Estimation of nutrient (N and P) fluxes into Newark Bay, USA.

This study was conducted in northern New Jersey, USA, to estimate the nutrient fluxes from the Passaic River, the Hackensack River and other sources into Newark Bay and the nutrient residence time in Newark Bay. Bi-weekly total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) and orthophosphate concentration data in the Passaic River, the Hackensack River, and Newark Bay for over 15 years (2004-2019) were collected along with daily river discharge data from the public database. The annual TIN and orthophosphate (ortho-P) loading from the Passaic River ranged from 915 × 103 kg y-1 to 251 × 104 kg y-1 and 94 × 103 kg y-1to 372 × 103 kg y-1, respectively. The annual TIN and ortho-P loading from the Hackensack River ranged from 3.13 × 103 kg y-1 to 234 × 103 kg y-1 and 0.28 × 103 kg y-1 to 6.97 × 103 kg y-1, respectively. Seasonal variation results indicated that hurricane events highly increased TIN and ortho-P loading from riverine input and reduced residence time in Newark Bay.

Public preferences for green infrastructure improvements in Northern New Jersey: a discrete choice experiment approach.

Significant water pollution caused by flooding due to heavy precipitation and extreme weather events has become a considerable problem in urbanized areas such as in Northern New Jersey. These cities experience heavy downpour-related contamination and water pollution when stormwater and untreated sewage are diverted through combined sewer overflow drainage systems to adjacent water bodies. Green infrastructure has proven a successful intervention method for mitigating these unintended environmental consequences. However, while the effects of CSOs and the ability of GI to reduce them are well documented, there has been considerably less study addressing public preferences and willingness to pay for GI-based solutions. As such, this study seeks to understand these facets of GI management in urbanized areas of New Jersey, focusing on Newark, Paterson, and Elizabeth townships. A discrete choice experiment method was used to analyze the willingness of residents to pay for additional CSO infrastructure through the installation of GI options such as bioretention gardens, rain barrels, and green roofs. Furthermore, study identified attributes such as secondary benefits, proximity, and water retention that respondents found the most utility in when choosing GI stormwater management interventions. We found that several attributes, including improved air quality ($58.60), increased water supply ($49.71), and closer proximity ($110.01-$125.97) had the highest utility and similarly were associated with a higher willingness to pay than other tested attributes. These findings are important in assessing the overall attitude toward these fixtures, and may be critical in crafting local policy and development, especially to address environmental equity.