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The Borough of Mountain Lakes has received grant funding from the New Jersey Highlands Council to develop a comprehensive Lake and Watershed Management Plan for nine lakes within the Borough. To lead this effort, the Borough engaged Princeton Hydro, a leader in ecological and engineering consulting. The initiative will focus on characterizing hydrologic and nutrient dynamics within the Borough’s lake systems and watersheds to guide targeted water quality improvement and management strategies.
“Mountain Lakes takes great pride in our lakes, which play an important role in defining our community. Through our partnership with the Highlands Council and Princeton Hydro, we’re taking a proactive, data-driven approach to protecting both the environmental and recreational value of our lakes and waterways, with the goal of preserving these vital natural resources for generations to come,” said Borough of Mountain Lakes Manager Mitchell Stern.
A selection process was undertaken by the Borough of Mountain Lakes, Princeton Hydro, and the New Jersey Highlands Council to define the scope of this Lake and Watershed Management Program. In accordance with Policy 1L2 and Objective 1L2a of the NJHC Regional Master Plan, which establish lake management tiers and prioritize lakes greater than 10 acres for protection and management, nine lakes were selected for the study: Birchwood Lake, Crystal Lake, Wildwood Lake, Sunset Lake, Mountain Lake, Shadow Pond, Olive Pond, Grundens Pond, and Cove Pond. These lakes represent the waterbodies in the Borough and were chosen to ensure the program focuses on areas with the greatest potential impact on water quality, watershed function, and community value.

Princeton Hydro’s work will include watershed modeling, hydrologic and pollutant load analyses, and in-lake and watershed-based water quality monitoring. Once the data is analyzed, Princeton Hydro will develop a General Assessment Report that identifies the primary drivers of eutrophication and outlines a prioritized set of management strategies to effectively reduce nutrient loading and enhance long-term lake health.
“The regional, science-based approach to lake and watershed management has proven to be a powerful tool for municipalities in the Highlands Region,” said Christopher Mikolajczyk, CLM, Senior Manager of Aquatics at Princeton Hydro, Certified Lake Manager, and lead designer for this initiative. “We’re excited to collaborate with Mountain Lakes to help identify cost-effective, data-driven strategies that will enhance water quality throughout the watershed and help safeguard these treasured natural resources.”
The New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (Highlands Council) is a regional planning agency that partners with municipalities and counties in the Highlands Region to promote proactive watershed protection. Established under the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act of 2004, the Council has funded numerous water-quality-related planning initiatives.
Historically, municipalities and private lake associations have managed water quality issues independently. However, taking a coordinated, watershed-based approach enables communities to more effectively address pollution sources, improve water quality, and prevent the spread of invasive species and harmful algal blooms.
Mountain Lakes joins several other Highlands region municipalities that have received Highlands council funding to implement similar lake and watershed management initiatives. In 2019, the Borough of Ringwood became the first municipality in New Jerey to adopt a regional, public-private approach to lake management, partnering with four lake associations across six lakes. Since the completion of the Ringwood plan, NJDEP has funded recommendations from the plan. This model has since inspired additional projects, including watershed assessments for West Milford Township, Rockaway Township, Byram Township, Vernon Township, and Somerset County Parks Commission. Princeton Hydro worked with each agency to develop the respective scope of work to secure grant funding from the Highlands Council.

Photo from the Borough of Mountain Lakes.
                    [post_title] => Borough of Mountain Lakes Launches Lake and Watershed Management Program with Funding from NJ Highlands Council
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The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) recently announced $8 million in Water Quality Restoration Grants to support projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution, mitigate harmful algal blooms, restore riparian areas, and enhance watershed and climate resilience. Funded through Section 319(h) of the federal Clean Water Act and administered by the DEP's Watershed and Land Management Program, these grants were awarded to municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions across the state.
Princeton Hydro is proud to be a partner on five of the 17 funded projects. Our contributions vary by project and encompass activities such as engineering design, water quality assessment, watershed-based planning, and technical support for implementing stormwater and habitat restoration measures. Let's take a deeper look at these collaborative efforts:

1. The Watershed Institute – Watershed-Based Planning for Assunpink Creek
The Watershed Institute received $205K in 319(h) grant funding to develop a watershed-based plan for the Assunpink Creek watershed, located within the Raritan River Basin. This watershed spans 11 municipalities across two counties, where varied landscapes and demographics share common challenges such as localized flooding, stormwater management, and water quality degradation, highlighting the need for a coordinated, watershed-wide, science-driven approach.
The plan will evaluate pollution sources and identify large-scale restoration opportunities, including green infrastructure and riparian buffer restoration, to improve water quality and reduce flooding. It will also assess the cost, feasibility, and pollutant reduction potential of proposed measures to ensure practical implementation. Princeton Hydro supported the Institute in developing the grant proposal and planning framework, leveraging our expertise in watershed-based planning to prioritize nature-based solutions that address both water quality and climate resilience. This initiative represents a critical step toward regional collaboration, enabling upstream and downstream communities to work together on strategies that strengthen watershed health, protect public safety, and build long-term resilience.




2. Lake Hopatcong Commission – Watershed-Based Stormwater BMPs
The Lake Hopatcong Commission (LHC) was awarded $366K to retrofit an existing stormwater detention basin between King Road and Mount Arlington Boulevard in Roxbury Township. This retrofit is part of a larger Watershed Implementation Plan that Princeton Hydro developed in collaboration with LHC, which prioritizes nutrient reduction and stormwater management strategies across the Lake Hopatcong watershed. Over the past several years, LHC has actively implemented multiple elements of this plan to address harmful algal blooms (HABs) and improve water quality.
For this project, Princeton Hydro is providing engineering design and technical oversight to transform the existing basin into a green stormwater infrastructure system that slows, captures, and naturally treats runoff before it enters King Cove. The design incorporates native vegetation, invasive species management, and erosion control measures to stabilize soils and filter pollutants, reducing nutrient loading, which is one key driver of HABs. Public outreach and pre- and post-construction water quality monitoring will ensure performance tracking and measurable improvements. This basin retrofit represents a critical step in a coordinated, science-based approach to restoring ecological health and water quality in New Jersey’s largest lake.




3. Cozy Lake, Jefferson Township – Addressing Emerging Contaminants
Jefferson Township received $350K in grant funding to develop an Emerging Contaminants Management Plan for Cozy Lake, focusing on cyanotoxins and HABs. Cozy Lake is a 28-acre waterbody within a 1,152-acre sub-watershed that includes both forested (60%) and developed (29%) land. The lake is fed by the Rockaway River at its northern end and a smaller southeastern inlet, with outflow through a dam on the western edge.
The shoreline is primarily residential lawn with minimal emergent wetlands, and several inlets and rock-lined drainage ditches exhibit erosion and lack slope protection, contributing to sediment loading. Princeton Hydro provided early technical input to shape this innovative project with the creation of a comprehensive Jefferson Township Lake and Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan. As part of the plan, Princeton Hydro made recommendations for Cozy Lake, which included enhancing shoreline buffers with native vegetation and installing living shorelines at select properties to stabilize soils, filter stormwater and reduce nutrient loading, improve habitat quality, and enhance community access. These measures, combined with in-lake monitoring and proactive management strategies, will help mitigate HABs and protect ecological and public health.




4. Rockaway Township – Watershed-Based Green Infrastructure
Rockaway Township received $399K in grant funding to implement elements of its Watershed Implementation Plan, focusing on green infrastructure stormwater management and nutrient reduction to improve water quality. The project will retrofit the municipal complex by converting a rock-lined drainage swale into a vegetated swale with a bioretention basin, designed to filter stormwater runoff and reduce nonpoint source pollutants entering Fox’s Pond and Fox Brook.
Princeton Hydro played a key role in developing the Watershed Implementation Plan, which encompasses 11 private lakes within the Rockaway River watershed, prioritizing critical locations for intervention and designing cost-effective green infrastructure BMPs. This regional approach aligns with strategies recommended by NJDEP and the Highlands Council. The plan included a comprehensive watershed-based assessment to identify and quantify factors contributing to eutrophication, evaluate management measures, estimate costs, and establish an implementation schedule. Princeton Hydro authored the final report, which guided the Township in applying for the Section 319(h) grant and now informs the design and construction of green stormwater infrastructure that will deliver measurable water quality improvements while supporting ecological restoration goals.




5. Green Trust Alliance – Green Infrastructure and Community Engagement
Green Trust Alliance (GTA), a nationally accredited land trust and public charity dedicated to accelerating large-scale conservation, received $1.39 million in NJDEP funding to implement green infrastructure improvements at Pinelands Regional High School in Tuckerton, New Jersey. This initiative targets the Tuckerton Creek watershed, which drains into Tuckerton Creek and ultimately flows into Barnegat Bay—a critical estuary spanning 33 municipalities in Ocean County and four in Monmouth County. The retrofit will transform the school’s stormwater detention basin into a multi-functional system that mimics natural hydrology, enhances flow control, and improves water quality locally and in the larger Barnegat Bay watershed.
Working with GTA and GreenVest, Princeton Hydro is serving as the design engineer, applying nature-based engineering and ecological restoration techniques to intercept, evapotranspire, and infiltrate stormwater runoff at its source. In addition to its technical objectives, the effort includes a strong community engagement component and an educational platform for students. By bringing green infrastructure into the school environment, the initiative provides hands-on experience with water resources, stormwater management, and ecological engineering, help to build STEM skills while fostering a deeper connection to the surrounding landscape and an understanding of how natural systems work together to support environmental and community health.



Princeton Hydro also assisted several of these partners in developing successful NJDEP Section 319(h) grant applications, providing technical documentation, conceptual designs, and pollutant load reduction estimates to strengthen the proposals.
To date, the Murphy Administration has awarded more than $33M in Water Quality Restoration grants to improve the health of waterways in all corners of the state. Click here to read about all the 2025 grant funding recipients and their innovative projects.
As NJDEP Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette noted in the department's press release, “Enhancing the ecological health of our lakes, rivers, streams and coastal waters has long been a priority of the Murphy Administration. The Department of Environmental Protection is pleased to award these grants that will help our partners advance a variety of strategies to improve the health of these waterways and enhance the quality of life in our communities.”
We are proud to play a continued role in advancing that mission: helping communities implement practical, data-driven solutions that make a measurable difference for New Jersey’s waterways and the people who depend on them. Click here to learn more about our work to protect natural habitat and restore water quality throughout the New Jersey.
                    [post_title] => NJDEP Awards $8M for Water Quality Restoration Projects
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By Dr. Fred Lubnow, Senior Technical Director of Ecological Services
As we reflect on the winter of 2023-2024, it's evident that New Jersey experienced another unusually mild season, mirroring the winter of 2022-2023. Notably, Lake Hopatcong, located in Sussex and Morris Counties, remained virtually ice-free throughout the winter, with only a brief period of minor ice formation in early January. This pattern was not isolated to Lake Hopatcong; many lakes across the state and the broader Mid-Atlantic region exhibited similar ice-free conditions. Such conditions can lead to increased algal and plant growth earlier in the year.
Adding to this, from January to early June 2024, 15 of New Jersey's 21 counties recorded precipitation levels 26% to 50% higher than their long-term averages. The remaining six counties, predominantly in the southern part of the state, had precipitation increases of 11% to 25% above their long-term normals. This heightened precipitation is significant as it can transport nutrients, most notably phosphorus and nitrogen, into water bodies, potentially fueling the growth of algae.
Compounding these factors, long-range climate models and trends suggest that the summer of 2024 could rank among the hottest on record. The combination of a mild winter, increased precipitation, and anticipated high summer temperatures sets the stage for conditions similar to those experienced in 2019, a year marked by widespread harmful algal blooms (HABs) in numerous lakes.
HABs, characterized by rapid overgrowths of cyanobacteria, present serious challenges to water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, naturally occur in aquatic environments but can proliferate rapidly under warm, nutrient-rich conditions. These blooms pose risks to human health, wildlife, aquatic species, local economies, and the overall ecological balance. The interplay between climate change and HABs is undeniable: rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns foster conditions that exacerbate bloom occurrences.
Given these circumstances, it is crucial for lake managers and water utilities to adopt proactive measures. Early and consistent sampling efforts can detect cyanobacteria and akinetes, dormant spores that contribute to bloom formation. Additionally, reducing nutrient inputs, particularly phosphorus, into waterways is essential to prevent HABs. Princeton Hydro strongly recommends that lake managers, water utilities, and concerned community members closely monitor their lakes, reservoirs, and riverways to stay as proactive as possible in managing these valuable resources.
By raising awareness, fostering collaboration, and implementing effective strategies, we can work towards safeguarding the health and sustainability of our freshwater ecosystems. Together, we can address the challenges posed by HABs and protect the integrity of our water bodies. For more information about HABs, click here.



Dr. Fred Lubnow, Princeton Hydro’s Senior Technical Director, Ecological Services, is an expert in aquatic and watershed management, restoration ecology, community and ecosystem ecology, and the use of benthic macroinvertebrate and fish in-stream bioassessment protocols. Dr. Lubnow has managed hundreds of lake projects and provides technical expertise for a variety of lake and watershed restoration projects.
His experience in lake and reservoir restoration includes the design and implementation of dredging, aeration, chemical control of nuisance species, nutrient inactivation (i.e. alum) and biomanipulation. His experience in watershed restoration includes the design and implementation of structural Best Management Practices (BMPs), the development of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) pollutant budgets, and the design, implementation and analysis of watershed-based monitoring programs.
                    [post_title] => Preparing for Potential Harmful Algal Blooms: An Urgent Call to Action for NJ's Lakes and Reservoirs
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This article, written by Princeton Hydro team members, was recently published in the ANJEC Report, a quarterly magazine published by the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions.
Our lakes in New Jersey are an invaluable resource for clean drinking water, outdoor recreation, and agriculture and provide habitat for aquatic flora and fauna. Home to about 1,700 lakes, the “Garden State” is also the most densely populated state. Excess nutrients from fertilizers, roadway pollutants, overdevelopment, and failing septic systems can end up in our lakes and impair water quality. Larger rain events can also cause erosion and instability of streams, adding to the influx of more excess nutrients to our lakes and ponds. Changes in hydrology, water chemistry, biology, and/or physical properties in these complex ecosystems can have cascading consequences that can alter water quality and the surrounding ecosystem. For example, excess nutrients can fuel algal and plant growth in lakes and lead to issues like harmful algal blooms (HABs) or fish kills.
In order to ensure that we protect the overall health of our local waterbodies, it’s important that we look beyond just the lake itself. Implementing holistic watershed-based planning is a critical step in managing stormwater runoff, preventing the spread of HABs, and maintaining water quality. A watershed management plan defines and addresses existing or future water quality problems from both point sources and nonpoint sources of pollutants*. This approach addresses all the beneficial uses of a waterbody, the criteria needed to protect the use, and the strategies required to restore water quality or prevent degradation. When developing a watershed plan, we review all the tools in the toolbox and recommend a variety of best management practices to prevent nutrients from entering lakes or streams. Options include short- and long-term solutions such as green stormwater infrastructure, stream bank stabilization, and stormwater basin retrofits.
To reduce nutrient availability in lakes, one innovative tool in our toolbox is floating wetland islands (FWIs). FWIs are a low-cost, effective green infrastructure solution that are designed to mimic natural wetlands in a sustainable, efficient, and powerful way. They improve water quality by assimilating and removing excess nutrients; 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. FWIs are also highly effective in a range of waterbodies from big to small, from deep to shallow.


[caption id="attachment_4363" align="aligncenter" width="631"] This illustration, sketched by Princeton Hydro Staff Scientist Ivy Babson, conveys the functionality of a floating wetland island.[/caption]

 
Typically, FWIs consist of a constructed floating mat, usually composed of woven, recycled plastic material, with vegetation planted directly into the material. The islands are then launched into the lake and anchored in place, and, once established, require very little maintenance.
It estimated that one 250-square-foot FWI has a surface area equal to approximately one acre of natural wetland. These floating ecosystems can remove approximately 10 pounds of phosphorus each year. To put that into perspective, one pound of phosphorus can produce 1,100 pounds of algae each year, so each 250-square-feet of FWI can potentially mitigate up to 11,000 pounds of algae.
In addition to removing phosphorus that can feed nuisance aquatic plant growth and algae, FWIs also provide excellent refuge habitat for beneficial forage fish and can provide protection from shoreline erosion.

Let's take a look at some examples of FWIs in action:
Lake Hopatcong
[gallery columns="2" link="none" ids="11071,10666"]

 
Princeton Hydro has been working with Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey’s largest Lake, for 30+ years, restoring the lake, managing the watershed, reducing pollutant loading, and addressing invasive aquatic plants and nuisance algal blooms. Back in 2012, Lake Hopatcong became the first public lake in New Jersey to install FWIs. In the summer of 2022, nine more FWIs were installed in the lake with help from staff and volunteers from the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, Lake Hopatcong Commission, and Princeton Hydro. The lake’s Landing Channel and Ashley Cove were chosen for the installations because they are both fairly shallow and prone to weed growth. The installation of these floating wetland islands is part of a series of water quality initiatives on Lake Hopatcong funded by a NJDEP Harmful Algal Bloom Grant and 319(h) Grant awarded to Lake Hopatcong Commission and Lake Hopatcong Foundation.




Greenwood Lake

Princeton Hydro partnered with the Greenwood Lake Commission (GWLC) on a FWI installation in Belcher's Creek, the main tributary of Greenwood Lake. The lake, a 1,920-acre waterbody located in both New Jersey and New York, is a highly valued ecological, economical, and recreational resource. The lake also serves as a headwater supply of potable water that flows to the Monksville Reservoir and eventually into the Wanaque Reservoir, where it supplies over 3 million people with drinking water.
The goal of the FWI Installation was to help decrease total phosphorus loading, improve water quality, and create important habitat for beneficial aquatic, insect, bird, and wildlife species. The project was partially funded by the NJDEP Water Quality Restoration Grants for Nonpoint Source Pollution Program under Section 319(h) of the federal Clean Water Act. GWLC was awarded one of NJDEP’s matching grants, which provided $2 in funding for every $1 invested by the grant applicant.




Harveys Lake

Measuring 630+ acres, Harveys Lake is the largest natural lake (by volume) in Pennsylvania and is one of the most heavily used lakes in the area. It is classified as a high quality - cold water fishery habitat (HQ-CWF) and is designated for protection under the classification. Since 2002, The Borough of Harveys Lake and Harveys Lake Environmental Advisory Council has worked with Princeton Hydro on a variety of lake management efforts focused around maintaining high water quality conditions, strengthening stream banks and shorelines, and managing stormwater runoff. Five floating wetland islands were installed in Harveys Lake to assimilate and reduce nutrients already in the lake. The islands were placed in areas with high concentrations of nutrients, placed 50 feet from the shoreline and tethered in place with steel cables and anchored. The FWIs were funded by PADEP.




Wesley Lake and Sunset Lake

Working with the Deal Lake Commission (DLC), Princeton Hydro designed and installed 12 floating wetland islands at two lakes in Asbury Park, NJ. In order to complete the installation of the floating wetland islands, our team worked with the DLC to train and assist over 30 volunteers to plant plugs in the islands and launch them into the two lakes. Our experts helped disseminate knowledge to the volunteers, not only about how to install the floating wetland islands, but how they scientifically worked to remove excess nutrients from the water. With assistance from Princeton Hydro, DLC acquired the 12 floating islands – six for Wesley Lake and six for Sunset Lake – through a Clean Water Act Section 319(h) grant awarded by NJDEP.



In addition to the direct environmental benefits of FWIs, the planting events themselves, which usually involve individuals from the local lake communities, have long-lasting positive impacts. When community members come together to help plant FWIs, it gives them a deepened sense of ownership and strengthens their connection to the lake. This, in turn, encourages continued stewardship of the watershed and creates a broader awareness of how human behaviors impact the lake and its water quality. And, real water quality improvements begin at the watershed level with how people treat their land.
For more information on watershed planning or installing FWI in your community, click here to contact us. To learn more about ANJEC, go here.
-

*U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2008. Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters.




                    [post_title] => Floating Wetland Islands: An Effective, Affordable, and Sustainable Lake Management Tool
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                    [post_content] => 
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
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.
[gallery columns="2" ids="9896,9897,9894,9895"]

 
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.”


Click below to watch one of the recent MTD installations:

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Rain Garden Renovation
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.


For more information about rain gardens and instructions on how to build your own, check out our recent blog:

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Floating Wetland Islands
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.
[gallery link="none" columns="2" ids="8942,8945,8936,8935"]

 
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!
...
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.







                    [post_title] => 3 Techniques to Manage Stormwater & Improve Water Quality
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                    [post_content] => 
Volunteers recently came together in Asbury Park, New Jersey to install floating wetland islands (FWIs) in Wesley Lake and Sunset Lake. The initiative, led by the Deal Lake Commission and Princeton Hydro, brought together dozens of volunteers to install a total of 12 FWIs, six in each lake. 
[gallery link="none" ids="8935,8936,8934"]
Photos by Donald Brockel



 
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.



 



Volunteers install plants in one of the six floating wetland islands launched in Wesley Lake:




 



The Deal Lake Commission acquired the 12 FWIs through a Clean Water Act Section 319(h) grant awarded by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. During the volunteer event, participants helped plant vegetation in each of the FWIs, and launch and secure each island into the lakes.



We collected so many great photos during the event. Here are some highlights:
[gallery link="none" columns="2" ids="8950,8939,8943,8942,8946,8944,8945,8954,8941,8923"]
NBC New York’s Brian Thompson stopped by to lend a hand and captured footage of the floating wetland island launch. Click here to watch!
To learn more about Floating Wetland Islands, check out the recent Native Plants, Healthy Planet Podcast, which featured Dr. Jack Szczepanski, CBLP, Princeton Hydro Senior Aquatic Ecologist.

                    [post_title] => Volunteers Install 12 Floating Wetland Islands in Asbury Park, NJ
                    [post_excerpt] => Volunteers installed floating wetland islands (FWIs) in Asbury Park's Wesley Lake and Sunset Lake. The initiative was led by the Deal Lake Commission and Princeton Hydro.
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                    [post_content] => 
Looking for a unique and creative way to manage nutrient runoff in freshwater lakes? Installing Floating Wetland Islands (FWI) is a low-cost, effective green infrastructure solution used to mitigate phosphorus and nitrogen stormwater pollution often emanating from highly developed communities and/or agricultural lands.
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 algae growth; 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.
“A pound of phosphorus can produce 1,100 lbs of algae each year. And, each 250-square foot island can remove 10 lbs of phosphorus annually.” explains Princeton Hydro Staff Scientist Katie Walston. "So, that's 11,000 lbs of algae that is mitigated each year from each 250 square foot of FWI installed!"


[caption id="attachment_4363" align="aligncenter" width="777"] This illustration, created by Staff Scientist Ivy Babson, conveys the functionality of a Floating Wetland Island[/caption]

 
Typically, FWIs consist of a constructed floating mat with vegetation planted directly into the material. Once the islands are anchored in the lake, the plants thrive and grow, extending their root systems through the mat and absorbing and removing excess nutrients from the water column such as phosphorus and nitrogen.
The plants uptake a lot of nutrients, but the workhorse of the FWIs is the microbial community. The matrix used within the islands has a very high surface area and it promotes microbial growth, which performs the majority of the nutrient uptake. Additionally, the root growth from the plants continues to increase the surface area for the microbial biofilm to grow on. Both the plants and microbes acting together help optimize nutrient removal.
Princeton Hydro has designed and installed numerous FWIs in waterbodies large and small for the purpose of harmful algal bloom control, fisheries enhancement, stormwater management, shoreline preservation, wastewater treatment, and more. FWIs are also highly adaptable and can be sized, configured, and planted to fit the needs of nearly any lake, pond, or reservoir.

Recently, the Princeton Hydro team completed a FWI installation in Belcher's Creek, the main tributary of Greenwood Lake. The lake, a 1,920-acre waterbody located in  both Passaic County, New Jersey and Orange County, New York, is a highly valued ecological and recreational resource for both states and has a substantial impact on the local economies. In addition, the lake serves as a headwater supply of potable water that flows to the Monksville Reservoir and eventually into the Wanaque Reservoir, where it supplies over 3 million people and thousands of businesses with drinking water. 
Since the lake was negatively impacted by HABs during the 2019 summer season, Greenwood Lake Commission (GWLC) has made a stronger effort to eliminate HABs and any factors that contribute to cyanobacteria blooms for 2020 and into the future. Factors being addressed include pollutant loading in the watershed, especially that of Belcher's Creek. The installation of FWIs in Belcher's Creek will immediately address nutrients in the water before it enters Greenwood Lake and help decrease total phosphorus loading. In turn this will help reduce HABs, improve water quality throughout the Greenwood Lake watershed, and create important habitat for beneficial aquatic, insect, bird and wildlife species.
“In addition to the direct environmental benefits of FWIs, the planting events themselves, which involve individuals from the local lake communities, have long-lasting positive impacts,” said Dr. Jack Szczepanski, Princeton Hydro Senior Project Manager, Aquatics Resources. “When community members come together to help plant FWIs, it gives them a deepened sense of ownership and strengthens their connection to the lake. This, in turn, encourages continued stewardship of the watershed and creates a broader awareness of how human behaviors impact the lake and its water quality. And, real water quality improvements begin at the watershed level with how people treat their land.”
The project was partially funded by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (NJDEP) Water Quality Restoration Grants for Nonpoint Source Pollution Program under Section 319(h) of the federal Clean Water Act. As part of the statewide HAB response strategy, the NJDEP made $13.5 million in funding available for local projects that improve water quality and help prevent, mitigate and manage HABs in the state’s lakes and ponds. The GWLC was awarded one of the NJDEPs matching grants, which provided $2 in funding for every $1 invested by the grant applicant. For this project, the GWLC purchased the FWIs and NJDEP provided the 2:1 cash match in order for the GWLC to implement additional HAB prevention and mitigation strategies in critical locations throughout the watershed.
Check out the photos from last month's installation:

[gallery columns="2" link="none" ids="5117,5118,5113,5109"]
Over the coming weeks, our team will be in Asbury Park, New Jersey installing FWIs in Sunset Lake. Stay tuned for more! For additional information about our lake management services, go here: bit.ly/pondlake.
…
                    [post_title] => Floating Wetland Islands: A Sustainable Solution for Lake Management
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Floating Wetland Islands (FWI) are an effective alternative to large, watershed-based, natural wetlands. Often described as self-sustaining, FWIs provide numerous ecological benefits. They assimilate and remove excess nutrients that could fuel algae growth; provide habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms; help mitigate wave and wind erosion impacts; provide an aesthetic element; and can be part of a holistic lake/pond management strategy. FWIs are also highly adaptable and can be sized, configured and planted to fit the needs of nearly any lake, pond or reservoir.


[caption id="attachment_4363" align="aligncenter" width="820"] Illustration by Princeton Hydro Staff Scientist Ivy Babson[/caption]

 
Princeton Hydro Senior Scientist Katie Walston recently completed the Floating Island International (FII) Floating Wetland Master Seminar. The seminar provided participants with an in-depth look at the various technologies and products FII offers. Through hands-on examples, course participants learned how to utilize wetland islands for fisheries enhancement, stormwater management, shoreline preservation, wastewater treatment and more.


 

"The Master Seminar was truly valuable both personally and professionally," said Katie. "I learned a tremendous amount and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It's very fulfilling knowing that I can take the knowledge I've learned back to Princeton Hydro and make positive impacts for our clients."
FII was launched by inventor and outdoorsman Bruce Kania who was driven by the desire to reverse the decline of wetland habitats by developing a new and natural stewardship tool that could clean water and, in the process, improve life for all living creatures. He found that the answer lies in Biomimicry: duplicating nature’s processes in a sustainable, efficient and powerful way to achieve impeccable environmental stewardship for the benefit of all life.
[gallery link="none" ids="1379,5050,496"]
Bruce brought together a team of engineers and plant specialists and created BioHaven® floating islands. These islands biomimic natural floating islands to create a “concentrated” wetland effect. Independent laboratory tests show removal rates far in excess of previously published data: 20 times more nitrate, 10 times more phosphate and 11 times more ammonia, using unplanted islands. They are also extremely effective at reducing total suspended solids and dissolved organic carbon in waterways.
Due to population growth, industrialization and climate change, wetlands are at risk of rapidly declining in quantity and quality due. However, every floating wetland island launched by FII provides an effective strategy for mitigating and adapting to the impacts of over development and climate change.


The unique design of BioHaven® floating islands means that 250 square feet of island translates to an acre’s worth of wetland surface area. These versatile floating islands can be launched in either shallow or deep water, and can be securely anchored or tethered to ensure that they remain in a specific location. They are almost infinitely customizable, and can be configured in a variety of ways.

 


In addition to ongoing prototype development, FII offers licensing opportunities to businesses and production facilities worldwide. FII continues to research and develop collaborative pilot projects to quantify BioHaven® floating islands’ efficacy.
Many thanks to Bruce and Anne Kania for hosting the Floating Wetland Master Seminar and inspiring action through their knowledge, passion and ongoing endeavors.

                    [post_title] => Improving Water Quality & Reducing Habitat Loss with Floating Wetland Islands
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                    [post_content] => 
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.

Asbury Park Comstock Street MTD
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.

Colonial Terrace Golf Course Bioretention BMPs
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.

Asbury Park Boat Launch Shoreline Stabilization
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.
                    [post_title] => Conservation Success Spotlight: Deal Lake Improves Water Quality on a Sustainable Basis
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                    [post_content] => 
A Presentation by Princeton Hydro President Dr. Steve Souza
Dr. Steve Souza, spent Saturday morning with over 50 members of the New Jersey Coalition of Lakes, an organization that promotes the management of healthy lake ecosystems. Together they discussed many different stormwater management options for lake communities. Dr. Souza’s presentation covered the principles of stormwater management and the importance of incorporating stormwater management into lake restoration plans. He also provided examples of simple, homeowner-scale runoff control techniques, as well as a sampling of Princeton Hydro designed and constructed large-scale, community-based stormwater management systems.

The meeting hosts, Lake Mohawk Country Club and Lake Mohawk Preservation Foundation, have implemented a number of local stormwater enhancement projects. We invite you to click here to read more about our award-winning work together.

And, to learn more about stormwater management and download a free best practices guide, click here!


                    [post_title] => Free Download: Stormwater Management for Lake Communities
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            [post_date] => 2025-11-07 17:08:03
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The Borough of Mountain Lakes has received grant funding from the New Jersey Highlands Council to develop a comprehensive Lake and Watershed Management Plan for nine lakes within the Borough. To lead this effort, the Borough engaged Princeton Hydro, a leader in ecological and engineering consulting. The initiative will focus on characterizing hydrologic and nutrient dynamics within the Borough’s lake systems and watersheds to guide targeted water quality improvement and management strategies.
“Mountain Lakes takes great pride in our lakes, which play an important role in defining our community. Through our partnership with the Highlands Council and Princeton Hydro, we’re taking a proactive, data-driven approach to protecting both the environmental and recreational value of our lakes and waterways, with the goal of preserving these vital natural resources for generations to come,” said Borough of Mountain Lakes Manager Mitchell Stern.
A selection process was undertaken by the Borough of Mountain Lakes, Princeton Hydro, and the New Jersey Highlands Council to define the scope of this Lake and Watershed Management Program. In accordance with Policy 1L2 and Objective 1L2a of the NJHC Regional Master Plan, which establish lake management tiers and prioritize lakes greater than 10 acres for protection and management, nine lakes were selected for the study: Birchwood Lake, Crystal Lake, Wildwood Lake, Sunset Lake, Mountain Lake, Shadow Pond, Olive Pond, Grundens Pond, and Cove Pond. These lakes represent the waterbodies in the Borough and were chosen to ensure the program focuses on areas with the greatest potential impact on water quality, watershed function, and community value.

Princeton Hydro’s work will include watershed modeling, hydrologic and pollutant load analyses, and in-lake and watershed-based water quality monitoring. Once the data is analyzed, Princeton Hydro will develop a General Assessment Report that identifies the primary drivers of eutrophication and outlines a prioritized set of management strategies to effectively reduce nutrient loading and enhance long-term lake health.
“The regional, science-based approach to lake and watershed management has proven to be a powerful tool for municipalities in the Highlands Region,” said Christopher Mikolajczyk, CLM, Senior Manager of Aquatics at Princeton Hydro, Certified Lake Manager, and lead designer for this initiative. “We’re excited to collaborate with Mountain Lakes to help identify cost-effective, data-driven strategies that will enhance water quality throughout the watershed and help safeguard these treasured natural resources.”
The New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (Highlands Council) is a regional planning agency that partners with municipalities and counties in the Highlands Region to promote proactive watershed protection. Established under the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act of 2004, the Council has funded numerous water-quality-related planning initiatives.
Historically, municipalities and private lake associations have managed water quality issues independently. However, taking a coordinated, watershed-based approach enables communities to more effectively address pollution sources, improve water quality, and prevent the spread of invasive species and harmful algal blooms.
Mountain Lakes joins several other Highlands region municipalities that have received Highlands council funding to implement similar lake and watershed management initiatives. In 2019, the Borough of Ringwood became the first municipality in New Jerey to adopt a regional, public-private approach to lake management, partnering with four lake associations across six lakes. Since the completion of the Ringwood plan, NJDEP has funded recommendations from the plan. This model has since inspired additional projects, including watershed assessments for West Milford Township, Rockaway Township, Byram Township, Vernon Township, and Somerset County Parks Commission. Princeton Hydro worked with each agency to develop the respective scope of work to secure grant funding from the Highlands Council.

Photo from the Borough of Mountain Lakes.
            [post_title] => Borough of Mountain Lakes Launches Lake and Watershed Management Program with Funding from NJ Highlands Council
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    [comment_count] => 0
    [current_comment] => -1
    [found_posts] => 10
    [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] => 8c4a5982383e8c63fd5391f622133a87
    [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:805fcb5eed99ea4fcd905940fa1cd9f9
)

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