Metedeconk Watershed Green Infrastructure Design & Implementation

Princeton Hydro, in partnership with American Littoral Society and local stakeholders, worked together to improve the health and water quality of the Schoolhouse Branch and the North Branch of the Metedeconk River and Barnegat Bay. We implemented several linked green infrastructure projects in Ocean County Park. These stormwater management best management practices (BMPs) are working in unison to decrease nonpoint source pollutant loading to the Metedeconk River and increase ecological diversity in Ocean County Park.

The water quality improvements realized by the project not only benefit the Metedeconk River’s water quality but also directly benefit the water quality of greater Barnegat Bay. American Littoral Society and Princeton Hydro designed and implemented four primary BMPs in Ocean County Park:

• Installation of two Filterra curb-side tree boxes
• Construction of a vegetated bioretention/biofiltration swale
• Creation of two living shorelines along the banks of Duck Pond
• Installation of two floating wetland islands in Duck Pond

Princeton Hydro worked collaboratively with NJDEP to reduce the permitting burden on our project partners. Specifically, the project is situated within the CAFRA zone which triggers the need to satisfy the Coastal Zone Management Rules. However, due to the intent of the project to improve water quality, we presented an alternative permitting route that did not require CAFRA permitting. NJDEP agreed with our permitting philosophy for the water quality improvement elements and agreed to permit the project via the FHA Control Act Rules, (Permit-By-Rule #4 – Removal of any lawfully existing fill or structure to address removal of a portion of existing bulkhead along Duck Pond and a GP4 – Creation, Restoration, and Enhancement of Habitat & Water Quality Values & Functions). This approach reduced permit preparation costs, review time, and fees, ultimately resulting in excess funding being directed towards implementation.

Following the project, in-situ and discrete water quality monitoring was conducted in stream for one year in order to assess the effectiveness of the BMPs. The combined green infrastructure and living shoreline elements of this project set the stage for a much needed effort to reduce NPS loading and address waterfowl-related pathogen impacts to Ocean County Park’s lakes and the Metedeconk River. It heightened public awareness of NPS pollution and the benefits of green infrastructure. The project serves as a model for proper stormwater management and living shoreline creation throughout both the Metedeconk River and Barnegat Bay Watersheds.