N.J. Admin. Code § 7:7-9.28

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 11, June 3, 2024

Section 7:7-9.28 - Wetlands buffers

(a) Wetlands buffer or transition area means an area of land adjacent to a wetland which minimizes adverse impacts on the wetlands or serves as an integral component of the wetlands ecosystem. Wider buffers than those noted below may be required to establish conformance `with this chapter, including, but not limited to, 7:7-9.36 and 9.37.

1. A wetlands buffer or transition area of up to 150 feet in width shall be established adjacent to all wetlands defined and regulated under the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act. (Refer to the Freshwater Wetland Protection Act Rules, N.J.A.C. 7:7A, for further guidance).

2. For all other wetlands, including wetlands regulated under the Wetlands Act of 1970, a wetland buffer of up to 300 feet shall be established.

(b) Subject to (a) above, all wetlands buffers (that is, transition area) associated with wetlands subject to the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act shall be regulated in accordance with the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act Rules, N.J.A.C. 7:7A.

(c) Development is prohibited in a wetlands buffer around all other wetlands, unless it can be demonstrated that the proposed development will not have a significant adverse impact and will cause minimum feasible adverse impact, through the use of mitigation where appropriate on the wetlands, and on the natural ecotone between the wetlands and surrounding upland. The precise geographic extent of the actual wetlands buffer required on a specific site shall be determined on a case-by-case basis using these standards.

(d) In areas of the coastal zone which are within the Hackensack Meadowlands District, the appropriate buffer width shall be determined in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Hackensack Meadowlands District Zoning Regulations.

(e) Rationale: Development adjacent to wetlands can adversely affect the wetlands through increased runoff, sedimentation, and introduction of pollutants.

The coastal zone includes a diversity of types of wetlands, of varying widths, quality and importance to the ecosystem, from large forested freshwater wetlands, to narrow strips of coastal wetlands. For this reason, the appropriate buffer necessary to protect the wetlands adjacent to proposed land disturbance must be determined on a case-by-case basis, but using a standard that requires no significant impact on, and minimum feasible disturbance to, the wetlands.

The preservation of a transitional area of native vegetation in the portion of the wetlands buffer adjacent to the wetlands and the construction of detention basins or berms if necessary to control runoff, could mitigate impacts and make development permissible in the remainder of the wetlands buffer.

Buffers that support strands of native vegetation perform the following ecological and physical functions:

1. Stabilization of soil and prevention of erosion;

2. Filtration of suspended solids (silt) to prevent their deposition on wetlands. Siltation onto wetlands can lead to undesirable changes in vegetation, e.g. from cord grass (Spartina) to reeds (Phragmites), which contribute less to the estuarine and marine food chain;

3. Water turbidity control;

4. Inhibition of pollutant introduction into wetlands soil, water and food chains. Without wetlands buffers, "urban" runoff from adjacent housing will almost always cause an increase in contaminants, such as coliform, following rain;

5. Storm water storage;

6. Formation of a barrier to floating debris; and

7. Contribution to estuarine productivity, especially if the buffer is a forested floodplain.

As transition areas between differing vegetation communities (habitat areas), appropriately vegetated wetlands buffers function as ecotones, supporting a diversity of species and uses, and serving as wildlife movement corridors.

Wetlands buffers are used as lookout perches for raptors; nesting sites for marsh hawks, black crowned night herons, and ospreys; fall migration foraging stopovers for birds, including woodcock; nesting sites for wood ducks, black ducks, and mallards; and forage routes into and out of wetlands for raccoons, minks, muskrats, foxes, deer, and others. Grassy wetlands edges serve as feeding sites for Wilson's snipe, ruffed grouse, quail and song birds.

Wetland buffer requirements may be less restrictive in areas where proposed development is considered infill, and where a majority of the area adjacent to the wetlands is developed. In these areas, the potential adverse impacts to the wetlands from additional development are generally minor. The Department will establish the required wetland buffers for these areas on a case-by-case basis, based on the existing site conditions, including but not limited to elevation, topography and vegetation.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:7-9.28

Renumbered from 7:7E-3.28 by 47 N.J.R. 1392(a), effective 7/6/2015

Amended by 50 N.J.R. 361(a), effective 1/16/2018