OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Office of Natural Resource Restoration
Tidal wetland planting of native shrubs and trees taking place at Cramer Hill Waterfront Park – Camden, NJ
The Office of Natural Resource Restoration has the primary responsibility within the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for responding to discharges and other sources of pollution that trigger the DEP’s obligations as the trustee for all of New Jersey’s natural resources for the benefit of all of its citizens, now and in the future. This effort includes working with the persons responsible for conducting the remediation to return such natural resources to their pre-discharge quality, quantity, function, and value, and to implement restoration projects to compensate New Jersey citizens for the lost interim value or for the permanent loss of their natural resources.
The information presented on this website is intended to educate the public and the regulated community about DEP’s natural resource restoration program. The DEP is committed to restoring negatively impacted and lost natural resources through its Office of Natural Resource Restoration. Access the tabs above to learn more about this important program and how it works to improve our quality of life.
All of the information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law or policies applicable to the Office of Natural Resource Restoration because these laws and policies may change at any time.
Presentation on Natural Resource Damages and How They Are Assessed
DEP Administrative Order for Natural Resource Restoration Policy
In order to modernize the guidance, improve transparency, and enhance public engagement regarding the development and implementation of NRD assessments and compensation projects, state Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette has issued Administrative Order 2023-08. This Administrative Order affirms the DEP’s duties as trustee for the state’s natural resources and, importantly, directs the DEP to put in place mechanisms to enhance consensus-building in the planning, design and implementation of natural resource restoration activities through improved collaboration with the public and stakeholders. DEP Administrative Order No. 2023-08 Natural Resource Restoration
Contact for Voluntary Settlements: onrr@njdepwptest.net
Restoration Highlights
Liberty State Park Natural Resource Restoration Project
Restoration of a currently fenced-off and inaccessible interior section of the park will consist of habitat enhancement and wetland creation, providing future substantial benefits to the park by linking previously developed and restored, but isolated, components of the park into one cohesive whole.
Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area Restoration Project
The Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area upcoming restoration project will result in over 400 hundred acres of restored and enhanced wetland and upland maritime habitat. These acres fall within the known ranges of resident bird species and will be particularly important to annual spring/fall bird migrations since Cape May is an integral part of the Atlantic Flyway.
Ciba-Geigy: Toms River
The permanent preservation of 1,000 acres providing groundwater recharge along with the future implementation of nine ecological restoration projects to compensate the public for historic ecological and groundwater injuries caused by Ciba-Geigy. The restoration projects will enhance natural resources and support future public access and educational uses of the site.
Cornell-Dubilier Electronics, Inc
Recovered natural resource damage monies are being used to restore, replace, rehabilitate and/or acquire the equivalent of injured natural resources at and from the Cornell-Dubilier Electronics, Inc. Superfund site. These proposed restoration projects are found within the NOAA, USFWS, and State trustee approved Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment.
Cramer Hill Waterfront Park
In late 2021 ONRR completed a 62-acre restoration project focused on shoreline protection, landfill closure, natural resource restoration and park construction. This was the site of the former Harrison Avenue Landfill, an 86-acre unclosed landfill in Camden.
Mad Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area Wetlands Restoration
To compensate for the injury to shoreline habitat as well as the injuries to birds due to the Athos oil spill, an upcoming restoration project has been proposed at Mad Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area. This project includes manipulating nearly 200 acres to create Spartina alterniflora habitat, tidal waters, wet meadow and grassland areas.
Grant Announcements
ONRR offers a variety of grant opportunities to municipalities, counties, and qualifying nonprofit organizations for natural resource restoration project design and construction. Recent opportunities have included funding for habitat restoration, public access and recreation, dam removal, and green infrastructure.
For more information, please visit our Grant Programs page.
NJDEP Office of Natural Resource Restoration Project Viewer
The NJDEP ONRR Project Viewer displays projects that have been funded directly by ONRR, implemented in cooperation with a federal natural resource trustee(s), or performed by a responsible party as part of a settlement agreement. Some of the locations on this map are generalized in order to protect threatened and endangered species.