Administrative Order 2002-03
In accordance with the Water Supply Management Act, N.J.S.A.
58:1A-1 et seq., and the Water Supply Allocation Rules
adopted pursuant thereto, N.J.A.C. 7:19, the Northeast and Coastal
North Drought Regions within the State of New Jersey are hereby
declared to be in a condition of "Drought Warning."
New Jersey’s Northwest, Southwest and Southeast Coastal drought
regions remain in Drought Warning (see Administrative Order
2001-09, by Commissioner Robert C.Shinn, Jr.), while the Central
drought region remains in Drought Watch.
Areas
under drought warning and drought watch are called on to voluntarily
conserve water. (Information on the drought regions is available
at www.njdrought.org)
Due
to a continued insufficiency of precipitation, continued record
low stream flows, low ground water levels and continued declines
in reservoir storage levels, the conditions at present warrant
this Drought Warning declaration by the Department of Environmental
Protection (Department). This action is taken to avert the potential
of a more serious water supply situation. This will also alert
the public of the need to use water wisely. In accordance with
N.J.A.C. 7:19-13.1, the Department held public hearings on the
Drought Warning on December 4, 2001 at the Municipal Building
in the Town of Westfield, Union County, and on December 5, 2001,
in the Town Hall of the Township of Moorestown, Burlington County.
THEREFORE,
I HEREBY DIRECT the Administrator of the Water Supply Administration,
to take such actions as are necessary, in accordance with the
Water Supply Allocation Rules, N.J.A.C. 7:19-11.6, and in coordination
with the affected parties, to institute the following reductions
in the passing flow requirements and reservoir releases:
Reservoir
Releases
Location |
From
MGD |
New
Down To MGD |
CFS |
Reference |
Wanaque
River @ Wanaque |
10 |
5 |
7.7 |
WAP#
5094 |
Point
View Reservoir |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
WAP#
5099 |
Rockaway
R. @ Boonton Reservoir |
10 |
5 |
7.7 |
WAP#
5268 |
Swimming
River Reservoir |
6.1 |
3 |
4.7 |
WAP#
5018 |
Pumped Storage Reservoirs
Location |
From
MGD |
New
Down To MGD |
CFS |
Reference |
Ramapo
River @ Pompton Lakes |
40 |
10 |
15.5 |
WAP#
5274 |
Passaic
River @ Two Bridges |
92.6 |
72.6 |
112.3 |
WAP#
5094 |
Pompton
River @ Pompton Plains |
88 |
68 |
105 |
WAP#
5099 |
Passaic
River @ Chatham |
75 |
55 |
85.1 |
WAP#
5008 |
Passaic
River @ Little Falls |
17.6 |
13.6 |
21.1 |
WAP#
5099 |
Saddle
River @ Hohokus Brook |
9 |
4 |
6.2 |
WAP#
5107 |
Shark
River @ Neptune City |
1.2 |
0.8 |
1.2 |
WAP#
5019 |
Jumping
Brook @ Neptune City |
0.8 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
WAP#
5019 |
Manasquan
River @ WSA Intake |
8 |
6 |
9.3 |
WAP#
4036PS |
River
Metedeconk R. @ N.B. Gage |
9 |
7 |
10.9 |
WAP#
5072 |
Raritan
River @ Bound Brook |
90 |
70 |
108.5 |
WAP#
4007PS |
Raritan
River @ Stanton |
40 |
30 |
46.5 |
4008PS |
These reductions in passing flows and any further modification
to these passing flows are subject to evaluation of downstream
conditions, and maintenance of downstream passing flows and water
quality. These reductions in passing flows shall expire March
31, 2002, unless extended or otherwise revised.
I
ALSO DIRECT the Administrator of the Water Supply Administration
to take such actions as are necessary in preparation for and
in support of, the transfer of water from the Central Drought
Region into the Northeast Drought Region through the Virginia
Street Pump Station.
IN
ADDITION, I HEREBY DIRECT the Administrator of the Water Supply
Administration to take such actions as are necessary, in accordance
with the Water Supply Allocation Rules (N.J.A.C. 7:19-1 et
seq.), and in coordination with affected water supply purveyors,
for the purveyors to implement their leak detection and repair
programs to the fullest extent possible.
The
reductions in passing flow requirements and reservoir releases
are designed to increase and preserve storage in the reservoir
systems. These steps are necessary to preserve the water supply
sources of the State in order to meet existing and future demands
for potable water, and to reduce the likelihood of a water supply
emergency in the future.
I
HEREBY DESIGNATE the Administrator of the Water Supply Administration
to act on my behalf in the implementation and modification of
drought warning requirements as provided under N.J.A.C. 7:19
during the pendency of the drought warning in the identified
drought regions.
This
order shall take effect immediately.
Date: January 24, 2002 |
_________________ |
|
Robert
C. Shinn, Jr.
Acting Commissioner |
|