Projects & Programs - Keep the Rain from the Drain

Impervious Cover Assessment and Impervious Cover Reduction Action Plan for the City of Hackensack, Bergen County, NJ

Project description:

This project was developed to help the municipality of Hackensack reduce the impacts of stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces.  The impervious cover assessment (ICA) identifies the amount of impervious cover in Hackensack and the runoff volume associated with impervious cover for the New Jersey water quality design storm, 2-year design storm, 10-year design storm, and 100-year design storm.  This assessment provides the number of acres that should be disconnected to realize a significant reduction in runoff and pollutant loads.

In addition, an impervious cover reduction action plan (RAP) has also been completed for Hackensack.  An impervious cover reduction action plan is meant to provide the municipality with a blueprint for implementing green infrastructure practices that will reduce the impact of stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces.  These projects can be implemented by a wide variety of people such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, school groups, faith-based groups, social groups, watershed groups, and other community groups.  Additionally, development projects that are in need of providing off-site compensation for stormwater impacts can use the projects in this plan as a starting point.  The municipality can quickly convert this impervious cover reduction action plan into a stormwater mitigation plan and incorporate it into the municipal stormwater control ordinance.

Links are provided to the impervious cover assessment (ICA), impervious cover reduction action plan (RAP), and feasibility study completed to date for Hackensack.


Water Resources Program at Rutgers NJAES