We’re committed to improving our ecosystems, quality of life, and communities for the better.
Our passion and commitment to the integration of innovative science and engineering drive us to exceed on behalf of every client.
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Today, we're delighted to celebrate the accomplishments of two team members whose recent certifications exemplify this commitment. Their achievements not only reflect individual dedication but also enhance our firm’s collective ability to innovate and deliver exceptional environmental solutions. Scott Churm Earns EutroSORB® PRO Certification Scott Churm, Senior Director of Field Services, recently became a PRO Certified EutroSORB® Specialist—a designation granted by SePRO Corporation to professionals trained in the implementation of EutroSORB Water Quality Technologies for phosphorus control in lakes and ponds. EutroSORB® is a cutting-edge technology designed to reduce phosphorus levels, curtail eutrophication, and restore the health of aquatic ecosystems. To earn this certification, Scott completed specialized training and passed a comprehensive exam, demonstrating his advanced knowledge in evaluating water quality issues and prescribing targeted, effective solutions. Since joining Princeton Hydro in 2006, Scott has led our pond and lake management services with unmatched expertise. From identifying invasive aquatic species to overseeing long-term management plans, his work spans hundreds of sites and over 1,000 acres. He’s a licensed pesticide applicator in five states and has implemented a wide range of techniques, from hydro-raking and weed harvesting to aeration system installations and biological controls, to support the health and balance of aquatic environments. With this new certification, Scott adds another tool to his already expansive toolbox, further reinforcing our team’s ability to restore and preserve water bodies across the region. Matthew Pappas Becomes a Certified Construction Specifier (CCS®) Matthew Pappas, a Geotechnical Engineer at Princeton Hydro, recently earned the prestigious CCS® credential from the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). This certification demonstrates advanced proficiency in specification (spec) writing, construction documentation, and product research—critical skills that improve project delivery and communication across all phases of construction. To become CCS-certified, candidates must pass a rigorous exam that evaluates their understanding of contracts, technical documentation, and spec development best practices. With this achievement, Matthew joins a select group of professionals recognized for their ability to clearly and effectively communicate design intent, construction materials, and performance standards. Since joining Princeton Hydro in 2019, Matthew has worked across disciplines, supporting our geotechnical practice and green infrastructure initiatives. His responsibilities span from field investigations and laboratory testing to slope stability and sediment modeling to spec drafting and cost estimating. He’s also earned several technical responsibilities, including serving as the firm's Radiation Safety Officer and receiving training in concrete field testing. Matthew's initiative and adaptability have made him a valuable asset to our team, and his CCS certification further exemplifies his dedication to technical excellence and lifelong learning. Congratulations to Scott and Matthew on their well-earned achievements! To learn more about the Princeton Hydro team, click here. [post_title] => Staff Spotlight: Recognizing Professional Achievements of Two Team Members [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => staff-spotlight-recognizing-professional-achievements-of-two-team-members [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-07-11 10:10:30 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-07-11 10:10:30 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=17414 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 12877 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2023-07-01 05:00:41 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-07-01 05:00:41 [post_content] => July is Lakes Appreciation Month! This national initiative was started in 1998 by the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) with the goal of illuminating the value and importance of lakes and reservoirs, and encouraging people to take action in appreciating and protecting our precious water resources. We’ve put together five tips to help you celebrate: 1. Embrace your Lake. Discover, Capture, and Share the Joy of Lakes Appreciation! Whether you're a birding enthusiast, a photography pro, a boating lover, a paddle-boarding champ, or someone who enjoys leisurely strolls, it's time get lakeside to enjoy your favorite activities. Stay in the loop with your local lake association's calendar and discover fun community events. If you're in the Berks County, Pennsylvania area, join PALMS on July 14 at Blue Marsh Lake for their community sunset paddle and float event. Capture your lake love and spread the joy - share your adventure photos on social media using #LakesAppreciation and inspire others to embrace lake appreciation too! Whatever fun adventure you choose, always remember to respect our natural landscape and treat it with care. Click here for a few tips to help you enjoy your Lakes Appreciation Month outings responsibly and sustainably. 2. Take the Family BINGO Challenge. To encourage everyone in the family to get outside together and enjoy the lakes that surround them, NALMS is created a family BINGO Challenge game. The BINGO board features a variety of activities, like "Have a picnic at your favorite lake," "Go wildlife or bird watching," and "Pick up trash around your favorite lake." As you complete each activity, you mark the square with an X. Once you complete all activities in a row or diagonally, you get “BINGO." Fill the card completely for maximum lake appreciation! This simple game is designed to stir creativity, curiosity and action, and is intended to act as a reminder for us all to pause and appreciate something we often take for granted. Play it, share it, and enjoy! 3. Support Your Local Lake Association. [gallery link="none" ids="12891,9124,8942"] In celebration of Lakes Appreciation Month, lake associations nationwide are hosting family-fun events, volunteer opportunities and community gatherings. On July 14, Pennsylvania Lake Management Society invites you to join them at Blue Marsh Lake for a community sunset paddle/float. On July 20 at the Stone Water lakefront restaurant, Lake Hopatcong Foundation is hosting its 11th Anniversary Gala & Auction, which aims to bring together community members who are passionate about Lake Hopatcong, to have fun and raise funds critically needed to protect the environment and enhance the experience on and around Lake Hopatcong. Organize a community trash pick-up day at a nearby lake or get in touch with your local lake association to find out how you can get involved. 4. Join the National Secchi Dip-In. The “Secchi Dip-In” is an annual citizen science event where lake-goers and associations across North America use a simple Secchi disk to monitor the transparency or turbidity of their local waterway. Created and managed by NALMS, volunteers have been submitting information during the annual Dip-In since 1994. NALMS invites you to join this international effort to track changes in water quality! Get all the Dip-In details here. And, for detailed instructions for how to use a Secchi disk, check out our tutorial. 5. Monitor Your Lake & Report HABs. [gallery link="none" ids="11570,11578,11568"] In addition to the Secchi Dip-In, you can support your favorite lake by identifying and reporting harmful algal blooms (HABs) and invasive species. And, the bloomWatch App is a great educational resource and tracking tool! By using the app on your smartphone, you can contribute to a nationwide community science program dedicated to tracking and documenting the occurrence of potential HABs. For more information on how to identify HABs, watch NYDEC's video: [embed]https://youtu.be/8nL_s77FV-o[/embed] And, for even more information about HABs, click here to view a presentation given by Dr. Fred Lubnow at the NALMS 42nd Annual International Symposium. Click here to learn about NALMS and get more ideas on how to celebrate your local lakes. Princeton Hydro provides a broad range of award-winning lake management services. Click here to read about our work to reduce HABs and increase biodiversity in Lake Latonka, a 260-acre man-made freshwater lake in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. [post_title] => July is #LakesAppreciation Month: 5 Tips to Help You Celebrate [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => lakes-appreciation-2023 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-04-01 14:43:29 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-04-01 14:43:29 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=12877 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 12319 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2023-02-24 09:04:33 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-02-24 09:04:33 [post_content] => The New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (Highlands Council) awarded Somerset County with a $59,150 planning grant to support the implementation of a Watershed Management Program for two of its parks: Lord Stirling Park in Bernards Township and Leonard J. Buck Gardens in Far Hills Borough. The grant will be distributed specifically to Somerset County Engineering on behalf of the Somerset County Park Foundation (SCPF), which submitted a Scope of Work prepared by Princeton Hydro to develop a Somerset County Parks Watershed Management Program. “We are grateful for this grant, which will help Somerset County continue its commitment to preserving the ecosystem,” said Somerset County Park Commission Secretary-Director Geoffrey Soriano. “Healthy watersheds support biodiversity, protect nutrients in the soil, decrease carbon emissions, foster the growth of flora and fauna, and help control flooding. All of this is vital for a healthy environment.” The program's Scope of Work includes:
At Princeton Hydro, we take pride in fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth. Today, we're delighted to celebrate the accomplishments of two team members whose recent certifications exemplify this commitment. Their achievements not only reflect individual dedication but also enhance our firm’s collective ability to innovate and deliver exceptional environmental solutions.
Scott Churm, Senior Director of Field Services, recently became a PRO Certified EutroSORB® Specialist—a designation granted by SePRO Corporation to professionals trained in the implementation of EutroSORB Water Quality Technologies for phosphorus control in lakes and ponds.
EutroSORB® is a cutting-edge technology designed to reduce phosphorus levels, curtail eutrophication, and restore the health of aquatic ecosystems. To earn this certification, Scott completed specialized training and passed a comprehensive exam, demonstrating his advanced knowledge in evaluating water quality issues and prescribing targeted, effective solutions.
Since joining Princeton Hydro in 2006, Scott has led our pond and lake management services with unmatched expertise. From identifying invasive aquatic species to overseeing long-term management plans, his work spans hundreds of sites and over 1,000 acres. He’s a licensed pesticide applicator in five states and has implemented a wide range of techniques, from hydro-raking and weed harvesting to aeration system installations and biological controls, to support the health and balance of aquatic environments.
With this new certification, Scott adds another tool to his already expansive toolbox, further reinforcing our team’s ability to restore and preserve water bodies across the region.
Matthew Pappas, a Geotechnical Engineer at Princeton Hydro, recently earned the prestigious CCS® credential from the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). This certification demonstrates advanced proficiency in specification (spec) writing, construction documentation, and product research—critical skills that improve project delivery and communication across all phases of construction.
To become CCS-certified, candidates must pass a rigorous exam that evaluates their understanding of contracts, technical documentation, and spec development best practices. With this achievement, Matthew joins a select group of professionals recognized for their ability to clearly and effectively communicate design intent, construction materials, and performance standards.
Since joining Princeton Hydro in 2019, Matthew has worked across disciplines, supporting our geotechnical practice and green infrastructure initiatives. His responsibilities span from field investigations and laboratory testing to slope stability and sediment modeling to spec drafting and cost estimating. He’s also earned several technical responsibilities, including serving as the firm's Radiation Safety Officer and receiving training in concrete field testing.
Matthew's initiative and adaptability have made him a valuable asset to our team, and his CCS certification further exemplifies his dedication to technical excellence and lifelong learning.
Congratulations to Scott and Matthew on their well-earned achievements! To learn more about the Princeton Hydro team, click here.
July is Lakes Appreciation Month! This national initiative was started in 1998 by the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) with the goal of illuminating the value and importance of lakes and reservoirs, and encouraging people to take action in appreciating and protecting our precious water resources.
Discover, Capture, and Share the Joy of Lakes Appreciation! Whether you're a birding enthusiast, a photography pro, a boating lover, a paddle-boarding champ, or someone who enjoys leisurely strolls, it's time get lakeside to enjoy your favorite activities. Stay in the loop with your local lake association's calendar and discover fun community events. If you're in the Berks County, Pennsylvania area, join PALMS on July 14 at Blue Marsh Lake for their community sunset paddle and float event. Capture your lake love and spread the joy - share your adventure photos on social media using #LakesAppreciation and inspire others to embrace lake appreciation too! Whatever fun adventure you choose, always remember to respect our natural landscape and treat it with care. Click here for a few tips to help you enjoy your Lakes Appreciation Month outings responsibly and sustainably.
To encourage everyone in the family to get outside together and enjoy the lakes that surround them, NALMS is created a family BINGO Challenge game. The BINGO board features a variety of activities, like "Have a picnic at your favorite lake," "Go wildlife or bird watching," and "Pick up trash around your favorite lake." As you complete each activity, you mark the square with an X. Once you complete all activities in a row or diagonally, you get “BINGO." Fill the card completely for maximum lake appreciation! This simple game is designed to stir creativity, curiosity and action, and is intended to act as a reminder for us all to pause and appreciate something we often take for granted. Play it, share it, and enjoy!
In celebration of Lakes Appreciation Month, lake associations nationwide are hosting family-fun events, volunteer opportunities and community gatherings. On July 14, Pennsylvania Lake Management Society invites you to join them at Blue Marsh Lake for a community sunset paddle/float. On July 20 at the Stone Water lakefront restaurant, Lake Hopatcong Foundation is hosting its 11th Anniversary Gala & Auction, which aims to bring together community members who are passionate about Lake Hopatcong, to have fun and raise funds critically needed to protect the environment and enhance the experience on and around Lake Hopatcong. Organize a community trash pick-up day at a nearby lake or get in touch with your local lake association to find out how you can get involved.
The “Secchi Dip-In” is an annual citizen science event where lake-goers and associations across North America use a simple Secchi disk to monitor the transparency or turbidity of their local waterway. Created and managed by NALMS, volunteers have been submitting information during the annual Dip-In since 1994. NALMS invites you to join this international effort to track changes in water quality! Get all the Dip-In details here. And, for detailed instructions for how to use a Secchi disk, check out our tutorial.
In addition to the Secchi Dip-In, you can support your favorite lake by identifying and reporting harmful algal blooms (HABs) and invasive species. And, the bloomWatch App is a great educational resource and tracking tool! By using the app on your smartphone, you can contribute to a nationwide community science program dedicated to tracking and documenting the occurrence of potential HABs. For more information on how to identify HABs, watch NYDEC's video:
And, for even more information about HABs, click here to view a presentation given by Dr. Fred Lubnow at the NALMS 42nd Annual International Symposium.
Click here to learn about NALMS and get more ideas on how to celebrate your local lakes.
Princeton Hydro provides a broad range of award-winning lake management services. Click here to read about our work to reduce HABs and increase biodiversity in Lake Latonka, a 260-acre man-made freshwater lake in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.
The New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (Highlands Council) awarded Somerset County with a $59,150 planning grant to support the implementation of a Watershed Management Program for two of its parks: Lord Stirling Park in Bernards Township and Leonard J. Buck Gardens in Far Hills Borough.
The grant will be distributed specifically to Somerset County Engineering on behalf of the Somerset County Park Foundation (SCPF), which submitted a Scope of Work prepared by Princeton Hydro to develop a Somerset County Parks Watershed Management Program.
“We are grateful for this grant, which will help Somerset County continue its commitment to preserving the ecosystem,” said Somerset County Park Commission Secretary-Director Geoffrey Soriano. “Healthy watersheds support biodiversity, protect nutrients in the soil, decrease carbon emissions, foster the growth of flora and fauna, and help control flooding. All of this is vital for a healthy environment.”
The program's Scope of Work includes:
"We're thrilled to be partnered with Somerset County Engineering and Somerset County Parks on this important initiative to bring together, under one holistic management plan, the lakes within these public parks located in the Highlands Region," said Princeton Hydro’s Senior Project Manager - Aquatics, Christopher Mikolajczyk, who is a Certified Lake Manager and lead designer for this initiative. "Taking a regional approach to watershed management is a forward-thinking way to improve water quality, manage stormwater, and mitigate harmful algal blooms throughout the Highlands Region of New Jersey.”
The Highlands Council is a regional planning agency that works in partnership with both municipalities and counties in the Highlands Region to help those communities take a proactive and regional approach to watershed protection. They provide planning grants to support costs associated with the development and/or revision of local planning and regulatory documents to integrate the land use provisions and resource management protections of the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act (the Highlands Act), so that those documents align with the goals, policies, and objectives of the Highlands Regional Master Plan.
Over half of New Jersey’s drinking water comes from the Highlands Region, which encompasses 88 municipalities in the northwest part of the state. The Highlands Council has funded numerous water-quality-related planning grants throughout the region. Somerset County is the fifth (of six) Highlands-based municipal entities that Princeton Hydro has worked with to secure Highlands Council funding to take a regional approach to lake management. Taking this type of integrated approach to lake and watershed management has much farther-reaching impacts in improving water quality, reducing aquatic invasive species, and preventing harmful algal blooms throughout an entire region.
Somerset County is the latest municipal entity to receive a Highlands Council Planning Grant. In 2019, the Borough of Ringwood became the first municipality in New Jersey to take a regional approach to private lake management through a public-private partnership with four lake associations within six lakes. The borough ultimately became a model for similar Highlands Council planning grants within the region, including West Milford Township, for which the Highlands Council approved funding in 2020 to support a Watershed Assessment of 22 private and public lakes. Subsequently in 2021, Rockaway Township in Morris County received Highlands Council planning grants to complete a Lake Management Planning Study for 11 lakes. And, in 2022, The Township of Byram received Highlands Council grant approval for a Lake and Watershed Management Program for 10 of the township's waterbodies. In January 2023, Vernon Township received approval for Phase I of its plan, which will be underway this year. Princeton Hydro authored the Scope of Work for each of these projects and can serve as a resource to other Highlands communities for lake management planning and grant writing.
To read more about our lake management and HABs mitigation work, click below:
The Highlands Region of Northern New Jersey is an 800,000-acre area covering approximately 1,200 square miles and made up of 88 municipalities in seven counties. The Region is an essential source of drinking water for over 5.4 million New Jersey residents.
The New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (Highlands Council) is a regional planning agency that works in partnership with municipalities and counties in the Highlands Region to help those communities take a proactive and regional approach to watershed protection.
Historically, private lake associations and municipalities have worked autonomously to address water quality issues and develop improvement plans. Working together, however, and taking a regional approach to lake and watershed management has much farther-reaching benefits. Taking an integrated approach helps improve water quality and reduce incidents of aquatic invasive species and harmful algal blooms (HABs) not just in one waterbody, but throughout an entire region of lakes and streams.
The Highlands Council was created as part of the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act (the Highlands Act), which was signed into law in 2004. It has funded numerous water-quality-related planning grants throughout the region.
Today, we’re excited to announce that the Township of Byram in Sussex County, New Jersey, is the latest municipality to receive Highlands Council grant approval for a Lake and Watershed Management Program for ten of the Township's waterbodies. The Township chose to engage the services of Princeton Hydro to support the project work. Princeton Hydro also assisted the Township in pursuing the Highlands Council grant opportunity and securing the grant funding.
“Byram Township, the Township of Lakes, is excited to have received the grant funding from the Highlands Council providing the opportunity to develop a Lake and Watershed Management Plan with the goal of improving water quality within the Township’s watersheds," said Joseph Sabatini, Township Manager. "Having an adopted plan will open the door to opportunities to grant funding to implement the recommend improvements.”
Located 55 miles from New York City, the Township of Byram has a population of about 8,000. It is locally known as “The Township of Lakes” because the community has two dozen or more lakes and ponds within its borders, an area of about 22.7 square miles.
The Township chose to engage the services of Princeton Hydro to assist in designing a scope of work for a municipal-wide holistic watershed management plan that identifies and prioritizes watershed management techniques and measures that are best suited for immediate and long-term implementation.
Given the large number of waterbodies in the area, and in an effort to keep the first phase of the Highlands Council funded Lake and Watershed Management Program to a reasonable scope, a selection process occurred with input from the Township offices, the Township Environmental Commission, Princeton Hydro and ultimately, the Highlands Council.
Specifically, the grant guidelines are “to establish tiers of lake management appropriate to management strategies that help protect lake water quality and community value from the impacts of present and future development,” and lake management programs are instructed to focus efforts on lakes that are greater than ten acres in size.
The ten waterbodies included in the Township of Byram's Lake and Watershed Management Program are: Cranberry Lake, Lake Lackawanna, Johnson Lake, Forest Lake, Panther Lake, Wolf Lake, Wright Pond, Jefferson Lake, Stag Pond, and Kofferls Pond.
For the first phase of the Lake and Watershed Management Program, Princeton Hydro will conduct a number of analyses, including watershed modeling; hydrologic and pollutant loading analysis; watershed-based and in-lake water quality assessments; and tropic state assessments.
Once all the lab data is processed, the watershed modeling is complete, and historical data reviewed, Princeton Hydro will create a General Assessment Report that will summarize the data/observations and identify which watershed management techniques and measures are best suited for immediate or long-term implementation.
"We're thrilled to be partnered with Bryam on this important initiative to bring together under one holistic management plan in one form or another ten private and public lakes throughout the township," said Princeton Hydro’s Senior Manager, Christopher Mikolajczyk, a Certified Lake Manager and lead designer for this initiative. "Byram is the fourth Highlands based Township I have worked with to take this regional approach, which will continue to make a significant impact in managing stormwater, improving water quality, and mitigating HABs throughout the Highlands region of New Jersey."
This regional approach to lake management has been implemented by Princeton Hydro in other New Jersey Highland communities. In 2019, the Borough of Ringwood became the first municipality in the state of New Jersey to take a regional approach to private lake management through a public-private partnership with four lake associations within six lakes.
Ringwood ultimately became a model for similar Highlands Council grants within the region, including West Milford Township, for which the Highlands Council approved funding in 2020 to support a watershed assessment of 22 private and public lakes. Rockaway Township in Morris County also received Highlands Council grant approval in 2021 to complete a Lake Management Planning Study for 11 lakes. Princeton Hydro authored the scopes of work for these projects.
To learn more about Princeton Hydro’s natural resource management services, click here. And, click here to learn more about Highlands Council and available grant funding.
It’s officially time to say goodbye to winter and “spring” your pond out of hibernation mode. We’ve put together six tips for getting your pond ready for Spring and ensuring it remains healthy all year long.
The first step in preparing your pond for Spring is to give it a thorough cleaning. Remove leaves, debris, and any surface algae that may have accumulated over the winter. For shallow ponds, you may be able to use a net or pond rake to remove debris and sediment from the bottom and along the perimeter of the pond.
Inspect your pond, including berms, outlet structures, and trash racks for any damage that may have occurred over winter due to ice. If you observe any damage, we recommend contacting a professional right away. One of our engineers or certified pond managers can determine if the damage is superficial or requires more significant repairs. Also, if your pond is equipped with an aeration system, before starting it up, be sure to schedule a system inspection. A thorough inspection and proper start-up procedure will ensure the system remains fully and effectively operational for the entire summer.
The routine testing of your pond’s water quality is an important part of preventing harmful algae growth, fish kills, and other problems. We recommend conducting a “Spring start up” water quality analysis of your pond. The resulting data will inform the management process and allow for the development of a pro-active, eco-friendly management plan. Maintaining your pond's water quality helps to control nuisance aquatic species and promote environmental conditions supportive of a healthy and productive fishery.
It’s important to check the pond’s shoreline for any signs of erosion. Mowing to the water line, especially in ponds that have fluctuating water levels, can lead to severe shoreline erosion. Eroding shorelines can be easily stabilized by planting native, riparian plants.
Deep-rooted, native emergent aquatic vegetation is able to tolerate alternating periods of exposure and dry inundation. The correct combination of native aquatic plants, emergent wetland plants, and transitional upland plants can correct or prevent chronic shoreline erosion problems. A properly planted (aquascaped) edge beautifies the shoreline, stabilizes erosion problems, creates fish and amphibian habitat, attracts pollinating species and a variety of birds, and decreases mosquito breeding.
Sub-surface aeration systems eliminate stagnant water and keep your pond thoroughly mixed and properly circulated. These systems are the most cost-effective and energy-efficient way to maintain proper pond circulation. Proper aeration enhances fish habitat, minimizes the occurrence of algae blooms, and prevents mosquito breeding. It's best to contact a certified lake/pond manager to first determine if aeration is the right solution for you. If it is, an aeration system tailored to your pond's needs can be designed and installed.
There is more to pond management than weed and algae treatments alone. There is also a big difference between simple pond maintenance and ecologically-based pond management. A customized pond management plan acts as a “blueprint” that guides proactive, long-term care for your pond.
Our certified lake and pond managers can assess the status of your pond and provide you with an environmentally holistic management plan that is based on the unique physical, hydrologic, chemical, and biological attributes of your pond. A management plan identifies the causes of your pond’s problems and provides you with the guidance needed to correct these problems. The results are far more environmentally sustainable than simple (and often unnecessary) reactive weed and algae treatments.
To learn more about our lake and pond management services or schedule a consultation, visit our website.
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We are proud to announce that Princeton Hydro Aquatics Director Dr. Fred Lubnow and Founding Principal and Consultant Dr. Steve Souza have been appointed to the New Jersey HAB Expert Team as part of Governor Phil Murphy’s plan to enhance scientific expertise around water quality management and bolster the State's response to HABs.
The 10-person team, consisting of certified lake managers and cyanobacteria experts, will provide guidance to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) on HAB prevention, treatment, and management for waterways throughout the state. The team is tasked with developing documents on best management practices; reviewing any proposed mitigation plans and technologies; reviewing water-quality data; and preparing a training workshop for NJDEP staff and stakeholders.
HABs are rapid, large overgrowths of cyanobacteria. These microorganisms are a natural part of aquatic ecosystems, but, under the right conditions (primarily heavy rains, followed by hot, sunny days), these organisms can rapidly increase to form cyanobacteria blooms. HABs can cause significant water quality issues, produce toxins that are incredibly harmful (even deadly) to humans, animals, and aquatic organisms, and negatively impact economic health, especially for communities dependent on the income of jobs and tourism generated through their local lakes. By appointing a team that will work solely on HABs in the state, New Jersey is taking proactive steps to combat the spread.
Dr. Fred Lubnow is Princeton Hydro’s Director of Aquatic Resources. His vast expertise includes aquatic and watershed management, restoration ecology, and algae ecology. He is regionally recognized as a HABs expert as he has provided management recommendations and services for over 100 lakes and ponds in the Northeast, including Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey’s largest lake.
“I believe the knowledge and experience I have gained over the last 27 years as an environmental consultant will be useful in addressing questions and problems associated with HABs and lake management in general. I look forward to contributing any way I can in addressing issues associated with HABs and lake management in New Jersey.”
Dr. Steve Souza, whose 30-year career has been dedicated to the restoration of lakes and ponds, is a founding principal of Princeton Hydro and nationally recognized lake expert and consultant.
“Over the past decade the public has become increasingly aware of HABs and the health and ecological impacts caused by HABs. Unfortunately HABs and the problems caused by HABs are not going away; they are only expected to get worse due to climate change related effects on storm events, increases in air and water temperature, and an expansion of the algal growing season. It is thus important for us to learn more about what drives HABs as well as the most successful and sustainable means of avoiding, controlling and mitigating HABs. I am very excited to be part of the NJ Sea Grant HAB Expert Team. Through this very knowledgeable group of scientists, educators, and lake managers we hope to learn more about the causes of HABs and even more about what we can do to prevent or lessen their occurrence.”
All of us at Princeton Hydro are looking forward to seeing the work the expert team will undertake to improve the health, quality, and safety of New Jersey’s precious waterbodies. And, we extend a big congratulations to Fred, Steve and all other experts appointed to the team!
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Princeton Hydro’s Senior Project Manager and Senior Aquatic Ecologist Chris L. Mikolajczyk, CLM, has been chosen as North American Lake Management Society’s (NALMS) next Board of Directors President-Elect. The President serves a three-year term including one year as President-Elect, one year as President, and one year as Immediate Past-President.
Founded in 1980, NALMS is dedicated to forging partnerships among citizens, scientists and professionals to foster the management and protection of lakes and reservoirs for today and tomorrow. The annual election is an important way for members to provide input into the management of the NALMS. In order to be eligible for a board position, candidates must be nominated by two organization members, be active in the organization, display leadership ability, and be able to accept the duties of office and attend semi-annual board meetings.
“I’m so proud to be a part of NALMS and honored to be chosen as President-Elect of this prestigious organization,” said Chris. “I look forward to working even more closely with the staff, the board, and members to uphold the mission of NALMS and seize the opportunities ahead.”
Chris attended his first NALMS conference in Madison, Wisconsin in 2001. From there, Chris went on to serve as the Region 2 Director from 2012–2015, and served and chaired the certification committee from 2015–2019. Chris is involved in the New Jersey Coalition of Lake Associations, is an active participant in New York State Federation of Lake Association’s annual conferences, and has recently joined the Colorado Lake and Reservoir Management Association. Chris was also recently featured in LakeLine Magazine, a quarterly e-magazine published by NALMS, and contributed the beautiful photo that appears on the magazine’s cover.
The Board of Director election results were announced during the NALMS International Symposium, which was held virtually this year. During the virtual symposium, NALMS also revealed the recipients of its annual Achievement Awards. The awards recognize individuals and organizations who have made valuable contributions to the goals of the organization or significant strides in lake management.
This year, the 2020 Leadership and Service Award winner was the Lake Champlain Committee of Burlington, VT. The 2020 Appreciation Award winners include: St. John’s River Water Management District in Palatka, FL; City of San Diego Water Utilities in San Diego, CA; and Water Quality Committee of the Normanoch Association, Inc. in Branchville, NJ.
Big congratulations to all award winners and newly elected Board members!
To see the full 2020 Board of Directors election results, go here. To learn more about the achievement awards and see a complete list of recipients, go here. To learn more about NALMS, go here.
Princeton Hydro is the industry leader in lake restoration and watershed management. We have conducted diagnostic studies and have developed management and restoration plans for over 300 lakes and watersheds throughout the country. This has included work for public and private recreational lakes, major water supply reservoirs, and watershed management initiatives conducted as part of USEPA and/or state funded programs. For more information about our lake management services, click here.
Chris is a CLM and Senior Project Manager in Princeton Hydro's Aquatic Resources Practice Area and conducts the management, oversight, and coordination of aquatic ecology and water resource projects. He leads green infrastructure and lake restoration projects, performs water quality sampling and investigations, and conducts stormwater quality modeling. Chris has been with Princeton Hydro since 1999 and has studied and managed well over 75 lakes in his career there. Read his full bio here.
This month we are launching the first blog in our Client Spotlight Blog Series! Each spotlight will feature one of our important client relationships in order to give you an inside look at our collaboration. We pride ourselves on forming strong ties with organizations that share our values of creating a better future for people and our planet. So we are excited to be able to share snippets of the incredible teamwork we've been able to accomplish over the years!
At Princeton Hydro, we value our client relationships, as the collaborative work we are able to complete with organizations like the Lake Hopatcong Foundation (LHF) reaches exponentially further than anything we could complete alone. One of the reasons our organizations have such strong symmetry is that our values align and complement each other.
As their mission states,”Lake Hopatcong Foundation dedicates itself to protecting the lake environment and enhancing the lake experience, bringing together public and private resources to encourage a culture of sustainability and stewardship on and around New Jersey’s largest lake, for this and future generations.” We are so proud to help protect New Jersey’s largest lake with LHF.
We have been working with LHF since its inception in 2012, which is why we are excited to feature them in our first client spotlight blog. We spoke with Jessica Murphy, President/Executive Director of the Foundation, and Donna Macalle-Holly, Grants and Program Director, to give you an insider look at the organization:
A: The Lake Hopatcong Foundation is unique in that our mission spans a wide spectrum of activities. In addition to projects that focus on the lake environment, we also take on initiatives that support education, safety, community-building, recreation, and even arts and culture. The lake is split between two counties and four towns, so bringing the community together for all these things is very important to us, in addition to making sure the lake itself is healthy.
A: During our strategic planning process, the board and staff developed a list of values that we go back to when operating and making decisions. They are:
When we first started the Lake Hopatcong Foundation in 2012, Dr. Fred Lubnow was kind enough to do a water quality presentation as one of our very first events as an organization! In the years since, we’ve worked closely with Princeton Hydro, particularly in a support role as they conduct business with the Lake Hopatcong Commission. The Lake Hopatcong Commission is a state entity created in 2001 through the Lake Hopatcong Protection Act dedicated to protecting the water quality of Lake Hopatcong and to preserve the natural, scenic, historical and recreational resources of the lake. LHF funded Princeton Hydro’s water quality monitoring during the years that the Commission ran out of money
A: In addition to water quality monitoring on the lake, Princeton Hydro has led volunteer training for us in our efforts to prevent the spread of invasive species and to teach local students in our spring field trip program. Dr. Lubnow has also worked alongside us in applying for grants and in providing insight and expertise for other environmental projects at the lake, including helping guide the installation of floating wetland islands, and helping our NJ Lakes Group to work with NJDEP on Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) policies. He even did a quick fact check on our children’s book, Lake Hopatcong Speaks Out, before we published it!
A: The days that Chris Mikolajczyk spent teaching our volunteers about how to find and remove water chestnuts from the lake were a lot of fun, particularly because we were kayaking on the lake for it! And, also because the kayak we provided Chris was too small for him, and he had to scrunch in to fit, but he was a trouper and paddled on.
A: We are working closely with Princeton Hydro and LHC on a series of projects, funded through NJDEP grants, LHC, LHF, and local governments, that we hope will prevent and mitigate HABs on the lake. Those projects include aeration systems, phosphorus-locking technologies, and stormwater infrastructure upgrades. We’re excited to see how effective each can be. Also, on August 7 at 12:30, Dr. Lubnow will be presenting the Lake Hopatcong water quality monitoring project results at LHF’s “Thirst for Knowledge” lunch-and-learn webinar series, which was created to share information and discuss topics of interest to our lake community. To register for the free webinar, visit lakehopatcongfoundation.org.
A: All of us at Lake Hopatcong Foundation have a passion for this lake and want to see it protected; we have a love for the community that surrounds it, too. Jessica Murphy grew up on the lake, met her husband here, and now is raising her four children to love the lake, too. Donna Macalle-Holly also met her husband on Lake Hopatcong, lives on the lake, and has worked professionally to take care of it for nearly two decades. Everyone in our office has made memories on Lake Hopatcong and developed friendships with those who live and work here. Those personal connections fuel our passion for what we do.
A: Continue to be the incredible resource you are! We are so fortunate to have the deep knowledge and expertise that Fred and your entire team provide, and we look forward to continuing to work together in the years ahead.
Some recent projects we are/have been working on with LHF include installing biochar bags to help control phosphorus levels and applying Phoslock to help mitigate harmful algal blooms! Because of our history working on Lake Hopatcong, we too have gained a passion for protecting and maintaining this lake. This incredibly important work could not be done without the genuine devotion and dedication from the Lake Hopatcong Foundation. We look forward to continuing great work with this incredible group!
Last summer, 39 of New Jersey’s lakes were plagued with toxic algae outbreaks, also known as harmful algae blooms or HABs, causing major water quality degradation, beach closures and health advisories. In response, the NJDEP implemented a unified statewide approach to addressing HABs in freshwater recreational waters and sources of drinking water, and protecting the public from risks associated with exposure to cyanobacteria.
Last week, NJDEP announced a new component to its statewide Cyanobacterial HAB Response Strategy: a color-coded health alert index that provides precise recreational use recommendations for impacted waterbodies based on levels of cyanobacteria and/or cyanotoxins present. The index has six tiers - NONE, WATCH, ALERT, ADVISORY, WARNING, and DANGER - each providing recommendations on the specific activities that should or should not be pursued based on water monitoring results.
"Princeton Hydro is proud to be one of the contributing factors in the development of the Updated Guidance for HABs," said said Dr. Fred Lubnow, Director of Aquatic Resources for Princeton Hydro. "We feel this updated protocol will provide the necessary and objective information for State and local organizations to make informed and rational decisions, based on sound and scientifically-based data, on how to deal with HABs in a recreational setting."
Princeton Hydro and Clean Water Consulting are the technical advisers for the New Jersey Lake Group, who have met a number of times over the last 8 to 9 months to discuss the State's guidance on dealing with HABs. In late 2019, on behalf of the New Jersey Lake Group, Princeton Hydro and Clean Water Consulting developed a White Paper providing recommended changes for consideration to NJDEP's Recreational Response Strategy to HABs.
"I'm proud to say that many of the provided recommendations were integrated into NJDEP's Updated Guidance for HABs," explained Dr. Lubnow.
WATCH (Suspected or confirmed HAB with potential for allergenic and irritative health effects) This warning will be posted when HAB cell counts exceed 20,000. In this scenario, public beaches remain open, but the index instructs the public to use caution, provides information on the potential less serious health effects, and allows for more informed decision-making.
ALERT (Confirmed HAB that requires greater observation due to increasing potential for toxin production) This warning indicates a public bathing beach closure only and is posted when a HAB has been confirmed with cell counts between 40,000 and 80,000 and no known toxins above the public threshold. Beaches remain open (dependent upon local health authority) and monitoring for future toxin production should be increased.
ADVISORY (Confirmed HAB with moderate risk of adverse health effects and increased potential for toxins above public health thresholds) Signs will be posted for this warning level when cell counts exceed 80,000 or when toxin levels exceed 3 micrograms per milliliter of microcystins. Public bathing beaches will be closed, but the waterbody will remain accessible to some “secondary contact” activities, like boating.
WARNING and DANGER (Confirmed HAB with high risk of adverse health effects due to high toxin levels) and (Confirmed HAB with very high risk of adverse health effects due to high toxin levels) These tiers are designed to alert the public to the presence of HABs that are producing very high levels of toxins which justify additional caution. In some instances, the entire waterbody may be closed for all public use. New Jersey has experienced approximately 12 “warning level” HAB events over the last 3 years; monitoring has never indicated a “danger level” HAB event.
According to their press release, NJDEP is committed to working with local officials to implement the index and get signage posted at lakes throughout the state as soon as possible.
In order to create the health index, NJDEP scientists carefully reviewed HABs data collected over the last three years by Lake Hopatcong Commission, Lake Hopatcong Foundation, Princeton Hydro, and other sources. The tiered warning system will enable lake communities, residents and visitors to make more individualized decisions about what risks they are willing to take and what activities they feel comfortable engaging in at the various levels of HABs.
In the coming days, the NJDEP’s Harmful Algal Bloom website will be updated to include the new health index and accompanying signage, relevant monitoring data, and other information for each of the impacted bodies of water, as well as an updated HAB Monitoring and Response Strategy. For now, you can read the full press release and additional information here: https://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2020/20_0023.htm.
To learn more about HABs, check out our recent blog:
Last year, there were more than 70 suspected and 39 confirmed Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in New Jersey, which is significantly higher than the previous two years. New Jersey wasn’t the only state impacted by HABs. The increase caused severe impacts on lakes throughout the country, resulting in beach closures, restricting access to lake usage, and prompting wide-ranging health advisories.
In November, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and officials from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced a three-pronged, $13 million initiative to reduce and prevent future HABs in the state. As part of the initiative, NJDEP hosted its first regional HABs Summit with the goal of prevention by improving communication throughout lake communities and sharing information ahead of the warmer months when HABs begin to appear.
The summit, which was held on January 28, 2020 at NJDEP's Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center in Warren County included a Q&A panel discussion, information resource tables for one-on-one discussions, and presentations from a variety of NJDEP representatives and environmental experts. Princeton Hydro's Director of Aquatics and regional HABs expert Dr. Fred Lubnow’s presentation focused on how to properly and effectively manage HABs.
According to Dr. Lubnow, “Managing loads of phosphorous in watersheds is even more important as the East Coast becomes increasingly warmer and wetter thanks to climate change. Climate change will likely need to be dealt with on a national and international scale. But local communities, groups, and individuals can have a real impact in reducing phosphorous levels in local waters.”
In a recent press release from Governor Murphy’s office, the NJDEP Chief of Staff Shawn LaTourette said, “We will reduce HABs by working closely with our local partners on prevention and treatment techniques, while relying on the best available science to clearly communicate risk to the public. Our new HABs initiative will enhance the Department’s ability to evaluate statewide strategies and increase the capacity of lake communities to reduce future blooms.”
New Jersey’s new HABs initiative is comprised of three main components:
More than $13 million in funding will be available to local communities to assist in preventing HABs, including:
$2.5 million will be available as matching funds for lakes and HABs management grants, including treatment and prevention demonstration projects.
Up to $1 million in Watershed Grant funding will be made available for planning and projects that reduce the nonpoint source pollution, including nutrients, that contribute to HABs in surface waters of the State.
$10 million in principal forgiveness grants will be offered through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for half of the cost, capped at $2 million, of sewer and stormwater upgrades to reduce the flow of nutrients to affected waterbodies.
Per the Governor’s press release, “the second element of the initiative is to build upon the state’s scientific expertise and enhance its capacity to respond to HAB events. This includes establishing a team of experts from across various sectors to evaluate the state’s strategies to prevent HABs and pursuing additional monitoring, testing and data management capacity.”
The third component is focused on increasing NJDEP’s ability to communicate with affected communities. The regional HABs Summit held on January 28 was one of two Summits that will occur in early 2020 (the date of the next Summit has not yet been announced). NJDEP has also developed new web tools to provide HABs education, offer a forum to discuss and report potential HAB sightings, and better communicate HAB incidents.
To learn more about New Jersey's new HABs Initiative, click here. To learn more about HABs, check out our recent blog: "Identifying, Understanding and Addressing Harmful Algae Blooms"
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