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The program hopes to enrich young participants, who may not have the opportunity to explore open spaces in their community, with hands-on environmental field experience under the tutelage of NJDEP professionals and mentors. This year’s participants consisted of youths from several different community-based organizations. These partners include Neighborhood Improvement Association (Trenton), Rutgers-Camden, The Work Group (Camden), Ranch Hope (Salem), Boys and Girls Club of Garfield, Groundwork Elizabeth, Ironbound Community Corporation (Newark), and United Community Corporation (Newark). Over six weeks, eight community organizations guided participants as they engaged with professionals to explore careers in water and air monitoring, natural resource management, wildlife conservation, and other related fields. Additionally, a new component of the program introduces "community project days," where participants actively contribute to environmental projects within their neighborhoods. These projects enable participants to make a positive impact on their communities, fostering a sense of civic pride and environmental stewardship. Activities may include park cleanups, installing educational exhibits, and establishing community gardens. [caption id="attachment_13546" align="aligncenter" width="1230"] The youth program participants gather together with their certificates for a final group photo at NJDEP.[/caption] The program has been expanded to include a full day of rehearsal, with a focus on public speaking abilities and mock interviews, regarded as integral components of professional development. Throughout the summer, participants will engage in resume and cover letter writing sessions and attend presentations led by guest speakers. In addition to fostering personal and professional growth, participants devoted a substantial amount of their time to honing technical skills through hands-on activities. These activities included simulating environmental impact investigations, collecting macroinvertebrates from a stream to gauge water quality, interacting with fish at a state trout hatchery, and designing a park in collaboration with Green Acres staff. To further enrich their understanding, the program also incorporates a visit to the regional headquarters of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As part of this initiative for the third year in a row, the NJDEP's Division of Land Resource Protection Mitigation Unit invited Princeton Hydro and Mercer County Park Commission to host three sessions at John A. Roebling Park. Under the guidance of Princeton Hydro mentors Mark Gallagher, Dana Patterson Grear, and Mike McGraw, the team educated young participants about invasive species and the importance of restoring native landscapes. The initiative exposed attendees to the varied roles of environmental scientists, water resource engineers, geologists, restoration ecologists, wildlife biologist, pesticide applicators, regulatory compliance specialists, and communications professionals, thereby enhancing their understanding of these professions and sparking a fascination for the natural world. The Abbott Marshlands in Trenton, New Jersey The program began at Tulpehaking Nature Center like in previous years. After representatives from Mercer County Park Commission and Friends of the Abbott Marshlands introduced the site's history, Princeton Hydro discussed career opportunities in conservation and gave a brief overview of ongoing restoration efforts in the park to eliminate the invasive Common Reed (Phragmites australis), and NJDEP representative, Jessica Klein, gave a presentation about her work in wetland mitigation. Before venturing into the Abbott Marshlands, the northernmost freshwater tidal wetlands along the Delaware River, the Princeton Hydro team conducted a health and safety briefing. They highlighted potential risks and exposures to ensure everyone's awareness. This briefing is a crucial part of prioritizing the safety of all participants in our work. [gallery link="none" ids="15638,15639,15629,15633,15634,15630,15632,15631,15637"] Shortly after setting out on the road to the site, the students received an additional lesson. Mark directed their attention to a nearby tree where poison ivy - a native plant - had stealthily climbed up the trunk. To their surprise, the young participants had mistaken the trailing vines for branches of the tree. This observation highlighted the remarkable ability of poison ivy to adapt to its surroundings, finding innovative ways to persist and thrive in its environment. As the second group continued their journey down the path, they encountered a Fowler’s toad. Initially, its slippery texture startled them, but they quickly realized the frog's harmless nature. Through gentle pats on its head, they gained a newfound appreciation for these fascinating creatures, transforming their initial fear into a sense of wonder and respect. Venturing through the marshland, the young explorers gained insights into wetland delineation. They witnessed the fascinating process of using a hand auger and a Munsell Soil Color Book to identify and understand the unique characteristics of wetland soils. In a delightful exploration of local flora, participants delved into the art of species identification using a specialized field guide. They learned to distinguish invasive plant species from their native counterparts, such as sensitive fern, which they were able to see during a short nature walk on a trail back to the nature center. In a seemingly unremarkable area of the riverbank, the third group stumbled upon a startling discovery. Amidst the lush vegetation, a highly toxic plant known as poison hemlock flourished. The students were taken aback by its presence in an otherwise ordinary location. They had never encountered such a hazardous plant in their previous studies. The poison hemlock, with its delicate white flowers and feathery leaves, belied its deadly nature. The students were captivated by its beauty, but the instructors cautioned them against touching. The encounter with poison hemlock and poison ivy served as a valuable lesson for the students. They realized that even in seemingly ordinary places, hidden dangers could lurk. They developed a newfound respect for the power of nature and the importance of exercising caution when exploring unfamiliar environments. [gallery link="none" columns="2" ids="15640,15641"] Ending the day, participants from the first group had the privilege of attending a lesson conducted by Wildlife Biologist Mike McGraw. With the assistance of the Nature Center's resident corn snake, Mike introduced the students to the fascinating world of reptiles. Overcoming their initial apprehension towards these slithery creatures, the students discovered that there was much more to snakes than they had previously imagined. Mike dispelled common misconceptions and fears, explaining that snakes are not inherently dangerous creatures but rather play a vital role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems. The NJDEP Youth Inclusion Initiative began on July 8 and culminated on August 16 with a graduation and NJDEP Career Day where students had the opportunity to meet and discuss career options with various organizations who tabled at the event, including Princeton Hydro. To learn more about the NJDEP education program, click here. If you’re interested in learning more about Princeton Hydro’s ecological restoration services, click here. [post_title] => Empowering Youth Through Environmental Stewardship: NJDEP Youth Inclusion Initiative 2024 [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => empowering-youth-through-environmental-stewardship-njdep-youth-inclusion-initiative-2024 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-03-28 13:48:43 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-03-28 13:48:43 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=15622 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 3397 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2019-05-14 23:33:31 [post_date_gmt] => 2019-05-14 23:33:31 [post_content] => INNOVATIVE COASTAL RESILIENCY DESIGN USING RECYCLED CHRISTMAS TREES IMPLEMENTED BY VOLUNTEERS ALONG DISAPPEARING POINT PLEASANT SHORELINE To prevent further erosion at the Slade Dale Sanctuary in Point Pleasant, dozens of volunteers helped stabilize the shoreline using a technique that has never been done before in New Jersey. On Saturday, American Littoral Society, in partnership with Princeton Hydro, Borough of Point Pleasant, New Jersey Nature Conservancy, New Jersey Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership, and the Point Pleasant Rotary Club, organized dozens of volunteers to restore the shoreline and prevent further erosion at the Slade Dale Sanctuary using recycled Christmas trees. As one of only a few areas of open space left in Point Pleasant, the 13-acre Slade Dale Sanctuary is an important part of the local ecosystem and is home to a number of unique animals and plants. This waterfront preserve along the North Branch Beaver Dam Creek is predominantly tidal marsh, which provides habitat for various birds, including osprey, as well as passive recreation opportunities for the community. Unfortunately, the Slade Dale Sanctuary is disappearing. Since 1930, the shoreline of Slade Dale Sanctuary has retreated approximately 300 feet, equal to the length of a football field, and the channels into the marsh have increased in number and size, according to a study we conducted on behalf of American Littoral Society, for which we provide engineering and natural resources management consulting services. In order to stabilize the shoreline, restore the marsh, and enhance the ecological function and integrity of the preserve, Princeton Hydro developed a conceptual and engineering design using living shoreline features to enhance ecological value and reduce erosion. The final conceptual plan for restoration uses tree vane structures to attenuate wave action, foster sediment accretion, and reduce erosion along the coast. To implement this vision and begin building back marsh, the project team is constructing several Christmas tree breakwaters and Christmas tree vanes that mimic naturally occurring debris structures in tidal systems and enhance habitat opportunity and shelter for aquatic life. Volunteers came together on Saturday, May 11 to help with the construction. The Mayor of Point Pleasant Robert A. Sabosik also attended the event, "The Barnegat Bay is an attribute that we all enjoy, and it's something we have to protect." After the 2018 holiday season, the Good Sheppard Lutheran Church in Point Pleasant provided space to collect and store donated Christmas trees, which were then moved to the marsh a few days before the event. On the day of the event, recycled Christmas trees were transported from their staged locations on the marsh to the breakwater sections that were previously installed in the water. To transport them across the water to the pilings, volunteers used two methods: by walking a skiff boat loaded with trees through the water to the pilings or by forming assembly line from the shore to pilings to guide floating trees through the water (check out the album below!). Then, they stuffed the Christmas trees between the pilings, securely tied them down, and staked Christmas trees directly into the creek bottom. For extra assurance, the placed and tied heavy bags of used oyster shells on top of the tree line. Oyster shells were donated by local Monmouth County restaurants in an effort to reduce waste streams. "We really enjoyed participating in this event with American Littoral Society and so many wonderful volunteers,” Christiana L. Pollack, GISP, CFM, Princeton Hydro's Project Manager for this restoration effort. “It is so wonderful to see this project coming to fruition. We’re so proud of our partnership with American Littoral Society and our combined efforts to revitalize and rehabilitate our precious coastal habitats.” Members of the media were invited to attend the volunteer event. News 12 New Jersey covered the event and aired a story on it during their Sunday news broadcast, and NJTV News will be airing the story in the near future. Many thanks to everyone who came out in support of this important restoration effort at Slade Dale Sanctuary American Littoral Society hosts volunteer events throughout the year. Go here to get involved. [gallery columns="4" link="file" ids="3592,3585,3635,3636,3639,3643,3641,3637,3638,3640,3588,3603,3606,3601,3607,3586,3604,3590,3602,3587"] [post_title] => Recycled Christmas Trees Used to Restore Disappearing NJ Shoreline [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => nj-shoreline-restoration [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-10-13 17:59:12 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-10-13 17:59:12 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/?p=3397 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2566 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2018-09-06 13:55:45 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-09-06 13:55:45 [post_content] => Princeton Hydro is proud to participate in a number of conferences, events, and webinars throughout September: September 6 at 12 pm: "Social Media Hacks" Webinar for the Society for American Military Engineers (SAME) Young Member Council SAME Young Member Council is hosting a webinar that will offer solutions for boosting social media presence and increasing engagement. Designed for social media beginners and experts alike, the webinar titled, “Social Media Hacks,” will be presented by Dana Patterson, Communications Strategist for Princeton Hydro. Participants will learn about creating successful social media strategy, utilizing free social media management tools, tracking social media analytics, and executing high-quality posts on various social media platforms. The webinar is free for SAME Members and $25 for all non-members. Learn more. September 9: Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour Hosted by Musconetcong Watershed Association, the “Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour” celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by bringing communities together to screen films that call attention to local and global environmental issues. The Hackettstown, NJ tour event, which Princeton Hydro is a proud sponsor of, will feature 11 short films including River Connections, a film that explores the importance of free-flowing rivers and highlights the recent Hughesville Dam removal project. An interactive panel event will follow the film screening and feature experts including MWA Executive Director Alan Hunt, Ph.D. and Princeton Hydro President Geoffrey Goll, P.E., who were both interviewed in the film. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Learn more and register. September 12: Schuylkill Action Network's (SAN) Water Utility Forum This year’s SAN Forum will cover a variety of water-quality related topics, including perfluorinated compound (PFCs) and upcoming drinking water regulations. The forum will provide a platform to collaborate and share information, expertise, and technology to help achieve a shared vision of clean water and a healthy environment for the Schuylkill River and its tributaries. A variety of presentations will be offered during the forum, including one by Dr. Fred Lubnow, Director of Aquatics Programs for Princeton Hydro, on the topic of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Learn more and register. September 15: Mercer County Park Commission's River Days Join Mercer County Park Commission for "River Days," a free, family-friendly event at the Tulpehaking Nature Center with trail activities, arts and crafts, a raffle, and a neighborhood cookout on the back lawn of the nature center. Check out the Princeton Hydro air boat and chat with our Aquatics Field Director about the upcoming multi-year restoration of freshwater tidal wetlands in John A. Roebling Memorial Park. The restoration project is a partnership between Mercer County, New Jersey, Mercer County Park Commission, and Princeton Hydro. Learn more. September 23-26: 91st Annual Water Works Operators' Association of Pennsylvania (WWOAP) Conference is hosting its 91st annual conference, which offers a diverse collection of professional presentations, workshops, networking events and an exhibit hall. Princeton Hydro’s Director of Aquatics Programs Dr. Fred Lubnow is presenting on “Managing HABs and Their Associated Cyanotoxins in Raw Water.” Other presentation topics include “What Might Climate Change Look Like in Pennsylvania,” “A Multi-Lateral Approach to Water Loss Reduction,” and “Achieving Water Quality Optimization.” View the full conference program. September 25: New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) Research Webinar NEIWPCC is offering a free research webinar on modeling and flood-mitigation recommendations for a forested and urban Hudson River tributary watershed. The webinar takes a look at the Moodna Creek Watershed and Flood Mitigation Assessment and describes how flood models were used to inform recommendations for reducing and mitigating existing and anticipated flood risk. The assessment was conducted by environmental consultants at Princeton Hydro and GreenVest, and funded by NEIWPCC through the New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Estuary Program. This free webinar will be presented by Christiana Pollack, GISP, CFM, Environmental Scientist & GIS Manager for Princeton Hydro, and Jessica Jahre, CFM, AICP. Learn more. September 28: Alliance for NJ Environmental Education (ANJEE) Autumn Conference Duke Farms will host ANJEE’s Autumn Conference, titled “Imagine a World Outdoors.” The conference, which takes place completely outdoors and does not include a single PowerPoint presentation, invites environmental education professionals throughout New Jersey to come together to collaborate around innovative ideas, learn and disseminate best practices, and network. Participants will explore natural history with local experts in birding, animal tracking, and plant identifying and learn trade secrets from experienced outdoor teachers who will share their methods and techniques. Princeton Hydro’s Dana Patterson and Pinelands Adventures’ Danielle Odom are teaching a workshop on “How to Bring Out the Inner Bird Nerd in your Students.” ANJEE hopes the event will inspire participants to become more informed and dedicated stewards of the land. Learn more and register. Stay tuned for more event updates! … [post_title] => September Events Spotlight: Webinars, Conferences & Film Festival [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => september-2018-events [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-12-09 18:26:17 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-12-09 18:26:17 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/?p=2566 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 1559 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2018-03-12 13:04:38 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-03-12 13:04:38 [post_content] => Last week, the New Jersey Conservation Foundation held its 22nd Annual NJ Land Conservation Rally, a one-day educational conference inviting people to come together around the theme of “preserving open space and farmland in New Jersey.” The conference included 26 training workshops, five roundtable discussions, exhibitors, and a thought-provoking, inspirational keynote address. “The Nature of Americans” Keynote Address The keynote was given by David Case, co-author of “The Nature of Americans National Report: Disconnection and Recommendations for Reconnection,” an unprecedented national study of Americans’ relationship to nature. The study, which included 12,000 adults, children between 8 and 12, and parents, reveals an alarming disconnection to nature, but also uncovers widespread opportunities for reconnecting and provides actionable recommendations to open the outdoors for all. One key finding of the study was that many people reported having meaningful social experiences in nature, but that many people feel "authentic” nature is too far away, expensive, and inaccessible. However, connecting with nature, along with family or friends, can be as simple as going on a walk in the neighborhood or planting flowers together. As David emphasized in his presentation, if used effectively, the findings from this study can push everyone towards a better relationship with nature, which will in turn create a better tomorrow for future generations. Scroll down to learn more about David. Princeton Hydro, a proud sponsor of the rally, gave two presentations during the conference: “Recognizing The Power of Dam Removal To Reconnect & Restore Our Ecosystem” and “Nonprofit Social Media Hacks.” “Recognizing The Power of Dam Removal To Reconnect & Restore Our Ecosystem" This presentation, which was given by The Nature Conservancy’s River Restoration Manager Beth Styler Barry and Princeton Hydro’s Director of Engineering Services Mary Paist-Goldman, P.E., posed a critical and complicated question to workshop participants: As the dams in our country age, should we continue to repair and maintain the dams or should we remove them? The decision for dam owners and communities often comes down to several factors: current use, cost, and the potential environmental impacts and/or ecological benefits of removal. Dam removal can help restore the river and reconnect the floodplain, yet it’s often a complicated process. Beth and Mary, who are experts in dam removal and restoration, shared with workshop participants the most effective ways to approach a comprehensive, all-inclusive dam removal in New Jersey, with particular emphasis on the Musconetcong Watershed. The presentation reflected the presenters' deep understanding of how to best restore complexity and dynamic function to river systems while incorporating the community’s concerns. Scroll down learn more about the presenters. “Nonprofit Social Media Hacks” Designed for social media beginners and experts alike, this presentation, by NJ Land Rally Planning Committee member Lindsay McNamara and Princeton Hydro’s Communication Strategist Dana Patterson, covered cross-channel techniques to help organizations increase engagement, event attendance, and social buzz. The 30 participants attending the workshop received recommendations on thorough, but free social media management tools, and learned how to efficiently measure social media analytics on a regular basis, utilize apps for creating polished graphics and content for social media, develop strategies for curating content from supporters and volunteers, and the no-hassle way to add Instagram takeovers to a communications calendar. For a free presentation download, click here! And, scroll down to learn more about the presenters. Presenter Bios: Learn more about Keynote Speaker David Case: Dave launched DJ Case & Associates in 1986 based on the premise that there is a need to apply the art and science of communication disciplines to the critically important science of natural resource conservation and environmental protection. Since that time, he has worked with nearly every state and federal natural resources agency in the U.S. Dave's early-career work as a biologist and then media personality opened his eyes to the importance of communication disciplines to achieving conservation goals. He worked for the National Park Service on a remote, forested island in Lake Michigan as part of his master's work to study impacts of deer overabundance. But, controversy surrounding the management of the island's deer herd gave Dave a crash course on the "people" side of wildlife management. He took a position with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and soon was appearing on weekly radio and TV programs, speaking to civic organizations and schools and learning both the art and science of communications. Dave holds a bachelor's degree in forestry from Purdue University and a master's degree in wildlife ecology from the University of Michigan. Learn more about Mary Paist-Goldman, P.E. of Princeton Hydro: Mary Paist-Goldman has nearly 20 years of experience in water resource engineering. She currently serves as Director of Engineering Services for Princeton Hydro. In her role, she coordinates all engineering services provided by the company. Her attention to detail and creative eye leads to out-of-the-box solutions to complex problems. She has expertise in the fields of stormwater management, regulatory compliance, stream restoration, dam removal, wetland mitigation, and wastewater management. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in four states. Learn more about Beth Styler Barry of The Nature Conservancy: Beth Styler Barry joined The Nature Conservancy in October 2016 as River Restoration Manager. She previously served as Executive Director of the Musconetcong Watershed Association, where she worked with landowners and private, state and federal partners on the removal of five dams and other restoration issues on the Musconetcong River. She is now working on the Columbia Dam Removal on the Paulins Kill and a wetlands restoration project in the Hyper Humus Wildlife Management Area. Beth has more than fifteen years’ experience in watershed education and protection issues including work with municipal, county, state and federal government partners. Learn more about Dana Patterson of Princeton Hydro: Dana Patterson is a passionate environmental communicator with a strong mix of diverse stakeholder engagement experience and values-based communication strategy. She recently earned her M.E.M. from Yale F&ES and has held a variety of digital media positions including Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, Yale Environment 360, and National Audubon Society. Dana has 5+ years of NGO experience empowering environmental justice communities and currently serves as Princeton Hydro’s Communications Strategist. Learn more about Lindsay McNamara of the NJ Land Rally planning committee: Lindsay McNamara is an environmentalist, a birder and blogger, and a member of the NJ Land Rally planning committee, Bergen County Audubon Society, and NJ Emerging Conservation Professionals. Over the last six years, Lindsay has served as a digital media specialist in the environmental nonprofit and higher education sectors. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Delaware and is pursuing her M.A. in Public and Organizational Relations at Montclair State University. … [post_title] => 2018 NJ Land Conservation Rally [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 2018-nj-land-rally [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-12-09 18:21:35 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-12-09 18:21:35 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/?p=1559 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 2 [filter] => raw ) [4] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 1539 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2018-03-01 10:22:52 [post_date_gmt] => 2018-03-01 10:22:52 [post_content] => Princeton Hydro is proud to participate in a number of exciting conferences throughout March. The conferences, which take place in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia, cover a wide variety of topics centered around protecting water resources. Let's dive in: March 2: New Jersey Conservation Rally The 22nd Annual NJ Land Conservation Rally is a one-day educational conference about preserving open space and farmland in New Jersey. The event consists of training workshops, roundtable discussions, a keynote speech from David Case, author of “Nature of Americans,” exhibitors, and a farmers market. Princeton Hydro, a proud sponsor of the rally, is giving two presentations:
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) launched its fourth annual Youth Inclusion Initiative. The program hopes to enrich young participants, who may not have the opportunity to explore open spaces in their community, with hands-on environmental field experience under the tutelage of NJDEP professionals and mentors.
This year’s participants consisted of youths from several different community-based organizations. These partners include Neighborhood Improvement Association (Trenton), Rutgers-Camden, The Work Group (Camden), Ranch Hope (Salem), Boys and Girls Club of Garfield, Groundwork Elizabeth, Ironbound Community Corporation (Newark), and United Community Corporation (Newark).
Over six weeks, eight community organizations guided participants as they engaged with professionals to explore careers in water and air monitoring, natural resource management, wildlife conservation, and other related fields. Additionally, a new component of the program introduces "community project days," where participants actively contribute to environmental projects within their neighborhoods. These projects enable participants to make a positive impact on their communities, fostering a sense of civic pride and environmental stewardship. Activities may include park cleanups, installing educational exhibits, and establishing community gardens.
The program has been expanded to include a full day of rehearsal, with a focus on public speaking abilities and mock interviews, regarded as integral components of professional development. Throughout the summer, participants will engage in resume and cover letter writing sessions and attend presentations led by guest speakers.
In addition to fostering personal and professional growth, participants devoted a substantial amount of their time to honing technical skills through hands-on activities. These activities included simulating environmental impact investigations, collecting macroinvertebrates from a stream to gauge water quality, interacting with fish at a state trout hatchery, and designing a park in collaboration with Green Acres staff. To further enrich their understanding, the program also incorporates a visit to the regional headquarters of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
As part of this initiative for the third year in a row, the NJDEP's Division of Land Resource Protection Mitigation Unit invited Princeton Hydro and Mercer County Park Commission to host three sessions at John A. Roebling Park. Under the guidance of Princeton Hydro mentors Mark Gallagher, Dana Patterson Grear, and Mike McGraw, the team educated young participants about invasive species and the importance of restoring native landscapes. The initiative exposed attendees to the varied roles of environmental scientists, water resource engineers, geologists, restoration ecologists, wildlife biologist, pesticide applicators, regulatory compliance specialists, and communications professionals, thereby enhancing their understanding of these professions and sparking a fascination for the natural world.
The program began at Tulpehaking Nature Center like in previous years. After representatives from Mercer County Park Commission and Friends of the Abbott Marshlands introduced the site's history, Princeton Hydro discussed career opportunities in conservation and gave a brief overview of ongoing restoration efforts in the park to eliminate the invasive Common Reed (Phragmites australis), and NJDEP representative, Jessica Klein, gave a presentation about her work in wetland mitigation.
Before venturing into the Abbott Marshlands, the northernmost freshwater tidal wetlands along the Delaware River, the Princeton Hydro team conducted a health and safety briefing. They highlighted potential risks and exposures to ensure everyone's awareness. This briefing is a crucial part of prioritizing the safety of all participants in our work.
Shortly after setting out on the road to the site, the students received an additional lesson. Mark directed their attention to a nearby tree where poison ivy - a native plant - had stealthily climbed up the trunk. To their surprise, the young participants had mistaken the trailing vines for branches of the tree. This observation highlighted the remarkable ability of poison ivy to adapt to its surroundings, finding innovative ways to persist and thrive in its environment.
As the second group continued their journey down the path, they encountered a Fowler’s toad. Initially, its slippery texture startled them, but they quickly realized the frog's harmless nature. Through gentle pats on its head, they gained a newfound appreciation for these fascinating creatures, transforming their initial fear into a sense of wonder and respect.
Venturing through the marshland, the young explorers gained insights into wetland delineation. They witnessed the fascinating process of using a hand auger and a Munsell Soil Color Book to identify and understand the unique characteristics of wetland soils. In a delightful exploration of local flora, participants delved into the art of species identification using a specialized field guide. They learned to distinguish invasive plant species from their native counterparts, such as sensitive fern, which they were able to see during a short nature walk on a trail back to the nature center.
In a seemingly unremarkable area of the riverbank, the third group stumbled upon a startling discovery. Amidst the lush vegetation, a highly toxic plant known as poison hemlock flourished. The students were taken aback by its presence in an otherwise ordinary location. They had never encountered such a hazardous plant in their previous studies. The poison hemlock, with its delicate white flowers and feathery leaves, belied its deadly nature. The students were captivated by its beauty, but the instructors cautioned them against touching.
The encounter with poison hemlock and poison ivy served as a valuable lesson for the students. They realized that even in seemingly ordinary places, hidden dangers could lurk. They developed a newfound respect for the power of nature and the importance of exercising caution when exploring unfamiliar environments.
Ending the day, participants from the first group had the privilege of attending a lesson conducted by Wildlife Biologist Mike McGraw. With the assistance of the Nature Center's resident corn snake, Mike introduced the students to the fascinating world of reptiles. Overcoming their initial apprehension towards these slithery creatures, the students discovered that there was much more to snakes than they had previously imagined. Mike dispelled common misconceptions and fears, explaining that snakes are not inherently dangerous creatures but rather play a vital role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems.
The NJDEP Youth Inclusion Initiative began on July 8 and culminated on August 16 with a graduation and NJDEP Career Day where students had the opportunity to meet and discuss career options with various organizations who tabled at the event, including Princeton Hydro.
To learn more about the NJDEP education program, click here. If you’re interested in learning more about Princeton Hydro’s ecological restoration services, click here.
To prevent further erosion at the Slade Dale Sanctuary in Point Pleasant, dozens of volunteers helped stabilize the shoreline using a technique that has never been done before in New Jersey. On Saturday, American Littoral Society, in partnership with Princeton Hydro, Borough of Point Pleasant, New Jersey Nature Conservancy, New Jersey Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership, and the Point Pleasant Rotary Club, organized dozens of volunteers to restore the shoreline and prevent further erosion at the Slade Dale Sanctuary using recycled Christmas trees.
As one of only a few areas of open space left in Point Pleasant, the 13-acre Slade Dale Sanctuary is an important part of the local ecosystem and is home to a number of unique animals and plants. This waterfront preserve along the North Branch Beaver Dam Creek is predominantly tidal marsh, which provides habitat for various birds, including osprey, as well as passive recreation opportunities for the community.
Unfortunately, the Slade Dale Sanctuary is disappearing. Since 1930, the shoreline of Slade Dale Sanctuary has retreated approximately 300 feet, equal to the length of a football field, and the channels into the marsh have increased in number and size, according to a study we conducted on behalf of American Littoral Society, for which we provide engineering and natural resources management consulting services.
In order to stabilize the shoreline, restore the marsh, and enhance the ecological function and integrity of the preserve, Princeton Hydro developed a conceptual and engineering design using living shoreline features to enhance ecological value and reduce erosion. The final conceptual plan for restoration uses tree vane structures to attenuate wave action, foster sediment accretion, and reduce erosion along the coast.
To implement this vision and begin building back marsh, the project team is constructing several Christmas tree breakwaters and Christmas tree vanes that mimic naturally occurring debris structures in tidal systems and enhance habitat opportunity and shelter for aquatic life. Volunteers came together on Saturday, May 11 to help with the construction. The Mayor of Point Pleasant Robert A. Sabosik also attended the event, "The Barnegat Bay is an attribute that we all enjoy, and it's something we have to protect."
After the 2018 holiday season, the Good Sheppard Lutheran Church in Point Pleasant provided space to collect and store donated Christmas trees, which were then moved to the marsh a few days before the event. On the day of the event, recycled Christmas trees were transported from their staged locations on the marsh to the breakwater sections that were previously installed in the water. To transport them across the water to the pilings, volunteers used two methods: by walking a skiff boat loaded with trees through the water to the pilings or by forming assembly line from the shore to pilings to guide floating trees through the water (check out the album below!). Then, they stuffed the Christmas trees between the pilings, securely tied them down, and staked Christmas trees directly into the creek bottom. For extra assurance, the placed and tied heavy bags of used oyster shells on top of the tree line. Oyster shells were donated by local Monmouth County restaurants in an effort to reduce waste streams.
"We really enjoyed participating in this event with American Littoral Society and so many wonderful volunteers,” Christiana L. Pollack, GISP, CFM, Princeton Hydro's Project Manager for this restoration effort. “It is so wonderful to see this project coming to fruition. We’re so proud of our partnership with American Littoral Society and our combined efforts to revitalize and rehabilitate our precious coastal habitats.”
Many thanks to everyone who came out in support of this important restoration effort at Slade Dale Sanctuary American Littoral Society hosts volunteer events throughout the year. Go here to get involved.
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