Testimony of Citizens for Informed Land Use Representative Penny Towey
NJ DEP Department of Water Supply Hearing on Trump National Golf Club, Colts Neck
January 19, 2011

I thank the Township of Colts Neck and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Water Supply for providing me with this opportunity to speak on behalf of Citizens for Informed Land Use against the Trump National Golf Club’s application to modify the water allocation permit for its Colts Neck location. Citizens for Informed Land Use is a Holmdel organization dedicated to promoting intelligent land use planning. We believe that sound land use policies are a natural outgrowth of an open government that considers ALL of the consequences in making decisions that impact our natural resources and quality of life. Our interest here is in preserving not only the capacity, but also the quality of the Swimming River Reservoir, the only potable water supply for hundreds of thousands of Monmouth County residents. It is the primary supply for all southern Holmdel residents, and supplies northern Holmdel residents through Shorelands Water Co. while its salt-infused aquifers rest during the winter months.

Given what we’ve heard today, Citizens for Informed Land Use is puzzled by the serious consideration your division is granting to this request for a three-fold increase in water allocation for a golf course. Failure to require minimum base flow and independent monitoring of Marl Brook seems irresponsible given Trump National’s historical overages. Citizens for Informed Land Use is also concerned about the potential for increased stormwater runoff into the Brook from the subdivision during winter months, given that the three ponds will apparently no longer be used for such purpose.

The Swimming River Reservoir and its tributaries, as well as aquifers from which Monmouth County taxpayers obtain potable water, are under assault from any number of sources. Having vetted this application with your sister Division of Watershed Management, your division is aware that the Swimming River Reservoir and several of its tributaries including the Ramanessin Brook are already classified as impaired. In fact, the Ramanessin Brook is currently undergoing a $1.38 million restoration (funded by a grant supported by the DEP) to stabilize stream banks in an attempt to minimize silting and the growth of bacteria that results from erosion due to excessive stormwater run-off.

We expect that your Division has likewise vetted the Division of Watershed Management’s proposed Monmouth County Sewer Service Area Map currently under consideration. The proposed new SSA plan anticipates a 27% increase in sewer service flow in Monmouth County by 2022 – and consequently a significant DECREASE in groundwater recharge to our streams, reservoirs and aquifers. Water currently discharged from septic and on-site treatment systems to groundwater will instead be processed and dumped in the Atlantic, never to be retrieved. The Trump National plan could potentially pull over 50 million more gallons from these very aquifers, streams and the Swimming River Reservoir over the course of each summer.

Climate change is here, and it means wetter winters with a greater frequency of stronger storms producing significant runoff, coupled with longer, hotter and drier summers with a greater frequency of short-term and longer-term droughts. Sound familiar? New Jersey has declared drought watches, warnings or emergencies in five of the last ten years. Many Monmouth County residents lived under mandatory restrictions last summer, while we’ve heard here today that 31 Colts Neck homeowners saw their wells go dry, as Swimming River Reservoir levels fell to just over 50% capacity.

Given approval of its application, Trump National Golf Club-Colts Neck will be well prepared in the coming years. Given the 2-fold increase in monthly draws which can occur during peak usage (need I say drought) seasons, coupled with a more than 3-fold increase in annual allocation, one thing’s certain. Trump National’s Colts Neck fairways will be green while taxpaying residents will be kicking up dust as they pull their dirty cars into their driveways, and at the same time paying higher costs for water due to the increased filtration necessary when pumping from the bottom of the Swimming river Reservoir.

Citizens for Informed Land Use requests that this application be tabled at this time. We, and all citizens depending on the Swimming River Reservoir for water, deserve a clear picture of what Trump National is requesting. We ask that the Division make all relevant material, including not only the application but also all analyses conducted by the petitioner as well as the Division, including geological studies and stormwater runoff plans, coupled with on-site wastewater treatment plans, be made available through a publicly-accessible website. Furthermore, we request that the public comment period be adjusted to reflect a period sufficient for interested parties and citizens to fully review this material once it is made public.

Citizens for Informed Land Use requests that the Division of Water Supply consider the whole of the Monmouth County watershed, including the proposed sewer service area map plan and consequent depletion of water resources, in its consideration of the merits of Trump National’s application. Furthermore, we request that your division consider that consistency in the application of DEP and EPA regulations is of utmost importance in the decision-making process. DEP Divisions should work together to assure that incursions into environmentally-sensitive C1 watersheds, such as would occur with both this application as well as Monmouth County’s proposed sewer service area map, are avoided.

Citizens for Informed Land Use thanks you for this opportunity to participate in the process.