Stormwater Management

Stormwater Management

Rowan University - Glassboro Campus Stormwater Management

What is stormwater?

Human activity is largely responsible for stormwater pollution. Everything that we put on the ground or into the storm drain can end up in our water. Each of us has a responsibility to make sure these contaminants stay out of our water. Whether we have clean water is up to you.
 
The official definition of stormwater under the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) regulations at N.J.A.C. 7:14A is as follows:
 
'Stormwater' means water resulting from precipitation (including rain and snow) that runs off the land's  surface, is transmitted to the subsurface, or is captured by separate storm sewers or other sewage or drainage facilities or conveyed by snow removal equipment.
“Abbotts Pond” An open water feature located on Rowan’s Glassboro campus, within the Chestnut Branch watercourse.

Rowan University’s Glassboro Campus is located within the lower Delaware watershed. The Chestnut Branch, a key tributary of Mantua Creek, bisects the northern part of campus and eventually flows into the Delaware River.

To improve the quality of stormwater leaving campus and entering the Chestnut Branch and greater watershed, Rowan uses a variety of Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Green Infrastructure Strategies, including, but not limited to:

  • Bioretention Areas
  • Wet Ponds
  • Pervious Paving
  • Green Roof
  • Policies addressing waste and litter disposal and management
  • Tree Plantings
  • Monitoring and Maintenance

Rowan’s Glassboro Campus stormwater is also regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) under the MS4 R-11 Public Complex Stormwater General Permit. MS4 stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, which is a system of conveyances (such as storm drains, pipes, ditches, green infrastructure and catch basins, etc.) used to collect and transport stormwater.  The R-11 refers to public complexes, including colleges and universities, that have their own stormwater management program. The intent to is to ensure strategies are being employed that improve the quality of stormwater entering the watershed. 

Learn More: See the tabs below for additional information about Rowan’s stormwater infrastructure, best management practices, and associated policies.

For any questions, please contact:  stormwater@rowan.edu.

 

Stormwater Supporting Documents

Stormwater Pollution Plan (SPPP)

The SPPP describes how we implement the stormwater program in order to meet the requirements of our NJPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.

View the SPPP here: (link coming soon)

MS4 Outfall Pipe Map
View MS4 Outfall Pipe Map here: Rowan MS4 Outfall Pipe Map
MS4 Infrastructure Map

View MS4 Infrastructure Map here: Rowan MS4 Infrastructure Map

Watershed Improvement Plan (WIP)

The purpose of the WIP is to identify opportunities to improve water quality, reduce MS4 contribution of pollutants to waterbodies with impairments and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDLs), and to address stormwater flooding to protect human health and safety, and the environment.

  • Watershed Inventory Report:

          View Watershed Inventory Report here: Rowan University Watershed Inventory Report

  •  Watershed Assessment Report:

          View Assessment Report here: In process

  •  Watershed Improvement Plan:  

          Review Watershed Improvement Plan here: Coming Soon

Supplemental Policies
Under Construction
Stormwater Events: Public Education & Outreach

Watershed Improvement Plan Development, Public Meetings:

In accordance with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit requirements, Rowan University hereby provides notice of a Phase 2 public meeting to inform the public and solicit input on the development of its Watershed Improvement Plan (WIP).  These virtual meetings are open to the public and all interested parties are encouraged to attend. See links below for meeting information, for additional details, and to view the presentation slide deck.

Phase 2 Public Meeting – to be held virtually on:

  • Monday, Lunch hour, 11/9  (noon – 1pm)
  • Wednesday, Evening, 11/18 (from 6-7pm)

Purpose of the Meeting:

To share information about the development of a Watershed Improvement Plan (WIP), which is being created to:

  • satisfy new NJDEP requirements
  • reduce pollution and improve water quality entering the watershed overtime

 

This is a three-phase process, and the WIP development is currently in Phase 2.

Meeting Agenda: 

  • The meeting will include:
    • Overview of Phase 1 and Why We are Here
    • General assessment of the watershed
    • Potential Improvements

Public Participation:

  • Members of the public will have an opportunity to provide comments during the meeting.

 

See the following link for Phase 2 Watershed Improvement Plan for Viewing:

 Rowan University Watershed Improvement Plan Phas 2 Slide Deck

 

Phase 1 Public Meetings were held virtually on 5/21( 6-7PM)  &   5/27 (12 – 1PM)

See following link for Phase 1 Watershed Improvement Plan Presentation for Viewing:

Phase 1_Rowan Watershed Improvement Plan Presentation Slide Deck - Public Meetings

Additional Resources

Click on the links below to learn more about stormwater and get access to educational resources.