We often hear about wildfires and droughts in the Southwest and Western U.S.—places like California, Arizona, and Texas. But now, New Jersey is facing its own drought crisis, and the risk of severe wildfires is growing. This is what climate change looks like: unusual, extreme weather that endangers our homes, businesses, and communities if we’re not prepared. Unless we take action, these threats will only intensify. Last month, Governor Murphy and the New Jersey DEP issued a statewide Drought Watch, urging all residents and businesses to voluntarily conserve water. Over the past four months, New Jersey has experienced significantly below-average rainfall, resulting in diminished streamflow, reservoir, and groundwater levels.
Resilience in Action: NJPACT REAL Rules Released to Protect New Jersey from Climate Threats
After last week’s relentless downpours from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which brought high winds and widespread street flooding, the formal release of the NJ REAL (Resilient Environments and Landscapes) Rules couldn’t have come at a better time. Directed by Governor Phil Murphy’s Executive Order 100 in January 2020 as part of the New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats (NJPACT) initiative, these rules are a game-changer for the state. The NJ REAL Rules were officially published by the New Jersey DEP on August 5th, more than two years after their original target release date. REAL is a package of crucial revisions to key state regulations designed to make New Jersey more resilient to the devastating impacts of climate change. These revisions will update the state's outdated land use, stormwater management, and wetlands regulations to reflect New Jersey's new reality: warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, and stronger, more frequent downpours.
Safeguarding Water Resources: New Jersey to Fully Fund the Delaware River Basin Commission for the Fourth Consecutive Year
(TRENTON, NJ) July 23, 2024 - New Jersey's fiscal year 2025 budget reaffirms its strong support for the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), as the state honors its full "fair share" commitment of $893,000.
Advocating for New Jersey’s full contribution to the Delaware River Basin Commission has long been a priority of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, a network of more than 190 non-profit organizations, 43 in New Jersey, working to protect and restore the four-state region of New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. The Coalition believes that funding the DRBC at the full amount is critical to protecting water quality, as well as our most vulnerable communities.
Reconnecting Rivers in New Jersey
Mapping New Jersey’s Water Infrastructure Inequities
From flooding near rivers, rising sea levels, and the presence of lead and other contaminants in drinking water, communities across the Delaware River Watershed face many water-related risks. Depending on where they live, these issues impact community members differently. The New Jersey Water Risk and Equity Map contains information to help residents, advocates, and policymakers understand water-related risks in their communities and address inequities.
Environmentalist Applaud Bill to Include Climate-Change Threats in State-Hazard Mitigation Plan Becoming Law.
TRENTON – The following statements are from Ed Potosnak, Executive Director, New Jersey LCV and Kelly Knutson, Director, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed regarding Governor Murphy signing into law bill 1530, which requires state and county hazard mitigation plans to include climate change-related threat assessments in hazard prevention and mitigation strategies.
New Jersey Coalition Members Hear from DEP and the Legislature About Efforts to Address PFAS in our Waterways
CDRW’s New Jersey members have been busy the last couple of months. We had the opportunity to hear from both the Department of Environmental Protection and NJ Assemblyman Brandon Umba about ongoing efforts to address the impact of PFAS in New Jersey waterways.
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are manmade chemical toxins that pose a significant threat to public health, water quality and wildlife. PFAS have been linked to severe human health impacts, including cancer. These substances are present in many of the products that we use in our everyday lives and they have been found virtually everywhere, from the Arctic to the Delaware River.
Congressman Tom Kean Jr. Joins Environmental Organizations for Lake Hopatcong Tour, Celebrates Investments in Water Quality, Habitat Restoration, and Recreational Access
Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey — Congressman Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-7) joined the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, Musconetcong Watershed Association, the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) today for a boat tour of Lake Hopatcong in Morris and Sussex Counties, New Jersey, to showcase the crucial federal and state investments in environmental restoration that are currently underway in Congressman Kean’s district. Lake Hopatcong is a headwater to the Musconetcong River, which is New Jersey's largest tributary to the Delaware River.