NJDEP BMP Manual
Introduction
New Jersey's Stormwater Management rules (N.J.A.C. 7:8) set mandatory standards for major new developments. The New Jersey Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) Manual offers guidance on meeting these standards and provides examples of compliant methods. Applicants may propose alternative practices that also satisfy the standards. Developed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection with input from various state departments and stakeholders, the BMP Manual aids review agencies and the regulated community. Methods in the manual can be used without extra documentation to meet performance standards, and the Department plans to update it with new practices and information as research progresses.
Future updates of the BMP Manual will be available through www.njstormwater.org.
Chapter One
Impacts of Development on Runoff discusses the impact of development on the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff. Updated Sept. 2016
Chapter Two
Low Impact Development Techniques provides information how to use structural and nonstructural to provide lower impact development.
Chapter Three
Regional and Municipal Stormwater Management Plans presents guidance on the development of regional and municipal stormwater management plans.
Chapter Four
Stormwater Pollutant Removal Criteria provides guidance on how to meet the water quality performance standards.
Chapter Five
Computing Stormwater Runoff Rates and Volumes presents the mathematical methods for the stormwater runoff rates, volumes, and the stormwater quality and quantity design storms. This chapter provides information computations for unconnected impervious areas, and also contains an overview of various stormwater pollutant loading models. Updated July 2023
Chapter Six
Groundwater Recharge discusses the groundwater recharge methodology, the groundwater recharge design storm, and the details of the New Jersey Groundwater Recharge Spreadsheet (NJGRS). Updated July 2023
Chapter Seven
Landscaping provides information on vegetation and landscaping for stormwater management measures.
Chapter Eight
Maintenance and Retrofit of Stormwater Management Measures provides information to be included and considered in a maintenance plan and discusses retrofit of stormwater management facilities.
Chapter Nine
Provides general information on Structural Stormwater Management Measures. Updated March 2021
Chapter 9.1: Cisterns
Cistern Analysis Spreadsheet (XLSX, 19KB)
Chapter 9.2: Dry Wells
Chapter 9.3: Grass Swales
Chapter 9.4: Green Roofs
Chapter 9.5: Manufactured Treatment Devices Updated July 2023
Chapter 9.6: Pervious Paving Systems
Chapter 9.7: Small-Scale Bioretention Systems
Chapter 9.8: Small-Scale Infiltration Basins
Chapter 9.9: Small-Scale Sand Filters
Chapter 9.10: Vegetative Filter Strips
Chapter Ten New March 2021
Provides general information on Green Infrastructure BMPs that may be used for Stormwater Runoff Quantity (or for Groundwater Recharge and/or Stormwater Runoff Quality with a Waiver or Variance from N.J.A.C. 7:8-5.3)
Chapter10.1: Bioretention Systems (Large-Scale)
Chapter10.2: Infiltration Basins (Large-Scale)
Chapter 10.3: Sand Filters (Large-Scale)
Chapter 10.4: Standard Constructed Wetlands
Chapter 10.5: Wet Ponds
Chapter Eleven New March 2021
Provides general information on Non-GI BMPs that may be used for Groundwater Recharge, Stormwater Runoff Quality, and/or Stormwater Runoff Quantity only with a Waiver or Variance from N.J.A.C. 7:8-5.3
Chapter 11.1: Blue Roofs
Chapter 11.2: Extended Detention Basins
Chapter 11.3: Manufactured Treatment Devices (Non-GI)
Updated July 2023
Chapter 11.4: Sand Filters (Non-GI)
Chapter 11.5: Subsurface Gravel Wetlands
Chapter 11.6: Wet Ponds (Non-GI)
Chapter Twelve: Updated March 2023
Provides soil resting criteria.
Chapter 12 Soil Testing Workbook(XLSX, 37KB)
Chapter Thirteen: Groundwater Table Hydraulic Impact Assessment for Infiltration BMPs New March 2020
Chapter 13 Hantush Excel Spreadsheet
Appendix A
Low Impact Development Checklist provides information to assist reviewers and designers in the demonstration that nonstructural stormwater management measures have been implemented in a project.
Appendix B
Municipal Regulations Checklist provides information to assist municipalities in incorporating nonstructural stormwater management measures into the master plan, land use and zoning ordinances.
Appendix C
Sample Municipal Stormwater Management Plan provides an example as well as guidance on the municipal plan required to be developed by every municipality.
Appendix D Updated July 2023
Stormwater Control Ordinance for Municipalities provides a sample stormwater ordinance consistent with the requirements of the Stormwater Management Rules.
Meeting the Green Infrastructure Requirement (N.J.A.C. 7:8-5.3)
The amendments to the Stormwater Management rules that became operative March 2021 require that major development projects meet the groundwater recharge, stormwater runoff quality and quantity standards through the use of green infrastructure.
Meeting the GI Requirement Fact Sheet(PDF, 311KB)