WP_Query Object
(
    [query] => Array
        (
            [category_name] => engineering
        )

    [query_vars] => Array
        (
            [category_name] => engineering
            [error] => 
            [m] => 
            [p] => 0
            [post_parent] => 
            [subpost] => 
            [subpost_id] => 
            [attachment] => 
            [attachment_id] => 0
            [name] => 
            [pagename] => 
            [page_id] => 0
            [second] => 
            [minute] => 
            [hour] => 
            [day] => 0
            [monthnum] => 0
            [year] => 0
            [w] => 0
            [tag] => 
            [cat] => 31
            [tag_id] => 
            [author] => 
            [author_name] => 
            [feed] => 
            [tb] => 
            [paged] => 1
            [meta_key] => 
            [meta_value] => 
            [preview] => 
            [s] => 
            [sentence] => 
            [title] => 
            [fields] => all
            [menu_order] => 
            [embed] => 
            [category__in] => Array
                (
                    [0] => 32
                )

            [category__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [category__and] => Array
                (
                )

            [post__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [post__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [post_name__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [tag__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [tag__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [tag__and] => Array
                (
                )

            [tag_slug__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [tag_slug__and] => Array
                (
                )

            [post_parent__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [post_parent__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [author__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [author__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [search_columns] => Array
                (
                )

            [ignore_sticky_posts] => 
            [suppress_filters] => 
            [cache_results] => 1
            [update_post_term_cache] => 1
            [update_menu_item_cache] => 
            [lazy_load_term_meta] => 1
            [update_post_meta_cache] => 1
            [post_type] => 
            [posts_per_page] => 10
            [nopaging] => 
            [comments_per_page] => 5
            [no_found_rows] => 
            [order] => DESC
        )

    [tax_query] => WP_Tax_Query Object
        (
            [queries] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [taxonomy] => category
                            [terms] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => engineering
                                )

                            [field] => slug
                            [operator] => IN
                            [include_children] => 1
                        )

                    [1] => Array
                        (
                            [taxonomy] => category
                            [terms] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => 32
                                )

                            [field] => term_id
                            [operator] => IN
                            [include_children] => 
                        )

                )

            [relation] => AND
            [table_aliases:protected] => Array
                (
                    [0] => ph_term_relationships
                    [1] => tt1
                )

            [queried_terms] => Array
                (
                    [category] => Array
                        (
                            [terms] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => engineering
                                )

                            [field] => slug
                        )

                )

            [primary_table] => ph_posts
            [primary_id_column] => ID
        )

    [meta_query] => WP_Meta_Query Object
        (
            [queries] => Array
                (
                )

            [relation] => 
            [meta_table] => 
            [meta_id_column] => 
            [primary_table] => 
            [primary_id_column] => 
            [table_aliases:protected] => Array
                (
                )

            [clauses:protected] => Array
                (
                )

            [has_or_relation:protected] => 
        )

    [date_query] => 
    [queried_object] => WP_Term Object
        (
            [term_id] => 31
            [name] => Engineering
            [slug] => engineering
            [term_group] => 0
            [term_taxonomy_id] => 31
            [taxonomy] => category
            [description] => 
            [parent] => 0
            [count] => 93
            [filter] => raw
            [term_order] => 4
            [cat_ID] => 31
            [category_count] => 93
            [category_description] => 
            [cat_name] => Engineering
            [category_nicename] => engineering
            [category_parent] => 0
        )

    [queried_object_id] => 31
    [request] => SELECT SQL_CALC_FOUND_ROWS  ph_posts.ID
					 FROM ph_posts  LEFT JOIN ph_term_relationships ON (ph_posts.ID = ph_term_relationships.object_id)  LEFT JOIN ph_term_relationships AS tt1 ON (ph_posts.ID = tt1.object_id)
					 WHERE 1=1  AND ( 
  ph_term_relationships.term_taxonomy_id IN (31) 
  AND 
  tt1.term_taxonomy_id IN (32)
) AND ((ph_posts.post_type = 'post' AND (ph_posts.post_status = 'publish' OR ph_posts.post_status = 'acf-disabled')))
					 GROUP BY ph_posts.ID
					 ORDER BY ph_posts.menu_order, ph_posts.post_date DESC
					 LIMIT 0, 10
    [posts] => Array
        (
            [0] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 18950
                    [post_author] => 1
                    [post_date] => 2025-12-21 19:12:41
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2025-12-21 19:12:41
                    [post_content] => 

By Mikhail Velez, Communications Coordinator
Across Eswatini’s rural landscape, geography often dictates opportunity. Rivers that swell during rainy seasons can separate families from schools, healthcare, and markets, making daily routines unpredictable and sometimes unsafe. In the three years before the Imphumelelo Footbridge was completed, five people tragically lost their lives and ten were injured attempting to cross during floods. To help address this challenge, volunteers from the Engineers in Action chapter at Rutgers University joined with other students from the University of Iowa, Hofstra University, and Northwestern University, during the summer of 2025, living and working alongside local communities to build the Imphumelelo Footbridge. Each student chapter is responsible for raising the funds needed to purchase construction materials, making the project both a test of resourcefulness and commitment. For Rutgers students, the experience offered not only the chance to apply technical skills in the field, but also invaluable hands-on learning that deepened their understanding of engineering in practice.
At 108 meters long, the Imphumelelo Footbridge is the second longest bridge completed by the Rutgers Chapter in Eswatini, a small, landlocked country in Southern Africa, funded in part by the Microprojects Programme and constructed through the nonprofit Engineers in Action. Now providing safe, year‑round access for more than 1,320 people, the bridge drastically reduces travel distances to healthcare and schools, while standing as a testament to Rutgers students’ commitment to connecting communities and expanding opportunity.
This video offers a glimpse into the construction process itself, showing how the Rutgers Engineers in Action Chapter worked alongside community members in Eswatini to bring the bridge to life. Viewers can see the challenges that arose, the teamwork that solved them, and the collaborative spirit that carried the project from planning to completion:
 





Strength in Collaboration: Building the Imphumelelo Footbridge
The Imphumelelo Footbridge was the result of four months of careful preplanning and two months of intensive construction in southern Eswatini. This was the farthest site Engineers in Action has worked on, located nearly three hours by car from the nearest city. The remote setting added complexity to the project, but it also underscored the importance of building a reliable crossing for the communities who would depend on it.
Construction was not without its challenges. When hoisting the suspension cables, the team’s winch broke because it was old and rusted. With the guidance of local masons, students improvised solutions, even resorting to manually knocking the cables to adjust their height. On anchor pouring day, when several batches of concrete were poured to secure the massive blocks through which the cables run, shifting wood supports forced the team to pause, reassess, and slightly reduce the bearing load to ensure stability. Concrete mixing also presented difficulties, since batches sometimes contained too much water.
Rutgers Engineers in Action Co-President, Ula Sokolowski devised a practical solution: mixing gravel, sand, and cement without water, then combining it with the wetter batch to achieve the correct ratio. Reflecting on the experience, Ula noted, "Much of engineering happens behind a desk, but being on site and contributing directly to the build was a completely different experience. Learning how to do every part of the process was not only valuable, but genuinely fun."
Aito Sterle, who served as a Quality Control Manager on Rutgers project in the previous year, the project was equally transformative. Aito explained, “The experience completely changed my engineering mindset. Traveling gave me a new perspective on life and exposed me to a whole variety of problems that required creative solutions. As a quality control manager, I was able to dive into the nitty‑gritty of bridge building and really understand the ins and outs of the process. Even though we weren’t part of the initial design, we felt connected to it on site — documenting each step, taking precise measurements, and ensuring everything was engineered to a T. It opened my eyes to how engineering truly works in the real world.”
 

[gallery columns="2" link="none" ids="18956,18959"]
The process was a full collaborative effort between students and community members: mixing concrete, sifting sand, moving rocks, and passing buckets of concrete down long human chains. Local masons built walls from stone, while students documented each step and checked measurements to ensure precision. For many community members, the project offered not only a chance to contribute to lasting infrastructure, but also meaningful daily work in a region where jobs are scarce.
The bridge’s completion was celebrated not only by the Rutgers team and local residents, but also by community leaders. At the handover ceremony, MP David Ngcamphalala of Qomintaba emphasized the power of collaboration, stating, “Nothing is impossible when people work together.”
Engineers in Action Program Manager Ana Jovanovic echoed this sentiment, describing the Imphumelelo Footbridge as “a promise of safety, opportunity, and connection. It will save lives, open access to healthcare, and help the next generation reach their classrooms without fear.”
Local leaders also looked ahead to future development. Bucopho of Sigwe expressed gratitude to the Microprojects Programme and appealed for continued support, noting that the dedication of Members of Parliament, Indvuna Yenkhundla, and community leaders gave him confidence that more projects would follow in Qomintaba and Matsanjeni South.
These reflections, reported in the Africa-Press – Eswatini, highlight how the Imphumelelo Footbridge was not only a technical achievement but also a symbol of partnership, resilience, and hope for the communities it serves.
[gallery columns="2" link="none" ids="18964,18961,18960,18962"]



Life with the Community
Beyond construction, the Rutgers Engineers in Action team immersed themselves in local life. Prior to travel, students studied language and cultural traditions with the help of a Cultural Relationships Manager, preparing them to build genuine connections. Once in Eswatini, those connections flourished. Community members welcomed the students warmly, eager to share experiences and perspectives.
Every Saturday, soccer matches and games brought students and residents together. Music often filled the downtime at the construction site, with dance becoming a universal language that bridged cultural and linguistic gaps. Families opened their homes to the volunteers, with one household affectionately adopting the students for the duration of their stay.
For Rutgers students, these relationships were as impactful as the bridge itself. The project was not only about engineering a structure, but also about building trust, friendship, and mutual respect across cultures.




How You Can Help Support Engineers in Action Chapter at Rutgers
Engineers in Action began in 2009 as an international nonprofit dedicated to connecting isolated communities to essential resources through sustainable infrastructure projects. Originally linked with the Bridges to Prosperity program, Engineers in Action has expanded its mission to include not only footbridges, but also water and sanitation systems that empower underserved communities. Student chapters across the United States and Canada have played a vital role in advancing this mission, gaining hands-on engineering experience while helping communities overcome barriers to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.
To continue building bridges and expanding access to vital resources, Engineers in Action relies on donations. Contributions directly fund materials, logistics, and training that make future projects possible. Supporting Engineers in Action means helping students like those from Rutgers bring their skills to communities in need, while ensuring that families around the world can safely reach schools, hospitals, and markets. For more information check out the chapters Linktree. Readers who wish to make a difference are encouraged to consider donating to the Rutgers Engineers in Action Chapter at their year end campaign or their main donation page and become part of the effort to bridge divides and expand opportunity.
                    [post_title] => From Vision to Impact: Rutgers Engineers in Action Student Chapter Bring Change to Eswatini
                    [post_excerpt] => 
                    [post_status] => publish
                    [comment_status] => open
                    [ping_status] => open
                    [post_password] => 
                    [post_name] => from-vision-to-impact-rutgers-engineers-in-action-student-chapter-bring-change-to-eswatini
                    [to_ping] => 
                    [pinged] => 
                    [post_modified] => 2026-01-06 21:25:51
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-01-06 21:25:51
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=18950
                    [menu_order] => 0
                    [post_type] => post
                    [post_mime_type] => 
                    [comment_count] => 0
                    [filter] => raw
                )

            [1] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 15122
                    [post_author] => 1
                    [post_date] => 2024-06-24 22:34:23
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2024-06-24 22:34:23
                    [post_content] => 
The removal of Bushkill Creek Dam #2 is now underway, marking yet another remarkable milestone in the rejuvenation of this treasured limestone stream. This achievement comes on the heels of four successfully completed dam removals since 2021, highlighting the swift progress in the revitalization efforts for Bushkill Creek.
This latest endeavor holds immense significance in facilitating the passage of migratory fish species, such as alewife and American shad, to vital upstream spawning grounds. It contributes to the recovery of ecologically-beneficial freshwater mussels and the bolstering of populations of trout and other resident fish species. And, it marks another important step in returning Bushkill Creek to its natural, free-flowing state.
During a recent site visit, Princeton Hydro President and Founding Principal Geoffrey M. Goll, P.E. took a moment to reflect on the years of hard work that have culminated in this significant milestone. Watch now:
[embed]https://youtu.be/bZs0jn6dBcQ[/embed]

 
In 2022, Wildlands Conservancy enlisted the expertise of Princeton Hydro to embark on a mission to remove four dams along Bushkill Creek. The successful removal of the Crayola Dam, also known as Dam #4, marked the beginning of this transformative journey. Subsequently, in 2023, Dams #1 and #3 were dismantled. Now, we celebrate the commencement of the removal of Dam #2.
The map below shows the locations of all four dam removal locations on the Bushkill Creek:


Bushkill Creek flows 22-miles through agricultural and suburban landscape before converging with the Delaware River. Dam #2, situated upstream from the Creek’s confluence with the Delaware River, obstructed fish passage, exacerbated local flooding, and degraded water quality, much like its counterparts. Its removal represents a significant leap forward in the restoration of Bushkill Creek's ecological health.
[gallery columns="2" link="none" ids="15123,15124"]
The ongoing restoration of Bushkill Creek is a testament to the dedication of over 20 stakeholders, including, but not limited to, Wildlands Conservancy, the Delaware River Basin Commission, Lafayette College, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Princeton Hydro.
Funding for the projects has stemmed from various sources, including a settlement following a fly ash spill from the Martins Creek Power Plant in 2005. This settlement, coupled with contributions from organizations like NFWF’s Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund and Northampton County’s Livable Landscapes program, propelled the initiative forward.
As we celebrate the start of removing Bushkill Creek Dam #2, we anticipate continued progress in the revitalization of this vital waterway. Each dam removed brings us closer to realizing the vision of a thriving, free-flowing Bushkill Creek, benefitting both the environment and local communities.
To read more about the dam removal successes on Bushkill Creek, click here. And, be sure to stay tuned for further updates!


Wildlands Conservancy, a non-profit land trust based in eastern Pennsylvania, is dedicated to the restoration of degraded stream and wildlife habitats, with a primary focus on the Lehigh Valley and the extensive Lehigh River watershed. Spanning 1,345 square miles, this watershed eventually merges with the Delaware River.
For over a decade, Princeton Hydro has been a steadfast partner to Wildlands Conservancy in their mission, collaborating on multiple dam removal projects in the Lehigh River Valley. With expertise in design, permitting, and oversight, Princeton Hydro has played a pivotal role in the removal of over 80 small and large dams/barriers across the Northeast.
To explore Princeton Hydro's comprehensive fish passage and dam removal engineering services, click here. For more information about Wildlands Conservancy and their conservation efforts, click here.

                    [post_title] => Bushkill Creek's Journey Continues: Celebrating the Fourth Dam Removal in Three Years
                    [post_excerpt] => 
                    [post_status] => publish
                    [comment_status] => open
                    [ping_status] => open
                    [post_password] => 
                    [post_name] => bushkill-creeks-journey-continues-celebrating-the-fourth-dam-removal-in-three-years
                    [to_ping] => 
                    [pinged] => 
                    [post_modified] => 2024-08-14 15:20:17
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-08-14 15:20:17
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=15122
                    [menu_order] => 0
                    [post_type] => post
                    [post_mime_type] => 
                    [comment_count] => 0
                    [filter] => raw
                )

            [2] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 10534
                    [post_author] => 1
                    [post_date] => 2022-03-30 08:22:06
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2022-03-30 08:22:06
                    [post_content] => 
River herring are diadromous fish, which means they migrate between fresh and salt water. On Long Island in Nassau, New York, they migrate between Mill Pond Creek and the ocean, using Bellmore Creek as a highway. The river herring live much of their adult life in the ocean and travel to the freshwaters of Mill Pond Creek in order to spawn.
There is a dam located at the point where Bellmore Creek meets Mill Pond. When the water level isn’t high enough, the river herring can be blocked from swimming upstream to reach their spawning habitat. This not only has negative implications for river herring species, it also negatively impacts the entire ecosystem. The herring are a vital food source for countless other fish, birds and animals, and play a critical role in transferring marine derived nutrients into surrounding estuarine, freshwater and upland habitats.
River Herring have been documented at the base of the dam at Mill Pond for the past several migration seasons. Bellmore Creek is one of only two-dozen streams on Long Island where remnant runs of this ecologically valuable, diadromous fish still exist.
In 2018, Seatuck Environmental Association, a nonprofit dedicated to wildlife conservation on Long Island, was awarded the NYSDEC Division of Marine Resources Grant for Tributary Restoration and Resiliency to design a fish passage at the dam intersecting Mill Pond and Bellmore Creek. Seatuck contracted Princeton Hydro to design the fish passage options.
The project goals not only include increasing river herring spawning habitat, but also are focused on improving the ecological condition of Bellmore Creek, maintaining and enhancing recreational values, and improving site resiliency to climate change and sea level rise.
To provide guidance on the project, Seatuck assembled an advisory committee with representation from Nassau County (dam owner), New York State Office of Parks, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Nassau County Soil and Water District, Town of Hempstead, the South Shore Estuary Reserve, Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, South Shore Audubon, and the Bellmore Civic Association.
Princeton Hydro conducted a study to understand the feasibility of enhancing fish passage to Mill Pond. The initial site investigation, in November 2020, included sediment probing and sampling, and a thorough assessment of the existing dam, spillway, water pipes, bridges and upper reaches. 

[gallery ids="10580,10579,10581"]

 

Based on its findings, the Princeton Hydro team developed three design options to restore fish passage:

 	
A nature-like fishway, where a channel made of boulders and concrete is constructed through the dam to mimic a natural, steep stream;
 	
A technical fishway, where a pre-fabricated metal fish ladder is placed within the spillway to allow fish to swim up and into the pond; and
 	
A full or partial dam removal, where the spillway is fully or partially removed and the pond is restored to a free-flowing stream and wetland complex.

On June 8 2021, Seatuck, Nassau County and Princeton Hydro held a virtual meeting to get the public’s input on each of the fish passage designs. Emily Hall, Conservation Policy Advocate for Seatuck, also put together an informative presentation in which she provides a synopsis of Bellmore Creek's history, describes the project goals, and discusses the community engagement process and the results of the public opinion survey. Watch it now:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvdWsI_3MIU[/embed]
Additionally, Princeton Hydro completed a site investigation including topographic survey, sediment probing and sampling, and assessment of structures to identify project opportunities and site constraints. Sediment sampling and analysis indicated no major concerns with contamination. By performing analysis of the longitudinal profile, Princeton Hydro determined that the full dam removal (option 3 listed above) was not recommended due to the potential for initiating uncontrolled channel incision below the original river grade into Mill Pond and upstream reaches.
Ultimately, the technical fish ladder (option 2 listed above) was chosen as the most appropriate solution for restoring fish passage to Mill Pond and maintaining existing recreational values. Princeton Hydro is currently developing preliminary engineering design plans for this selected alternative as part of this phase of the project.
The focus on Bellmore Creek is just one of many projects included in Seatuck’s River Revival program, which has sought to clear similarly blocked waterways across Long Island. If you’re interested in learning more about Seatuck’s conservation work and getting involved, click here.
Princeton Hydro has designed, permitted, and overseen solutions for fish passage including the installation of technical and nature-like fishways and the removal of dozens of small and large dams throughout the Northeast. To learn more about our fish passage and dam removal engineering services, click here and check out our blog: Conservation Spotlight: Restoring Fish Passage on the Noroton River.
                    [post_title] => Bellmore Creek Fish Passage Project: Restoring Access to Critical Spawning Habitat
                    [post_excerpt] => 
                    [post_status] => publish
                    [comment_status] => open
                    [ping_status] => open
                    [post_password] => 
                    [post_name] => bellmore-creek-fish-passage
                    [to_ping] => 
                    [pinged] => 
                    [post_modified] => 2025-11-04 02:54:39
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-11-04 02:54:39
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=10534
                    [menu_order] => 0
                    [post_type] => post
                    [post_mime_type] => 
                    [comment_count] => 0
                    [filter] => raw
                )

            [3] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 2594
                    [post_author] => 3
                    [post_date] => 2018-09-18 15:53:10
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2018-09-18 15:53:10
                    [post_content] => 
As dams age and decay, they can become public safety hazards, presenting a failure risk and flooding danger. According to American Rivers, “more than 90,000 dams in the country are no longer serving the purpose that they were built to provide decades or centuries ago.” Dam removal has increasingly become the best option for property owners who can no longer afford the rising cost of maintenance and repair work required to maintain these complex structures.
Dams can also cause environmental issues such as blocking the movement of fish and other aquatic species, inundating river habitat, impairing water quality, and altering the flow necessary to sustain river life. Removing nonfunctional, outdated dams can bring a river back to its natural state and significantly increase biodiversity for the surrounding watershed.


[caption id="attachment_2620" align="alignleft" width="268"] A view from the site of the Heminway Pond Dam removal on July 19, 2018.[/caption]
Currently, work is underway in Watertown, Connecticut to remove the Heminway Pond Dam, which restricts fish passage in Steele Brook, creates a pond with increased water temperatures and high bacterial levels due to high geese populations, and encourages deposition of iron precipitate in the stream channel just downstream of the dam.
Princeton Hydro designed the engineering plans, managed permitting and is now overseeing construction for the removal project. The removal of the Heminway Pond Dam is identified as an integral component in addressing water quality impairment between the dam and Echo Lake Road.
CT DEEP recently published this piece encapsulating the Heminway Pond Dam removal project:

REMOVAL OF HEMINWAY POND DAM ON STEELE BROOK
IN WATERTOWN UNDERWAY

After almost 15 years of discussion and planning with the Town of Watertown and other partners, removal of Heminway Pond Dam on Steele Brook in Watertown finally got underway in early July.  Though no longer functional, the dam and pond were originally constructed to supply water for a former thread/string mill.  The Town acquired the dam and pond from the Siemon Company, the most recent owner, in 2007 with an eye towards removing the dam, restoring the river and converting the dewatered impoundment area into a passive recreation area, including an extension of the Steele Brook Greenway.  With these goals in mind, the Town approached CT DEEP for help with removal of the dam.
As it turns out, CT DEEP, has also had a strong interest in seeing this dam removed.  It is anticipated that dam removal will improve the hydrology in this section of Steele Brook and eliminate a water quality impairment which manifests itself during hot weather and low flow conditions, as an orange-colored plume of water (due to iron precipitate) immediately downstream of the dam that impacts aquatic life.  Dam removal would also benefit fisheries by restoring stream connectivity and habitat.
Working towards these mutual goals, CT DEEP was able to provide federal CWA 319 nonpoint source grant funding to USDA NRCS to develop a watershed-based plan for Steele Brook to address nonpoint source impairments that includes a dam removal feasibility analysis for Heminway Pond Dam.  Based on the recommendations in this plan, CT DEEP subsequently provided additional 319 grant funds to the Town of Watertown to hire a consultant to develop a dam removal design package, and assist with permitting and preparation.
With the Town of Watertown as a strong and vested partner, CT DEEP is now helping this project over the finish line by providing a combination of 319 and SEP funds to accomplish the actual dam removal and restoration of Steele Brook.  Dayton Construction Company is performing the construction and Princeton Hydro is the consultant overseeing the project on behalf of the Town.  The Northwest Conservation District is also assisting with the project.  It is anticipated that the majority of the work will be completed by this Fall.  U.S. EPA, ACOE and CT DEEP have all played active roles with regard to permitting the project.

 


Princeton Hydro has designed, permitted, and overseen the reconstruction, repair, and removal of dozens of small and large dams in the Northeast. Click here to read about a recent dam removal project the firm completed on the Moosup River.
Updated 2023: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency featured the Heminway Pond Dam Removal and Steele Brook Restoration project as a “Nonpoint Source Success Story.” Click here to read it now. And click below to watch the time lapse video footage of the removal and restoration of Heminway Pond Dam and Steele Brooke.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-X4W2YS3l0[/embed]
…
                    [post_title] => Dam Removal Underway in Watertown, Connecticut
                    [post_excerpt] => 
                    [post_status] => publish
                    [comment_status] => open
                    [ping_status] => open
                    [post_password] => 
                    [post_name] => heminway-dam-removal
                    [to_ping] => 
                    [pinged] => 
                    [post_modified] => 2023-11-08 17:15:36
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-11-08 17:15:36
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => http://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/?p=2594
                    [menu_order] => 0
                    [post_type] => post
                    [post_mime_type] => 
                    [comment_count] => 0
                    [filter] => raw
                )

            [4] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 2525
                    [post_author] => 3
                    [post_date] => 2018-08-30 14:15:58
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2018-08-30 14:15:58
                    [post_content] => 
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA) is hosting the “Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour”. The festival is free and open to the public, but seating is limited so, registration is required. The festival will be held on Sunday, September 9th from 10 am to 2 pm at Centenary University in Hackettstown, NJ.
To bring communities together around local and global environmental issues, The "Wild & Scenic Film Festival" goes "on-tour" partnering with nonprofit organizations and local groups to screen films year-round with hopes of inspiring individuals to take environmental action. The tour stops in 170 communities around the globe, features over 150 award-winning films, and welcomes over 100 guest speakers, celebrities, and activists who bring a human face to the environmental movement.

The Hackettstown, NJ tour event will feature 11 short films including River Connections, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, under which the Musconetcong River is protected. The film explores the importance of free-flowing rivers and highlights the recent Hughesville Dam removal project. An interactive panel event will follow the film screening and feature experts including MWA Executive Director Alan Hunt, Ph.D. and Princeton Hydro President Geoffrey Goll, P.E., who were both interviewed in the film.

"Our multidisciplinary approach to dam removal using ecology and engineering, paired with a dynamic stakeholder partnership, led to a successful river restoration, where native fish populations returned within a year," said Princeton Hydro's President Geoffrey Goll, P.E. "We are grateful for MWA's hard work in organizing this film festival so we can continue to share our dam removal success stories and the importance of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act."
Princeton Hydro, a proud sponsor of the "Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour," has worked with MWA to design five dam removals on the Musconetcong River, including the Hughesville Dam. As noted in the River Connections film, the Hughesville Dam was a major milestone in restoring migratory fish passage along the Musconetcong. Only a year after the completion of the dam removal, American shad were documented as having returned to the "Musky" for the first time in 250 years.
The tour leads up to the annual 5-day film festival, which will be held January 17-21, 2019 in Nevada City and Grass Valley, California. Sponsored by National Park Service, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival honors the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, landmark legislation passed by Congress in October 1968 that safeguards the free-flowing character of rivers by precluding them from being dammed, while allowing the public to enjoy them. It encourages river management and promotes public participation in protecting streams.

EVENT DETAILS:
Date:         Sunday, September 9th

Time:         Doors open at 10 am and shows start at 11 am

Location:  Centenary University, Sitnik Theatre,
                  400 Jefferson St, Hackettstown, NJ 07840

Tickets:     FREE! Please register in advance:
                   https://goo.gl/NrwcgE

 

Interested to learn more about River Connections?
Check out our blog celebrating the release of the film: 



[embed]http://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/wild-and-scenic-rivers/[/embed]



                    [post_title] => Wild & Scenic Film Festival is Coming to Hackettstown
                    [post_excerpt] => 
                    [post_status] => publish
                    [comment_status] => open
                    [ping_status] => open
                    [post_password] => 
                    [post_name] => wild-scenic-film-festival
                    [to_ping] => 
                    [pinged] => 
                    [post_modified] => 2025-11-04 02:15:54
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-11-04 02:15:54
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => http://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/?p=2525
                    [menu_order] => 0
                    [post_type] => post
                    [post_mime_type] => 
                    [comment_count] => 0
                    [filter] => raw
                )

            [5] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 1917
                    [post_author] => 3
                    [post_date] => 2018-05-15 15:41:14
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2018-05-15 15:41:14
                    [post_content] => 
For Immediate Release: May 15, 2018

PRESS STATEMENT 


On behalf of Princeton Hydro, LLC, a leading water resources engineering and natural resource management small business firm in New Jersey, we support the passing of New Jersey’s stormwater utility creation bill, S-1073. If S-1073 is administered in a responsible manner, we believe that it will enhance water quality and reduce flooding impacts in New Jersey.

Since our inception, Princeton Hydro has been a leader in innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally sound stormwater management. Long before the term "green infrastructure" was part of the design community's lexicon, our engineers were integrating stormwater management with natural systems to fulfill such diverse objectives as flood control, water quality protection, and pollutant reduction. Our staff has developed regional nonpoint source pollutant budgets for over 100 waterways. The preparation of stormwater management plans and design of stormwater management systems for pollutant reduction is an integral part of many of our projects.

We have seen the benefits of allowing for stormwater utilities firsthand. In Maryland, the recently implemented watershed restoration program and MS4 efforts that require stormwater utility fees have provided a job creating-industry boom that benefits engineers, contractors, and local DPWs. At the same time, Maryland’s program is improving the water quality in the Chesapeake Bay, and stimulating the tourism and the crabbing/fishing industry.

New Jersey has the very same issues with our water resources as Maryland. Just like the Chesapeake Bay, our Barnegat Bay, Raritan Bay, and Lake Hopatcong have serious issues with stormwater runoff that is degrading our water quality and quality of life.  Our stormwater infrastructure is old and falling apart, and all stormwater utilities need continual maintenance to save money in the long run.

It is important to point out that this current bill is not a mandatory requirement, and would simply provide a mechanism for various levels of government (county, municipality, etc.) to collect a stormwater utility fee in order to recover runoff management costs.

This bill (S-1073) should not be reviewed only in the context of cost, as this bill meets all three elements of the  triple-bottom line of sustainability; social, environmental, and financial. Allowing stormwater utilities in New Jersey will create jobs, help reduce flood impacts, enhance water quality, improve our fisheries, and preserve our water-based tourism economy. 40 states have already implemented stormwater utilities, and we believe that it is time for New Jersey to join the ranks.
###


                    [post_title] => Princeton Hydro Supports Creation of Stormwater Utilities in New Jersey
                    [post_excerpt] => 
                    [post_status] => publish
                    [comment_status] => open
                    [ping_status] => open
                    [post_password] => 
                    [post_name] => princeton-hydro-supports-creation-of-stormwater-utilities-in-new-jersey
                    [to_ping] => 
                    [pinged] => 
                    [post_modified] => 2024-12-10 22:45:24
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-12-10 22:45:24
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => http://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/?p=1917
                    [menu_order] => 0
                    [post_type] => post
                    [post_mime_type] => 
                    [comment_count] => 0
                    [filter] => raw
                )

            [6] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 1297
                    [post_author] => 3
                    [post_date] => 2017-12-05 17:30:01
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2017-12-05 17:30:01
                    [post_content] => As Brazil is in the midst of a dam-building boom, scientists and engineers gathered at a workshop in Brazil to discuss, “Dam Removal & Optimizing Hydro Locations to Benefit Species Diversity in Brazil.”

Laura Wildman, P.E., Water Resources and Fisheries Engineer and Director of Princeton Hydro’s New England Regional Office, was invited to speak at the workshop. Her presentation focused on why we remove dams in the U.S. (the key drivers), how we analyze them for removal, and what we are learning through a wide diversity of completed case studies.
“It was fascinating to discuss a topic, such as the removal of dams, right as Brazil is focusing on building more hydro capacity,” said Laura. “Hopefully it is a sign that the hydro industry in Brazil, along with all the great Brazilian fisheries researchers, are quite forward thinking and are determined to maintain their country's rich species diversity while also enhancing their energy options.”
The workshop, hosted by CEMIG and held at UFMG, involved many universities, including our workshop host Paulo Pompeu from UFLA, Dr. Paul Kemp from University of Southhampton, Dr. Jesse O'Hanley of Kent Business School, and many others.
The gathering inspired a lot of interesting dialogue around dam removal, optimizing locations for new hydro facilities, and how to best sustain connectivity and species diversity. Laura’s presentation entitled "Dam removal in the United States" along with the other conference presentations will be available on the CEMIG website soon or check back here on the Princeton Hydro blog for presentation links.
[gallery link="none" ids="1304,1302,1306,1301,1300,1299,1298"]
…
                    [post_title] => Princeton Hydro Dam Removal Work Featured at Brazilian Workshop
                    [post_excerpt] => 
                    [post_status] => publish
                    [comment_status] => open
                    [ping_status] => open
                    [post_password] => 
                    [post_name] => cemig-workshop
                    [to_ping] => 
                    [pinged] => 
                    [post_modified] => 2025-11-04 02:16:45
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-11-04 02:16:45
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => http://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/?p=1297
                    [menu_order] => 0
                    [post_type] => post
                    [post_mime_type] => 
                    [comment_count] => 0
                    [filter] => raw
                )

        )

    [post_count] => 7
    [current_post] => -1
    [before_loop] => 1
    [in_the_loop] => 
    [post] => WP_Post Object
        (
            [ID] => 18950
            [post_author] => 1
            [post_date] => 2025-12-21 19:12:41
            [post_date_gmt] => 2025-12-21 19:12:41
            [post_content] => 

By Mikhail Velez, Communications Coordinator
Across Eswatini’s rural landscape, geography often dictates opportunity. Rivers that swell during rainy seasons can separate families from schools, healthcare, and markets, making daily routines unpredictable and sometimes unsafe. In the three years before the Imphumelelo Footbridge was completed, five people tragically lost their lives and ten were injured attempting to cross during floods. To help address this challenge, volunteers from the Engineers in Action chapter at Rutgers University joined with other students from the University of Iowa, Hofstra University, and Northwestern University, during the summer of 2025, living and working alongside local communities to build the Imphumelelo Footbridge. Each student chapter is responsible for raising the funds needed to purchase construction materials, making the project both a test of resourcefulness and commitment. For Rutgers students, the experience offered not only the chance to apply technical skills in the field, but also invaluable hands-on learning that deepened their understanding of engineering in practice.
At 108 meters long, the Imphumelelo Footbridge is the second longest bridge completed by the Rutgers Chapter in Eswatini, a small, landlocked country in Southern Africa, funded in part by the Microprojects Programme and constructed through the nonprofit Engineers in Action. Now providing safe, year‑round access for more than 1,320 people, the bridge drastically reduces travel distances to healthcare and schools, while standing as a testament to Rutgers students’ commitment to connecting communities and expanding opportunity.
This video offers a glimpse into the construction process itself, showing how the Rutgers Engineers in Action Chapter worked alongside community members in Eswatini to bring the bridge to life. Viewers can see the challenges that arose, the teamwork that solved them, and the collaborative spirit that carried the project from planning to completion:
 





Strength in Collaboration: Building the Imphumelelo Footbridge
The Imphumelelo Footbridge was the result of four months of careful preplanning and two months of intensive construction in southern Eswatini. This was the farthest site Engineers in Action has worked on, located nearly three hours by car from the nearest city. The remote setting added complexity to the project, but it also underscored the importance of building a reliable crossing for the communities who would depend on it.
Construction was not without its challenges. When hoisting the suspension cables, the team’s winch broke because it was old and rusted. With the guidance of local masons, students improvised solutions, even resorting to manually knocking the cables to adjust their height. On anchor pouring day, when several batches of concrete were poured to secure the massive blocks through which the cables run, shifting wood supports forced the team to pause, reassess, and slightly reduce the bearing load to ensure stability. Concrete mixing also presented difficulties, since batches sometimes contained too much water.
Rutgers Engineers in Action Co-President, Ula Sokolowski devised a practical solution: mixing gravel, sand, and cement without water, then combining it with the wetter batch to achieve the correct ratio. Reflecting on the experience, Ula noted, "Much of engineering happens behind a desk, but being on site and contributing directly to the build was a completely different experience. Learning how to do every part of the process was not only valuable, but genuinely fun."
Aito Sterle, who served as a Quality Control Manager on Rutgers project in the previous year, the project was equally transformative. Aito explained, “The experience completely changed my engineering mindset. Traveling gave me a new perspective on life and exposed me to a whole variety of problems that required creative solutions. As a quality control manager, I was able to dive into the nitty‑gritty of bridge building and really understand the ins and outs of the process. Even though we weren’t part of the initial design, we felt connected to it on site — documenting each step, taking precise measurements, and ensuring everything was engineered to a T. It opened my eyes to how engineering truly works in the real world.”
 

[gallery columns="2" link="none" ids="18956,18959"]
The process was a full collaborative effort between students and community members: mixing concrete, sifting sand, moving rocks, and passing buckets of concrete down long human chains. Local masons built walls from stone, while students documented each step and checked measurements to ensure precision. For many community members, the project offered not only a chance to contribute to lasting infrastructure, but also meaningful daily work in a region where jobs are scarce.
The bridge’s completion was celebrated not only by the Rutgers team and local residents, but also by community leaders. At the handover ceremony, MP David Ngcamphalala of Qomintaba emphasized the power of collaboration, stating, “Nothing is impossible when people work together.”
Engineers in Action Program Manager Ana Jovanovic echoed this sentiment, describing the Imphumelelo Footbridge as “a promise of safety, opportunity, and connection. It will save lives, open access to healthcare, and help the next generation reach their classrooms without fear.”
Local leaders also looked ahead to future development. Bucopho of Sigwe expressed gratitude to the Microprojects Programme and appealed for continued support, noting that the dedication of Members of Parliament, Indvuna Yenkhundla, and community leaders gave him confidence that more projects would follow in Qomintaba and Matsanjeni South.
These reflections, reported in the Africa-Press – Eswatini, highlight how the Imphumelelo Footbridge was not only a technical achievement but also a symbol of partnership, resilience, and hope for the communities it serves.
[gallery columns="2" link="none" ids="18964,18961,18960,18962"]



Life with the Community
Beyond construction, the Rutgers Engineers in Action team immersed themselves in local life. Prior to travel, students studied language and cultural traditions with the help of a Cultural Relationships Manager, preparing them to build genuine connections. Once in Eswatini, those connections flourished. Community members welcomed the students warmly, eager to share experiences and perspectives.
Every Saturday, soccer matches and games brought students and residents together. Music often filled the downtime at the construction site, with dance becoming a universal language that bridged cultural and linguistic gaps. Families opened their homes to the volunteers, with one household affectionately adopting the students for the duration of their stay.
For Rutgers students, these relationships were as impactful as the bridge itself. The project was not only about engineering a structure, but also about building trust, friendship, and mutual respect across cultures.




How You Can Help Support Engineers in Action Chapter at Rutgers
Engineers in Action began in 2009 as an international nonprofit dedicated to connecting isolated communities to essential resources through sustainable infrastructure projects. Originally linked with the Bridges to Prosperity program, Engineers in Action has expanded its mission to include not only footbridges, but also water and sanitation systems that empower underserved communities. Student chapters across the United States and Canada have played a vital role in advancing this mission, gaining hands-on engineering experience while helping communities overcome barriers to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.
To continue building bridges and expanding access to vital resources, Engineers in Action relies on donations. Contributions directly fund materials, logistics, and training that make future projects possible. Supporting Engineers in Action means helping students like those from Rutgers bring their skills to communities in need, while ensuring that families around the world can safely reach schools, hospitals, and markets. For more information check out the chapters Linktree. Readers who wish to make a difference are encouraged to consider donating to the Rutgers Engineers in Action Chapter at their year end campaign or their main donation page and become part of the effort to bridge divides and expand opportunity.
            [post_title] => From Vision to Impact: Rutgers Engineers in Action Student Chapter Bring Change to Eswatini
            [post_excerpt] => 
            [post_status] => publish
            [comment_status] => open
            [ping_status] => open
            [post_password] => 
            [post_name] => from-vision-to-impact-rutgers-engineers-in-action-student-chapter-bring-change-to-eswatini
            [to_ping] => 
            [pinged] => 
            [post_modified] => 2026-01-06 21:25:51
            [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-01-06 21:25:51
            [post_content_filtered] => 
            [post_parent] => 0
            [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=18950
            [menu_order] => 0
            [post_type] => post
            [post_mime_type] => 
            [comment_count] => 0
            [filter] => raw
        )

    [comment_count] => 0
    [current_comment] => -1
    [found_posts] => 7
    [max_num_pages] => 1
    [max_num_comment_pages] => 0
    [is_single] => 
    [is_preview] => 
    [is_page] => 
    [is_archive] => 1
    [is_date] => 
    [is_year] => 
    [is_month] => 
    [is_day] => 
    [is_time] => 
    [is_author] => 
    [is_category] => 1
    [is_tag] => 
    [is_tax] => 
    [is_search] => 
    [is_feed] => 
    [is_comment_feed] => 
    [is_trackback] => 
    [is_home] => 
    [is_privacy_policy] => 
    [is_404] => 
    [is_embed] => 
    [is_paged] => 
    [is_admin] => 
    [is_attachment] => 
    [is_singular] => 
    [is_robots] => 
    [is_favicon] => 
    [is_posts_page] => 
    [is_post_type_archive] => 
    [query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => 9f8a7c35a4edc55d8210f9cc02ea9574
    [query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] => 1
    [thumbnails_cached] => 
    [allow_query_attachment_by_filename:protected] => 
    [stopwords:WP_Query:private] => 
    [compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array
        (
            [0] => query_vars_hash
            [1] => query_vars_changed
        )

    [compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array
        (
            [0] => init_query_flags
            [1] => parse_tax_query
        )

    [query_cache_key:WP_Query:private] => wp_query:81057913b7c0d220b1ba13e07c0dfcee
)

Home Blog

Category: Engineering