An Introduction to NPS, Watersheds

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An Introduction to NPS, Watersheds Stormwater

• NJDEP Division of Watershed Management

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Where does water pollution come from?
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Back in the 1970s

• The first focus of water pollution control was
  industrial and sewage dischargers.

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Point vs. Nonpoint
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What is NonPoint Source Pollution (NPS)?
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What is NonPoint Source Pollution (NPS)?
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When You Add It Up
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Why care about NPS?
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Types of NPS

• Sediments
• Nutrients
• Bacteria

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Types of NPS

• Motor oil
• Heavy metals
• Pesticides

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Farms vs Suburbs vs Cities
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How does it get there?
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Downstream to the Ocean
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Impact of development

• A Natural watershed - before development

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Impact of development

• A developed watershed

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What about storm drains?
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Watersheds and NPS

• A watershed is the area of land surrounding a
  waterbody.

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How do we reduce NPS and clean up stormwater?

• Regulatory Programs
• Stormwater Permitting Program
• Stormwater Management
• And more

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Suburban Basin
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Suburban Stormwater Basin
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Suburban BasinAerial view

• Aerial view

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More suburban stormwater
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Suburban BasinAerial view
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Commercial Stormwater Basin
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Commercial Stormwater Basin
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Commercial Stormwater BasinAerial View
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Stormwater swales
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How do we reduce NPS and clean up stormwater?

• Behavior Changes
• Each one of us, whether we are aware of it or
  not, contribute to water pollution

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Things You Can Do

• Pick up after your pet
• Use a car wash that recycles its wash water
• Dont feed waterfowl such as geese or ducks.
• Use less harmful household cleaners

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Things You Can Do

• Keep stormwater onsite consider a rain garden
• Use native plants in your landscaping
• Reduce or eliminate your use of pesticides and
  fertilizers

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Reducing Water Pollution

• Everyone including YOU must get involved to
  reduce water pollution.

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Outreach and Education Programs

• NJ Watershed Ambassadors Program
• Project WET (Water Education for Teachers)
• Teacher Workshops
• Watershed Stewards Program
• Water Festival Program

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Outreach and Education Programs

• Urban Fishing Program
• CleanwaterNJ
• Stormwater lessons - http//www.cleanwaternj.org/
• Publications Program
• Clean Water Raingers

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Project WET

• internationally renowned program that offers
  teachers a better understanding about the worlds
  water resources through hands-on,
  multi-disciplinary lessons

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Project WET

• Teacher Workshops
• In-service Training
• Watershed Stewards Program
• Water Festival Program

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Urban Fishing Program

• educate young students living near waterways with
  fish advisories about the hazards of eating
  contaminated fish and help them to discover the
  beauty of the great natural resource

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Publications

• Clean Water Raingers available free
• Coloring books, activity books and stickers
• Distributed 11,000 coloring books, 8,000 activity
  books and 20,000 stickers

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AmeriCorps NJDEP AmeriCorps NJ
Watershed Ambassador Program

• NJDEPs community oriented AmeriCorps program
• Members act as liaisons between DWM and the
  community.
• Focus on community education, outreach
  stewardship

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NJ Watershed Ambassadors Program

• Members are placed in 20 WMAs
• Members monitor and assess rivers
• Members train and partner with community
  volunteers
• Members educate community organizations and
  schools

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NJ Watershed Ambassadors Member Development

• Members will receive extensive training in
  environmental education principles and practice
  as well as watershed assessment protocols

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NJ Watershed Ambassadors Watershed Presentations

• Each member will make 30 presentations to a
  minimum of 750 participants

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NJ Watershed Ambassadors Volunteer Monitoring
Training

• Members will conduct 5 trainings in watershed
  assessment techniques to train a minimum of 25
  people.

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NJ Watershed Ambassadors Partnerships

• Each member will recruit 2 partners to
  participate in watershed stewardship partnership
  projects
• Examples
• Rain gardens
• Storm drain markings
• Stream clean ups
• Restoration projects
• Bioblitz

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NJ Watershed Ambassadors Partnerships

• Community Day Events
• Water Festivals
• Storm Drain Labeling
• Tree Plantings
• Watershed Hikes/Tours
• Volunteer Monitoring Trainings

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Watershed Education and Outreach
Goal Reducing water pollution through behavior
change - Cleaner healthier NJ