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Princeton Hydro is excited to announce that the Musconetcong Island Park Project received the New Jersey Future 2024 Smart Growth Award. This project, led by the Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA), transformed a crumbling, long-abandoned laboratory into a vibrant, accessible riparian park space that provides opportunities for fishing, wading, paddling, and viewing wildlife in Bethlehem Township, NJ.

The site, which once housed a two-story concrete block laboratory used by the Asbury Graphite Mill, had become a hazard after decades of disuse. Located on a quarter-acre island in the Musconetcong River, the building was not only structurally unsound but also in the floodway of the River, posing ongoing risks to the surrounding environment. Through a collaborative, multi-year effort, the abandoned building was demolished, the area was restored, and the island was transformed into a welcoming, accessible space for public enjoyment and recreation.
The image below shows the old stairway, laboratory building, and island space with a white outline depicting the project area:


Taken in 2018 before construction:

[gallery link="none" columns="2" ids="15697,15702"]

 

Taken in 2023 after project completion (photos by MWA):

[gallery link="file" columns="2" ids="15706,15707"]
The Musconetcong Island Park Project represents a successful collaboration among numerous partners. Led by MWA, the project involved National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Township of Bethlehem, Harrington Construction, and Princeton Hydro.
Princeton Hydro provided engineering and environmental consulting services for the project. Our scientists and engineers completed all necessary permitting, designed both the conceptual and final restoration plans, and oversaw construction throughout the project.
[gallery link="none" columns="2" ids="15695,15696"]


Funding for the project was secured through three primary sources: New Jersey Green Acres Program, National Park Foundation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund. These grants were instrumental in facilitating the transformation of an industrial relic into a thriving park space, balancing the preservation of the river's natural resources with the creation of an accessible community destination.


[caption id="attachment_15690" align="aligncenter" width="1300"] Photo courtesy of the Township of Bethlehem, NJ.[/caption]

 
The two-story concrete block building that once stood on Musconetcong Island was originally the Asbury Graphite Mill laboratory, constructed between 1925 and 1940. It was built on the foundation of a woolen factory that had been destroyed by fire in 1881. The laboratory was used for testing graphite, an inert and non-toxic mineral primarily used for lubrication and other industrial applications. Graphite refining began in Asbury in 1895, when Harry M. Riddle purchased the existing mills and converted them for this specialized purpose.
By the early 1980s, the laboratory was abandoned due to frequent flooding and a lack of modern plumbing. Despite its industrial history, the building had become a safety and environmental concern due to its floodway location and deteriorating condition. In 1999, the laboratory building was donated to the Musconetcong Watershed Association, who then initiated efforts to restore the site and transform it into a valuable public resource.
Today, the island has been transformed into a place where residents and visitors can enjoy the Musconetcong River. With improved access, new stairways, and interpretive signage sharing the history of the area, Musconetcong Island Park is a prime example of how thoughtful design can blend environmental restoration with community-focused development.


[caption id="attachment_15705" align="aligncenter" width="1074"] The Musconetcong Island Park project was completed in Spring 2023. Photo by MWA.[/caption]

 
“We are honored to have contributed to the transformation of Musconetcong Island Park and proud to see this project recognized with a New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award for its role in enhancing the Musconetcong River Watershed. It reflects our commitment to sustainable design and the power of collaboration in creating lasting, positive impacts for both the environment and the community. It’s truly a win-win — removing an obstruction from the floodway while providing public access to the river,” said Geoffrey M. Goll PE, President of Princeton Hydro.
Since 2002, the New Jersey Future Smart Growth Awards have celebrated the best examples of sustainable planning and development across the state. The Musconetcong Island Park Project exemplifies these values by enhancing public access to nature, improving resilience to flooding, and fostering sustainable recreation opportunities in the heart of Bethlehem Township. The project showcases the importance of balancing environmental restoration with community needs, creating a space where people can connect with nature while preserving and protecting it for future generations.
The 2024 New Jersey Future Smart Growth Awards recognize six outstanding projects that exemplify innovative and sustainable development. This year’s award ceremony and celebration took place yesterday at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center.


[gallery columns="2" size="medium" link="none" ids="15906,15907"]


Click here to learn more about the awards and to view the full list of 2024 Smart Growth Award recipients.
MWA is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and improving the quality of the natural and cultural resources of the Musconetcong River and its Watershed. Members of the organization are part of a network of individuals, families, and companies that care about the Musconetcong River and its watershed, and are dedicated to improving the watershed resources through public education and awareness programs, river water quality monitoring, promotion of sustainable land management practices, and community involvement. Click here to learn more.
Princeton Hydro has been working with MWA in the areas of river restoration, dam removal, and engineering consulting since 2003. Explore how the partnership between Princeton Hydro and the MWA led to the historic return of American shad to the Musconetcong River for the first time in over 250 years, revitalizing the ecosystem—read the full story here!
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Lake Hopatcong Commission partnered with Lake Hopatcong Foundation, with in-kind contributions from the NJDEP, municipal governments, Morris and Sussex Counties, Musconetcong Watershed Association, Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum, Rutgers University, NJ Highlands Council, and Princeton Hydro, to address three priority streambank stabilization projects within the Upper Musconetcong River Watershed.







The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced that the Lake Hopatcong Commission would receive $480,650 through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF). The DWCF aims to conserve and restore natural areas, corridors, and waterways on public and private lands to support native migratory and resident wildlife and fish, and native plants; and to contribute to the social health and economic vitality of the communities in the Delaware River watershed. Major funding for the DWCF is provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.







“It’s great to see funding awarded to the Upper Musconetcong River Watershed at the federal level. The Commission was created to promote public health and welfare through the preservation of Lake Hopatcong for recreational and conservation purposes. These projects are consistent with our organizational goals and will enhance water quality and recreational access within the watershed,” said Ron Smith, Chairman of the Lake Hopatcong Commission.







The grant will fund the design and implementation of three streambank stabilization projects, identified as priority projects in the 2021 Upper Musconetcong River Watershed Implementation Plan as prepared by Princeton Hydro for the Lake Hopatcong Commission. They will address important stormwater issues that had been previously identified.  The projects are:





Musconetcong River Streambank Stabilization and Floodplain Enhancement in Hopatcong State Park (Roxbury Township). This portion of the Musconetcong River at Lake Hopatcong’s outlet has been identified as having serious stormwater and flooding issues. An approximate four-acre section of streambank will be restored and stabilized. As part of this effort, invasive species will be eradicated and the existing floodplain rehabilitated through the establishment of native vegetation.
Glen Brook Streambank Stabilization in Memorial Park (Borough of Mount Arlington). Glen Brook is a major stream entering Lake Hopatcong at Mount Arlington Beach. It is a significant source of stormwater runoff and has been identified as having a negative impact on water quality. Approximately 75 linear feet of Glen Brook immediately downstream of Memorial Pond will be regraded and vegetated to naturally treat runoff into the lake.
Lakefront Public Access & Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance at Witten Park (Borough of Hopatcong). Witten Park, a forgotten public area, will be restored and serious stormwater issues will be addressed. The severely eroded Sperry Spring, which feeds Lake Hopatcong, will be rehabilitated and a regenerative stormwater conveyance will be installed. This device will convey and treat stormwater runoff down a naturally occurring slope, reconnecting it to the original floodplain. 















“Environmental impacts associated with development pressure in the upper Musconetcong Watershed around Lake Hopatcong have contributed to reduced water quality. By implementing these projects, we will be able to continue our efforts to improve water quality by reducing phosphorus and sediment entering Lake Hopatcong and the Musconetcong River all while enhancing local wildlife habitat and increasing recreational access around New Jersey’s largest lake,” said Kyle Richter, Executive Director, Lake Hopatcong Foundation.







The grant application requested $480,650 from the DWCF with a combined local in-kind match of more than $489,000 from the Lake Hopatcong Commission, Lake Hopatcong Foundation, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Borough of Hopatcong, Township of Roxbury, Mount Arlington Borough, Morris and Sussex Counties, the Musconetcong Watershed Association, Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum, Rutgers University, NJ Highlands Council, and Princeton Hydro. This is the first grant that has been awarded to the Lake Hopatcong Commission from NFWF.







“Lakes in the Upper Musconetcong Watershed, like Lake Hopatcong and Lake Musconetcong, have experienced degraded water quality and unprecedented harmful algal blooms from excessive nutrients in stormwater runoff and aging septic systems. We are proud to partner with Lake Hopatcong Commission, Lake Hopatcong Foundation, and local stakeholders on this multi-site stream stabilization project to reduce nutrient runoff, enhance wildlife habitat, and improve public access in the watershed,” said Dr. Fred Lubnow, Director of Aquatic Resources at Princeton Hydro.















To learn more about The Lake Hopatcong Commission, visit lakehopatcongcommission.org. To learn more about The Lake Hopatcong Foundation, visit lakehopatcongfoundation.org and check out our recent blog. To learn more about Princeton Hydro's natural resource management services, visit princetonhydro.com.

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Welcome to the latest edition of our Client Spotlight Blog Series! Each spotlight provides an inside look at our collaboration, teamwork, and accomplishments with a specific client. We value our client relationships and pride ourselves on forming strong ties with organizations that share our values of creating a better future for people and our planet.

Meet the Musconetcong Watershed Association

The Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA) is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and improving the quality of the Musconetcong River and its watershed, including its natural and cultural resources. Members of the organization are part of a network of individuals, families, and companies that care about the Musconetcong River and its watershed, and are dedicated to improving the watershed resources through public education and awareness programs, river water quality monitoring, promotion of sustainable land management practices, and community involvement.
Princeton Hydro has been working with MWA in the areas of river restoration, dam removal, and engineering consulting since 2003. To develop this Client Spotlight, we collaborated with MWA's Executive Director Cindy Joerger and Communications Coordinator Karen Doerfer:
Q: What makes MWA unique?
A: As a watershed association, we focus on a specific place. This includes the Musconetcong River, a National Wild and Scenic River, as well as the area’s cultural, historical, recreational, and natural resources. We take a watershed focus, seeking to monitor the river and upstream areas to ensure it maintains good water quality.
Q: What does MWA value?
A: MWA values community. Our membership is mostly grassroots, including residents, riverfront landowners, farmers, and local businesses. We value the long-term community of people who have helped form the organization, improve the river, and protect the scenic and historic resources that make our watershed unique.
Q: How long has MWA been working with Princeton Hydro?

[caption id="attachment_5512" align="alignnone" width="596"] Dam removal project partners and community members pose with Sally Jewell at the Hughesville Dam removal event on Sept. 8, 2016. Photo Credit: USFWS.[/caption]
A: Princeton Hydro has helped MWA with dam removal projects since the very first one, the Gruendyke Mill Dam, which was an obsolete dam on the border of Hackettstown and Mount Olive. Since then, Princeton Hydro has helped with four other dam removal projects and is currently assisting in the removal and restoration of the Beatty’s Mill Dam in Hackettstown, providing engineering plans and project management support.
The dam removals in the lower Musconetcong River have created a free-flowing passage to the Delaware River, and the removal of the Hughesville Dam welcomed the return of American shad less than a year after its removal.
Q: What types of services have Princeton Hydro provided to your organization?
A: Princeton Hydro has provided MWA with dam removal services on the Musconetcong River, most notably, the removal of Hughesville Dam, which brought Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell, out for its notching. Princeton Hydro has also helped us with the engineering and design for the Musconetcong Island Park Project, which involves the demolition of a building in a Historic District and the replacement of new, safer stairs.
We value Princeton Hydro’s expertise in environmental permitting, hydrology, and fisheries, as we have utilized this expertise to review development proposals and conduct fish surveys.

Q: Do you have a favorite or most memorable project we’ve worked on together?
A: The Hughesville Dam removal saw many successes and a few challenges we had to overcome as a team. After the initial removal and restoration, we worked together on another streambank restoration project to further stabilize the streambank near the dam removal site. This dam removal restored over 5 miles of free-flowing river to the Delaware River and will help lay the groundwork for the Warren Glen Dam removal, which is the largest dam on the Musconetcong River.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=969581229908361

Q: What are some exciting things your organization is working on right now?

[caption id="attachment_5515" align="alignnone" width="1128"] Photo from Princeton Hydro led volunteer clean-up effort on the Musconetcong River in 2018. The team picked-up garbage along the road and riverbank, and pulled trash from the riverbed.[/caption]
A: MWA is still working to restore the Asbury Mill, which we plan to use as an educational and eco-tourism hub for the community, as well as a much-needed office space for our growing staff.
We’ve also received some exciting new grants that will help us continue to involve the community in efforts to protect and improve water quality. Our “Push Back the Lawn” campaign will allow us to reach out to small landowners and educate them on the importance of riparian buffers.

This year has also brought some challenges for our organization, but we are excited to be picking up our River Cleanup again this fall. Normally, we conduct a watershed-wide cleanup in April, but due to COVID-19, we had to push it back. However, families and small groups are glad to be able to get out and give back by picking up trash that has collected with increasing staycations and small trips.

Q: What drives you to want to go to work every day?
A: Working for such a small organization, it is easier and more gratifying to see the impact it's making. Our staff gets to see a lot of projects from start to finish, so it’s rewarding to be able to have your stamp on something you watched grow from its inception to conclusion.
Q: How can Princeton Hydro support you/your organization in the future?
A: In the upper watershed, we are hoping that Princeton Hydro, in concert with others, can continue to help guide improvements to the water quality of Lake Hopatcong. The lake acts as our headwaters and is the largest in New Jersey. Last year, it suffered a serious issue with Harmful Algal Blooms.
We are also looking forward to the Beatty’s Mill Dam removal project, where we will remove a remnant dam and reduce streambank erosion. We hope this will roll into another similar project at Newburgh, which should improve water quality and fish habitat and decrease flooding severity in the Hackettstown area.
…
Click below to read the previous edition of our Client Spotlight blog series, which features the Lake Hopatcong Foundation:

 

https://princetonhydro.com/client-spotlight-lake-hopatcong-foundation/
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                    [post_content] => Princeton Hydro is proud to participate in a number of conferences, events, and webinars throughout September:

 
September 6 at 12 pm: "Social Media Hacks" Webinar for the Society for American Military Engineers (SAME) Young Member Council 
 SAME Young Member Council is hosting a webinar that will offer solutions for boosting social media presence and increasing engagement. Designed for social media beginners and experts alike, the webinar titled, “Social Media Hacks,” will be presented by Dana Patterson, Communications Strategist for Princeton Hydro. Participants will learn about creating successful social media strategy, utilizing free social media management tools, tracking social media analytics, and executing high-quality posts on various social media platforms. The webinar is free for SAME Members and $25 for all non-members.
Learn more.
 

September 9: Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour
Hosted by Musconetcong Watershed Association, the “Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour” celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by bringing communities together to screen films that call attention to local and global environmental issues. The Hackettstown, NJ tour event, which Princeton Hydro is a proud sponsor of, will feature 11 short films including River Connections, a film that explores the importance of free-flowing rivers and highlights the recent Hughesville Dam removal project. An interactive panel event will follow the film screening and feature experts including MWA Executive Director Alan Hunt, Ph.D. and Princeton Hydro President Geoffrey Goll, P.E., who were both interviewed in the film. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Learn more and register.
 

September 12: Schuylkill Action Network's (SAN) Water Utility Forum 
This year’s SAN Forum will cover a variety of water-quality related topics, including perfluorinated compound (PFCs) and upcoming drinking water regulations. The forum will provide a platform to collaborate and share information, expertise, and technology to help achieve a shared vision of clean water and a healthy environment for the Schuylkill River and its tributaries. A variety of presentations will be offered during the forum, including one by Dr. Fred Lubnow, Director of Aquatics Programs for Princeton Hydro, on the topic of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).
Learn more and register.
 
September 15: Mercer County Park Commission's River Days
Join Mercer County Park Commission for "River Days," a free, family-friendly event at the Tulpehaking Nature Center with trail activities, arts and crafts, a raffle, and a neighborhood cookout on the back lawn of the nature center. Check out the Princeton Hydro air boat and chat with our Aquatics Field Director about the upcoming multi-year restoration of freshwater tidal wetlands in John A. Roebling Memorial Park. The restoration project is a partnership between Mercer County, New Jersey, Mercer County Park Commission, and Princeton Hydro.
Learn more.
 
September 23-26: 91st Annual Water Works Operators' Association of Pennsylvania (WWOAP) Conference 
is hosting its 91st annual conference, which offers a diverse collection of professional presentations, workshops, networking events and an exhibit hall. Princeton Hydro’s Director of Aquatics Programs  Dr. Fred Lubnow is presenting on “Managing HABs and Their Associated Cyanotoxins in Raw Water.” Other presentation topics include “What Might Climate Change Look Like in Pennsylvania,” “A Multi-Lateral Approach to Water Loss Reduction,” and “Achieving Water Quality Optimization.”
View the full conference program.

 
September 25: New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) Research Webinar
NEIWPCC is offering a free research webinar on modeling and flood-mitigation recommendations for a forested and urban Hudson River tributary watershed. The webinar takes a look at the Moodna Creek Watershed and Flood Mitigation Assessment and describes how flood models were used to inform recommendations for reducing and mitigating existing and anticipated flood risk. The assessment was conducted by environmental consultants at Princeton Hydro and GreenVest, and funded by NEIWPCC through the New York Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Estuary Program. This free webinar will be presented by Christiana Pollack, GISP, CFM, Environmental Scientist & GIS Manager for Princeton Hydro, and Jessica Jahre, CFM, AICP.
Learn more.

 
September 28: Alliance for NJ Environmental Education (ANJEE) Autumn Conference 
Duke Farms will host ANJEE’s Autumn Conference, titled “Imagine a World Outdoors.” The conference, which takes place completely outdoors and does not include a single PowerPoint presentation, invites environmental education professionals throughout New Jersey to come together to collaborate around innovative ideas, learn and disseminate best practices, and network. Participants will explore natural history with local experts in birding, animal tracking, and plant identifying and learn trade secrets from experienced outdoor teachers who will share their methods and techniques. Princeton Hydro’s Dana Patterson and Pinelands Adventures’ Danielle Odom are teaching a workshop on “How to Bring Out the Inner Bird Nerd in your Students.” ANJEE hopes the event will inspire participants to become more informed and dedicated stewards of the land.
Learn more and register.
 

Stay tuned for more event updates!
…
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                    [post_date] => 2018-04-20 22:47:26
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The Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA) held its 26th Annual Musconetcong River Cleanup on April 14. Volunteers conducted cleanup efforts at various locations all along the Musconetcong River from its start at Lake Hopatcong down to where it meets the Delaware River. Princeton Hydro, a proud sponsor of the event, has investigated, designed and permitted five dam removals along the Musconetcong River.

Princeton Hydro led a volunteer team near the Warren Glen Dam site and former Hughesville Dam site. The team picked-up garbage along the road and riverbank, and pulled trash from the riverbed. In 2016, we designed and oversaw the Hughesville Dam removal and streambank restoration project, which enabled the return of American shad to the river for the first time in decades.
"We enjoyed the beautiful, warm, and sunny Saturday morning bonding with our Princeton Hydro colleagues and friends, while giving back to the Musconetcong Watershed Association," said Geoffery Goll, President of Princeton Hydro. "Our successful partnership with MWA on multiple dam removals in critical locations has expedited the restoration and protection of the Musconetcong River."
[gallery size="medium" link="none" ids="1761,1757,1758,1752,1756,1753,1759,1755,1754"]
MWA hosts cleanups throughout the year. If you have an idea for a volunteer cleanup day, please email info@musconetcong.org.
…
                    [post_title] => Musconetcong River Volunteer Cleanup
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                    [post_content] => Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA) held a dinner to celebrate its 25th anniversary as well as the 150th anniversary of the Asbury Grist Mill, which the MWA is working to restore. The evening included a cocktail hour, a buffet dinner, silent auction, remarks by the MWA President Tish Lascelle and Executive Director Alan Hunt, and a presentation of awards.

The MWA presented Princeton Hydro President Geoff Goll, PE with the "Friend of the River" Award. This award, which has only been given seven times in MWA’s 25 years of service, recognizes individuals who have made a significant and sustainable difference in the Watershed and helped to advance its mission. Recipients of the Award have also demonstrated outstanding leadership through their volunteer efforts or partnerships with MWA.

Geoff was honored to receive the award alongside Paul Kenney of the National Park Service and Richard C. Cotton, a Managing Partner of the Hawk Pointe Golf Club and Asbury Farms Real Estate. Paul was assigned the Musconetcong River in late 2003 and was instrumental in obtaining the Musconetcong River's Wild and Scenic Designation in 2006. He has continued to be an excellent resource of the National Park Service.  Richard is a founding member of the MWA's Board of Trustee's and continues to serve on the Board. He has dedicated his professional life to striking a balance between economic growth with environmental protection.

Geoff has been working with MWA in the areas of river restoration, dam removal, and engineering consulting since 2003, when the efforts to remove the Gruendyke Mill Dam in Hackettstown, NJ began. He has since worked with the Princeton Hydro team to remove five dams on the Musconetcong River, the most recent being the Hughesville Dam. 

MWA is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and improving the quality of the Musconetcong River and its Watershed, including its natural and cultural resources. Members of the organization are part of a network of individuals, families and companies that care about the Musconetcong River and its watershed, and are dedicated to improving the watershed resources through public education and awareness programs, river water quality monitoring, promotion of sustainable land management practices and community involvement.

During the anniversary dinner, participants also got a sneak peek of a new video from the National Park Service that is set for public release in 2018. The video celebrates the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, under which the Musconetcong River is protected, and explores the importance of free-flowing rivers and why Americans treasure them. Representing Princeton Hydro at the awards dinner were Vice President Mark Gallagher, his wife Jennifer, Geoff and his wife Amy, and Director of Engineering Services Mary Paist-Goldman, PE.

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                    [post_title] => Musconetcong Watershed Association Presents Princeton Hydro President with Prestigious "Friend of the River" Award
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Princeton Hydro is excited to announce that the Musconetcong Island Park Project received the New Jersey Future 2024 Smart Growth Award. This project, led by the Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA), transformed a crumbling, long-abandoned laboratory into a vibrant, accessible riparian park space that provides opportunities for fishing, wading, paddling, and viewing wildlife in Bethlehem Township, NJ.

The site, which once housed a two-story concrete block laboratory used by the Asbury Graphite Mill, had become a hazard after decades of disuse. Located on a quarter-acre island in the Musconetcong River, the building was not only structurally unsound but also in the floodway of the River, posing ongoing risks to the surrounding environment. Through a collaborative, multi-year effort, the abandoned building was demolished, the area was restored, and the island was transformed into a welcoming, accessible space for public enjoyment and recreation.
The image below shows the old stairway, laboratory building, and island space with a white outline depicting the project area:


Taken in 2018 before construction:

[gallery link="none" columns="2" ids="15697,15702"]

 

Taken in 2023 after project completion (photos by MWA):

[gallery link="file" columns="2" ids="15706,15707"]
The Musconetcong Island Park Project represents a successful collaboration among numerous partners. Led by MWA, the project involved National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Township of Bethlehem, Harrington Construction, and Princeton Hydro.
Princeton Hydro provided engineering and environmental consulting services for the project. Our scientists and engineers completed all necessary permitting, designed both the conceptual and final restoration plans, and oversaw construction throughout the project.
[gallery link="none" columns="2" ids="15695,15696"]


Funding for the project was secured through three primary sources: New Jersey Green Acres Program, National Park Foundation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund. These grants were instrumental in facilitating the transformation of an industrial relic into a thriving park space, balancing the preservation of the river's natural resources with the creation of an accessible community destination.


[caption id="attachment_15690" align="aligncenter" width="1300"] Photo courtesy of the Township of Bethlehem, NJ.[/caption]

 
The two-story concrete block building that once stood on Musconetcong Island was originally the Asbury Graphite Mill laboratory, constructed between 1925 and 1940. It was built on the foundation of a woolen factory that had been destroyed by fire in 1881. The laboratory was used for testing graphite, an inert and non-toxic mineral primarily used for lubrication and other industrial applications. Graphite refining began in Asbury in 1895, when Harry M. Riddle purchased the existing mills and converted them for this specialized purpose.
By the early 1980s, the laboratory was abandoned due to frequent flooding and a lack of modern plumbing. Despite its industrial history, the building had become a safety and environmental concern due to its floodway location and deteriorating condition. In 1999, the laboratory building was donated to the Musconetcong Watershed Association, who then initiated efforts to restore the site and transform it into a valuable public resource.
Today, the island has been transformed into a place where residents and visitors can enjoy the Musconetcong River. With improved access, new stairways, and interpretive signage sharing the history of the area, Musconetcong Island Park is a prime example of how thoughtful design can blend environmental restoration with community-focused development.


[caption id="attachment_15705" align="aligncenter" width="1074"] The Musconetcong Island Park project was completed in Spring 2023. Photo by MWA.[/caption]

 
“We are honored to have contributed to the transformation of Musconetcong Island Park and proud to see this project recognized with a New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award for its role in enhancing the Musconetcong River Watershed. It reflects our commitment to sustainable design and the power of collaboration in creating lasting, positive impacts for both the environment and the community. It’s truly a win-win — removing an obstruction from the floodway while providing public access to the river,” said Geoffrey M. Goll PE, President of Princeton Hydro.
Since 2002, the New Jersey Future Smart Growth Awards have celebrated the best examples of sustainable planning and development across the state. The Musconetcong Island Park Project exemplifies these values by enhancing public access to nature, improving resilience to flooding, and fostering sustainable recreation opportunities in the heart of Bethlehem Township. The project showcases the importance of balancing environmental restoration with community needs, creating a space where people can connect with nature while preserving and protecting it for future generations.
The 2024 New Jersey Future Smart Growth Awards recognize six outstanding projects that exemplify innovative and sustainable development. This year’s award ceremony and celebration took place yesterday at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center.


[gallery columns="2" size="medium" link="none" ids="15906,15907"]


Click here to learn more about the awards and to view the full list of 2024 Smart Growth Award recipients.
MWA is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and improving the quality of the natural and cultural resources of the Musconetcong River and its Watershed. Members of the organization are part of a network of individuals, families, and companies that care about the Musconetcong River and its watershed, and are dedicated to improving the watershed resources through public education and awareness programs, river water quality monitoring, promotion of sustainable land management practices, and community involvement. Click here to learn more.
Princeton Hydro has been working with MWA in the areas of river restoration, dam removal, and engineering consulting since 2003. Explore how the partnership between Princeton Hydro and the MWA led to the historic return of American shad to the Musconetcong River for the first time in over 250 years, revitalizing the ecosystem—read the full story here!
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