A 3081 — Requires DEP to establish program to map stormwater infrastructure.

A3081 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.

HAIDER District 37 (Bergen) Assemblywoman  MARISA SWEENEY District 25 (Morris and Passaic)         SYNOPSIS      Requires DEP to establish program to map stormwater infrastructure.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      IntroducedAs Pendingreported Technicalby Reviewthe byAssembly LegislativeScience, Counsel.Innovation and Technology Committee on June 1, 2026, with amendments.

     a.     many counties,1[counties, towns, and municipalities,municipalities] local government units1 , particularly older communities, lack accurate records of existing stormwater infrastructure, including culverts, drains, and underground pipes;

     “Stormwater1[“Stormwater infrastructure” means culverts, drains, underground pipes, channels, and related features designed to manage stormwater runoff.runoff.]1      “LIDAR” means light detection and ranging technology used to create high-resolution maps through laser scanning.

     “LIDAR” means light detection and ranging technology used to create high-resolution maps through laser scanning.

      1“Stormwater infrastructure” means culverts, drains, underground pipes, channels, and related features designed to manage stormwater runoff.”1      4.    a.  The Department of Environmental Protection, in coordination with the Department of Transportation,Transportation counties,1[, counties,]1 and local government units,,units, 1[,]1 shall establish and implement a program, through which the department shall survey and map stormwater infrastructure throughout the State using drone and LIDAR technology.

     b.  In establishing the program, the department shall prioritize mapping in towns,1[towns, local government units, and municipalitiesmunicipalities] local government units1 with aging, undocumented, or vulnerable infrastructure.

    STATEMENT        This bill, entitled the “High Tech Culvert and Drainage Mapping Act,” requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in consultation with the Department of Transportation, counties, and local government units to establish a program for the DEP to survey and map stormwater infrastructure across New Jersey using advanced technologies such as drones and LIDAR.

     The Legislature finds that many local government units, especially older ones, lack complete and accurate records of stormwater infrastructure like culverts, drains, and underground pipes.  This lack of data impairs efforts to prevent flooding, respond to emergencies, and maintain or upgrade aging systems.  By leveraging LIDAR and drone technology, this program would enable the efficient creation of high-resolution infrastructure maps.

     Under the bill, the DEP would prioritize mapping efforts in municipalities with aging or undocumented infrastructure.  The data collected would be stored in a centralized geospatial database and shared with relevant agencies at all levels of government.  The DEP would also be required to report annually on progress made and areas still needing to be mapped.  The Commissioner of Environmental Protection may use existing funds or pursue federal funding to implement the program.