NJDEP’s Water Resource Management

10/13/2026

October 13th is the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. 🌧️ As this 1955 photo of a flooded Delaware River in Stockton, NJ, shows, natural disasters can happen to any of us.

Through its research and field work, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection helps protect NJ communities by assessing our environments and ensuring that data and knowledge are available to prepare for potential natural disasters. 🌿💧

Learn more: dep.nj.gov/climatechange/resilience/flood-resource-toolkit/

10/08/2026

🔮💧 It’s the season of the (water) witch!

📸 This photo from the NJDEP archives shows a man from 1949 holding two sticks while performing water witching. Water witching, also called dowsing or water dowsing, is the practice of using devices such as a pair of sticks or a Y-shaped branch - to locate underground water or other underground substances.

Thanks to technological advancements, we now have much more precise ways to both find and evaluate groundwater in New Jersey, so our researchers don’t have to resort to witchcraft to complete their surveys. 🧙‍♀️

Click the link to learn how the NJDEP evaluates ground water quality: dep.nj.gov/wms/bears/ground-water-quality-standards-gwqs/

10/01/2026

🚨NJ lifts drought warning!

After months of abundant rainfall, we're lifting the statewide drought warning that's been in place since December 2025

✅ Most regions: returning to NORMAL
⚠️ Coastal South region: moving to drought WATCH

But let's keep up our water conservation habits! 💧

Learn more: dep.nj.gov/drought

10/01/2026

Westwood Tree Plantings 🌳🪏💧

Looking for volunteers! Join Westwood and your local Source Water Protection Ambassador, Phoebe Galione, in planting 25 trees for Autumn Arbor Fest!

📆Saturday, October 17th
🕓Starts at 10:00 AM and goes until all trees are planted!
📍Meet at Brookside Park (Lake Street, Westwood NJ 07675) or use these coordinates (40.998842, -74.030306).

👕Be sure to wear clothing that can get dirty, and please bring your own shovel and work gloves!

Register with the QR Code on the flyer or with the link below:
https://tinyurl.com/westwoodautumnfest2026

Please email Phoebe Galione ([email protected]) with any questions, comments, or concerns.



AmeriCorps AmeriCorps New Jersey New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection NJDEP’s Water Resource Management

09/15/2026

The NJDEP Report a Spring application via ArcGIS Survey 123 is now up and running on the home page of the NJGWS website and is available to the public. https://dep.nj.gov/njgws/

https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/71467face7ab4878abab61602e2c6d0d?portalUrl=https://njdep.maps.arcgis.com

If you know anyone who would like to report a spring, pass the info along!

09/08/2026

🔍What’s under the microscope? 🤔

Lasiodiamesa sp., an aquatic insect in the family Chironomidae (non-biting midge) was recently identified from a sample collected as part of Bureau of Freshwater & Biological Monitoring’s Ambient Macroinvertebrate Network (AMNET).🔬

🌿 This taxon, not previously recorded in AMNET samples, was collected from a site on Risley Branch (Burlington Co.) in the New Jersey Pinelands. 🌲

Lasiodiamesa are more commonly found in Canada and northern New England.

🔍 Images of key features (head and mouthparts) used in identification.

08/31/2026

🌊 Out in the field with the NJDEP! 💧 Our team recently joined the Bureau of Freshwater & Biological Monitoring (BFBM) staff as they used a sonde, a sensor device that measures water quality conditions, to study how road salt impacts local streams. When too much salt is applied in the winter, the effects may be seen year-round.

📸 These photos capture the hands on work happening behind the scenes to protect New Jersey’s waterways, as well as the insects found along the way. 🦋🪲🔬

08/24/2026

Did you know that summertime water uses, such as landscape irrigation, can increase water usage by 30%? 💧

- Your lawn needs way less hydration than you think
- Wait to water
- Save water and money in the process

08/20/2026

📢 On Monday, September 14th the NJ Department of Environmental Protection will host a virtual, informal stakeholder meeting to present the draft 2024 New Jersey 303(d) List and Integrated Water Quality Assessment Report (Integrated Report) prior to its forthcoming proposal publication in New Jersey Register (NJR) for formal public comment. Two virtual sessions are scheduled – 10:00-11:30 a.m. and 7:00-8:30 p.m. – to provide stakeholders and members of the public an opportunity to review the information. Each session will include a 45‑minute presentation followed by 30 minutes for stakeholder comments and questions.

🔗Register here: bit.ly/4ycOYLx. Please RSVP before September 11, 2026.

❓Questions? For specific questions regarding the stakeholder meeting, please email [email protected].