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Colonial Lake is located within Colonial Lake Park, a 2.1-acre public park in the highly developed Lawrence Township. The lake shows varying degrees of bank erosion. To address these issues, Lawrence Township secured a grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to restore 800 linear feet of shoreline using native vegetation and sustainable practices. In the winter of 2024, Princeton Hydro was contracted to provide consulting services for shoreline stabilization and to design living shorelines along sections of Colonial Lake.
Princeton Hydro conducted a comprehensive shoreline evaluation, classifying the observed erosion into the following categories and applying targeted stabilization strategies for each:
Following the visual assessment, in addition to the development of engineering plans and planting schedules focused on a native plant palette, the collected data was used to generate conceptual plans to visually aid in the understanding of the proposed stabilization measures.
Finally, Princeton Hydro assisted the regulatory compliance by securing all necessary permits. Construction was successfully completed in the fall of 2025. Princeton Hydro continues to collaborate with the Township to develop educational signage aimed at engaging residents and visitors, highlighting the Township’s commitment to improving water quality and promoting ecological health.
Princeton Hydro was contracted to collaborate with the NY-NJ Harbor and Estuary Program (HEP) and the Town of Kearny to support the enhancement of Kearny Riverbank Park, including areas along the Passaic River shoreline. In addition to addressing the park’s needs, Princeton Hydro had to consider the remedial action work being performed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to contain the contaminated sediment within the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River and portions of the shoreline at Kearny Riverbank Park.
Through collaborative stakeholder engagement meetings and community input, the site assessment and design provide the Town of Kearny with a multifaceted plan, focusing on shoreline restoration, improving stormwater management, reducing erosion, and improving public access and park amenities.
A key component of the project was to conceptualize stormwater management strategies. Designed to increase infiltration, reduce urban runoff, and improve the water quality of the Passaic River, the stormwater management strategies will help alleviate current stormwater issues such as ponding and erosion. The proposed interventions will provide opportunities for increased park programming, education, and engagement, while improving the park’s climate resilience.
Since 2023, Princeton Hydro has been working with the local nonprofit group, Trenton South Ward Neighborhood Association (TSWNA), on projects and initiatives to obtain and transform vacant lots in Trenton to accessible green, community parks. Princeton Hydro assisted the TSWNA in obtaining a grant from the Xerces Society to plant 500-native pollinator plants in their community garden. The Xerces Society habitat kit program aims to increase access to high-quality pollinator habitat plants, especially in marginalized populations. The project strives to achieve multiple objectives: 1) provide the TSWNA with a new configuration to increase the amount of planting beds, and 2) incorporate a shed/workspace area in addition to the native plant plugs in a way that creates distinct spaces within the garden. The inclusion of native plant plugs provides a valuable opportunity for the TSWNA to engage residents through educational experiences. The native pollinator garden project highlights the critical role native pollinator plants play in supporting vegetable and fruit production, in turn fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation among the community.
Princeton Hydro’s role in the project involved developing three design concepts and presenting the alternatives to the TSWNA Board President for review. Once the concept was selected, Princeton Hydro created a planting plan and a maintenance package to assist the TSWNA in identifying and managing the plants provided through the grant. Additionally, Princeton Hydro collaborated with the TSWNA to organize volunteer site preparation and plant installation days, promoting community involvement and engagement throughout the process.
Princeton Hydro and our project partner, the American Littoral Society, developed living shoreline designs for Nyack Beach State Park. The project goal was to create shorelines resilient to extreme storms and increase resilience to damages linked to climate change while enhancing ecological values and preserving public use of the site.
The final selected shoreline designs were consistent with the Master Plan for the Nyack Beach State Park and promoted goals of the 2010-2014 Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda. With these goals and objectives in mind, the Princeton Hydro team worked closely with the Hudson River Estuary Program (HREP), Nyack Beach State Park staff, and the other project stakeholders to generate ecologically-enhanced, engineered shoreline treatments that resist erosion, enhance the recreational use of the site, and improve habitat for fish and wildlife species.
The Princeton Hydro team consulted state and federal regulations governing waterfront projects and took into consideration guidance offered directly by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) during the early stages of design development. A “tread lightly” approach was taken, promoting nature-based solutions. Satisfactory existing elements of the site, including post-Hurricane-Sandy repairs to the park and its shoreline, were enhanced rather than redone.
A large portion of the selected design included access to the river and the park’s intertidal, nearshore areas. Thus, the project approach would need to be sensitive to park use by visitors. At the same time, as directed by the Nyack Beach State Park staff, our designs were designed to minimize the maintenance responsibilities of park staff.
The Anchor QEA–Princeton Hydro team was selected by Audubon New York (and its partners Save the Sound and New York State Parks) to design the restoration and enhancement of an approximately 400-acre tidal marsh on the north-central coast of Long Island. The marsh has experienced restricted tidal flow since an earthen berm was breached in 2012 during Superstorm Sandy. The restricted tidal flow led to marsh degradation, which converted portions of the former salt marsh to brackish and freshwater marsh. The lack of tidal flushing also enabled invasive Phragmites australis to establish and spread within the marsh system.
The Anchor QEA–Princeton Hydro team developed 60% Designs, including design drawings, a cost estimate, a long-term management plan, and a QAPP. The project design includes dredging approximately 15,000 cubic yards of material from Sunken Meadow Creek and thin layer placement of dredged material onto adjacent marsh cells to develop low and high marsh footprints; treating approximately 20 acres of Phragmites australis and phased replanting the areas with native species; creating approximately 2,000 linear feet of channels in the marsh and improving approximately 8,500 linear feet of existing channels to enhance drainage and tidal flushing; creating tidal pools and installing anchored rootwads to promote habitat diversity; modifying existing culverts within the primary flow channel through the marsh; and planting within the high and low salt marsh footprints.
Along the Third River and Spring Brook, two freshwater tributaries of the Passaic River, a highly disturbed, flood-prone former industrial site, were transformed into a thriving public park allowing for both passive and active recreational activities. By removing a little over four acres of upland historic fill in this densely developed area and converting it into 4.2 acres of a functioning floodplain wetland, the project restored valuable ecological functions, enhances wetland and riparian zone habitat, and increases flood storage capacity for urban stormwater runoff.
Princeton Hydro served as the ecological engineer to Bloomfield Township. Our scientists and engineers played a crucial role in this important urban wetland creation project by assisting in obtaining grant acquisition, collecting background ecological data through field sampling and surveying, developing a water budget, completing all necessary permitting, designing both the conceptual and final restoration plans, and conducting construction oversight during implementation.
The site includes 1,360 feet along the east bank of the Third River and 3,040 feet along the banks of the Spring Brook. These waterways are freshwater tributaries of the Passaic River and share a history of flooding above the site’s 100-year floodplain. The Third River, like many urban streams, tends to be the victim of excessive volume and is subjected to erosion and chronic, uncontrolled flooding. This green infrastructure project re-established the natural floodplain wetland and riparian plant communities, which led to a species-rich forest community through the removal of invasive species, setting the stage for native plants.
Over 500 trees and shrubs were planted in the new wetland, with additional trees and shrubs planted along Lion Gate Drive and in existing woodlands. The selected native plant species all provide important wildlife value, such as providing fruit for migratory birds. Phase One of the project, which includes the wetland construction and plantings, was completed in April 2020. The sports fields and playground were completed in June 2021 and are now open to the public.
For this project’s design and construction, Bloomfield Township, Strauss and Associates, ARH, and Princeton Hydro secured $1.76 million in funding from the New Jersey Freshwater Wetlands Mitigation Council and several million more from NJDEP’s Office of Natural Resource Restoration. Acquisition of part of the property was funded by New Jersey Green Acres.
Lake Holiday is a 249-acre impoundment that acts as the aesthetic center point and primary ecological feature for the Lake Holiday Country Club (LHCC) in Cross Junction, Virginia. The lake is used for boating, swimming, and fishing for the surrounding community.
In 2016, the lake experienced a cyanobacteria-driven harmful algal bloom (HAB) which impacted contact recreation in the lake, as well as aesthetic value. In 2017, the LHCC engaged Princeton Hydro to understand the driving mechanisms behind the bloom and to recommend preventative management techniques to reduce the chances of future bloom formation. The first step in this process was water quality testing of the lake inclusive of in-situ, discrete laboratory, and plankton analyses. This study also included stormwater monitoring of the incoming tributaries throughout the lake. Following this study, Princeton Hydro modeled the watershed-based load of nutrients and hydrology in addition to evaluating the internal phosphorus load. The results of this effort showed the watershed load of phosphorus was the largest driver of algal growth. Following this effort, Princeton Hydro provided design of two emergent wetland best management practices (BMPs) at the mouths of Isaacs Creek and Yeiders Run through 30% completion.
In addition to the projects mentioned above, Princeton Hydro has developed a HAB monitoring, response, and management plan for the community. This plan provides specific volunteer-based monitoring that should be conducted to detect a bloom and includes subsequent information for community notification, follow-up testing, and management.
Throughout these endeavors, the LHCC has hired Princeton Hydro to monitor the lakes’ water quality to track its ecological condition over time and document improvements as management measures are implemented.
Over 40 years ago, Mercer County purchased 279 acres of flood-prone land along Miry Run as part of a restoration and flood mitigation initiative. In 2018, Mercer County Park Commission (MCPC) contracted Princeton Hydro and Simone Collins Landscape Architecture to develop the Miry Run Ponds Master Plan with three primary goals: (1) Provide passive recreation to complement other County activities; (2) Preserve and enhance the habitat, water quality, and natural systems that currently exist onsite; and (3) Provide linkage to adjacent trails and parks.
The team assessed the land area and proposed a concept plan to enhance the area and create recreational lake activities. Applying expertise in science-based assessment and evaluations, we performed:
Our project team facilitated focus groups with local municipalities, residents, interest groups, and County stakeholders to seek their input and report on site evaluation findings. In partnership with the County, we held public meetings to gather feedback on the conceptual site designs. This helped to inform the park planning process and determine how best to manage the site to meet the needs of the community and future generations.
The final Miry Run Pond Master Plan goes above and beyond the original vision, proposing considerable improvements to the area prioritizing valuable natural features, including 34 acres of reforestation, 64 acres of new meadows, 19 acres of vernal pools, and 7.9 miles of walking trails. It serves as a long-term vision and will be implemented over multiple phases. Dredging of the lake began in 2023.
Princeton Hydro was contracted by the American Littoral Society to complete design plans, permits and construction services for multiple water quality improvement projects conducted within Ocean County Park. The restoration and wetland pocket creation portion of the project is specific to work conducted during the summer of 2017 adjacent to Duck Pond, the second of three interconnected ponds located within the park. The overall purpose of the Duck Pond project was to reduce the non-point source loading of nitrogen and phosphorous. The reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus loading is a key element of the satisfying the Metedeconk River TMDL and addressing the causes for the eutrophication of Barnegat Bay.
Along 140 feet of shoreline an existing bulkhead running along the entire perimeter of Duck Pond was removed. It was graded back in a way to create two small wetland pockets designed to receive spill over from the pond during moderate to large storm events as well as treat existing runoff from the park during smaller storm events that would otherwise discharge directly into the pond. These wetland pockets were also graded to create non-uniform microtopography for increased ecological benefit. The plant palette chosen strikes a balance between aesthetic design and water quality improvement. Princeton Hydro worked collaboratively with NJDEP to reduce the permitting burden on our project partners. Due to the intent of the project to improve water quality, we presented an alternative permitting strategy agreed upon by NJDEP, which allowed the permitting of the project via the FHA Control Act Rules. This approach removed the need for CAFRA permitting and reduced permit preparation costs, review time, and fees, ultimately resulting in excess funding being directed towards implementation.
Following the project, in-stream in-situ and discrete water quality monitoring was conducted 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.
Mercer County’s John A. Roebling Memorial Park offers residents in the surrounding area a freshwater marsh with river fishing, kayaking, hiking, and wildlife-watching. The park contains the northernmost freshwater tidal marsh on the Delaware River, Abbott Marshland. Tidal marshes, like the 3,000-acre Abbott Marshlands, contain valuable habitat for many rare species like River Otter, American Eel, Bald Eagle, and many species of wading birds. Unfortunately, the Abbott Marshland has experienced a significant amount of loss and degradation, partially due to the introduction of the invasive Phragmites australis (Phragmites).
For the Mercer County Park Commission (MCPC), Princeton Hydro put together a plan to reduce and control the Phragmites to increase biodiversity, improve water quality, broaden recreational opportunities, and enhance the visitor experience at the park. This stewardship project replaced the Phragmites with native species with a goal to reduce its ability to recolonize the marsh. Once the restoration was completed, these areas gave way to native flora, enhanced tidal function, and incredible viewscapes. Princeton Hydro also conducted a Floristic Quality Assessment to identify invasive areas and an Evaluation of Planned Wetlands to identify key wetland functions/values to be enhanced/restored, as well as performed hydrologic monitoring to understand tidal stage elevations.
Phase 1 of the restoration process included multiple herbicide applications in Spring and Fall to eradicate the Phragmites. We led the permit application process, which included securing a Flood Hazard Area (FHA) General Permit #4, Freshwater Wetlands (FWW) General Permit #16, and Coastal (CZM) General Permit #24. Our field operations crew applied the herbicide Imazapyr using our amphibious Marsh Master vehicle and airboat as well as on foot with a backpack sprayer. Following herbicide treatment, the Marsh Master was be equipped with a steel lawn roller with a welded angle iron to roll over and crush/snap the common reed stalks. The stalks would be rolled in opposite directions to break and mulch the stalks and expose the native seedbank. One year later, we documented a dozen “volunteer” native species growing in the marsh. During the project, Princeton Hydro worked alongside MCPC to keep the public informed and engaged through public meetings and outreach. MCPC launched the “Capture the Change” initiative to help document the visual changes seen in the park as the restoration progresses by sharing photos on social media using #BagthePhrag.
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