Dredging of Children’s Pond to Restore Water Quality in Strawbridge Lake

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. 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. However, sedimentation has significantly reduced the mean pond depth, thereby reducing the pond’s aesthetic appeal, impairing the fishery, contributing to eutrophication, and impacting the overall water quality of Strawbridge Lake.

To alleviate these issues, Princeton Hydro proposed a dredging project for Children’s Pond. Before the dredging could begin, a variety of surveys, field investigations, and data collection activities took place at the project site, including a bathymetric survey. 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, were 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.