Project Actions
Project Actions To become certified, your municipality will need to complete two Project Actions in addition to the Standard Actions. Project Actions address several of the Jersey-Friendly Yards steps to environmentally sound landscaping at the same time. When deciding on your projects, choose from the list below, or consult with the JFY Certification Program (contact […]
Project Actions
To become certified, your municipality will need to complete two Project Actions in addition to the Standard Actions. Project Actions address several of the Jersey-Friendly Yards steps to environmentally sound landscaping at the same time.
When deciding on your projects, choose from the list below, or consult with the JFY Certification Program (contact Bailey Sanders, bsanders@ocean.edu, 732-255-0472) to discuss other potential projects for your municipality. As you develop and implement a project, it’s important to work with the Certification Program coordinators, who will provide guidance and assistance with developing a project that will satisfy the certification requirements.
Project Action A: Strengthen your municipal stormwater ordinance.
Encourage the use of green infrastructure in your municipality by strengthening your stormwater ordinance. For residential projects, municipalities can go beyond the minimum requirements of the NJ Stormwater Management Rules and adopt stormwater ordinances with stronger standards. By adopting additional optional measures (e.g., pervious pavement and stormwater basin retrofits), municipalities can be proactive leaders in efforts to reduce localized flooding and water pollution.
For comprehensive information and guidance about ways to strengthen municipal ordinances, refer to the New Jersey Green Infrastructure Municipal Toolkit. In addition to improving your stormwater ordinance, consider adding measures to other municipal ordinances, such as land use and zoning. See the toolkit for suggestions about green infrastructure-friendly additions to your land use and zoning ordinances.
The Resources section below lists links to several model enhanced stormwater control ordinances. Consult with experts, such as engineers specializing in stormwater management, for guidance on what additional measures would work best for your municipality.
What to submit for Project Action A:
Copy of your officially adopted stormwater ordinance with stronger measures than the statewide minimum requirements, and a summary of the additional measures.
Project Action B. Install a new green infrastructure project on municipal property.
Implement at least one of the green infrastructure (GI) projects from the list you developed in Standard Action 3A. Before you start, consult with your JFY Program Coordinators about whether the size and scope of your project will qualify for this Project Action.
Proper design, construction, and maintenance are essential to the success of a GI project. The NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual provides detailed guidance on the design, construction, and maintenance of different types of GI, and the NJ Green Infrastructure Municipal Toolkit includes a list of additional resources.
Education is an important component of any project. It can be incorporated in a variety of ways, such as:
- Community volunteers assisting with planting and/or maintenance tasks,
- Educational signage at the site,
- Information on the municipal website,
- Educational brochures, and
- Programs, workshops, and/or trainings about GI.
What to submit for Project Action B:
Base map showing the GI location, a narrative describing the project, and before and after photos. The narrative should include information about the GI’s purpose, design, construction, and planned maintenance, as well as education and outreach activities delivered.
Project Action C. Complete a lawn replacement project.
NOTE: You can combine this Project with Project Action D (“Complete a wildlife habitat restoration project”) and complete two Projects at the same time, i.e. wildlife habitat can be created on the same areas where lawn is replaced with native plants.
Replace a total of at least 1,000 square feet of existing turf with NJ native plants on the site identified in Standard Action 6A. Develop a garden design based on growing conditions, functions, spacing, wildlife value, and aesthetics. Use the plant list developed for Standard Action 6A to guide your selection of native plants.
After determining the project location, call 811 to have all underground utility lines marked by the appropriate utility, so you know where not to dig. Indicate these “no dig” areas on the base map(s) for the project.
What to submit for Project Action C:
Written report about the lawn replacement project. The report should include the following information:
- Location and size of the converted area shown on a property base map,
- Reasons for selecting the project location,
- Site preparation before planting (e.g., removal of turfgrass, addition of organic matter),
- Growing conditions and other considerations used in the selection of plants,
- Sketch of the planting design and layout, including plant groupings and spacing,
- List of the NJ native species planted at the site(s) and how many of each were planted,
- Maintenance plan, including a schedule for watering, mulching, and weeding, and
- Before and after photos of the project site.
Project Action D. Complete a wildlife habitat restoration project.
NOTE: You can combine this project with Project Action C (“Complete a lawn replacement project”) and complete two projects at the same time, i.e. wildlife habitat can be created on the same areas where lawn is replaced with native plants.
Create a minimum of 1,000 square feet of new wildlife habitat on one or more sites identified in Standard Action 7A. Once you have determined the project area, call 811 to have all underground utility lines marked by the appropriate utility, so you know where not to dig. Indicate these “no dig” areas on the base map(s) for the project.
Use the plant list(s) developed for Standard Action 7B to guide your overall restoration plan and plant choices. Complete the following required elements as part of the wildlife restoration project:
- Provide the four basic needs of wildlife: food, water, cover, and places to raise young,
- Remove any invasive species from the site,
- Plant a diversity of native plant species to provide year-round sources of food for wildlife,
- Mix native plants of various heights – different layers of vegetation from trees or shrubs to groundcover offer the variety of cover types and nesting sites needed by wildlife;
- Allow the seed heads and stems of flowers and grasses to remain standing in winter and early spring. Seeds are a winter food source for birds, and stems provide important overwintering habitat for native bees and beneficial insects,
- Leave fallen leaves or use them as mulch – they build soil and provide important overwintering habitat for beneficial insects and other animals, and
- Designate your wildlife habitat restoration areas as Pesticide-Free Zones.
What to submit for Project Action D:
Written narrative about the wildlife habitat restoration project. The narrative should include a description of how the requirements listed above were met as well as the following information:
- Location and size of the restoration area shown on a property base map and identification of any connections to adjacent wildlife habitat,
- Reasons for selecting the project location,
- Site preparation before planting (removal of turfgrass, addition of organic matter, etc.),
- Growing conditions, wildlife value, and other considerations used in plant selection,
- Sketch of the planting design and layout, including plant groupings and spacing;
- List of the NJ native species planted at the site(s) and how many of each were planted;
- Maintenance plan (including a schedule for watering, mulching, and weeding), and
- Before and after photos of the project.
Resources for this project:
Project Action E. Establish a no-mow zone.
Establish a no-mow zone at a location identified in Standard Action 6B. Stormwater basins and areas along streams, ponds, and other waterways are high priority candidates for no-mow zones.
Planting and/or seeding the site with appropriate native species can help jump-start the process. If any invasive plant species start to grow within the zone, they should be removed. If the goal is to establish a perennial meadow without woody species, the zone can be maintained with an annual mowing or burning.
What to submit for Project Action E:
Base map showing the location and size of the no-mow zone; a list of any native seed mixes and/or native plants added to the site; and a plan for maintenance, including control of any invasive species.
Project Action F. Implement your plan to control invasive plant species on a municipal property.
Implement the plan you developed in Standard Action 7B to control the invasive plant species on a municipal property. The NJ Invasive Species Strike Team website has extensive resources, including fact sheets, about identification of invasive plant species and recommendations for eradicating them.
What to submit for Project Action F:
Common and scientific name of the invasive species targeted and their location on a base map of the property; removal and/or control method(s) used; and a plan for long-term monitoring and management at the site.
Resources for this project: