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It has a watershed area of approximately 32 square miles, encompassing parts of six municipalities. The watershed is quite varied in many respects. At nearly 14 miles in length along the north-south axis, elevations range from sea level up to 630’. Because of its glacial geology, the topography includes low hills, while the main river valley features steep escarpments. The development patterns essentially divide the watershed in two: the developed southern and eastern portions of the watershed, and the rural headwaters to the north and west. Princeton Hydro was contracted by Fairfield County, CT to develop the Mill River Watershed Management Plan (WMP). The Fairfield Conservation Commission, part of the municipal government for the Town of Fairfield, applied for a Clean Water Act Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Program grant with CT DEEP to help address the TMDL and other nonpoint source (NPS) pollutant loading and stormwater management concerns in the Mill River. The grant was awarded for the development of this Watershed Management Plan (WMP). Princeton Hydro worked with project partners, including Connecticut DEEP, Harbor Watch, Trout Unlimited, Fairfield Shellfish Commission, FairPLAN, Mill River Wetland Committee, and Lake Hills Association, throughout the watershed planning process. Mill River does not meet some of the water quality standards or designated uses. For example, in 2004 Mill River was added to the 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies, which is named after a section of the Clean Water Act that mandates tracking and reporting of impaired waters, for exceeding the standards associated with indicator bacteria. Mill River has had problems with excessive concentrations of Escherichia coli, more commonly E. coli. The WMP was primarily intended to provide a path to improve water quality throughout the watershed. The plan followed the requirements for the Environmental Protection Agency’s watershed-based plans (WBP) that addresses nine specific elements. This type of plan therefore covered a wide range of topics including identification of water quality problems, determining the cause of those problems, identifying measures to correct the problems, securing the technical and financial assistance to implement the plan, and developing criteria, schedules, and a monitoring program to track progress. Throughout this process, Princeton Hydro routinely met with stakeholders to define their vision and refine the plan to meet the goals and objectives in an achievable manner. [gallery columns="2" link="none" size="full" ids="19552,19551"] [post_title] => Mill River Watershed Management Plan [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => mill-river-watershed-management-plan [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-04-07 18:21:59 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-04-07 18:21:59 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?post_type=project&p=19550 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => project [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => 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 ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 19281 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2026-02-05 19:57:58 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-02-05 19:57:58 [post_content] => The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District (USACE), in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), conducted a comprehensive study to identify ecosystem restoration and flood-damage-reduction solutions for the Millstone River Basin in New Jersey. Project stakeholders included the U.S. Geological Survey, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Mercer and Middlesex Counties, Princeton University, and the Stony Brook–Millstone Watershed Association. During the study, Carnegie Lake, a freshwater impoundment of the Millstone River located in Mercer and Middlesex Counties, was identified as a significant natural resource within the watershed. As the project’s lead agency, USACE contracted Princeton Hydro to develop a detailed lake and watershed restoration plan for Carnegie Lake. The Carnegie Lake and Watershed Restoration Plan focused on three primary objectives. First, it involved collecting a wide range of site‑specific in‑lake and watershed data. Second, it quantified the hydrologic and non‑point‑source pollutant budgets for the lake, including total suspended solids and the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus. Third, it used the findings from the first two objectives to develop a comprehensive lake and watershed restoration plan. The first objective was completed in 2003, during which extensive data were collected throughout the growing season. A major component of this effort was a detailed bathymetric survey that measured water depths and the volume of unconsolidated sediments. Additional tasks included collecting physical, chemical, and biological in‑lake data; conducting macrophyte and fisheries surveys; and collecting and analyzing baseline and stormwater samples. Hydrologic and pollutant budgets for Carnegie Lake and its watershed were then developed using standardized and widely accepted models calibrated with the collected baseline and stormwater data. These budgets informed water‑quality models used to predict in‑lake conditions under various climatic and pollutant‑loading scenarios. All water‑quality and watershed data, along with model results, were used to evaluate and prioritize feasible, cost‑effective in‑lake and watershed management techniques aimed at improving water quality and reducing pollutant loads. The project was finalized in March 2005. [gallery link="none" ids="19279,19277,19276"] [post_title] => Carnegie Lake Phase I Lake and Watershed Restoration Plan [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => carnegie-lake-phase-i-lake-and-watershed-restoration-plan [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-04-08 16:26:56 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-04-08 16:26:56 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?post_type=project&p=19281 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => project [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 18841 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2025-12-09 20:27:39 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-12-09 20:27:39 [post_content] => 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. [post_title] => Kearny Riverbank Park Site Assessment and Design Services [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => kearny-riverbank-park-site-assessment-and-design-services [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-12-09 20:33:08 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-12-09 20:33:08 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?post_type=project&p=18841 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => project [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [4] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 18795 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2025-11-05 17:12:57 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-11-05 17:12:57 [post_content] => 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. [gallery link="none" columns="2" size="medium" ids="18794,18793"] 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. [post_title] => Sustainable Shoreline at Nyack Beach State Park [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => sustainable-shoreline-at-nyack-beach-state-park [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-12-08 21:44:20 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-12-08 21:44:20 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?post_type=project&p=18795 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => project [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [5] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 18594 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2025-10-11 14:00:49 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-10-11 14:00:49 [post_content] => Moorestown Township, located in Southern New Jersey, has about 22 miles of streams and 106 acres of lakes and ponds within its borders, including Strawbridge Lake. There are portions of three watersheds for Strawbridge Lake in the Township: the Rancocas Creek, the Pennsauken Creek, and Pompeston Creek/Swede Run. These are subdivided into eight subwatersheds located within Moorestown. In 2010, all eight of these subwatersheds were impaired for one or more designated uses. The most common cause of impairment was phosphorus. As a result, in 2017, Princeton Hydro authored the Strawbridge Lake Watershed and Restoration Plan, a USEPA 9-Element Plan for the management and restoration of the lake and its watershed. Since 2017, our team has implemented several nonpoint source targeted stormwater management projects in the watershed for the Township. Specifically, the Township has restored and upgraded a passive stormwater basin at the site of Strawbridge Lake Park. The basin was upgraded to be passive, vegetated stormwater conveyance and treatment BMPs that filter and attenuate stormwater runoff from adjacent areas. This project was identified in the Strawbridge Lake Watershed and Restoration Plan. Additionally, the Children’s Pond forebay area of Strawbridge Lake was also recently dredged and restored. This dredging was also identified in the Strawbridge Lake Watershed and Restoration Plan. [gallery link="none" size="medium" ids="834,890,894"] These projects act as an excellent example of green infrastructure within the community and provide both public access and education opportunities explaining the overall lake and stormwater quality. These projects have also included a major education and outreach element. Through education and outreach efforts, the Township has promoted on-lot green infrastructure techniques, including such techniques as: rainwater harvesting, bioretention systems, porous pavement, and other easy-to-implement, grassroots best management practices and low impact development techniques that the surrounding community can use. [post_title] => Strawbridge Lake US EPA 8-Element Watershed Plan & Restoration Implementation [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => strawbridge-lake-us-epa-8-element-watershed-plan-restoration-implementation [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-11-05 14:51:42 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-11-05 14:51:42 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?post_type=project&p=18594 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => project [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [6] => 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 ) [7] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 17721 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2025-07-01 15:26:32 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-07-01 15:26:32 [post_content] => 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. [gallery link="none" columns="2" size="medium" ids="17717,17718"] 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. [post_title] => Lake Holiday: Lake & Watershed Management [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => lake-holiday-lake-watershed-management [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-07-01 15:26:32 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-07-01 15:26:32 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?post_type=project&p=17721 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => project [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [8] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 17715 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2025-07-01 14:59:08 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-07-01 14:59:08 [post_content] => The Cooper River Watershed is a 39.5 square mile tributary to the Delaware River within the Delaware River Basin. It is characterized by extensive residential and commercial development and a number of highly degraded waterbodies. Near the mouth of the Cooper River, a tidal dam forms Cooper River Lake (CRL). This 192-acre public lake has a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for total phosphorus (TP) and a variety of other nonpoint source pollutants. Immediately upstream of CRL are Wallworth Lake and Evans Pond which suffer the same impairments as CRL. CRL is the centerpiece of Camden County’s 347-acre Cooper River Park; Evans Pond and Wallworth Lake are within Camden County’s Wallworth Park (56 acres). These waterbodies are part of Camden County’s greenway and provide recreational opportunities to the overburdened communities (OBCs) that surround them. These waterbodies also provide significant water quality services to the watershed, such as regional stormwater attenuation and sediment trapping. Unfortunately, the highly degraded condition of this watershed is well documented. Further, in 2020 a harmful algal bloom (HAB) was confirmed by NJDEP within Hopkins Pond, a waterbody upstream of CRL, with toxin levels posing a high risk of adverse health effects. Camden County Soil Conservation District (CCSCD) was awarded funding through NJDEP’s Lake Restoration Grant program to develop a USEPA 9-Element Plus 1 Watershed Implementation Plan (9E+1 WIP) for the CRL watershed, including Evans Pond, Wallworth Lake, and Hopkins Pond. The goal of the WIP is to develop a strategy to cost effectively identify and address the potential watershed impacts through in-lake and watershed-based management activities, with designs to address impacts driven by climate change. Through stakeholder engagement and the review of historical data, the project team is determining sources of pollutant loading in the watershed. The team will utilize the results, and the data collected during the water quality monitoring and watershed assessment to characterize and prioritize areas that and locations that would be optimal for best management practices and green infrastructure. Ultimately, the project team will develop a comprehensive Cooper River Lake Watershed Implementation Plan. Princeton Hydro is in the process of completing a 1-year detailed sampling and surveying exercise of the CRL watershed for the purpose of collecting the data needed to assess the lake and streams within and design the lake/stream protection and watershed management plan. In addition to the above mentioned tasks, Princeton Hydro also conducted bathymetric assessments of CRL, Evans Pond, and Wallworth Lake. [post_title] => Watershed Implementation Plan for Cooper River Lake [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => watershed-implementation-plan-for-cooper-river-lake [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-07-01 14:59:08 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-07-01 14:59:08 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?post_type=project&p=17715 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => project [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [9] => 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 Mill River Watershed is located in Fairfield County in southwestern Connecticut. It has a watershed area of approximately 32 square miles, encompassing parts of six municipalities. The watershed is quite varied in many respects. At nearly 14 miles in length along the north-south axis, elevations range from sea level up to 630’. Because of its glacial geology, the topography includes low hills, while the main river valley features steep escarpments. The development patterns essentially divide the watershed in two: the developed southern and eastern portions of the watershed, and the rural headwaters to the north and west.
Princeton Hydro was contracted by Fairfield County, CT to develop the Mill River Watershed Management Plan (WMP). The Fairfield Conservation Commission, part of the municipal government for the Town of Fairfield, applied for a Clean Water Act Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Program grant with CT DEEP to help address the TMDL and other nonpoint source (NPS) pollutant loading and stormwater management concerns in the Mill River. The grant was awarded for the development of this Watershed Management Plan (WMP). Princeton Hydro worked with project partners, including Connecticut DEEP, Harbor Watch, Trout Unlimited, Fairfield Shellfish Commission, FairPLAN, Mill River Wetland Committee, and Lake Hills Association, throughout the watershed planning process.
Mill River does not meet some of the water quality standards or designated uses. For example, in 2004 Mill River was added to the 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies, which is named after a section of the Clean Water Act that mandates tracking and reporting of impaired waters, for exceeding the standards associated with indicator bacteria. Mill River has had problems with excessive concentrations of Escherichia coli, more commonly E. coli.
The WMP was primarily intended to provide a path to improve water quality throughout the watershed. The plan followed the requirements for the Environmental Protection Agency’s watershed-based plans (WBP) that addresses nine specific elements. This type of plan therefore covered a wide range of topics including identification of water quality problems, determining the cause of those problems, identifying measures to correct the problems, securing the technical and financial assistance to implement the plan, and developing criteria, schedules, and a monitoring program to track progress. Throughout this process, Princeton Hydro routinely met with stakeholders to define their vision and refine the plan to meet the goals and objectives in an achievable manner.
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 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District (USACE), in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), conducted a comprehensive study to identify ecosystem restoration and flood-damage-reduction solutions for the Millstone River Basin in New Jersey. Project stakeholders included the U.S. Geological Survey, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Mercer and Middlesex Counties, Princeton University, and the Stony Brook–Millstone Watershed Association.
During the study, Carnegie Lake, a freshwater impoundment of the Millstone River located in Mercer and Middlesex Counties, was identified as a significant natural resource within the watershed. As the project’s lead agency, USACE contracted Princeton Hydro to develop a detailed lake and watershed restoration plan for Carnegie Lake.
The Carnegie Lake and Watershed Restoration Plan focused on three primary objectives. First, it involved collecting a wide range of site‑specific in‑lake and watershed data. Second, it quantified the hydrologic and non‑point‑source pollutant budgets for the lake, including total suspended solids and the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus. Third, it used the findings from the first two objectives to develop a comprehensive lake and watershed restoration plan.
The first objective was completed in 2003, during which extensive data were collected throughout the growing season. A major component of this effort was a detailed bathymetric survey that measured water depths and the volume of unconsolidated sediments. Additional tasks included collecting physical, chemical, and biological in‑lake data; conducting macrophyte and fisheries surveys; and collecting and analyzing baseline and stormwater samples.
Hydrologic and pollutant budgets for Carnegie Lake and its watershed were then developed using standardized and widely accepted models calibrated with the collected baseline and stormwater data. These budgets informed water‑quality models used to predict in‑lake conditions under various climatic and pollutant‑loading scenarios. All water‑quality and watershed data, along with model results, were used to evaluate and prioritize feasible, cost‑effective in‑lake and watershed management techniques aimed at improving water quality and reducing pollutant loads.
The project was finalized in March 2005.
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.
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.
Moorestown Township, located in Southern New Jersey, has about 22 miles of streams and 106 acres of lakes and ponds within its borders, including Strawbridge Lake. There are portions of three watersheds for Strawbridge Lake in the Township: the Rancocas Creek, the Pennsauken Creek, and Pompeston Creek/Swede Run. These are subdivided into eight subwatersheds located within Moorestown. In 2010, all eight of these subwatersheds were impaired for one or more designated uses. The most common cause of impairment was phosphorus. As a result, in 2017, Princeton Hydro authored the Strawbridge Lake Watershed and Restoration Plan, a USEPA 9-Element Plan for the management and restoration of the lake and its watershed.
Since 2017, our team has implemented several nonpoint source targeted stormwater management projects in the watershed for the Township. Specifically, the Township has restored and upgraded a passive stormwater basin at the site of Strawbridge Lake Park. The basin was upgraded to be passive, vegetated stormwater conveyance and treatment BMPs that filter and attenuate stormwater runoff from adjacent areas. This project was identified in the Strawbridge Lake Watershed and Restoration Plan.
Additionally, the Children’s Pond forebay area of Strawbridge Lake was also recently dredged and restored. This dredging was also identified in the Strawbridge Lake Watershed and Restoration Plan.
These projects act as an excellent example of green infrastructure within the community and provide both public access and education opportunities explaining the overall lake and stormwater quality. These projects have also included a major education and outreach element. Through education and outreach efforts, the Township has promoted on-lot green infrastructure techniques, including such techniques as: rainwater harvesting, bioretention systems, porous pavement, and other easy-to-implement, grassroots best management practices and low impact development techniques that the surrounding community can use.
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.
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.
The Cooper River Watershed is a 39.5 square mile tributary to the Delaware River within the Delaware River Basin. It is characterized by extensive residential and commercial development and a number of highly degraded waterbodies. Near the mouth of the Cooper River, a tidal dam forms Cooper River Lake (CRL). This 192-acre public lake has a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for total phosphorus (TP) and a variety of other nonpoint source pollutants. Immediately upstream of CRL are Wallworth Lake and Evans Pond which suffer the same impairments as CRL.
CRL is the centerpiece of Camden County’s 347-acre Cooper River Park; Evans Pond and Wallworth Lake are within Camden County’s Wallworth Park (56 acres). These waterbodies are part of Camden County’s greenway and provide recreational opportunities to the overburdened communities (OBCs) that surround them. These waterbodies also provide significant water quality services to the watershed, such as regional stormwater attenuation and sediment trapping. Unfortunately, the highly degraded condition of this watershed is well documented. Further, in 2020 a harmful algal bloom (HAB) was confirmed by NJDEP within Hopkins Pond, a waterbody upstream of CRL, with toxin levels posing a high risk of adverse health effects.
Camden County Soil Conservation District (CCSCD) was awarded funding through NJDEP’s Lake Restoration Grant program to develop a USEPA 9-Element Plus 1 Watershed Implementation Plan (9E+1 WIP) for the CRL watershed, including Evans Pond, Wallworth Lake, and Hopkins Pond. The goal of the WIP is to develop a strategy to cost effectively identify and address the potential watershed impacts through in-lake and watershed-based management activities, with designs to address impacts driven by climate change.
Through stakeholder engagement and the review of historical data, the project team is determining sources of pollutant loading in the watershed. The team will utilize the results, and the data collected during the water quality monitoring and watershed assessment to characterize and prioritize areas that and locations that would be optimal for best management practices and green infrastructure. Ultimately, the project team will develop a comprehensive Cooper River Lake Watershed Implementation Plan. Princeton Hydro is in the process of completing a 1-year detailed sampling and surveying exercise of the CRL watershed for the purpose of collecting the data needed to assess the lake and streams within and design the lake/stream protection and watershed management plan. In addition to the above mentioned tasks, Princeton Hydro also conducted bathymetric assessments of CRL, Evans Pond, and Wallworth Lake.
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.
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