Field Assessment Engineering for Musconetcong River Projects

The Lake Hopatcong Commission (the Commission) recently updated their Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). This revised plan includes streambank / riverine project sites as well as stormwater / watershed sites. One of these locations included a section of the Musconetcong River between Lake Hopatcong and Lake Musconetcong. This project site is located on Hopatcong State Park property, located in the Township of Roxbury (Township). This streambank project, as well as two others were submitted for and received funding through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to cover permitting, invasive species eradication, implementation and monitoring. Since NFWF prefers to allocate funds more toward the implementation and monitoring of projects, as well as requires a 50% match, the Township submitted for and was awarded a grant through the NJ Highlands Council to conduct the necessary site assessment and engineering calculations and design work for this stabilization / habitat project. Thus, this project contributes toward the necessary 50% match under the NFWF grant program.

Princeton Hydro assisted in the development of the Scope of Work for this project and initiated work in 2022. Topographic survey work has been conducted and engineering calculations have been conducted to stabilize a stretch of the Musconetcong River. This project will also include a plan to eradicate several invasive species in the immediate area as well as enhance existing habitat. The project will also enhance recreational access for both fishermen and students who are taken to the stie to learn about water quality and macroinvertebrate ecology / sampling. Some select water quality sampling will also be conducted so a sampling plan for total suspended solids (TSS) will also be developed. Based on additional site assessments, some modifications have been made to the originally perceived stabilization measures. Princeton Hydro is currently working on these modifications, which will also include a modified invasive species control and native species planting plan. A large part of that plan will be based on the species observed on site during the 2023 growing season.

The final goal of this project is to have the project design specifications and associated material complete so all necessary permits can be filed under the NFWF grant in the later half of 2023. In turn, the implementation of the project will be conducted in 2024, with the final native plantings and TSS water quality sampling complete before the end of 2024.