Working for Smart Growth:
More Livable Places and Open Spaces

 

Environment and Agriculture

Reducing Rain’s Repercussions: Exploring the Potential for Green Infrastructure on Redevelopment Sites

Friday, July 8th, 2022

“The benefits of green infrastructure are boundless,” says Jennifer Gonzalez, Director of Environmental Services and Chief Sustainability Officer in Hoboken. Green infrastructure (practices like rain gardens, green roofs, and rain barrels that capture stormwater) can brighten towns through more beautiful streetscapes, reduced flooding, improved health of both people and ecosystems, and increased pollinator habitat.

Award-Winning Map Shows Water-Related Environmental Justice Issues in New Jersey

Thursday, June 30th, 2022

The Summer 2021 floods in New Jersey, none more widespread and damaging than following Hurricane Ida, showed the damage that stormwater can wreak on communities. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) anticipates that rainfall intensity will increase due to climate change, meaning that flooding will become more frequent.

Street View: Fostering an Inclusive Community Through Complete and Green Streets

Wednesday, June 29th, 2022

From a satellite view, our streets, our towns, and our lives look picturesque. In reality, we know they are much messier than that.

One Year Later: How NJ Municipalities Have Implemented DEP’s Stormwater Management Rules

Monday, June 27th, 2022

It has been just over a year since New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) 2020 amendment to the Stormwater Management Rule (NJAC 7:8) took effect.

Making Savvy, Successful Stormwater Solutions: Why the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Permit Renewal Matters

Friday, June 24th, 2022

As New Jersey faces increasing rainfall due to climate change and widespread water pollution, effective stormwater management becomes an increasingly important tactic for promoting healthy streams and improved water quality.

State Guidance for Locating Warehouses is Here

Friday, June 10th, 2022

The Office of Planning Advocacy, the staff for the State Planning Commission, has issued first-of-its-kind guidance on where and how warehouses should be located in New Jersey.

Crossroads in New Jersey: Investing in Water Infrastructure “Post-Newark”

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022

Indeed, the full value of Newark’s LSL replacement program lies not in its completion, but in what it suggests about what can be accomplished in communities across the state. Thus, following the completion of Newark’s nationally acclaimed program, the conversation across the state—and across the country—has pivoted from what happened in Newark to what should happen next.

New Resources to Drive New Jersey Toward Green Street Implementation

Wednesday, January 19th, 2022

Roadways throughout the nation are a significant source of pollution to local streams, rivers, and lakes.  Stormwater runoff controls are essential for preventing pollutants from washing off roads and reducing local flooding. Converting traditional streets to green streets can mitigate these issues. If you would like to know how your community can begin implementing a green streets project, Jersey Water Works (JWW) has two new publications that can help you along.

Environmental Justice and Warehouse Sprawl

Tuesday, December 7th, 2021

Earlier this year, New Jersey Future released a report about the growth of warehousing in New Jersey, and that growth pressure has only grown more intense in the intervening months. The report focused mainly on the use—and in many cases, the re-use—of land for warehouse development and its impact on host communities in terms of […]

NJ Residents can Improve Flood Management, one Rain Garden at a Time

Monday, November 1st, 2021

Flooding is a critical issue at all scales. Water engineers tell us that individual community members can work together to solve this problem by building rain gardens. Rain gardens, a type of green infrastructure, are designed to soak up water during storms. On properties with rain gardens, this means less pooled water and more groundwater recharge. The more properties adopt this practice, the more pressure is relieved from the area’s municipal separate storm sewer system or combined sewer system, helping to reduce the extent of flooding downstream.

© New Jersey Future, 16 W. Lafayette St. • Trenton, NJ 08608 • Phone: 609-393-0008 • Fax: 609-360-8478

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