GLOUCESTER COUNTY SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT
Telephone (856) 589-5250 gloucester@gloucesterscd.org
Soil Erosion & Sediment Control Act
New Jersey Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Program: https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/nrc/njerosion.html
Of all the various forms of pollution, sediment is one of our largest pollutant by volume with its most devastating impact seen in the State waterways and aquatic systems. Some of the negative impacts of soil erosion and sedimentation include, but are not limited to, reduced carrying capacity of waterways, increase in flooding, stressed aquatic ecosystems due to the reduction of dissolved oxygen and reduced infiltration of sunlight. In addition, the economical costs associated with soil erosion include the extremely high costs of dredging silted waterways to improve navigation and increase the carrying capacity of waterways to reduce flooding.
In the early 1970's, the New Jersey State Legislature realized this problem and the effects it was having on New Jersey's environment, economics, and quality of life. In 1975, the State Legislature passed Chapter 251, P.L. 1975, the Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act of New Jersey.
This legislation gave the Districts the authority to control soil erosion and sedimentation by requiring the submission of a Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Plan for almost all soil disturbances over 5,000 square feet.
The Gloucester Soil Conservation District is responsible for reviewing and certifying all Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Plans for soil disturbances over 5,000 square feet while performing subsequent inspections to insure compliance with the soil erosion and sediment control practices shown on the certified plans.