DRBC 2026 Water Quality Assessment Draft Methodology: Comment Now

DRBC staff is preparing the 2026 Assessment report. The Commission is currently soliciting comments and input from interested parties regarding the proposed assessment methodology. For the 2026 assessment, DRBC will assess readily available data for a 5-year data window ending September 30, 2025. The Assessment Methodology proposed is based on the methodology used in the 2024 report, with some revision to the assessment of bacteria data and total dissolved solids.

• View Draft Assessment Methodology (pdf)

To Provide Written Comment:

• Written comments should be made through the Commission’s web-based comment system, SmartComment (opens in new window).
  
• Written comments will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
  
• Use of the web-based system ensures that all submissions are captured in a single location and their receipt is acknowledged. Exceptions to the use of this system are available based on need, by writing to the attention of the Commission Secretary, DRBC, P.O. Box 7360, 25 Cosey Road, West Trenton, NJ 08628-0360.

Contacts:

• For further information, please contact DRBC Senior Aquatic Biologist Jake Bransky, jacob.bransky@drbc.nj.gov, 609-477-7230.
• For general assistance, please email contact@drbc.gov.