This bill mandates the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create and execute a pilot program focused on water quality, flood control, and stream restoration. The program aims to assist counties and municipalities in undertaking projects that enhance environmental restoration, improve water quality, mitigate flooding, and promote carbon storage in natural areas. The DEP will provide grants for three projects, one each in the southern, central, and northern regions of New Jersey, with eligible projects including stream cleaning, bank stabilization, and restoration of historic flood plains, among others.

Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to submit a report to the Legislature one year after the program's initiation, detailing the projects undertaken, their costs, and any recommendations for future actions. The bill allocates $1 million for the pilot program from the Global Warming Solutions Fund, which is also amended to explicitly include projects related to stream, water quality, and flood plain restoration as part of the stewardship and restoration initiatives eligible for funding.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 26:2C-51