Washington Township Highlands Plan Conformance Environmental Resources Inventory Presentation to Township Environmental Commission October 9, 2012 Washington Township Washington Township Background Statistics • • • • • Incorporated: 1849 Population 2010: 6,651 Land Area: 11,547 ac (18 sq. mi.) Preserved Lands: 2,667 acres (23%) Total Forest: 4,308 acres (37%) Washington Township Significant Highlands Statistics • Planning Area Lands: 7,953 acres (69%) • Preservation Area Lands: 3,595 acres (31%) • Conservation Zone: 4,685 acres (41%) • Protection Zone: 4,085 acres (35%) • Existing Community Zone: 2,325 acres (20%; Roads 4%) • Forest Resource Area: 4,043 acres (35%) • Agricultural Priority Area: 3,708 acres (32%) • Highlands Open Water Protection: 3,528 acres (30%) Washington Township Highlands Regional Master Plan (RMP) Tasks 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Completion of Module 3 – COAH Certification Completion of Module 4 – Finalize/Adopt ERI Completion of Module 5 – Highlands Element Completion of Module 6 – Land Use Ordinances Planning Area Petition Ordinance/Checklist Ordinance Agriculture Retention/Farmland Preservation Plan Highlands Center Designation Planning Habitat Conservation and Management Plan Stream Corridor Protection/Restoration Plan Municipal Zoning Map Update Wastewater Management Plan Highlands Council Training Sessions Environmental Resources Inventory (ERI) • Identifies and depicts natural and cultural resources present in a community • Maps and accompanying narrative provide the basis for inventorying natural resources • ERI is an integral part of the Master Plan and a base source for resource conservation and protection plans and ordinances Purpose of the ERI Provide framework to support Township efforts to bring planning documents into conformance with the Regional Master Plan (RMP) Land Use Capability Map Series LUCM Series consists of five capability maps that support the RMP: • • • • • Land Use Capability Zones Water Availability Public Community Water Systems Domestic Sewerage Facilities Septic System Yield Land Use Capability Zones RMP requires future land use to be guided by these overlay zones to protect natural, scenic, and other resources including: • Agriculture • Forests • Wetlands • Stream corridors • Steep slopes • Critical habitat for flora and fauna Land Use Capability Zones • • • • Protection Zone (PZ) Wildlife Management Sub-zone (WM) Conservation Zone (CZ) Conservation Zone – Environmentally Constrained Sub-zone (CZ-EC) • Existing Community Zone (ECZ) • Existing Community Zone – Environmentally Constrained Sub-zone (ECZ-EC) • Lake Community Sub-zone (LC) Washington Township Land Use Zones Zone Planning Area (ac) Preservation Area (ac) PZ 1,437 2,517 CZ 2,133 570 ECZ 2,014 33 ECZ-EC 275 3 CZ-EC 1,162 370 WM 100 31 Goals (From RMP): • Develop framework to determine character, location, and magnitude of new growth and development in the Highlands • Preserve land and water resources and ecological function of lands in Protection Zone • Limit development in protection zone to that which does not affect natural resources • Protect & enhance ag uses and associated land and water resources in conservation zone • Incorporate regional development patterns and related environmentally sensitive areas within existing community zones • Support compact, mixed-use, and redevelopment; maximize water, wastewater and transit infrastructure within existing community zone Washington Township Sub Watersheds HUC 14 Subwatershed Name Location Above Route 31 Pohatcong Creek Brass Castle Creek to Rte 31 Edison Rd – Brass Castle Creek Changewater to Hances Brook Musconetcong River Route 31 to Changewater 75 d 00m to Rte 31 Furnace Brook Goals: • Protect, restore, and enhance highlands open waters and riparian areas. • Establish a Watershed Resource Value through an analysis of the relative amount of developed lands, habitat quality for T&E species and forest in each subwatershed. Washington Township Forest Resources Forest Resource Area Total Forest Area Preservation Area (ac) 3,026 2,476 Planning Area (ac) 1,017 1,647 Purpose: • Forests are important to the protection of surface and ground water resources and offer important recreational resources that contribute to the Region’s unique scenic value. Goals: • Protect large areas of contiguous forested lands to the maximum extent possible. • Protect and enhance forest resources in the Highlands. • Include forest protection programs in municipal master plans and development regulations. Washington Township Forest Resources HUC 14 SW Name Furnace Brook Pohatcong Creek (above Rt. 31) Pohatcong Ck ( Ck to Rt. 31) Musconetcong R (Changewater to Hances Bk.) Musconetcong R (Rt. 31 to Changewater) Musconetcong R (75d 00m to Rt. 31) Pohatcong Ck (Edison Rd-Brass Castle Ck) Integrity Score HIGH HIGH HIGH HIGH LOW LOW MOD High Integrity Forest Area – predominantly forested, including a high proportion of forest cover consisting of high core area, large patch size, and a low distance to nearest patch. Moderate Integrity Forest Area – predominantly forested, but does not exhibit a high proportion of forest cover, core area or patch size and an increase in distance to nearest patch. Low Integrity Forest Area – predominantly nonforested or include low values for proportion of forest cover and patch size, or a high distance to nearest patch. Washington Township Open Waters & Riparian Areas Open Waters include all springs, wetlands, intermittent or ephemeral streams, perennial streams, and bodies of surface water, whether natural or artificial, located wholly or partially within the boundaries of the Highlands Region. Highlands RMP requires a 300-foot buffer around all Highlands Open Waters to protect Habitat, Water Quality, Temperature Moderation, and Channel Integrity. Washington Township Open Waters and Riparian Areas include: • 30 miles of Streams (15 mi in Planning; 15 mi in Preservation) • 848 acres of Wetlands, Lakes, Ponds (504 ac in Planning; 344 ac in Preservation) • 3,625 acres Open Water Protection Areas (2,385 ac in Planning; 1,240 ac in Preservation) • 2,658 acres Riparian Areas (1,558 ac in Planning; 1,100 ac in Preservation) Washington Township Watershed Resource Values High • Predominantly forest lands including a significant portion of the watershed in high quality habitat. • Limited pre-existing developed land within the watershed. Moderate • Forest lands and some habitat suitable for rare, threatened, or endangered species. • Typically consists of developed lands. Low • Low proportion of forest lands • Low proportion of habitat suitable for rare, threatened, or endangered species. • Typically consists of higher levels of developed lands. Washington Township Riparian Integrity High • Predominantly natural vegetation, including high quality habitat for water/wetland dependent species • Generally low incidence of impervious area, agricultural uses, and/or road crossings Moderate • Reduced proportion of natural vegetation, including high quality habitat for water/wetland dependent species • Higher incidence of impervious area, agricultural uses, and road crossings Low • Minimal natural vegetation, including high quality habitat for water/wetland dependent species • High proportion of impervious area, agricultural uses, and road crossings. Washington Township Steep Slopes Purpose: To effectively manage critical natural resources through identification and classification of steep slopes. Slope Grade Classification > 20% (all) Severely Constrained > 10% (Riparian) Severely Constrained >15% and < 20% (non-Riparian) Moderately Constrained >15% and < 20% (non-forested and 1) highly susceptible to erosion; OR 2) shallow depth to bedrock; OR 3) soil capability class is wet or stony) Constrained > 15% and < 20% (non-Riparian, non-forested, not highly susceptible to erosion, and do not have shallow depth to bedrock nor soil capability class of wet or stony) Limited Constrained Washington Township Steep Slopes include: • 402 acres – Moderately Constrained (115 ac Planning; 287 ac Preservation) • 1,640 acres – Severely Constrained (576 ac Planning; 1,064 ac Preservation) Washington Township Critical Wildlife Habitat Purpose: To protect the biodiversity of plant and animal species in a particular environment as a critical indicator of ecological viability. Critical Wildlife Habitat Habitats of animal species identified as endangered, threatened, of special concern, or of regional conservation priority in the Highlands Region. Significant Natural Areas Regionally significant ecological communities, particularly for protection of endangered and rare plant species. Vernal pools Confined, ephemeral wet depressions that support distinctive, and often endangered, species that are specially adapted to periodic extremes in water pool levels. Washington Township Critical Wildlife Habitat includes: • 5,237 acres – Critical Wildlife Habitat to support rare, threatened, and endangered species (2,750 ac Planning; 2,488 ac Preservation) Washington Township Significant Natural Areas Species Landscape Rank Bald Eagle 5 Bog Turtle 5 Bobcat 4 Red-Shouldered Hawk 4 Barred Owl 3 Cooper’s Hawk 3 Longtail Salamander 3 Red-headed Woodpecker 3 Sparrow 3 Wood Turtle 3 Washington Township contains 21 acres of Significant Natural Areas - all in the Planning Area. Washington Township Vernal Pools Purpose: Protect vernal pools and adjacent habitat to maintain ecological integrity and provide habitat for amphibian and invertebrate breeding. Highlands RMP requires a 1,000-foot buffer surrounding each vernal pool to accommodate for many species’ complicated lifecycle, especially during breeding. Vernal pools are unique ecosystems that: • Provide critical breeding habitat for a variety of amphibian and invertebrate species; • Contribute significantly to local biodiversity by supporting plants, animals, and invertebrates that would otherwise not occur in the landscape; and • Contribute significant amounts of food to adjacent habitats. Washington Township contains 354 acres of vernal pool protection buffers (327 acres in Planning and 27 acres in Preservation Area) Washington Township Preserved Lands Highlands RMP and the Land Preservation & Stewardship Technical Report were used to evaluate and inventory preserved lands in the Highlands, including: • Public and private land and water areas available for active and passive recreation • Public and private land and water areas maintained as conservation areas dedicated to the preservation of natural and cultural resources • Lands that provide access to inland water bodies • Other public or private lands that may not be directly accessible to the public but that enhance the open space system in the Highlands Region Preserved Land Category Preserved Farmland Highlands - Preserved Lands Preserved Open Space Federal State County Municipal Non-Profit/Private Water Supply Watershed Lands Conservation Easements (where known) Total Preserved Lands Acres 1,229 0 0 260 163 721 78 0 0 2,451 Washington Township Conservation Priority Areas Purpose: Identify additional lands in the Region that should be protected in order to preserve their ecological and water supply value. Identify those lands that have the highest ecological resource value. Based on a combination of 33 ecological indicators that measure the quantity and quality of: • • • • • • • Forests Watershed condition Critical Habitat Prime ground water recharge Open water Riparian Areas Steep Slopes Washington Township contains 1,185 acres of Conservation Priority Area Planning Area = 392 ac Preservation Area = 794 ac Washington Township Special Environmental Zones Method and Indicators: 1. Five indicators in the Land Preservation & Stewardship Technical Report were chosen as indicators for protection of water resource and environmentally sensitive lands: • Forest within Forest Resource Area • Riparian Corridor Condition High • Highlands Open Water Protection Area • Critical Habitat • Water Quality Management Tier (Lakes) 2. Use Conservation Priority Area Clusters to determine the percentage of each of the 5 indicators in the Preservation Area. (Highest total achievable for a cluster is 500% - if all 5 indicators were present at 100% of the acreage within the cluster) 3. Cluster scores were added and ranged from 0 to 300%. Range was reviewed for duplicate indicators and it was determined that 192% or greater would be the highest priority to preserve. Parcels not contiguous to preserved land and parcels of water were removed. Highlands Council staff reviewed for appropriateness. Washington Township contains 253 acres of Special Environmental Zone – all in Preservation Area Washington Township Carbonate Rock Area Carbonate Rock Areas are areas identified by NJ Geologic Survey and USGS as being underlain by carbonate rocks. Lands that drain surface water into these areas are of particular concern. Due to the make up of the rock, these areas are susceptible to the development of depressions, sinkholes, sinking streams, enlarged bedrock fractures, caves, and underground streams. Management of development in these areas is crucial and can be modified in the design process to identify potential problems early on. Washington Township contains 7,158 acres of Carbonate Rock Area Planning Area = 6,493 ac Preservation Area = 665 ac Washington Township Water Resources Availability Net Water Availability Purpose: To identify the quantity of available water resources in the region to determine sufficiency of supply to support existing human and ecological uses, and to support future uses. Subwatershed Net Water Availability (mgd) Furnace Brook -0.214775 Pohatcong Creek (above Rt. 31) 0.014072 Pohatcong Ck ( Ck to Rt. 31) -0.200577 Pohatcong Ck ( Ck) 0.061262 Musconetcong R (Changewater to Hances Bk.) Musconetcong R (Rt. 31 to Changewater) Musconetcong R (75d 00m to Rt. 31) 0.073936 -0.609324 -0.067996 Washington Township Prime Groundwater Recharge Areas Prime Groundwater Recharge Area Definition: Lands within a HUC14 subwatershed that most efficiently provide 40% total drought recharge volume for that subwatershed. Purpose: To maintain hydrologic integrity through the protection of ground water recharge. The Township of Washington contains 2,484 acres of Prime Ground Water Recharge Areas Planning Area = 1,457 ac Preservation Area = 1,027 ac Washington Township Water Quality Water quality is influenced by the type and intensity of land use adjacent to and upstream of water bodies. Pollutants from non-points sources (NPS) and point sources contribute to water quality impairment. Washington Township has 5 HUC14s listed on the Impaired Water List Designated Uses Not Attained (With NJDEP Sublist Where Relevant) Aquatic Life Trout Support Industrial Agricultural 4A 5 5 3 3 3 3 unknown pollutant Pohatcong Ck Above Rt. 31 02040105140010 2 4A 2 5 2 2 3 3 Temperature Pohatcong Creek Edison Rd. – Brass Castle Creek 02040105140020 2 4A 5 5 2 2 3 3 Temperature Fecal Coliform Pohatcong Creek Edison Road to Brass Castle Creek 02040105140030 2 4A 5 5 2 2 3 3 Temperature Fecal Coliform Musconetcong R Changewater to Hances Brook 02040105160020 5 4A 2 5 2 2 3 3 Temperature Fecal Coliform Musconetcong R Route 31 to Changewater 02040105160030 2 4A 2 2 2 3 3 Musconetcong R (75d 00m to Rt. 31) 02040105160040 4a 2 Secondary Recreation Primary Recreation 3 Furnace Brook 02040105090050 Consumption Drinking Water HUC 14s Located Entirely or Partially in the Municipality Parameters Not Attained TMDL Fecal Coliform Fecal Coliform Washington Township Wellhead Protection Areas Purpose: To protect the health, safety and welfare of residents and to ensure supply of safe and healthful drinking water and the protection of the ground water resources that provide drinking water. Public Community Well: Public water supply serving at least 15 service connections regularly serving at least 25 year round residents. Non-Community Well: Public water supply regularly serving at least 25 individuals for at least 60 days in any given calendar year. NJ Wellhead Protection ordinances use 3 tiers of the time of travel – the time it takes groundwater to flow to the well • • • Tier 1: 2-year time of travel – potential for bacterial and viral contaminant movement Tier 2: 5-year time of travel – prevents long-lived contaminants from reaching a well without interfering with well function Tier 3: 12-year time of travel – for plumes of long-lived contaminants Washington Township includes two Public Community Water Supply wells (Planning Area) and 17 Public Noncommunity Water Supply wells (15 in Planning Area and two in Preservation Area) Washington Township Septic System Yield Purpose: A useful indicator of the potential impacts to ground water quality. Appropriate septic system yields ensure that future development utilizing septic systems provide for sufficient dilution of effluent discharges. HUC 14 Subwatersheds HUC 14 Subwatershed Name 2040105090050 Furnace Brook Pohatcong Creek (above Rt. 31) Pohatcong Ck ( Ck to Rt. 31) Pohatcong Ck ( – Ck) Musconetcong R (Changewater to Hances Bk) Musconetcong R (Rt. 31 to Changewater Musconetcong R (75d 00m to Rt. 31) 2040105140010 2040105140020 2040105140030 2040105160020 2040105160030 2040105160040 Drought Recharge Rate (in/yr) 9.0 Septic System Density (ac/unit) Protection Conservation Zone Zone 27.2 10.5 9.7 25.3 9.7 8.5 28.9 11.1 8.1 30.2 11.6 10.5 23.3 9.0 9.3 26.3 10.1 9.4 26.1 10.0 Washington Township Agricultural Resource Area Purpose: to promote preservation in the ARA and limit non-agricultural uses in the ARA. Where it is not feasible to preserve lands within the ARA, the Highlands RMP requires mandatory cluster for residential development. Categories mapped within the Highlands ARA: • Preserved Farmland • All Agricultural Uses (NJDEP 2007 LU/LC) • Important Farmland Soils and Soil Quality • Agricultural Priority Areas Category Total (ac) Planning Area (ac) Preservation Area (ac) Ag Resource Area 7,505 6,325 1,180 Ag Priority Area 3,708 3,066 642 Preserved Farmland 1,229 803 426 All Ag Uses 3,619 3,046 572 Important Farmland Soils 7,574 6,106 1,468 Washington Township Agricultural Priority Area Agricultural Priority Areas for the Highlands were determined using 7 indicators. The purpose is to prioritize areas for future farmland preservation. The 7 indicators are: 1. Location within Ag Resource Area 2. Important Farmland Soils – Undeveloped 3. Preserved Farms 4. Contiguous Farms greater than 250 ac 5. Ag Uses 10 acres or greater 6. 50% or greater Prime Soils 7. 1/4-mile proximity to Preserved Farms Washington Township Preserved Farm, SADC Easements, and All Ag Uses Preserved Farmland: Farms that are preserves, farms that have final approval from the SADC and farms under the eight-year easement program. All Agricultural Uses: Derived from the NJDEP 2007 Land Use / Land Cover spatial data. Factors of farmland suitable for preservation. Washington Township Important Farmland Soils Four Soil Types are considered: Prime Soils • Best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed, forage, fiber, and oilseed crops. • Soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce high yields of crops • Not excessively erodible or saturated with water for a long period of time, do not flood frequently or are protected from flooding. Statewide Important Land, in addition to prime and unique farmlands, that is of statewide importance for the production of food, feed, fiber, forage, and oil seed crops. Locally Important In local areas, these lands are important for the production of food, feed, fiber, forage, and oilseed crops, even though these lands are not identified as having national or statewide importance. Unique Land other than prime farmland used for the production of specific high value food and fiber crops. Washington Township Historic, Cultural, and Archaeological Resources Map # Title / Location Period / Description 1 Imlaydale Hamlet Beers Atlas, on Register 2 Supplee’s Mill Cave (Indian) & Lime Kiln Caves of New Jersey 3 Changewater 3a Mark Thompson House 4 Lime Kiln 5 Murderer’s Bridge Beers Atlas 6 J. Sullivan Beers Atlas 7 Lime Kiln 8 St. Matthews Hall 9 Boat Basin 9a Port Colden School Beers Atlas 10 Mansfield Woodhouse Cemetery Beers Atlas 11 Sherred-Eckel House (Nomination Filed) 12 Eckel Auto Gyroport Washington Messenger 13 Morris Canal Historic Preservation Survey, on Register 14 Old Blacksmith Shop 15 Mrs. Boyd 16 Bowerstown 17 Consumers Research 18 Lanning-Chamberlain House Beers Atlas Beers Atlas Washington Township Historic, Cultural, and Archaeological Resources (continued) Map # Title / Location Period / Description 19 Log Cabin 20 S. Yard Beers Atlas 21 Snyder House Beers Atlas 22 A. Wanding Beers Atlas 23 Grist Mill Beers Atlas 24 Roaring Rock 25 Pony Pratt Truss Bridge An Inventory & History of Engineering and Industry, on Register 26 Twin Arch Concrete Bridge An Inventory & History of Engineering and Industry, on Register 27 Presbyterian Parsonage Beers Atlas, on Register Washington Township Scenic Resources RMP Goal for Preservation Areas: “protect the natural, scenic, and other resources of the Highlands Region, including but not limited to contiguous forests, wetlands, vegetated stream corridors, steep slopes, and critical habitat for fauna and flora;” and “preserve farmland and historic sites and other historic resources;” RMP Goal for Planning Areas: “protect and maintain the essential character of the Highlands environment;” and to “preserve farmland and historic sites and other historic resources;” RMP identifies six scenic resources in Washington Twp: 1. Buckhorn Creek Wildlife Management Area 2. Musconetcong River Greenway 3. Oxford Mountain 4. Pequest Wildlife Management Area 5. Warren Trail 6. West Oxford Mountain Natural Resource Area Washington Township Contaminated Site Inventory Purpose: Awareness of contaminated sites locations and details provides a municipality with additional planning tools in terms of natural resources protection and planning for future remedial actions. Two Tiers of contaminated sites according to three sources: 1. NJDEP Known Contaminated Sites list (KCS-NJ); 2. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System (CERCLIS); and 3. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Tier 1 consists of: • All Final and Deleted Superfund sites (CERCLIS); • All RCRA identified sites; • All sites with a Remedial Level of C3 or D (KCS-NJ); • Remaining sites with a Remedial Level of C2 located in the Preservation Area (KCS-NJ). Tier 2 consists of: • Remaining sites with a Remedial Level of C2 located in the Planning Area (KCS-NJ). Washington Township Public Community Water Systems Public Community Water Systems and Wastewater Utilities are intrinsically linked to those natural resources for which the Highlands RMP provides protection policies. Water • Public water system that pipes water for human consumption to at least either 15 service connections or one that regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. • May be owned and operated by governmental entities (either as municipal operations or utility authorities) or investor-owned utilities. • Have the potential for inducing or supporting growth. Water Utility Existing Area(s) Planning Area = 1,041 ac Preservation Area = 103 ac Washington Township Domestic Sewerage Facilities Wastewater • Important tool to identify areas where growth should or should not be encouraged and where land adjacent to this infrastructure is appropriate for growth. • Assist in the identification of areas of concern where dense development patterns without sewer service exist. • Evaluate the need for potential replacement of septic systems with community wastewater systems in order to safeguard public health. Highlands Domestic Sewerage Facilities Existing Areas Served Oxford Facility Planning Area = 85 ac Preservation Area = 0 ac Washington Borough Facility Planning Area = 66 ac Preservation Area = 0 ac Washington Township Roadway Network The efficient use of land provides the potential to enhance an accessible, multi-modal transportation system in the Region, while improving the protection of environmentally sensitive areas. • Goal of better understanding the movement of people and goods, and the relationship of these features to the resources and land use conditions of the Region. • Evaluate environmental resources and habitat features that are potentially affected by the presence of road and transit networks. Will become important in planning for agriculture and potential centers development. Washington Township Transit Network Private Bus Route (pink) Freight Rail Line (black) Abandoned Freight Rail (green) Next Steps 1. Present revised ERI to Land Use Board (Nov.) a) Receive comments from LUB 2. Revise and present final ERI to Land Use Board for adoption (Dec.) 3. Submit adopted ERI to Highlands Council (Dec./Jan.) 4. Use ERI information to assist in other plan conformance modules. Questions? Contact: Angela S. Clerico, PP/AICP, LEED-AP Natural Systems Utilities 2 Clerico Lane, Suite 210 Hillsborough, NJ 08844 W: 908-359-5129 x14 E: [email protected]
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