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Mark Gallagher, Vice President of Princeton Hydro, has been appointed to the Friends of Abbott Marshland Advisory Board.




About the Friends of Abbott Marshland
The Abbott Marshlands is composed of 3,000 acres of wetlands and uplands located on the western edge of central New Jersey in Mercer County. It is the northernmost freshwater tidal marsh on the Delaware River and contains valuable habitat for many rare species like River Otter, American Eel, Bald Eagle, and various species of wading birds.


[caption id="attachment_14051" align="aligncenter" width="743"] Aerial drone imagery taken in late summer of 2019 above Roebling Park in Abbott Marshlands.[/caption]

 
Unfortunately, this ecosystem has faced challenges partially due to the invasion of the aggressive Common Reed (Phragmites australis), causing substantial habitat loss and degradation. In response to these challenges, the Friends for the Abbott Marshlands have dedicated themselves to enhancing appreciation and protection of this precious ecosystem. Their mission focuses on engaging and inspiring a diverse community to experience the unique nature and history of the Abbott Marshlands. Their priorities involve expanding community involvement, advancing educational programs through the Tulpehaking Nature Center, enhancing organizational capacity, and working in cooperative stewardship efforts.
Since its inception, the Friends for the Abbott Marshlands have played a pivotal role in advocating for the preservation and stewardship of the marshlands. They've organized various educational programs, symposia, nature walks, and juried photography shows to raise awareness and encourage stewardship of this unique ecosystem. The Friends for the Abbott Marshlands Advisory Board meets periodically to advise on program design and execution, fundraising, and engagement in any and all activities related to the preservation of the Abbott Marshlands.
The area is named "Abbott Marshlands" in recognition of the important archaeological legacy of the marsh and of Charles Conrad Abbott, a 19th and early 20th century archaeologist and naturalist, who lived on the bluffs near the marsh and who wrote extensively about it.




Princeton Hydro's Work at Abbott Marshlands
Recognizing the urgent need to restore the Abbott Marshlands, Mercer County contracted Princeton Hydro to spearhead a multi-year, multi-phased restoration initiative. The project aimed at reducing and controlling the invasive Phragmites australis while increasing the presence of native marsh vegetation.
Princeton Hydro conducted a Floristic Quality Assessment to identify invasive areas and to establish a baseline for the restoration efforts. The team also performed hydrologic monitoring to understand tidal stage elevations. From 2018-2019, herbicide treatments were consistently conducted to combat the invasive phragmites. In the winter of 2019-2020, 46 acres of phragmites was cut and rolled with our Marsh Master using a modified steel roller attachment. The phragmites was then removed by raking, which in turn exposed the marsh plain’s substrate and seedbank to promote germination of the native marsh vegetation. Extensive areas of wild rice, mud plantain, broad leaved cattail, water purslane, pickerelweed, and arrow arum colonized the areas formerly overtaken by phragmites within the first growing season after the marsh plain was exposed. The project also includes the creation of 500 linear feet of living shoreline, a freshwater mussel bed, and a sustainable boat launch.
[gallery link="none" columns="4" ids="14049,7137,14058,14055"]

[caption id="attachment_14053" align="aligncenter" width="749"] Drone imagery from Winter 2020 after herbicide treatment and rolling and cutting of Phragmites at Roebling Park.[/caption]
This comprehensive and collaborative restoration effort not only targets invasive species but also focused on enhancing biodiversity; improving recreational opportunities such as kayaking and bird watching; enhancing the overall visitor experience at John A. Roebling Memorial Park, which is part of Abbott Marshlands; and creating opportunities for community engagement and appreciation of this natural treasure.




Learn More
Click here to learn how you can get involved with supporting and participating in initiatives aimed at protecting and cherishing the Marshlands for generations to come. To take a deeper dive into Princeton Hydro's work at Abbott Marshlands, click here.
A founding partner of Princeton Hydro, Mark is a pioneer in the field of restoration ecology, and helped get the conservation science movement off the ground in the 1980s. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Moravian College and Master of Science in Plant Ecology from Rutgers University. For more than two decades, Mark has overseen wetland and terrestrial ecology projects at Princeton Hydro, including many complex restoration projects that require unique solutions.
Mark, along with Princeton Hydro team members Dana Patterson and Michael Rehman, CERP, PWS and representatives from Mercer County and Friends of the Abbott Marshlands, led a educational course and field exploration of the Abbott Marshlands as part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) annual Youth Inclusion Initiative. Learn more here.
 

 

 
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The Lion’s Gate Park and Urban Wetland Floodplain Creation Project has been chosen as a winner of the New Jersey Future “Smart Growth Awards” for 2022. The project transformed a densely developed, flood-prone, industrial site into a thriving public active recreation park with 4.2 acres of wetlands.
As stated in the New Jersey Future award announcement, “The park is representative of smart growth values, with walkable trails in the middle of a residential area, a regenerated protected wetland which helps to mitigate flooding from storms like Hurricane Ida, and mixed-use opportunities for recreation. The dual roles of Lion Gate Park as both a source of resilience and recreation demonstrate a model of land use and planning that values the accessibility of public spaces while acknowledging and addressing the urgent need to adapt to the growing impacts of climate change in New Jersey.”
The restoration project site is located in Bloomfield Township and includes 1,360 feet along the east bank of the Third River and 3,040 feet along the banks of the Spring Brook. These waterways are freshwater tributaries of the Passaic River and share a history of flooding above the site’s 100-year floodplain. The Third River, like many urban streams, tends to be the victim of excessive volume and is subjected to erosion and chronic, uncontrolled flooding.
By removing a little over four acres of upland historic fill in this density developed area and restoring the natural floodplain connection, we significantly improved the land’s ecological value; enhanced the aquatic and wildlife habitat; increased flood storage capacity for urban stormwater runoff; replaced invasive plant species with thriving native wetland and riparian plant communities; and provided outdoor recreation accessibility to Bloomfield Township.
 

[gallery columns="2" link="none" ids="4704,9172"]

 
The Lion Gate Park project is the culmination of nearly two decades of collaborative work. The primary project team includes the Township of Bloomfield, NY/NJ Baykeeper, Bloomfield Third River Association, CME Associates, PPD Design, GK+A Architects, Enviroscapes, Strauss and Associates/Planners, and Princeton Hydro. The project recieved $1.76 million in funding from the New Jersey Freshwater Wetlands Mitigation Council and another several million dollars from NJDEP’s Office of Natural Resource Restoration.
Princeton Hydro served as the ecological engineer to Bloomfield Township. Our scientists and engineers assisted in obtaining grants, collected background ecological data through field sampling and surveying, created a water budget, completed all necessary permitting, designed both the conceptual and final restoration plans, and conducted construction oversight throughout the project. Enviroscapes and Princeton Hydro are currently monitoring the site on behalf of the Township.
 

[gallery link="none" columns="2" ids="4710,9319"]

 
“Local residents are already benefiting from this floodplain creation project. During Tropical Storm Ida, the area held significant flood waters,” said Mark Gallagher, Vice President of Princeton Hydro. “This restoration project really exemplifies how a diverse group of public and private entities can work together to prioritize urban and underserved areas to mitigate flooding and create new open space. We’re honored to be recognized by NJ Future and selected as a winner of this important award.”
 

[gallery link="none" columns="2" ids="9318,9294"]

 
Since 2002, New Jersey Future has honored smart planning and redevelopment in New Jersey through its "Smart Growth Awards." The projects and plans chosen each year represent some of the best examples of sustainable growth and redevelopment in the state. For a complete list of 2022 Award Winners, click here. For more info on New Jersey Future, click here.
To learn more about the Bloomfield restoration project and see drone images of it all coming together, click below:

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                    [post_title] => Bloomfield's Lion’s Gate Park Restoration Wins 2022 Smart Growth Award
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A densely developed, flood-prone, former industrial site in Bloomfield, New Jersey is being transformed into a thriving public park and 4.2 acres of wetlands. This is thanks to the Third River Floodplain Wetland Enhancement Project, which broke ground in March of 2019. The project will restore valuable ecological functions and natural floodplain connection, enhance aquatic and wildlife habitat, and increase flood storage capacity for urban stormwater runoff.
The project team has already made tremendous progress at the site, which is located along the Third River and Spring Brook, two freshwater tributaries of the Passaic River. Princeton Hydro is serving as the ecological engineer to Bloomfield Township; our scientists and engineers have assisted in obtaining grants, collected background ecological data through field sampling and surveying, created a water budget, completed all necessary permitting, designed both the conceptual and final restoration plans, and continues to conduct construction oversight during the implementation of this important urban wetland creation project.
The project team recently utilized a drone to document the significant progress being made:


[caption id="attachment_4686" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Close-up view of the wetland construction progress. Note: the hummocks and hollows created with the wetland soil as well as the habitat features constructed of trees and natural rock uncovered during the excavation process. Photo provided by Creamer Environmental.[/caption]

Over 500 trees and shrubs have been planted in the new wetland with additional trees and shrubs planted along Lion Gate Drive and in existing woodlands. The selected native plant species all provide important wildlife value, including providing food and shelter for migratory birds. Enviroscapes was contracted to install all of the trees and wetland plants at this site and has nearly finished planting efforts:

[caption id="attachment_4705" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Removing invasive species and replacing them with native plants, shrubs and trees, sets the stage for a flourishing wetland habitat.[/caption]

The project is progressing quickly as the weather warms. Nearly all of the plantings have been installed and seeding is happening in the next two weeks.

[caption id="attachment_4704" align="aligncenter" width="584"] This green infrastructure project will re-establish the natural floodplain wetland and riparian plant communities.[/caption]
We're excited to see what the restoration will look like when it's all finished. Check out additional photos below and stay tuned for project updates!
[gallery link="file" ids="4711,4708,4710,4714,4709,4713,4719,4712,4707"]
To learn more, check out the full story below:
[embed]https://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/urban-wetland-restoration/[/embed]
…
                    [post_title] => Bloomfield: Restoration Efforts Transforming Industrial Site Into Thriving Public Park
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                    [post_content] => 
The Pin Oak Forest Conservation Area, located in a heavily developed area of northern Middlesex County, New Jersey, once suffered from wetland and stream channel degradation, habitat fragmentation, decreased biodiversity due to invasive species, and ecological impairment. The site was viewed as one of only a few large-scale freshwater wetland restoration opportunities remaining in this region of New Jersey. Thus, a dynamic partnership between government agencies, NGOs, and private industry, was formed to steward the property back to life and restore its natural function. Today, at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve's 19th Annual Land Ethics Symposium, Middlesex County and the project team were presented with the "Land Ethics Award of Merit" for its remarkable restoration achievements.
“In just a few years, the landscape at Pin Oak has transformed from a degraded, disconnected wetland to a healthy, high-functioning landscape,” said Mark Gallagher, Vice President of Princeton Hydro. “This restoration project exemplifies how a diverse group of public and private entities can work together to identify opportunities, overcome challenges and achieve tremendous success.”

The Pin Oak restoration team includes Middlesex County Office of Parks and Recreation, Woodbridge Township, Woodbridge River Watch, New Jersey Freshwater Wetlands Mitigation Council, GreenTrust Alliance, GreenVest, and Princeton Hydro.
The Pin Oak Forest Conservation Area is a 97-acre tract of open space that contains a large wetland complex at the headwaters of Woodbridge Creek. In 2017, the award-winning restoration project converted over 30 acres of degraded freshwater wetlands, streams and disturbed uplands dominated by invasive species into a species-rich and highly functional headwater wetland complex. The resulting ecosystem provides valuable habitat for wildlife and a nurturing environment for native plants such as pin oak, swamp white oak, marsh hibiscus, and swamp rose. The restored headwater wetland system provides stormwater management, floodplain storage, enhanced groundwater recharge onsite, and surface water flows to Woodbridge Creek, as well as public hiking trails, all benefiting the town of Woodbridge.
The Land Ethics Award recognizes the creative use of native plants in the landscape, sustainable and regenerative design, and ethical land management and construction practices. The recipient is selected by a jury of professionals in the field of design, preservation and conservation, and the award is presented at the Annual Symposium.
In addition to the Award of Merit, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve's honored Dr. Marion Kyde with the 2019 Land Ethics Director's Award and Doylestown Township Environmental Advisory Council with the 2019 Land Ethics Award. Congratulations to all of the winners!
Established in 1934, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve is a 134-acre nature preserve, botanical garden, and accredited museum working to inspire the appreciation and use of native plants by serving as a sanctuary and educational resource for conservation and stewardship. For more information, visit www.bhwp.org.
Read more about the Pin Oak Forest Restoration project by clicking here.

To learn more about Princeton Hydro's wetland restoration services and recent projects, visit us here.
…
 
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                    [post_content] => By Kelsey Mattison, Marketing Coordinator


Located in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, Mercer County's John A. Roebling Memorial Park offers residents in the surrounding area a freshwater marsh with river fishing, kayaking, hiking, and wildlife-watching. The park contains the northernmost freshwater tidal marsh on the Delaware River, Abbott Marshland. Since the mid-1990s, many public and private partnerships have developed to help support the preservation of this important and significant marsh.
Tidal marshes, like the 3,000-acre Abbott Marshlands, contain valuable habitat for many rare species like River Otter, American eel, Bald Eagle, and many species of wading birds. Unfortunately, the Abbott Marshland has experienced a significant amount of loss and degradation, partially due to the introduction of the invasive Phragmites australis, or, Common Reed. 

Phragmites australis is a species of grass that has a non-native invasive form that creates extensive strands in shallow water or on damp ground. The reed tends to colonize disturbed wetlands and then spreads very rapidly, outcompeting desirable native plant species. Once it is established, it forms a monoculture with a dense mat and does not allow any opportunity for native plants to compete. This impairs the natural functioning of the marsh ecosystem by altering its elevations and tidal reach which impacts plant and animal communities. Over the last century, there has been a dramatic increase in the spread of Phragmites australis, partly due to development impacts that resulted in disturbances to wetlands.
For the Mercer County, Princeton Hydro put together a plan to reduce and control the Phragmites australis, in order to increase biodiversity, to improve recreational opportunities, and to improve visitor experience at the park. This stewardship project will replace the Phragmites australis with native species with a goal to reduce its ability to recolonize the marsh. In September, our Vice President Mark Gallagher and Senior Project Manager Kelly Klein presented our plan to the public at the Tulpehaking Nature Center.
Princeton Hydro conducted a Floristic Quality Assessment to identify invasive areas and performed hydrologic monitoring to understand tidal stage elevations. Phase 1 of the restoration process occurred this fall and included herbicide applications to eradicate the Phragmites australis. The herbicide used, Imazapyr, is USEPA and NJDEP approved and our field operation crew applied it using our amphibious vehicle called a Marsh Master. For harder to reach areas, we used our airboat. 
According to a USDA report, Imazapyr has been extensively studied, and when properly applied, it has no impact to water quality, aquatic animal life, birds, or mammals, including humans. It works by preventing plants from producing a necessary enzyme called acetolactate synthase. 
The goal of this wetland restoration project is to enhance plant diversity, wildlife habitat, and water quality in John A. Roebling Memorial Park. In late spring of 2019, we will revisit the site to continue spraying the Phragmites australis. By Spring of 2020, we expect to see native species dominating the landscape from the newly exposed native seed bank with minimal Phragmites australis. Stay tuned for more photos from the field when our Field Crew returns to the site for Phase II in early Spring!   


For more information about Princeton Hydro’s invasive species removal and wetland restoration services, visit: bit.ly/InvasivesRemoval 
…
Kelsey Mattison is a recent graduate of St. Lawrence University with a degree in English and environmental studies and a passion for environmental communication. Through her extracurricular work with various nonprofit organizations, Kelsey has developed expertise in content writing, storytelling, verbal communication, social media management, and interdisciplinary thinking. Her responsibilities at Princeton Hydro include social media management, proposal coordination, editorial overview, and other marketing tasks. As a member of the Princeton Hydro team, she aims to further its mission by taking creative approaches to communicating about our shared home: Planet Earth.
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            [post_date] => 2023-12-04 01:07:37
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Mark Gallagher, Vice President of Princeton Hydro, has been appointed to the Friends of Abbott Marshland Advisory Board.




About the Friends of Abbott Marshland
The Abbott Marshlands is composed of 3,000 acres of wetlands and uplands located on the western edge of central New Jersey in Mercer County. It is the northernmost freshwater tidal marsh on the Delaware River and contains valuable habitat for many rare species like River Otter, American Eel, Bald Eagle, and various species of wading birds.


[caption id="attachment_14051" align="aligncenter" width="743"] Aerial drone imagery taken in late summer of 2019 above Roebling Park in Abbott Marshlands.[/caption]

 
Unfortunately, this ecosystem has faced challenges partially due to the invasion of the aggressive Common Reed (Phragmites australis), causing substantial habitat loss and degradation. In response to these challenges, the Friends for the Abbott Marshlands have dedicated themselves to enhancing appreciation and protection of this precious ecosystem. Their mission focuses on engaging and inspiring a diverse community to experience the unique nature and history of the Abbott Marshlands. Their priorities involve expanding community involvement, advancing educational programs through the Tulpehaking Nature Center, enhancing organizational capacity, and working in cooperative stewardship efforts.
Since its inception, the Friends for the Abbott Marshlands have played a pivotal role in advocating for the preservation and stewardship of the marshlands. They've organized various educational programs, symposia, nature walks, and juried photography shows to raise awareness and encourage stewardship of this unique ecosystem. The Friends for the Abbott Marshlands Advisory Board meets periodically to advise on program design and execution, fundraising, and engagement in any and all activities related to the preservation of the Abbott Marshlands.
The area is named "Abbott Marshlands" in recognition of the important archaeological legacy of the marsh and of Charles Conrad Abbott, a 19th and early 20th century archaeologist and naturalist, who lived on the bluffs near the marsh and who wrote extensively about it.




Princeton Hydro's Work at Abbott Marshlands
Recognizing the urgent need to restore the Abbott Marshlands, Mercer County contracted Princeton Hydro to spearhead a multi-year, multi-phased restoration initiative. The project aimed at reducing and controlling the invasive Phragmites australis while increasing the presence of native marsh vegetation.
Princeton Hydro conducted a Floristic Quality Assessment to identify invasive areas and to establish a baseline for the restoration efforts. The team also performed hydrologic monitoring to understand tidal stage elevations. From 2018-2019, herbicide treatments were consistently conducted to combat the invasive phragmites. In the winter of 2019-2020, 46 acres of phragmites was cut and rolled with our Marsh Master using a modified steel roller attachment. The phragmites was then removed by raking, which in turn exposed the marsh plain’s substrate and seedbank to promote germination of the native marsh vegetation. Extensive areas of wild rice, mud plantain, broad leaved cattail, water purslane, pickerelweed, and arrow arum colonized the areas formerly overtaken by phragmites within the first growing season after the marsh plain was exposed. The project also includes the creation of 500 linear feet of living shoreline, a freshwater mussel bed, and a sustainable boat launch.
[gallery link="none" columns="4" ids="14049,7137,14058,14055"]

[caption id="attachment_14053" align="aligncenter" width="749"] Drone imagery from Winter 2020 after herbicide treatment and rolling and cutting of Phragmites at Roebling Park.[/caption]
This comprehensive and collaborative restoration effort not only targets invasive species but also focused on enhancing biodiversity; improving recreational opportunities such as kayaking and bird watching; enhancing the overall visitor experience at John A. Roebling Memorial Park, which is part of Abbott Marshlands; and creating opportunities for community engagement and appreciation of this natural treasure.




Learn More
Click here to learn how you can get involved with supporting and participating in initiatives aimed at protecting and cherishing the Marshlands for generations to come. To take a deeper dive into Princeton Hydro's work at Abbott Marshlands, click here.
A founding partner of Princeton Hydro, Mark is a pioneer in the field of restoration ecology, and helped get the conservation science movement off the ground in the 1980s. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Moravian College and Master of Science in Plant Ecology from Rutgers University. For more than two decades, Mark has overseen wetland and terrestrial ecology projects at Princeton Hydro, including many complex restoration projects that require unique solutions.
Mark, along with Princeton Hydro team members Dana Patterson and Michael Rehman, CERP, PWS and representatives from Mercer County and Friends of the Abbott Marshlands, led a educational course and field exploration of the Abbott Marshlands as part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) annual Youth Inclusion Initiative. Learn more here.
 

 

 
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