Municipal Action for Clean Water

• Plans & Preparation
• Municipal Ordinances
• ANJEC Information Sources

Municipal plans and ordinances that control the way land is developed can protect water resources and prevent water pollution. Careful site development can prevent increases in stormwater runoff and reduce the potential for erosion and sedimentation problems for our waterways.

Prohibiting disturbance of land adjacent to streams can prevent erosions and loss of important filtration functions. Protection of these areas to prevent pollution is far more economic than paying for treatment of polluted water. Strong septic system requirements help protect both groundwater and surface water.

Plans and Preparation

• A Build-out and Carrying Capacity Analysis is an examination of the impact on a town if all development allowed under the current zoning is put in place.
  
• An Environmental/Natural Resource Inventory is a compilation of text, data and maps about the natural resource characteristics and environmental features of areas.
  
• A Master Plan is a guide for the use of land in a municipality
  • Goals and Objectives state the principles, policies and goals on which the town's planning is based.
    
  • The Land Use Element establishes areas for different uses (residential, commercial, open space) and densities for the different uses
    
  • The Conservation Element is an articulation of a town's goals for preserving natural resources.
    
  • A Utility Service Element analyzes the need for future water supply, wastewater, drainage and other utility needs.
    
  • An Open Space Element is a guide for open space preservation.
• A Greenway/Stream Corridor Plan establishes a buffer or corridor adjacent to waterways and/or undeveloped passive connections between open space parcels.
  

ANJEC Information Sources

• Publications
  
• Web Page Links

ANJEC Publications

Acting Locally: Municipal Tools for Environmental Protection, 2002, 148 pages. $10 plus postage and handling. Order on line or by mail.

Municipal Action for the Environment, 2008, 4 pages, available as PDF at address to come.

Smart Growth Survival Kit, 2003, 42 pages. Available on line or as a paper copy for $5 plus postage and handling. Order on line or by mail.

Resource Papers

• The Environmental Resource Inventory, ERI, (231 KB),
  2004, 12 pages.
• Clean Water - Sewers, Septics and Sprawl, (74 KB)
  2006, 7 pages.
  
• Municipal Options for Stormwater Management, (295 KB), 2000, 12 pages.
• Protecting Our Streams, (338 KB), 2005, 16 pages.
  
• Septic System Management for Clean Water, (225 KB), 2003, 12 pages.
  
• Site Plan Review: Procedures for Environmental Analysis (217 KB), 2006, 12 pages.

Available on line or as a paper copy for $1 plus postage and handling. Order on line or by mail.

Web Page Links

ANJEC's EnviroLinks Web Page provides government agencies, non-profits and universities on Water Resource Management

6/08