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Tree ordinances protect water, climate and more T By Michael L. Pisauro, Jr., Esq., Policy Director, The Watershed Institute ime and time again, we cut down our trees and are surprised when things change. Areas that never were flooded or wet are "surprisingly" wet and flooded repeatedly. We remove trees from along our streams and are surprised when the banks start to erode and the water becomes cloudy and warm. Our once cool homes that benefited from the shade are now warmer and our air conditioners must work harder to keep us cool. Our electricity bills increase as a result. Birds no longer grace our yards and neighborhoods. All of this because we cut down "just" a tree. Trees are more than the lumber they may provide. Recognizing the benefits that trees add to the environment and all of us, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) added tree protection to its new Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer Permit (MS4). This permit requirement is not a new idea, and many municipalities have tree protection ordinances in place already. The MS4 permit merely reinforces the many benefits of trees to water quality and quantity. Trees help prevent flooding (September 2, 2021: flooding in New Brunswick after Hurricane Ida). Photo by Sarah J Lee 14 ANJEC REPORT – Autumn Autumn 2024 2024