N.J. Stat. § 40:14-1
Any county or municipality may by ordinance open or keep open any inlet, stream, canal, basin or other public waterway within the limits of or forming the boundaries of any such county or municipality.
The ordinance shall set forth the amount of money necessary for that purpose, and upon the adoption thereof the county or municipality may issue bonds for the amount of money set forth in the ordinance, which shall be paid by moneys raised and collected as other moneys are raised and collected therein.
The governing body of the county or municipality adopting such an ordinance shall have the exclusive charge and control of the expenditure of such money and the work to be done in opening and keeping open any such inlet, stream, canal, basin or other public waterway.
N.J.S. § 40:14-1