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Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Farmington River Watershed Association (FRWA). The FRWA is a citizen-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1953 by a group of concerned citizens and community leaders to address the long-term degradation of the Farmington River. FRWA is committed to protecting, maintaining, and revitalizing the Farmington River and its watershed. Farmington River runs for 46.7 miles along its main stem in northwest Connecticut, with major tributaries extending into southwest Massachusetts. Its longest route, originating from the West Branch, stretches 80.4 miles, making it the longest tributary of the Connecticut River. The watershed covers 609 square miles, supporting a variety of cold-water resident fish species and important habitats for migratory fish. It also serves as a critical public drinking water supply for hundreds of thousands of people in the Hartford region. Additionally, the West Branch of the Farmington is highly regarded for its exceptional trout fishery. For this Client Spotlight, we spoke with FRWA Executive Director Aimee Petras via Zoom. Q.What are FRWA’s core values? A. “FRWA addresses a range of challenges facing the Farmington River, including water quality, water distribution, habitat restoration, recreation, open space conservation, and the protection of wetlands and floodplains. We are dedicated to protecting and preserving the natural resources of the Farmington River Watershed through research, education, advocacy, and restoration.” “Through research initiatives, we establish a comprehensive scientific understanding of watershed functions and health. We educate the public, government and business communities about the importance of a healthy river system. We advocate at the local, state and federal level for policies and actions that ensure the long-term protection of our watershed resources. And, we plan and implement restoration projects with long-lasting positive impacts on the river and surrounding ecosystems, engaging in hands-on stewardship through activities like fish habitat restoration, stormwater runoff reduction, and re-vegetating streambanks with native plants.” Q. Can you tell us a little more about FRWA’s advocacy work? A. [embed]https://youtu.be/-3wCsQD9Y60[/embed] "The Farmington River is one of the first designated 'Partnership Wild & Scenic Rivers.' Its protection is ensured through the combined efforts of federal, state, and local governments, along with various organizations dedicated to preserving the river's health. Currently, 78.6 miles of the Farmington River are safeguarded under two different designations. The Upper Farmington River has a 15.1-mile designation, and the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook, cover 61.7 miles.” “To earn the 'Wild and Scenic' designation, a river must possess at least one 'outstandingly remarkable' natural, cultural, or recreational value as defined by the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This recognition is a significant achievement that our organization is extremely proud of." Click here to learn about the National Wild & Scenic Rivers designation. Q. What is one exciting initiative FRWA is currently spearheading? A. [embed]https://youtu.be/74s2MAGF9n4[/embed] Click here to learn more about FRWA's Rainbow Dam removal advocacy and related river protection initiatives. [caption id="attachment_15054" align="aligncenter" width="1419"] Rainbow Dam. Photo by Farmington River Watershed Association.[/caption] Q. Let's delve into the collaborative history between FRWA and Princeton Hydro: Can you provide insight into our partnership? A. [embed]https://youtu.be/Zic5OGqDiqc[/embed] "Removing the dam also restored natural river flow rates and enabled American shad, alewife, and blueback herring to swim upstream through Tariffville Gorge, accessing over 20 additional miles of river. Additionally, this removal uncovered a historically scenic waterfall at a popular fishing site, replacing the neglected dam with a beautiful natural feature." Click here to learn more about the Spoonville Dam Removal project. [caption id="attachment_15046" align="aligncenter" width="1366"] Spoonville Dam prior to its removal. Photo by Farmington River Watershed Association.[/caption] Q. What is another exciting project that FRWA and Princeton Hydro worked on together? A. [embed]https://youtu.be/7oGjPSzi8nQ[/embed] “The removal of Winchell-Smith Dam restores access for aquatic organisms to a 30-mile stretch of the Farmington River upstream of the dam within the Connecticut River watershed. This area is a historic spawning habitat for species such as American shad, alewife, blueback herring, sea lamprey, and American eel. Removing the dam helps prevent local erosion and scour, clear barriers for migratory fish, eliminate hazards for river users, and repurpose existing timbers for historic preservation and educational purposes.” [caption id="attachment_15048" align="aligncenter" width="1371"] Winchell-Smith Dam and Miss Porter’s School Administration Building. Photo by Farmington River Watershed Association.[/caption] Q. In addition to dam removal projects, what other exciting initiatives have FRWA and Princeton Hydro collaborated on? A. [embed]https://youtu.be/syL-kFafl4w[/embed] To read the complete Pequabuck River Watershed Based Plan that Princeton Hydro developed for FRWA, click here. Q. For those interested in supporting FRWA's mission, how can individuals get involved and contribute to your efforts? A. “As a nonprofit organization, we continually seek support for our efforts. We encourage anyone interested to visit our website to learn about our programs, explore our research, access water quality reports, and understand our mission and priorities. There are numerous ways to get involved with FRWA, including donating, volunteering, participating in educational programs, or applying for internships. We are grateful to everyone who joins us in our mission to protect and restore our beautiful river.” Q. Is there anything else you’d like to share with our blog readers? A. [embed]https://youtu.be/IVe9gO-7FwQ[/embed] A big thanks to Aimee and FRWA for taking part in our Client Spotlight Series! To learn more about FRWA, we encourage you to visit their website. Click here to read the previous edition of our Client Spotlight Series featuring Karla Rossini, Executive Director of Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries (CU Maurice). [post_title] => Client Spotlight: Farmington River Watershed Association [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => client-spotlight-farmington-river-watershed-association [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-01-08 15:17:37 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-01-08 15:17:37 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=15051 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 12939 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2023-07-17 22:15:33 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-07-17 22:15:33 [post_content] => Welcome to the latest edition of our Client Spotlight series, which provides an inside look at our collaboration, teamwork, and accomplishments with one of our client partners. Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, known commonly as CU Maurice River, a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting the Maurice River Watershed’s natural integrity and cultural heritage. The Maurice River, located in south-central New Jersey, was designated a National Wild and Scenic River by Congress in 1993. It draws from a drainage area of 385 square miles and meanders south for 50 miles, through Southern New Jersey primarily in Cumberland County. Headwaters are in parts of Gloucester, Salem, and Atlantic Counties, emptying into the main stem of the Maurice; from there it flows into Delaware Bay. The major tributaries of the river are Scotland Run, Muddy Run, Menantico Creek, Muskee Creek, and the Manumuskin River. There are about 20 small lakes in the watershed, the largest of which is Union Lake at 950 acres. [gallery link="none" ids="17583,17586,17584"] As South Jersey’s leading watershed organization, CU Maurice River engages in fieldwork, advocacy, research, and education initiatives generating and contributing to a greater understanding of the local environment and wildlife. For this Client Spotlight, we spoke with CU Maurice River Executive Director Karla Rossini via Zoom: Q. Tell us a little about CU Maurice River and what makes it unique? A: [embed]https://youtu.be/iahd-_hbgPU[/embed] "CU Maurice River is a very grassroots, very local organization. One of our core strengths is community involvement. In everything we do, we try to invite the largest section of community that we possibly can. Whether that’s to participate in educational opportunities or participate in volunteerism or become an advocate of our local resources, we really make it our goal to develop and foster stewardship within the community." Q. What are some exciting things your organization is working on right now? A: "We're very excited about the work we're doing with the WheatonArts & Cultural Center, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to engage artists and audiences in an evolving exploration of creativity. Over the years, CU Maurice River has worked with WheatonArts to design and implement various best management practices throughout its 45-acre campus. We’ve installed vernal pools, purple martin gourds, a blue bird trail, a nature trail, and a massive rain garden. The projects support water resources on site and beyond, revitalize and preserve natural habitats, and provide an invaluable community resource for promoting eco-friendly land management, stewardship, and nature exploration. WheatonArts and CU Maurice River also launched a four-week nature journaling course, which will take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from August 3 to August 25 (2023). Kids get to spend time outdoors while growing their science knowledge, appreciation for nature, and artistic ability. Nature journaling is a way to creatively connect and build a deep, lasting relationship with the natural world. The CU Maurice River team does the scientific teachings, and the WheatonArts team does the art teachings. So for example, CU Maurice River will teach about the anatomy of a tree, how a tree functions, why an Oak tree produces acorns, and the ecosystem services a tree provides. And, WheatonArts teaches the kids how to draw and paint a tree, how to make an acorn look round, and how to get the shades of the brown tree trunk just right. Another interesting aspect of the program is that it also highlights the history of communication in nature exploration. Darwin had to draw his pictures to describe his findings. Mary Treat had to draw her discoveries. Audubon had to illustrate his birds. And, let’s face it, most of the best ID books aren’t photo books, they’re illustrated books. So, this program focuses on the importance of art in science." Q. Can you talk a little about the CU Maurice and Princeton Hydro partnership: A: "The first time I encountered Princeton Hydro was at a Musconetcong River event where Princeton Hydro was presenting on dam removal and the restoration of trout habitat on the Musconetcong. Then, later that year, at the Annual Delaware River Watershed Forum, I met Dana Patterson (Princeton Hydro's Director of Marketing and Communications). We got to talking about a variety of different projects we could explore together, and it's been a really great partnership ever since. I’m pretty sure I've given Dana and Christiana Pollock (Princeton Hydro's Director of Restoration and Resilience) some wacky ideas to figure out, but Princeton Hydro has always been very supportive AND realistic. Since then, we’ve contracted with Princeton Hydro to do a feasibility study on the Centerton Dam removal. We’re also working with Princeton Hydro to do an ArcGIS StoryMap of the Paddle Trails in the Maurice River Watershed. And, we've got some other exciting things in the works that I'm not at liberty to discuss publicly today, but stay tuned for more great things as a result of CU Maurice River's collaboration with the Princeton Hydro team. Princeton Hydro has really provided a lot of support and guidance, and I am eternally grateful for their partnership." Q. How can people get involved in and help support the important work CU Maurice River is doing? A: [embed]https://youtu.be/9WY0D21EFeo[/embed] For more CU Maurice River volunteer opportunities and upcoming events, click here. Q. Do you have anything else you'd like to share with our blog readers about CU Maurice River or yourself? A: [embed]https://youtu.be/Kb1l8Qfxe4c[/embed] A big thanks to Karla and CU Maurice River for taking part in our Client Spotlight Series! To learn more about CU Maurice River, we invite you to visit their website and subscribe to their newsletter. Click below to check out the previous edition of our Client Spotlight Series featuring George Jackman, PhD, Senior Habitat Restoration Manager for Riverkeeper: [post_title] => Client Spotlight: CU Maurice River [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => client-spotlight-cu-maurice-river [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-02-17 17:53:52 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-02-17 17:53:52 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=12939 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 12661 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2023-05-24 06:35:21 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-05-24 06:35:21 [post_content] => Welcome to the latest edition of our Client Spotlight series, which provides an inside look at our collaboration, teamwork, and accomplishments with one of our client partners. Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Riverkeeper, a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization headquartered in Ossining, New York. The organization is committed to protecting and restoring the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguarding drinking water supplies through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science, and law. For this Client Spotlight, we spoke with Riverkeeper’s Senior Habitat Restoration Manager George Jackman, PhD via zoom: Q. Tell us a little about Riverkeeper and what makes it unique? A: We are the first Keeper organization in the world. We began in 1966 as the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association, an environmental watchdog and enforcement organization founded by a group of concerned fishermen. In 1986, we officially changed our name to Riverkeeper. We've helped set worldwide standards for waterway and watershed protection, and continue to serve as the model for more than 300 Keeper programs around the globe. As New York’s clean water advocate, Riverkeeper is the unique voice in the Hudson Valley that is continually speaking-up to protect the integrity of the water, the creatures that call it home, and our surrounding communities. We are a voice of environmental justice for the people of Hudson Valley, advocating for communities that have often been marginalized or placed in disadvantaged situations that are now at the mercy of climate change. We are always striving for a fishable, swimmable, and drinkable Hudson River and a healthy watershed. For historical photos and more info about Riverkeeper's origination, click here to view the "Riverkeeper: An Incomplete History" slideshow. Q. What does your organization value? A: We value clean, reliable drinking water and an equitable justice for all people. We value a healthy, ecologically-balanced environment and clean, sustainable forms of energy. We value free-flowing rivers that are resilient and teeming with life. We value stewardship of the Hudson River and its watershed. And, last but not least, we value all of our members, volunteers, partners, supporters, and neighbors who play a primary and vital role in protecting our local environment. Q. What are some exciting things your organization is working on right now? A: I have to tell you, some of the work we do is not incredibly exciting, but it's incredibly important. We do a lot of work to strengthen the laws and regulations that impact New York’s water resources. We advocate for environmental justice, and we help our fellow community members understand the legislative process and how to get involved in garnering support for legislation that protects our Hudson River, its tributaries, our watershed, wetlands and surrounding areas. Strong environmental policy may not be the most exciting thing, but it is one of the best tools we have. And, it is very exciting when we win. Riverkeeper has taken on some of the largest corporations on planet Earth - General Electric, General Motors, Exxon - and we've won! The work isn’t easy; sometimes it can be a long, persistent slog. But, you know what? We’ve stayed the course and we've prevailed. Every time we win for the fish, it’s a big win for all of us, and for me that’s incredibly exciting and fulfilling. Click here to read Riverkeeper’s 2023 Legislative Agenda for New York State. Q. Can you talk a little about the history behind the Riverkeeper and Princeton Hydro partnership and some of the milestone projects we’ve collaborated on: A: [embed]https://youtu.be/HVJ6GBbq6jM[/embed] The removal of the two defunct dams that George mentions in the video clip – Strooks Felt Dam and Furnace Brook Barrier #1 – marked an important milestone in the Riverkeeper’s journey to “Undam the Hudson River” and restore fish passage between the Hudson and the Atlantic Ocean. Click here to read more. Q. How can people get involved in and help support the important work Riverkeeper is doing? A: [embed]https://youtu.be/rnDjgHMNLX4[/embed] For more Riverkeeper volunteer opportunities and upcoming events, click here. Q. Does Riverkeeper have community science opportunities available for the public to participate in? A: We have a great citizen science water sampling program; it’s actually one of the first community science initiatives in the world related to sampling water. It begins every April and volunteers have to commit to 6-months of water quality sampling. The samples are collected from the water’s edge by Riverkeeper-trained community scientists. We test for salinity, oxygen, temperature, suspended sediment, chlorophyll, and Enterococcus (Entero), a fecal indicator bacteria. It’s quite an unprecedented scope for a citizen science sampling initiative. We compile the data into “How’s the Water” reports and tributary watershed reports, and post them to our website. One of the wonderful things about the citizen science program is that we’re working with younger generations, training them on how to take samples and make observations, and helping them learn about the river. We’re trying to create a deeper connection between the river and its surrounding community members, especially our younger groups, and teach everyone how to be stewards for the river and protect the rivers’ many creatures. Click here to meet Riverkeeper’s water quality program science partners and supporters, and check out the data findings. Q. Do you have anything else you’d like to share with our blog readers? A: I’ll just close by saying, I’ve had a great experience working with Princeton Hydro. And, we look forward to Princeton Hydro bidding on future Riverkeeper projects, and hopefully working with them in the future. A big thanks to George and Riverkeeper for taking part in our Client Spotlight Series! To learn more about George and the important work he's doing with Riverkeeper, we invite you to read this article recently published in Planet A Magazine, "Channeling the Flow of Nature." Click below to check out the previous edition of our Client Spotlight Series featuring Tim Fenchel, Deputy Director of Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area: [post_title] => Client Spotlight: Riverkeeper - New York's Clean Water Advocate [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => client-spotlight-riverkeeper [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-04-29 17:12:06 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-04-29 17:12:06 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=12661 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 11552 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2022-10-31 13:03:10 [post_date_gmt] => 2022-10-31 13:03:10 [post_content] => Welcome to the latest edition of our Client Spotlight series, which provides an inside look at our collaboration and accomplishments with a specific client. For this Client Spotlight, we spoke with Tim Fenchel, Deputy Director of Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area (SRG). The mission of SRG is to connect residents, visitors, and communities to the Schuylkill River and the Schuylkill River Trail by serving as a catalyst for civic engagement and economic development in order to foster stewardship of the watershed and its heritage. The boundaries of the Heritage Area cover the Schuylkill River watershed in Schuylkill, Berks, Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties. Let's dive in! 1. Tell us a little about SRG and what makes it unique? [embed]https://youtu.be/vhdJlEUKyOg[/embed] 2. What does SRG value? We value our heritage and the deeply-rooted culture of this region. We also look ahead to how we can continue to engage our communities with that heritage and create future generations of stewards for the Schuylkill River and Schuylkill River Trail. We value vibrant and revitalized communities, and it’s rewarding to see how SRG has contributed to sustainable revitalization of river-town communities, including Phoenixville, Manayunk, and Pottstown. We really value helping to maintain a strong connection between the river and its surrounding neighborhoods. By enabling and encouraging communities to enjoy the river and trail, we create lifelong stewards of these important resources. Another core value is making outdoor recreation accessible for everyone. The trail is a public recreational resource that anyone can enjoy, and we really try to promote it as a means for health and wellness, all kinds of recreation experiences, family-friendly outings, arts and culture, and much more. Collaboration is also very valuable to SRG. Every single project and program that we do, we do it in partnership with at least one other organization if not multiple other organizations. The Schuylkill River Water Quality project, which we’ll talk more about today, is a great example of that. 3. What is your primary role within SRG? As Deputy Director, I get to be involved in just about everything that we do here. I assist with the day-to-day operations of the organization; I pitch in with trail issues when they arise; I’m involved, in some way shape or form, with our various community events throughout the year; and I also have several projects and programs that I personally oversee. The Schuylkill River Water Quality project is one, which we'll discuss in more detail shortly. Another unique project I oversee is the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund. Essentially, SRG receives funding from both private and public entities, and we then regrant those funds to local government agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations to implement on-the-ground projects for the improvement of water quality throughout the Schuylkill River Watershed. The grants focus on three major sources of pollution: stormwater run-off, agricultural pollution, and abandoned mine drainage. There is a lot of variety in my role here, which I really enjoy. 4. What excites you about going to work every day? [embed]https://youtu.be/LAcyIU4HvYQ[/embed] 5. Can you talk a little bit about the partnership between SRG and Princeton Hydro, and the Schuylkill River Water Quality project? An important aspect of our mission is to connect communities to the Schuylkill River through recreational and educational activities. To fully achieve the Schuylkill River’s potential, we must help the public understand the current health status and what they can do to continue to improve its quality for this generation and generations to come. In 2019, we received a grant from the William Penn Foundation to fund the Schuylkill River Water Quality project, which aimed to document the current ecological status and health of the river, and engage and educate a diverse set of river users and residents. Through an RFP process, we selected Princeton Hydro as one of the main project advisors. From the start, we hit it off with Michael Hartshorne, Director of Aquatics, and Dana Patterson, Director of Marketing & Communications. The strength of what they brought as a team and their scientific water quality and engagement expertise impressed us from the start and it really carried on throughout the entirety of the project. We had a truly tremendous team of partners, including Berks Nature, Bartram’s Garden, The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, and Stroud Water Research Center. The project, which focused on the main stem of the river from Reading to Southwest Philadelphia, included four key components: User Opinion and Perceptions Survey Community Science Visual Assessment Trash Survey Water Quality Monitoring Educational Outreach The yearlong data collection and community science initiative culminated with the launch of an interactive ArcGIS StoryMap webpage that reveals the local perceptions of the Schuylkill River and aims to connect residents with and encourage engagement with this special resource. [embed]https://youtu.be/5QHMQwGvU38[/embed] Click here to explore the interactive ArcGIS StoryMap: 6. Do you have a favorite or most memorable moment from the project? [embed]https://youtu.be/l6PzseNpdNI[/embed] 7. The Schuylkill River StoryMap is part of a larger project to foster positive perceptions of the Schuylkill River. Can you talk a little more about your goals moving forward and how you plan to use the StoryMap? [embed]https://youtu.be/eCKyofuKCcE[/embed] 8. What are some of SRG’s initiatives and upcoming activities that you’d like to share? We have so many wonderful events throughout the year that provide an opportunity for community members to learn about and engage with the Schuylkill River and the Trail. We just held the Ride for the River outing, which is a one-day bike ride and fundraising event. The ride began at the Pottstown River Front Park and followed about 20-miles of the Schuylkill River Trail to Reading. It’s always a ton of fun. Every June we have our Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn, which consists of a 7-day, 112-mile guided canoe/kayak trip on the Schuylkill River that begins in rural Schuylkill Haven and ends in Philadelphia. The event combines kayaking/canoeing, camping, education, and games into one exciting adventure. In November, we're hosting our 18th annual “Scenes of the Schuylkill” Art Show. Throughout the year, we host several free educational programs, do guided tours at locations within the Heritage Area, and so much more. Click here to learn more about SRG’s Programs and Events. A big thanks to Tim and SRG for taking part in our Client Spotlight Series! Schuylkill River Greenways relies on help from volunteers, who provide valued assistance with trail maintenance, special events, environmental education, water quality monitoring and more. To learn more about how to get involved, visit SRG's volunteer portal for a full rundown of opportunities. Click below to read the previous edition of our Client Spotlight Series featuring Seatuck Environmental Association Conservation Policy Advocate Emily Hall: [visual-link-preview encoded="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"] [post_title] => Client Spotlight: Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => client-spotlight-schuylkill-river-greenways [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-03-07 13:15:57 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-03-07 13:15:57 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=11552 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [4] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 10670 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2022-04-27 10:56:52 [post_date_gmt] => 2022-04-27 10:56:52 [post_content] => Welcome to the latest edition of our Client Spotlight series, which provides an inside look at our collaboration, teamwork, and accomplishments with a specific client. Today, we’re shining the spotlight on the Seatuck Environmental Association. Seatuck Environmental Association is a 501c3 nonprofit based in Islip, New York. They work on wildlife conservation and nature education across Long Island. The organization advocates for wildlife and advancing conservation projects, engages community scientists in wildlife research, and offers environmental education opportunities for Long Islanders of all ages. For this Client Spotlight, we spoke with Seatuck’s Conservation Policy Advocate Emily Hall via zoom: Q. What is your primary role within Seatuck? [embed]https://youtu.be/SoAgRaypc4Q[/embed] Q. What does Seatuck value? Particularly in our conservation work, we really try to stay niche. We specifically focus on restoring and protecting Long Island’s wildlife and environment. We advocate for wildlife, advance restoration projects, conduct surveys, educate public officials, host workshops, lead coalitions and pursue a host of other approaches to promote wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. Q. What makes the Seatuck Environmental Association unique? Seatuck is really unique because we're one of the only environmental organizations that works island-wide and isn’t part of a national organization. This really gives us the opportunity to stay focused on Long Island’s wildlife and environment, and dive into a lot of different wildlife protection efforts as well as habitat restoration projects. We also offer nature-based education programs all the way from pre-k to professional teacher training. Q. How long has Seatuck been working with Princeton Hydro? We’ve been working with Princeton Hydro since 2018. Seatuck was awarded the NYSDEC Division of Marine Resources Grant for Tributary Restoration and Resiliency to design a fish passage at the dam intersecting Mill Pond and Bellmore Creek. We contracted Princeton Hydro to design the fish passage options. Read more about the project here: Q. What are some key takeaways/highlights from the Bellmore Creek Fish Passage project? [embed]https://youtu.be/E1oYOy9Y688[/embed] Q. In what ways did you get the community involved in the Bellmore Creek Fish Passage Project? As an organization, it’s very important for us to collaborate with the community on projects and initiatives, and to understand the perspectives of all the different stakeholders involved. For the Bellmore Creek Fish Passage Project, we brought together environmental organizations, community members and the dam owners. We began by holding in-person meetings and site visits in order to provide education around the site’s history and the project goals, and give everyone a chance to hear each other’s feedback in real-time. Then COVID forced us to go virtual so we hosted a community webinar and developed an online survey. We collected a lot of valuable feedback that we were able to bring back to the dam owners to help them make the best decision possible. Q. Do you have a favorite or most memorable moment from the project? Meeting with all the different stakeholders and talking to them about the project is probably one of my most rewarding parts of the project. Educating people on why these diadromous fish are important and helping them understand the different benefits of a fish passage is very important to me and incredibly rewarding. Q. The Bellmore Creek project is part of a larger initiative called “Seatuck’s Long Island River Revival.” Can you talk more about that? [embed]https://youtu.be/f5BV2u04Q5A[/embed] Q. What connectivity and restoration project is coming up next for Seatuck? [embed]https://youtu.be/wyRIHwMD5gE[/embed] To learn more, click below to explore the River Revival Story Map: Q. How can an individual get involved with Seatuck? [embed]https://youtu.be/rT1CinT-xKs[/embed] Q. How can Princeton Hydro support you/your organization in the future? Princeton Hydro has been a fantastic partner through the Bellmore Creek Project. We look forward to working with Princeton Hydro in the future and supporting our efforts to look at different fish passage projects, potentially dam removals, and related alternative assessments. For Bellmore Creek, Princeton Hydro provided valuable insights as to the different types of fish passage options and helped to identify the best option for our community. We’ll hopefully continue this partnership and work together to restore the ecological health of more coastal rivers and streams. Q. What excites you about going to work everyday? [embed]https://youtu.be/YtuZLiqrYYs[/embed] Thanks to Seatuck Environmental Association and Emily Hall for being a great project partner and participating in this Client Spotlight. To learn more about Seatuck, visit their website. Click here to read a previous edition of our Client Spotlight blog series, which features Medford Lakes Colony in New Jersey: [post_title] => Client Spotlight: Seatuck Environmental Association [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => client-spotlight-seatuck [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2022-04-28 16:39:21 [post_modified_gmt] => 2022-04-28 16:39:21 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=10670 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [5] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8405 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2021-06-06 14:34:50 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-06-06 14:34:50 [post_content] => Welcome to the newest edition of our Client Spotlight Blog Series! Each spotlight provides an inside look at our collaboration, teamwork, and accomplishments with a specific client. We value our client relationships and pride ourselves on forming strong ties with organizations that share our values of creating a better future for people and our planet. Meet The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey (TNCNJ) The Nature Conservancy began as a collaborative effort between leading scientists, committed citizens, and dedicated leaders who shared a vision to care for the world around them. Their priorities include finding innovative solutions to some of the planet’s biggest challenges: tackling climate change, protecting land and water, providing food and water sustainability, and building healthy cities. Princeton Hydro has worked with TNCNJ on about a dozen projects since 2009. TNCNJ’s Director of River Restoration Beth Styler Barry and Princeton Hydro President Geoff Goll. To develop this Client Spotlight, we spoke with TNCNJ’s Director of River Restoration Beth Styler Barry. Beth has over 18 years of experience in river restoration, water quality monitoring, community outreach, and project management. In addition to leading major stream restoration projects for TNCNJ, Beth also co-leads the statewide New Jersey Dam Removal Partnership. Beth has worked with Princeton Hydro on a number of projects, including the removal of the Columbia Dam, the largest dam removal in New Jersey's history. Q: What makes your organization unique? The Nature Conservancy is a global organization and the largest environmental nonprofit in the United States, so we can make conservation happen at a continental scale. At the same time, we are structured into smaller business units that keep us nimble and relevant for handling ecological challenges that affect and resonate with people, wildlife, and habitats locally. Everyone who works here is very passionate about protecting nature. Q: What does your organization value? Our conservation work is always guided by science. In fact, we have more than 400 scientists on staff around the world. We also have a knack for working with a wide range of partners and bringing about positive outcomes where they otherwise may not have been easily achieved. Q: How long have you been working with Princeton Hydro? I joined TNC in 2016, so about 4.5 years. Q: What types of services have we provided to your organization? I have worked with Princeton Hydro on water and soil studies, engineering and design for dam removals, and oversight for the construction phase of river restoration. Beth Styler Barry and Geoffrey Goll on-site during the Columbia Dam removal project. Project partners celebrating the kick-off of the Columbia Dam Removal. Q: Do you have a favorite or most memorable project we’ve worked on together? Princeton Hydro was an important partner in our effort to remove the Columbia Dam from the Paulins Kill in 2019. A study ranked the 300-foot-long, 18-foot-high structure in the top 5% of East Coast dams for removal. The impoundment of water behind the dam was unhealthy and the dam itself impeded the migration of threatened American shad for more than 100 years. With Princeton Hydro’s help, and working with a team of partners including the State of New Jersey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we succeeded in the largest dam removal in state history. Less than two weeks after the dam was completely removed, the shad were recorded ten miles upstream! WATCH: Time-Lapse of Columbia Dam RemovalIt’s been two and a half years since the removal of the Columbia Dam on the Paulins Kill in Northern New Jersey. In that time, American Shad have been discovered upstream of the former dam, a major indicator of improved water quality. The following time-lapse videos highlight the amazing efforts by the project team to reconnect... Q: What are some exciting things your organization is working on right now? There are so many exciting projects! We are working on two more dam removals on the Paulins Kill, as part of a watershed-wide restoration. As a part of that restoration work, we’re working on completing design and permitting on a 1,000-acre wetland and stream restoration project in the headwaters of the Paulins Kill. We are also still working in New Jersey to protect and connect land for state-endangered Bobcat and other wildlife; to increase the use of nature as a way of building resiliency in communities dealing with flooding from storms and sea level rise; and to support a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 2006 levels by 2025. Q: What drives you to want to go to work everyday? I feel a deep connection to rivers, especially the rivers of New Jersey. I’ve seen so many good restoration projects that it inspires me to keep pushing forward. We owe that to our rivers. Burian powerhouse before removalBurian after removal. Q: How can Princeton Hydro support you/your organization in the future? One thing that I enjoy about working with Princeton Hydro is that staff are always ready to really walk me through a new design idea, method, or step in the regulatory process. I like the opportunity to ask a lot of questions and fully understand the work at hand. ... To learn more about The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey, visit their website. And, click below to read the previous edition of our Client Spotlight blog series, which features the Musconetcong Watershed Association. Client Spotlight: Musconetcong Watershed AssociationWelcome to the latest edition of our Client Spotlight Blog Series! Each spotlight provides an inside look at our collaboration, teamwork, and accomplishments with a specific client. We value our client relationships and pride ourselves on forming strong ties with organizations that share our values of creating a better future for people and our planet.... [post_title] => Client Spotlight: The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => client-spotlight-the-nature-conservancy-in-new-jersey [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2022-04-22 15:55:44 [post_modified_gmt] => 2022-04-22 15:55:44 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=8405 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 6 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => 1 [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 15051 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2024-06-23 11:41:28 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-06-23 11:41:28 [post_content] => Welcome to the latest edition of our Client Spotlight series, which provides an inside look at our collaboration, teamwork, and accomplishments with one of our client partners. Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Farmington River Watershed Association (FRWA). The FRWA is a citizen-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1953 by a group of concerned citizens and community leaders to address the long-term degradation of the Farmington River. FRWA is committed to protecting, maintaining, and revitalizing the Farmington River and its watershed. Farmington River runs for 46.7 miles along its main stem in northwest Connecticut, with major tributaries extending into southwest Massachusetts. Its longest route, originating from the West Branch, stretches 80.4 miles, making it the longest tributary of the Connecticut River. The watershed covers 609 square miles, supporting a variety of cold-water resident fish species and important habitats for migratory fish. It also serves as a critical public drinking water supply for hundreds of thousands of people in the Hartford region. Additionally, the West Branch of the Farmington is highly regarded for its exceptional trout fishery. For this Client Spotlight, we spoke with FRWA Executive Director Aimee Petras via Zoom. Q.What are FRWA’s core values? A. “FRWA addresses a range of challenges facing the Farmington River, including water quality, water distribution, habitat restoration, recreation, open space conservation, and the protection of wetlands and floodplains. We are dedicated to protecting and preserving the natural resources of the Farmington River Watershed through research, education, advocacy, and restoration.” “Through research initiatives, we establish a comprehensive scientific understanding of watershed functions and health. We educate the public, government and business communities about the importance of a healthy river system. We advocate at the local, state and federal level for policies and actions that ensure the long-term protection of our watershed resources. And, we plan and implement restoration projects with long-lasting positive impacts on the river and surrounding ecosystems, engaging in hands-on stewardship through activities like fish habitat restoration, stormwater runoff reduction, and re-vegetating streambanks with native plants.” Q. Can you tell us a little more about FRWA’s advocacy work? A. [embed]https://youtu.be/-3wCsQD9Y60[/embed] "The Farmington River is one of the first designated 'Partnership Wild & Scenic Rivers.' Its protection is ensured through the combined efforts of federal, state, and local governments, along with various organizations dedicated to preserving the river's health. Currently, 78.6 miles of the Farmington River are safeguarded under two different designations. The Upper Farmington River has a 15.1-mile designation, and the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook, cover 61.7 miles.” “To earn the 'Wild and Scenic' designation, a river must possess at least one 'outstandingly remarkable' natural, cultural, or recreational value as defined by the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This recognition is a significant achievement that our organization is extremely proud of." Click here to learn about the National Wild & Scenic Rivers designation. Q. What is one exciting initiative FRWA is currently spearheading? A. [embed]https://youtu.be/74s2MAGF9n4[/embed] Click here to learn more about FRWA's Rainbow Dam removal advocacy and related river protection initiatives. [caption id="attachment_15054" align="aligncenter" width="1419"] Rainbow Dam. Photo by Farmington River Watershed Association.[/caption] Q. Let's delve into the collaborative history between FRWA and Princeton Hydro: Can you provide insight into our partnership? A. [embed]https://youtu.be/Zic5OGqDiqc[/embed] "Removing the dam also restored natural river flow rates and enabled American shad, alewife, and blueback herring to swim upstream through Tariffville Gorge, accessing over 20 additional miles of river. Additionally, this removal uncovered a historically scenic waterfall at a popular fishing site, replacing the neglected dam with a beautiful natural feature." Click here to learn more about the Spoonville Dam Removal project. [caption id="attachment_15046" align="aligncenter" width="1366"] Spoonville Dam prior to its removal. Photo by Farmington River Watershed Association.[/caption] Q. What is another exciting project that FRWA and Princeton Hydro worked on together? A. [embed]https://youtu.be/7oGjPSzi8nQ[/embed] “The removal of Winchell-Smith Dam restores access for aquatic organisms to a 30-mile stretch of the Farmington River upstream of the dam within the Connecticut River watershed. This area is a historic spawning habitat for species such as American shad, alewife, blueback herring, sea lamprey, and American eel. Removing the dam helps prevent local erosion and scour, clear barriers for migratory fish, eliminate hazards for river users, and repurpose existing timbers for historic preservation and educational purposes.” [caption id="attachment_15048" align="aligncenter" width="1371"] Winchell-Smith Dam and Miss Porter’s School Administration Building. Photo by Farmington River Watershed Association.[/caption] Q. In addition to dam removal projects, what other exciting initiatives have FRWA and Princeton Hydro collaborated on? A. [embed]https://youtu.be/syL-kFafl4w[/embed] To read the complete Pequabuck River Watershed Based Plan that Princeton Hydro developed for FRWA, click here. Q. For those interested in supporting FRWA's mission, how can individuals get involved and contribute to your efforts? A. “As a nonprofit organization, we continually seek support for our efforts. We encourage anyone interested to visit our website to learn about our programs, explore our research, access water quality reports, and understand our mission and priorities. There are numerous ways to get involved with FRWA, including donating, volunteering, participating in educational programs, or applying for internships. We are grateful to everyone who joins us in our mission to protect and restore our beautiful river.” Q. Is there anything else you’d like to share with our blog readers? A. [embed]https://youtu.be/IVe9gO-7FwQ[/embed] A big thanks to Aimee and FRWA for taking part in our Client Spotlight Series! To learn more about FRWA, we encourage you to visit their website. Click here to read the previous edition of our Client Spotlight Series featuring Karla Rossini, Executive Director of Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries (CU Maurice). 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Welcome to the latest edition of our Client Spotlight series, which provides an inside look at our collaboration, teamwork, and accomplishments with one of our client partners.
Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Farmington River Watershed Association (FRWA).
The FRWA is a citizen-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1953 by a group of concerned citizens and community leaders to address the long-term degradation of the Farmington River. FRWA is committed to protecting, maintaining, and revitalizing the Farmington River and its watershed.
Farmington River runs for 46.7 miles along its main stem in northwest Connecticut, with major tributaries extending into southwest Massachusetts. Its longest route, originating from the West Branch, stretches 80.4 miles, making it the longest tributary of the Connecticut River. The watershed covers 609 square miles, supporting a variety of cold-water resident fish species and important habitats for migratory fish. It also serves as a critical public drinking water supply for hundreds of thousands of people in the Hartford region. Additionally, the West Branch of the Farmington is highly regarded for its exceptional trout fishery.
For this Client Spotlight, we spoke with FRWA Executive Director Aimee Petras via Zoom.
“FRWA addresses a range of challenges facing the Farmington River, including water quality, water distribution, habitat restoration, recreation, open space conservation, and the protection of wetlands and floodplains. We are dedicated to protecting and preserving the natural resources of the Farmington River Watershed through research, education, advocacy, and restoration.”
“Through research initiatives, we establish a comprehensive scientific understanding of watershed functions and health. We educate the public, government and business communities about the importance of a healthy river system. We advocate at the local, state and federal level for policies and actions that ensure the long-term protection of our watershed resources. And, we plan and implement restoration projects with long-lasting positive impacts on the river and surrounding ecosystems, engaging in hands-on stewardship through activities like fish habitat restoration, stormwater runoff reduction, and re-vegetating streambanks with native plants.”
"The Farmington River is one of the first designated 'Partnership Wild & Scenic Rivers.' Its protection is ensured through the combined efforts of federal, state, and local governments, along with various organizations dedicated to preserving the river's health. Currently, 78.6 miles of the Farmington River are safeguarded under two different designations. The Upper Farmington River has a 15.1-mile designation, and the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook, cover 61.7 miles.”
“To earn the 'Wild and Scenic' designation, a river must possess at least one 'outstandingly remarkable' natural, cultural, or recreational value as defined by the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This recognition is a significant achievement that our organization is extremely proud of."
Click here to learn about the National Wild & Scenic Rivers designation.
Click here to learn more about FRWA's Rainbow Dam removal advocacy and related river protection initiatives.
"Removing the dam also restored natural river flow rates and enabled American shad, alewife, and blueback herring to swim upstream through Tariffville Gorge, accessing over 20 additional miles of river. Additionally, this removal uncovered a historically scenic waterfall at a popular fishing site, replacing the neglected dam with a beautiful natural feature."
“The removal of Winchell-Smith Dam restores access for aquatic organisms to a 30-mile stretch of the Farmington River upstream of the dam within the Connecticut River watershed. This area is a historic spawning habitat for species such as American shad, alewife, blueback herring, sea lamprey, and American eel. Removing the dam helps prevent local erosion and scour, clear barriers for migratory fish, eliminate hazards for river users, and repurpose existing timbers for historic preservation and educational purposes.”
To read the complete Pequabuck River Watershed Based Plan that Princeton Hydro developed for FRWA, click here.
“As a nonprofit organization, we continually seek support for our efforts. We encourage anyone interested to visit our website to learn about our programs, explore our research, access water quality reports, and understand our mission and priorities. There are numerous ways to get involved with FRWA, including donating, volunteering, participating in educational programs, or applying for internships. We are grateful to everyone who joins us in our mission to protect and restore our beautiful river.”
Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, known commonly as CU Maurice River, a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting the Maurice River Watershed’s natural integrity and cultural heritage.
The Maurice River, located in south-central New Jersey, was designated a National Wild and Scenic River by Congress in 1993. It draws from a drainage area of 385 square miles and meanders south for 50 miles, through Southern New Jersey primarily in Cumberland County. Headwaters are in parts of Gloucester, Salem, and Atlantic Counties, emptying into the main stem of the Maurice; from there it flows into Delaware Bay. The major tributaries of the river are Scotland Run, Muddy Run, Menantico Creek, Muskee Creek, and the Manumuskin River. There are about 20 small lakes in the watershed, the largest of which is Union Lake at 950 acres.
As South Jersey’s leading watershed organization, CU Maurice River engages in fieldwork, advocacy, research, and education initiatives generating and contributing to a greater understanding of the local environment and wildlife.
For this Client Spotlight, we spoke with CU Maurice River Executive Director Karla Rossini via Zoom:
"CU Maurice River is a very grassroots, very local organization. One of our core strengths is community involvement. In everything we do, we try to invite the largest section of community that we possibly can. Whether that’s to participate in educational opportunities or participate in volunteerism or become an advocate of our local resources, we really make it our goal to develop and foster stewardship within the community."
"We're very excited about the work we're doing with the WheatonArts & Cultural Center, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to engage artists and audiences in an evolving exploration of creativity.
Over the years, CU Maurice River has worked with WheatonArts to design and implement various best management practices throughout its 45-acre campus. We’ve installed vernal pools, purple martin gourds, a blue bird trail, a nature trail, and a massive rain garden. The projects support water resources on site and beyond, revitalize and preserve natural habitats, and provide an invaluable community resource for promoting eco-friendly land management, stewardship, and nature exploration.
WheatonArts and CU Maurice River also launched a four-week nature journaling course, which will take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from August 3 to August 25 (2023). Kids get to spend time outdoors while growing their science knowledge, appreciation for nature, and artistic ability. Nature journaling is a way to creatively connect and build a deep, lasting relationship with the natural world.
The CU Maurice River team does the scientific teachings, and the WheatonArts team does the art teachings. So for example, CU Maurice River will teach about the anatomy of a tree, how a tree functions, why an Oak tree produces acorns, and the ecosystem services a tree provides. And, WheatonArts teaches the kids how to draw and paint a tree, how to make an acorn look round, and how to get the shades of the brown tree trunk just right.
Another interesting aspect of the program is that it also highlights the history of communication in nature exploration. Darwin had to draw his pictures to describe his findings. Mary Treat had to draw her discoveries. Audubon had to illustrate his birds. And, let’s face it, most of the best ID books aren’t photo books, they’re illustrated books. So, this program focuses on the importance of art in science."
"The first time I encountered Princeton Hydro was at a Musconetcong River event where Princeton Hydro was presenting on dam removal and the restoration of trout habitat on the Musconetcong. Then, later that year, at the Annual Delaware River Watershed Forum, I met Dana Patterson (Princeton Hydro's Director of Marketing and Communications). We got to talking about a variety of different projects we could explore together, and it's been a really great partnership ever since. I’m pretty sure I've given Dana and Christiana Pollock (Princeton Hydro's Director of Restoration and Resilience) some wacky ideas to figure out, but Princeton Hydro has always been very supportive AND realistic.
Since then, we’ve contracted with Princeton Hydro to do a feasibility study on the Centerton Dam removal. We’re also working with Princeton Hydro to do an ArcGIS StoryMap of the Paddle Trails in the Maurice River Watershed. And, we've got some other exciting things in the works that I'm not at liberty to discuss publicly today, but stay tuned for more great things as a result of CU Maurice River's collaboration with the Princeton Hydro team.
Princeton Hydro has really provided a lot of support and guidance, and I am eternally grateful for their partnership."
For more CU Maurice River volunteer opportunities and upcoming events, click here.
A big thanks to Karla and CU Maurice River for taking part in our Client Spotlight Series!
To learn more about CU Maurice River, we invite you to visit their website and subscribe to their newsletter.
Click below to check out the previous edition of our Client Spotlight Series featuring George Jackman, PhD, Senior Habitat Restoration Manager for Riverkeeper:
Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Riverkeeper, a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization headquartered in Ossining, New York. The organization is committed to protecting and restoring the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguarding drinking water supplies through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science, and law.
For this Client Spotlight, we spoke with Riverkeeper’s Senior Habitat Restoration Manager George Jackman, PhD via zoom:
A: We are the first Keeper organization in the world. We began in 1966 as the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association, an environmental watchdog and enforcement organization founded by a group of concerned fishermen. In 1986, we officially changed our name to Riverkeeper. We've helped set worldwide standards for waterway and watershed protection, and continue to serve as the model for more than 300 Keeper programs around the globe.
As New York’s clean water advocate, Riverkeeper is the unique voice in the Hudson Valley that is continually speaking-up to protect the integrity of the water, the creatures that call it home, and our surrounding communities. We are a voice of environmental justice for the people of Hudson Valley, advocating for communities that have often been marginalized or placed in disadvantaged situations that are now at the mercy of climate change. We are always striving for a fishable, swimmable, and drinkable Hudson River and a healthy watershed.
A: We value clean, reliable drinking water and an equitable justice for all people. We value a healthy, ecologically-balanced environment and clean, sustainable forms of energy. We value free-flowing rivers that are resilient and teeming with life. We value stewardship of the Hudson River and its watershed. And, last but not least, we value all of our members, volunteers, partners, supporters, and neighbors who play a primary and vital role in protecting our local environment.
A: I have to tell you, some of the work we do is not incredibly exciting, but it's incredibly important.
We do a lot of work to strengthen the laws and regulations that impact New York’s water resources. We advocate for environmental justice, and we help our fellow community members understand the legislative process and how to get involved in garnering support for legislation that protects our Hudson River, its tributaries, our watershed, wetlands and surrounding areas. Strong environmental policy may not be the most exciting thing, but it is one of the best tools we have.
And, it is very exciting when we win. Riverkeeper has taken on some of the largest corporations on planet Earth - General Electric, General Motors, Exxon - and we've won! The work isn’t easy; sometimes it can be a long, persistent slog. But, you know what? We’ve stayed the course and we've prevailed. Every time we win for the fish, it’s a big win for all of us, and for me that’s incredibly exciting and fulfilling.
The removal of the two defunct dams that George mentions in the video clip – Strooks Felt Dam and Furnace Brook Barrier #1 – marked an important milestone in the Riverkeeper’s journey to “Undam the Hudson River” and restore fish passage between the Hudson and the Atlantic Ocean. Click here to read more.
For more Riverkeeper volunteer opportunities and upcoming events, click here.
A: We have a great citizen science water sampling program; it’s actually one of the first community science initiatives in the world related to sampling water.
It begins every April and volunteers have to commit to 6-months of water quality sampling. The samples are collected from the water’s edge by Riverkeeper-trained community scientists. We test for salinity, oxygen, temperature, suspended sediment, chlorophyll, and Enterococcus (Entero), a fecal indicator bacteria. It’s quite an unprecedented scope for a citizen science sampling initiative. We compile the data into “How’s the Water” reports and tributary watershed reports, and post them to our website.
One of the wonderful things about the citizen science program is that we’re working with younger generations, training them on how to take samples and make observations, and helping them learn about the river. We’re trying to create a deeper connection between the river and its surrounding community members, especially our younger groups, and teach everyone how to be stewards for the river and protect the rivers’ many creatures.
Click here to meet Riverkeeper’s water quality program science partners and supporters, and check out the data findings.
A: I’ll just close by saying, I’ve had a great experience working with Princeton Hydro. And, we look forward to Princeton Hydro bidding on future Riverkeeper projects, and hopefully working with them in the future.
A big thanks to George and Riverkeeper for taking part in our Client Spotlight Series!
To learn more about George and the important work he's doing with Riverkeeper, we invite you to read this article recently published in Planet A Magazine, "Channeling the Flow of Nature."
Click below to check out the previous edition of our Client Spotlight Series featuring Tim Fenchel, Deputy Director of Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area:
Welcome to the latest edition of our Client Spotlight series, which provides an inside look at our collaboration and accomplishments with a specific client.
For this Client Spotlight, we spoke with Tim Fenchel, Deputy Director of Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area (SRG). The mission of SRG is to connect residents, visitors, and communities to the Schuylkill River and the Schuylkill River Trail by serving as a catalyst for civic engagement and economic development in order to foster stewardship of the watershed and its heritage. The boundaries of the Heritage Area cover the Schuylkill River watershed in Schuylkill, Berks, Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties.
Let's dive in!
We value our heritage and the deeply-rooted culture of this region. We also look ahead to how we can continue to engage our communities with that heritage and create future generations of stewards for the Schuylkill River and Schuylkill River Trail.
We value vibrant and revitalized communities, and it’s rewarding to see how SRG has contributed to sustainable revitalization of river-town communities, including Phoenixville, Manayunk, and Pottstown. We really value helping to maintain a strong connection between the river and its surrounding neighborhoods. By enabling and encouraging communities to enjoy the river and trail, we create lifelong stewards of these important resources.
Another core value is making outdoor recreation accessible for everyone. The trail is a public recreational resource that anyone can enjoy, and we really try to promote it as a means for health and wellness, all kinds of recreation experiences, family-friendly outings, arts and culture, and much more.
Collaboration is also very valuable to SRG. Every single project and program that we do, we do it in partnership with at least one other organization if not multiple other organizations. The Schuylkill River Water Quality project, which we’ll talk more about today, is a great example of that.
As Deputy Director, I get to be involved in just about everything that we do here. I assist with the day-to-day operations of the organization; I pitch in with trail issues when they arise; I’m involved, in some way shape or form, with our various community events throughout the year; and I also have several projects and programs that I personally oversee. The Schuylkill River Water Quality project is one, which we'll discuss in more detail shortly.
Another unique project I oversee is the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund. Essentially, SRG receives funding from both private and public entities, and we then regrant those funds to local government agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations to implement on-the-ground projects for the improvement of water quality throughout the Schuylkill River Watershed. The grants focus on three major sources of pollution: stormwater run-off, agricultural pollution, and abandoned mine drainage.
There is a lot of variety in my role here, which I really enjoy.
An important aspect of our mission is to connect communities to the Schuylkill River through recreational and educational activities. To fully achieve the Schuylkill River’s potential, we must help the public understand the current health status and what they can do to continue to improve its quality for this generation and generations to come. In 2019, we received a grant from the William Penn Foundation to fund the Schuylkill River Water Quality project, which aimed to document the current ecological status and health of the river, and engage and educate a diverse set of river users and residents.
Through an RFP process, we selected Princeton Hydro as one of the main project advisors. From the start, we hit it off with Michael Hartshorne, Director of Aquatics, and Dana Patterson, Director of Marketing & Communications. The strength of what they brought as a team and their scientific water quality and engagement expertise impressed us from the start and it really carried on throughout the entirety of the project. We had a truly tremendous team of partners, including Berks Nature, Bartram’s Garden, The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, and Stroud Water Research Center.
The project, which focused on the main stem of the river from Reading to Southwest Philadelphia, included four key components:
The yearlong data collection and community science initiative culminated with the launch of an interactive ArcGIS StoryMap webpage that reveals the local perceptions of the Schuylkill River and aims to connect residents with and encourage engagement with this special resource.
We have so many wonderful events throughout the year that provide an opportunity for community members to learn about and engage with the Schuylkill River and the Trail.
We just held the Ride for the River outing, which is a one-day bike ride and fundraising event. The ride began at the Pottstown River Front Park and followed about 20-miles of the Schuylkill River Trail to Reading. It’s always a ton of fun.
Every June we have our Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn, which consists of a 7-day, 112-mile guided canoe/kayak trip on the Schuylkill River that begins in rural Schuylkill Haven and ends in Philadelphia. The event combines kayaking/canoeing, camping, education, and games into one exciting adventure.
In November, we're hosting our 18th annual “Scenes of the Schuylkill” Art Show. Throughout the year, we host several free educational programs, do guided tours at locations within the Heritage Area, and so much more.
Click here to learn more about SRG’s Programs and Events.
A big thanks to Tim and SRG for taking part in our Client Spotlight Series!
Schuylkill River Greenways relies on help from volunteers, who provide valued assistance with trail maintenance, special events, environmental education, water quality monitoring and more. To learn more about how to get involved, visit SRG's volunteer portal for a full rundown of opportunities.
Welcome to the latest edition of our Client Spotlight series, which provides an inside look at our collaboration, teamwork, and accomplishments with a specific client.
Today, we’re shining the spotlight on the Seatuck Environmental Association. Seatuck Environmental Association is a 501c3 nonprofit based in Islip, New York. They work on wildlife conservation and nature education across Long Island. The organization advocates for wildlife and advancing conservation projects, engages community scientists in wildlife research, and offers environmental education opportunities for Long Islanders of all ages.
For this Client Spotlight, we spoke with Seatuck’s Conservation Policy Advocate Emily Hall via zoom:
Particularly in our conservation work, we really try to stay niche. We specifically focus on restoring and protecting Long Island’s wildlife and environment. We advocate for wildlife, advance restoration projects, conduct surveys, educate public officials, host workshops, lead coalitions and pursue a host of other approaches to promote wildlife conservation and habitat restoration.
Seatuck is really unique because we're one of the only environmental organizations that works island-wide and isn’t part of a national organization. This really gives us the opportunity to stay focused on Long Island’s wildlife and environment, and dive into a lot of different wildlife protection efforts as well as habitat restoration projects. We also offer nature-based education programs all the way from pre-k to professional teacher training.
We’ve been working with Princeton Hydro since 2018. Seatuck was awarded the NYSDEC Division of Marine Resources Grant for Tributary Restoration and Resiliency to design a fish passage at the dam intersecting Mill Pond and Bellmore Creek. We contracted Princeton Hydro to design the fish passage options. Read more about the project here:
As an organization, it’s very important for us to collaborate with the community on projects and initiatives, and to understand the perspectives of all the different stakeholders involved. For the Bellmore Creek Fish Passage Project, we brought together environmental organizations, community members and the dam owners. We began by holding in-person meetings and site visits in order to provide education around the site’s history and the project goals, and give everyone a chance to hear each other’s feedback in real-time. Then COVID forced us to go virtual so we hosted a community webinar and developed an online survey. We collected a lot of valuable feedback that we were able to bring back to the dam owners to help them make the best decision possible.
Meeting with all the different stakeholders and talking to them about the project is probably one of my most rewarding parts of the project. Educating people on why these diadromous fish are important and helping them understand the different benefits of a fish passage is very important to me and incredibly rewarding.
Princeton Hydro has been a fantastic partner through the Bellmore Creek Project. We look forward to working with Princeton Hydro in the future and supporting our efforts to look at different fish passage projects, potentially dam removals, and related alternative assessments. For Bellmore Creek, Princeton Hydro provided valuable insights as to the different types of fish passage options and helped to identify the best option for our community. We’ll hopefully continue this partnership and work together to restore the ecological health of more coastal rivers and streams.
Thanks to Seatuck Environmental Association and Emily Hall for being a great project partner and participating in this Client Spotlight. To learn more about Seatuck, visit their website.
Click here to read a previous edition of our Client Spotlight blog series, which features Medford Lakes Colony in New Jersey:
Welcome to the newest edition of our Client Spotlight Blog Series! Each spotlight provides an inside look at our collaboration, teamwork, and accomplishments with a specific client. We value our client relationships and pride ourselves on forming strong ties with organizations that share our values of creating a better future for people and our planet.
The Nature Conservancy began as a collaborative effort between leading scientists, committed citizens, and dedicated leaders who shared a vision to care for the world around them. Their priorities include finding innovative solutions to some of the planet’s biggest challenges: tackling climate change, protecting land and water, providing food and water sustainability, and building healthy cities. Princeton Hydro has worked with TNCNJ on about a dozen projects since 2009.
To develop this Client Spotlight, we spoke with TNCNJ’s Director of River Restoration Beth Styler Barry. Beth has over 18 years of experience in river restoration, water quality monitoring, community outreach, and project management. In addition to leading major stream restoration projects for TNCNJ, Beth also co-leads the statewide New Jersey Dam Removal Partnership. Beth has worked with Princeton Hydro on a number of projects, including the removal of the Columbia Dam, the largest dam removal in New Jersey's history.
The Nature Conservancy is a global organization and the largest environmental nonprofit in the United States, so we can make conservation happen at a continental scale. At the same time, we are structured into smaller business units that keep us nimble and relevant for handling ecological challenges that affect and resonate with people, wildlife, and habitats locally. Everyone who works here is very passionate about protecting nature.
Our conservation work is always guided by science. In fact, we have more than 400 scientists on staff around the world. We also have a knack for working with a wide range of partners and bringing about positive outcomes where they otherwise may not have been easily achieved.
I joined TNC in 2016, so about 4.5 years.
I have worked with Princeton Hydro on water and soil studies, engineering and design for dam removals, and oversight for the construction phase of river restoration.
Princeton Hydro was an important partner in our effort to remove the Columbia Dam from the Paulins Kill in 2019. A study ranked the 300-foot-long, 18-foot-high structure in the top 5% of East Coast dams for removal. The impoundment of water behind the dam was unhealthy and the dam itself impeded the migration of threatened American shad for more than 100 years. With Princeton Hydro’s help, and working with a team of partners including the State of New Jersey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we succeeded in the largest dam removal in state history. Less than two weeks after the dam was completely removed, the shad were recorded ten miles upstream!
There are so many exciting projects! We are working on two more dam removals on the Paulins Kill, as part of a watershed-wide restoration. As a part of that restoration work, we’re working on completing design and permitting on a 1,000-acre wetland and stream restoration project in the headwaters of the Paulins Kill. We are also still working in New Jersey to protect and connect land for state-endangered Bobcat and other wildlife; to increase the use of nature as a way of building resiliency in communities dealing with flooding from storms and sea level rise; and to support a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 2006 levels by 2025.
I feel a deep connection to rivers, especially the rivers of New Jersey. I’ve seen so many good restoration projects that it inspires me to keep pushing forward. We owe that to our rivers.
One thing that I enjoy about working with Princeton Hydro is that staff are always ready to really walk me through a new design idea, method, or step in the regulatory process. I like the opportunity to ask a lot of questions and fully understand the work at hand.
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To learn more about The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey, visit their website. And, click below to read the previous edition of our Client Spotlight blog series, which features the Musconetcong Watershed Association.
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