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In urban areas, streams have often been buried beneath streets, buildings, and infrastructure, cutting them off from the natural ecosystem. However, a growing movement towards "daylighting" streams—uncovering and restoring these buried watercourses—has proven to be an innovative solution for improving water quality, reducing flood risks, restoring fish passage, and creating healthier habitats. Princeton Hydro has been at the forefront of these efforts, bringing expertise in ecological restoration and water resource management to daylighting projects across New Jersey.
Daylighting is the process of removing obstructions and impervious surfaces from a buried stream or river, restoring it to a more natural state. Often, streams were diverted underground to make way for urban development. Daylighting involves reversing this process, bringing the water flow back above ground where it can interact with the natural environment. The result is a newly visible, revitalized waterway that reconnects the stream to its surrounding ecosystem. This process not only improves stormwater management but also enhances urban spaces and promotes healthier habitats.
Daylighting streams offers numerous advantages to both the environment and local communities. Some key benefits include:
Princeton Hydro has successfully completed numerous daylighting projects that demonstrate the transformative power of restoring natural waterways. By leveraging innovative engineering and ecological practices, these projects restored the natural flow of waterways and enhanced the surrounding landscape. Let’s take a closer look at two examples:
In the heart of Trenton, NJ, Princeton Hydro undertook a comprehensive stream restoration. The City of Trenton, as part of a larger urban revitalization and brownfield redevelopment project, sought to restore the stream, Petty’s Run, which had long suffered from typical urban afflictions: pollution, flooding, and heavy debris accumulation.
Princeton Hydro developed a green infrastructure design that addressed these challenges holistically. The design included removing from the stream channel heavy debris, contaminated soils, and the concrete remains of previous development. The team also replaced the restrictive upstream road crossing with a pedestrian bridge, enhancing both the stream’s flow and the community’s connectivity. A significant aspect of the project involved daylighting the 250-foot underground portion of Petty’s Run, restoring it to a natural, open flow while creating an adjacent floodplain meadow to manage stormwater and provide habitat.
The project improved stormwater management, enhanced the landscape’s biodiversity, added habitat value, and established a new public green space with walking trails, which now serves as both an ecological asset and a recreational area for the community. This project earned both the Phoenix Award for Brownfield Redevelopment and the Bowman’s Hill Land Ethics Award.
Thompson Park, a sprawling 675-acre recreational area in Middlesex County, NJ, boasts a variety of amenities, including hiking trails, ballfields, and a zoo that is home to over 50 geese and fowl, goats, and approximately 90 deer. The streams within the park faced challenges, particularly in the areas surrounding the zoo’s enclosures, including erosion and compromised water quality.
In order to increase channel stability, decrease erosion, improve water quality and ecological function, and reduce the pollutants originating from the zoo, a stormwater management treatment train was designed and constructed.
Middlesex County Office of Parks and Recreation and Office of Planning, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, South Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council, Middlesex County Mosquito Extermination Commission, Freehold Soil Conservation District, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Enviroscapes and Princeton Hydro worked together to fund, design, permit, and construct numerous stormwater management measures within Thompson Park.
One of the key project initiatives involved daylighting a section of a 24-inch reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) that had previously conveyed stormwater underground. Daylighting the stream, widen the stream channel, improved stormwater absorption, reduced erosion, helped restore the stream’s natural gradient, and improved aquatic habitat.
This multi-faceted restoration project improved stream function and created a more sustainable environment for both zoo inhabitants, the park’s visitors, and the watershed.
Princeton Hydro’s President and Founding Principal, Geoffrey M. Goll, PE, recently shared his expertise in stream restoration during a "Daylighting Streams: Design & Engineering" webinar hosted by The Watershed Institute. The webinar explored the process of uncovering and restoring buried watercourses. Moderated by Susan Bristol, The Watershed Institute Municipal Policy Specialist, the webinar featured experts Vince Sortman, Biohabitats Senior Fluvial Geomorphologist; Warren T. Byrd, Jr., FASLA, Founding Partner of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects & Professor Emeritus, University of Virginia; and Geoffrey. The webinar provided valuable insights into the challenges and benefits of these projects, highlighting the importance of hazard mitigation, maintenance, and community involvement in successful daylighting initiatives. The event underscored the significance of daylighting in enhancing both urban infrastructure and natural ecosystems.
Daylighting streams is a forward-thinking approach to urban water management that brings immense benefits to the environment and local communities. As daylighting continues to gain recognition as an essential tool for watershed restoration, Princeton Hydro remains a trusted leader in the field, combining innovative design with environmental stewardship.
Welcome to the latest edition of our “A Day in the Life” blog series. Today, we explore the vibrant and creative world of landscape design through the eyes of Angelica Diaz, one of Princeton Hydro's talented Landscape Designers.
Landscape design is the discipline of organizing and modifying the features of a landscape to achieve a functional, biodiverse and visually appealing outdoor space. This process considers various factors such as climate, soil, topography, existing vegetation, and the intended use of the area. By integrating artistic and scientific principles, landscape designers develop plans that create harmonious and practical environments. These plans serve as a blueprint for projects, guiding the installation and maintenance of outdoor spaces while aiding in material selection and cost estimation.
Join us as we accompany Angelica on a day dedicated to the Trenton South Ward Community Garden project. This journey highlights her dedication to transforming natural spaces and her integral role in bringing our clients' visions to life. From client meetings and visioning sessions to detailed site analysis and creative design, Angelica's expertise showcases the diverse services and innovative solutions that Princeton Hydro offers in landscape architecture.
Let’s dive into the roots of her day!
This morning, Angelica begins her day at the Trenton Headquarters Office, preparing for a kickoff meeting with the Trenton South Ward Neighborhood Association (TSWNA) board, a voluntary organization of residents who work together to improve and maintain the quality of life of the south ward district of Trenton, New Jersey. This initial meeting is crucial for understanding the client’s goals and visions. Angelica is particularly excited about this community-driven project because she enjoys the inclusivity and creativity it fosters.
“Community projects are fantastic because they help people realize their creative vision and foster a sense of ownership,” says Angelica. “It’s important to have a visioning meeting to gather a wide range of thoughts and ensure everyone feels included.”
During the kickoff meeting, Angelica and the Princeton Hydro project team listen attentively to board members, taking notes and asking questions to clarify the client's vision. Together with the client, the project team brainstorms ideas, establishes clear deliverables, and discusses expectations for the project ahead. The team shared ideas for two sites in the neighborhood; one existing community garden and one undeveloped site across the street. At the Community Garden site, TSWNA has several vegetable garden beds and hosts community workshops that encourage residents to get outside and learn the ins and outs of urban gardening. To make the space even more inviting and useful for the community, they discussed options like planting flowers, replacing the fence, and adding a storage shed.
Securing grant money can be the key to bringing your innovative project to life, but navigating the complex world of funding can be daunting. Princeton Hydro's Director of Marketing and Communications Dana Patterson Grear stumbled upon an ideal grant opportunity to kick-off the first phase of the TSWNA's vision for the exisiting Community Garden site. Facing a tight deadline, Angelica collaborated with Tyrell Smith, TSWNA Co-Founder/Board Chair, to submit an application to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation's Mid-Atlantic Monarch And Pollinator Habitat Kit Program. This program distributes habitat kits containing native milkweed and various nectar plants to project partners ready to dedicate time, labor, and land for developing pollinator habitats in the Mid-Atlantic and New York City areas.
This year, the kits were tailored specifically for urban farms, community gardens, and other communal and educational spaces in urban settings, with a focus on benefiting historically underserved communities—a perfect match for TSWNA, which was selected to receive over 500 native plants to enhance their space and create a habitat for monarch butterflies.
With a clear, collective vision in mind, Angelica heads to a project site in Trenton’s South Ward Neighborhood to conduct a comprehensive analysis in preparation for the Community Garden.
Angelica arrives at 475 Lamberton Rd, ready to assess the critical physical and environmental factors necessary for the landscape design project. She meticulously observes sun exposure and soil characteristics to understand how these conditions could affect plant growth. She evaluates water availability, considering both natural sources and potential irrigation needs to ensure the sustainability of her design. The topography of the site is mapped out, identifying slopes, elevations, and natural drainage patterns that will influence the placement of features and the overall layout. All of these components help curate the overall aesthetic experience of the space throughout the day. Angelica takes photos, makes detailed notes of these observations, gathering essential information that will inform her design process and help create a harmonious and functional outdoor space.
“Site analysis is more than just understanding the immediate environment,” Angelica explains. “It’s about considering the broader context, including the surrounding neighborhood and city. This helps identify the project's needs and how it can best integrate with the local community. By working together, we can create a beautiful and sustainable space that benefits the Trenton community.”
Now it’s time for Angelica to draft initial concepts. Using a combination of AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite, she begins to translate her site analysis and the client's feedback into visual designs. For the Trenton South Ward project, Angelica starts with a basemap created from field measurements and Google Earth imagery, evolving it into three distinct concepts.
“I aim to keep the concepts relatively loose at this stage,” she explains. “This helps get a reaction from the client and see which design they gravitate towards.”
Balancing aesthetics and sustainability, Angelica always prioritizes using a native plant palette, recognizing the seasonal characteristics and ecological benefits of native plants. She aims to create landscapes that are both beautiful and sustainable, supporting local wildlife and promoting biodiversity.
For this project, the plant selection came from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. The Xerces Society supplied carefully chosen native and regionally appropriate plants from Pinelands Nursery in Columbus, NJ, one of the largest native plant nurseries in the US, supplying millions of plants for environmental restorations throughout the Mid-Atlantic states. Some of the native species selected for the community garden include Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). These perennial, drought-resistant plants not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the area but also offer crucial habitats for pollinators and birds, fostering a healthier and more balanced ecosystem.
“The final design is a refinement of the concept with more detailed planting plans and site measurements,” Angelica notes. “I often visit the site again to confirm measurements and document conditions to ensure accuracy.”
Of the three concepts Angelica and the Princeton Hydro team developed, TSWNA chose design concept three, which is pictured below:
The planning and design work culminated in a vibrant Community Garden, volunteer-powered planting event, which kicked off this initial phase of the revitalization of this space. Members of TSWNA, Princeton Hydro, and local volunteers came together to bring the collective landscape design vision to life, creating a thriving green oasis for the community to enjoy. Together, the group planted 550 native flowers and shrubs generously provided by the Xerces Society. Despite the heat, they worked collaboratively to turn the area into a beautiful, sustainable garden that benefits the entire Trenton community.
During the planting day, Angelica demonstrated proper techniques for preparing the ground for planting, installing plant plugs, and maintaining the space once all of the planting is complete. In the video below, Angelica demonstrates how to plant a plug in the ground:
Angelica always dedicates time to staying updated on the latest trends in landscape architecture, attending industry conferences, and connecting with colleagues to share insights and ideas. This continuous learning helps her bring innovative solutions to her projects.
“I’m excited about the growing trend of sustainability in landscape design,” she says. “Incorporating green infrastructure and eco-friendly practices is essential for a sustainable future.”
Reflecting on her day, Angelica acknowledges the unique challenges (and opportunities) of landscape design, from site constraints to fulfilling client expectations. She finds great satisfaction in overcoming these obstacles and seeing designs come to life.
“There’s no such thing as the perfect site,” she admits. “Each project comes with its own challenges, but it’s incredibly rewarding to see a space transformed and to know that it will thrive and bring joy to the community for years to come.”
Angelica's journey in landscape design began at Temple University, where she pursued her graduate studies. Her professional path includes valuable experience at a small residential landscape architecture firm that also owned a native plant nursery, providing her with extensive knowledge about plant names, identification, and growth habits. Prior to this, she worked at a landscape restoration company focusing on invasive species removal and management, enriching her understanding of both native and invasive plants.
With a lifelong artistic inclination and a profound appreciation for ecology and biology, Angelica found her perfect career blend in landscape design and architecture. Although she wasn't initially exposed to landscape architecture as a career option, her graduate program welcomed individuals from diverse backgrounds, helping her realize her passion for this field.
Angelica is particularly excited about the growing trend of resilience and sustainability in landscape architecture, especially in response to climate change. She looks forward to continuing her work on projects related to green infrastructure and stormwater management, and the multidisciplinary approach to restoring ecological function.
Princeton Hydro is an expert in engineering, ecological restoration, and landscape architecture, and we’ve been incorporating green stormwater infrastructure and nature-based solutions into our designs for decades. Recently, Princeton Hydro partnered with Congregation Kol Emet to design and implement a sustainable 10-acre campus transformation, providing green infrastructure engineering, landscape architecture, and construction services to enhance the synagogue's usability and welcoming atmosphere, reduce flooding, improve water quality, and augment biodiversity. Read more.
Exciting changes have unfolded at Kol Emet, a Reconstructionist Congregation in Yardley, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The campus’ exterior lands have undergone a remarkable transformation, blossoming into an enchanting and peaceful place for community member gatherings, and a wildflower meadow.
Princeton Hydro partnered with Congregation Kol Emet to design and implement the synagogue's 10-acre campus transformation. The Princeton Hydro team provided green infrastructure engineering, landscape architecture, and construction services aimed at enhancing the usability and welcoming atmosphere of the synagogue, and creating a sustainable outdoor solution in the event of future pandemics, and a place to connect with the natural environment that surrounds the property. The design provides a net positive impact by reducing flooding in the community and improves water quality by augmenting stormwater management and biodiversity throughout the property.
"Our vision surpassed mere construction of a gathering space," said Geoffrey M. Goll P.E., President of Princeton Hydro, a congregant of Kol Emet, Executive Board Member, and point person for the project. "We wanted to create a harmonious union between the synagogue campus and the surrounding preserved woodlands, cultivating a serene haven where congregants can unite, celebrate, and worship, while also enhancing the ecological functionality and biodiversity of the landscape. This was a realization of the vision of the Founders of Kol Emet and the labor and financial support of many members of the Board, past and present, and a generous donation by a longtime supporter of the community. The outdoor sanctuary was named in honor and memory of a founding member and former President, Geri Shatz, who was a staunch supporter of the Jewish community and advocate for the mission of Kol Emet. She lived the ideals of community and contribution. I am proud of the extraordinary transformation that’s been achieved."
The Kol Emet Reconstructionist Congregation, is a 501(c)3 religious organization, founded in 1984. While a center of worship for its members, it is much more than that. Kol Emet is a community of people who care about improving the world around them through social action and environmental protection.
The sentiment of "Tikkun Olam" is embodied by Kol Emet and the committee that spearheaded the project, working directly with the Princeton Hydro team to bring the project goals to fruition. The modern interpretation of the Hebrew phrase “Tikkun Olam,” is “action intended to repair and improve the world.” The campus restoration project brings the concept of “Tikkun Olam” to life.
Princeton Hydro Landscape Architect Cory Speroff, PLA, ASLA, CBLP is the project’s lead designer. The project included landscape design and planting that incorporates native and sustainable trees and shrubs; significant upgrades to the existing stormwater management basin, including the conversion of low-flow channels, impervious surfaces, and turf-covered areas to native grassland and wildflower habitat; and the development of the “Geri Shatz Outdoor Contemplative Space."
Cory’s design inspiration for the Geri Shatz Outdoor Contemplative Space is modeled after the Hebrew term “etz chaim” or “Tree of Life.” In Judaism, the Tree of Life has a number of meanings, both literal and figurative. In the Kabbalah, the Tree of Life represents the connection between heaven and earth, wisdom and knowledge, and the interconnectedness of all living things. It is visually represented as a diagram that looks much like a tree with 10 nodes and 22 lines. Cory’s design for the community space uses strategically placed trees to mimic the Tree of Life and aims to promote community connection and a connection to the surrounding natural landscape.
The contemplative space consists of a bimah, seating to accommodate at least 80 people, and a beautiful array of native trees and flowering shrubs, including black gum, silver birch, and Virginia sweetspire.
Cory’s design for the land surrounding the contemplative space improves flood resilience; controls stormwater runoff volume and promotes groundwater recharge; boosts safety features of the campus; and enhances habitat for pollinators, native plants, and other important species. The wildflower meadow was seeded with a variety of native plants, including purple love grass, common milkweed, wild bergamot, and blue wild indigo.
“During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it felt like the only way to see our loved ones was to be outside, and during these backyard and front porch gatherings many people re-discovered their love for the outdoors,” said Cory. “In talking with the Committee, there was a desire to create an outdoor sanctuary where the congregation could gather and continue that re-discovery. I believe that through the careful consideration of symbolic elements and thoughtful design choices, we’ve created a space that can inspire introspection, connection, and a sense of harmony with both nature and faith.”
Funding for the project came from the Congregation Kol Emet’s “Our Heart. Our Home” capital campaign, a $750,000 campaign focused on upgrading four key aspects of the synagogue: social hall, HVAC upgrades, indoor sanctuary, outside school, and the new outdoor sanctuary. The outdoor sanctuary and ecological uplift to the 10-acre campus is a primary piece of the campaign and was made possible by the generous donations of several Kol Emet members.
Stan Shatz bestowed a bounteous donation in memory of Geri Shatz, which made possible the creation of the “Geri Shatz Outdoor Contemplative Space.”
The following families also contributed to the funding of the Geri Shatz Outdoor Contemplative Space: Laurel & Kevin Bloch, Barbara & Debra Fogel and Family, Jill & David Gordon, Annie & Ryan Kubanoff and Family, and Teddi & Josh Matisoff and Family.
The Princeton Hydro team is honored to have worked with Kol Emet on this important and inspirational project.
Congregation Kol Emet came together on Sunday, June 4, 2023 for a celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the outdoor sanctuary project. Here are a few photos from the joyous event:
Princeton Hydro is an expert in engineering, ecological restoration, and landscape architecture, and we’ve been incorporating green stormwater infrastructure and nature-based solutions into our designs for decades. Click here to read about the landscape restoration and stormwater management project we designed and implemented in Thompson Park, a 675-acre recreation area in Middlesex County, New Jersey.
Stormwater runoff is all of the rainfall or snowmelt water that is not absorbed into the ground and instead flows over land. When not managed properly, stormwater runoff causes issues like pollution in our waterways, flooding, and erosion. Stormwater runoff has been cited in multiple studies as a leading cause of water quality impairment to our local lakes and rivers. And, with increasing levels of rainfall from climate change impacts, stormwater management is an especially critical issue for communities all across the U.S.
Stormwater management focuses on reducing runoff and improving water quality through a variety of techniques.
Traditional stormwater management methods include things like storm drains, retention ponds, and culverts. Green stormwater infrastructure uses vegetation, soil, and other natural components to manage stormwater. Green stormwater infrastructure systems mimic natural hydrology to take advantage of interception, evapotranspiration, and infiltration of stormwater runoff at its source. Examples include rain gardens, constructed wetlands, vegetated bioswales, and living shorelines. Many stormwater systems include a combination of grey and green infrastructure management practices.
Stormwater management treatment "trains" combine multiple stormwater management processes in order to prevent pollution and decrease stormwater flow volumes that negatively affect the receiving waterbody.
Thompson Park is a 675-acre recreation area - the largest developed park in the Middlesex County park system - with numerous attractions including playgrounds, ballfields, hiking trails, and a zoo. The zoo is an animal haven that houses over 50 geese and fowl, goats, and approximately 90 deer in a fenced enclosure. The park also features Lake Manalapan.
Within the zoo is a 0.25-acre pond that impounds stormwater runoff from adjacent uplands and two stormwater-fed tributaries to Lake Manalapan and Manalapan Brook. There are three tributaries to the pond with varying levels of erosion. The western tributary contains a headcut that is approximately four feet high. A headcut is created by a sudden down-cutting of the stream bottom. Similar to a miniature waterfall, a headcut slowly migrates upstream and becomes deeper as it progresses. The headcut in the Zoo tributary had destabilized the stream by eroding and incising its channel and banks. Additionally, foraging by Zoo inhabitants had removed most ground cover around the pond and associated tributaries, which also caused erosion.
The bare soil conditions, headcut, and manure from the Zoo animals were contributing sediment, nutrient, and pathogen loading to the Zoo pond and subsequently Lake Manalapan. The Zoo pond drains to an outlet structure, a 24-inch reinforced concrete pipe (RCP), and subsequently to a vegetated swale via a stormwater outlet. A second outlet pipe drains stormwater runoff from an asphalt parking lot which discharges to the vegetated swale.
The shoreline of Lake Manalapan where the vegetated swale drains into the lake was the subject of a previous restoration project during which a diverse suite of native plants was installed; however, the swale was not included in this project and a maintained lawn, which does not adequately filter stormwater runoff or provide any ecosystem services. The swale also had little access to its floodplain where vegetation can help filter non-point source (NPS) pollutants from the Zoo pond and adjacent uplands.
In order to increase channel stability, decrease erosion, improve water quality and ecological function, and reduce the NPS pollutants originating from the Zoo, a stormwater management treatment train was designed and constructed.
Middlesex County Office of Parks and Recreation and Office of Planning, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), South Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council (SJRC&D), Middlesex County Mosquito Extermination Commission, Freehold Soil Conservation District, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Enviroscapes and Princeton Hydro worked together to fund, design, permit, and construct the following stormwater management measures:
To see the project elements taking shape and being completed, watch our video:
The project is funded by a Water Quality Restoration 319(h) grant awarded to SJRC&D by the NJDEP for continued implementation of watershed-based measures to reduce NPS pollutant loading and compliance with a total phosphorus (TP) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) established by the NJDEP for Lake Manalapan. The TMDL is a regulatory term in the U.S. Clean Water Act, that identifies the maximum amount of a pollutant (in this case phosphorus) that a waterbody can receive while still meeting water quality standards.
“The South Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council was pleased to participate in this project. Partnering with these various governmental agencies and private entities to implement on the ground conservation and water quality improvements aligns perfectly with our mission. We are thrilled with the great work done at Thompson Park and look forward to continuing this partnership.”Craig McGee, South Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council District Manager
“The South Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council was pleased to participate in this project. Partnering with these various governmental agencies and private entities to implement on the ground conservation and water quality improvements aligns perfectly with our mission. We are thrilled with the great work done at Thompson Park and look forward to continuing this partnership.”
Construction of the stormwater treatment train components began in early August 2021 and was completed by the end of September 2021.
The first step of the stormwater treatment train was to stabilize the tributary to Lake Manalapan and its associated headcut. Streambank stabilization measures included grade modifications to create a gradual stream slope and dynamically stable form with improved habitat features, including riffles and pools, with gravel and cobble substrate. On August 17, grading of the floodplain bench began, the RCP was exposed, and the team started excavation for the lower three steps in the step-pool sequence.
On August 20, the rock grade and step-pool sequence were completed. And, fabric was installed along both sides of the rock-lined channel to increase stream-bank stability. Rock was placed within the pools to cover the edge of the fabric. We are very pleased to report that the newly restored channel held up to two large storm events during the construction process.
Bags of BioChar, a pure carbon charcoal-like substance made from organic material, were installed across the Zoo pond using an anchor and line system. The BioChar bags help to remove TP and other nutrients from the water column and bed sediments of the Zoo pond and subsequently Manalapan Brook Watershed. The team also built, planted and installed a floating wetland island, an effective green infrastructure solution that improves water quality by assimilating and removing excess nutrients that could fuel algae growth.
After conclusion of pipe lighting, excavation of the floodplain bench and installation of scour protection, native perennial vegetation was planted within the floodplain and swale in order to provide sediment deposition and nutrient uptake functions, as well as aquatic food web services and water temperature moderation before flows are discharged to Lake Manalapan. The plantings also enhance and create suitable avian and pollinator species habitat, and greater flora and fauna diversity.
This stormwater treatment train project improves the habitat and water quality of the Manalapan Brook Watershed by addressing NPS pollutants that originate from Thompson Park Zoo. The completed work also supports the Watershed Protection and Restoration Plan for the Manalapan Brook Watershed by reducing TSS and TP loads in compliance with the TMDL. Additionally, the project improves the overall ecosystem by stabilizing eroded streambanks, installing native and biodiverse vegetation, and reducing the quantity of pollutants entering Lake Manalapan.
“Thompson Park Zoo is an excellent model for showcasing a successful and comprehensive approach to stormwater management and watershed restoration through a dynamic multi-stakeholder partnership. We are so proud to be a part of this project and continue to support the Manalapan Brook Watershed Protection Plan through a variety of restoration activities.”Amy McNamara, E.I.T, Princeton Hydro Project Manager and Water Resource Engineer
“Thompson Park Zoo is an excellent model for showcasing a successful and comprehensive approach to stormwater management and watershed restoration through a dynamic multi-stakeholder partnership. We are so proud to be a part of this project and continue to support the Manalapan Brook Watershed Protection Plan through a variety of restoration activities.”
At Princeton Hydro, we are experts in stormwater management; we recognize the numerous benefits of green infrastructure; and we’ve been incorporating green infrastructure into our engineering designs since before the term was regularly used in the stormwater lexicon. Click here to learn more about our stormwater management services.
Over the past year, the Deal Lake Commission (DLC) has implemented a variety of stormwater management projects aimed at reducing the volume of stormwater runoff, decreasing total phosphorus loading, and preventing debris, sediment, and pollutants from flowing into waterbodies throughout the Deal Lake, Wesley Lake, and Sunset Lake Watersheds.
These projects encompass a strategic combination of stormwater best management practices (BMPs), including structural BMPs, non-structural controls, and green infrastructure techniques. These stormwater management projects were funded by a Clean Water Act Section 319(h) grant awarded by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to the DLC.
Let’s take a look at some of the recently completed initiatives:
Manufactured Treatment Devices (MTDs) are pre-fabricated stormwater treatment structures used to address stormwater issues in highly developed, urban areas. MTDs capture and remove sediments, metals, hydrocarbons, and other pollutants from stormwater runoff before the runoff reaches surrounding waterbodies and/or storm sewer systems.
This year, Princeton Hydro worked with the DLC and Leon S. Avakian Engineers to design and install three MTDs throughout Asbury Park, NJ with the purpose of improving water quality in Sunset Lake.
Students from the Asbury Park High School Engineering Academy, led by their teacher Kevin Gould, were invited to observe one of the MTD installations. The educational field trip was combined with a presentation from Princeton Hydro’s Senior Aquatic Ecologist Dr. Jack Szczepanski, which was titled, “Ecology and Engineering in Asbury Park.”
Rain gardens are a cost effective, attractive, and sustainable way to minimize stormwater runoff and filter out pollutants. This aesthetic, low-maintenance addition to any outdoor landscape creates a functioning habitat that attracts pollinators, beneficial insects, and birds. And, in a small way, it helps reduce erosion, promote groundwater recharge, and minimize flooding.
The DLC along with the Deal Lake Watershed Alliance, Asbury Park's Environmental Shade Tree Commission (ESTC), Asbury Park Department of Public Works (DPW) and Princeton Hydro completed a major renovation to an existing rain garden located in front of the Asbury Park bus terminal and municipal building.
The rain garden, which was originally constructed by the ESTC, was not functioning properly due to one of the inlets being completely obstructed by sediment. The DPW helped clear the sediment and regrade it, while the ESTC removed invasive weeds and replanted it with native shrubs, perennials, and flowers.
Floating Wetland Islands (FWIs) are a low-cost, effective green infrastructure solution used to mitigate phosphorus and nitrogen stormwater pollution. FWIs are designed to mimic natural wetlands in a sustainable, efficient, and powerful way. They improve water quality by assimilating and removing excess nutrients that could fuel harmful algae blooms; provide valuable ecological habitat for a variety of beneficial species; help mitigate wave and wind erosion impacts; provide an aesthetic element; and add significant biodiversity enhancement within open freshwater environments.
The DLC worked with Princeton Hydro to design and install a total of 12 floating wetland islands, six in Sunset Lake and six in Wesley Lake. A team of volunteers, led by the DLC and Princeton Hydro, planted vegetation in each of the FWIs and launched and secured each island into the lakes.
Clean Water Act Section 319(h) grant related efforts will continue in the Spring of 2022 with the design and installation of “bioscape” gardens and tree boxes. Stay tuned for updates!
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To learn more about the Deal Lake Commission, click here. To read about one of Princeton Hydro’s recently completed stormwater management projects, click here.
Deal Lake is the largest of New Jersey’s coastal lakes, encompassing 155 acres and spanning over 27 miles of shoreline. The lake’s 4,400-acre watershed is highly developed, with the majority of development dating back to the 1940s-1960s. As a result, stormwater management, particularly with respect to water quality and volume management, is largely lacking.
Since 1980, the Deal Lake Commission (DLC) has served as the State-appointed steward of the lake. Princeton Hydro secured the DLC $450,000 in 319(h) funding to implement the lake’s New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection-approved Watershed Protection Plan. The 319(h) funding was used by the DLC to conduct three projects designed to decrease stormwater-based pollutant loading, improve the lake’s water quality, and restore heavily eroded sections of the shoreline.
This project involved the installation of a manufactured treatment device (MTD). MTDs are very effective “retrofit” solutions that can be used to address stormwater issues even in highly developed areas. The MTD installation was complicated by site constraints including sub-surface infrastructure. Post-installation field testing and STEPL modeling conducted by Princeton Hydro confirmed that the MTD significantly decreased the pollutant loading from one of the lake’s major stormwater outfalls.
Princeton Hydro conducted the field testing, engineering design, and permitting of three bio-infiltration basins constructed at the Colonial Terrace Golf Course (CTGC). Post-project-completion field testing showed each basin is capable of fully infiltrating the runoff generated by storms as great as 1.5 inches per hour. In addition, over 300 feet of eroded shoreline was stabilized with native plants. Doing so helped create a dense buffer that inhibits passage of Canadian geese from the lake onto the golf course.
Princeton Hydro developed a bio-engineering design for the stabilization of a badly eroded 250-foot segment section of shoreline adjacent to the Asbury Park boat launch. Coir fiber logs were used in conjunction with native plant material. As with the CTGC planting, help was provided by local volunteers and the DLC commissioners. The final element of the project involved the construction of a bioretention rain garden to control the runoff from the boat launch parking area. Signage was also installed to inform the public about the project and the benefits of shoreline naturalization.
The Deal Lake Watershed Protection Plan Implementation Project proved that despite Deal Lake being located in a highly urbanized watershed, it is possible to implement cost-effective green infrastructure and stormwater retrofit solutions capable of significantly decreasing pollutant loading to the lake. These measures are part of the DLC’s continued efforts to utilize environmentally sustainable techniques to improve the lake’s water quality. This project won a North American Lake Management Society Technical Merit Award.
Over the last two decades, we’ve restored many miles of rivers, improved water quality in hundreds of ponds and lakes, and enhanced thousands of acres of ecosystems in the Northeast. To learn more about our natural resource management services, click here.
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