The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has announced more than $1 million in Urban Rain Garden grants to local government agencies for neighborhood green infrastructure projects that reduce stormwater flooding and enhance water quality.
The Urban Rain Garden grants announced during a news conference in Harrison will fund the design and construction of urban rain gardens and similar small-scale bioretention projects across the Hudson-Raritan watershed. The projects will utilize vegetation and soil to absorb and filter stormwater, thereby mitigating flooding and reducing pollution.
The grants are funded through NJDEP’s Office of Natural Resource Restoration, which works with responsible parties to restore natural resources injured by oil spills and other discharges of hazardous substances. Natural Resource Damage settlements obtained by NJDEP are used to enhance natural resources including wetlands, waterways, groundwater, and wildlife habitats for the benefit of the public.
NJDEP gave preference to projects located in communities with combined sewer overflow (CSO) systems or in overburdened communities as defined by the department.
“Congratulations to the green infrastructure grant recipients in the Hudson-Raritan watershed,” said Andrew Kricun, Co-chair for Jersey Water Works, a collaboration of organizations working to improve New Jersey’s water infrastructure. “Green infrastructure is a proven way to reduce the environmental and public health impacts of combined sewer systems while also providing community benefits as well. The NJDEP has been a strong supporter of green infrastructure throughout the State for many years, starting with the first grants awarded in Camden back in 2013.”
NJDEP awarded grants to the following projects:
- Belleville Township – Washington Avenue Rain Garden Project
Total Project Cost: $167,400
Preliminary Award Amount: $167,400
Belleville requested funding to construct a 10-foot by 100-foot rain garden within a planned pedestrian plaza at 128 Washington Avenue. The proposed rain garden would incorporate plants native to the region to beautify this communal space and assist with stormwater drainage. This project is in an Overburdened Community. - Bergenfield – Bergenfield Police Athletic League Field Rain Garden
Total Project Cost: $235,625
Preliminary Award Amount: $212,750
The Borough of Bergenfield requested funds to design and construct a rain garden at the Bergenfield Police Athletic League (PAL) building. The rain garden will be built with the primary goal of reducing stormwater runoff and improving water quality. This project is in an Overburdened Community. - Carteret – Carteret Park Rain Garden
Total Project Cost: $197,800
Preliminary Award Amount: $189,200
The Borough of Carteret requested funds to construct a rain garden that will enhance 0.41 acres of Carteret Park with land grading and planting of native vegetation. The project aims to improve resilience for future flooding events with the installation of a rain garden and supporting underdrains. The construction of a rain garden is expected to reduce polluted runoff and increase water infiltration. This project is in an Overburdened Community. - Harrison – Harrison Firehouse Stormwater Planter Project
Total Project Cost: $44,175
Preliminary Award Amount $34,175
The Town of Harrison has requested funds to construct and install a 260-square-foot stormwater planter at the Harrison Fire Department headquarters on Sussex Street. The stormwater planter will be installed to capture stormwater run-off from the roof of the building and nearby roadways. This project is in an Overburdened Community and is within a Combined Sewer Overflow area. - Hoboken – Right-of-Way Green Infrastructure Gardens
Total Project Cost: $85,325
Preliminary Award Amount: $85,325
Hoboken requested funding to design and construct two right-of-way bioretention rain gardens at the intersections of 2nd & Monroe Streets and 4th & Bloomfield Streets. The project will use innovative design strategies at existing flooding hotspots to improve stormwater management and delay discharge to Hoboken’s combined sewer system, ultimately contributing to fewer combined sewer overflows. This project is located within a Combined Sewer Overflow area. - Secaucus – Trolley Park Rain Garden
Total Project Cost: $81,972
Preliminary Award Amount: $81,972
Secaucus requested funds to design and construct a 650-square-foot bioretention facility next to Trolley Park at the foot of Paterson Plank Road, along the Hackensack River. The design includes an atrium-style drain located in the center of the proposed rain garden that will convey overflow to an existing catch basin. The project is expected to greatly reduce flooding events in this area during frequent heavy rains. This project is in an Overburdened Community - Teaneck – Drainage Improvements at Belle Avenue Area
Total Project Cost: $335,225
Preliminary Award Amount: $300,000
Teaneck requested funds to design and construct nine bioswales along Belle Avenue between Beatrice Street and NJ Route 4. The bioswales will reduce rainwater runoff and improve stormwater management during excessive rainfalls that could otherwise end up draining into the Hackensack River.
This month, NJDEP launched an interactive dashboard that provides regularly updated information to help local governments and the public track the progress of funding for drinking water and clean water infrastructure projects.
In urban areas such as the Hudson-Raritan estuary, NJDEP is working with communities to implement long-term strategies to better manage combined sewer systems. These systems were built many decades ago to collect rainwater and snowmelt runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater in the same pipe. Discharges from these systems during overflow periods can flood streets with combined wastewater and stormwater, posing a public health concern. These discharges are also a major source of water quality impairments to local waterways.
