LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP MYSTIC ISLANDS DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS

Little Egg Harbor Township recently closed on a $3.8 million loan through the New Jersey Water Bank to upgrade aging stormwater infrastructure in the Mystic Island section of the township. The project includes the replacement of approximately 2,300 linear feet of existing drainage pipe and multiple inlets, along with the installation of up to 2,735 linear feet of new drainage pipe and inlets across roughly 13 easement areas within the project limits. Work will also include full easement restoration and curb-to-curb roadway pavement restoration following construction.

These improvements are necessary to address deficiencies in the existing storm drainage system, which is largely composed of 40- to 50-year-old corrugated metal pipe that has deteriorated over time and is undersized for current drainage demands. By modernizing the system, the project will improve stormwater conveyance and reduce localized flooding.

The project is also expected to provide water quality benefits, including a reduction in sediment and other particulates that typically accumulate on roadways and surrounding properties during storm events. Without these upgrades, those pollutants are carried through the existing drainage system and discharged into unnamed tributaries that flow into Big Creek, a Category 1 waterbody. In New Jersey, a Category 1 waterbody is a stream, river, or waterway that is designated by the state as having exceptional ecological, recreational, water supply, or fisheries value. These waters receive the highest level of protection under state water quality standards. Big Creek ultimately drains into Great Bay, within the Mullica Watershed Management Area, and lies adjacent to the Barnegat Bay Watershed Management Area.