Mapping Assistance

As part of the Department’s continual effort to assist municipalities in meeting MS4 permit requirements and improving water quality, the Department has developed and made available a number of free mapping and inventory tools. These tools are meant to help municipalities develop an inventory, and subsequently a map, of their stormwater management facilities. Mapping tools help collect the following features:

  • Culverts
  • Green infrastructure
  • Manufactured treatment devices (MTDs)
  • Outfalls
  • Stormwater management basins
  • Storm drain inlets and
  • Subsurface infiltration/detention systems

Additional infrastructure types are also being added to the mapping tool to further assist Tier A MS4 permittees in complying with the 2023 Tier A renewal permit.

The inspection, maintenance, and upkeep of these stormwater management features are required under the NJPDES MS4 general permit. Data collected using the mapping and inventory tools provided may be used to support a number of different requirements found within the MS4 permit. Any questions or comments about the mapping and inventory tools below may be directed to Tim Ebersberger.

ArcGIS Online Mapping Tool
This tool is intended for permittees who do not have a handheld GPS unit and who are creating a new inventory. The use of this tool requires an ArcGIS Online license and a mobile device such as a cell phone or tablet. The Department is making a number of ArcGIS Online licenses available, at no cost, to permittees who request it. Environmental groups or volunteers that will assist a municipality with mapping and inventory of stormwater infrastructure may also be eligible to use a free license. Permittees may contact Tim Ebersberger to begin using this tool or to request a license.

Trimble Handheld GPS Data Dictionary Template
This tool is intended for permittees with handheld GPS unit capabilities and software who may or may not have existing inventories, but intend on collecting data via a handheld GPS unit. A number of versioned templates created using Pathfinder software are available below.

Trimble Handheld GPS Data Dictionary Template

This tool is intended for permittees with handheld GPS unit capabilities and software who may or may not have existing inventories, but intend on collecting data via a handheld GPS unit. A number of versioned templates created using Pathfinder software are available below.

Trimble Template

ESRI Geodatabase Template

This tool is intended for permittees with ArcGIS software capabilities and experience who have existing electronic inventories. This template should be populated by permittees and submitted back to the Department.

Geodatabase Template version 9.3

Microsoft Excel

This tool is intended for permittees with limited hardware/software capabilities or permittees with existing inventory databases that exist in environments such as Excel or Access. This template should be populated by permittees and submitted back to the Department.

MS4 Inventory Spreadsheet Template