Projects in Warren, Morris, Sussex, Hunterdon and Somerset counties part of $8M in statewide water quality grants
TRENTON, N.J. — Several towns across Warren, Morris, Sussex, Hunterdon, and Somerset counties will receive a share of nearly $8 million in Water Quality Restoration grants awarded by the Murphy administration to improve local waterways, reduce pollution, and strengthen environmental resilience, Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced this week.
The funding, provided through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), supports efforts to address nonpoint source pollution, harmful algal blooms, stormwater runoff, and climate resilience in communities throughout the region. The grants are funded by the federal Clean Water Act and administered through the DEP’s Watershed and Land Management Program.
“Enhancing the ecological health of our lakes, rivers, streams and coastal waters has long been a priority of the Murphy Administration,” LaTourette said. “The Department of Environmental Protection is pleased to award these grants that will help our partners advance a variety of strategies to improve the health of these waterways and enhance the quality of life in our communities.”
Regional Award Recipients
- Rockaway Township (Morris County) – $399,400
Rockaway Township will construct new green infrastructure at its municipal complex to reduce nonpoint source pollutants flowing into Fox’s Pond and Fox Brook. High fecal coliform levels have caused repeated public beach closures. The project includes converting a rock-lined drainage swale into a vegetative swale and bioretention basin to better filter stormwater. - Lake Hopatcong Commission (Morris/Sussex counties) – $366,813
The commission will upgrade an existing stormwater basin at Lake Hopatcong to better capture and remove sediments and nutrients, improving water quality and helping prevent harmful algal blooms that have plagued the lake in recent years. - Jefferson Township (Morris County) – $350,100
Jefferson Township will develop an Emerging Contaminants Plan to address cyanotoxins and harmful algal blooms in Cozy Lake. The plan includes in-lake monitoring and strategies to mitigate bloom conditions and protect public health. - Liberty Township (Warren County) – $230,500
Liberty Township will implement best management practices at Mountain Lake to combat recurring harmful algal blooms that have resulted in public swimming beach closures. The project aims to reduce nutrient levels feeding the blooms. - Montgomery Township (Somerset County) – $288,300
Montgomery Township will create a comprehensive Watershed Based Plan for the Raritan River watershed, focusing on reducing nonpoint source pollution and mitigating flooding through detailed pollutant mapping, analysis, and technical recommendations. - The Watershed Institute (Hunterdon County) – $205,138
Based in Pennington, the institute will use its grant to develop a Watershed Based Plan for the Assunpink Creek watershed. The plan will evaluate pollution sources, identify large-scale ecological restoration opportunities, and promote public engagement. - Lake Owassa Paulinskill Headwaters Conservation Foundation (Sussex County) – $87,100
This project will focus on reducing pollutants such as fecal coliform, phosphorus, and arsenic in the Culver Creek sub-watershed of the Upper Delaware River basin. The plan will calculate pollutant loads and pinpoint priority sites for restoration.
In addition to these regional projects, other grants across the state will fund work by universities, nonprofits, and local governments to install green infrastructure, improve stormwater systems, and restore habitats.
“With this round of funding, the Murphy Administration has awarded more than $33 million in Water Quality Restoration grants to improve the health of waterways in all corners of the state,” LaTourette said.
The grants underscore the state’s continued commitment to protecting local environments while helping towns manage flooding, prevent pollution, and enhance community resilience.
