Schedule and information can be found here
District News
Enforcement Fees to Be Assessed
Take note that, as stated in the HEPSCD Additional Fees & Expenses documentation, the District will be billing starting January 1, 2022, for the cost of district time expended in enforcement of the Soil Erosion & Sediment Control Act.
ENFORCEMENT AND INSPECTIONS
Noncompliance /Extraordinary Expenses– A fee of $95.00 per hour for additional inspections required as a result of noncompliance with the certified soil erosion and sediment control plan or for chronic failure to maintain necessary erosion controls. Projects under construction, which have not provided the District with a Start Notice 48 hours prior to any soil disturbing activities will be considered in noncompliance. When extraordinary expense has been incurred by the District in order to gain compliance, and the original fees have been exhausted, written notification will be made to the applicant. Such notification will state that fiscal deficiencies exist and will state the amount to be remitted to the District for further inspection and/or review services. No Report of Compliance authorizing a Certificate of Occupancy or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy will be released until all fees are paid in full.
Re-inspection – A fee of $95.00 per hour will be charged when a requested inspection for the issuance of a Report of Compliance is performed and no reasonable effort has been made to complete the stabilization in accordance with the Standards for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control for New Jersey. This fee shall also be charged where temporary stabilization is required but not completed in accordance with the performance deposit application schedule.
Stop Work Order – In the event a Stop Construction Order is issued by the District, additional fees will be charged for reimbursement of legal, administrative, review, certification and inspection costs incurred. An itemized list of fees will be furnished to the applicant or said violator. The Stop Construction Order will not be vacated until all imposed fees are paid in full and the site has been brought into reasonable compliance as deemed by the District. All District fees will be billed at $95.00 per hour.
Current Forms
Please be advised that the current State application form must be used when submitting to a NJ soil conservation district, and all requested information must be provided. The form bears the designation AP10 4/19 in the lower right corner of page A2-2
April 21, 2026: Orchard St Detour
April 21, 2026: Orchard Street is closed between Hazelwood and our office due to a sanitary main break. Please enter Orchard Street from Montgomery Street to visit the district office.
All NJ State offices are closed Monday 2/23/26 due to inclement weather
Governor Mikie Sherrill declared that New Jersey will enter a State of Emergency effective at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026 in anticipation of a severe winter storm expected to cause hazardous weather conditions across the state.
All State offices will be closed Monday, February 23, 2026, due to inclement weather conditions.
The February 23 public meeting is cancelled. If it is rescheduled, it will be announced on this website’s legal notice page.
Inclement weather: closed 1/26/26; delayed opening 1/27/26
NJ State offices are operating on a 2-hour delay Tuesday 1/27/26. This office will open at 10am.
Office Closed 1/26/26 Snow
Due to the winter storm and the resulting State of Emergency declared by Governor Sherrill, the HEPSCD office will be closed Monday January 26th. The 7pm public meeting is cancelled.
Public Notices
As of 3/1/2026, public notices by the Hudson Essex Passaic Soil Conservation District will appear on our Legal Notice page. Agendas, minutes and other district business will continue to be published on our Agenda and Minutes page.
Poster Contest: Soil. Where It All Begins
The 2026 conservation poster contest theme is “Soil. Where It All Begins”. Please visit our Conservation Education Page for the entry form. Deadline to submit to the district office for judging is March 13, 2026.
Prioritize Landscaping During the Fall Growing Season
New Jersey is in the fall growing season (mid Sept through October). Cooler days and nights are ideal for establishing new lawns from seed or sod, and for planting trees and shrubs. Water all new plantings adequately.
The following information is quoted directly from Rutgers Fact Sheet FS 584: Seeding Your Lawn
Rapid Lawn Establishment: At certain times, such as in new home construction where dust or muddy conditions cause concern or on sloping terrain where soil erosion is a serious problem, a rapid cover of turfgrass is most critical. A first choice may be sodding the critical areas (see Rutgers Cooperative Extension fact sheet FS104, “Steps to an Instant Lawn”). Another choice can be the use of seed mixtures containing primarily perennial ryegrass or tall fescue. These varieties in combination with the use of straw mulch (see next point) and timely rainfall or irrigation can provide an “established” lawn in 4 weeks if growing conditions are favorable.
Clean straw mulch conserves moisture.
Straw Mulching and Irrigation: It is desirable to keep newly seeded lawns moist in the top 2 inches through irrigation or rainfall. If the top layer of soil dries out prior to good root establishment, poor stands of turfgrass may result. Some temporary surface drying is acceptable but should be kept to a minimum until germination is complete. Once seedlings have an established root system, watering can be less frequent and deeper (3 to 5 inches). Irrigation should not be overdone (do not create constant “muddy” conditions). Observe the drier areas of the lawn (sunny, high areas) for early signs of wilting. Irrigate, if feasible, to increase chances of successful establishment.
Straw mulch such as unrotted, weed seed free wheat, oat, rye, or salt hay can be applied at 50 to 90 lbs., (1 to 2 bales) per 1000 square feet. This offers a significant advantage for turfgrass establishment. Light mulching, where approximately 25% of the soil is visible through mulch, is all that is needed in most situations.
Mulching increases soil moisture retention. Morning dew is retained longer on the soil surface. Benefits include reduced watering needs and quicker seed germination.
In sloping areas and waterways where erosion is a consideration, heavier mulching is needed. To avoid smothering seedlings, partially remove mulch after germination occurs and 2–3 inch roots develop. In steep areas, erosion control matting with nylon netting or jute can also be applied over seeded areas and left in place after germination. These materials disintegrate over time and control soil erosion.
Comcast Intermittent Service Outages
The HEPSCD has been advised by Comcast that, due to line work in our area, there may be service interruptions on 7/16/25 which will affect our phone and email communication. We apologize for any inconvenience you experience in trying to reach the office.
Statewide Annual Report
View the NJ Conservation Partnership Congressional Report here
Spring Growing Season is Here
Early spring is the time to stabilize sites which expect to be complete and occupied by this summer, prior to the fall growing season (mid Sept through October).
The following information is quoted directly from Rutgers Fact Sheet FS 584: Seeding Your Lawn
Rapid Lawn Establishment: At certain times, such as in new home construction where dust or muddy conditions cause concern or on sloping terrain where soil erosion is a serious problem, a rapid cover of turfgrass is most critical. A first choice may be sodding the critical areas (see Rutgers Cooperative Extension fact sheet FS104, “Steps to an Instant Lawn”). Another choice can be the use of seed mixtures containing primarily perennial ryegrass or tall fescue. These varieties in combination with the use of straw mulch (see next point) and timely rainfall or irrigation can provide an “established” lawn in 4 weeks if growing conditions are favorable.
Clean straw mulch conserves moisture.
Straw Mulching and Irrigation: It is desirable to keep newly seeded lawns moist in the top 2 inches through irrigation or rainfall. If the top layer of soil dries out prior to good root establishment, poor stands of turfgrass may result. Some temporary surface drying is acceptable but should be kept to a minimum until germination is complete. Once seedlings have an established root system, watering can be less frequent and deeper (3 to 5 inches). Irrigation should not be overdone (do not create constant “muddy” conditions). Observe the drier areas of the lawn (sunny, high areas) for early signs of wilting. Irrigate, if feasible, to increase chances of successful establishment.
Straw mulch such as unrotted, weed seed free wheat, oat, rye, or salt hay can be applied at 50 to 90 lbs., (1 to 2 bales) per 1000 square feet. This offers a significant advantage for turfgrass establishment. Light mulching, where approximately 25% of the soil is visible through mulch, is all that is needed in most situations.
Mulching increases soil moisture retention. Morning dew is retained longer on the soil surface. Benefits include reduced watering needs and quicker seed germination.
In sloping areas and waterways where erosion is a consideration, heavier mulching is needed. To avoid smothering seedlings, partially remove mulch after germination occurs and 2–3 inch roots develop. In steep areas, erosion control matting with nylon netting or jute can also be applied over seeded areas and left in place after germination. These materials disintegrate over time and control soil erosion.