We’re committed to improving our ecosystems, quality of life, and communities for the better.
Our passion and commitment to the integration of innovative science and engineering drive us to exceed on behalf of every client.
WP_Query Object ( [query] => Array ( [services] => stormwater-inspection ) [query_vars] => Array ( [services] => stormwater-inspection [error] => [m] => [p] => 0 [post_parent] => [subpost] => [subpost_id] => [attachment] => [attachment_id] => 0 [name] => [pagename] => [page_id] => 0 [second] => [minute] => [hour] => [day] => 0 [monthnum] => 0 [year] => 0 [w] => 0 [category_name] => [tag] => [cat] => [tag_id] => [author] => [author_name] => [feed] => [tb] => [paged] => 1 [meta_key] => [meta_value] => [preview] => [s] => [sentence] => [title] => [fields] => all [menu_order] => [embed] => [category__in] => Array ( ) [category__not_in] => Array ( ) [category__and] => Array ( ) [post__in] => Array ( ) [post__not_in] => Array ( ) [post_name__in] => Array ( ) [tag__in] => Array ( ) [tag__not_in] => Array ( ) [tag__and] => Array ( ) [tag_slug__in] => Array ( ) [tag_slug__and] => Array ( ) [post_parent__in] => Array ( ) [post_parent__not_in] => Array ( ) [author__in] => Array ( ) [author__not_in] => Array ( ) [search_columns] => Array ( ) [ignore_sticky_posts] => [suppress_filters] => [cache_results] => 1 [update_post_term_cache] => 1 [update_menu_item_cache] => [lazy_load_term_meta] => 1 [update_post_meta_cache] => 1 [post_type] => [posts_per_page] => 10 [nopaging] => [comments_per_page] => 5 [no_found_rows] => [taxonomy] => services [term] => stormwater-inspection [order] => DESC ) [tax_query] => WP_Tax_Query Object ( [queries] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [taxonomy] => services [terms] => Array ( [0] => stormwater-inspection ) [field] => slug [operator] => IN [include_children] => 1 ) ) [relation] => AND [table_aliases:protected] => Array ( [0] => ph_term_relationships ) [queried_terms] => Array ( [services] => Array ( [terms] => Array ( [0] => stormwater-inspection ) [field] => slug ) ) [primary_table] => ph_posts [primary_id_column] => ID ) [meta_query] => WP_Meta_Query Object ( [queries] => Array ( ) [relation] => [meta_table] => [meta_id_column] => [primary_table] => [primary_id_column] => [table_aliases:protected] => Array ( ) [clauses:protected] => Array ( ) [has_or_relation:protected] => ) [date_query] => [queried_object] => WP_Term Object ( [term_id] => 1474 [name] => Stormwater Inspection [slug] => stormwater-inspection [term_group] => 0 [term_taxonomy_id] => 1474 [taxonomy] => services [description] => [parent] => 1464 [count] => 11 [filter] => raw [term_order] => 5 ) [queried_object_id] => 1474 [request] => SELECT SQL_CALC_FOUND_ROWS ph_posts.ID FROM ph_posts LEFT JOIN ph_term_relationships ON (ph_posts.ID = ph_term_relationships.object_id) WHERE 1=1 AND ( ph_term_relationships.term_taxonomy_id IN (1474) ) AND ((ph_posts.post_type = 'project' AND (ph_posts.post_status = 'publish' OR ph_posts.post_status = 'acf-disabled'))) GROUP BY ph_posts.ID ORDER BY ph_posts.menu_order, ph_posts.post_date DESC LIMIT 0, 10 [posts] => Array ( [0] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 19287 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2026-02-06 13:31:30 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-02-06 13:31:30 [post_content] => The City of Lambertville contracted Princeton Hydro and WSP to evaluate Lambertville’s need for, and ability to create, a fee‑based Stormwater Utility. Lambertville faces stormwater management issues primarily due to its geographic and infrastructural characteristics. Situated along the Delaware River, the city is prone to flooding, which is exacerbated by aging and inadequate stormwater infrastructure. Dense urban development results in a high percentage of impervious surfaces, such as roads and buildings, that prevent proper absorption of rainwater, leading to increased runoff and strain on existing drainage systems. [caption id="attachment_19301" align="aligncenter" width="770"] Sample of single-family residential parcels and median impervious surface area[/caption] Lambertville’s stormwater infrastructure includes more than 530 identified stormwater inlets, a series of aging culverts, and miles of stormwater conveyance piping—much of it in unknown condition—with many structures serving as components of cross‑jurisdictional systems, all paired with repeated devastation from flooding. The project team completed a Lambertville Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study, which included the following components: Programmatic and Organizational Review: Evaluation of existing stormwater infrastructure operation and maintenance practices, as well as current program organization and administration. Gaps and Funding Analysis and Future Program Needs: Review and presentation of recent and projected capital project needs and baseline costs provided by Lambertville, along with an assessment of current revenue sources. Land Cover Analysis, Digitization of Impervious Cover, and Equity of Current Costs: Digitization and evaluation of land cover data based on the potential use of an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) rate structure and the quantification of billing units. Assessment of the equity of current stormwater costs and the potential impact of a fee‑based stormwater utility on different landowner categories. [caption id="attachment_19297" align="aligncenter" width="888"] Sankey Diagram highlighting the shift from current tax revenue to a stormwater utility fee.[/caption] User Fee Rate Options and Summary: Evaluation of how revenue generation might shift from a general‑fund, tax‑based model to a fee‑based model, including a summary of available rate structures designed to balance equity, cost, and administrative ease. Policy Development and Legislation Review: Examination of the policy framework for delivering stormwater management services under a utility model, including policies related to extent of service, billing, and funding. Topics included mission and program priorities, level of service, organizational structure, and credit policy. Public Outreach & Stakeholder Engagement: Formation and facilitation of a Stormwater Focus Group composed of key stakeholders, as well as hosting a public meeting to gather feedback, ensure transparency, and support community participation. [gallery columns="2" link="none" ids="19300,19299"] Funding for the Lambertville Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study was provided through a grant from the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. [post_title] => City of Lambertville - Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => city-of-lambertville-stormwater-utility-feasibility-study [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-04-08 16:27:08 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-04-08 16:27:08 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?post_type=project&p=19287 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => project [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 18818 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2025-09-08 21:18:34 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-09-08 21:18:34 [post_content] => The Arrowhead Lake Community Association, Inc. (ALCA), located in Pocono Lake, Pennsylvania, recognized that the twin corrugated metal culverts passing over Trout Creek were failing. Owassa Drive crosses the culverts and is a primary access for many of the Arrowhead Lake homeowners. The drainage area to the crossing is nine square miles. Just upstream of the crossing, a dam impounding Brady’s Lake was breached due to the deterioration of the dam. The loss of the Brady’s Lake dam exacerbated the culverts’ deterioration. Another contributing factor to the metal pipe deterioration was the natural low pH (acidic) of the soil and water and the original inadequate backfill technique and materials. Princeton Hydro analyzed the watershed and determined the hydraulic conditions of the existing culvert as well as a host of replacement options. The ALCA selected a Con-Span culvert with natural bottom due to the capacity, environmental benefits, cost and aesthetics. A geotechnical investigation yielded data on the existing backfill and helped determine that replacement of this material was justified. Field survey was conducted to design the culvert replacement supplemented by an aerial survey of the community. Princeton Hydro permitted the project and construction was completed in June of 2005. Princeton Hydro provided construction administration and oversight during the completion of the culvert replacement. [gallery link="none" ids="18821,18820,18819"] [post_title] => Owassa Drive Culvert Replacement [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => owassa-drive-culvert-replacement [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-12-08 21:44:03 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-12-08 21:44:03 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?post_type=project&p=18818 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => project [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 17621 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2025-06-03 11:31:15 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-06-03 11:31:15 [post_content] => 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. [caption id="attachment_7488" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Miry Run Ponds Master Plan won the 2021 Landscape Architectural Chapter Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects New Jersey Chapter.[/caption] 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:
The City of Lambertville contracted Princeton Hydro and WSP to evaluate Lambertville’s need for, and ability to create, a fee‑based Stormwater Utility. Lambertville faces stormwater management issues primarily due to its geographic and infrastructural characteristics. Situated along the Delaware River, the city is prone to flooding, which is exacerbated by aging and inadequate stormwater infrastructure. Dense urban development results in a high percentage of impervious surfaces, such as roads and buildings, that prevent proper absorption of rainwater, leading to increased runoff and strain on existing drainage systems.
Lambertville’s stormwater infrastructure includes more than 530 identified stormwater inlets, a series of aging culverts, and miles of stormwater conveyance piping—much of it in unknown condition—with many structures serving as components of cross‑jurisdictional systems, all paired with repeated devastation from flooding.
The project team completed a Lambertville Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study, which included the following components:
Funding for the Lambertville Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study was provided through a grant from the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.
The Arrowhead Lake Community Association, Inc. (ALCA), located in Pocono Lake, Pennsylvania, recognized that the twin corrugated metal culverts passing over Trout Creek were failing. Owassa Drive crosses the culverts and is a primary access for many of the Arrowhead Lake homeowners.
The drainage area to the crossing is nine square miles. Just upstream of the crossing, a dam impounding Brady’s Lake was breached due to the deterioration of the dam. The loss of the Brady’s Lake dam exacerbated the culverts’ deterioration. Another contributing factor to the metal pipe deterioration was the natural low pH (acidic) of the soil and water and the original inadequate backfill technique and materials.
Princeton Hydro analyzed the watershed and determined the hydraulic conditions of the existing culvert as well as a host of replacement options. The ALCA selected a Con-Span culvert with natural bottom due to the capacity, environmental benefits, cost and aesthetics. A geotechnical investigation yielded data on the existing backfill and helped determine that replacement of this material was justified. Field survey was conducted to design the culvert replacement supplemented by an aerial survey of the community. Princeton Hydro permitted the project and construction was completed in June of 2005. Princeton Hydro provided construction administration and oversight during the completion of the culvert replacement.
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 provided consulting engineering services for the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) concerning the implementation of the recently amended New Jersey Stormwater Management Rules. Modifications to the Stormwater Management Rules were considered which would require the use of Green Infrastructure measures to satisfy the groundwater recharge, peak flow control, and water quality requirements.
The purpose of Princeton Hydro’s consulting services was to quantify the impact of the amended rules on typical land use development within the State and to provide technical assistance to the NRDC as part of their public comment. This effort included detailed modeling and hydrologic and hydraulic calculations of hypothetical land development applications with the implementation of various Green Infrastructure measures.
An additional component of Princeton Hydro’s consulting engineering services was the participation in stakeholder meetings to discuss the potential for applicant credit for infiltration towards their peak flow rate criteria. Princeton Hydro supported the need for physically-based and scientifically sound approaches to the issue which do not jeopardize downstream properties and receiving water bodies.
Additionally, Princeton Hydro provided technical support and additional hydrologic and hydraulic calculations to quantify the impact of changing precipitation patterns on the stormwater management design process in New Jersey. The State is currently considering additional amendments to the stormwater rules which may incorporate provisions for predicted future rainfall intensities.
The Spring Creek (North) Ecosystem Restoration Project is located in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, New York. In the early 1900’s, the salt marsh community of Spring Creek was part of the extensive coastal wetland community of Jamaica Bay, known for the abundance and diversity of its shellfish as well as its ecological importance as a nursery and feeding ground for countless species of birds and fish. The intertidal salt marsh and uplands have since been degraded by historic placement of dredged spoils and municipal waste, the construction of a sanitary sewer trunk line, ditching of the marsh, and urbanization of the watershed.
When completed, the project will restore approximately 43.2 acres of degraded habitat to 0.7 acres of low marsh, 12.9 acres of transitional and high marsh, 5.2 acres of scrub shrub wetland and 24.4 acres of maritime upland in an overall project footprint of 67 acres. Primary construction activities will include excavating and re-contouring uplands to intertidal elevations, thin layer placement of sand on the marsh platform to restore areas of degraded tidal wetland, removing invasive plant species, and replanting with native plant species. The overall project purpose is to improve the environmental quality (water, diversity, and wildlife habitat) of Spring Creek and its associated salt marshes as part of the overall Jamaica Bay Ecosystem.
Princeton Hydro was contracted by the US Army Corps of Engineers, New York District to lead the design and engineering. To inform the design development, a variety of site-specific data was collected including topographic, bathymetric, utility and tree surveys. Wetland delineation and vegetation characterization were performed, along with a bio-benchmark survey to establish marsh habitat boundaries; hydrodynamic data; and geotechnical borings. The data collected was analyzed and incorporated into the design, including a sea level change analysis; slope stability analysis; development of a hydrologic model and an unsteady 1-D hydraulic model; stormwater design; and wetland restoration design.
A concept design was developed in coordination with the US Army Corps of Engineers and New York City Parks, and the design was advanced via the preparation of 30%, 60%, 90%, and 100% design plans and technical specifications. Additionally, the required local, state, and federal permits were obtained, and a detailed construction cost estimate was developed.
Princeton Hydro provided professional planning and engineering services to the City of Hoboken for post-Sandy disaster resilience planning. Hurricane Sandy’s storm tide had community-wide severe impacts to the City. As a result, the City was the first New Jersey municipality to begin a comprehensive evaluation and adaptation of its policies, including updates to the City’s zoning, stormwater, and flood damage prevention ordinances.
Princeton Hydro conducted planning & engineering in support of an amended stormwater management plan, hazard mitigation and emergency management planning, and a stakeholder engagement process. Deliverables included updates to the city’s zoning, stormwater and flood damage prevention ordinances, as well as a Stormwater Management Plan Amendment. The Amendment contained recommendations for a comprehensive stormwater management ordinance that prioritizes the use of green infrastructure practices for runoff volume retention. Princeton Hydro also produced Resilient Building Design Guidelines, which educated homeowners and developers on how to retrofit existing structures, comply with FEMA Substantial Damage/Substantial Improvement standards, and implement best practices when building new construction in flood-prone areas. The plan and recommendations contributed to Hoboken’s initiative, which is ahead of the mandates to be instituted by the North Hudson Sewerage Authority’s Long Term Control Plan to address combined sewer overflows.
Additionally, the City updated the Recreation and Open Space Inventory to be consistent with the City’s open space advancement and stormwater management implementation in parks. A Resilient Capital Improvement Plan was another outcome of their proactive effort and contains details on projects to prepare the City for future natural hazards. Hazard mitigation and emergency management planning resulted in mitigation project development, an Emergency Operations Plan update and a Continuity of Operations/Government plan. Resiliency measures and philosophies were integrated into the Master Plan elements.
The flagship product of this planning effort is the Resilient Building Design Guidelines, educating homeowners and developers with tangible examples on how to retrofit existing structures, comply with FEMA Substantial Damage/Substantial Improvement standards, and best practices when building new construction in floodprone areas. The Guidelines have instructions on how to reduce future flood losses by using flood resistant materials and flood considerate techniques, all in keeping with the character of Hoboken. The Guidelines are a first of their kind in New Jersey and, as the techniques are implemented, the floodprone areas will be safer and recover more quickly after an event. Click here to read and download the complete 52-page guidelines document.
The City received the New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management’s 2015 Outstanding Floodplain Management Award for these efforts.
The Town of Hammonton received a grant from the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters to perform a preliminary feasibility study for the possibility of establishing a stormwater utility in the municipality. The town is uniquely composed of suburban, rural, and agricultural land uses. Like many older municipalities, development outpaced the construction of infrastructure, and the existing pipes, inlets, and manholes have exceeded their useful life by decades. As a result, the town experiences significant flooding during precipitation events.
In 2021, the Town awarded Princeton Hydro with a contract to perform the feasibility investigation. As part of our efforts, Princeton Hydro worked with Town officials to obtain relevant data, including budget information, property classifications, and historical maps and reports. We reviewed the data regarding current stormwater management expenses as well a review of the best available data sources for applicable land use and impervious coverage data. The maps and available GIS data were used to assess the characteristics of the land within each watershed of the Town.
Princeton Hydro developed a stakeholder meeting program, where key individuals, businesses, environmental groups, and nonprofit entities were invited to different forums to learn about stormwater utilities, ask questions, and provide feedback.
The data obtained from the town, in conjunction with the input of the stakeholders, was used to develop a Stormwater Utility Investigation report, which includes preliminary rate structures, that shall be used by the Town Council to decide if it is in their best interest to continue pursuing a stormwater utility and move forward with a comprehensive stormwater utility feasibility study.
Princeton Hydro provided Lehigh University with engineering consulting services related to the implementation of a stormwater utility. Lehigh University is a multi-campus private university encompassing 2,355 acres (3.7 square miles) within the City of Bethlehem. The City implemented a user fee-based stormwater utility program in 2021. Princeton Hydro prepared comments on the City’s proposed fee-based utility on behalf of the University. Princeton Hydro also quantified the anticipated annual fee for the campus based on the University’s impervious coverage mapping.
As part of this effort Princeton Hydro developed a campus-wide stormwater management plan to assess and minimize the financial impact on the University’s operations. Like most stormwater utilities, the City’s stormwater utility offers a credit system which enables and incentivizes users to implement stormwater management measures to reduce the burden on the City’s infrastructure and reduce the user’s annual stormwater fee. Princeton Hydro conducted a complete GIS-based review of the three University campuses. Following the GIS review, site inspections were completed in order to identify opportunities for stormwater management retrofits. The purpose of potential retrofits was to decrease the University’s annual stormwater utility fee, improve water quality, and provide aesthetic and ecological uplift.
Since 2012, Princeton Hydro has been providing Tredyffrin Township with on-call stormwater services. Tredyffrin Township is a large municipality located on the Main Line in Chester County, PA with a population of approximately 30,000. The township has a substantial amount of ongoing residential, commercial, and professional development and redevelopment projects.
Princeton Hydro is now in its tenth year of providing the municipality with on-call services including development plan stormwater reviews for all projects under land development review.These projects include multiple large-scale redevelopment projects as well as large-scale commercial and professional redevelopment projects.
Our work efforts on land development applications in the Township are comprehensive, including pre-application meetings with applicants, technical review, escrow review, construction inspection, and final walk through/punch list creation. In addition to the development plan review services, Princeton Hydro provides routine construction oversight and erosion and sediment control inspections for the large-scale construction projects within the Township. Implemented BMPs include green roofs, porous pavement, and various infiltration/detention BMPs. Many projects have challenging existing site conditions including carbonate geology, floodplains, and historic fill. Furthermore, many of the ongoing projects are redevelopment projects which have semi-urban characteristics in terms of existing site constraints.
The Township has an innovative, stringent, and forward-thinking stormwater management ordinance which exceeds the State and Chester County Act 167 requirements. The Township contains multiple watersheds including an Exceptional Value (EV) stream, Valley Creek. Princeton Hydro provides direct cooperation with the municipality and meets with applicants and their professionals throughout the design and approval process.
Princeton Hydro also provides engineering design services for capital improvement projects related to stormwater management. Other services provided for the Township include inspection and assessment of Township-owned stormwater management facilities and guidance on the operation as well as design services for the modification of such facilities.
Princeton Hydro was contracted by the Fairways at Lake Ridge in Lakewood Township to perform an inlet inspection of all of the stormwater inlets within the square-mile Ocean County, New Jersey community. The purpose of the inspection was to evaluate the need for retrofitting the stormwater inlets to prevent the discharge of solids and floatables from entering the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4).
Princeton Hydro reviewed the Preliminary and Final Subdivision Plans for the community, including the grading and utility plans, and used these as the basis of the inspection. Through field inpections, Princeton Hydro identified the inlets and confirmed the locations on a site plan. The inspection also involved noting any discrepancies between the site plan and field observations, as well as documenting the condition of the inlets and MS4 compliance status.
Using geo-referenced photos, Princeton Hydro documented the condition of the inlets. The photos were then used to create a Google MyMap, depicting the exact locations of the inlets in each of the photos. The team then compiled an inlet inventory with the inlet type, condition, drainage location, and the MS4 compliance status. The inventory also noted whether or not each inlet drained to an existing stormwater basin controlled by an outlet structure with a compliant trash rack.
After the inspection and completion of the inlet inventory, Princeton Hydro wrote a letter to Lakewood Township summarizing our findings and claiming that all non-compliant inlets in roadways that drain to the community’s privately-owned and maintained basins with trash racks did not need to be retrofitted.
Your Full Name * Phone Number * Your Email * Organization Address Message *
By EmailBy Phone
Submit
Δ
Couldn’t find a match? Check back often as we post new positions throughout the year.
PRINCETON HYDRO
PRINCETON HYDRO