Musconetcong Dam Removals and Stream Restoration

The Musconetcong River is a significant tributary of the Delaware River. In December 2006, it was designated a Wild and Scenic River by President George W. Bush. This river, as with many rivers in the Eastern U.S., contains many run-of-the-river dams that are in disrepair and not in compliance with current dam safety regulations.

Since this designation, Princeton Hydro has worked with the Musconetcong Watershed Association to remove five obsolete dams and restore nearly 10 miles of the river for migratory fish, including American shad, alewife and blueback herring. These removals also allow for improved water quality and improved habitat for trout, bass, and other local fish populations.

The removed dams include:

• Gruendyke Mill Dam (Hackettstown, NJ)
• Seber Dam (Hackettstown, NJ)
• Finesville Dam (Pohatcong/Holland, NJ)
• Riegelsville Dam (Pohatcong/Holland, NJ)
• Hughesville Dam (Bloomsbury, NJ)

There were many stakeholders represented for these projects including the Musconetcong Watershed Association, Partnership, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service, New Jersey Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership, American Rivers, Trout Unlimited, Conservation Resources, Inc., New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, and North Jersey Resource Conservation and Development Council, local municipalities, and residents. Princeton Hydro worked closely with various stakeholders to design each of the projects to be conscious of the historic elements of the dams.

Several of the dam removals were funded in part or in total by National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) via the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), Natural Resource Damages Funds, Department of Interior, and Congressional discretionary funds.