July 18, 2018
Open Space Institute
1350 Broadway #201
New York, New York
10018
Dear Terrance Nolan,
The Jersey City Environmental Commission (JCEC) has recently been made aware of a proposed
initiative to open Jersey City’s Boonton Reservoir to recreational activities. We understand the Open
Space Institute is in the processes of drafting a study highlighting the potential impacts of opening the
Reservoir to public access that will be submitted to the City of Jersey City for review. Before such a study
is completed, the JCEC would like to make the Open Space Institute aware of our primary concerns and
request that these concerns be addressed in the study.
Other areas with an extensive system of reservoirs, such as New York City, have allowed permitted
fishing a public access in designated areas for years. However, these reservoirs and watershed areas are
patrolled by a dedicated force of reservoir police who strictly enforce the rules governing the permitted
activities and, therefore, safeguard the quality of the water by preventing any inadvertent or willful
actions that would compromise the quality of the water.
To our knowledge, the Sussex County Parks Department intends to police the Boonton Reservoir, yet we
are extremely concerned about the capacity of this department to properly protect our water resource.
Below, please find the main reasons for our concerns.
1. Opening the reservoir area to recreational activities would require the construction of access
roads, parking areas, pathways, etc., all of which would impact the already fragile and very
limited protective vegetative cover. The vegetative cover is an extremely important ecosystem
service, as it reduces soil erosion, maintains soil moisture, and acts to filter potentially
contaminated runoff that can flow into the reservoir from Route 287 and other adjacent roads
and/or developments surrounding the reservoir. The most recent development, in fact, is being
built in an extremely ecologically sensitive area that forms the protective barrier around the
Boonton Reservoir (a mere 410 feet from the edge of the water!), the main source of drinking
water for Jersey City, Secaucus, and Parsippany.
2. A plan to open Boonton Reservoir to public access has been in place for over 17 years. After the
terrorist attacks of September 2001, the plan was dismissed due to safety reasons. In 2018, the
risk of an intentional attack to compromise the water supply of the people of Jersey City,
Secaucus, and Parsippany still stands. We would like to know what safeguards will be put in
place, at the public access point and at the treatment facility operated by SUEZ, to protect the
Reservoir from such a risk.

  

The JCEC is acutely concerned with maintaining, ideally improving, the water quality of the Boonton
Reservoir since the Rockaway River Watershed, which feeds the reservoir, is heavily developed with
residential and industrial structures, roads, and parking lots. Any further reduction in protective measures
is taken very seriously by the JCEC. Furthermore, the areas if the Rockaway River open to the public are
heavily littered with all sorts of trash which is barely kept in check by periodic cleanups conducted by the
"Friends of the Rockaway", a voluntary group that over the last few years has removed over 200 tons of
trash. One of our concerns is that a similar fate would await the reservoir if it were opened to the public
without proper supervision and enforcement

The JCEC would be eager to further discuss our concerns with the Open Space Institute. Should
you have any questions, I can be reached at JCEC@jcnj.org.
Sincerely,

Alison Cucco, M.S.
Chair, Jersey City Environmental Commission