Source: US State of New Jersey
Climate Resilience Planning
In addition to being proactive on stormwater management, the city has been active with the DEP’s Office of Climate Resilience in developing a Climate Resilience Action Plan. Last year the DEP awarded Lambertville a grant of more than $150,000 through its Resilient NJ: Municipal Assistance Program to work with a qualified consultant team to develop, and begin to implement, a municipal climate resilience action plan. This plan works to evaluate vulnerability to current and future hazards including rising temperatures, flooding, and hurricanes, among others.
“Lambertville has continually demonstrated their commitment to building a climate-resilient community by taking on a wide array of local-led efforts,” said Nick Angarone, New Jersey’s Chief Resilience Officer. “These actions reflect a broad definition of climate resilience, encompassing stormwater management and green infrastructure, proactive policy changes, and effective community outreach and engagement. This diverse array of efforts has made Lambertville a model community for local-led resilience action in the state.”
Our Water’s Worth It Campaign
The DEP launched the Our Water’s Worth It campaign earlier this year to raise public awareness about the fundamental importance of our water supplies, the threats they face, and the steps DEP is taking to ensure all New Jerseyans have access to clean drinking water and healthy waterways.
As part of the campaign, the DEP is recognizing those who have shown exemplary commitment to protecting the state’s water resources. This past July, the DEP presented the first Our Water’s Worth It award to Ridgewood Water for its efforts over the years to conserve water and to protect public health by addressing PFAS contamination.
In the coming months, DEP will select additional awardees highlighting local contributions to protecting water supplies and public health, improving the health of waterways, and water conservation. For more information about Our Water’s Worth It, visit dep.nj.gov/ourwatersworthit.
Safe and Reliable Water as an Administration Priority
Providing New Jersey residents with safe and reliable water supplies is a top priority of the Murphy Administration and Commissioner LaTourette. Earlier this year the administration celebrated a record-setting, billion-dollar investment in water infrastructure throughout the state as project funding in FY24 surpassed $1 billion for the first time.
Furthering the goal to protect the state’s water resources, the administration earmarked $54.6 million in the FY25 state budget for drinking and clean water infrastructure improvements across the Garden State. The budget appropriation provides a match for larger federal funds.
The DEP oversees programs that reduce lead exposure in homes and businesses, protect the long-term viability of water supplies such as reservoirs and groundwater sources, monitor for drought conditions, educate the public about the importance of testing wells and reducing lead exposure, and manage stormwater to better protect surface water sources.
In 2022, the Administration launched the innovative Water Infrastructure Investment Plan (WIIP) to assess and address high priority water infrastructure needs throughout the state. Through WIIP, the state is spurring record investments in clean water and drinking water infrastructure that are creating good-paying jobs while providing safe and reliable drinking water, reducing flooding, and improving the quality of New Jersey’s waterways. For more information on WIIP, visit dep.nj.gov/wiip/.