Metedeconk Watershed
Challenges and Successes
Challenges
The Metedeconk River, which flows from forested wetlands in the headwaters through densely populated communities, provides drinking water to about 100,000 homes in Ocean and Monmouth Counties, New Jersey. Led by the Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority (BTMUA), the local committee, consisting of representatives from both counties, are searching for solutions that address their stormwater management and land protection challenges.
Successes
Based on the Exchange Team's top recommendation to create an inter-jurisdictional forum for watershed planning and stormwater management, the BTMUA and other members of the local committee are conducting outreach to elected officials throughout the watershed.
The focus of the outreach has been to build commitment to creating a regional stormwater management plan and to securing state designation as a Category I watershed. The Category I designation establishes watershed-wide stream buffers and a requirement that new development not degrade streams.It also enhances the likelihood that open space preservation funds will be allocated to the watershed. With only 7 percent of the watershed currently protected, TPL is working with New Jersey's "Green Acres" program and others to purchase land in critical areas of the watershed identified by the GIS analysis, with one property currently under option.
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