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A recent return visit confirms what restoration practitioners know well: when barriers are removed, rivers heal. Today, the Paulins Kill flows freely through the former Paulina Lake Dam site, reconnecting habitats that had been fragmented for generations. The Paulina Lake Dam stood for nearly 130 years in Blairstown Township, Warren County, NJ. Constructed in the late 1800s to generate hydropower, it had long outlived its original purpose. Like many aging dams across the country, it remained in place despite no longer serving a critical function, while continuing to disrupt river processes and pose growing safety risks. [caption id="attachment_19094" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Paulina Lake Dam aerial view prior to removal. Photo by Jim Wright/TNC/LightHawk[/caption] As reported in CentralJersey.com’s recent feature “The fall of dams and rise of rivers,” the majority of New Jersey’s approximately 1,700 regulated dams were built in the 19th and early 20th centuries to power mills that no longer exist. Fewer than a dozen still serve an essential purpose today. Many persist due to nostalgia, misunderstanding, or uncertainty around removal—despite blocking fish passage, trapping sediment, warming water temperatures, exacerbating flooding, and increasing the risk of failure. The removal of Paulina Lake Dam was led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in partnership with Blairstown Township, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Riverlogic–Renova Joint Venture, and Princeton Hydro. The Office of Natural Resources Revenue awarded a grant to TNC to fund a substantial portion of the removal through the Paulins Kill and Pequest Watershed Natural Resource Restoration Grant Program. The project advanced through carefully sequenced phases, beginning with controlled notching in late 2023, followed by full demolition and sediment management in 2024, and transitioning into final adaptive management and habitat enhancement in 2025. What the River is Showing Us Now The ecological response has been swift and visible. With the dam removed, more than 7.6 miles of mainstem and tributary habitat have been reconnected at the Paulina Lake site alone. The removal of the Paulina Lake Dam represents one important element of a longer-term, watershed-scale restoration initiative launched in 2013 to restore connectivity and ecological function along the Paulins Kill River. As the downstream most dam on the river, its removal builds upon earlier restoration milestones achieved through the removal of four dams: the Columbia Lake Main and Remnant Dams in 2019, the County Line Dam in 2021, and now the Paulina Lake Dam, progressively reconnecting approximately 45 miles of mainstem and tributary habitat. Since 2016, The Nature Conservancy has also implemented a 10-year Measures and Monitoring Program to track ecological response and conservation outcomes, providing clear evidence that coordinated, science-based restoration can support a healthier, more resilient river system. The river channel is actively stabilizing, riffle and run sequences are re-forming, and previously inundated areas are beginning to revegetate. Cooler water temperatures and the restoration of sediment transport processes are enabling the Paulins Kill to function more consistently with a cold, free‑flowing, coarse‑substrate stream system. This series of aerial drone photos was captured during a site visit in November 2025: [gallery link="none" size="medium" ids="19109,19110,19111"] This recovery is already benefiting aquatic life. As Beth Styler Barry, Director of Freshwater Programs for The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey, noted in the CentralJersey.com article, “We’re already seeing American shad above the dams that were removed. We’re seeing sea lamprey and American eel. It used to be that only the biggest eels could make it upstream. Now we’re seeing all age classes.” By reconnecting upstream and downstream populations that had been isolated for generations, the project has also restored connectivity for rare freshwater mussels, including the endangered dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) and triangle floater (Alasmidonta undulata). “All of the organisms in a river like the Paulins Kill evolved to live in a cool, flowing, rocky-bottom stream,” Styler Barry told CentralJersey.com. “When you restore flow, the river begins to heal itself.” Watch the Project from Start to Finish A newly released project video captures this transformation in a way that still images and written updates cannot. Drawing on aerial footage collected by The Nature Conservancy’s Volunteer Drone Team prior to demolition and by Princeton Hydro throughout and after construction, the video documents the full arc of the Paulina Lake Dam removal from initial notching through full demolition and into the restored conditions visible today. The footage provides a comprehensive look at dam removal in practice, illustrating how careful sequencing, sediment management, and adaptive design allow rivers to recover rapidly once barriers are removed. Click below to watch the full project video and see the transformation unfold: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6dQRRU5DCE[/embed] Beyond ecological gains, the removal of Paulina Lake Dam has significantly improved public safety and community resilience. In CentralJersey.com, Geoffrey M. Goll, PE, President of Princeton Hydro, emphasized the long-term risks associated with aging dams. “If you don’t take care of them, they’ll come out on their own—and that’s a much bigger problem. Once dams are properly removed, people start to see the value of a free-flowing river.” Many dams were never designed to withstand today’s hydrologic conditions. With climate change driving more frequent and intense rainfall events, proactive removal reduces flood risk, eliminates inspection and maintenance liabilities, and allows rivers to function as more resilient, self-sustaining systems. At the Paulina Lake site, removal has also improved recreational access and restored a more natural landscape for the community. Looking Ahead While the Paulins Kill now flows freely through the former Paulina Lake Dam site, final project phases focus on adaptive management, targeted bank stabilization, habitat feature enhancement, and native tree planting to support long term ecological resilience. As the river continues to adjust and evolve, the Paulina Lake Dam site stands as a clear example of what is possible when outdated infrastructure is thoughtfully removed and natural systems are given the opportunity to recover. To learn more about TNC's work to restore the Paulins Kill River, click here. To learn more about Princeton Hydro's work to remove dams and restore rivers throughout the Northeast, click here. [post_title] => Then and Now: Paulina Lake Dam Removal [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => then-and-now-paulina-lake-dam-removal [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-01-28 15:59:36 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-01-28 15:59:36 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=19057 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 16986 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2025-03-14 02:21:48 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-03-14 02:21:48 [post_content] => The removal of Paulina Lake Dam marks a significant step in restoring the Paulins Kill River. With the spillway demolished, dredging completed, and the trail bridge stabilized as of October 2024, the transformation has been remarkable. A new project video now captures this rapid evolution and celebrates the progress made. Watch the Latest Project Video We invite you to watch the new video documenting the removal process for the Paulina Lake Dam. The video's captivating aerial footage, taken by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Volunteer Drone Team before demolition and by Princeton Hydro throughout and after the removal process, showcases the dramatic transformation of the site. The video walks viewers through each removal phase, from initial notching to full demolition, while highlighting what’s next in the ongoing Paulins Kill River restoration effort. Click below to watch it now: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDbe6oUPEOI[/embed] A Legacy of Connectivity and Restoration The removal of Paulina Lake Dam is part of a broader effort to restore the Paulins Kill River and its ecosystem. Since 2019, four dam removals, including Columbia Lake’s remnant and main dams (2019), County Line Dam (2022), and Paulina Lake Dam (2024), have reconnected 45 miles of river habitat, allowing native species like brook trout and migratory fish to thrive. Beyond enhancing aquatic and terrestrial connectivity, the dam’s removal mitigates safety hazards, improves water quality, and expands recreational opportunities for the community. It also contributes to ongoing wetland and riparian zone restoration, including the reforestation of the floodplain and protection of critical habitats. What’s Next?! While the dam is gone, restoration efforts are not quite over. In early Spring, the project team will initiate the third and final project phase by visiting the site to assess and plan for adaptive management work, which will commence in July 2025. During this final push, the project team will enhance habitat features, stabilize riverbanks in select locations, and plant native trees, ensuring a thriving ecosystem for years to come. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to witness the transformation of the Paulins Kill. Click here to learn more about the project. [post_title] => Paulina Lake Dam Removal Update: Celebrating Progress and Looking Ahead [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => paulina-lake-dam-new-video [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-07-11 10:46:43 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-07-11 10:46:43 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=16986 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 15468 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2024-07-25 22:49:38 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-07-25 22:49:38 [post_content] => After 129 years, the Paulina Lake Dam in Warren County is in the final stages of demolition. This project, led by The Nature Conservancy's New Jersey Chapter, is hailed by local advocates as a significant environmental victory. The complete removal of the dam, scheduled from July through September 2024, is the second of three phases of river restoration, and signifies a major milestone in the rehabilitation of the Paulins Kill River, New Jersey’s third-largest tributary to the Delaware River. On November 24, 2023, a crucial step in the restoration journey was taken with the first notching of the Paulina Dam. This initial step set the stage for the next phase of the dam removal, which is now in full swing. The project, a successful collaboration under the leadership of The Nature Conservancy, funded by NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife, and designed and implemented by Princeton Hydro and RiverLogic-Renova Joint Venture, respectively, is progressing toward its goal. The third and final phase will occur in 2025 for adaptive management to complete the finishing touches, including the installation of habitat features to further enhance the biodiversity of this river segment. Watch the Progress Unfold Click below to watch a new video showcasing the project's progress. The drone footage captures the project team in action, demolishing the dam, removing sediment upriver, and strategically placing rock check dam to control the flow of sediment as the removal process continues. [embed]https://youtu.be/5VDkbvBr1z4[/embed] Laying the Foundation for Change Blairstown’s original power source for electricity, the Paulina Lake Dam, located in bucolic Warren County, NJ, has long posed challenges to the river’s health and surrounding communities. Originally constructed to produce hydropower, it has not functioned in that capacity for over 50 years. Its removal is crucial not only for mitigating risks to life and property but also for restoring the natural habitat for native species like brook trout and migratory fish. Located in bucolic Warren County, New Jersey, The Paulina Lake Dam, Blairstown’s original power source for electricity, has long posed challenges to the river’s health and, after the dam ceased its use as a power source, became a financial and safety liability to Blairstown Township. Its removal is crucial not only for mitigating risks to life and property but also for restoring the natural habitat for native species like brook trout and migratory fish. This initiative aims to:
More than a century after the Paulina Lake Dam first altered the Paulins Kill River, the site now tells a very different story. A recent return visit confirms what restoration practitioners know well: when barriers are removed, rivers heal. Today, the Paulins Kill flows freely through the former Paulina Lake Dam site, reconnecting habitats that had been fragmented for generations.
The Paulina Lake Dam stood for nearly 130 years in Blairstown Township, Warren County, NJ. Constructed in the late 1800s to generate hydropower, it had long outlived its original purpose. Like many aging dams across the country, it remained in place despite no longer serving a critical function, while continuing to disrupt river processes and pose growing safety risks.
As reported in CentralJersey.com’s recent feature “The fall of dams and rise of rivers,” the majority of New Jersey’s approximately 1,700 regulated dams were built in the 19th and early 20th centuries to power mills that no longer exist. Fewer than a dozen still serve an essential purpose today. Many persist due to nostalgia, misunderstanding, or uncertainty around removal—despite blocking fish passage, trapping sediment, warming water temperatures, exacerbating flooding, and increasing the risk of failure.
The removal of Paulina Lake Dam was led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in partnership with Blairstown Township, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Riverlogic–Renova Joint Venture, and Princeton Hydro. The Office of Natural Resources Revenue awarded a grant to TNC to fund a substantial portion of the removal through the Paulins Kill and Pequest Watershed Natural Resource Restoration Grant Program.
The project advanced through carefully sequenced phases, beginning with controlled notching in late 2023, followed by full demolition and sediment management in 2024, and transitioning into final adaptive management and habitat enhancement in 2025.
The ecological response has been swift and visible.
With the dam removed, more than 7.6 miles of mainstem and tributary habitat have been reconnected at the Paulina Lake site alone. The removal of the Paulina Lake Dam represents one important element of a longer-term, watershed-scale restoration initiative launched in 2013 to restore connectivity and ecological function along the Paulins Kill River. As the downstream most dam on the river, its removal builds upon earlier restoration milestones achieved through the removal of four dams: the Columbia Lake Main and Remnant Dams in 2019, the County Line Dam in 2021, and now the Paulina Lake Dam, progressively reconnecting approximately 45 miles of mainstem and tributary habitat.
Since 2016, The Nature Conservancy has also implemented a 10-year Measures and Monitoring Program to track ecological response and conservation outcomes, providing clear evidence that coordinated, science-based restoration can support a healthier, more resilient river system.
The river channel is actively stabilizing, riffle and run sequences are re-forming, and previously inundated areas are beginning to revegetate. Cooler water temperatures and the restoration of sediment transport processes are enabling the Paulins Kill to function more consistently with a cold, free‑flowing, coarse‑substrate stream system.
This recovery is already benefiting aquatic life. As Beth Styler Barry, Director of Freshwater Programs for The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey, noted in the CentralJersey.com article, “We’re already seeing American shad above the dams that were removed. We’re seeing sea lamprey and American eel. It used to be that only the biggest eels could make it upstream. Now we’re seeing all age classes.”
By reconnecting upstream and downstream populations that had been isolated for generations, the project has also restored connectivity for rare freshwater mussels, including the endangered dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) and triangle floater (Alasmidonta undulata).
“All of the organisms in a river like the Paulins Kill evolved to live in a cool, flowing, rocky-bottom stream,” Styler Barry told CentralJersey.com. “When you restore flow, the river begins to heal itself.”
A newly released project video captures this transformation in a way that still images and written updates cannot.
Drawing on aerial footage collected by The Nature Conservancy’s Volunteer Drone Team prior to demolition and by Princeton Hydro throughout and after construction, the video documents the full arc of the Paulina Lake Dam removal from initial notching through full demolition and into the restored conditions visible today. The footage provides a comprehensive look at dam removal in practice, illustrating how careful sequencing, sediment management, and adaptive design allow rivers to recover rapidly once barriers are removed.
Beyond ecological gains, the removal of Paulina Lake Dam has significantly improved public safety and community resilience. In CentralJersey.com, Geoffrey M. Goll, PE, President of Princeton Hydro, emphasized the long-term risks associated with aging dams. “If you don’t take care of them, they’ll come out on their own—and that’s a much bigger problem. Once dams are properly removed, people start to see the value of a free-flowing river.”
Many dams were never designed to withstand today’s hydrologic conditions. With climate change driving more frequent and intense rainfall events, proactive removal reduces flood risk, eliminates inspection and maintenance liabilities, and allows rivers to function as more resilient, self-sustaining systems. At the Paulina Lake site, removal has also improved recreational access and restored a more natural landscape for the community.
While the Paulins Kill now flows freely through the former Paulina Lake Dam site, final project phases focus on adaptive management, targeted bank stabilization, habitat feature enhancement, and native tree planting to support long term ecological resilience. As the river continues to adjust and evolve, the Paulina Lake Dam site stands as a clear example of what is possible when outdated infrastructure is thoughtfully removed and natural systems are given the opportunity to recover.
The removal of Paulina Lake Dam marks a significant step in restoring the Paulins Kill River. With the spillway demolished, dredging completed, and the trail bridge stabilized as of October 2024, the transformation has been remarkable. A new project video now captures this rapid evolution and celebrates the progress made.
We invite you to watch the new video documenting the removal process for the Paulina Lake Dam. The video's captivating aerial footage, taken by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Volunteer Drone Team before demolition and by Princeton Hydro throughout and after the removal process, showcases the dramatic transformation of the site. The video walks viewers through each removal phase, from initial notching to full demolition, while highlighting what’s next in the ongoing Paulins Kill River restoration effort.
The removal of Paulina Lake Dam is part of a broader effort to restore the Paulins Kill River and its ecosystem. Since 2019, four dam removals, including Columbia Lake’s remnant and main dams (2019), County Line Dam (2022), and Paulina Lake Dam (2024), have reconnected 45 miles of river habitat, allowing native species like brook trout and migratory fish to thrive.
Beyond enhancing aquatic and terrestrial connectivity, the dam’s removal mitigates safety hazards, improves water quality, and expands recreational opportunities for the community. It also contributes to ongoing wetland and riparian zone restoration, including the reforestation of the floodplain and protection of critical habitats.
While the dam is gone, restoration efforts are not quite over. In early Spring, the project team will initiate the third and final project phase by visiting the site to assess and plan for adaptive management work, which will commence in July 2025. During this final push, the project team will enhance habitat features, stabilize riverbanks in select locations, and plant native trees, ensuring a thriving ecosystem for years to come. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to witness the transformation of the Paulins Kill.
After 129 years, the Paulina Lake Dam in Warren County is in the final stages of demolition. This project, led by The Nature Conservancy's New Jersey Chapter, is hailed by local advocates as a significant environmental victory. The complete removal of the dam, scheduled from July through September 2024, is the second of three phases of river restoration, and signifies a major milestone in the rehabilitation of the Paulins Kill River, New Jersey’s third-largest tributary to the Delaware River.
On November 24, 2023, a crucial step in the restoration journey was taken with the first notching of the Paulina Dam. This initial step set the stage for the next phase of the dam removal, which is now in full swing. The project, a successful collaboration under the leadership of The Nature Conservancy, funded by NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife, and designed and implemented by Princeton Hydro and RiverLogic-Renova Joint Venture, respectively, is progressing toward its goal. The third and final phase will occur in 2025 for adaptive management to complete the finishing touches, including the installation of habitat features to further enhance the biodiversity of this river segment.
Click below to watch a new video showcasing the project's progress. The drone footage captures the project team in action, demolishing the dam, removing sediment upriver, and strategically placing rock check dam to control the flow of sediment as the removal process continues.
Blairstown’s original power source for electricity, the Paulina Lake Dam, located in bucolic Warren County, NJ, has long posed challenges to the river’s health and surrounding communities. Originally constructed to produce hydropower, it has not functioned in that capacity for over 50 years. Its removal is crucial not only for mitigating risks to life and property but also for restoring the natural habitat for native species like brook trout and migratory fish.
Located in bucolic Warren County, New Jersey, The Paulina Lake Dam, Blairstown’s original power source for electricity, has long posed challenges to the river’s health and, after the dam ceased its use as a power source, became a financial and safety liability to Blairstown Township. Its removal is crucial not only for mitigating risks to life and property but also for restoring the natural habitat for native species like brook trout and migratory fish.
This initiative aims to:
The removal of the Paulina Lake Dam is part of a larger restoration plan initiated in 2013 by The Nature Conservancy, which includes the removal of multiple dams along the Paulins Kill River, planting thousands of trees in its riparian zone, and restoration of its headwater Hyper Humus, a glacially created peat bog. This comprehensive effort, involving wetland restoration, land protection, and floodplain reforestation, aims to rejuvenate and sustain the river ecosystem.
Princeton Hydro’s President, Geoffrey M. Goll, PE, highlights the broader impact of these efforts: “The removal of Paulina Lake Dam is not just about dismantling a structure and removing a safety hazard, but paving the way for a renewed riverine landscape, where the flow of life returns to its natural course.”
As we celebrate this major milestone, we look forward to witnessing the continued transformation of the Paulins Kill. This project stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, environmental stewardship, and the unwavering dedication of communities and organizations committed to preserving and restoring our natural landscapes.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue this exciting journey towards a restored and thriving river ecosystem this fall, and then the finishing touches in 2025! Click here to learn more about the Paulina Lake Dam removal and the broader restoration efforts.
In July 2021, a significant transformation began on Bushkill Creek in Pennsylvania. The removal of Crayola Dam, which was was officially completed on September 29, 2022, marked the start of a journey to restore this beloved waterway to its natural state.
Now, in September 2023, as we commemorate the one-year anniversary of this remarkable undertaking, we reflect on the importance of preserving high-quality, cold-water fisheries in urban environments and eagerly anticipate the continued restoration work on Bushkill Creek in the years ahead.
Bushkill Creek originates at the base of Blue Mountain in Bushkill Township and meanders for 22 miles until it joins the Delaware River. This limestone stream flows through a diverse landscape, encompassing agricultural and suburban areas, as well as the city of Easton. It is not only a vital water resource but also a sanctuary for a thriving population of wild brown trout. Designated as a "high quality, cold-water fishery," Bushkill Creek holds a special place in the hearts of anglers and the surrounding community.
The journey to restore Bushkill Creek evolved over a decade of collaboration between Princeton Hydro and the Wildlands Conservancy. This partnership has focused on multiple dam removal projects in the Lehigh River Valley, each aimed at reestablishing aquatic habitats, enhancing recreational opportunities, and revitalizing economically stressed urban communities.
In particular, Princeton Hydro took the lead in designing and permitting the removal of eight consecutive barriers on Jordan Creek and two low-head dams on Little Lehigh Creek. These projects resulted in the reconnection of miles of river, an improvement in aquatic habitats, and enhanced recreational fishing opportunities in Allentown, PA.
The success of these barrier removals set the stage for a more ambitious project in 2018, as Princeton Hydro joined forces with the Wildlands Conservancy to tackle four privately and publicly owned dams, including three consecutive dams on Bushkill Creek in Easton, PA. These projects became a blueprint for future dam removals throughout the Delaware and Lehigh Valley Watersheds, serving as a model for landowners and municipalities.
The combined barrier removals were part of a larger watershed-wide effort to enhance aquatic connectivity, fisheries, and wildlife habitats. These initiatives restored fish passage, reduced nonpoint source pollution, improved water quality, and reinstated groundwater recharge capacity. They also played a crucial role in stabilizing and restoring the stream's channels and banks.
The successful execution of these dam removal projects was no small feat. Princeton Hydro's comprehensive approach included site investigations, field surveys, sediment analysis, hydraulic assessments, regulatory coordination, community engagement, design planning, permit applications, cost estimates, and construction oversight. RiverLogic Solutions LLC, the construction contractor selected for the Dam #4 removal, completed the project in line with design plans and permit waiver requirements.
The result was the official removal of the Crayola Dam, also known as Dam #4, marking a significant milestone in the restoration of Bushkill Creek.
As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Dam #4 removal, we also look ahead to the next phases of this restoration journey. The demolition and removal of Dam #1 commenced on July 7, 2023 and was completed in August. Dam #3 is scheduled for demolition and removal later this year. And, the fourth barrier, Dam #2, is scheduled for removal in the summer of 2024. Additionally, there is a fifth dam on Bushkill Creek that Wildlands Conservancy is pursuing for removal. Stay tuned for more info!
As we move forward, we are excited about the future of Bushkill Creek and the positive impact its restoration will continue to have on both the surrounding community and beyond.
Princeton Hydro has designed, permitted, and/or overseen the removal of 80+ small and large dams in the Northeast. For over a decade, Princeton Hydro has partnered with Wildlands Conservancy to remove dams in the Lehigh River Valley. To learn more about our fish passage and dam removal engineering services, click here. To learn more about Wildlands Conservancy, click here.
The Horseshoe Mill Dam, built in 1827, served as the first barrier to fish passage on the Weweantic River in Wareham, Massachusetts. For over 150 years, migratory fish were unable to reach their breeding grounds upstream due to this structure. However, thanks to the efforts of the Buzzards Bay Coalition and its project partners, the dam was successfully removed between December 2019 and February 2021. As early as April 2021, migratory fish were seen swimming unimpeded from Buzzards Bay to lay their eggs in freshwater upstream. A true success story!
This blog explores the Horseshoe Mill Dam removal project and celebrates the significant milestone in the recovery of fish populations and the restoration of ecological processes in the Weweantic River.
The Weweantic River winds its way through the picturesque landscapes of southeastern Massachusetts, spanning a length of 17.0 miles. This land is the traditional territory of the Wampanoag/Wôpanâak tribes. Derived from the Wampanoag language, Weweantic means "crooked" or "wandering stream."
Originating from the wetlands in Carver, the river flows in a southerly direction meandering through swampy birch and maple forests in Middleborough and Rochester. Eventually, it empties into a Buzzards Bay estuary near the mouth of the Sippican River in Wareham. The river's watershed covers approximately 18,000 acres, with numerous cranberry bogs situated in its upper sections.
Although the Weweantic River historically teemed with fish, the presence of the Horseshoe Mill Dam posed an obstacle to fish passage. The dam, spanning the Weweantic River at the head-of-tide, was built in 1827 to support a metal forge mill. Although it was once part of the infrastructure that supported Wareham’s economy, it had been decommissioned and left crumbling for decades. The defunct dam restricted to tidal inundation, hindered the migration of important fish species, and impacted riverine ecological processes.
The Weweantic River is the largest tributary to Buzzards Bay and provides 20 percent of all freshwater flow into Buzzards Bay. The meeting of salinity and nutrients through the tidal flow creates a vibrant ecosystem. It supports diverse communities of wetland species and a variety of non-migratory and migratory fish species, including river herring, white perch, and American eel. It is also home to the southernmost population of rainbow smelt in the United States, marking a significant change from a century ago when rainbow smelt were found as far south as the Chesapeake Bay. In the 1960s, smelt populations were even present in the Hudson River in New York.
Further highlighting the ecological significance of the Weweantic River and its surrounding watershed are the unique tidal freshwater wetland plant communities. The wetland areas surrounding the Horseshoe Mill Dam site contained two rare wetland plants, Parker's Pipewort (Eriocaulon parkeri) and Pygmyweed (Crassula aquatica), both of which are designated as priority habitats for rare species.
Additionally, situated along the shore of Buzzards Bay and the Weweantic River is the Cromeset Neck & Mark's Cove Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary. The 47-acre wildlife sanctuary consists of three separate parcels within one mile of each other. Salt marsh comprises most of the wildlife sanctuary, and the property also contains approximately six contiguous acres of coastal woodland.
The Horseshoe Mill Dam removal project involved several phases to achieve its restoration goals.
An inspection of the dam, conducted in 2009, rated its condition as unsatisfactory and noted significant concrete deterioration and erosion. The dam also included a former concrete-walled mill race that was in a state of disrepair, with collapsed walls and obstructed channels. The Buzzards Bay Coalition acquired the 10-acre Horseshoe Mill Dam property in 2012 to preserve it, provide public access, and pursue river restoration.
In 2016, the Buzzards Bay Coalition contracted Princeton Hydro to provide an Alternatives Analysis for the Weweantic River restoration project and a Fish Passage Feasibility Study for the dam. The analysis included a thorough site investigation, historical data review, sediment evaluation, hydrologic and hydraulic analysis, and ecological assessment. The five options considered in the analysis were:
The analysis ultimately helped the Buzzards Bay Coalition determine that a complete dam removal offered the most favorable ecological and economic outcomes.
Princeton Hydro, contracted by the Buzzards Bay Coalition, provided site investigation, engineering design, permitting, and construction oversight services for the dam removal. With funding from the Bouchard 120 Natural Resource Damage Trustee Council and collaboration with various agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA, the dam removal commenced in December 2019 and was successfully completed in early 2021. Just months later in April 2021, for the first time in 150+ years, migratory fish were once again spotted swimming unimpeded from Buzzards Bay to lay their eggs in freshwater upstream.
Since the completion of the dam removal, Buzzards Bay Coalition Restoration Ecologist Sara da Silva Quintal has been consistently visiting the site and monitoring the positive changes taking place. Her observations include vegetation changes, signs of migratory fish spawning, and the geomorphic evolution of the landscape. She shared a series of Nearmap images that demonstrate how the landscape is positively adjusting to the barrier removal:
The completion of the Horseshoe Mill Dam removal project marks a significant achievement in the restoration of fish passage and the preservation of ecological function in the Weweantic River. Through the collaborative efforts of the Buzzards Bay Coalition, government agencies, and project partners, migratory fish can now freely swim upstream to their breeding grounds.
The restoration effort rejuvenated more than three miles of the Weweantic River and restored migratory fish passage. The dam removal enhanced riverine, wetland, and tidal habitat critical to a diverse group of aquatic, wildlife and plant species. It allowed for the natural extension of upriver habitat for two rare tidal plant species, ensuring their long-term survival. The restoration work also enhanced public access to the area by increasing walking trails and constructing canoe/kayak launches, promoting recreational opportunities, and fostering a deeper connection between people and the river.
In an article written by Kasey Silvia in November 2021, the Vice President for Watershed Protection at Buzzards Bay Coalition, Brendan Annett, was quoted as saying, “Removing this dam has immediately improved the natural functions of the Weweantic, undoing many years of environmental damage and it has already begun to bring the river back to life.”
The success of this project serves as a testament to the importance of collaborative conservation efforts in safeguarding and restoring our natural resources.
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:
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:
In the late 1920s, the U.S. government began allocating funds for road construction in U.S. national forests. This led to hundreds of thousands of culverts being built and installed across the country for the purpose of moving water quickly and efficiently underneath the roadways to prevent flooding, minimize erosion, and provide pathways for stormwater.
However, culverts have had an unintended and significant consequence: they block the migration routes of some fish and aquatic organisms.
Culverts that are undersized, improperly placed, or designed with smooth featureless surfaces can impede or totally block fish and aquatic species from passing. Culverts with extremely high velocity flows make it incredibly difficult for aquatic organisms to navigate upstream, and extremely low velocity flows make it hard for fish to pass in either direction. The high-velocity flows can erode the stream channel immediately downstream of the culvert, which can leave the culvert pipe perched. This elevation above the water channel makes it impossible for organisms to pass through. Debris can also collect in the culvert, not only blocking fish passage, but water as well.
In addition to blocking the upstream passage of fish and other aquatic species, some culverts disrupt the normal stream movements of some macroinvertebrates, which are key components of these stream ecosystems, an important food source to countless species, and play a critical role in the cycling of energy and nutrients throughout stream ecosystems. Disruptions to the movement and dispersal of stream macroinvertebrates can reduce available habitat, lead to genetic isolation of some populations, and cause extirpation of critical species. When populations splinter, it causes a reduction in genetic diversity, which can lead to the spread of more invasive species and many other ecological issues.
While culverts serve an important function in road construction and flood prevention, their impact on aquatic organisms must be taken into consideration. Finding solutions that both allow for efficient water flow and enable safe aquatic migration is crucial in preserving the health of our waterways and their ecosystems.
A shift in the 1980s recognized the importance of redesigning road-stream crossings for several reasons, including restoring aquatic organism passage and maintaining flood resilience. Between 2008 and 2015, U.S. Forest Service (USFS) partnered with more than 200 organizations in the Legacy Roads and Trails Program to replace 1,000+ culverts across the country. The aim of the program was to upgrade culverts to emulate natural streams and to allow fish and wildlife to pass more naturally both upstream and downstream.
Replacing culverts with structures that better facilitate the movement of both water and aquatic organisms has benefits beyond restoring critical ecosystems and improving biodiversity. Ecological restoration creates jobs, stimulates outdoor recreation and local economic activity, and generates long-term economic value.
Princeton Hydro has a strong history in designing connectivity-friendly road-stream crossings and restoring/replacing outdated culverts. Our team of engineers and scientists has been directly involved with hundreds of stream and ecosystem restoration projects throughout the Northeast.
For several years, Princeton Hydro has partnered with NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program (HEP) to plan and design for aquatic connectivity through climate-ready infrastructure. Created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) at the request of the governors of New York and New Jersey, HEP develops and implements plans that protect, conserve and restore the estuary, and aquatic connectivity is a key focus area for HEP and its partners.
Most recently, HEP partnered with Princeton Hydro to address hydraulic capacity issues at priority road-stream crossings in New Jersey’s South River and Lower Raritan River watersheds. The Princeton Hydro team developed a 30% engineering plan for a priority road-stream crossing – the Birch Street crossing over the Iresick Brook in Old Bridge, NJ.
Iresick Brook is upstream from Duhernal Lake, located at the end of the free-flowing South River, which feeds into the Raritan River, and ultimately flows into Raritan Bay. Duhernal Lake is dammed at the outlet so there is little to no connectivity downstream from the Iresick Brook sub-watershed. The watershed is highly dendritic (meaning the drainage pattern follows a tree-like shape) with many small streams running through it, some of them ephemeral.
The Iresick Brook 5 (IB5) culvert, located in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, is an undersized double culvert in poor condition with an eroding streambank. This culvert was chosen as a restoration priority primarily due its inadequate sizing (both pipes are only 3-feet in diameter). The outdated infrastructure blocks the passage of fish and other aquatic organisms, and it can only accommodate a 50-year storm event.
Once the IB5 culvert was identified as the priority site, Princeton Hydro completed a site investigation, which included a geomorphic assessment, site observations, and simplified site survey of the channel alignment, profile, and cross sections both upstream and downstream of the culvert.
At the time of the survey, flow was only a couple inches deep in the channel and incredibly slow-moving, especially in the upstream reach. Despite the low flow at the time of the survey, during storm events, the stream experiences extremely high velocities. The undersized culvert creates hydraulic constriction and subsequently a velocity barrier that prevents passage. Additionally, when the high-flow stream water is forced through the small pipes, it creates a firehose effect, which has led to the formation of a 60-foot-long scour hole at the culvert outlet. Substrate from the scour hole has been washed downstream, forming an island of large sand and small gravel.
Approximately 155 feet upstream of the culvert is a channel-spanning v-notch weir comprised of a combination of sheet pile and timber. The weir appears to be a historical stream gauge that is highly degraded and creates an artificially perched channel. The upstream channel also contains woody debris, which gets caught at the culvert, blocking water flow and organism passage.
For the design process, Princeton Hydro used the USFS Stream Simulation Design, an gold-standard ecosystem-based approach for designing and constructing road-stream crossings that provide unimpeded fish and other aquatic organism passage through the structure. The Stream Simulation, a required standard on USFS road projects, integrates fluvial geomorphology concepts and methods with engineering principles to design a road-stream crossing that contains a natural and dynamic channel through the structure so that fish and other aquatic organisms will experience no greater difficulty moving through the structure than if the crossing did not exist.
The design also incorporated utility constraints (gas line, sewer line, drinking water main, and stormwater outlet), a longitudinal profile assessment, channel capacity and slope analysis, and a simplified hydrologic & hydraulic assessment.
Ultimately, Princeton Hydro recommended that HEP replace the existing culvert with a Contech Precast O-321 culvert, or similar alternative. The proposed design increases the culvert opening area and allows for significant increases in flow capacity. This culvert replacement project has the potential to reduce local flood risk and restore aquatic organism passage to the reach of Iresick Brook.
Aquatic connectivity is crucial for improving healthy aquatic ecosystems and managing severe storms and flooding. Increases in rainfall due to climate change makes investing in these improvements even more of a growing priority. With so many culverts in place, it can be difficult to know which culvert restoration projects to prioritize.
We worked with HEP to create a toolkit for addressing problematic road-stream crossings. The easy-to-use matrix helps to prioritize potential projects and identify solutions for problem culverts and relative cost solutions.
The toolkit was just recently released to the public with the hope that it will be used as a template to promote the development of more resilient and environmentally-friendly infrastructure.
Click here to get more info and download.
According to American Rivers, “more than 90,000 dams in the country are no longer serving the purpose that they were built to provide decades or centuries ago.” As these dams age and decay, they can become public safety hazards, presenting a failure risk and flooding danger. Dams can also be environmental hazards, blocking the movement of fish and other aquatic species, inundating river habitat, impairing water quality, and altering the flow necessary to sustain river life.
Removing nonfunctional, outdated dams has myriad ecological benefits. Dam removal can improve water quality, restore a river back to its natural flowing state, reconnect river habitats that benefit fish and wildlife, and significantly increase biodiversity for the surrounding watershed.
For over a decade, Princeton Hydro has partnered with Wildlands Conservancy to remove dams in the Lehigh River Valley. Wildlands Conservancy, a nonprofit land trust in eastern Pennsylvania, works to restore degraded stream and wildlife habitat with a primary focus on Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh River watershed, which is a 1,345 square mile drainage area that eventually flows into the Delaware River.
Wildlands Conservancy contracted Princeton Hydro to design and permit the removal of two dams on the Little Lehigh Creek. Although it is referred to as the “Little Lehigh,” the 24-mile creek is the largest tributary of the Lehigh River. The dam removals restored the natural stream system, which hadn’t flowed freely in over a century.
Princeton Hydro also worked with Wildlands Conservancy to remove several barriers and three consecutive low-head dams on Jordan Creek, a tributary of the Little Lehigh Creek. Jordan Creek arises from a natural spring on Blue Mountain, and eventually joins the Little Lehigh in Allentown before flowing into the Lehigh River. It drains an area of 75.8 square miles.
Collectively, these dam and barrier removal projects on the Little Lehigh and Jordan Creek reconnected 15+ miles of river; restored fish passage; improved aquatic connectivity, fisheries, and benthic macroinvertebrate and wildlife habitats; reduced nonpoint source stormwater pollution; improved water quality; addressed vulnerable infrastructure; enhanced climate resiliency; and stabilized and restored the creeks’ channels and banks.
Building upon the successes of the Little Lehigh and Jordan Creek barrier removals, Princeton Hydro is again partnering with Wildlands Conservancy to remove three consecutive dams on Bushkill Creek in Easton, PA. The dam removal projects, which are slated for 2023, are part of a large-scale effort, involving a significant number of community and municipal partners, focused on restoring Bushkill Creek and the surrounding watershed.
The Bushkill Creek is a 22-mile long limestone stream that is designated as a “high quality, cold-water fishery.” It supports healthy populations of trout, and is treasured by anglers and the surrounding community as an important resource in an urban environment, spanning several boroughs and townships, eventually flowing into the Delaware River at Easton.
Environmental protection and restoration is a key goal of removing the dams. Removing these barriers will allow important migratory fish species to reach their spawning grounds once again, which has numerous and far-reaching ecological benefits. The project work also includes stabilizing the streambank, planting, and expanding riparian buffers, planting native trees and shrubs to filter runoff, and installing in-stream structures to restore fish habitat.
Princeton Hydro has designed, permitted, and overseen the reconstruction, repair, and removal of over 60 of small and large dams in the Northeast. To learn more about our fish passage and dam removal engineering services, click here. To learn more about Wildlands Conservancy, click here.
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:
River herring are diadromous fish, which means they migrate between fresh and salt water. On Long Island in Nassau, New York, they migrate between Mill Pond Creek and the ocean, using Bellmore Creek as a highway. The river herring live much of their adult life in the ocean and travel to the freshwaters of Mill Pond Creek in order to spawn.
There is a dam located at the point where Bellmore Creek meets Mill Pond. When the water level isn’t high enough, the river herring can be blocked from swimming upstream to reach their spawning habitat. This not only has negative implications for river herring species, it also negatively impacts the entire ecosystem. The herring are a vital food source for countless other fish, birds and animals, and play a critical role in transferring marine derived nutrients into surrounding estuarine, freshwater and upland habitats.
River Herring have been documented at the base of the dam at Mill Pond for the past several migration seasons. Bellmore Creek is one of only two-dozen streams on Long Island where remnant runs of this ecologically valuable, diadromous fish still exist.
The project goals not only include increasing river herring spawning habitat, but also are focused on improving the ecological condition of Bellmore Creek, maintaining and enhancing recreational values, and improving site resiliency to climate change and sea level rise.
To provide guidance on the project, Seatuck assembled an advisory committee with representation from Nassau County (dam owner), New York State Office of Parks, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Nassau County Soil and Water District, Town of Hempstead, the South Shore Estuary Reserve, Trout Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, South Shore Audubon, and the Bellmore Civic Association.
On June 8 2021, Seatuck, Nassau County and Princeton Hydro held a virtual meeting to get the public’s input on each of the fish passage designs. Emily Hall, Conservation Policy Advocate for Seatuck, also put together an informative presentation in which she provides a synopsis of Bellmore Creek's history, describes the project goals, and discusses the community engagement process and the results of the public opinion survey. Watch it now:
Additionally, Princeton Hydro completed a site investigation including topographic survey, sediment probing and sampling, and assessment of structures to identify project opportunities and site constraints. Sediment sampling and analysis indicated no major concerns with contamination. By performing analysis of the longitudinal profile, Princeton Hydro determined that the full dam removal (option 3 listed above) was not recommended due to the potential for initiating uncontrolled channel incision below the original river grade into Mill Pond and upstream reaches.
Ultimately, the technical fish ladder (option 2 listed above) was chosen as the most appropriate solution for restoring fish passage to Mill Pond and maintaining existing recreational values. Princeton Hydro is currently developing preliminary engineering design plans for this selected alternative as part of this phase of the project.
The focus on Bellmore Creek is just one of many projects included in Seatuck’s River Revival program, which has sought to clear similarly blocked waterways across Long Island. If you’re interested in learning more about Seatuck’s conservation work and getting involved, click here.
Princeton Hydro has designed, permitted, and overseen solutions for fish passage including the installation of technical and nature-like fishways and the removal of dozens of small and large dams throughout the Northeast. To learn more about our fish passage and dam removal engineering services, click here and check out our blog: Conservation Spotlight: Restoring Fish Passage on the Noroton River.
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