Water Works 15 - 3/26/03

Implications of County Agricultural Development Board Testimony

( Excerpts from Fellow Correspondent’s letter, continued. )

In consideration of this permit, the NJDEP must evaluate the testimony of Garden State Growers/Quaker Valley Farms (GSG/QVF) before the Hunterdon County Agricultural Development Board (CADB) on March 20, 2003. Two important items related to the allocation permit were discussed. The record should be reviewed by the NJDEP to insure that the following testimony has been accurately reported.

(1) Testimony was given that rainfall runoff collection would be more than adequate to meet the needs of site irrigation from stormwater basins if the basins are modified to retain stormwater.

(2) GSG/QVF requested that the CABD consider the site as one operation, consisting of 3 parcels. This is because the applicant (GSG/QVF) will need easements that cut across all 3 parcels to operate the farm.

These two statements go directly to: (1) the justification of the water need of the site, (2) the NJDEP requirement that lowest water quality water be used first, and (3) the separation of the QVF and GSG allocation permits, despite that fact that the water systems are interconnected, and despite testimony to another public agency that the properties are a singular operation.