The Camden County Board of Commissioners joined with environmental leaders from across New Jersey on Tuesday morning to unveil a comprehensive plan for a generational investment designed to improve water quality throughout Camden County.
This historic effort will encompass the Cooper River, Kirkwood Lake, Atco Lake, Evans Pond, Wallworth Lake, and several other crucial watersheds throughout the county. Once complete, these coordinated investments in wastewater infrastructure, stormwater management, habitat restoration, sediment remediation, and recreational improvements will make the Cooper River and surrounding waterways throughout Camden County one of the cleanest and healthiest urban watersheds in the United States.
“Protecting and maintaining our waterways is one of the greatest responsibilities we share,” said Commissioner Jeffrey Nash, liaison to the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority. “I am thrilled to have the support of our environmental partners as we embark in the single largest investment in improving our waterways so they can be enjoyed and relied upon for generations to come.”
Implementation of this plan will be supported through state and federal funding, county capital investment, municipal participation, philanthropic support, and public-private partnerships. Subject to voter approval, Camden County may also consider a modest Open Space and Water Quality Tax Referendum of $0.01 to establish a dedicated local funding source for long-term watershed restoration, environmental preservation, recreational improvements, and matching funds needed to maximize state and federal grant opportunities.
The current County Open Space Tax is $0.02, and the proposed $0.01 increase to $0.03 is still less than the Open Space Taxes in neighboring Burlington and Gloucester counties, which each have a $0.04 Open Space Tax, underscoring the Board of Commissioner’s commitment of balancing the need for improvement to county waterways, with the ever-increasing cost of living.