How will the Passaic River Basin Watershed Management Plan be Formulated?

WMA's 3 and 4 are at the beginning of the organization process. The WMA 6 PAC has been up and running for over a year.

1. Form organizational structures for each WMA. The first group to be formed will be the Public Advisory committee (PAC), which will include representatives of interested stakeholder groups in the WMA. This involves the participation of a wide variety of viewpoints, which is the key to the development of an effective plan to protect our watershed resources. In addition, Technical Advisory Committees (TAC) will be formed to address specific issues or concerns in each WMA. Other work groups/committees will concentrate on Education & Outreach, Open Space Preservation and other issues determined by the PAC.

2. Stakeholders will determine priority issues, goals and their vision for the future of the watershed.

3. A characterization (current status and trends) and assessment (comparison of the current status of the watershed to the PAC's goals, objectives and vision for the future) will be done for each WMA. The resulting Characterization and Assessment report will be the basis for the next step.

4. Develop best management practices and create the Passaic River Basin Watershed Management Plan, which will be completed by the end of 2005. The intent of the process is to create a plan that is both effective and accepted by all stakeholders and NJDEP. The report and the plan will address a wide range of watershed issues, including water quality, water supply, stormwater impacts and ecological health. The goal of the project is to maintain a high quality of life for people living in the Passaic River Basin.

A successful watershed management plan will be the result of all local stakeholders working together to develop strategies for cleaner water, healthier habitats and an improved quality of life that will accomplish their vision for the future in their watershed.

Overview Of Watershed Management Process*
(Click to download PowerPoint Document, 2.5 MB)

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