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 These revisions will update the state's outdated land use, stormwater management, and wetlands regulations to reflect New Jersey's new reality: warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, and stronger, more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.
Introducing Jay Weisbond, CDRW's New NJ State Lead!
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.
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 to Fully Fund Delaware River Basin Commission in 2023 Budget
Governor Murphy Signs $10 Million Lakes Funding Bill (S-3618/A-5778)
The $10 million supplemental appropriation for grants for certain lake management activities for recreation and conservation purposes is the most significant investment in the Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake areas in recent history. The bill recognizes that in these ecologically significant regions, lakes play a critical role to residents throughout the State by providing the supply of drinking water, watershed protection, recreational and conservation purposes.