WHEREAS, the Water Supply Management Act, N.J.S.A. 58:1A
et seq., and its implementing regulations at N.J.A.C.
7:19-1 et seq., authorizes the Commissioner of the Department
of Environmental Protection (Department) to designate
a drought warning condition in all or portions of the
State in order to reduce the likelihood or severity of
a water emergency; and
WHEREAS, due to a long-term precipitation deficit, declining
water supply reservoir storage, and depleted stream flows
and ground water levels, former Commissioner Robert C.
Shinn, Jr., issued Administrative Order No. 2001-09 on
November 21, 2001, which declared a drought warning condition
in the Northwest, Southwest and Coastal South Drought
Regions. Thereafter, under Administrative
Order No. 2002-03 signed on January 24, 2002, I expanded
the drought warning designation to include the Northeast
and Coastal North Drought Regions and
WHEREAS, despite voluntary water supply management efforts
undertaken between the Department and water purveyors,
in addition to voluntary water conservation by all water
users, worsening drought conditions prompted Governor
James E. McGreevey's Executive
Order No. 11 water emergency declaration for the entire
state on March 4, 2002; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Executive
Order No. 11, I issued Administrative
Order No. 2002-05, imposing Phase I - Mandatory Restrictions
on non-essential, outdoor water uses throughout much of
New Jersey, followed by a series of administrative orders
instituting varying statewide Phase I - Mandatory Restrictions
through November 2002; and
WHEREAS, more normalized precipitation that began in
September 2002, in combination with water transfers between
water purveyor systems and curtailed customer demand in
response to mandatory water use restrictions, has resulted
in a dramatic recovery in the State's water supplies;
and
WHEREAS, the improved water supply conditions prompted
Governor McGreevey to issue Executive
Order No. 44 (January 8, 2003) terminating the state
of water emergency, and which also led to my issuance
of Administrative
Order No. 2003-01 (January 9, 2003), which rescinded
all mandatory water use restrictions statewide; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding the water supply improvements
across much of New Jersey, Administrative
Order No. 2003-01 continued the drought warning designation
for the Coastal South and Southwest Drought Regions even
after the state of water emergency had been terminated,
based upon ongoing concerns over ground water depletion
and saltwater intrusion in the southern part of the State;
and
WHEREAS, continued improvements in drought indicators
throughout the Coastal South and Southwest Drought Regions
since January 2003 now warrants further administrative
action by the Department;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bradley M. Campbell, Commissioner,
pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Water Supply
Management Act, N.J.S.A. 58:1A-1 et seq., HEREBY RESCIND
the remaining drought warning designation in the Coastal
South and Southwest Drought Regions established pursuant
to Administrative Order Nos. 2001-09 and No.
2003-01.
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