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Reducing stormwater pollution in our neighborhoods is an activity everyone can take part in. Urbanization has fundamentally altered the way that water moves through the landscape. Stormwater that doesn’t soak into the ground runs along streets and parking lots and picks up pollutants. Much of the pollution in our nation’s waterways comes from everyday materials like fertilizers, pesticides, motor oil, trash and plastics, and household chemicals. Rainwater washes these substances from streets, yards, and driveways into storm drains. It’s a common misconception that storm drains lead to wastewater treatment plants. In actuality, storm drains rarely lead to treatment plants and, instead, untreated water is carried directly to the nearest waterway. This polluted runoff can have negative impacts on water quality, overstimulate algal growth (both toxic and non-toxic), harm aquatic species and wildlife, and cause trash and debris to enter our lakes, streams, rivers, and oceans. Storm Drain Cleaning Keeping neighborhood storm drains cleaned is a simple activity with big impacts. Removing debris that collects in nearby stormwater catch basins, storm drains, and along curbs promotes cleaner runoff, reduces the potential for flooding, and decreases the amount of pollution and trash entering our waterways. 5 Simple DIY Steps for Storm Drain Cleaning: Rake/sweep and discard debris that has collected on top of the storm grate and in curbside rain gutters. Please note: If you notice a major blockage or issue with a storm drain, contact your local municipality immediately. Use a scrub brush or toilet bowl scrubber to remove debris that may be stuck to the storm grate. Adopt a storm drain(s) and maintain a regular cleaning schedule: Make a note on your calendar each quarter to clean and clear debris from storm drains nearby your home or workplace. And, make a habit of checking your storm drains after rainstorms when clogging is most common. Host a community clean-up day that includes trash pick-up, storm drain cleaning, and disseminating information on the impacts of stormwater runoff and what we can do to help. Consider contacting your local watershed association or municipality about getting drain markers installed on storm drains throughout the community. The markers act as a continued public reminder that anything dumped into a storm drain eventually ends up in our precious waterways downstream. World Water Day 2023 asks people to “Be the change you want to see in the world." Your actions can help solve the water crisis. Remember: small actions lead to big achievements in protecting water quality. [post_title] => Celebrate World Water Day with this 5-Step DIY Activity [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => celebrate-world-water-day-2023 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-03-21 13:41:54 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-03-21 13:41:54 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=12456 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 12419 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2023-03-17 18:44:47 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-03-17 18:44:47 [post_content] => [caption id="attachment_12423" align="aligncenter" width="901"] Harveys Lake, Luzerne County, PA in February 2023 (Photo by Jason Miller)[/caption] By Dr. Fred Lubnow, Senior Technical Director of Ecological Services The Winter of 2022 – 2023 is turning out to be a mild one, at least in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Anecdotally, there has been no measurable amount of snowfall in 2023 as of early March. In northeastern Pennsylvania, January and February 2023 mean monthly temperatures were 9.6 and 7.5 degrees warmer relative to their long-term respective average values. In northern New Jersey, January and February 2023 mean monthly temperatures were 11.9 and 5.6 degrees warmer relative to their respective long-term average values (Northeast Regional Climate Center CLIMOD database). [caption id="attachment_12421" align="alignleft" width="239"] Lake Hopatcong, Sussex – Morris Counties, NJ (Photo by Donna Macalle-Holly, Lake Hopatcong Foundation)[/caption] This has had a profound impact on lake ecosystems. For example, in early 2023, both Harveys Lake (Luzerne County, PA) and Lake Hopatcong (Morris and Sussex Counties, NJ) have had no lake-wide ice cover. While measurable amounts of both snowfall and ice cover are still possible in the remaining weeks of March, it highly unlikely that such conditions would persist for weeks. Such ice-free conditions on our lakes, ponds and reservoirs will certainly have a profound impact on these ecosystems as we move into the 2023 growing season. Algae May Grow Earlier in the Season Undoubtably, current conditions are at a minimum partially attributed to climate change and will have a direct impact on the upcoming 2023 growing season. In the absence of ice, and more importantly snow-cover over the ice, aquatic plants and algae can begin to grow earlier in the season. Some plants, such as the invasive species curly-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton crispus), prefer cooler temperatures and tend to attain their highest densities in the spring and early summer. However, under such ice-free conditions, we have seen curly-leaved pondweed growing along the bottom of New Jersey lakes as early as February. This can result in more nuisance plant densities earlier in the year. While most cyanobacteria, the group of algae known to have the potential to produce cyanotoxins, tend to attain their maximum growth and biomass over the hot summer months, there are several genera that are more tolerant of cool temperatures. For example, one filamentous genus, Aphanizomenon, is one of the first cyanobacteria to appear in the plankton in the spring. Indeed, over the last few years Aphanizomenon has been appearing earlier in the year and at higher densities in many of the lakes monitored and managed by Princeton Hydro. Another cyanobacteria known to bloom in cooler waters is Coelosphaerium. Coupled with slightly warmer temperatures over the late winter and early spring, cyanobacteria blooms could become more common and larger in magnitude, earlier in the year. Such blooms are frequently called Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Many cyanobacteria produce resting spores called akinetes during conditions of environmental stress, such as colder temperatures and desiccation. These akinetes settle to the bottom and are re-activated as water temperatures increase. Warmer late winter and early spring temperatures, particular over the sediments, could mean more akinetes actively growing into vegetative cells earlier in the growing season. Milder Winters Could Lead to New Invasive Species [caption id="attachment_12439" align="alignright" width="476"] At a lake in Somerset County on March 7, 2023, Spirogyra (a green mat algae that prefers cold waters) is present and curly-leaved pondweed is already growing and well established. Photo by Princeton Hydro.[/caption] Last year (2022), was the first time that the cyanobacteria Cylindrospermopsis was identified in Lake Hopatcong. In fact, this genus was the most abundant cyanobacteria in Lake Hopatcong during our July and August sampling events, but was no longer found by the early October sampling event. The Cylindrospermopsis found in Lake Hopatcong may be an invasive species that historically has been found in tropic and subtropic waterbodies. However, over the years, this cyanobacterium has been found in temperate waterbodies. Milder and warmer winters may mean more invasive species such as Cylindrospermopsis appearing in Mid-Atlantic waterbodies. What Should You Do? In the absence of ice and snow-cover to put the sediments in the dark and prevent photosynthesis, coupled with warmer temperatures in the late winter and early spring, may lead to more aquatic plant and algal growth earlier in the year. So what should be done about this? 1. Sample Early: March or April First, we recommend initiating sampling earlier in the year, sometime in March or April; do not wait until May to begin sampling. Second, in addition to sampling the surface waters, sampling should also be conducted in near-shore areas, immediately above sediments and at the sediment-water interface. Samples should be examined under the microscope for the presence of akinetes and/or inactive colonies of cyanobacteria. Third, near-shore areas should also be surveyed for the presence of submerged, aquatic plants, in particular invasive species such as curly-leaved pondweed or hydrilla. 2. Encourage Residents to Reduce Nutrients Entering the Waterway Finally, while most climate models indicate that HABs will more than likely increase in warmer conditions, the magnitude of this response will be strongly dependent on the availability of nutrients, in particular phosphorus. While phosphorus will drive the growth of cyanobacteria, the availability of external sources of nitrogen can increase the probability of a HAB producing cyanotoxins such as microcystins, which is a nitrogen “heavy” molecule. Thus, if colonies of cyanobacteria or akinetes are found in the sediments over the spring, the lake community and stakeholders should be informed and efforts should be implemented to reduce the availability of nutrients such as using non-phosphorus fertilizers, picking up pet wastes, goose management, routine pump-outs of septic systems once every three years, where possible stabilize exposed soil by planting native vegetation and consider the use of green infrastructure such as rain gardens. By letting the community know that cyanobacteria may be lurking on the sediments over the spring season, it may mobilize efforts to implement both in-lake and watershed measures to minimize the potential development of HABs. Princeton Hydro provides pond and lake management and monitoring services to hundreds of waterbodies in the Northeast. If you would like to learn more about our services for your community, please send us a message through our website. Dr. Fred Lubnow, Princeton Hydro's Senior Technical Director, Ecological Services, is an expert in aquatic and watershed management, restoration ecology, community and ecosystem ecology, and the use of benthic macroinvertebrate and fish in-stream bioassessment protocols. Dr. Lubnow has managed hundreds of lake projects and provides technical expertise for a variety of lake and watershed restoration projects. His experience in lake and reservoir restoration includes the design and implementation of dredging, aeration, chemical control of nuisance species, nutrient inactivation (i.e. alum) and biomanipulation. His experience in watershed restoration includes the design and implementation of structural Best Management Practices (BMPs), the development of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) pollutant budgets, and the design, implementation and analysis of watershed-based monitoring programs. [post_title] => Mild Winter in Mid-Atlantic Raises Concerns For Lakes [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => guest-blog-by-dr-fred-lubnow [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-03-17 18:44:47 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-03-17 18:44:47 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=12419 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 12299 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2023-02-28 06:15:03 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-02-28 06:15:03 [post_content] => The Princeton Hydro team is excited to participate in and sponsor a variety of in-person and virtual events, including conferences, educational webinars, mobile workshops, community gatherings, and a Facebook Live "Ask the Experts" Conversation. Check out the latest edition of our Events Spotlight: February 28-March 1: Pennsylvania Lake Management Society Annual Conference This year's conference, themed "New Science for Changing Times," will be held at the Wyndham Garden State College in Boalsburg, PA. Princeton Hydro is a proud sponsor of the 33rd Annual Conference, which offers a collection of professional presentations, workshops and panel discussions. Two Princeton Hydro team members are giving presentations: Senior Technical Director of Ecological Services Dr. Fred Lubnow and Senior Environmental Scientist J.P. Bell, GISP. Get more info and register. March 14: Virtual Workshop - Aquatic Connectivity Through Climate-Ready Infrastructure on the Lower Raritan and South Rivers, NJ Join Isabelle Stinnette from the NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program and Jake Dittes, PE from Princeton Hydro to learn how to prioritize infrastructure redevelopment that is supportive of fish passage and reduces localized flooding. They will debut the results of 300+ assessments of bridges and culverts in coastal New Jersey as well as a conceptual culvert design and a tool kit that can be applied to make infrastructure decisions anywhere. Get more info and register. March 22 @ 6pm: Live Q&A with Princeton Hydro Experts Spring is right around the corner. Now is your chance to get tips and tricks for preparing your garden and setting it up for success! Join our Landscape Architects and Expert Green Thumbs Jamie Feinstein, RLA and Cory Speroff, PLA, CBLP for a live "Ask Anything" conversation via Facebook. Learn about starting plants from seed, choosing the best native perennials, planting edible varieties, and much more. Get more info and register. March 25: Watershed Congress Hosted by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, the annual Watershed Congress brings together environmental enthusiasts and professionals to advance the best available information and techniques for protecting and restoring watersheds. The one-day conference combines science, policy, and practical applications into one program that consists of an engaging keynote discussion, exhibits, poster sessions and presentations covering a broad range of watershed topics. Princeton Hydro is an "Associate Sponsor" this year, and our Director of Aquatics Michael Hartshorne and Tim Fenchel of Schuylkill River Greenways are delivering the keynote address on the "Ecological Status and Perceptions of the Schuylkill River." Get more info and register. March 28: Rain Garden Seminar The Middletown Township Environmental Advisory Council is excited to host a Rain Garden Seminar featuring guest speaker Dr. Fred Lubnow of Princeton Hydro. The free, 1-hour seminar will be held at the Middletown Municipal Center on March 28 at 6:30pm. The purpose of this seminar is to educate and encourage residents to install rain gardens on their property. Rain gardens are an innovative and cost-effective solution to reducing stormwater runoff. Dr. Lubnow, an expert in rain garden design and installation, will provide insight into how to plan and create a rain garden that will not only help prevent erosion and flooding but also improve water quality and add a beautiful aesthetic to any property. Get more info and register. March 30: Trenton Economic Development Breakfast As part of its Economic Development Series, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber invites you to join them for an in-person breakfast and panel discussion. The panel discussion, moderated by Diane Rodgers, NJ Economic Development Authority, features a variety of Trenton business owners who will share insights related to the event's theme: "Deep Roots and New Growth: Learn How the Success of 100+ Year Old Business Inspires New Investment in the Capital City." Princeton Hydro President Geoffrey M. Goll, PE is proud to participate as a panelist along with Rich Balka, President of the Home Rubber Company, and Tim Moonan, CEO of the Hibbert Group. The event will be held at the Trenton Country Club from 7:30am to 10am. We hope to see you there! Get more info and register. March 30: Harmful Algal Bloom Virtual Summit The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is pleased to invite you to the 2023 Harmful Algal Bloom Virtual Summit on Thursday, March 30th from 9-2:30 via Microsoft Teams. The this year’s conference, themed “New Challenges, Lasting Solutions,” features presentations from a variety of water resource and HABs experts. Princeton Hydro Senior Technical Director, Ecological Services Dr. Fred S. Lubnow is giving a presentation on “HABs Around the Nation.” Get more info and register. April 1-4: National Planning Conference The American Planning Association invites you to attend its 2023 National Planning Conference, where professionals can tap into an inspiring network of peers to analyze, imagine, and plan for the future. The conference program is focused on peer discussion and research into areas most likely to be agents of change in the planning profession, including climate change, housing, health equity, and the future of work. Conference sessions include peer-to-peer learning, in-depth exploration, hands-on training across a wide range of program areas, and 55+ mobile workshops.
Today is World Water Day - an annual United Nations observance day that highlights the importance of fresh water and encourages people around the globe to participate in activities that protect our water resources.
Reducing stormwater pollution in our neighborhoods is an activity everyone can take part in.
Urbanization has fundamentally altered the way that water moves through the landscape. Stormwater that doesn’t soak into the ground runs along streets and parking lots and picks up pollutants. Much of the pollution in our nation’s waterways comes from everyday materials like fertilizers, pesticides, motor oil, trash and plastics, and household chemicals. Rainwater washes these substances from streets, yards, and driveways into storm drains.
It’s a common misconception that storm drains lead to wastewater treatment plants. In actuality, storm drains rarely lead to treatment plants and, instead, untreated water is carried directly to the nearest waterway. This polluted runoff can have negative impacts on water quality, overstimulate algal growth (both toxic and non-toxic), harm aquatic species and wildlife, and cause trash and debris to enter our lakes, streams, rivers, and oceans.
Keeping neighborhood storm drains cleaned is a simple activity with big impacts. Removing debris that collects in nearby stormwater catch basins, storm drains, and along curbs promotes cleaner runoff, reduces the potential for flooding, and decreases the amount of pollution and trash entering our waterways.
Use a scrub brush or toilet bowl scrubber to remove debris that may be stuck to the storm grate.
Adopt a storm drain(s) and maintain a regular cleaning schedule: Make a note on your calendar each quarter to clean and clear debris from storm drains nearby your home or workplace. And, make a habit of checking your storm drains after rainstorms when clogging is most common.
Host a community clean-up day that includes trash pick-up, storm drain cleaning, and disseminating information on the impacts of stormwater runoff and what we can do to help.
Consider contacting your local watershed association or municipality about getting drain markers installed on storm drains throughout the community. The markers act as a continued public reminder that anything dumped into a storm drain eventually ends up in our precious waterways downstream.
World Water Day 2023 asks people to “Be the change you want to see in the world." Your actions can help solve the water crisis. Remember: small actions lead to big achievements in protecting water quality.
The Winter of 2022 – 2023 is turning out to be a mild one, at least in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Anecdotally, there has been no measurable amount of snowfall in 2023 as of early March. In northeastern Pennsylvania, January and February 2023 mean monthly temperatures were 9.6 and 7.5 degrees warmer relative to their long-term respective average values. In northern New Jersey, January and February 2023 mean monthly temperatures were 11.9 and 5.6 degrees warmer relative to their respective long-term average values (Northeast Regional Climate Center CLIMOD database).
This has had a profound impact on lake ecosystems. For example, in early 2023, both Harveys Lake (Luzerne County, PA) and Lake Hopatcong (Morris and Sussex Counties, NJ) have had no lake-wide ice cover. While measurable amounts of both snowfall and ice cover are still possible in the remaining weeks of March, it highly unlikely that such conditions would persist for weeks. Such ice-free conditions on our lakes, ponds and reservoirs will certainly have a profound impact on these ecosystems as we move into the 2023 growing season.
Undoubtably, current conditions are at a minimum partially attributed to climate change and will have a direct impact on the upcoming 2023 growing season. In the absence of ice, and more importantly snow-cover over the ice, aquatic plants and algae can begin to grow earlier in the season. Some plants, such as the invasive species curly-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton crispus), prefer cooler temperatures and tend to attain their highest densities in the spring and early summer. However, under such ice-free conditions, we have seen curly-leaved pondweed growing along the bottom of New Jersey lakes as early as February. This can result in more nuisance plant densities earlier in the year.
While most cyanobacteria, the group of algae known to have the potential to produce cyanotoxins, tend to attain their maximum growth and biomass over the hot summer months, there are several genera that are more tolerant of cool temperatures. For example, one filamentous genus, Aphanizomenon, is one of the first cyanobacteria to appear in the plankton in the spring. Indeed, over the last few years Aphanizomenon has been appearing earlier in the year and at higher densities in many of the lakes monitored and managed by Princeton Hydro. Another cyanobacteria known to bloom in cooler waters is Coelosphaerium. Coupled with slightly warmer temperatures over the late winter and early spring, cyanobacteria blooms could become more common and larger in magnitude, earlier in the year. Such blooms are frequently called Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).
Many cyanobacteria produce resting spores called akinetes during conditions of environmental stress, such as colder temperatures and desiccation. These akinetes settle to the bottom and are re-activated as water temperatures increase. Warmer late winter and early spring temperatures, particular over the sediments, could mean more akinetes actively growing into vegetative cells earlier in the growing season.
Last year (2022), was the first time that the cyanobacteria Cylindrospermopsis was identified in Lake Hopatcong. In fact, this genus was the most abundant cyanobacteria in Lake Hopatcong during our July and August sampling events, but was no longer found by the early October sampling event. The Cylindrospermopsis found in Lake Hopatcong may be an invasive species that historically has been found in tropic and subtropic waterbodies. However, over the years, this cyanobacterium has been found in temperate waterbodies. Milder and warmer winters may mean more invasive species such as Cylindrospermopsis appearing in Mid-Atlantic waterbodies.
In the absence of ice and snow-cover to put the sediments in the dark and prevent photosynthesis, coupled with warmer temperatures in the late winter and early spring, may lead to more aquatic plant and algal growth earlier in the year. So what should be done about this?
First, we recommend initiating sampling earlier in the year, sometime in March or April; do not wait until May to begin sampling. Second, in addition to sampling the surface waters, sampling should also be conducted in near-shore areas, immediately above sediments and at the sediment-water interface. Samples should be examined under the microscope for the presence of akinetes and/or inactive colonies of cyanobacteria. Third, near-shore areas should also be surveyed for the presence of submerged, aquatic plants, in particular invasive species such as curly-leaved pondweed or hydrilla.
Finally, while most climate models indicate that HABs will more than likely increase in warmer conditions, the magnitude of this response will be strongly dependent on the availability of nutrients, in particular phosphorus. While phosphorus will drive the growth of cyanobacteria, the availability of external sources of nitrogen can increase the probability of a HAB producing cyanotoxins such as microcystins, which is a nitrogen “heavy” molecule.
Thus, if colonies of cyanobacteria or akinetes are found in the sediments over the spring, the lake community and stakeholders should be informed and efforts should be implemented to reduce the availability of nutrients such as using non-phosphorus fertilizers, picking up pet wastes, goose management, routine pump-outs of septic systems once every three years, where possible stabilize exposed soil by planting native vegetation and consider the use of green infrastructure such as rain gardens. By letting the community know that cyanobacteria may be lurking on the sediments over the spring season, it may mobilize efforts to implement both in-lake and watershed measures to minimize the potential development of HABs.
Dr. Fred Lubnow, Princeton Hydro's Senior Technical Director, Ecological Services, is an expert in aquatic and watershed management, restoration ecology, community and ecosystem ecology, and the use of benthic macroinvertebrate and fish in-stream bioassessment protocols. Dr. Lubnow has managed hundreds of lake projects and provides technical expertise for a variety of lake and watershed restoration projects.
His experience in lake and reservoir restoration includes the design and implementation of dredging, aeration, chemical control of nuisance species, nutrient inactivation (i.e. alum) and biomanipulation. His experience in watershed restoration includes the design and implementation of structural Best Management Practices (BMPs), the development of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) pollutant budgets, and the design, implementation and analysis of watershed-based monitoring programs.
The Princeton Hydro team is excited to participate in and sponsor a variety of in-person and virtual events, including conferences, educational webinars, mobile workshops, community gatherings, and a Facebook Live "Ask the Experts" Conversation.
Check out the latest edition of our Events Spotlight:
This year's conference, themed "New Science for Changing Times," will be held at the Wyndham Garden State College in Boalsburg, PA. Princeton Hydro is a proud sponsor of the 33rd Annual Conference, which offers a collection of professional presentations, workshops and panel discussions. Two Princeton Hydro team members are giving presentations: Senior Technical Director of Ecological Services Dr. Fred Lubnow and Senior Environmental Scientist J.P. Bell, GISP.
Get more info and register.
Join Isabelle Stinnette from the NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program and Jake Dittes, PE from Princeton Hydro to learn how to prioritize infrastructure redevelopment that is supportive of fish passage and reduces localized flooding. They will debut the results of 300+ assessments of bridges and culverts in coastal New Jersey as well as a conceptual culvert design and a tool kit that can be applied to make infrastructure decisions anywhere.
Hosted by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, the annual Watershed Congress brings together environmental enthusiasts and professionals to advance the best available information and techniques for protecting and restoring watersheds. The one-day conference combines science, policy, and practical applications into one program that consists of an engaging keynote discussion, exhibits, poster sessions and presentations covering a broad range of watershed topics. Princeton Hydro is an "Associate Sponsor" this year, and our Director of Aquatics Michael Hartshorne and Tim Fenchel of Schuylkill River Greenways are delivering the keynote address on the "Ecological Status and Perceptions of the Schuylkill River."
The Middletown Township Environmental Advisory Council is excited to host a Rain Garden Seminar featuring guest speaker Dr. Fred Lubnow of Princeton Hydro. The free, 1-hour seminar will be held at the Middletown Municipal Center on March 28 at 6:30pm. The purpose of this seminar is to educate and encourage residents to install rain gardens on their property. Rain gardens are an innovative and cost-effective solution to reducing stormwater runoff. Dr. Lubnow, an expert in rain garden design and installation, will provide insight into how to plan and create a rain garden that will not only help prevent erosion and flooding but also improve water quality and add a beautiful aesthetic to any property.
As part of its Economic Development Series, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber invites you to join them for an in-person breakfast and panel discussion. The panel discussion, moderated by Diane Rodgers, NJ Economic Development Authority, features a variety of Trenton business owners who will share insights related to the event's theme: "Deep Roots and New Growth: Learn How the Success of 100+ Year Old Business Inspires New Investment in the Capital City." Princeton Hydro President Geoffrey M. Goll, PE is proud to participate as a panelist along with Rich Balka, President of the Home Rubber Company, and Tim Moonan, CEO of the Hibbert Group. The event will be held at the Trenton Country Club from 7:30am to 10am. We hope to see you there!
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is pleased to invite you to the 2023 Harmful Algal Bloom Virtual Summit on Thursday, March 30th from 9-2:30 via Microsoft Teams. The this year’s conference, themed “New Challenges, Lasting Solutions,” features presentations from a variety of water resource and HABs experts. Princeton Hydro Senior Technical Director, Ecological Services Dr. Fred S. Lubnow is giving a presentation on “HABs Around the Nation.”
The American Planning Association invites you to attend its 2023 National Planning Conference, where professionals can tap into an inspiring network of peers to analyze, imagine, and plan for the future. The conference program is focused on peer discussion and research into areas most likely to be agents of change in the planning profession, including climate change, housing, health equity, and the future of work. Conference sessions include peer-to-peer learning, in-depth exploration, hands-on training across a wide range of program areas, and 55+ mobile workshops.
Presented by the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space and hosted by Duke Farms, the New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team Conference is considered the most comprehensive state-wide forum on invasive species. The conference encompasses insights from both academic research and field experience, and features practical demonstrations by land stewards in addition to formal presentations. Princeton Hydro, a sponsor of the conference, will be exhibiting. We look forward to seeing you there!
The Camden Collaborative Initiative, along with Camden Community Partnership, is hosting the 6th Annual Camden Environmental Summit on Wednesday, April 19th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This year's Summit, which Princeton Hydro is proud to sponsor, will be held in-person at the Hilton Garden Inn on the Camden Waterfront. As the only event of its kind in the region, the Summit provides an opportunity for community leaders, nonprofit organizations, environmental advocates, green businesses and government officials to unite under a shared vision and to address issues of air quality, stormwater management, climate resilience, brownfields redevelopment, illegal dumping, health and environmental education.
National Water Quality Monitoring Council is hosting its 13th National Monitoring Conference in Virginia Beach and in a limited virtual format. This conference provides opportunities for water stakeholders – federal, state, tribal and local water professionals, nonprofits, academia, industry and water consultants, and volunteer and community scientists – to network, develop new skills and partnerships, and exchange information. Presentation topics include harmful algal blooms, climate change, and new and emerging lake management technologies. Princeton Hydro Director of Aquatics Michael Hartshorne, Senior Technical Director of Ecological Services Dr. Fred Lubnow, and Senior Project Manager Christopher Mikolajczyk, CLM are all leading presentations.
Join NYSFOLA for its 40th Anniversary at the Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center in Lake George. Founded in 1983, NYSFOLA is comprised of 200+ lake associations across the state. This year's conference, which is titled "Telling Your Lake’s Story Through Science and Education," includes a variety of panel discussions, workshops, networking events and an exhibitor hall. Princeton Hydro, a sponsor of the event, is exhibiting and leading a variety of workshops.
The PA-AWWA is hosting its 45th Annual Conference at the Pocono's Kalahari Resort. The 3-day conference will focus on providing participants with the tools and education they need to continue managing and protecting our most valuable resource: clean and safe water. Princeton Hydro Senior Technical Director of Ecological Services Dr. Fred Lubnow is presenting at the event, and the keynote speaker is former Philadelphia Eagles great Bill Bergey.
Paul Smith's College (PSC) is a private institution that was founded in 1946. The college is known to have one of the largest campuses in the world. That’s because it’s located on 14,000-acres in New York’s Adirondack State Park.
Surrounded by lakes, streams and forests, PSC offers students in its Natural Sciences program a rare opportunity to directly study ecosystems and environmental issues within a vast and diverse landscape. Princeton Hydro’s Senior Manager in Aquatics, Chris Mikolajczyk, CLM, received his Associate’s Degree in Ecology and Environmental Technology (Class of 1990) from PSC (it was a two-year school at the time) before continuing on to earn his Bachelor and Master degrees. Princeton Hydro Environmental Scientist Jesse Smith also received his Bachelor Degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences from Paul Smith’s College (Class of 2015).
In August 2022, PSC hosted the 7th Annual Adirondack Lakes Alliance conference, which represents lake and river associations within Adirondack Park and is dedicated to the protection and preservation of Adirondack waters. As both an alumnus of PSC and the President of the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS), Chris was invited to attend the conference as the plenary speaker. He was honored to participate in the event and thrilled to visit his alma mater.
Afterwards, Chris was asked to write an article for The Sequel, a publication for the alumni and community of PSC, reflecting on his college experience and his recent return to the community.
In the article, Chris writes, “After I spoke on that August day, I went outside where the sun was shining brightly and the loons were calling, and reflected on alI that I had learned from PSC. I realized that I learned just as much from the entire campus community over the years, as I have from all the textbooks I had through the completion of graduate school, if not more.”
Click here to read Chris’ complete article. And, to learn more about PSC’s natural sciences programs, click here.
Chris was also recently featured in LakeLine Magazine; read more by clicking below.
The New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (Highlands Council) awarded Somerset County with a $59,150 planning grant to support the implementation of a Watershed Management Program for two of its parks: Lord Stirling Park in Bernards Township and Leonard J. Buck Gardens in Far Hills Borough.
The grant will be distributed specifically to Somerset County Engineering on behalf of the Somerset County Park Foundation (SCPF), which submitted a Scope of Work prepared by Princeton Hydro to develop a Somerset County Parks Watershed Management Program.
“We are grateful for this grant, which will help Somerset County continue its commitment to preserving the ecosystem,” said Somerset County Park Commission Secretary-Director Geoffrey Soriano. “Healthy watersheds support biodiversity, protect nutrients in the soil, decrease carbon emissions, foster the growth of flora and fauna, and help control flooding. All of this is vital for a healthy environment.”
The program's Scope of Work includes:
"We're thrilled to be partnered with Somerset County Engineering and Somerset County Parks on this important initiative to bring together, under one holistic management plan, the lakes within these public parks located in the Highlands Region," said Princeton Hydro’s Senior Project Manager - Aquatics, Christopher Mikolajczyk, who is a Certified Lake Manager and lead designer for this initiative. "Taking a regional approach to watershed management is a forward-thinking way to improve water quality, manage stormwater, and mitigate harmful algal blooms throughout the Highlands Region of New Jersey.”
The Highlands Council is a regional planning agency that works in partnership with both municipalities and counties in the Highlands Region to help those communities take a proactive and regional approach to watershed protection. They provide planning grants to support costs associated with the development and/or revision of local planning and regulatory documents to integrate the land use provisions and resource management protections of the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act (the Highlands Act), so that those documents align with the goals, policies, and objectives of the Highlands Regional Master Plan.
Over half of New Jersey’s drinking water comes from the Highlands Region, which encompasses 88 municipalities in the northwest part of the state. The Highlands Council has funded numerous water-quality-related planning grants throughout the region. Somerset County is the fifth (of six) Highlands-based municipal entities that Princeton Hydro has worked with to secure Highlands Council funding to take a regional approach to lake management. Taking this type of integrated approach to lake and watershed management has much farther-reaching impacts in improving water quality, reducing aquatic invasive species, and preventing harmful algal blooms throughout an entire region.
Somerset County is the latest municipal entity to receive a Highlands Council Planning Grant. In 2019, the Borough of Ringwood became the first municipality in New Jersey to take a regional approach to private lake management through a public-private partnership with four lake associations within six lakes. The borough ultimately became a model for similar Highlands Council planning grants within the region, including West Milford Township, for which the Highlands Council approved funding in 2020 to support a Watershed Assessment of 22 private and public lakes. Subsequently in 2021, Rockaway Township in Morris County received Highlands Council planning grants to complete a Lake Management Planning Study for 11 lakes. And, in 2022, The Township of Byram received Highlands Council grant approval for a Lake and Watershed Management Program for 10 of the township's waterbodies. In January 2023, Vernon Township received approval for Phase I of its plan, which will be underway this year. Princeton Hydro authored the Scope of Work for each of these projects and can serve as a resource to other Highlands communities for lake management planning and grant writing.
To read more about our lake management and HABs mitigation work, click below:
At Princeton Hydro, we are committed to improving our communities, quality of life, and ecosystems for the better. Our passion and commitment to the integration of innovative science and engineering drive us to exceed on behalf of every client.
Today, we are proud to announce the addition of a new Senior Project Manager for Engineering Services:
Prior to joining Princeton Hydro, Sean worked on a wide variety of civil and wastewater engineering projects including site improvement projects for multiple public schools to improve pedestrian and traffic safety and ADA compliance, development and maintenance of an asset management of a drinking water utility, several site development projects of existing schools for building additions and site improvements, construction observation and administration of the emergency restoration of a 80M GPD wastewater pump station devastated by Hurricane Sandy, and design and construction installation of recreation facilities such as basketball courts, tennis courts, pickleball courts, synthetic turf fields and running tracks.
Sean has a B.S. in Bioresource Engineering and a M.S. in Civil Engineering from Rutgers University. His Masters' thesis focused on modeling the impact of sediment accumulation has on the hydraulic conductivity of porous concrete. Sean has been a licesned Professional Engineer since 2011.
In his free time, Sean enjoys spending time with his family and friends and playing pick-up basketball.
The latest issue of Wetland Science & Practice Magazine, a quarterly e-publication published by the Society of Wetland Scientists, features an article written by Princeton Hydro Engineer Dr. Roy Messaros, PE, PWS, CFM.
In his article, Roy takes readers on a tour of Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge wetland complex and provides an in-depth look at the extraordinary diversity of protected plant and animal species that can be found there. The article, titled, "Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Massachusetts, USA: A Wetland of Distinction," also contains beautiful full-color images of the landscape and wildlife within it.
Great Meadows is one of more than 560 refuges in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wildlife Refuge System. The system is a network of lands and waters managed specifically for the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat and represents the most comprehensive wildlife resource management program in the world.
The Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a river wetlands conservation area, divided into two major parcels, stretching from the towns of Billerica, Massachusetts to Wayland, Massachusetts, along the Concord and Sudbury Rivers. Approximately 85% of the refuge's 3,600 acres is comprised of freshwater wetlands. According to the FWS, Great Meadows is considered an excellet place for birding, and “noted ornithologists consider this unit to be one of the best inland birding areas in the state.” This site has a wildlife observational tower, observational platform and direct access to the Concord River.
Roy's article, as well as the entire January 2023 issue of Wetland Science & Practice Magazine, is available to members of the Society of Wetland Scientists, which is an international, professional nonprofit organization devoted to promoting understanding, conservation, protection, restoration, science-based management, and sustainability of wetlands. Society membership is open to anyone with an interest in wetlands. To learn more, click here.
The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Mid-Maryland Post presented Princeton Hydro Project Manager & Ecologist Duncan Simpson, PWS with the President's Commendation Award for his efforts in advancing the objectives of the organization, his commitment to SAME’s Leadership and Mentoring Program, and his outstanding contributions as a young professional.
The mission of SAME is to build leaders and drive collaboration among government and industry to develop multidisciplinary solutions to national security infrastructure challenges. Princeton Hydro joined SAME as a Sustaining Member in 2018, and actively supports the organization and its goals.
Duncan has been an active participant of the SAME Mid-Maryland Leadership and Mentoring program, which provides a unique opportunity for Young Members, Junior Officers, and NCOs to meet with and study under some of the country’s top military officers and A/E executives. Each year, only a select group of 10 applicants are chosen for this prestigious program.
Participants earn professional credits through monthly educational sessions focused on developing leadership skills. In 2022, Duncan was awarded a certificate of completion for a total of 13.5 professional development hours in a variety of subject matters, including Adapting Your Leadership Style to the Hybrid Workforce; Marketing and BD Strategies; Small Business Perspective on Leadership; and Leadership Lessons from a Cybersecurity Perspective.
"I am honored to be chosen for the President's Commendation Award from the SAME Mid-Maryland Post and to have been selected to participate in the Leadership and Mentoring program,” said Duncan. “It has been rewarding and edifying to receive guidance from SAME Fellows, senior leaders and industry executives on self-analysis and professional development, and team dynamics and team leadership skills.”
Big Congratulations to Duncan for his award achievement and his completion of the Leadership and Mentoring program! Here at Princeton Hydro, our team members are committed to learning new technologies, staying ahead of regulatory changes, expanding their knowledge, and earning professional certifications in order to better service our clients and the public. To learn more about our team, go here.
And, to learn more about the national SAME organization, go here. In 2020, Princeton Hydro’s Marketing and Communications Manager Dana Patterson received the SAME New Jersey Post’s “Young Member Award” for her efforts in maintaining and advancing the objectives of the organization. Click below to learn more:
We are pleased to announce that the Lake Hopatcong Foundation (LHF) received the prestigious New Jersey Governor's Environmental Excellence Award in the Environmental Education category for its innovative floating classroom program.
The LHF's floating classroom - a custom-built 40-foot education vessel, named ‘Study Hull’ - gives students an interactive, hands-on education experience to explore Lake Hopatcong, learn about freshwater ecology, and discuss how to protect the watershed.
Princeton Hydro helped the LHF design a teaching curriculum on water quality, and members of our team trained the LHF staff and volunteers on the curriculum and demonstrated various water quality monitoring techniques that could be conducted with the students.
The floating classroom is equipped with laboratory instruments on which the students can study water hydrology, temperatures, plankton, and dissolved oxygen levels. Course instructors assist students in performing tests and experiments designed to help them learn about the general health of the lake. They also discuss the impacts that stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollutants have on the lake, and how they can protect the lake’s water quality and be good stewards of the water.
The Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards are given each year to individuals and organizations that demonstrate commitment and leadership on a variety of environmental issues, including environmental justice, climate change, sustainability, education, and protection of natural resources. The Governor's Award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the LHF and the educators who run the floating classroom. It is also a testament to the value of experiential learning and the importance of connecting young people to the natural world.
“It’s really important to get kids interested in science at an early age and teach them about their surrounding environment – where their drinking water comes from, how it could possibly get polluted, the impacts that pollution then has on the lake’s ecosystem, and what steps can be made to protect the lake’s water quality," said Princeton Hydro Senior Aquatic Ecologist Chris L. Mikolajczyk, CLM, one of the team members responsible for developing the floating classroom curriculum. "We are proud to partner with the Lake Hopatcong Foundation and extend to them our sincerest congratulations on receiving the Governor's Environmental Excellence Award for their innovative and unique floating classroom initiative. Well deserved!”
The 23rd Annual Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards were announced virtually by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. The video recording is available on DEP’s YouTube channel.
Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey's largest lake, has one of the longest, continuous, long-term ecological databases in New Jersey; almost 30 years of consistently collected water quality data. The data is crucial in assessing the overall health of the lake and proactively guiding its management, identifying and addressing emerging threats, documenting project success, and confirming compliance with New Jersey State Water Quality standards.
The LHF works to foster a vibrant and healthy Lake Hopatcong and its surrounding community through a variety of programs and initiatives in the areas of environment, education, community and historical preservation, public safety, recreation, and arts and culture. The LHF and Princeton Hydro are longtime partners with history dating back to 1983. Princeton Hydro’s recent work for Lake Hopatcong includes the implementation of green infrastructure stormwater management measures, installation of floating wetland islands to improve water quality, and invasive aquatic plant species management programs, community educational training, and surveys. To learn more about LHF, check out our Client Spotlight blog:
The Princeton Hydro team is excited to participate in and sponsor a variety of events this Winter season, including conferences, educational webinars, fundraisers and community gatherings.
The Delaware Estuary Science and Environmental Summit is back in person in 2023, in Atlantic City, NJ at Harrah's Resort and Casino! This year's meeting will feature keynote speakers, a forum on climate planning and adaptation strategies, networking events, and workshops. We hope to see you there!
The theme of the 6th Annual Watershed Institute Watershed Conference is "Working Together to Address Flooding and Improve Water Quality." The two-day conference, which will be held both in-person and on Zoom, will feature an array of speakers who will cover topics, including MS4 requirements for municipalities in New Jersey; total maximum daily loads and pollution reduction; watershed improvement plans; stormwater utilities; regional approaches to stormwater management; and much more. Watershed members, the general public, environmental professionals, government officials, nonprofit organization professionals, and stakeholders are all invited to attend!
Princeton Hydro, a proud Conference sponsor, is leading two presentations: On February 10, Dr. Fred Lubnow and Mark Gallagher are presenting on "Translating Waste Load Allocations & Load Allocations into Watershed Improvement Plans." And, on February 17, Dr. Clay Emerson, P.E., CFM and Mark Gallagher are presenting on "Understanding Watersheds."
The Lake Hopatcong Foundation is hosting a virtual meeting to review the 2022 Lake Hopatcong Water Quality Report. Princeton Hydro Senior Technical Director of Ecological Services Dr. Fred Lubnow will provide participants a summary of the results, share actions homeowners can take to help protect the water quality of the lake, and answer questions from the public. The event is free and open to the public.
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve is hosting its 23rd Annual Land Ethics Symposium, which is themed "Creative Approaches for Ecological Landscaping." We have been a long-time sponsor of this special event and are proud to once again extend our support to this year’s symposium. Participants will enjoy networking working opportunities, an exhibitor hall, and presentations focused on ways to create low-maintenance, economical and ecologically balanced landscapes using native plants and restoration techniques.
The Institute for Professional Development is hosting a webinar for municipal officials to learn all about creating a stormwater management utility. Through a variety of expert presentations, participants will learn how to set-up and maintain a stormwater utility for their community. Princeton Hydro's President Geoffrey M. Goll, PE is presenting on stormwater management. The webinar takes place between 10am - 12pm and costs $50.
This year's conference, themed "New Science for Changing Times," will be held at the Wyndham Garden State College in Boalsburg, PA. Princeton Hydro is a proud sponsor of the conference, which offers a collection of professional presentations, workshops and panel discussions. Two Princeton Hydro team members are giving presentations: Senior Technical Director of Ecological Services Dr. Fred Lubnow and Senior Environmental Scientist J.P. Bell, GISP.
Hosted by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, the annual Watershed Congress brings together environmental enthusiasts and professionals to advance the best available information and techniques for protecting and restoring watersheds. The one-day conference combines science, policy, and practical applications into one program that consists of an engaging keynote discussion, exhibits, poster sessions and presentations covering a broad range of watershed topics. Princeton Hydro is an "Associate Sponsor" this year, and our Director of Aquatics Michael Hartshorne is presenting.
Princeton Hydro and MCFA Global invite you to join them at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to learn about the Challenges and Solutions for Nature-based Urban Restoration Planning. The Mobile Workshop, which will be led by Princeton Hydro Director of Restoration and Resilience, Christiana Pollack, and Director of Marketing and Communications Dana Patterson, will offer a unique hands-on learning experience in America’s First Urban Refuge. You won't want to miss it!
National Water Quality Monitoring Council is hosting its 13th National Monitoring Conference in Virginia Beach and in a limited virtual format. This conference provides opportunities for water stakeholders – federal, state, tribal and local water professionals, nonprofits, academia, industry and water consultants, and volunteer and community scientists – to network, develop new skills and partnerships, and exchange information. Princeton Hydro's Director of Aquatics Michael Hartshorne is presenting on "Volunteer Monitoring to Address User Perception of the Schuylkill River." Other presentation topics include harmful algal blooms, climate change, and new and emerging lake management technologies.
Jersey Water Works presented its Eighth Annual Conference, “Building a Water Sector Leadership Pipeline, Moving Money to Projects, Implementation, and Community Engagement.” The full-day, in-person event brought together state and local decision makers, practitioners, and stakeholders to collaborate, network and explore equitable and sustainable water solutions for New Jersey and beyond. Princeton Hydro sponsored the event, which was held at The War Memorial in Trenton, NJ.
Princeton Hydro was honored to sponsor the Greater Trenton's The Caren Franzini Capital City Award Celebration! Community members came together to honor the legacy of Caren Franzini, former NJEDA CEO and one of the founders of Greater Trenton. The evening included an awards ceremony, cocktails and conversations to reflect on Trenton’s past, reimagine its future, and make connections with some of the most influential leaders impacting the Capital City.
The Stroud Water Research Center hosted a free webinar about “What’s in Our Streams and Rivers? The Good, the Bad, the Ugly.” For this webinar, which was part of a three-episode Science Seminar Series, which Princeton Hydro sponsored, Princeton Hydro presented on the ecological status of the Schuylkill River; shared the story of a yearlong community science project, which included a volunteer survey and scientific water quality assessment; and showcased the culminating interactive StoryMap.
As part of its Technical Friday webinar series, The Watershed Institute hosted a "Retrofitting Stormwater Features (BMPs)" webinar, which was led by Princeton Hydro's Senior Technical Director of Engineering Dr. Clay Emerson, PE, CFM and Vice President Mark Gallagher. Participants learned how to identify the basins that could benefit the most from retrofits; which studies need to be done to determine whether a basin can or should be retrofitted; the steps to retrofitting a basin; and the permits and approvals required for retrofitting.
The Former New Jersey Pulverizing Tract, located in Ocean County, is fundamentally a degraded landscape created by nearly a century of sand and gravel extraction.
Despite the site’s disturbance history, the 782-acre area has abundant natural character and enormous ecological and recreational potential. In 2016, using funds from the Natural Lands Trust, Ocean County purchased the sand and gravel quarry with the goal of restoring the land to incorporate ecological improvements, extending public trails access to (and through) the site, and establishing a long-term landscape design lending itself to sustainable, cost-effective stewardship as a key Natural Lands Trust preserve.
With so much ecological restoration potential it was difficult to know exactly where to start. For several years, staff representing Ocean County Department of Planning and Ocean County Department of Parks & Recreation considered a variety of restoration alternatives. Then in 2021, the County hired Princeton Hydro and Strauss & Associates/Planners to develop a comprehensive Conservation Management Plan to help guide Ocean County’s decision-making process and prioritize restoration efforts.
Before a strategic conservation plan could be developed for the site, the team needed to have a deep understanding of the history, characteristics, and existing conditions of the land. A review of the title, survey, and legal encumbrances was performed as a measure of planning due diligence. Princeton Hydro also conducted a water quality assessment; hydrologic monitoring; pollutant loading and hydrology modeling; fishery survey; detailed geology analysis and soil sampling; wetland delineation; and flora and fauna inventory.
The team found that, with the exception of a forest perimeter buffer, nearly all land within the site was degraded from nine decades of continuous sand and gravel extraction. The mined land was lowered substantially in base elevation, resulting in a bowl-like landscape of exposed and compacted soils, a sterile 42-acre lake, mining roads, ATV tracks, steep slopes, ruts, and soil piles.
These findings inform the plan’s ecological design recommendations, and confirm the site’s fundamental resilience, restoration potential, public access opportunities, and scientific and interpretative value. With the initial testing and analysis complete, the team could develop an informed and comprehensive plan that balances active and passive efforts to transition the Pulverizing site from a sand pit to a unique Natural Lands Trust preserve.
For the Princeton Hydro team, the approach to the project was not just focused on developing a management plan for a depleted mining site, but to truly believe in the land’s restoration potential and imagine a thriving multi-purpose park within a restored landscape.
The team developed a Conservation Management Plan that presents a composite view for land restoration as a mosaic of open water, wetland, emergent meadow, grassland, and forest linked by miles of new recreational trails, and is derivative of two overarching goals: First, provide ecological uplift; and second, provide an extensive system of passive recreational public access.
In the plan, the site’s public access system combines 8.1 miles of pedestrian paths and multi-use bicycle trails that connect with the County’s Barnegat Branch Trail, an existing 15.6-mile regional facility that runs for 1.4 miles through the Pulverizing site’s eastern reach. The plan also contains a unique 3-mile water trail that connects existing dead-end mining channels through a series of excavated shallow cuts. The water trail unlocks a range of paddling routes that offer kayakers and canoeists unequaled access to restored and protected ponds, wetlands, fishing and picnicking coves, and terrestrial zones, including birding meadows and oak-pine forests.
Ecologically speaking, the plan’s design recommendations complement ongoing natural processes while working to correct and naturalize significant impairments. The ecological uplift activities presented in the plan focus on restoring the land’s wetlands, streams, and topography that were lost to excavation, and strengthening the native plant community to help increase biodiversity and increase natural floodplain and stormwater management function.
The Conservation Management Plan was driven by the following six objectives:
Protect the best examples of existing upland and wetland plant communities. The site contains a range of productive native plants representative of the New Jersey pinelands and Barnegat Bay Watershed. The plan identifies and extends protection to these localized communities.
Rebuild native plant communities through the introduction of wetland littoral zones and benched terrestrial habitat. Decades of mineral extraction and misuse have resulted in denuded, desert-like zones. The plan draws on pineland ecological analogs to reestablish native plant communities.
Restore the site’s hydrologic connections to both pinelands and Barnegat Bay areas. The plan contains a range of treatments to restore and expand wetlands and open water, reconnect the native fishery, and diversify aquatic and terrestrial habitat.
The plan establishes a hierarchy of pedestrian and bike trails enabling public access to all corners of the site and connecting the site to the Barnegat Branch Trail. As a premier Natural Lands Trust preserve the restored Pulverizing site will attract bicyclists from trail towns including Toms River, Beachwood, Bayville, Forked River, Waretown, Barnegat and beyond.
Surface water connections will be enhanced by excavating a series of waterways and emergent wetland habitat. The plan links the existing radiating lagoon fingers to one-another and to the 42-acre lake. The new connections will improve circumferential paddling routes, backcountry destinations, habitat protection and management.
The plan recognizes that – ecologically speaking – nearly everything required for long-term success is already on-site, including hydrology, native plant communities, and seed stock. There is limited need for imported material, fertilization, or complex engineering. Although the site is significantly degraded, the plan incorporates a substantial amount of habitat preservation and limits most earthmoving activities to the area around the main lake.
The effort to transition the former NJ Pulverizing Tract from a modified mining pit to a Natural Lands Trust preserve is multi-faceted. This conceptual plan estimates a 5- to 7-year timeline and suggests using a phased approach for preliminary and final design, permitting, and construction that capitalizes on existing hydrology, creates, and restores damaged habitat areas, and lays the foundation for the land and water trail system. Ocean County has not formally endorsed the Conservation Management Plan and next steps will dependent on available funding and prioritization by the County. The following steps are proposed:
1. A thorough review of Comprehensive Management Plan by Commissioners and key departments; 2. Completion of special design area studies with additional key department review; 3. Preparation of phased development plan, integration with Barnegat Branch Trail construction; 4. Scheduling of permit pre-application meetings with NJDEP; 5. Completion of a topographical survey, site plans, preliminary engineering, and utility coordination; 6. Development of cost estimates and material requirements for construction; 7. Review and adoption of financial plans for construction phases; 8. Preparation of final engineering plans and bid specifications for construction; 9. Issuance of regulatory permits for phased work; and 10. Publication of bid, award, and issuance of contractor Notice to Proceed for construction.
The former NJ Pulverizing Tract offers exciting opportunities to apply adaptive and restorative design in furtherance of ecological and public access objectives among the incredibly diverse 782-acres. Restoration, preservation, and stabilization of the mine landscape will provide a diverse and continuously changing experience to visitors of all ages and interests. As a jewel in the necklace of the Natural Land Trust system, the site shall enrich the natural resource base, provide a mind-changing visitor experience, and reinforce the prescience of forward-thinking officials at Ocean County who embarked on, and advanced, the objective of acquiring and restoring an abandoned sand and gravel quarry. Princeton Hydro is proud be a part of this unique site’s transformation.
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[posts] => 7 ) [58] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2018 [month] => 5 [posts] => 6 ) [59] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2018 [month] => 4 [posts] => 6 ) [60] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2018 [month] => 3 [posts] => 5 ) [61] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2018 [month] => 2 [posts] => 2 ) [62] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2018 [month] => 1 [posts] => 3 ) [63] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2017 [month] => 12 [posts] => 3 ) [64] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2017 [month] => 11 [posts] => 3 ) [65] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2017 [month] => 10 [posts] => 2 ) [66] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2017 [month] => 9 [posts] => 2 ) [67] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2017 [month] => 8 [posts] => 2 ) [68] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2017 [month] => 7 [posts] => 2 ) [69] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2017 [month] => 6 [posts] => 1 ) [70] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2017 [month] => 5 [posts] => 2 ) [71] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2017 [month] => 4 [posts] => 1 ) [72] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2017 [month] => 3 [posts] => 1 ) [73] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2017 [month] => 2 [posts] => 2 ) [74] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2017 [month] => 1 [posts] => 1 ) [75] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2016 [month] => 12 [posts] => 2 ) [76] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2016 [month] => 11 [posts] => 2 ) [77] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2016 [month] => 10 [posts] => 1 ) [78] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2016 [month] => 9 [posts] => 1 ) [79] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2016 [month] => 8 [posts] => 2 ) [80] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2016 [month] => 7 [posts] => 1 ) [81] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2016 [month] => 5 [posts] => 2 ) [82] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2016 [month] => 4 [posts] => 2 ) [83] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2016 [month] => 3 [posts] => 3 ) [84] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2016 [month] => 2 [posts] => 2 ) [85] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2015 [month] => 11 [posts] => 2 ) [86] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2013 [month] => 8 [posts] => 1 ) [87] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2013 [month] => 7 [posts] => 2 ) [88] => stdClass Object ( [year] => 2013 [month] => 6 [posts] => 8 ) )
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