What We Do
- Research, compile and direct studies, including environmental resource inventories, water studies, energy audits, and conservation easement inventories
- Promote long-range environmental planning based on the capacity of the land and natural resources
- Inventory plans and preserve open space
- Inform residents through educational programs, displays, publications, and meetings
- Work with neighboring commissions and other organizations to address regional and state-wide environmental problems; and
- Act and serve as the official Sustainable Jersey Green Team that is responsible for pursuing and maintaining the City's Sustainable Jersey Certification. (Read 2017 Mayoral Proclamation and Resolution 14.105.)
Environmental Commission Members
• Darlene Green
• Luz Guzman
• Karen Li
• Ashley Metius (Alt.)
• Scott Mittman
• Brandon Rutter
• Matthew Trump
Plastics in the Age of COVID - 19
On November 11, 2020, the JCEC and ANJEC hosted the Plastics in the Age of Covid-19 virtual event. View the recording here.
Boonton Reservoir Enhancement and Trail Development Project
Do you know where Jersey City gets its drinking water from? Two reservoirs in Morris County, Split Rock and Boonton, provide water for Jersey City . The Boonton Reservoir and the property surrounding it amounts to 1,300 acres which are owned by the City of Jersey City and managed by Suez. On September 26th, 2018, the Jersey City City Council approved an agreement between Jersey City and the Morris County Parks Commission which would allow the Parks Commission to lease the land surrounding the Reservoir for 40 years for the price of $1 and with the understanding that a passive walking trail would be developed and managed by the Parks Commission. Find the Ordinance authorizing this lease agreement here.
In order to finalize the agreement, a management plan must be approved by City Council. The JCEC is working closely with the Morris County Parks Commission (MCPC), Open Space Institute (OSI), Greener by Design, and Amy Green Environmental on the Boonton Reservoir Protection and Trail Project to ensure that the Property Management Plan for public access to the Reservoir is thorough and comprehensive in its approach to protecting and enhancing Jersey City's drinking water supply.
The JCEC held a Special Public Meeting to discuss the Draft Property Management Plan at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 2nd in Council Chambers. Links to the PowerPoint presentation, draft plan and all appendices are below:
PowerPoint Presentation - Presented on 10/2/19
Final Property Management Plan
Appendices A and B - (A) Recreational Trail Lease Agreement between Jersey City and MCPC; and (B) Memorandum of Agreement between OSI and the MCPC
Appendices C and D - (C) Stakeholder Outreach; and (D) Stormwater Management Review
Appendix E - (E) Ecological Evaluation
Appendices F and G - (F) Patrol & Emergency Response Plan; and (G) MCPC - Rules & Regulations
Appendix H - (H) Overall Trail Map and Phase Maps
Environmental Resource Inventory
The JCEC and the City's Division of Planning collaborated with the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the Center for Urban Environmental Sustainability (CUES) of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, to complete an updated Environmental Resource Inventory for Jersey City in 2017. This valuable document contains a comprehensive inventory of the City's environmental resources, including physical, biological, and selected cultural characteristics.
Jersey City Tree Canopy Assessment
Jersey City’s tree canopy was mapped and analyzed as part of the Jersey City Environmental Commission’s role of inventorying environmental resources and promoting long-range planning. The strategies presented within the 2015 report are intended to protect and expand the city’s investment in its trees in order to create a cleaner, greener, more livable and vibrant city for everyone. Download Tree Canopy Assessment here.
Municipal Green Pages