We’re committed to improving our ecosystems, quality of life, and communities for the better.
Our passion and commitment to the integration of innovative science and engineering drive us to exceed on behalf of every client.
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Today, we're delighted to celebrate the accomplishments of two team members whose recent certifications exemplify this commitment. Their achievements not only reflect individual dedication but also enhance our firm’s collective ability to innovate and deliver exceptional environmental solutions. Scott Churm Earns EutroSORB® PRO Certification Scott Churm, Senior Director of Field Services, recently became a PRO Certified EutroSORB® Specialist—a designation granted by SePRO Corporation to professionals trained in the implementation of EutroSORB Water Quality Technologies for phosphorus control in lakes and ponds. EutroSORB® is a cutting-edge technology designed to reduce phosphorus levels, curtail eutrophication, and restore the health of aquatic ecosystems. To earn this certification, Scott completed specialized training and passed a comprehensive exam, demonstrating his advanced knowledge in evaluating water quality issues and prescribing targeted, effective solutions. Since joining Princeton Hydro in 2006, Scott has led our pond and lake management services with unmatched expertise. From identifying invasive aquatic species to overseeing long-term management plans, his work spans hundreds of sites and over 1,000 acres. He’s a licensed pesticide applicator in five states and has implemented a wide range of techniques, from hydro-raking and weed harvesting to aeration system installations and biological controls, to support the health and balance of aquatic environments. With this new certification, Scott adds another tool to his already expansive toolbox, further reinforcing our team’s ability to restore and preserve water bodies across the region. Matthew Pappas Becomes a Certified Construction Specifier (CCS®) Matthew Pappas, a Geotechnical Engineer at Princeton Hydro, recently earned the prestigious CCS® credential from the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). This certification demonstrates advanced proficiency in specification (spec) writing, construction documentation, and product research—critical skills that improve project delivery and communication across all phases of construction. To become CCS-certified, candidates must pass a rigorous exam that evaluates their understanding of contracts, technical documentation, and spec development best practices. With this achievement, Matthew joins a select group of professionals recognized for their ability to clearly and effectively communicate design intent, construction materials, and performance standards. Since joining Princeton Hydro in 2019, Matthew has worked across disciplines, supporting our geotechnical practice and green infrastructure initiatives. His responsibilities span from field investigations and laboratory testing to slope stability and sediment modeling to spec drafting and cost estimating. He’s also earned several technical responsibilities, including serving as the firm's Radiation Safety Officer and receiving training in concrete field testing. Matthew's initiative and adaptability have made him a valuable asset to our team, and his CCS certification further exemplifies his dedication to technical excellence and lifelong learning. Congratulations to Scott and Matthew on their well-earned achievements! To learn more about the Princeton Hydro team, click here. [post_title] => Staff Spotlight: Recognizing Professional Achievements of Two Team Members [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => staff-spotlight-recognizing-professional-achievements-of-two-team-members [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-07-11 10:10:30 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-07-11 10:10:30 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=17414 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 9891 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2021-11-24 08:48:53 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-11-24 08:48:53 [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: [visual-link-preview encoded="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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: [visual-link-preview encoded="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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 [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 3-stormwater-management-techniques [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-03-27 16:15:51 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-03-27 16:15:51 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=9891 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 9539 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2021-09-23 06:04:00 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-09-23 06:04:00 [post_content] => Welcome to another edition our Client Spotlight series! Each blog provides a peek into our partnership with a particular client. We value our client relationships and pride ourselves on forming strong ties with organizations that share our values of creating a better future for people and our planet. Meet Medford Lakes Colony Medford Lakes Colony is a not-for-profit organization that organizes social, community, and recreational activities for the Town of Medford Lakes, New Jersey. The Colony grew out of a resort development in the early 1920’s in the heart of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens on the edge of the Pinelands National Reserve. The area was first settled hundreds of years ago by the Lenni-Lenape tribe of Native Americans. Today the Colony lakes are still dotted by log cabin homes built according to the original plan for the community nearly a century ago. For this Client Spotlight, we spoke to Medford Lakes Colony’s Lake Restoration Chair, Jim Palmer. Q: What makes your organization unique? The Medford Lakes Colony is a nearly 100-year-old, private, not-for-profit organization. Our organization is actually older than the municipality in which we reside. We “own” the 21 lakes in our town. We are nearly an all-volunteer organization with only an Office Manager and a Maintenance Manager on our payroll. Everything else is done by volunteers. Q: What does your organization value? Everyone in our town will agree with the following statement: The most important asset in our town is our lakes. And maintaining the water quality in those lakes is a high-value responsibility. But with that said, we are a town in the New Jersey Pinelands, with all our lakes surrounded by trees. That presents us with challenges every year. Sioux Levee Q: How long have you been working with Princeton Hydro? The Colony started working with Princeton Hydro back in the late 1990s. I have personally been working with Princeton Hydro for around 10 years. I have partnered with nearly a dozen Princeton Hydro people, from Princeton Hydro President Geoffrey Goll, PE down to many individual Project Engineers. Q: What types of services have we provided to your organization? Princeton Hydro has provided recurring dam inspection services, as well as design, permitting, and oversight work for both planned and emergency dam repair and maintenance work. There are multiple dams for which Princeton Hydro completes the NJDEP Dam Safety inspections. There have been multiple large spillway repair projects where Princeton Hydro has been the Engineer-of-Record, completing the official designs, getting Dam Safety approval, and doing the full project management. The Princeton Hydro engineers and project managers have always been great partners on these projects. Q: Do you have a favorite or most memorable project we’ve worked on together? Three years ago we had an emergency situation at our Wauwaushkashe Dam. Over the previous several years, unknown to us, the culvert pipe was getting increasingly clogged with organic material. Then, one Sunday, it became completely plugged. Ballinger Lake Dam Restoration The upstream lake filled till the water was a foot above the top of the outbound spillway and was threatening to overtop the dam. Through the network of volunteers we have in Medford Lakes, we were able to get a contractor out within 24 hours to clear the plug. Princeton Hydro was brought into the project because the full repair was going to require engineering design, project plan development, submission to Dam Safety, and ongoing oversight to ensure the repair was completed correctly. Princeton Hydro managed that full process with a very quick turnaround. Who would have thought that pine needles could plug a 30-inch corrugated culvert pipe? Q: What are some exciting things your organization is working on right now? In this line of work, around managing dams and water quality, we don’t like “exciting.” Waking up one day to a plugged culvert pipe and a lake about to overtop a dam is the kind of “excitement” we would prefer not to have! We are moving along with a program to install aeration bubblers in most of our lakes. We have them in about one-third of the lakes completed right now. Subject to budget constraints, we should have them in all relevant lakes within the next two years. We are also in the first year of a small longitudinal data collection project. Last fall, the Colony purchased a YSI Proline data logger which allows us to collect temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. I have partnered with another volunteer, and we have collected data from nearly a dozen lakes on multiple dates in May, June, July, and August. We have defined locations in each lake and we gather data in one-foot increments in the entire water column at each location. We are able to see water stratification developing in some of the lakes as the summer moves on and temperatures rise. I have identified a couple locations where we have underground springs flowing into specific lakes. This is just the start of a broader data collection and the analysis program the Colony wants to implement to understand the long-term dynamics of this watershed. Click here to read the previous edition of our Client Spotlight blog series, which features The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey: CLIENT SPOTLIGHT: The Nature Conservancy in New JerseyWelcome to the newest edition of our Client Spotlight Blog Series! Each spotlight provides an inside look at our collaboration, teamwork, and accomplishments with a specific client. We value our client relationships and pride ourselves on forming strong ties with organizations that share our values of creating a better future for people and our planet.... [post_title] => Client Spotlight: Medford Lakes Colony [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => client-spotlight-medford-lakes-colony [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2021-09-30 13:53:44 [post_modified_gmt] => 2021-09-30 13:53:44 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=9539 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 5388 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2020-08-20 17:29:39 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-08-20 17:29:39 [post_content] => Strawbridge Lake is located in Moorestown Township in Burlington County, New Jersey with portions of the watershed also extending into Mount Laurel and Evesham Townships. This 33-acre, tri-basin lake is a result of the impoundment of the confluence of Hooten Creek and the North Branch of the Pennsauken Creek that dates back to the 1920s. The lake receives surface runoff through Hooten Creek to the Upper and Middle Basins and the Lower Basin receives runoff from the headwaters of the North Branch of Pennsauken Creek. The lake then discharges back into another section of the North Branch Pennsauken Creek, which then flows into the Delaware River. The watershed area that drains into the Strawbridge Lake is made up of an intricate mix of land uses: agriculture, new and mature residential subdivisions, office parks, major highways, retail stores, and large industrial complexes. The lake and the park area that surrounds it are heavily used for a variety of recreational activities. Children’s Pond, which is located in Strawbridge Lake Park, is a popular fishing spot in the community. The pond initially functions as a wetland and drains from the northern portion of the watershed. Sedimentation—the naturally occurring process of the deposition and accumulation of both organic and inorganic matter in the bottom and/or banks of waterbodies—had significantly reduced the mean pond depth, thereby reducing the pond’s aesthetic appeal, impairing the fishery, contributing to eutrophication, and impacting the water quality of Strawbridge Lake. Sedimentation can also lead to contamination that poses a threat to aquatic plant and wildlife. The dredging of Children’s Pond was identified by Princeton Hydro's Lake and Watershed Management Plan and presented to the Moorestown Township Council’s environmental committee as one of a number of immediate actions needed in order to restore the pond, preserve the health of the watershed, and reduce impacts to Strawbridge Lake. Dredging, often used as an efficient solution for sediment removal, can expeditiously restore the waterway to its original depth and condition while also removing dead vegetation, pollutants, excess nutrients, and trash that may have accumulated. Moorestown Township Council awarded contracts to Princeton Hydro for the dredging and cleanup of the Children's Pond, which was an important part of the previously mentioned Watershed Management Plan for Strawbridge Lake. Before the dredging could begin, a variety of surveys, field investigations, and data collection activities took place at the project site. A bathymetric survey is a critical component of any dredging project because it measures the depth of a waterbody, as well as maps the underwater features of a waterbody. Due to the small area and shallow depths of Children’s Pond, the survey was conducted using a calibrated sounding rod and a Trimble GPS unit. The calibrated sounding rod was lowered into the water until it reached the top of the accumulated sediment. The location of the sample point and the water depth was then recorded with the GPS unit. Next, the pole was pushed down into the sediment until the point of refusal, and the bottom of sediment elevation was also recorded with the GPS unit. Data was collected from shoreline to shoreline at 25-foot transect intervals. The data collected via the bathymetric survey, as well as the site survey, field investigations, and soil analysis, was used to shape the project’s engineering design and construction plans. With the data collection process complete, Princeton Hydro was able to finalize the engineering plans and obtain all necessary permits for the project. Once the project commenced, Princeton Hydro oversaw the construction process and documented the project's progress through Daily Field Reports (DFRs). DFRs act as a living record of the project and provide the project’s key stakeholders with full details of the team's daily performance and productivity, including arrival and departure times, the weather and temperature, equipment utilized on-site that day, a description of the work completed, and photographs of the work in progress. This photo from the DFR on March 2, 2020 documents the beginning of excavation work in Children’s Pond: This photo from the DFR on April 16, 2020 shows grading being completed on the west side of Children’s Pond: This photo from the DFR on April 20, 2020 documents the continuation (and near completion) of the excavation and grading work: Princeton Hydro provides construction oversight services to private, public, and nonprofit clients for a variety of ecosystem restoration, water resource, and geotechnical projects across the Northeast. For more information, go here. And, to get an inside look at all that construction oversight entails, check out our blog: [embed]https://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/construction-oversight/[/embed] … [post_title] => Dredging Children's Pond to Restore Water Quality in Strawbridge Lake [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => childrens-pond-dredging [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-12-10 22:49:28 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-12-10 22:49:28 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/?p=5388 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 1 [filter] => raw ) [4] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2638 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2018-10-05 13:57:48 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-10-05 13:57:48 [post_content] => Throughout October, Princeton Hydro is proud to participate in a number of conferences and events on topics ranging from floodplain management to ecological restoration to dam removal: October 10: Society for American Military Engineers (SAME) MEGA Maryland Small Business Conference The conference, being held in Baltimore, gives small and minority businesses in the architecture, engineering and construction industries the opportunity to come together with federal agencies in order to showcase best practices and highlight future opportunities to work in the federal market. The program consists of networking events, a variety of speakers and small business exhibits. Be sure to stop by the Princeton Hydro booth to say hello to President Geoffrey Goll, P.E. and Communications Strategist Dana Patterson. LEARN MORE October 11: Great Swamp Gala & Silent Auction The Great Swamp Watershed Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and improving the water resources of the Passaic River region, is hosting its 2018 Gala & Silent Auction. This year's event is being, held in honor of former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean, for his environmental leadership during his administration for enacting landmark protections for New Jersey’s shoreline and freshwater wetlands. present and future generations. The evening will include a cocktail hour, dinner banquet, expansive silent auction, and remarks delivered by Governor Kean. Princeton Hydro is proud to be a Benefactor of the event and looking forward to attending. LEARN MORE & REGISTER October 11 - 13: Atlantic Estuarine Research Society (AERS) Fall Meeting The theme of this year's AERS Fall Meeting is "The power of framing your message: It's not what you say, it's how you say it!" Participants will gather at Stockton University to hear a variety of ignite-style presentations about misconceptions that typically surround scientific work, how to address them, and how to re-frame your message to be better understood by the general public and other non-scientists and increase stakeholder involvement. Princeton Hydro's Senior Aquatics Scientist Jack Szczepanski, PhD will be attending the conference; chat with him to learn more about our pond and lake services. LEARN MORE October 11 - 13: Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) New England 2018 Regional Conference This year's SER New England conference brings together stewards, researchers, students, regulators, community activists and practitioners to explore innovative ecological restoration techniques and projects that connect communities within and across ecosystems. The conference includes a variety of plenary talks, field trips, workshops and a keynote address, which will be given by Stewart Diemont of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The keynote, titled "Learning from the People and the Land: Traditional Ecological Knowledge Toward Restoration of Ecosystems and of our Connection with Nature," is free and open to the public. Members of the Princeton Hydro are attending the conference and leading two sessions: Laura Wildman, Water Resources and Fisheries Engineer, is leading a workshop about implementing dam removal to restore rivers. Paul Woodworth, Fluvial Geomorphologist, is presenting on the post-dam removal monitoring of active and passive restoration approaches utilizing the Hyde Pond Dam removal as a tangible example. LEARN MORE October 11: Hudson-Delaware Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (HDC-SETAC) 2018 Fall Workshop HDC-SETAC is a professional society for scientists, engineers and related disciplines concerned with environmental science and health throughout the Hudson River and Delaware River metropolitan area. The 2018 Fall Workshop, being held at Villanova University, aims to enhance participants’ knowledge of “Harmful Algal Blooms and other Emerging Contaminants.” Princeton Hydro’s Director of Aquatic Programs Dr. Fred Lubnow is giving a presentation on “The Monitoring and Management of Cyanotoxins in Raw Water Supplies.” We hope to see you there! LEARN MORE October 12: Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) 2018 Environmental Congress ANJEC, a nonprofit organization supporting efforts to protect the environment and preserve natural resources in communities throughout New Jersey, is hosting its 45th Annual Environmental Congress at Mercer County College. The Environmental Congress is an annual statewide gathering of environmental commissions, local officials, agencies, citizen groups and environmental organizations, which includes an exhibitors hall, farmer's market, and workshops on a variety of current environmental topics. Princeton Hydro, a business member of the ANJEC, will be exhibiting during the event. Stop by the booth to say hello to Dr. Stephen J. Souza, Princeton Hydro Founder and ANJEC Board of Trustees member, and Dana Patterson, Communications Strategist for Princeton Hydro. LEARN MORE October 23 - 25: New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management (NJAFM) 14th Annual Conference NJAFM is hosting its 14th Annual Conference and Exhibition in Atlantic City, NJ. Participants will attend meetings and seminars covering topics, including hazard mitigation, flood insurance, infrastructure, mapping, planning, flood modeling, regulations, floodproofing, stormwater management, flood proofing, construction standards and more. Princeton Hydro's Christiana Pollack, GISP, CFM and NJDEP's Jessica Jahre, PP, AICP, CFM are giving a presentation, titled "A Flood Assessment for the Future," for which they'll showcase a flood assessment and flood mitigation analysis that Princeton Hydro performed in the Lower Moodna Creek Watershed. LEARN MORE & REGISTER October 23: "Undamming the Hudson River" Film Screening and Panel Event, Free & Open the Public Riverkeeper and Patagonia present the premiere of "Undamming the Hudson River," a short documentary film by National Geographic filmmaker Jon Bowermaster showcasing Riverkeeper’s efforts to restore natural habitat by eliminating obsolete dams throughout the Hudson River Estuary. The screening will be followed by refreshments and a panel discussion, moderated by Bowermaster, featuring experts in the field and an audience Q&A. Panelists, include:
At Princeton Hydro, we take pride in fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth. Today, we're delighted to celebrate the accomplishments of two team members whose recent certifications exemplify this commitment. Their achievements not only reflect individual dedication but also enhance our firm’s collective ability to innovate and deliver exceptional environmental solutions.
Scott Churm, Senior Director of Field Services, recently became a PRO Certified EutroSORB® Specialist—a designation granted by SePRO Corporation to professionals trained in the implementation of EutroSORB Water Quality Technologies for phosphorus control in lakes and ponds.
EutroSORB® is a cutting-edge technology designed to reduce phosphorus levels, curtail eutrophication, and restore the health of aquatic ecosystems. To earn this certification, Scott completed specialized training and passed a comprehensive exam, demonstrating his advanced knowledge in evaluating water quality issues and prescribing targeted, effective solutions.
Since joining Princeton Hydro in 2006, Scott has led our pond and lake management services with unmatched expertise. From identifying invasive aquatic species to overseeing long-term management plans, his work spans hundreds of sites and over 1,000 acres. He’s a licensed pesticide applicator in five states and has implemented a wide range of techniques, from hydro-raking and weed harvesting to aeration system installations and biological controls, to support the health and balance of aquatic environments.
With this new certification, Scott adds another tool to his already expansive toolbox, further reinforcing our team’s ability to restore and preserve water bodies across the region.
Matthew Pappas, a Geotechnical Engineer at Princeton Hydro, recently earned the prestigious CCS® credential from the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). This certification demonstrates advanced proficiency in specification (spec) writing, construction documentation, and product research—critical skills that improve project delivery and communication across all phases of construction.
To become CCS-certified, candidates must pass a rigorous exam that evaluates their understanding of contracts, technical documentation, and spec development best practices. With this achievement, Matthew joins a select group of professionals recognized for their ability to clearly and effectively communicate design intent, construction materials, and performance standards.
Since joining Princeton Hydro in 2019, Matthew has worked across disciplines, supporting our geotechnical practice and green infrastructure initiatives. His responsibilities span from field investigations and laboratory testing to slope stability and sediment modeling to spec drafting and cost estimating. He’s also earned several technical responsibilities, including serving as the firm's Radiation Safety Officer and receiving training in concrete field testing.
Matthew's initiative and adaptability have made him a valuable asset to our team, and his CCS certification further exemplifies his dedication to technical excellence and lifelong learning.
Congratulations to Scott and Matthew on their well-earned achievements! To learn more about the Princeton Hydro team, click here.
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.
Welcome to another edition our Client Spotlight series! Each blog provides a peek into our partnership with a particular client. We value our client relationships and pride ourselves on forming strong ties with organizations that share our values of creating a better future for people and our planet.
Medford Lakes Colony is a not-for-profit organization that organizes social, community, and recreational activities for the Town of Medford Lakes, New Jersey. The Colony grew out of a resort development in the early 1920’s in the heart of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens on the edge of the Pinelands National Reserve. The area was first settled hundreds of years ago by the Lenni-Lenape tribe of Native Americans.
Today the Colony lakes are still dotted by log cabin homes built according to the original plan for the community nearly a century ago.
For this Client Spotlight, we spoke to Medford Lakes Colony’s Lake Restoration Chair, Jim Palmer.
Q: What makes your organization unique?
The Medford Lakes Colony is a nearly 100-year-old, private, not-for-profit organization. Our organization is actually older than the municipality in which we reside. We “own” the 21 lakes in our town. We are nearly an all-volunteer organization with only an Office Manager and a Maintenance Manager on our payroll. Everything else is done by volunteers.
Q: What does your organization value?
Everyone in our town will agree with the following statement: The most important asset in our town is our lakes. And maintaining the water quality in those lakes is a high-value responsibility. But with that said, we are a town in the New Jersey Pinelands, with all our lakes surrounded by trees. That presents us with challenges every year.
Q: How long have you been working with Princeton Hydro?
The Colony started working with Princeton Hydro back in the late 1990s. I have personally been working with Princeton Hydro for around 10 years. I have partnered with nearly a dozen Princeton Hydro people, from Princeton Hydro President Geoffrey Goll, PE down to many individual Project Engineers.
Q: What types of services have we provided to your organization?
Princeton Hydro has provided recurring dam inspection services, as well as design, permitting, and oversight work for both planned and emergency dam repair and maintenance work. There are multiple dams for which Princeton Hydro completes the NJDEP Dam Safety inspections. There have been multiple large spillway repair projects where Princeton Hydro has been the Engineer-of-Record, completing the official designs, getting Dam Safety approval, and doing the full project management. The Princeton Hydro engineers and project managers have always been great partners on these projects.
Q: Do you have a favorite or most memorable project we’ve worked on together?
Three years ago we had an emergency situation at our Wauwaushkashe Dam. Over the previous several years, unknown to us, the culvert pipe was getting increasingly clogged with organic material. Then, one Sunday, it became completely plugged.
The upstream lake filled till the water was a foot above the top of the outbound spillway and was threatening to overtop the dam. Through the network of volunteers we have in Medford Lakes, we were able to get a contractor out within 24 hours to clear the plug. Princeton Hydro was brought into the project because the full repair was going to require engineering design, project plan development, submission to Dam Safety, and ongoing oversight to ensure the repair was completed correctly. Princeton Hydro managed that full process with a very quick turnaround. Who would have thought that pine needles could plug a 30-inch corrugated culvert pipe?
Q: What are some exciting things your organization is working on right now?
In this line of work, around managing dams and water quality, we don’t like “exciting.” Waking up one day to a plugged culvert pipe and a lake about to overtop a dam is the kind of “excitement” we would prefer not to have!
We are moving along with a program to install aeration bubblers in most of our lakes. We have them in about one-third of the lakes completed right now. Subject to budget constraints, we should have them in all relevant lakes within the next two years. We are also in the first year of a small longitudinal data collection project. Last fall, the Colony purchased a YSI Proline data logger which allows us to collect temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. I have partnered with another volunteer, and we have collected data from nearly a dozen lakes on multiple dates in May, June, July, and August. We have defined locations in each lake and we gather data in one-foot increments in the entire water column at each location. We are able to see water stratification developing in some of the lakes as the summer moves on and temperatures rise. I have identified a couple locations where we have underground springs flowing into specific lakes. This is just the start of a broader data collection and the analysis program the Colony wants to implement to understand the long-term dynamics of this watershed.
Click here to read the previous edition of our Client Spotlight blog series, which features The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey:
Strawbridge Lake is located in Moorestown Township in Burlington County, New Jersey with portions of the watershed also extending into Mount Laurel and Evesham Townships. This 33-acre, tri-basin lake is a result of the impoundment of the confluence of Hooten Creek and the North Branch of the Pennsauken Creek that dates back to the 1920s.
The lake receives surface runoff through Hooten Creek to the Upper and Middle Basins and the Lower Basin receives runoff from the headwaters of the North Branch of Pennsauken Creek. The lake then discharges back into another section of the North Branch Pennsauken Creek, which then flows into the Delaware River.
The watershed area that drains into the Strawbridge Lake is made up of an intricate mix of land uses: agriculture, new and mature residential subdivisions, office parks, major highways, retail stores, and large industrial complexes. The lake and the park area that surrounds it are heavily used for a variety of recreational activities.
Children’s Pond, which is located in Strawbridge Lake Park, is a popular fishing spot in the community. The pond initially functions as a wetland and drains from the northern portion of the watershed. Sedimentation—the naturally occurring process of the deposition and accumulation of both organic and inorganic matter in the bottom and/or banks of waterbodies—had significantly reduced the mean pond depth, thereby reducing the pond’s aesthetic appeal, impairing the fishery, contributing to eutrophication, and impacting the water quality of Strawbridge Lake. Sedimentation can also lead to contamination that poses a threat to aquatic plant and wildlife.
The dredging of Children’s Pond was identified by Princeton Hydro's Lake and Watershed Management Plan and presented to the Moorestown Township Council’s environmental committee as one of a number of immediate actions needed in order to restore the pond, preserve the health of the watershed, and reduce impacts to Strawbridge Lake. Dredging, often used as an efficient solution for sediment removal, can expeditiously restore the waterway to its original depth and condition while also removing dead vegetation, pollutants, excess nutrients, and trash that may have accumulated.
Moorestown Township Council awarded contracts to Princeton Hydro for the dredging and cleanup of the Children's Pond, which was an important part of the previously mentioned Watershed Management Plan for Strawbridge Lake.
Before the dredging could begin, a variety of surveys, field investigations, and data collection activities took place at the project site. A bathymetric survey is a critical component of any dredging project because it measures the depth of a waterbody, as well as maps the underwater features of a waterbody.
Due to the small area and shallow depths of Children’s Pond, the survey was conducted using a calibrated sounding rod and a Trimble GPS unit. The calibrated sounding rod was lowered into the water until it reached the top of the accumulated sediment. The location of the sample point and the water depth was then recorded with the GPS unit. Next, the pole was pushed down into the sediment until the point of refusal, and the bottom of sediment elevation was also recorded with the GPS unit. Data was collected from shoreline to shoreline at 25-foot transect intervals.
The data collected via the bathymetric survey, as well as the site survey, field investigations, and soil analysis, was used to shape the project’s engineering design and construction plans.
With the data collection process complete, Princeton Hydro was able to finalize the engineering plans and obtain all necessary permits for the project. Once the project commenced, Princeton Hydro oversaw the construction process and documented the project's progress through Daily Field Reports (DFRs).
DFRs act as a living record of the project and provide the project’s key stakeholders with full details of the team's daily performance and productivity, including arrival and departure times, the weather and temperature, equipment utilized on-site that day, a description of the work completed, and photographs of the work in progress.
This photo from the DFR on March 2, 2020 documents the beginning of excavation work in Children’s Pond:
This photo from the DFR on April 16, 2020 shows grading being completed on the west side of Children’s Pond:
This photo from the DFR on April 20, 2020 documents the continuation (and near completion) of the excavation and grading work:
Princeton Hydro provides construction oversight services to private, public, and nonprofit clients for a variety of ecosystem restoration, water resource, and geotechnical projects across the Northeast. For more information, go here. And, to get an inside look at all that construction oversight entails, check out our blog:
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Throughout October, Princeton Hydro is proud to participate in a number of conferences and events on topics ranging from floodplain management to ecological restoration to dam removal:
The conference, being held in Baltimore, gives small and minority businesses in the architecture, engineering and construction industries the opportunity to come together with federal agencies in order to showcase best practices and highlight future opportunities to work in the federal market. The program consists of networking events, a variety of speakers and small business exhibits. Be sure to stop by the Princeton Hydro booth to say hello to President Geoffrey Goll, P.E. and Communications Strategist Dana Patterson.
The Great Swamp Watershed Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and improving the water resources of the Passaic River region, is hosting its 2018 Gala & Silent Auction. This year's event is being, held in honor of former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean, for his environmental leadership during his administration for enacting landmark protections for New Jersey’s shoreline and freshwater wetlands. present and future generations. The evening will include a cocktail hour, dinner banquet, expansive silent auction, and remarks delivered by Governor Kean. Princeton Hydro is proud to be a Benefactor of the event and looking forward to attending.
The theme of this year's AERS Fall Meeting is "The power of framing your message: It's not what you say, it's how you say it!" Participants will gather at Stockton University to hear a variety of ignite-style presentations about misconceptions that typically surround scientific work, how to address them, and how to re-frame your message to be better understood by the general public and other non-scientists and increase stakeholder involvement. Princeton Hydro's Senior Aquatics Scientist Jack Szczepanski, PhD will be attending the conference; chat with him to learn more about our pond and lake services.
This year's SER New England conference brings together stewards, researchers, students, regulators, community activists and practitioners to explore innovative ecological restoration techniques and projects that connect communities within and across ecosystems. The conference includes a variety of plenary talks, field trips, workshops and a keynote address, which will be given by Stewart Diemont of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The keynote, titled "Learning from the People and the Land: Traditional Ecological Knowledge Toward Restoration of Ecosystems and of our Connection with Nature," is free and open to the public.
Members of the Princeton Hydro are attending the conference and leading two sessions: Laura Wildman, Water Resources and Fisheries Engineer, is leading a workshop about implementing dam removal to restore rivers. Paul Woodworth, Fluvial Geomorphologist, is presenting on the post-dam removal monitoring of active and passive restoration approaches utilizing the Hyde Pond Dam removal as a tangible example.
HDC-SETAC is a professional society for scientists, engineers and related disciplines concerned with environmental science and health throughout the Hudson River and Delaware River metropolitan area. The 2018 Fall Workshop, being held at Villanova University, aims to enhance participants’ knowledge of “Harmful Algal Blooms and other Emerging Contaminants.” Princeton Hydro’s Director of Aquatic Programs Dr. Fred Lubnow is giving a presentation on “The Monitoring and Management of Cyanotoxins in Raw Water Supplies.” We hope to see you there!
ANJEC, a nonprofit organization supporting efforts to protect the environment and preserve natural resources in communities throughout New Jersey, is hosting its 45th Annual Environmental Congress at Mercer County College. The Environmental Congress is an annual statewide gathering of environmental commissions, local officials, agencies, citizen groups and environmental organizations, which includes an exhibitors hall, farmer's market, and workshops on a variety of current environmental topics. Princeton Hydro, a business member of the ANJEC, will be exhibiting during the event. Stop by the booth to say hello to Dr. Stephen J. Souza, Princeton Hydro Founder and ANJEC Board of Trustees member, and Dana Patterson, Communications Strategist for Princeton Hydro.
NJAFM is hosting its 14th Annual Conference and Exhibition in Atlantic City, NJ. Participants will attend meetings and seminars covering topics, including hazard mitigation, flood insurance, infrastructure, mapping, planning, flood modeling, regulations, floodproofing, stormwater management, flood proofing, construction standards and more. Princeton Hydro's Christiana Pollack, GISP, CFM and NJDEP's Jessica Jahre, PP, AICP, CFM are giving a presentation, titled "A Flood Assessment for the Future," for which they'll showcase a flood assessment and flood mitigation analysis that Princeton Hydro performed in the Lower Moodna Creek Watershed.
Riverkeeper and Patagonia present the premiere of "Undamming the Hudson River," a short documentary film by National Geographic filmmaker Jon Bowermaster showcasing Riverkeeper’s efforts to restore natural habitat by eliminating obsolete dams throughout the Hudson River Estuary. The screening will be followed by refreshments and a panel discussion, moderated by Bowermaster, featuring experts in the field and an audience Q&A. Panelists, include:
This event is free and open to the public and will take place at Patagonia SoHo, 72 Greene St, New York, NY 10012 from 7:30 - 10pm.
MAC URISA 2018, the largest GIS conference in the Mid-Atlantic region, will showcase outstanding and innovative uses of GIS technologies in the area. The program includes a variety of presentations, breakout sessions, a GIS Techspo forum, lightening talks, and more. Thomas Hopper, Princeton Hydro's GIS Analyst, is providing a technical demonstration on the Linkage Mapper GIS Toolkit, which was created by the Nature Conservancy to support habitat connectivity analyses.
NALMS is hosting its 38th International Symposium in Cincinnati Ohio, titled "Now Trending: Innovations in Lake Management." This year’s symposium includes a robust exhibit hall, a variety of field trips, and a wide array of presentations on topics ranging from the latest in monitoring technologies to combating invasive species to nutrient and water quality management and more. Princeton Hydro's Dr. Fred Lubnow, Director of Aquatic Programs, and Dr. Stephen Souza, Founder, both of whom have been members of NALMS since its inception, are presenting and exhibiting during the conference.
SAME gives leaders from the A/E/C, environmental, and facility management industries the opportunity to come together with federal agencies in order to showcase best practices and highlight future opportunities for small businesses to work in the federal market. Princeton Hydro is proud to be attending the 2018 SAME SBC Conference, which is being held in New Orleans and co-locating with the Department of Veteran's Affairs' National Veterans Small Business Engagement. The program consists of networking events, small business exhibits, a variety of speakers and much more.
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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