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Excess phosphorus and nitrogen can rapidly degrade ecological conditions, limit recreational use, impact sources of potable water, and increase management costs, often despite the implementation of conventional best management practices. As a result, there is growing interest in tools that can complement or augment existing approaches and address nutrients in more targeted ways. Biochar has emerged as one such tool. While it is best known as a soil amendment, its physical, chemical, and biological properties have prompted increasing use in aquatic systems as a means of improving water quality. Over the past five years, Princeton Hydro has applied biochar in a range of lakes, ponds, streams, and stormwater-related settings across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. These field applications, supported by monitoring, have provided important insight into when biochar is most effective, where its limitations lie, and why observed improvements in water quality are not always explained by phosphorus removal alone. [gallery link="none" size="medium" ids="9215,19122,9225"] What Is Biochar and Why Use It in Waterbodies? Biochar is a carbon-rich, charcoal-like material produced through pyrolysis, a process in which organic biomass is heated in a low-oxygen environment. The resulting material has a highly porous structure and extensive surface area, properties that make it effective at adsorbing nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen (Joseph et al., 2021). Because excess nutrients are a primary driver of eutrophication and HABs, biochar has emerged as a promising amendment for aquatic systems and stormwater best management practices (BMPs). In aquatic applications, biochar is typically installed in permeable sleeves (aka socks) or incorporated into stormwater treatment practices to intercept nutrient-rich water before it enters lakes or ponds. Used biochar can also be repurposed as a soil amendment, adding to its appeal as a sustainable, circular material. [gallery link="none" columns="2" size="medium" ids="19134,9226"] Aquatic Ecologist Katie Walston-Frederick (right) leads a biochar sleeve filling session. Katie and her team members wear full protective equipment when handling biochar due to the fine, carbon-based nature of the material. Lessons Learned from Five Years of Field Applications Through approximately half a dozen monitored projects implemented since 2020, several consistent patterns have emerged. Standing Waters Show the Strongest Response: Biochar has proven most effective in low-flow or standing water environments such as ponds and stormwater basins. In these systems, Princeton Hydro has documented total phosphorus (TP) removal rates as high as 80%, with soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) reductions approaching 97% in some stormwater ponds (Princeton Hydro, Lake Hopatcong Report, 2022). The extended contact time between water and biochar in these settings appears to be a key driver of performance. Flow and Contact Time Matter: In streams and fast-moving stormwater infrastructure, nutrient removal rates tend to be lower, with phosphorus reductions typically closer to 50%. While still meaningful, these reduced efficiencies are largely attributable to limited contact time. Simply put, the shorter the interaction between water and biochar, the fewer opportunities there are for adsorption and other removal processes to occur. Enhancement to Conventional Stormwater BMPs: Biochar can be particularly effective when paired with stormwater BMPs that primarily rely on sedimentation. Traditional practices often excel at removing particulate-bound phosphorus but are less effective at capturing dissolved forms of phosphorus—the fraction most readily utilized by algae. Incorporating biochar into these systems can enhance removal of dissolved phosphorus, improving overall treatment performance. Streams Present Physical Challenges: Installing biochar in stream environments presents practical challenges. Even with careful anchoring, large storm events, including remnants of hurricanes, can dislodge biochar sleeves, transporting them downstream or onto streambanks. These risks must be considered during design and often limit the suitability of biochar for higher energy systems. Chemistry Alone Does Not Tell the Whole Story: At very high pH levels, phosphorus adsorption onto biochar can become less predictable, sometimes exhibiting a “decoupling” between measured phosphorus sorption and observed water quality improvements. Monitoring data from multiple projects indicate that reductions in chlorophyll-a, cyanobacteria abundance, and overall bloom severity cannot always be explained by phosphorus removal alone. Beyond Adsorption: The Role of Biology The disconnect between measured nutrient sorption and improved water quality suggests that additional mechanisms are at work. Increasingly, evidence points toward biological processes occurring within and around biochar installations. Biochar is known to favor the growth and proliferation of heterotrophic bacteria (Moore et al., 2023). These microbial communities may contribute to water quality improvements in the following ways:
Nutrient-driven water quality impairments, particularly harmful algal blooms (HABs), continue to challenge lake managers, municipalities, and watershed organizations across the Northeast. Excess phosphorus and nitrogen can rapidly degrade ecological conditions, limit recreational use, impact sources of potable water, and increase management costs, often despite the implementation of conventional best management practices. As a result, there is growing interest in tools that can complement or augment existing approaches and address nutrients in more targeted ways.
Biochar has emerged as one such tool. While it is best known as a soil amendment, its physical, chemical, and biological properties have prompted increasing use in aquatic systems as a means of improving water quality. Over the past five years, Princeton Hydro has applied biochar in a range of lakes, ponds, streams, and stormwater-related settings across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. These field applications, supported by monitoring, have provided important insight into when biochar is most effective, where its limitations lie, and why observed improvements in water quality are not always explained by phosphorus removal alone.
Biochar is a carbon-rich, charcoal-like material produced through pyrolysis, a process in which organic biomass is heated in a low-oxygen environment. The resulting material has a highly porous structure and extensive surface area, properties that make it effective at adsorbing nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen (Joseph et al., 2021). Because excess nutrients are a primary driver of eutrophication and HABs, biochar has emerged as a promising amendment for aquatic systems and stormwater best management practices (BMPs).
In aquatic applications, biochar is typically installed in permeable sleeves (aka socks) or incorporated into stormwater treatment practices to intercept nutrient-rich water before it enters lakes or ponds. Used biochar can also be repurposed as a soil amendment, adding to its appeal as a sustainable, circular material.
Through approximately half a dozen monitored projects implemented since 2020, several consistent patterns have emerged.
Standing Waters Show the Strongest Response: Biochar has proven most effective in low-flow or standing water environments such as ponds and stormwater basins. In these systems, Princeton Hydro has documented total phosphorus (TP) removal rates as high as 80%, with soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) reductions approaching 97% in some stormwater ponds (Princeton Hydro, Lake Hopatcong Report, 2022). The extended contact time between water and biochar in these settings appears to be a key driver of performance.
Flow and Contact Time Matter: In streams and fast-moving stormwater infrastructure, nutrient removal rates tend to be lower, with phosphorus reductions typically closer to 50%. While still meaningful, these reduced efficiencies are largely attributable to limited contact time. Simply put, the shorter the interaction between water and biochar, the fewer opportunities there are for adsorption and other removal processes to occur.
Enhancement to Conventional Stormwater BMPs: Biochar can be particularly effective when paired with stormwater BMPs that primarily rely on sedimentation. Traditional practices often excel at removing particulate-bound phosphorus but are less effective at capturing dissolved forms of phosphorus—the fraction most readily utilized by algae. Incorporating biochar into these systems can enhance removal of dissolved phosphorus, improving overall treatment performance.
Streams Present Physical Challenges: Installing biochar in stream environments presents practical challenges. Even with careful anchoring, large storm events, including remnants of hurricanes, can dislodge biochar sleeves, transporting them downstream or onto streambanks. These risks must be considered during design and often limit the suitability of biochar for higher energy systems.
Chemistry Alone Does Not Tell the Whole Story: At very high pH levels, phosphorus adsorption onto biochar can become less predictable, sometimes exhibiting a “decoupling” between measured phosphorus sorption and observed water quality improvements. Monitoring data from multiple projects indicate that reductions in chlorophyll-a, cyanobacteria abundance, and overall bloom severity cannot always be explained by phosphorus removal alone.
The disconnect between measured nutrient sorption and improved water quality suggests that additional mechanisms are at work. Increasingly, evidence points toward biological processes occurring within and around biochar installations.
Biochar is known to favor the growth and proliferation of heterotrophic bacteria (Moore et al., 2023). These microbial communities may contribute to water quality improvements in the following ways:
This emerging science mirrors what Princeton Hydro has observed in the field: water quality can improve in ways that chemical measurements alone do not fully explain, suggesting that biological processes may be playing an important supporting role.
Since 2020, Princeton Hydro has applied biochar across a range of aquatic and stormwater settings, tailoring each installation to site-specific conditions and management goals. Together, these projects demonstrate biochar’s versatility and its ability to integrate into holistic watershed and lake management strategies, often working best when paired with other nature-based and engineered solutions.
At Duke Farms, a 2,700-acre estate in New Jersey, Princeton Hydro has supported lake and wetland management efforts for more than two decades. Biochar was recently introduced as an additional tool within an established, science-based nutrient management program. By placing biochar in low-flow areas where contact time could be maximized, phosphorus removal was enhanced and improvements in water clarity were observed. This effort highlights how biochar can be layered into long-term management strategies alongside floating wetland islands and other nature-based solutions.
Harvey’s Lake, the largest natural lake in Pennsylvania, has long faced challenges associated with nutrient loading and recurring HABs. As part of a broader stormwater management effort, Princeton Hydro incorporated biochar into select stormwater BMPs to reduce phosphorus before it entered the lake. Installed within targeted stormwater conveyance and treatment features, the biochar helped achieve measurable reductions in dissolved phosphorus, complementing other watershed-scale measures such as vegetated buffers and wetland enhancements. The spent biochar, having captured phosphorus and nitrogen from runoff, was then repurposed as a soil amendment to enrich a 500-square-foot pollinator garden. This repurposing effort served a dual purpose: demonstrating a closed-loop approach to managing excess nutrients while also creating a community-oriented space that supports local biodiversity.
Across multiple stormwater projects in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, biochar has been installed in detention basins, rain gardens, and other stormwater treatment devices. These applications were designed to target dissolved phosphorus, a nutrient form that conventional BMPs can struggle to remove. In several cases, biochar was paired with other nutrient control measures such as floating wetland islands to further improve nutrient capture. Collectively, these projects illustrate how biochar can be adapted and scaled to address local water quality challenges across diverse settings.
At Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey’s largest lake, biochar was deployed as part of a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy to reduce nutrient concentrations and mitigate HABs. Biochar was installed in permeable flotation bags and placed at targeted shoreline and inlet locations where nutrient loading is most pronounced, including several stormwater inlets and outlets around the lake. Funded through the NJDEP Freshwater HABs Prevention & Management Grant Program and implemented in partnership with the Lake Hopatcong Commission and the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, these installations complemented other in-lake management measures such as floating wetland islands.
In Manhattan's Central Park, Princeton Hydro supported the Central Park Conservancy in developing and implementing a long-term management strategy for the park's network of lakes and ponds, where harmful algal blooms driven by excess nutrients were a persistent concern. As part of a broader, phased approach to improve water quality, biochar was incorporated as a nutrient reduction tool and will be incorporated alongside other measures such as floating wetland islands, aeration and circulation, and stormwater treatment techniques. Used in targeted locations, biochar helped support efforts to reduce nutrient loading and mitigate cyanobacteria blooms within these highly visible urban waterbodies.
Across these projects, biochar installations have been associated with measurable reductions in total and dissolved phosphorus, decreases in chlorophyll‑a concentrations, and lower cyanobacteria cell counts. While performance has varied by site, the strongest and most consistent results have occurred in enclosed or low‑flow environments where contact time is maximized and physical disturbance is minimized. When thoughtfully designed and integrated with other BMPs, these case studies show how biochar can contribute meaningfully to broader efforts to reduce nutrient loads and improve overall water quality.
Biochar is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Reviewing site-specific water quality data is essential to determine whether biochar is an appropriate standalone treatment or should be combined with complementary approaches. Ongoing and future research is focused on better quantifying the relative contributions of chemical adsorption and biological activity associated with biochar. Current studies, including collaborative efforts with academic partners, aim to document pollutant removal capacity, characterize microbial communities, and evaluate biochar’s potential role in degrading cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins. As these processes continue to be studied and further understood in the water quality context, biochar may become an increasingly valuable component of integrated, science-based watershed management strategies.
Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS), in partnership with Princeton Hydro, has launched a groundbreaking initiative, “Monitoring Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the Delaware River Watershed Using Drones and Spatial Analysis,” to improve understanding and forecasting of HABs throughout the Delaware River Watershed. Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF), 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.
For this innovative research project, FoHVOS, a 501(c)3 and accredited Land Trust located in Hopewell Township, NJ, has teamed with Princeton Hydro. Princeton Hydro conceptualized and designed the initiative and is leading the technical implementation, including field survey design, drone operations, data analysis, and volunteer training.
“The Delaware River is central to Hopewell Valley’s identity. It shapes our way of life, supplies drinking water to 14.2 million people, shelters wildlife like the endangered Atlantic sturgeon, and offers abundant outdoor recreation,” said Jennifer Rogers, Executive Director of FoHVOS. “HABs were once confined to ponds and lakes, but since 2018, they’ve appeared in colder months and spread to streams and rivers. Though land trusts traditionally focus on land, HABs show how land use directly affects water. These blooms often stem from excess nitrogen and phosphorus washed into waterways during storms. Protecting water means restoring land. Our partnership with Princeton Hydro aligns perfectly with our mission. Together, we’re working to better understand and safeguard the Delaware River and its tributaries in both NJ and PA.”
HABs, caused by nuisance growth of cyanobacteria, can have detrimental effects on water quality and are a growing environmental concern nationwide. These blooms deplete oxygen levels, release toxins, and disrupt ecosystems, potentially posing serious risks to drinking water supplies and the health of wildlife, pets, humans, and local economies. Despite advances in environmental monitoring, predicting when and where HABs will occur remains a challenge due to the complex interplay of nutrient loading, temperature, and hydrologic conditions that can lead to rapid bloom proliferation.
To address these challenges, this newly launched initiative integrates drone-based remote sensing, field sampling, and spatial data analysis to collect and interpret detailed environmental data over a two-year period. The study spans multiple monitoring sites along a 73-mile stretch of the Delaware River in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, focusing on near-shore sections and 23 associated waterbodies. The first survey event began in August 2025.
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.
The following photos depict the RGB (Visual) and corresponding Thermal image from the monitoring flights over Spring Lake in New Jersey:
“This research project represents a major step forward in how we study and manage harmful algal blooms at the watershed scale,” said Dr. Fred Lubnow, Project Lead and Senior Technical Director of Ecological Services at Princeton Hydro. “By integrating satellite data, drone imagery, and on-the-water sampling, we’re developing predictive tools that will enable us take a proactive approach to mitigate HABs, improve response time, and better support our ecosystem health.”
Project partners include New York City College of Technology – The City University of New York, which donated the drone and is supporting remote sensing and data integration; Trenton Water Works, Mercer County Park Commission, and The College of New Jersey which are providing monitoring sites and contributing volunteers for water quality data collection in New Jersey; Aqua-PA and the Philadelphia Water Department, which are providing monitoring sites and volunteers to collect watershed data in Pennsylvania; the Bucks County Conservation District, which is coordinating volunteer data collection; and Turner Designs, whose advanced phycocyanin sensors are being used to calibrate and validate drone-based monitoring data.
In the photos below, volunteers are being trained by Princeton Hydro staff on how to use phycocyanin fluorometers and Secchi disks to gather water quality data and log their findings.
This $1M project is funded through a $488,400 NFWF DWCF grant as part of the NFWF’s Research, Monitoring, & Evaluation Grant category and $513,700 in matching funds from project partners. This grant category aims to support high-performing science that is inclusive, adaptive, and innovative, with the potential to transform the Delaware River Watershed’s future through improved conservation, restoration, and public engagement.
Once complete, the project will produce a comprehensive report summarizing methods, analyses, and data-driven recommendations for practical, low-cost HAB monitoring and mitigation strategies that can be replicated across the Delaware River Watershed and beyond. Crucially, the report will identify tributaries and sources contributing to riverine HABs, enabling targeted restoration of the most affected lands and waters. Data collection will continue through Fall 2025, resume in Spring/Summer 2026, and culminate in a final report expected in 2027.
FoHVOS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit land trust dedicated to conserving the natural resources of the Hopewell Valley region and beyond. Through land preservation, ecological restoration, community engagement, and science-driven initiatives, FoHVOS works to protect and enhance open spaces for future generations. Learn more at www.fohvos.org.
Princeton Hydro is committed to improving our ecosystems, quality of life, and communities for the better. The firm was formed in 1998 with the specific mission of providing integrated ecological and engineering consulting services. Offering expertise in natural resource management, water resources engineering, geotechnical design and investigation, and regulatory compliance, their staff provide a full suite of environmental services throughout the Northeast for the public and private sectors. Project Lead, Dr. Fred Lubnow, is an expert in HAB management and has worked with dozens of lake associations and government agencies to restore lakes, manage watersheds, reduce pollutant loading, address invasive aquatic plants, and mitigate nuisance HABs. To learn more about Princeton Hydro's work to mitigate harmful algal blooms, go here.
We're pleased to announce the release of the "New Jersey Nature-Based Solutions: Planning, Implementation, and Monitoring Reference Guide," a free resource that provides a comprehensive roadmap to incorporating nature-based solutions (NBS) into infrastructure, construction, restoration, and resilience projects across the state.
Created by the Rutgers University New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center with support from The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey, the guide compiles current research, case studies, best practices, practical tools, science-based strategies, and funding resources to "inform and empower readers to implement and seek funding for NBS."
Click here to view and download the guide now.
As the guide states, "nature-based solutions (NBS) are defined as actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously benefiting people and nature." (IUCN 2024)
Whether you're a municipal planner, community leader, contractor, public- or private-sector professional, or an academic, new to NBS or experienced in large-scale restoration projects, the guide offers value at every level with practical instruction that spans the full project lifecycle, from planning and permitting to funding and long-term monitoring. While the content is tailored to New Jersey's diverse landscapes, the guide's insights and approaches are broadly applicable to regions with similar ecosystems, from Massachusetts to Virginia.
The guide also includes insights on how to address equity considerations and foster meaningful community engagement, helping users implement NBS that are both impactful and inclusive.
Princeton Hydro was proud to contribute technical expertise to this important effort. Our Director of Restoration & Resilience, Christiana L. Pollack, CERP, CFM, GISP, participated on the guide's steering committee, and our team provided informational resources, including content and case studies on invasive species management, wetland and floodplain enhancement, and dam and culvert removal to restore rivers and improve fish passage. These contributions along with those from many other participants, reflect the collaborative nature of the guide and the collective commitment to advancing NBS across the state.
The guide's easy-to-follow format includes four key sections:
Whether you're just beginning to conceptualize a project or deep into project implementation, this guide is an invaluable addition to your toolbox. We encourage you to explore, download, and share it widely! Click here to access the guide now.
Most of us are familiar with the famous quote "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” This sentiment is at the center point of the Highlands Act and Regional Master Plan, which provides funding to help New Jersey’s Highlands communities take a proactive and regional approach to watershed protection.
Historically, private lake associations and municipalities have worked autonomously to address water quality issues and develop improvement plans. Working together, however, and taking a regional approach to lake and watershed management has much farther-reaching benefits. Taking an integrated approach helps improve water quality and reduce incidents of aquatic invasive species and harmful algal blooms (HABs) not just in one waterbody, but throughout an entire region.
The New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (Highlands Council) is a regional planning agency that works in partnership with municipalities and counties in the Highlands Region of northern New Jersey to encourage exactly such an approach. Created as part of the 2004 New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act (the Highlands Act), the Highlands Council has funded numerous water-quality-related planning grants throughout the region.
“Watersheds are inherently regional; they don’t follow municipal boundaries. So the Highlands Council is in a unique position to address these challenges from that perspective,” says Keri Green, Highlands Council Science Manager. “It’s critical for municipalities to understand what is entering their lakes from the surrounding watershed before they can effectively address in-lake issues. Across the region, the stormwater inlets and roadways that encircle and affect lakes are owned and maintained by the municipalities, and when we can evaluate these inputs, we can plan for how to address impairments.”
In 2019, the Highlands Council funded a Lake Management planning grant for the Borough of Ringwood that adopted this wider watershed view, and would ultimately become a model for similar Highlands Council grants within the region. The Borough chose to engage the services of Princeton Hydro to support the project work.
“This regional approach to lake and watershed management is the obvious choice from a scientific, technical, and community point of view. Historically, however, this approach is rarely taken,” said Princeton Hydro’s Senior Project Manager, Christopher Mikolajczyk, who is a Certified Lake Manager and lead designer for this initiative. “We were thrilled to work with the Borough of Ringwood and the Highlands Council to set a precedent, which has opened the door for the Townships of West Milford and Rockaway, and will hopefully inspire the formation of more public-private lake management partnerships.”
Rockaway Township in Morris County, New Jersey received Highlands Council grant approval in January to complete a Lake Management Planning Study. Eleven small- to medium-sized lakes in the township are working together for a watershed assessment and comprehensive regional analysis, which will lead to the creation of a Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). The WIP will recommend and prioritize key watershed management measures that will have big impacts on water quality improvement.
Given the large number of lakes in Rockaway Township, and in an effort to keep the study to a reasonable scope, a selection process occurred with input from the Township Engineering office, the Township Health Department, Princeton Hydro and the Highlands Council. The lakes in the Rockaway Township Watershed Management Program include Green Pond, Egbert Lake, Durham Pond, Lake Emma, Camp Lewis Lake, Lake Telemark, Lake Ames, Mount Hope Pond, Mount Hope Lake, White Meadow Lake, and Fox’s Pond.
“Rockaway Township has been proactive about implementing watershed improvement projects in the past, so we were happy to provide funding to support continuing their efforts focusing on these 11 lakes,” explains Lisa Plevin, Highlands Council Executive Director. “It was a very productive collaboration with Highlands staff working in partnership with the Township to develop an approach and Princeton Hydro preparing a scope of work that met everyone’s goals.”
The watershed assessment will entail a number of analyses, including watershed modeling; hydrologic and pollutant loading analysis; watershed-based and in-lake water quality assessments; and tropic state assessments. The assessment aims to:
Once all the lab data is processed, the watershed modeling is complete, and historical data reviewed, Princeton Hydro will create a General Assessment Report that will summarize the data/observations and identify which watershed management techniques and measures are best suited for immediate or long-term implementation. The team expects to complete the General Assessment Report in the spring of 2022, after a year's worth of 2021 growing season data has been collected.
In October 2020, the Highlands Council approved funding to support a watershed assessment of 22 private and public lakes in West Milford Township. The watershed assessment project is being implemented in two phases:
For Phase 1, which will take place throughout the course of 2021, Princeton Hydro will provide a historic data review; an examination of hydrologic/pollutant loads; a pollutant removal analysis; and watershed water quality analysis. The pollutants to be modeled include phosphorus, nitrogen, sediment, and bacteria, while the hydrology will include estimates of precipitation, runoff, evapotranspiration, groundwater flux, and ultimately streamflow or discharge.
This analysis will aid the Township in selecting, prioritizing and implementing nutrient and sediment load and stormwater management efforts with a focus on watershed projects that have the greatest overall benefit to the long-term management of surface water quality. The report will also identify examples of site-specific locations where wetland buffers, riparian buffers, and lakefront aqua-scaping can be implemented as part of future watershed management efforts.
For Phase 2 of the project, Princeton Hydro will investigate and assess the water quality of each of the lakes in West Milford Township during the growing season of May - October of 2022. This entails collecting bimonthly water quality samples at each lake, including in-situ water quality data consisting of real-time measurement of clarity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and pH. The sampling events will also include a general survey of aquatic vegetation and/or algae growth, lake perimeter shoreline observations, and monitoring for nuisance waterfowl. These surveys will provide an objective understanding of the amount and distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and algae occurring throughout each lake over the course of the growing season.
The lakes included in this project are: High Crest Lake, Algonquin Waters, Lake Lookover, Kitchell Lake, Lindys Lake, Mt. Laurel Lake, Shady Lake, Wonder Lake, Mount Glen Lakes (Upper/Lower), Carpi Lake, Pinecliff Lake, Van Nostrand Lake, Upper Greenwood Lake, Post Brook Farms, Farm Crest Acres, Mt. Springs Lake, Forest Hill Park, Johns Lake, Gordon Lake, and Bubbling Springs Lake.
At the end of 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: Cupsaw, Erskine, Skyline, and Riconda.
The Borough of Ringwood is situated in the northeast corner of the New Jersey Highlands, is home to several public and private lakes, and provides drinking water to millions of New Jersey residents. In order to take an active role in the management of these natural resources, Ringwood hired Princeton Hydro to design a municipal-wide holistic watershed management plan that identifies and prioritizes watershed management techniques and measures that are best suited for immediate and long-term implementation.
Princeton Hydro recently completed a comprehensive assessment of the lakes and watersheds of Ringwood Borough. The assessment included a historical data review, hydrologic and pollutant loading analysis and in-lake and watershed based water quality data studies. The report details the results of Princeton Hydro’s mapping, modeling, and monitoring efforts in each waterbody and its respective watershed, along with specific recommendations for management implementations that are aimed at curbing the effects of nutrient and sediment loading, both within the lakes and their respective watersheds.
“Ringwood, West Milford, and Rockaway are three great examples of how people from different affiliations and backgrounds can come together to address lake and watershed monitoring and management,” said Mikolajczyk. “The key to success is open communication and a common goal!”
To learn more about Princeton Hydro’s natural resource management services, click here. And, click here to learn more about NJ Highlands Council and available grant funding.
Hurricane Sandy was the largest storm to ever originate in the Atlantic ocean. It badly damaged several countries in the Caribbean, caused over $50 billion in damages along the Eastern Seaboard, and left dozens dead. While hurricanes are a natural part of our climate system, research shows that intense hurricane activity has been on the rise in the North Atlantic since the 1970s. This trend is likely to be exacerbated by sea level rise and growing populations along coastlines. Natural coastal habitats — like wetlands and dunes — have proven to shield people from storms and sea-level rise, and have protected coastal communities from hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.
The Dunes at Shoal Harbor, a residential community in Monmouth County, New Jersey, is situated adjacent to both the Raritan Bay and the New York City Ferry channel. The site, previously utilized for industrial purposes, consisted of a partially demolished docking/berthing facility. A significantly undersized 6” diameter, 8-foot long stone revetment was also constructed on the property.
During Hurricane Sandy, the revetment failed and the community was subjected to direct wave attack and flooding. Homes were damaged, beach access was impaired, and the existing site-wide stormwater management basin and outfall was completely destroyed.
Princeton Hydro performed a wave attack analysis commensurate with a category three hurricane event, and used that data to complete a site design for shoreline protection. Consistent with the analysis, the site design includes the installation of a 15-foot rock revetment (one foot above the 100-year floodplain elevation) constructed with four-foot diameter boulders. The project also consists of replacing a failed elevated timber walkway with a concrete slab-on-grade walkway, restoring portions of the existing bulkhead, clearing invasive plants, and the complete restoration of the failed stormwater basin and outlet.
The plan incorporates natural barriers to reduce the impacts of storm surges and protect the coastal community, including planting stabilizing coastal vegetation to prevent erosion and installing fencing along the dune to facilitate natural dune growth.
These measures will discourage future erosion of the shoreline, protect the residential community from future wave attacks and flooding, and create a stable habitat for native and migratory species. The project is currently in the permitting phase, and will move to construction when all permits are obtained from local, state, and federal agencies.
This project is an great example of Princeton Hydro's ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary projects in-house. Our Water Resources Engineering, Geosciences Engineering, and Natural Resources teams have collaborated efficiently to analyze, design, and permit this shoreline protection project. For more information on our engineering services, go here.
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Over the past decade we have learned more about the serious health implications associated with intense cyanobacteria (bluegreen algae) blooms. Although cyanobacteria are not truly algae, these blooms have come to be labeled Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs). Cyanobacteria have a number of evolved advantages relative to “good phytoplankton.” For example, many cyanobacteria are capable of fixing and assimilating atmospheric nitrogen, thus providing them with an unlimited source of a key growth-limiting nutrient. Most are also biologically adept at up-taking and utilizing organic phosphorus, another growth-limiting nutrient. Certain cyanobacteria can also regulate their position in the water column, thereby enabling them to capitalize on changing environmental conditions. Many also are adept at effectively photosynthesizing under low light conditions. Finally, they are selectively rejected as a food source by filter feeders and zooplankton. These “life history” strategies enable cyanobacteria to rapidly out-compete phytoplankton and exploit their environment leading to a bloom.
It has been repeatedly documented that, under the correct set of conditions, HABs may generate very high concentrations of cyanotoxins. These toxins are used by cyanobacteria to achieve dominance in a lake, pond or river. Swimming in waters with even low concentrations of cyanotoxin may cause skin rashes (even for dogs and livestock), ear/throat infections and gastrointestinal distress. At high concentrations, cyanotoxins can impact the health of humans, pets and livestock. Drinking water contaminated by very high cyanotoxin concentrations can actually be lethal. Recently, increased attention is being given to possible links between cyanotoxins and neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s, ALS and Alzheimer’s.
The cyanobacteria of greatest concern include Microcystis, Planktothrix, Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Oscillatoria, Lyngbya and Gloeotrichia. Different types of cyanotoxins are produced by these various cyanobacteria. The cyanotoxins receiving the most attention are Microcystin-LR and Cylindrospermopsin, but Anatoxin–a, Saxitoxins and Anatoxin-a(S) are also very problematic.
Regulatory agencies are still struggling to define what constitutes a “problem” and how to deal with HABs. For a number of years the World Health Organization (WHO) has used a provisional drinking water standard of 1 µg/L microcystin in drinking water. The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recently issued cyanotoxin guidance for drinking water that provides different action levels for children versus adults and for microcystin and cylindrospermopsin¹. Adding to the confusion, the majority of the States are still developing guidance and/or regulations concerning cyanotoxins in both drinking water and recreational waterbodies. As such, it is difficult to define when a bloom constitutes a problem and, more importantly, what action to implement to protect the health and welfare of the public, pets and livestock.
Cyanotoxins may be released into the environment by both living and dead cyanobacteria. However, the greatest concentrations occur as the cyanobacteria die and the cells break down - something that is exacerbated by treating it with copper sulfate, which is the standard response to treating a bloom. Thus, “killing off” a bloom can actually make matters worse by quickly releasing large amounts of cyanotoxins into the water column. Once released into the environment, cyanotoxins are extremely stable and decompose slowly.
There are a variety of common misconceptions about HABs, including: they occur only in the summer when water temperatures are elevated; they are unique to nutrient rich (hypereutrophic) systems; they are driven solely by elevated phosphorus concentrations; and they are most likely to occur under stable (stratified) water column conditions. The most potentially harmful misconception is that HABs can be cured by treating them with copper sulfate; because, as noted above, copper sulfate treatments can actually make things worse.
The above “typical conditions” don’t always lead to a HAB, and blooms with elevated cyanotoxin levels may occur even in nutrient-limited waters or under environmental circumstances that deviate from the “norm.” To further complicate matters, not all cyanobacteria are associated with HABs, cyanotoxin producers may not always produce cyanotoxins, and the taste and odor compounds often associated with HABs may be generated by non-HAB algae species. As such, the only definitive way to understand if a waterbody suffers from, or is in danger of suffering from, a HAB is to collect the proper data. This includes:
To help understand and monitor HABs, Princeton Hydro recently launched a multi-prong strategy called PARE™ (Predict, Analyze, React, and Educate). Princeton Hydro’s PARE™ program focuses on the importance of thoroughly understanding site conditions, properly tailoring action programs and sustaining management efforts that go far beyond simply treating a bloom. As noted above, the PARE™ program consists of four key, interrelated elements:
Ideally, to successfully predict HABs, it is paramount to measure the amounts of phosphorus, nitrogen, and chlorophyll in the water column, track dissolved oxygen and water temperature profiles, and identify the types and densities of cyanobacteria and phytoplankton. Overall, in order to effectively predict the onset, magnitude and duration of a HAB, it is necessary to have a good data foundation.
With an adequate database, it becomes possible to develop algorithms that account for all of the chemical, hydrologic and physical variables that may lead to HABs, including seasonal differences in weather and precipitation. In some cases it may also be possible to utilize remote sensing technology to track bloom development. With a suitable database, it becomes possible to develop HAB thresholds based on:
As part of PARE™ we also now have the ability to quickly and effectively measure the concentration of Microcystin in the water column using a combination of rapid response field test kits and accurate, quick-turnaround laboratory analyses. The Microcystin data can then be compared to established USEPA or, when available, state guidance concentrations for cyanotoxins in drinking water and recreational water.
The data that are generated from the "Predict" and "Analyze" elements of the PARE™ program enables us to know when a bloom is about to occur or has developed, and quantify the severity of the bloom. The many variables that may lead to HABs interact in a complex manner in lake and pond ecosystems. Manipulating the ecosystem to prevent or treat HABs requires extensive expertise.
Through the correct understanding of these interactions it becomes possible to properly "React" by designing and implementing various pre-emptive controls and corrective measures such as:
On a larger, long-term scale, the "React" element of the PARE™ program encompasses watershed management programs targeting nutrient load reductions that can actually reduce bloom frequency/intensity.
Although the "React" element recognizes the role of algaecides as a potential part of the solution, it does not condone repeated extensive treatments with copper sulfate. As noted above, relying solely on substantial copper sulfate treatments most often only triggers worse conditions and leads to spiraling, repetitive blooms.
Besides informing the public about health concerns related to cyanobacteria and HABs, it is important that stakeholders are also informed about measures that they can implement to help prevent blooms. This includes “on-lot” nutrient controls such as septic management, limited application of lawn fertilizers, creation of shoreline buffers and waterfowl control. It is also necessary for stakeholders to understand the lifecycle of HABs, that ongoing monitoring and management help address HABs before they peak, and that, while seeming to be the “magic bullet,” copper sulfate is not the proper management tool.
Begin PARE™ early, with the sampling of the above-noted key water quality parameters and bloom initiated in early spring. Then sample on a regular basis over the entire course of the growing season, especially in the summer when cyanobacteria problems emerge and peak. This information will become the foundation of the comprehensive database used to make timely management decisions. The key is to be in a position to predict the onset of a bloom so that management actions can be implemented in a proactive, as opposed to reactive, manner.
Microcystin sampling can be focused on beach areas or around water intakes. Begin with the simple, test-strip rapid response, in-field testing and, when necessary, use the laboratory analyses to confirm or further quantify whether a bloom has triggered a cyanotoxin problem. If there is early evidence of a cyanobacteria bloom, implement the proper measures needed to control the bloom. While bloom control measures are being implemented, continue to collect and analyze the microcystin data to confirm that the implemented measures have improved water quality and that conditions are safe for the ingestion of the water or the recreational use of the lake. After achieving specific water quality and HAB control goals, continue to implement the measures needed to track conditions and prevent/react to future blooms. This will further facilitate the ability to respond to and control cyanobacteria blooms.
For more information about HABs and PARE™ come see us at the upcoming Pennsylvania Lake Management Society (PALMS) Conference. Click for details.
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