishing brings in $98 million, and
wetlands ecological services are valued at $5.5 billion.
Unfortunately for these industries, according to Ms. Savitz, there were 160,000
acres of shellfish closures in 1995, half of which were due to polluted runoff. In
addition, the coastal population is expected to be 7.6 million by 2010. Only 35 percent of
rivers and estuaries in the state are rated "good" for fishing and swimming. The
other 65 percent are rated "fair" to "poor".
The NJ State Plan has been reviewed by the federal government and sent back to
the state with suggestions. Some of those suggestions directly related to coastal sprawl
are to control runoff from new development, improve measures for on-site disposal (i.e.
septic systems), and to protect wetlands and riparian areas. According to Ms. Savitz,
these measures could take the form of reducing sediment runoff to streams, avoiding the
conversion of erosion-prone areas, preserving wetlands to improve water quality, limiting
impervious surfaces (by clustering development), better septic system management (by
better site selection and reduced nitrogen contribution), and controls on roads and
highways as channels for pollution. Ms. Savitz emphasized that it was definitely possible
to control coastal runoff pollution.
The people to contact with input on the State Plan are Liz Rosenblatt, Kimberly
Cenno, and Dorina Frizzera, all of the NJDEP. The NJDEP number is (609) 292-2113. In
conclusion, Ms. Savitz called for support of Congressman Jim Saxton’s bill to get
more money to the states for the development and enforcement of the plan. She also
recognized efforts by Senators Lautenburg and Torricelli to get funding for the State
Plan.
Jackie Savitz, Coast Alliance, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, Suite 340,
Washington, DC 20003. Phone: 702-546-9554, Fax: 202-546-9609. mailto:coast@coastalliance.org http://www.coastalliance.org
- Chris Smith (USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Mr. Smith, a soil scientist, discussed the relationship between soil conditions
and watershed health. He began by pointing out the obvious fact that soils should be kept
free of contaminants in order to remain healthy. He explained that all the functions we
expect soil to perform depend on the presence of soil pores. Concentrating specifically on
the relationship between pore size and soil health, soils naturally have the largest pores
closest to the surface. With increasing depth down to the subsoil, pore size decreases as
density of the soil increases. This allows water to saturate into the deeper layers of
soil and percolate down into the groundwater. If compaction causes a layer of the smaller
pores to form closer to the surface or on the surface, the depth of soil that can be
saturated is reduced. Overall water quality and quantity is reduced as a result of
decreased flow to the groundwater and increased surface runoff.
Mr. Smith then pointed out that many types of standard land use constitute
essentially impervious cover. When soil is compacted, it tends to develop thin
horizontally oriented cracks. These openings lead to restricted lateral movement of water,
as opposed to more rapid vertical infiltration. The result is increased runoff and reduced
groundwater recharge. The slides showed farmland and graded land with standing water, a
situation that would not occur with healthy, porous soil. Depending on the severity of
compaction, agriculture and even some parks may be comparable to comparable to asphalt,
when one considers the effect on the hydrologic cycle. Some of the compaction that was
pictured was over forty years old, demonstrating the longevity of the ill effects of
compaction. Slides of the compacted soil profiles showed that plant roots were unable to
penetrate the compacted layers. Mr. Smith speculated that the compacted soil leads to
unhealthy plants, which in turn leads to the increased use of fertilizer, which runs off
the compacted soil at a higher rate. As further evidence of the negative effects of
compaction in some urbanized areas, Mr. Smith showed dead trees with roots wrapped around
and twisted into a tight ball unable to penetrate the soil beyond the original hole dug
for planting. In terms of solutions to the problems, Mr. Smith had several suggestions.
First among them was to plant a rain garden. The purpose of a rain garden is to harvest
water garden by maximizing rainfall infiltration into the soil. This is accomplished by
reserving naturally porous areas and/or restoring porosity to areas downslope from
impervious surfaces. Trees, shrubbery or flowers should be planted in the rain garden to
maintain porosity and promote evapotranspiration. Rain garden work best when then are in
depressions or level areas that can store water briefly, allowing it time to soak into the
soil. In addition to providing shade, when trees and other plants are evaporating water,
they help to cool the air and reduce global warming. To restore porosity near trees living
in compacted soil, dig out about 5 trenches in a wheel spoke like pattern. By digging a
trench and returning the soil back to the ground it will be sufficiently loosened to
provide for root extension. The trenches should be 1 to 1½’wide, deep enough to
extend below any compacted layers, and extend from the trunk out to the limit of the
crown. An effort should be made to separate the organically darkened topsoil from the
subsoil when digging so they can be returned to the trench in the proper sequence.
Extremely compacted soils will have extra soil that will not fit back into the trench.
This material should be placed elsewhere. If one is considering adding a patio or deck, a
deck is preferable as the area under the deck can be loosed before deck construction. The
area under the slated floor can then serve as an infiltration area. Infiltration areas can
be planned into new developments or retrofitted in existing subdivisions to provide for
groundwater recharge. In summary, Mr. Smith said, promoting more porous areas downslope
from less porous areas will reduce runoff, improve water quality and quantity in streams
and groundwater and reduce global warming.
Christopher Smith, Soil Scientist, USDA/NRCS, 1370 Hamilton St, Somerset, NJ
08873. Phone: 732-246-1171 x124, Fax: 732-246-2358. http://www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov
Questions
The question and answer period that followed was brief due to the late hour. Mr.
John Griber asked Mr. Smith the reasons behind developers’ clear cutting and grading
of land. Mr. Smith responded by laying the blame on the high rate of lawsuits in the U.S.
According to Mr. Smith and another member of the audience, fear of legal repercussions
from hidden roots, dangerous limbs, etc. leads developers to cut down and grade everything
and start developments on a totally clean slate.
Ms. Pearl Schwartz asked Mr. Kunze why the Ocean County Utilities Authority did
not perform tertiary treatment on its wastewater. Mr. Kunze responded that the costs of
adding tertiary treatment (an additional 30 percent) were not feasible at this time.
The final question was from a resident of Jackson who had a child with cancer.
He vented his frustration with what he perceived as a lack of a response from local
authorities to public concerns about water quality. Mr. Jack Hickman echoed the sentiment.
