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Protection of Critical Source Areas for Achieving Long-term Sustainability of Water Resources

EPA Grant Number: R833363
Title: Protection of Critical Source Areas for Achieving Long-term Sustainability of Water Resources
Investigators: Qiu, Zeyuan , Abs, Dan Van , Hall, Christine , Messinger, Grace
Institution: New Jersey Institute of Technology , Natural Resource Conservation Service , New Jersey Water Supply Authority , North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council
EPA Project Officer: Bauer, Diana
Project Period: May 31, 2007 through January 31, 2009
Project Amount: $199,871
RFA: Collaborative Science And Technology Network For Sustainability (2006)
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development

Description:

Urban development and urban sprawl are among the most pressing issues in the United States as well as in New Jersey. Urban development and sprawl impose immediate threats to sustainability of water resources. Although land use decisions are critical to achieve long-term sustainability of water resources, not every part of landscapes is equally important. Municipalities play a key role in local land use decision making.

Objective:

The project is to protect/preserve critical source areas at the municipal level for achieving the long-term sustainability of water resources through community-based land use planning and ordinances.

Approach:

To support the objective, the project will: (1) establish and maintain an effective network of scientists and agency personnel for protecting the critical source areas at the municipal level; (2) identify the critical source areas for protection by applying the variable source area hydrology modeling techniques in Rockaway Creek watershed, Hunterdon County, New Jersey; (3) review the existing municipal land use plan, zoning and ordinances and develop land use plans, ordinances and best management practices that are adoptable by municipalities to protect the critical source areas in local communities in the selected watershed; and (4) design and implement a set of education and outreach programs that help municipalities adopt the proposed land use plans and ordinances to protect critical source areas in their communities based on social and economic analyses.

Expected Results:

The expected results include: (1) connecting hydrological science and technology to feasible water resource protection actions; (2) going beyond the education to stakeholders and focuses on the actions related to land use planning and decisions at the municipal levels; (3) coordinating various federal and state programs for achieving locally identified water resource management objectives; and (4) developing a series of land use planning tools and protocols that are transferable to other communities.

Supplemental Keywords:

focus group, economics, and social barriers. Northeast, EPA Region 2, public policy, decision making, community-based, preferences, socioeconomic, conservation, sociological,

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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