Senator Anthony M. Bucco and Assemblywoman Aura Dunn have introduced new legislation aimed at protecting the sources of streams and rivers that supply drinking water in New Jersey. The proposed bill (A-6093/S-4897) would create a headwaters guardianship program within the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Under the legislation, municipalities that contain the origin of waterways serving as primary sources of drinking water for at least one million residents could be designated as headwater guardians by the DEP.
“Protecting our drinking water starts with protecting the places where our streams and rivers begin,” said Bucco. “The Headwaters Guardianship program is a smart, proactive step that would ensure the DEP is actively safeguarding these critical sources so we can preserve clean, reliable water for our communities for generations to come.”
Dunn highlighted the responsibility of these communities: “Communities where headwaters are located have a great responsibility to protect the health of our watersheds. Runoff, sediment and nutrients at the source of our waterways impacts the quality of the entire system. Our bill would recognize municipalities for their efforts that ensure residents have clean drinking water.”
Bucco and Dunn are working with Mendham Alliance for Preservation & Conservation on this initiative. They emphasized that the proposal offers a stewardship framework rather than imposing regulatory mandates. The program would highlight municipalities already committed to protecting their headwaters while giving DEP flexibility to adapt protections based on local needs.
“This bill is not about bureaucracy, it’s about improving resilience, mitigating flood damage and reducing long-term costs for municipalities by proactively identifying environmental protections afforded to headwaters,” Dunn said. “It creates a stewardship program for eco-conscious communities, increases transparency and the public’s role in protecting our waterways.”
If enacted, designations of headwater guardian municipalities along with any required environmental protections would be published on the DEP website. Both designations and proposed measures would be open to public comment for at least 30 days. The DEP would also submit a report on the program with recommendations for coordination among state agencies to both the governor and Legislature.
