Monroe Township — A representative of the Watershed Institute asked the council Dec. 22 to consider joining a regional Upper Millstone watershed approach to satisfy MS4 watershed improvement plan requirements.

Jola Maloney, municipal policy specialist at the Watershed Institute, told the council that a watershed assessment report (phase 2 of the watershed improvement plan) is due in December 2026 and that three regional approaches — Lower Millstone, Stony Brook and Assunpink — are underway. She said working regionally typically yields more coordinated, cost‑effective plans and that Monroe is part of the Upper Millstone watershed.

Maloney provided a preliminary cost range for Monroe’s participation of $39,891 to $59,618, depending on whether the group includes water‑quality monitoring to inform the plan, and said the Watershed Institute is seeking funding sources. She invited township representatives to a January meeting where municipalities will decide whether to participate and recommended officials review proposals from Water and Princeton Hydro, the consultants being considered.

Councilmembers and staff said they had engineers in contact with neighboring towns, that the township would attend the next regional meeting, and that the business administrator would be briefed after the New Year on budgetary and reporting implications for MS4 compliance.

No formal municipal commitment was made at the meeting; the Watershed Institute will continue outreach and the township will evaluate participation and funding options in early 2026.