Attendees:

Wilma Morrissey
Steve Taylor
John Winterstella
Alice Hemphill
Mary Burne
Joan Koos
Cathie Oliver
Dan Van Abs
Katrie Hillman
Stanley Marciniak
Michael Hammer
Jennifer Dufine
Ken Allen
Rob Fiorile
Dave McKeon

After introductions, Mr. Taylor presented a video entitled "Doing Water Right." The video featured environmental technologies called Blue-Green Technologies that utilize natural systems to infiltrate rainwater as a stormwater control system. Basically, blue-green technologies are environmentally friendly ways to handle stormwater runoff. Blue-green technologies are roof gardens, porous pavement, small holding pools, infiltration trenches, cisterns, dry wells, and the like to allow stormwater to return to the groundwater table as opposed to an engineered discharge to a local waterway. The conventional method for managing stormwater is to channel it as quickly as possible, via drains, pipes, and culverts, into nearby waterways or wetlands. Traditional methods of stormwater management have resulted in the conveyance of large amounts of pollutants from roads and lawns into local streams. For the Manasquan River specifically, traditional conveyance systems have directed high volumes of water into the river resulting in stream bank scour, riparian collapse and aquatic impairment.

The video featured six examples of this technology: green roof, bioretention, porous pavement, extended detention basin, recharge basin and stream restoration.

Green roof technology places shallow root plants on flat roofs to create a lightweight meadow on top of buildings. Selected plants are normally of the wildflower variety since they do not require irrigation. Benefits include roof runoff reductions of up to 50%, reduced roof heat releases into the atmosphere, roof life extended to 2 or 3 times, thermal pollution prevention, and aesthetic value (usually in urban settings).

Bioretention technology is a naturalized area that is modeled after the terrestrial environment and designed to retain and infiltrate rainwater. These vegetated systems are typically placed on individual lots in existing or new developments. Generally, they range in size from 6 square feet to 20 square feet. Bioretention areas also known as rain gardens are designed to hold water onsite as long as possible and are capable of absorbing nutrients and pollutants. Utilizing this technology can save millions of dollars in infrastructure costs because it reduces or eliminates the need for storm drains, piping, and stormwater detention basins.

Porous pavement is often used for parking areas. This technology allows rainwater to penetrate the pavement and seep into the groundwater. The material price is comparable to asphalt, but the required stone bed underneath the pavement can be costly. However, if drainage pipes and storm drains are not needed, the cost for porous pavement is much cheaper than traditional pavement systems. The demonstration site in the video successfully handled a significant summer storm that dumped 7.25 inches in 24 hours. The material also lasts longer than conventional pavement.

The extended detention basin provides either a pretreatment or post-treatment polishing function for the traditional stormwater detention basin. Wetland plants are placed in the extended basin to absorb additional pollutants and provide an opportunity for additional settling of sand or other material washing off of impervious surfaces such as parking lots. The case study in the video was the Dover, Delaware Shopping Mall. Mall management used the attractive basin as a marketing tool and the $56,000 dollar project saves the Mall approximately $100,000 a year in mowing costs. (area was mowed by facility personnel previously).

The recharge basin project was an interesting project where planners called for proposals with creative designs. The winning proposal included a small waterfall for aeration, various native plants for attracting songbirds, a gazebo observation area, and underground tanks for the control of sediment. Instead of an unsightly mowed depression, the community now enjoys a quaint and attractive oasis that brings many varieties of songbirds as well as other wildlife.

The stream restoration project initiated from a deeply eroded ravine with collapsing stream banks. In fact, a local child was killed in the stream when a stream bank collapsed on him. The condition of the stream was a by-product of suburban sprawl and lack of management of water inputs to the stream. The project involved raising the streambed, grading the stream banks, and vegetative structures to hold the bank from additional erosion. Prior to the project, the stream was devoid of aquatic insects. Two years after completion of the project, aquatic insects are populating the stream again. Also, since that time, property values are increasing to similar values in nearby areas.

Following the video, members discussed these technologies and the need to get this information to municipal officials.

One member asked about septic tank influences and if there is technology to address these systems. Mr. Taylor responded that many of these technologies are capable of absorbing nutrients, so they would have application outside the leach field and in the effluent drainage area.

Naval Weapons Station Earle may be able to provide other opportunities. They have dedicated funding for military site restoration work. They too may be interested in this information. The case studies presented in the video may be very helpful to them.

A rooftop garden project will require municipalities to adopt ordinances outlining acceptable applications and specifications.

The MRWA should sponsor a stormwater seminar and invite municipalities to attend. The seminar should describe what municipalities will have to do under the new rules and what technologies (like those mentioned above) are available to them.

The Monmouth County Water Resources Association sponsored a stormwater workshop that briefed municipal officials on the new stormwater regulations. Videos of the workshop were mailed to each municipality in Monmouth County for their review. The MRWA should be careful not to duplicate work, but to take the next step in providing information related to solutions.

The stormwater discussions created a nice segue into the community outreach program.
MRWA's role should be to inform municipalities what they will have to do to meet the new stormwater management rules and then covey information about these new technologies to them. They will be most receptive to our work if we're providing information valuable to them. Many planning boards are not familiar with stormwater issues. They need to understand that the stormwater rules will become law and they will have to react to them. They will need help. It was suggested that the MRWA should invite municipal officials to one big meeting. Members agreed that one-on-one meetings would be a much better strategy. The County will know which municipalities need the most help, so we should contact the county for priority towns.

The Water Resources Association is planning another stormwater workshop for February. Perhaps the MRWA should piggyback this meeting or take the opportunity to present these various technologies.

Mr. Taylor asked if any members are interested in sitting on a Community Outreach Committee to help refine the outreach strategy and develop a more articulate outreach plan. The following people volunteered: Dave McKeon, Dan Van Abs, Alice Hemphill, Rob Firoile, and Katrie Hillman. Mr. Taylor promised to send them a proposal to comment on.

Announcements
Mr. Van Abs said that the new NJ Water Supply Authority Commissioners are committed to watershed protection and watershed management. They have agreed to dedicate resources towards source water protection. Two-thirds of the dedicated resources will go towards land preservation work. The remaining third will be dedicated to watershed management. Starting in fiscal year 2004 (July 1, 2003), the NJWSA will dedicate approximately $35,000 to watershed management activities. They are hopeful that these funds will be used as leverage for additional sources of funds.

Ms. Hillman provided a handout that contains information about stormwater catch basin cleaning provided by the Monmouth County Mosquito Commission. The purpose of the program is to clean catch basins and outfall pipes that empty directly into waterways to reduce mosquito-breeding habitat. Catch basins that hold water, organic debris, and sediment are prime mosquito breeding areas for mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus. Municipalities interested in participating in this program should contact the Mosquito Commission for additional information.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.