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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.

[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] => 19549 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2026-04-07 18:08:34 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-04-07 18:08:34 [post_content] =>

Princeton Hydro was contracted by the Warren Hills School Regional School District (WHRSD) to provide a completed dam inspection, dam breach scenario, hydrologic and hydraulic (H&S) modeling, inundation analysis, and hazard classification for the Warren Hills Dam. Located on a tributary of Pohatcong Creek in Washington Township, Warren County, the earthen dam was constructed circa the 1930s and was reconstructed in the 1990s involving spillway repairs.

Upon the completion of Princeton Hydro’s careful evaluation of alternative assessments contained in the inspection report, the Warren Hill School District made the decision to seek dam removal. The unsatisfactory condition rating contained in the inspection report, as well as the need for WHRSD to us an adjacent structure for academic activities in Fall 2020, contributed to the decision.

Princeton Hydro was then contracted to facilitate the dam decommissioning and throughout the project development, performed the site survey for the identification of hazardous materials; wetland delineation; site investigation; and sediment sampling, analysis, and probing. Princeton Hydro preformed a stream assessment of the channels upstream of the impoundment, and the downstream mill race. Sediment probes were completed throughout the impoundment to determine the depth of unconsolidated material (sediment) and provide a general understanding of the substrate encountered at refusal depth. The proposed channel within the impoundment reflected existing upstream reaches, the anticipated natural channel type, and the assumed pre-dam channel: a boulder dominated cascade, approximately 12 feet wide, up to two-foot max depth, and 10% slope, with occasional/irregular boulder steps. As part of the engineering design, Princeton Hydro also conducted planning, permitting, and construction management and oversight.

The completed design involved sediment excavation and onsite storage, as well as stable channel creation. Through an accelerated schedule Princeton Hydro worked to complete the permitting and dam removal before the start of the 2019 school year.

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The Goethals Bridge Replacement Project resulted in unavoidable impacts to 4.929 acres of wetlands and open water associated with the Arthur Kill, requiring the creation of 15.39 acres of mudflat, low marsh, high marsh, and scrub/shrub habitat; and preservation of 3.91 acres of existing low marsh/high marsh and open water habitat. Princeton Hydro worked with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – New York District and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) on the development of an acceptable monitoring program that was implemented in 2019. As stipulated in the NYSDEC-issued permit, the monitoring program had to follow the New York State Salt Marsh Restoration and Monitoring Guidelines (Guidelines) established in 2000. Working closely with USACE and NYSDEC and following the program specified within the Guidelines, Princeton Hydro established five transects and eighteen associated 1m2 quadrat locations along the five transects. Each transect represented a cross section of the various ecological communities present between Old Place Creek and the upper extent of the mitigation site. The ecological communities monitored across each transect included low marsh, high marsh, transitional zones between low marsh and high marsh, and scrub/shrub, respectively.

[gallery link="none" columns="2" ids="19307,19305"]

The following metrics were calculated within each 1m2 quadrat: overall percent cover and species composition comprising the observed percent cover. Within each 1m2 quadrat, a 0.25m2 portion of the quadrat was analyzed for stem density and plant height as outlined within the Guidelines. Additionally, the entire mitigation site was investigated for the presence of invasive species with subsequent mapping developed and incorporated into an adaptive management plan. This was then implemented to address the presence of common reed (Phragmites australis). Annual monitoring reports were prepared and submitted to both USACE and NYSDEC detailing the results of the monitoring effort with a focus on the established transects and 1m2 quadrats along each transect. A section of the reports was dedicated to the development of an adaptive management plan to ensure the mitigation site satisfied the requisite 85% vegetative cover comprised of desirable, native species.

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In response to recurring water quality issues, including a significant cyanobacterial bloom in 2014 that led to prolonged beach closures, the Town of Putnam Valley engaged Princeton Hydro to revise and update the Lake Peekskill Watershed Management Plan. The lake, a small impoundment of Peekskill Hollow Creek, serves as a vital recreational resource for the community. Princeton Hydro’s initial study was structured around three core tasks: (1) analysis of long-term water quality data, (2) development of an updated pollutant budget, and (3) formulation of short- and long-term management strategies.

The analysis revealed a steady increase in conductivity and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations over the past two decades, indicating rising nutrient loads and a shift toward eutrophic conditions. Elevated TP levels were directly linked to increased algal biomass, particularly harmful cyanobacteria producing microcystin-LR, which exceeded safe swimming thresholds in 2014. The updated pollutant budget identified septic system leachate (55%) and stormwater runoff (22%) as the primary sources of phosphorus entering the lake. Internal loading from sediments and atmospheric deposition also contributed to the nutrient burden.

To address these issues, Princeton Hydro proposed a suite of in-lake management interventions focused on the lake’s three public beaches. Recommendations included installing electric water pumps to improve circulation at Carrara’s Beach and ozone/aeration systems at Singer’s and North Beaches to reduce organic buildup and mitigate algal blooms. These nature-based, non-chemical solutions were designed to provide immediate relief while longer-term watershed improvements, such as septic upgrades and stormwater controls, are pursued. The plan emphasized the need for community engagement, regulatory coordination, and sustainable implementation to restore and protect Lake Peekskill’s ecological health and recreational value.

Building on this foundational work, Princeton Hydro was re-engaged in 2022 by the Lake Peekskill Civic Association (LPCA) and the Town of Putnam Valley to provide additional lake management services. The team developed a comprehensive Lake Management Plan aimed at identifying and prioritizing cost-effective green infrastructure and stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) for implementation by the Town. The goal was to reduce nutrient loading, improve water quality, mitigate nuisance aquatic vegetation, prevent harmful algal blooms (HABs), and enhance overall stormwater management within the watershed.

This phase of work included a detailed analysis of historical water quality data, a submerged aquatic macrophyte survey, and a field-based water quality assessment. Princeton Hydro also conducted a pollutant removal analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of specific watershed-based management techniques. The resulting plan provided a clear roadmap for reducing annual pollutant loads and minimizing the occurrence and severity of HABs through targeted, science-based interventions. The recommendations were designed to be actionable, scalable, and aligned with the Town’s capacity and resources, reinforcing the long-term commitment to restoring and maintaining the health of Lake Peekskill.

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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.

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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.

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In 2013, American Rivers, CTDEEP Fisheries, and Natural Resources Conservation Service began collaborating on an effort to remove up to five dams as part of a long-term project to restore connectivity to the Moosup River, prized trout-fishing stream in the Town of Plainfield. Princeton Hydro was contracted with RiverLogic Solutions to provide design-build and permitting services.

As part of this larger effort, the most downstream barrier, Hale Factory Dam, was removed in 2014. The remnants of the toppled Griswold Rubber Dam (approximately 2 miles upstream) were removed in 2015. The removal of Brunswick Mill Dam #1 (approximately 0.75 miles upstream) was completed in 2017.

Princeton Hydro developed a design-build approach for the project in collaboration with RiverLogic Solutions, a contractor highly specialized in the removal of dams. Princeton Hydro prepared design plans and project permitting, as well as supervised construction for the three dams. RiverLogic Solutions provided design and constructability input, and the construction services to remove each dam.

Princeton Hydro proposed a low-cost, low-impact approach to the removal of the Hale Factory Dam that involved the full removal of the structure, the re-use of boulders from the dam for random in-channel placement to enhance aquatic habitat, and the passive recovery of the channel. Griswold Rubber Factory Dam Removal involved the demolition and removal of concrete slabs and the creation of a natural gravel/cobble riffle coupled to the existing pools upstream and downstream of the former spillway to provide enhanced fish habitat. In addition to restoring aquatic organism passage, the Brunswick Mill Dam #1 removal, also provided for removal of a large floodplain constriction and a public safety hazard, and stabilization of an eroding bank.

While dam removal is becoming a more common mode of restoring rivers, efforts like this – to remove multiple barriers on a single river – are rare. When clustered on a single river, the ecological benefits to restoring aquatic organism passage and enhancing aquatic habitat are substantially magnified.

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From 2001 through 2002 Princeton Hydro collected the necessary field data such as in-situ, bathymetric, and discrete (both water and sediment), and also delineated and modeled the hydrologic and nutrient loads of the watershed for four (4) New Jersey state park lakes: Round Valley swimming area, Lake Absegami, Host Lake, and Hook Creek Lake. This data was then compiled and computed to prepare a Management Plan for each of the individual lakes.

[gallery link="none" size="medium" ids="19062,19063,19064"]

The plans provided specific objectives and recommendations for the short and long-term management of each Lake and its watershed. Both in-lake and watershed management techniques were provided in the plan. In-lake techniques tended to focus on symptomatic problems such as algal blooms and the accumulation of sediments, while watershed techniques tended to focus on reducing pollutant loads through the use of structural and non-structural Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Green Infrastructure (GI) techniques. The management techniques were priority ranked, with these rankings being dependent upon applicability, regulatory constraints, technical feasibility, degree of effectiveness, initial implementation costs, and operations and maintenance costs.

In-lake restoration techniques were designed to improve the water quality and/or aesthetics of the waterbody by alleviating the specific impacts of pollution. Although these measures typically provide only short-term relief without controlling the source of the pollutants, they can substantially improve the aesthetics of a lake while the long-term, watershed-based management practices are being implemented.

In contrast to in-lake restoration techniques, watershed-based techniques focused on the causes of eutrophication rather than the effects. Watershed techniques were not as visible as in-lake techniques and tended to take more time to produce their desired results. However, they were absolutely vital in reducing the pollutant load, as well as producing and sustaining long-term improvements in surface water quality for each of the lakes.

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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.

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The Mountain Lake Community Association and Watershed Advisory Group is the oldest and largest nonprofit organization in Warren County, New Jersey. Increasing concerns regarding water quality conditions of Mountain Lake prompted the Liberty Township Committee to establish a Lake Study Group which was tasked to develop a long-term monitoring plan, analyze and synthesize data, and provide comprehensive lake and watershed management planning.

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For this project, Princeton Hydro conducted a thorough review of the background data, logistical and equipment capabilities of the group, and developed a monitoring implementation plan for the 2021 growing season.

Following plan development, Princeton Hydro aquatic ecologists conducted a field-based volunteer training session which taught the volunteers how to collect in-situ, laboratory, and plankton data in addition to general field observations. Data handling, quality control, and analysis techniques were also reviewed with the group. This data is currently being used by the group to provide the scientific data necessary to diagnose potential lake problems and as an objective benchmark for the recommendation of management solutions.

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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.

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Posted on April 07, 2026

Mill River Watershed Management Plan

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