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The project was implemented as part of the Spring Garden Lake Watershed Implementation Plan, a comprehensive, science-based strategy developed to address watershed and lake health challenges developed by Princeton Hydro. As a nature-based solution, FWIs were selected for their ability to remove excess nutrients, including phosphorus and nitrogen, that can contribute to harmful algal blooms and other water quality issues. Planted with native vegetation, the islands mimic the functions of natural wetlands. As the plants mature, their root systems extend beneath the water's surface, helping filter pollutants, support beneficial microbial communities, and create habitat for aquatic wildlife. Princeton Hydro's Aquatic Ecologists planted, launched, and anchored the islands during the installation event. Protective goose fencing was installed around each island to prevent damage to young vegetation while the plantings become established. Watch the video below and take a front-row seat to installation day as the FWIs make their journey from assembly to launch: [embed]https://youtube.com/shorts/r203Ak7TA7I?feature=share[/embed] Explore the photo gallery for more highlights from installation day: [gallery columns="2" link="none" size="full" ids="20740,20813,20811,20812,20735,20737"] Since 2002, Princeton Hydro has partnered with the Borough of Florham Park to support the stewardship of Spring Garden Lake through a variety of science-based lake management initiatives. The FWIs represent the latest investment in improving water quality, strengthening ecological function, and enhancing the lake's long-term resilience. Click here to learn more about FWIs. [post_title] => Floating Wetland Islands Installed at Spring Garden Lake [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => floating-wetland-islands-installed-at-spring-garden-lake [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-10-08 19:18:48 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-10-08 19:18:48 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=20654 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 20705 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2026-10-06 13:29:15 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-10-06 13:29:15 [post_content] => This fall, Princeton Hydro's field team has been hard at work at Swartswood State Park, supporting ongoing invasive species management efforts led by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The work focuses on controlling Phragmites australis (common reed), an aggressive invasive plant that can rapidly dominate wetlands, displacing native vegetation, reducing habitat diversity, and altering natural ecological processes. As part of a comprehensive management strategy that combines monitoring, treatment, and follow-up maintenance, Princeton Hydro recently assisted with a targeted seed-head removal effort designed to help limit the spread of existing Phragmites populations and support long-term wetland restoration goals. Working plant by plant, the field team manually clipped and collected Phragmites seed heads before they could fully mature and disperse. While time-intensive, this proactive management technique helps reduce the spread of viable seeds to nearby wetlands, minimizing opportunities for reinfestation and improving the effectiveness of broader control efforts. Once removed, seed heads were carefully collected and properly disposed of to prevent the establishment of new populations elsewhere. Successful invasive species management requires more than fieldwork alone. Long-term restoration depends on thoughtful planning, sound science, adaptive management, and strong partnerships committed to environmental stewardship. Princeton Hydro is proud to support NJDEP's efforts to protect and restore New Jersey's wetland ecosystems and help promote healthier, more resilient habitats. Enjoy the photos below for a behind-the-scenes look at our field crews in action at Swartswood State Park: [gallery link="none" ids="20750,20724,20757"] [gallery link="none" ids="20760,20729,20728"] Click here to learn more about our work in areas throughout the East Coast to address and properly manage Phragmites australis in order to restore natural habitats. [post_title] => Managing Invasive Phragmites at Swartswood State Park [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => managing-invasive-phragmites-at-swartswood-state-park [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-10-07 13:29:32 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-10-07 13:29:32 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=20705 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 19091 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2026-09-23 02:58:01 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-09-23 02:58:01 [post_content] => At Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, every boardwalk, bird blind, and wetland pool tells a story of conservation in action. This winter, the Renova-Princeton Hydro Joint Venture was proud to partner with the Friends of Great Swamp on a targeted habitat restoration effort. This work focused on carefully reopening areas that were historically open water but had gradually filled in with vegetation and sediment due to natural ecological succession. By setting back that succession in strategic locations, the project supports wildlife and ecological function and restores treasured views of open water along some of the Refuge’s most visited trails. We invite you to watch the video below and explore the photos throughout this article for a preview of the transformation unfolding as well as an overview of the restoration effort and key project activities: [embed]https://youtu.be/UmMj_MEEe5A[/embed] A Refuge of Regional and National Importance Located in Morris County, New Jersey, just 26 miles west of New York City, the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is a rare and expansive natural landscape set within one of the most developed regions of the country. The Refuge encompasses roughly 8,000 acres of freshwater wetlands, forests, and open water habitats. Ecologically, the Refuge plays a critical role along the Atlantic Flyway, providing essential resting, feeding, and breeding habitat for more than 240 bird species, including many migrating waterfowl that depend on intact wetlands as stopover sites during seasonal migrations along the East Coast. Many species also rely on the Refuge year‑round for shelter, nesting, and foraging. [gallery columns="4" ids="20672,20671,20670,20668"] The Refuge also plays a vital role beyond its boundaries. The Great Swamp acts as a natural sponge during heavy rains, storing and slowly releasing floodwaters that help protect surrounding communities. It also improves regional water quality by filtering sediment and nutrients before they reach downstream waterways. For people, the Refuge is an irreplaceable resource, offering quiet trails, boardwalks, educational programs, and opportunities to experience wildlife just a short drive from dense urban centers. Places like the bird blind and boardwalk trails connect visitors directly to the landscape, making habitat quality and visibility especially meaningful. Maintaining the delicate balance between natural processes and public access is at the heart of good refuge stewardship, and that balance is what this recently completed project with the Friends of Great Swamp supports. The Project at a Glance Over time, sediment accumulation and dense vegetation growth near boardwalks and the bird blind reduced open water areas that are valuable for dabbling ducks and other waterfowl; aquatic macroinvertebrates and breeding amphibians; and wildlife observation and education. [gallery ids="20691,20688,20689"] This project focused on selectively removing accumulated sediment and vegetation in three targeted areas to restore open water conditions without disturbing the broader wetland system. Because of the Refuge’s sensitivity, the work was completed using a custom, field‑driven approach, which allowed project ecologists, engineers, and construction crews to respond directly to site conditions while maintaining strict permit compliance. Key elements included:
The Borough of Florham Park and Princeton Hydro recently completed the installation of two floating wetland islands (FWIs) at Spring Garden Lake, advancing ongoing efforts to improve water quality and enhance aquatic habitat within this valued community resource.
The project was implemented as part of the Spring Garden Lake Watershed Implementation Plan, a comprehensive, science-based strategy developed to address watershed and lake health challenges developed by Princeton Hydro. As a nature-based solution, FWIs were selected for their ability to remove excess nutrients, including phosphorus and nitrogen, that can contribute to harmful algal blooms and other water quality issues.
Planted with native vegetation, the islands mimic the functions of natural wetlands. As the plants mature, their root systems extend beneath the water's surface, helping filter pollutants, support beneficial microbial communities, and create habitat for aquatic wildlife.
Princeton Hydro's Aquatic Ecologists planted, launched, and anchored the islands during the installation event. Protective goose fencing was installed around each island to prevent damage to young vegetation while the plantings become established. Watch the video below and take a front-row seat to installation day as the FWIs make their journey from assembly to launch:
Since 2002, Princeton Hydro has partnered with the Borough of Florham Park to support the stewardship of Spring Garden Lake through a variety of science-based lake management initiatives. The FWIs represent the latest investment in improving water quality, strengthening ecological function, and enhancing the lake's long-term resilience. Click here to learn more about FWIs.
This fall, Princeton Hydro's field team has been hard at work at Swartswood State Park, supporting ongoing invasive species management efforts led by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The work focuses on controlling Phragmites australis (common reed), an aggressive invasive plant that can rapidly dominate wetlands, displacing native vegetation, reducing habitat diversity, and altering natural ecological processes.
As part of a comprehensive management strategy that combines monitoring, treatment, and follow-up maintenance, Princeton Hydro recently assisted with a targeted seed-head removal effort designed to help limit the spread of existing Phragmites populations and support long-term wetland restoration goals.
Working plant by plant, the field team manually clipped and collected Phragmites seed heads before they could fully mature and disperse. While time-intensive, this proactive management technique helps reduce the spread of viable seeds to nearby wetlands, minimizing opportunities for reinfestation and improving the effectiveness of broader control efforts. Once removed, seed heads were carefully collected and properly disposed of to prevent the establishment of new populations elsewhere.
Successful invasive species management requires more than fieldwork alone. Long-term restoration depends on thoughtful planning, sound science, adaptive management, and strong partnerships committed to environmental stewardship. Princeton Hydro is proud to support NJDEP's efforts to protect and restore New Jersey's wetland ecosystems and help promote healthier, more resilient habitats.
Enjoy the photos below for a behind-the-scenes look at our field crews in action at Swartswood State Park:
At Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, every boardwalk, bird blind, and wetland pool tells a story of conservation in action. This winter, the Renova-Princeton Hydro Joint Venture was proud to partner with the Friends of Great Swamp on a targeted habitat restoration effort. This work focused on carefully reopening areas that were historically open water but had gradually filled in with vegetation and sediment due to natural ecological succession. By setting back that succession in strategic locations, the project supports wildlife and ecological function and restores treasured views of open water along some of the Refuge’s most visited trails.
Located in Morris County, New Jersey, just 26 miles west of New York City, the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is a rare and expansive natural landscape set within one of the most developed regions of the country. The Refuge encompasses roughly 8,000 acres of freshwater wetlands, forests, and open water habitats. Ecologically, the Refuge plays a critical role along the Atlantic Flyway, providing essential resting, feeding, and breeding habitat for more than 240 bird species, including many migrating waterfowl that depend on intact wetlands as stopover sites during seasonal migrations along the East Coast. Many species also rely on the Refuge year‑round for shelter, nesting, and foraging.
The Refuge also plays a vital role beyond its boundaries. The Great Swamp acts as a natural sponge during heavy rains, storing and slowly releasing floodwaters that help protect surrounding communities. It also improves regional water quality by filtering sediment and nutrients before they reach downstream waterways.
For people, the Refuge is an irreplaceable resource, offering quiet trails, boardwalks, educational programs, and opportunities to experience wildlife just a short drive from dense urban centers. Places like the bird blind and boardwalk trails connect visitors directly to the landscape, making habitat quality and visibility especially meaningful.
Maintaining the delicate balance between natural processes and public access is at the heart of good refuge stewardship, and that balance is what this recently completed project with the Friends of Great Swamp supports.
Over time, sediment accumulation and dense vegetation growth near boardwalks and the bird blind reduced open water areas that are valuable for dabbling ducks and other waterfowl; aquatic macroinvertebrates and breeding amphibians; and wildlife observation and education.
This project focused on selectively removing accumulated sediment and vegetation in three targeted areas to restore open water conditions without disturbing the broader wetland system. Because of the Refuge’s sensitivity, the work was completed using a custom, field‑driven approach, which allowed project ecologists, engineers, and construction crews to respond directly to site conditions while maintaining strict permit compliance.
The work centered around three primary locations:
Together, these efforts improve habitat connectivity, enhance wetland function, and bring back open water views for visitors to enjoy. The project also creates opportunities for future habitat enhancements. As conditions allow, select areas may later be planted or seeded to support native aquatic and wetland species and reinforce the long‑term ecological value of the restored areas.
More than a year after opening to the public, the Steven R. Rothman Overlook and Preserve, in the heart of the Meadowlands, continues to demonstrate how ecological restoration goals and a vision for public access can be thoughtfully balanced to create a space that serves both people and wildlife.
When the 5-acre preserve officially opened in July 2025, it marked the culmination of years of conservation advocacy, planning, and collaboration. Today, visitors are welcomed by a thoughtfully designed landscape that has begun to settle into itself. Native trees and shrubs have established roots, meadow plantings have matured, and the site is functioning as the accessible gateway to the Meadowlands that it was intended to be.
Princeton Hydro provided landscape architecture, environmental, civil, and geotechnical engineering services that helped transform the site into a welcoming and accessible destination while preserving and enhancing its ecological value.
Cory Speroff, PLA, ASLA, CBLP, Princeton Hydro Landscape Architect and lead designer for the project, recently revisited the preserve and documented its progress through photos and video. As he walked along the ADA-accessible trails, birds and pollinators moved throughout the native vegetation framing the pathway. He observed a thriving landscape that's providing important habitat and connecting visitors with the natural world.
We invite you to watch the video and explore the photos below as we celebrate the preserve's continued evolution and the progress of this restoration effort.
To learn more about the project and the many partners who helped bring this vision to life, read our original project blog here.
Each year on September 4, National Wildlife Day celebrates the incredible diversity of animals that share our planet and raises awareness about the importance of protecting the habitats they depend on.
In recognition of National Wildlife Day, we're highlighting a restoration project focused on enhancing critical habitat at one of the nation's most unique conservation areas: the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, America's First Urban Refuge. And because a blog about wildlife is always better when the wildlife shows up, we're proud to share a collection of stunning photographs captured on-site by Princeton Hydro Vice President Mark Gallagher.
Established to preserve and restore the ecologically significant Tinicum Marsh, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, protects approximately 1,200 acres of habitat, including the last remaining freshwater tidal marsh in Pennsylvania. The refuge encompasses a unique mosaic of habitats, including tidal and non-tidal freshwater marshes, freshwater tidal creeks, open-water impoundments, coastal plain forests, and early successional grasslands.
Home to a remarkable diversity of species, the refuge supports state-listed threatened and endangered wildlife, including American Bittern, Least Bittern, Black-crowned Night-Heron, King Rail, Great Egret, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, and Sedge Wren, and serves as a critical link along the Atlantic Flyway, providing essential feeding, nesting, and resting habitat for migratory birds.
Despite its ecological significance, portions of the refuge have experienced habitat degradation from decades of historic disturbance, invasive species encroachment, and altered hydrology. Recognizing the opportunity to restore these valuable natural resources, Friends of Heinz Refuge partnered with Princeton Hydro and project teammates Enviroscapes and Merestone Consultants to provide engineering design, environmental compliance, engineering oversight, and construction implementation to enhance and restore aquatic, wetland, and riparian habitats and adjacent uplands within the Turkey Foot area of the Refuge.
The Turkey Foot project area is an approximately 7.5-acre site within the greater John Heinz NWR. The approach for the restoration project focused on creating approximately four acres of contiguous wetland habitat bordered by a functional riparian buffer. The design included the creation of three habitat zones: intertidal marsh, high marsh, and upland grassland, which provide foraging, breeding, nesting, and refuge opportunities for a wide variety of wildlife species. The restoration effort was specifically designed to support species of conservation concern, including the federally threatened Eastern Black Rail, which depends on high-quality marsh habitat for survival.
Project activities also included regrading existing ponds and channels to improve tidal exchange, creating conditions favorable for native marsh vegetation, increasing habitat complexity, and restoring natural ecological processes. These improvements helped reduce stagnant water conditions, improve water quality, and create a more resilient ecosystem capable of supporting wildlife over the long term.
Another critical component of the project involved removing invasive plant species and replacing them with diverse native vegetation. Native grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and wetland plants were carefully selected to provide food sources, nesting cover, and shelter for wildlife. Species such as switchgrass, little bluestem, Virginia wild rye, asters, goldenrods, bergamot, and coastal panic grass were incorporated into the restoration to create habitat for birds, pollinators, and other native wildlife. The restoration of riparian buffers further enhanced habitat quality by reducing sediment inputs, improving water quality, moderating water temperatures, and supplying important food resources for fish, invertebrates, birds, and other wildlife.
As we celebrate National Wildlife Day, projects like this illustrate the meaningful role ecological restoration plays in safeguarding wildlife and maintaining the healthy ecosystems upon which both animals and communities depend. We hope you enjoyed these photographs as much as we enjoyed sharing them! Click here to see additional photos and learn more about the Turkey Foot Restoration at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.
We're pleased to share the following article, originally written by Sean Leslie, Senior Manager of Content and Marketing at Cultivo, and republished with permission. Princeton Hydro and Cultivo recently collaborated in Southwest Montana to assess vegetation, wildlife, and other indicators of ecosystem health as part of a broader biodiversity monitoring initiative for a grassland restoration project. The blog offers an inside look at the monitoring methods used to establish a biodiversity baseline, highlights several unique species encountered during fieldwork, and examines the role of biodiversity and collaborative monitoring in supporting resilient landscapes and successful conservation outcomes.
When we think about nature-based solutions, carbon sequestration often steals the spotlight. But carbon is only one part of a much larger story.
At Cultivo, we believe that restoring grasslands goes far beyond storing carbon underground; it’s about rebuilding complete, living ecosystems. True regenerative progress is measured in on-the-ground ecological health, and one vital metric of that health is biodiversity. Ecosystems rich in plant, bird, and insect life are proven to be more productive, more resilient, and better equipped to thrive.
And just as we do when measuring and verifying sequestered carbon, to ensure our projects deliver measurable, lasting benefits in terms of biodiversity, we’re not relying on satellite images or computer models; we’re putting boots on the ground.
Case in point: Cultivo’s Ecological Impact Senior Manager, Emiline Koopman, recently completed an intensive field visit to one of our partner sites in beautiful Southwest Montana. Alongside the expert field team at Princeton Hydro, she implemented our Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BES) monitoring framework across the landscape.
Virtual meetings and digital mapping are great for planning, but nothing replaces walking the land. And during the early summer pilot sampling campaign, Cultivo and Princeton Hydro did exactly that, deploying a full suite of monitoring techniques:
To monitor avian diversity, small weatherproof audio recording devices called Acoustic Recording Units (ARUs) are placed across the property to capture the natural soundscape – including bird calls – continuously over the summer breeding season. At the same time, ornithologists perform human “point counts” by standing quietly in one place for set time intervals with binoculars and clipboards to visually and auditorily record every species seen or heard. Together, these techniques provide a picture of species presence, relative abundance, and spatial distribution, acting as an indicator of overall habitat health.
Measuring plant health and structure, requires laying long measuring tapes across the ground through a specific habitat type and placing square frames (quadrats) at fixed increments along the line. Along this path, researchers systematically count live and dead woody plant stems, measure canopy gaps, and catalog every plant species inside the quadrats, providing detailed ground-level data on plant species richness, ground cover, and pasture resilience.
Insect populations are tracked and measured with Malaise traps, which resemble small, open-sided mesh tents with a collection jar at the top. Flying insects naturally bump into the traps’ fabric walls, fly upward, and are gathered for identification using conventional and eDNA metabarcoding techniques. To complement this, researchers also sit quietly near blooming native plants for timed intervals to perform insect flower visitation counts, tracking specific pollinators including bees, ants, and wasps.
One of the greatest rewards of field work is seeing firsthand what we are working so hard to protect. In Southern Montana, the team encountered an incredible array of flora and fauna.
Here are a few of the standout species that call this ecosystem home, with pictures taken during the recent field visit:
On the high-elevation rangelands of Southwestern Montana, small native plants punch well above their weight. Among them, Spearleaf stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum) is a tough, fleshy succulent that thrives in the rocky soils of our intermontane sagebrush valleys.
It also happens to be the exclusive host plant for the Rocky Mountain parnassian (Parnassius smintheus), a high-altitude cousin in the swallowtail family. Female parnassians lay their eggs right next to stonecrop patches so hungry spring caterpillars can feed on the leaves. As they eat, the larvae absorb bitter chemicals from the plant, making both the caterpillars and the red-spotted adult butterflies completely unpalatable to birds, a classic example of the invisible, delicate connections that make these high-desert ecosystems work.
If any bird defines the vast sagebrush country of Southwestern Montana, it’s the Brewer’s sparrow (Spizella breweri). This small, inconspicuously plumaged songbird is intricately tied to healthy, intact rangelands.
Brewer’s sparrows are sagebrush obligates, meaning they rely almost entirely on big sagebrush ecosystems for nesting, shelter, and feeding on insects and seeds. Their dull, streaked feathers provide perfect camouflage against native shrub leaves, while their long, breathy, trilling songs are a signature sound of spring on the range. Because they depend so heavily on large, unfragmented landscapes, healthy populations of Brewer’s sparrows are a key indicator of a thriving, well-managed rangeland ecosystem.
Where short prairie grasses like blue grama and buffalo grass break up the sagebrush valley, you’ll find the thick-billed longspur (Rhynchophanes mccowni). This species relies heavily on grazing to keep vegetation low; without livestock or bison disturbing the grass, their nesting habitat disappears.
On their breeding grounds, they feed heavily on protein-rich grasshoppers. During springtime, males perform incredible aerial courtship displays: They fly up to 30 feet in the air and "parachute" back down on outstretched wings with their white tail feathers spread wide, singing a warbling song to impress females and mark their territory.
Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) are gorgeous, iconic fixtures of Southwestern Montana's open valleys. While commonly referred to as "pronghorn antelope," they aren't true antelopes at all; their closest living relatives are actually the African giraffes and okapis.
Built purely for acceleration and endurance, pronghorn are the fastest land mammals in the Western Hemisphere, topping out at speeds over 55mph, with this extreme speed attributed to a prehistoric evolutionary "arms race" with the now-extinct American cheetah (Miracinonyx). While modern wolves and coyotes can't come close to matching a pronghorn's pace today, these remarkable animals retain their incredible speed and massive heart-and-lung capacity, allowing them to cruise effortlessly across open rangelands.
Small, long-legged, and undeniably cute, the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) is one of the range's most charismatic residents. Unlike most owls, these birds are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day and can often be spotted standing guard on fence posts or mounds.
Burrowing owls have a fascinating relationship with prairie dogs and other underground mammals; because the owls can't dig their own homes, they rely entirely on abandoned burrows for nesting and shelter. These opportunistic hunters eat a wide-ranging diet that includes insects, small mammals, lizards, snakes, and birds. Highly sensitive to habitat loss, their presence is a great sign of an intact, biodiverse grassland.
Ranching landscapes are complex, working environments. During the visit, the team noted that this ecosystem is facing real-world challenges, including severe ongoing regional drought and water access issues. This is where our work regenerating the landscape becomes crucial; by combining rotational grazing strategies with targeted infrastructure improvements, we can significantly boost soil health, turning vulnerable land into a thriving, resilient ecosystem.
According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), every 1% increase in soil organic matter lets an acre of land hold roughly 20,000 gallons of extra water. That moisture doesn't just keep pastures green longer during a dry spell, it also helps safeguard the land against wildfires. As research from the USDA and fire ecology experts shows, soils rich in organic matter maintain higher plant moisture levels and soil humidity, creating a natural firebreak that slows down fire spread and helps landscapes bounce back faster if a burn does occur.
Hand-in-hand with our landscape restoration work, the ranch is actively participating in a broader ecological monitoring network, with ongoing research from local university programs and regional partnerships. Cultivo is actively working to coordinate with these existing initiatives, synthesizing data and supporting local land stewards.
By pairing high-tech monitoring tools, on-the-ground data collection, and deep, generational knowledge of local ranchers, we can build restoration strategies that support both wildlife and agricultural livelihoods.
Implementing our Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services framework in Montana reminds us exactly why we do this work: to accelerate investment into nature and regenerate the world’s land into healthy, resilient ecosystems.
As we refine our field protocols and analyze the baseline data gathered in Montana, we move one step closer to scaling transparent, high-integrity nature restoration worldwide.
Stay tuned for more field updates as we continue monitoring biodiversity across our global project portfolio! Big thanks to Princeton Hydro's Mike McGraw, CSE, QAWB, ACE, Tanya Dapkey, CE, and Eric Zawatski, CWB, for providing photos and information for the species listed in this post!
Volunteers and community stakeholders gathered at Cupsaw Lake in Ringwood Township, NJ for the installation of two floating wetland islands, an innovative nature-based solution that improves water quality while enhancing biodiversity.
The project was funded by Skylands Guardian, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the natural resources of New Jersey's Highlands region through education, advocacy, and environmental stewardship. In partnership with Skylands Guardian, Princeton Hydro Aquatic Ecologist Katie Walston-Frederick led the hands-on installation event, which transformed native plants and recycled materials into living ecosystems designed to benefit the lake for years to come.
Nestled within the Ramapo Mountains, Cupsaw Lake is a 65-acre freshwater lake in the heart of Ringwood Township. To help preserve its long-term ecological health, local partners continue to invest in innovative, science-based management initiatives. Floating wetland islands are one such solution.
Constructed from recycled materials and planted with native vegetation, floating wetland islands are designed to mimic the functions of natural wetlands. Beneath the surface, extensive root systems create habitat for beneficial microbes that help remove excess nutrients from the water column while providing shelter and foraging opportunities for fish and other wildlife. The result is a floating ecosystem that supports water quality, biodiversity, and habitat enhancement all at once.
Research has shown that a 250-square-foot floating wetland island can remove approximately 10 pounds of phosphorus annually while providing roughly the same nutrient-processing surface area as one acre of natural wetland. Considering that a single pound of phosphorus can generate up to 1,100 pounds of wet algal biomass, floating wetland islands have the potential to significantly reduce nutrient availability and help limit some of the factors that contribute to nuisance algal blooms.
A key component of the Cupsaw Lake project was community participation.
Katie coordinated and directed the installation effort, guiding volunteers through each stage of the process. Participants learned how to prepare native plants, install plant plugs within the floating island matrix, apply protective goose netting, and properly deploy and anchor the islands within the lake. The event provided an opportunity for volunteers to learn firsthand about lake ecology, nutrient management, and the role innovative restoration tools can play in protecting local water resources.
As the newly planted vegetation establishes itself in the coming months, the islands will become increasingly effective at nutrient uptake while creating a visually appealing focal point within the lake. Over time, the native plantings and submerged root systems will provide valuable habitat for fish, macroinvertebrates, and other wildlife. In addition to their environmental benefits, the islands will serve as a visible reminder of the community's commitment to protecting and enhancing Cupsaw Lake.
The project also aligns with broader watershed management efforts taking place throughout Ringwood and the New Jersey Highlands. In 2019, the Borough of Ringwood became the first municipality in New Jersey to pursue a regional approach to private lake management through a public-private partnership with four lake associations: Cupsaw, Erskine, Skyline, and Riconda.
Situated within the northeast corner of the Highlands region, Ringwood is home to numerous lakes and reservoirs that provide drinking water to millions of New Jersey residents. To support the long-term protection of these resources, the Borough partnered with Princeton Hydro to develop a comprehensive watershed management plan that identifies and prioritizes projects that address both immediate and future water quality concerns.
This approach recognizes that healthy lakes require more than in-lake management. Sustainable improvements depend on addressing nutrient and sediment sources throughout the surrounding watershed. And, organizations like Skylands Guardian play a critical role in turning watershed planning into on-the-ground action. Projects like the Cupsaw Lake floating wetland islands complement larger watershed initiatives by improving water quality, enhancing habitat, and fostering community engagement.
During her more than 11 years with Princeton Hydro, Katie has contributed to a wide range of water quality monitoring programs, fisheries investigations, habitat restoration projects, and watershed assessments. She serves as the firm's primary coordinator for floating wetland island projects and has overseen installations at waterbodies throughout the Mid-Atlantic.
In 2017, she became certified as an Island Master Builder through Floating Island International, receiving specialized training in the design, construction, installation, and application of floating wetland island technology. Her expertise helped ensure that the Cupsaw Lake installation project not only achieved its technical objectives but also provided a meaningful educational experience for volunteers and community members.
To learn more about another one of Princeton Hydro's long-term lake management initiative, explore our blog, Two Decades of Lake Management Innovation at Duke Farms, which highlights efforts to protect and monitor the interconnected lakes and ponds across Duke Farms' 2,700-acre property in Hillsborough, New Jersey.
On July 16, Pennsylvania State Senator Carolyn Comitta joined municipal leaders, project partners, and community residents in Tredyffrin Township to celebrate the progress of the Willis Lake, Woodcrest Road, and Upper Weadley Road Stormwater Improvement Project, a significant initiative designed to reduce flooding, modernize aging infrastructure, and improve water quality within the Upper Weadley tributary, which feeds into Trout Creek and ultimately flows into the Schuylkill River.
Tredyffrin Township Engineer Steve Burgo, PE, led participants on a guided site tour that showcased key construction milestones and recently completed improvements, and provided a deeper look into the long-term stormwater management benefits the project provides to community residents, local water resources, and the watershed as a whole.
Tredyffrin Township has worked closely with Princeton Hydro since 2012 through an ongoing on-call engineering services partnership. Over the past decade, this partnership has supported watershed assessments, stormwater planning, identification and prioritization of improvement projects, grant funding efforts, and the implementation of practical, science-based solutions to address flooding, improve watershed health, and strengthen community resilience. The collaboration has also extended to numerous municipal infrastructure initiatives and major residential, commercial, and institutional redevelopment projects throughout the Township.
The Willis/Woodcrest/Upper Weadley project, which began in 2022, represents an important milestone in Tredyffrin Township's ongoing efforts to address persistent stormwater management and flooding challenges. The planning process began with a comprehensive evaluation of the approximately 70-acre watershed. Princeton Hydro developed a hydrologic model of the watershed and its existing stormwater system using field survey data, Township records, and other site-specific information. This analysis helped identify critical areas where aging infrastructure and system limitations were contributing to localized flooding and drainage issues.
Community engagement also played a key role in shaping the project. Township officials and Princeton Hydro hosted public meetings with residents to gather local knowledge, document firsthand experiences with flooding, and discuss potential solutions. This input provided valuable insight into how stormwater impacts neighborhoods during major storm events and helped inform project priorities.
Combining technical analysis with community feedback, the project team evaluated a range of potential improvements, including both traditional "gray" infrastructure upgrades and nature-based "green" stormwater management strategies. The solution incorporates a series of targeted improvements that work together to reduce peak stormwater flows, increase storage and infiltration, modernize aging infrastructure, and improve the overall performance and resiliency of the watershed.
The final design combines critical upgrades to aging drainage infrastructure with new stormwater management measures that work together to better capture, convey, store, and infiltrate runoff throughout the watershed. Construction is anticipated to be completed later this year. The project is being funding from several funding sources, including the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) H2O PA – Water Supply, Sanitary Sewer and Storm Water Projects Program, which supports critical water infrastructure investments throughout the Commonwealth.
Key project improvements include:
One of the most compelling aspects of this project is the visible transformation that has occurred across the project site. The before-and-after photos below highlight the significant being progress made to address longstanding drainage challenges and improve stormwater management throughout the project area.
These additional pre-construction photos taken in 2023 document the conditions that prompted the project, including aging drainage infrastructure, erosion, and areas impacted by repeated stormwater flooding.
Today, as the construction work continues, the results of these improvements are already clearly visible throughout the project area. Modern stormwater infrastructure, enhanced drainage capacity, and thoughtfully integrated stormwater management features have transformed the site into a more resilient landscape capable of better managing runoff and reducing flood risk.
Princeton Hydro is honored to partner with Tredyffrin Township and support their continued leadership in and commitment to stormwater management. Please stay tuned for more updates later this year once construction is complete!
To learn more about this project, click here. To learn more about our work in Tredyffrin Township, click here.
Work is underway at Strawbridge Lake as Princeton Hydro and Moorestown Township continue a lake restoration project focused on managing excessive spatterdock growth throughout portions of the lake. The effort is part of a broader, long-term strategy to improve lake health, enhance recreational opportunities, and support the ecological function of this important community resource.
Take a look at some recent photos from the field featuring Field Services Project Manager Matt Kreines operating the Truxor during spatterdock removal activities:
Spatterdock (Nuphar advena), also known as yellow pond lily or cow lily, is a native aquatic plant commonly found in lakes, ponds, and slow-moving waters throughout the eastern United States. While native aquatic vegetation plays an important role in healthy lake ecosystems, excessive growth can reduce open water areas, limit recreation, and alter habitat conditions. At Strawbridge Lake, years of monitoring and management have identified areas where spatterdock has expanded significantly and requires active management.
The current project focuses on removing overabundant spatterdock from targeted sections of the lake while preserving important habitat along the shoreline. In coordination with guidance from the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife, a vegetated buffer is being maintained around portions of the lake's edge to provide refuge and spawning habitat for fish.
Using Princeton Hydro's amphibious Truxor harvesting machine, our team of licensed operators are cutting and removing dense stands of spatterdock from open-water areas throughout the lake. The harvested vegetation is collected and transported to the shoreline, where Moorestown Township Public Works crews remove the material for composting and final disposal.
These photos, captured by Matt Kreines from the operator's seat of the Truxor, provide a firsthand look at the spatterdock removal process in action:
The restoration work also encourages improved water circulation in the lake and increased dissolved oxygen, two important factors in maintaining water quality. The harvesting process also removes nutrients stored within the plant biomass, providing additional benefits.
The spatterdock management project builds upon years of planning, monitoring, and restoration work at Strawbridge Lake. Since the development of the Strawbridge Lake Watershed Management and Restoration Plan, Moorestown Township has invested in a variety of initiatives, including water quality monitoring, aquatic vegetation management, Children's Pond restoration, stormwater improvements, fishery surveys, invasive species management, and public outreach programs.
On May 2, Moorestown Township hosted a public information session at the Moorestown Public Library, where residents joined Township staff and Princeton Hydro Senior Manager and Certified Lake Manager Chris Mikolajczyk, CLM to learn about Strawbridge Lake management and watershed restoration efforts.
The presentation highlighted the history of restoration efforts at Strawbridge Lake, ongoing vegetation management activities, and opportunities for residents to help improve water quality at home through practices such as rain gardens, rain barrels, natural landscaping, and other stormwater management techniques. The session also provided community members with the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the work taking place throughout the watershed.
As work continues, the Township and Princeton Hydro remain committed to advancing practical, science-based solutions that benefit both the lake and the surrounding community. Click here to learn more about our partnership with Moorestown Township to protect and restore Strawbridge Lake.
Welcome to our “A Day in the Life” blog series, where we highlight the expertise and experiences of our team members as they work to advance Princeton Hydro’s mission of improving ecosystems, quality of life, and communities. In this edition, we take to the skies with Ryan Eno, EIT, a Staff Engineer in our Geosciences group and an FAA-certified drone operator whose work blends engineering, technology, and creativity to support our projects.
Ryan’s role offers a unique perspective (quite literally) on how drones are shaping environmental restoration and monitoring efforts. Let’s get a bird’s-eye view of a day in the life of a Princeton Hydro drone operator:
Ryan’s day often starts well before he steps onto a project site. Drone operation requires careful pre-flight planning, especially when working across varied landscapes and within regulated airspace. Ryan uses mapping tools and satellite imagery to identify safe launch points and ensure he can maintain a clear line of sight with the drone throughout the flight, a requirement set by the FAA. “For any project, the first step is checking airspace restrictions,” Ryan explains. “There are limitations around government facilities, state lands, and, without much advanced notice, no-fly zones that can be implemented around high-profile locations.”
Operating drones professionally comes with even more regulatory and logistical considerations. “There are a lot of airspace restrictions to keep track of,” Ryan explains. “For example, drones cannot be flown in New Jersey State Parks without permission, and temporary flight restrictions can change depending on circumstances.” Balancing these requirements with field conditions requires flexibility, attention to detail, and constant awareness. “It is all about planning, safety, and making sure we are operating responsibly and within the law.”
Once on site, Ryan is focused on safety, positioning, and capturing the right visuals. “In many cases, just getting the drone to a safe takeoff location is the first challenge,” he says. “You need a clear opening in the tree canopy and enough space to launch and land safely.”
Operating in natural environments introduces additional complexity. Dense vegetation, uneven terrain, and changing weather conditions require constant awareness and adaptability. “Even though our drone has obstacle-avoidance sensors, they are not perfect, especially with moving tree branches,” Ryan notes. “I have to stay focused and anticipate how the drone will move through the environment.”
Ryan also remains mindful of wildlife and ecological sensitivity during drone operation, “Drones usually fly high enough as to not disturb animals on the ground, but we always pay close attention to birds, especially during nesting seasons."
One of the most valuable aspects of Ryan’s work is documenting the transformation of our project sites. Using Princeton Hydro’s DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2, a high-resolution aerial photography drone, Ryan captures imagery that helps tell the story of a project from start to finish. “I really enjoy projects where I can capture a site before and after construction,” he says. “The drone really helps tell the story and provide a complete perspective. It captures the entire transformation in a single frame, which is much harder to convey from the ground.”
The aerial drone images and videos are often used to:
This type of imagery is especially powerful for Princeton Hydro’s ecosystem restoration projects. A recent example is Princeton Hydro’s work on the Paulina Lake Dam removal and Paulins Kill River restoration in Warren County, New Jersey. Led by The Nature Conservancy and funded by the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife, the project reconnected 7.6 miles of river habitat, building on an additional 10 miles restored through the earlier Columbia Lake Dam removal. From the ground, it can be challenging to grasp the full extent of change following a dam removal. Aerial imagery captured before, during, and after construction provides a comprehensive view of how the river system responds. When the site was revisited a year later, the transformation was clear. The river had re-established its natural flow and reconnected habitats that had been fragmented for generations.
Drone footage captured by The Nature Conservancy, Renova Environmental Company, and Princeton Hydro played a key role in documenting this process. Drawing on aerial imagery collected before demolition and throughout construction, the resulting video illustrates the full progression of the project, from initial notching to full restoration. It highlights how careful sequencing, sediment management, and adaptive design allow rivers to recover rapidly once barriers are removed.
Drones at Princeton Hydro are used in a wide range of applications. “They allow us to access remote areas and collect data much faster than traditional methods,” Ryan says. “Applications like wildlife surveys and large-scale monitoring are being transformed by drone technology." Drones equipped with multispectral, thermal, and LiDAR sensors can generate detailed datasets that support habitat mapping, vegetation analysis, and long-term monitoring. These tools help project teams better understand site conditions, identify degraded areas, measure restoration success over time, and conduct comprehensive scientific studies.
A notable example is Princeton Hydro’s involvement in a groundbreaking drone-based research initiative to monitor harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Delaware River Watershed. This effort, done in partnership with Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space with funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's (NFWF) Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF), in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the project leverages drone technology and advanced data modeling to identify environmental conditions that contribute to HAB formation and aims to develop tools and methodologies for early detection and management.
Drones equipped with multispectral imaging systems capture high-resolution spatial data that is then integrated with digital platforms to link remote-sensing with the drone data and on-the-water collected data. The field-based water quality measurements are being collected by a team of trained community volunteers who are using phycocyanin fluorometer meters to measure concentrations of the photosynthetic pigment phycocyanin, which is produced primarily by cyanobacteria. Volunteers enter the data into a customized ArcGIS mobile-friendly survey. These combined datasets will be used to develop and validate predictive algorithms for both planktonic and benthic HABs under varying seasonal and hydrologic conditions. Drone flights and data collection began in Fall 2025 and will continue through 2026, with a final report anticipated in 2027. Click here to read more about this initiative.
Ryan is a Staff Engineer who provides services in geotechnical engineering, CAD drafting, and drone imagery. He supports a wide range of projects, contributing to foundation design, embankment stability and settlement modeling, report preparation, and laboratory soil testing.
Ryan earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Rowan University in 2022 and joined Princeton Hydro in April 2023. His interest in engineering began in high school through participation in a STEM club, where he developed a passion for creative problem-solving and infrastructure design.
His introduction to drone operation came early in his career when he was given the opportunity to become licensed. After earning his FAA Part 107 certification in June 2022, he began integrating drone technology into engineering and environmental applications. Today, Ryan uses drones to support aerial imagery, project documentation, and marketing efforts, adding an important visual dimension to Princeton Hydro’s work. He continues to stay current with evolving technologies and applications by following industry developments and engaging with professional networks.
We hope you enjoyed this latest edition of our "Day in the Life" blog series. Click here to read the previous edition, which follows Casey Pantaleo, PE, a licensed Professional Engineer and Senior Project Manager on the Engineering Services team, as he performs one of his highly specialized roles: dam inspection. And, stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes stories from our talented team!
Wissahickon Valley Park is one of Philadelphia’s most treasured natural resources, welcoming more than two million visitors each year. Over time, flooding, erosion, and stormwater runoff have taken an increasing toll on the park, threatening water quality, trail safety, and recreational access.
To help protect and sustain this vital landscape and community resource, Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW), in partnership with Princeton Hydro, is conducting a comprehensive resiliency and flood study along Forbidden Drive and its seven adjacent access trails. One of the most important voices in this process is yours. A public survey is now open through June 6 to gather input on flooding, erosion, and trail conditions in these targeted areas. Your feedback will play a key role in shaping the study’s priorities and recommendations.
The new Streambank Resiliency and Flood Study builds upon the 2017 Forbidden Drive Drainage System Assessment and expands its focus to address ongoing challenges such as stormwater runoff, sediment discharge, streambank instability, and interior flooding along Forbidden Drive and its adjacent trails. As part of the study, Princeton Hydro is reassessing previously identified drainage features and conducting a comprehensive site evaluation to better understand how conditions have changed over time and where new problem areas have emerged.
At the first public meeting earlier this month, community members played an active role in shaping the direction of the study. The session began with an overview of the project’s purpose, scope, and methodology, including preliminary findings on areas most vulnerable to flooding, sediment discharge, and streambank instability. Attendees also had the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the project team, helping to build a shared understanding of the challenges facing the park.
Following the presentation, participants took part in an interactive mapping exercise designed to gather site-specific knowledge from those who know the park best. Working in small groups around large, printed maps of the study area, attendees identified flood-prone zones, areas of active erosion, and locations where trail conditions have declined over time along Forbidden Drive and its access points. Participants marked up the maps and shared observations, stories, and ideas for potential restoration opportunities, creating a collaborative and hands-on dialogue about the park’s needs.
This exercise generated valuable, location-specific insight that is already informing the study. Participants highlighted:
In addition to identifying problem areas, attendees also shared perspectives on what makes the park special and where restoration efforts could have the greatest impact. This type of feedback is critical to ensuring the study reflects real-world conditions and community priorities. To ensure the most comprehensive understanding of conditions in the targeted areas, the project team is looking to hear from an even broader range of park users.
While engineers and scientists are conducting in-depth field investigations and comprehensive technical analyses, they do not experience the park in the same way as those who use it regularly. The firsthand perspective of park visitors is invaluable for identifying problem areas and guiding solutions and priorities that truly reflect how the park is used and experienced.
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