Vol. 5 No. 4 Spring 1998
A Newsletter About New Jersey's Water Quality Programs

Oftentimes, the progress of environmental agencies is measured by counting regulatory actions such as the number of permits issued or the level of enforcement fines collected. These programmatic measures are relatively easy to quantify. However, these measures do not provide an adequate basis for evaluating progress toward environmental goals and milestones, or relating progress to the implementation of strategies. As a result, the DEP, through its participation in the National Environmental Performance Partnership System (NEPPS) with the Environmental Protection Agency, is now placing a high priority on shifting toward results or outcome-based environmental management. This shift places a greater emphasis on the development, interpretation and distribution of scientifically sound environmental information for use by DEP managers, the Legislature, the environmental community, the regulated community, and the general public.

Through the use of environmental indicators, the methods for evaluating environmental progress are improving. These indicators measure current environmental conditions and trends over time. Like economic indicators, environmental indicators are used to convey complex information in a readily understandable format. This approach is facilitating the integration of environmental data and scientific assessments into decision-making.

The DEP is using three types of indicators -- condition, cause, and response. Condition indicators convey status and trends in environmental quality. Familiar examples include water quality status and trends and bathing beach closings. Cause indicators relay information regarding the stresses on the environment or presumed causes of the problem. For example, point source loads such as sewage, and nonpoint source loads such as stormwater runoff, are cause indicators. Response indicators show what the DEP, regulated community, and citizens are doing to address the issue. Examples include infrastructure investment and permit compliance rates at regulated facilities. By evaluating relationships between condition, cause, and response indicators, the DEP is working more toward quantifiable measures of performance that emphasize environmental quality.

Cause Indicator Municipal Point Source Loads of BOD/CBOD. Municipal point source BOD/CBOD levels decreased as a result of the federal mandate for secondary treatment in 1998. Changes to these loadings did not appear to have occurred since 1990, although the number of residents in sewered areas has increased.

Through the NEPPS process, the DEP and stakeholders have selected over 150 indicators, including about 50 that relate to surface water (fresh and marine), ground water, and drinking water. The indicators chosen are useful for measuring progress toward environmental goals and milestones, are supported by available quality data, and are easily understandable. An Environmental Indicators Report, which includes in-depth indicators reports for freshwater, drinking water and air, is almost completed. These technical reports include a brief summary of the indicator results, a discussion of what the indicator tells us, an assessment of the strengths and limitations of the indicator, and a description of the next steps for the indicator. The reports will be used to guide agency decision-making. A small subset of important indicators will be provided in a non-technical "State of the Environment" report that will be widely distributed this spring. A report for marine and ground water indicators will be developed this year.

Condition Indicator Percent of Monitored Stream Miles Meeting Aquatic Life Designated Uses 1992-1996 Data Between 1992 and 1996, benthic macroinvertebrate populations have been used to screen 3,815 out of 6,450 stream miles for attainment of aquatic life designated uses. The results are shown above.

Over the next four years, the DEP and stakeholders will continue to improve data collection and assessment and evaluate environmental and program progress using indicators. Indicators will guide decisions and will become an integral component of education and outreach efforts.

A public meeting, to discuss water indicators, will be held after the Environmental Indicators Report is published in Spring 1998. If you would like to be placed on the mailing list for this meeting, please contact Gwen Haile in DEP's Division of Science and Research at (609) 292-9692 or by e-mail: ghaile@dep.state.nj.us. Additional information regarding NEPPS can be found in previous issues of the New Jersey Discharger or the DEP website at www.state.nj.us/dep (v4n1a.htm, v4n2b.htm, v4n3g.htm, v4n4d.htm, v5n1g.htm, v5n3b.htm).