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They provided guidance on NJDEP's new stormwater ordinances, a summary of requirements, and recommendations for developing and implementing stronger ordinances. Co-sponsored by the American Littoral Society, Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, and Pinelands Preservation Alliance, the webinar was attended by officials, planning board members, municipal professionals (engineers and planners), attorneys and Environmental Commission members from all across the state. In March 2020, NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) published revisions to the New Jersey Stormwater Management Rule (N.J.A.C. 7:8), which states that, in order to meet stormwater management performance criteria set forth by NJDEP, New Jersey municipalities are required to update their stormwater control ordinances to incorporate green infrastructure. Check out our blog detailing the updated requirements. NJDEP periodically updates the stormwater rules and provides municipalities with a deadline to incorporate the rule changes in order to stay in compliance. In July 2023, NJDEP published the Inland Flood Protection Rule, which requires municipalities to update their stormwater control ordinances to improve water quality. The Watershed Institute’s webinar, which was part of its “Technical Friday" webinar series, not only provided participants with a clear understanding of the recent rule updates and guidance on how to implement best practices, but also provided the opportunity for everyone to get their questions answered. To view the full webinar, click below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROn4wtzyp4k&feature=youtu.be[/embed] The Watershed Institute's next "Technical Friday" webinar, which is free to attend, will focus on "Stormwater Design: Myths and Misconceptions." One of the most complicated aspects of a new development application is designing the stormwater management infrastructure. It is also one of the most complex parts of reviewing applications before New Jersey’s land use boards. While stormwater management is a difficult and complex issue, it is vital to the health and wellbeing of New Jersey communities and residents. The state's 2023 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit puts front and center New Jersey's obligation to review the stormwater issues caused by land development. Better design submissions will assist in reaching this goal and may speed up the process of review and approval. On December 8 from 10 am - 12 pm, join Gabriel Mahon, PE, Bureau Chief of the Bureau of NJPDES Stormwater permitting and Water Quality Management and Dr. Clay Emerson, PhD, PE, CFM from Princeton Hydro as they examine some of the common issues they uncover in stormwater management proposals and provide guidance on incorporating best practices and submitting designs that successfully address New Jersey's stormwater management goals. Click here to register. The Watershed Institute, established in 1949, is a nonprofit organization located in Central New Jersey that promotes and advocates conservation and restoration of natural habitats, collects data on environmental conditions in its watersheds, and provides environmental education through numerous programs. To learn more about The Watershed Institute, click here. At Princeton Hydro, we recognize the benefit of green infrastructure and we’ve been incorporating it into our engineering designs since before the term was regularly used in the stormwater lexicon. We are a leader in innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally sound stormwater management systems. The preparation of stormwater management plans and design of stormwater management systems for pollutant reduction is an integral part of our projects. Click here to read about an award-winning Green Infrastructure stormwater management & Floodplain Restoration project we completed on Blue Acres Property in Linden’s Tremley Point. [post_title] => WATCH: Webinar on NJDEP Enhanced Stormwater Management Ordinance [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => watch-webinar-on-njdep-enhanced-stormwater-management-ordinance [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-12-10 17:48:09 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-12-10 17:48:09 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=13876 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 9891 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2021-11-24 08:48:53 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-11-24 08:48:53 [post_content] => Over the past year, the Deal Lake Commission (DLC) has implemented a variety of stormwater management projects aimed at reducing the volume of stormwater runoff, decreasing total phosphorus loading, and preventing debris, sediment, and pollutants from flowing into waterbodies throughout the Deal Lake, Wesley Lake, and Sunset Lake Watersheds. These projects encompass a strategic combination of stormwater best management practices (BMPs), including structural BMPs, non-structural controls, and green infrastructure techniques. These stormwater management projects were funded by a Clean Water Act Section 319(h) grant awarded by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to the DLC. Let’s take a look at some of the recently completed initiatives: Manufactured Treatment Devices Manufactured Treatment Devices (MTDs) are pre-fabricated stormwater treatment structures used to address stormwater issues in highly developed, urban areas. MTDs capture and remove sediments, metals, hydrocarbons, and other pollutants from stormwater runoff before the runoff reaches surrounding waterbodies and/or storm sewer systems. This year, Princeton Hydro worked with the DLC and Leon S. Avakian Engineers to design and install three MTDs throughout Asbury Park, NJ with the purpose of improving water quality in Sunset Lake. [gallery columns="2" ids="9896,9897,9894,9895"] Students from the Asbury Park High School Engineering Academy, led by their teacher Kevin Gould, were invited to observe one of the MTD installations. The educational field trip was combined with a presentation from Princeton Hydro’s Senior Aquatic Ecologist Dr. Jack Szczepanski, which was titled, “Ecology and Engineering in Asbury Park.” Click below to watch one of the recent MTD installations: [visual-link-preview encoded="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"] Rain Garden Renovation Rain gardens are a cost effective, attractive, and sustainable way to minimize stormwater runoff and filter out pollutants. This aesthetic, low-maintenance addition to any outdoor landscape creates a functioning habitat that attracts pollinators, beneficial insects, and birds. And, in a small way, it helps reduce erosion, promote groundwater recharge, and minimize flooding. The DLC along with the Deal Lake Watershed Alliance, Asbury Park's Environmental Shade Tree Commission (ESTC), Asbury Park Department of Public Works (DPW) and Princeton Hydro completed a major renovation to an existing rain garden located in front of the Asbury Park bus terminal and municipal building. The rain garden, which was originally constructed by the ESTC, was not functioning properly due to one of the inlets being completely obstructed by sediment. The DPW helped clear the sediment and regrade it, while the ESTC removed invasive weeds and replanted it with native shrubs, perennials, and flowers. For more information about rain gardens and instructions on how to build your own, check out our recent blog: [visual-link-preview encoded="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"] Floating Wetland Islands Floating Wetland Islands (FWIs) are a low-cost, effective green infrastructure solution used to mitigate phosphorus and nitrogen stormwater pollution. FWIs are designed to mimic natural wetlands in a sustainable, efficient, and powerful way. They improve water quality by assimilating and removing excess nutrients that could fuel harmful algae blooms; provide valuable ecological habitat for a variety of beneficial species; help mitigate wave and wind erosion impacts; provide an aesthetic element; and add significant biodiversity enhancement within open freshwater environments. The DLC worked with Princeton Hydro to design and install a total of 12 floating wetland islands, six in Sunset Lake and six in Wesley Lake. A team of volunteers, led by the DLC and Princeton Hydro, planted vegetation in each of the FWIs and launched and secured each island into the lakes. [gallery link="none" columns="2" ids="8942,8945,8936,8935"] Clean Water Act Section 319(h) grant related efforts will continue in the Spring of 2022 with the design and installation of “bioscape” gardens and tree boxes. Stay tuned for updates! ... To learn more about the Deal Lake Commission, click here. To read about one of Princeton Hydro’s recently completed stormwater management projects, click here. [post_title] => 3 Techniques to Manage Stormwater & Improve Water Quality [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 3-stormwater-management-techniques [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-03-27 16:15:51 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-03-27 16:15:51 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://princetonhydro.com/?p=9891 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 9512 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2021-09-25 04:11:00 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-09-25 04:11:00 [post_content] => Just 50 miles southeast of New York City, tucked between two municipalities, sits a 650+ acre tidal salt marsh which spans the shorelines of the South River in densely populated, highly developed Central New Jersey. The South River is the first major tributary of the Raritan River, located 8.3 miles upstream of the Raritan River’s mouth, which drains into Raritan Bay. The Lower Raritan River and Raritan Bay make up a large part of the core of the NY-NJ Harbor and Estuary Program. Within the Raritan Estuary, the South River wetland ecosystem is one of the largest remaining wetland complexes. While the South River salt marsh ecosystem has been spared from direct development, it has been degraded in quality, and does not provide optimal habitat for wildlife or maximum flood protection for residents. This area is subject to fairly regular tidal flooding (particularly when it occurs simultaneously with a storm) and periodic—generally more severe—flooding during more significant events such as nor’easters and tropical storms. Hurricanes Irene and Sandy caused damage in the Boroughs of Sayreville and South River too. In 2018, Princeton Hydro and Rutgers University, along with the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership, Middlesex County, Borough of Sayreville, Borough of South River, NY/NJ Baykeeper, Raritan Riverkeeper, and the Sustainable Raritan River Initiative, secured funding from NFWF’s National Coastal Resilience Fund for the “South River Ecosystem Restoration & Flood Resiliency Enhancement Project.” The South River Ecosystem Restoration and Flood Resiliency Enhancement Project aims to:
The Watershed Institute hosted a webinar on Enhanced Stormwater Management Ordinances, which featured two expert speakers: Princeton Hydro Senior Technical Director of Engineering Dr. Clay Emerson, PE, CFM, and The Watershed Institute Policy Director Michael Pisauro, Esq. They provided guidance on NJDEP's new stormwater ordinances, a summary of requirements, and recommendations for developing and implementing stronger ordinances.
Co-sponsored by the American Littoral Society, Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, and Pinelands Preservation Alliance, the webinar was attended by officials, planning board members, municipal professionals (engineers and planners), attorneys and Environmental Commission members from all across the state.
In March 2020, NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) published revisions to the New Jersey Stormwater Management Rule (N.J.A.C. 7:8), which states that, in order to meet stormwater management performance criteria set forth by NJDEP, New Jersey municipalities are required to update their stormwater control ordinances to incorporate green infrastructure. Check out our blog detailing the updated requirements.
NJDEP periodically updates the stormwater rules and provides municipalities with a deadline to incorporate the rule changes in order to stay in compliance. In July 2023, NJDEP published the Inland Flood Protection Rule, which requires municipalities to update their stormwater control ordinances to improve water quality. The Watershed Institute’s webinar, which was part of its “Technical Friday" webinar series, not only provided participants with a clear understanding of the recent rule updates and guidance on how to implement best practices, but also provided the opportunity for everyone to get their questions answered.
To view the full webinar, click below:
The Watershed Institute's next "Technical Friday" webinar, which is free to attend, will focus on "Stormwater Design: Myths and Misconceptions." One of the most complicated aspects of a new development application is designing the stormwater management infrastructure. It is also one of the most complex parts of reviewing applications before New Jersey’s land use boards. While stormwater management is a difficult and complex issue, it is vital to the health and wellbeing of New Jersey communities and residents. The state's 2023 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit puts front and center New Jersey's obligation to review the stormwater issues caused by land development. Better design submissions will assist in reaching this goal and may speed up the process of review and approval.
On December 8 from 10 am - 12 pm, join Gabriel Mahon, PE, Bureau Chief of the Bureau of NJPDES Stormwater permitting and Water Quality Management and Dr. Clay Emerson, PhD, PE, CFM from Princeton Hydro as they examine some of the common issues they uncover in stormwater management proposals and provide guidance on incorporating best practices and submitting designs that successfully address New Jersey's stormwater management goals.
The Watershed Institute, established in 1949, is a nonprofit organization located in Central New Jersey that promotes and advocates conservation and restoration of natural habitats, collects data on environmental conditions in its watersheds, and provides environmental education through numerous programs. To learn more about The Watershed Institute, click here.
At Princeton Hydro, we recognize the benefit of green infrastructure and we’ve been incorporating it into our engineering designs since before the term was regularly used in the stormwater lexicon. We are a leader in innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally sound stormwater management systems. The preparation of stormwater management plans and design of stormwater management systems for pollutant reduction is an integral part of our projects. Click here to read about an award-winning Green Infrastructure stormwater management & Floodplain Restoration project we completed on Blue Acres Property in Linden’s Tremley Point.
Over the past year, the Deal Lake Commission (DLC) has implemented a variety of stormwater management projects aimed at reducing the volume of stormwater runoff, decreasing total phosphorus loading, and preventing debris, sediment, and pollutants from flowing into waterbodies throughout the Deal Lake, Wesley Lake, and Sunset Lake Watersheds.
These projects encompass a strategic combination of stormwater best management practices (BMPs), including structural BMPs, non-structural controls, and green infrastructure techniques. These stormwater management projects were funded by a Clean Water Act Section 319(h) grant awarded by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to the DLC.
Let’s take a look at some of the recently completed initiatives:
Manufactured Treatment Devices (MTDs) are pre-fabricated stormwater treatment structures used to address stormwater issues in highly developed, urban areas. MTDs capture and remove sediments, metals, hydrocarbons, and other pollutants from stormwater runoff before the runoff reaches surrounding waterbodies and/or storm sewer systems.
This year, Princeton Hydro worked with the DLC and Leon S. Avakian Engineers to design and install three MTDs throughout Asbury Park, NJ with the purpose of improving water quality in Sunset Lake.
Students from the Asbury Park High School Engineering Academy, led by their teacher Kevin Gould, were invited to observe one of the MTD installations. The educational field trip was combined with a presentation from Princeton Hydro’s Senior Aquatic Ecologist Dr. Jack Szczepanski, which was titled, “Ecology and Engineering in Asbury Park.”
Rain gardens are a cost effective, attractive, and sustainable way to minimize stormwater runoff and filter out pollutants. This aesthetic, low-maintenance addition to any outdoor landscape creates a functioning habitat that attracts pollinators, beneficial insects, and birds. And, in a small way, it helps reduce erosion, promote groundwater recharge, and minimize flooding.
The DLC along with the Deal Lake Watershed Alliance, Asbury Park's Environmental Shade Tree Commission (ESTC), Asbury Park Department of Public Works (DPW) and Princeton Hydro completed a major renovation to an existing rain garden located in front of the Asbury Park bus terminal and municipal building.
The rain garden, which was originally constructed by the ESTC, was not functioning properly due to one of the inlets being completely obstructed by sediment. The DPW helped clear the sediment and regrade it, while the ESTC removed invasive weeds and replanted it with native shrubs, perennials, and flowers.
Floating Wetland Islands (FWIs) are a low-cost, effective green infrastructure solution used to mitigate phosphorus and nitrogen stormwater pollution. FWIs are designed to mimic natural wetlands in a sustainable, efficient, and powerful way. They improve water quality by assimilating and removing excess nutrients that could fuel harmful algae blooms; provide valuable ecological habitat for a variety of beneficial species; help mitigate wave and wind erosion impacts; provide an aesthetic element; and add significant biodiversity enhancement within open freshwater environments.
The DLC worked with Princeton Hydro to design and install a total of 12 floating wetland islands, six in Sunset Lake and six in Wesley Lake. A team of volunteers, led by the DLC and Princeton Hydro, planted vegetation in each of the FWIs and launched and secured each island into the lakes.
Clean Water Act Section 319(h) grant related efforts will continue in the Spring of 2022 with the design and installation of “bioscape” gardens and tree boxes. Stay tuned for updates!
...
To learn more about the Deal Lake Commission, click here. To read about one of Princeton Hydro’s recently completed stormwater management projects, click here.
Just 50 miles southeast of New York City, tucked between two municipalities, sits a 650+ acre tidal salt marsh which spans the shorelines of the South River in densely populated, highly developed Central New Jersey. The South River is the first major tributary of the Raritan River, located 8.3 miles upstream of the Raritan River’s mouth, which drains into Raritan Bay.
The Lower Raritan River and Raritan Bay make up a large part of the core of the NY-NJ Harbor and Estuary Program. Within the Raritan Estuary, the South River wetland ecosystem is one of the largest remaining wetland complexes. While the South River salt marsh ecosystem has been spared from direct development, it has been degraded in quality, and does not provide optimal habitat for wildlife or maximum flood protection for residents. This area is subject to fairly regular tidal flooding (particularly when it occurs simultaneously with a storm) and periodic—generally more severe—flooding during more significant events such as nor’easters and tropical storms. Hurricanes Irene and Sandy caused damage in the Boroughs of Sayreville and South River too.
In 2018, Princeton Hydro and Rutgers University, along with the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership, Middlesex County, Borough of Sayreville, Borough of South River, NY/NJ Baykeeper, Raritan Riverkeeper, and the Sustainable Raritan River Initiative, secured funding from NFWF’s National Coastal Resilience Fund for the “South River Ecosystem Restoration & Flood Resiliency Enhancement Project.”
The South River Ecosystem Restoration and Flood Resiliency Enhancement Project aims to:
Reduce socioeconomic damages to the Boroughs of South River and Sayreville caused by storm damage, flooding, and sea level rise;
Transform degraded wetlands to high-quality marsh that can reduce flooding and enhance fish & wildlife habitat; and
Engage stakeholders in activities about coastal resilience and ecological health to maximize public outreach in the Raritan River Watershed.
For this 165-acre tidal marsh and transitional forest “eco-park,” the project team is conducting an ecosystem restoration site assessment and design. This phase of the coastal restoration project will result in a permit-ready engineering design plan that stabilizes approximately 2.5 miles of shoreline, reduces flood risk for smaller coastal storms, and enhances breeding and foraging habitat for 10 state-listed threatened and endangered avian species.
This area has experienced repeated flooding, especially during large storms. For example, coastal areas of Sayreville and South River flooded after Hurricane Floyd (1999), Tropical Storm Ernesto (2006), Hurricane Irene (2011), and Hurricane Sandy (2012). Over the last century, there have been several studies and assessments completed for the South River, many of which identify this project area as a priority location for flooding improvements. The following are key reports and studies published about the project area and surrounding communities:
NJ Legislature’s 71st Congress published a report, “Basinwide Water Resource Development Report on the Raritan River Basin” which focused on navigation and flood control for the entire Raritan River Basin. It discussed recommendations for flood control and local storm drainage, setting the stage for future actions.
NJDEP Division of Water Resources published Flood Hazard Reports for the Matchaponix Brook System and Raritan River Basin, which delineated the floodplains in the South River, and its tributaries, the Manalapan Brook and Matchaponix Brook.
USACE New York District released a “Survey Report for Flood Control, Raritan River Basin,” which served as a comprehensive study of the Raritan River Basin and recommended several additional studies. Although the South River was studied, none of the proposed improvements were determined to be economically feasible at that time.
Project area was listed as one of the Nation’s Estuaries of National Significance.
USACE conducted a multi-purpose study of this area. This preliminary investigation identified Federal interest in Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction and ecosystem restoration along the South River and concluded that a 100-year level of structural protection would be technically and economically feasible.
USACE NYD and NJDEP released a joint draft, “Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact Statement” for the South River, Raritan River Basin, which focused on “Hurricane & Storm Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration.” Because it was previously determined that there were no widespread flooding problems upstream, the study area was modified to focus on the flood-prone areas within the Boroughs of Sayreville and South River, as well as Old Bridge Township.
Through collaboration with our project partners and following input provided from a virtual stakeholder meeting held in December 2020, Princeton Hydro developed a conceptual design for an eco-park that incorporates habitat enhancement and restoration, and protective measures to reduce impacts from flooding while maximizing public access and utility. Public access includes trails for walking and designated areas for fishing. The eco-park can also be used for additional recreation activities such as bird watching and kayaking.
Highlights of the conceptual design include the following features:
Approximately two miles of trails with overlook areas, connection to fishing access, and a kayak launch.
~3,000 linear feet of living shoreline, located along portions of the Washington Canal and the South River, to provide protection from erosion, reduce the wake and wave action, and provide habitat for aquatic and terrestrial organisms.
~60 acres of enhanced upland forest to provide contiguous habitat areas for resident and migratory fauna.
A tidal channel that will connect to the existing mud flat on the southeastern part of the site and provide tidal flushing to proposed low and high marsh habitats along its banks.
A vegetated berm with a trail atop will extend the length of the site to help mitigate flood risk.
Two nesting platforms for Osprey, a species listed as “Threatened” in NJ
Designated nesting habitat for the Diamondback Terrapin, a species listed as “Special Concern” in NJ
Princeton Hydro specializes in the planning, design, permitting, implementing, and maintenance of ecological rehabilitation and floodplain management projects. Click here to read about a coastal rehabilitation and resiliency project we completed in New Jersey.
Welcome to another edition our Client Spotlight series! Each blog provides a peek into our partnership with a particular 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.
Medford Lakes Colony is a not-for-profit organization that organizes social, community, and recreational activities for the Town of Medford Lakes, New Jersey. The Colony grew out of a resort development in the early 1920’s in the heart of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens on the edge of the Pinelands National Reserve. The area was first settled hundreds of years ago by the Lenni-Lenape tribe of Native Americans.
Today the Colony lakes are still dotted by log cabin homes built according to the original plan for the community nearly a century ago.
For this Client Spotlight, we spoke to Medford Lakes Colony’s Lake Restoration Chair, Jim Palmer.
Q: What makes your organization unique?
The Medford Lakes Colony is a nearly 100-year-old, private, not-for-profit organization. Our organization is actually older than the municipality in which we reside. We “own” the 21 lakes in our town. We are nearly an all-volunteer organization with only an Office Manager and a Maintenance Manager on our payroll. Everything else is done by volunteers.
Q: What does your organization value?
Everyone in our town will agree with the following statement: The most important asset in our town is our lakes. And maintaining the water quality in those lakes is a high-value responsibility. But with that said, we are a town in the New Jersey Pinelands, with all our lakes surrounded by trees. That presents us with challenges every year.
Q: How long have you been working with Princeton Hydro?
The Colony started working with Princeton Hydro back in the late 1990s. I have personally been working with Princeton Hydro for around 10 years. I have partnered with nearly a dozen Princeton Hydro people, from Princeton Hydro President Geoffrey Goll, PE down to many individual Project Engineers.
Q: What types of services have we provided to your organization?
Princeton Hydro has provided recurring dam inspection services, as well as design, permitting, and oversight work for both planned and emergency dam repair and maintenance work. There are multiple dams for which Princeton Hydro completes the NJDEP Dam Safety inspections. There have been multiple large spillway repair projects where Princeton Hydro has been the Engineer-of-Record, completing the official designs, getting Dam Safety approval, and doing the full project management. The Princeton Hydro engineers and project managers have always been great partners on these projects.
Q: Do you have a favorite or most memorable project we’ve worked on together?
Three years ago we had an emergency situation at our Wauwaushkashe Dam. Over the previous several years, unknown to us, the culvert pipe was getting increasingly clogged with organic material. Then, one Sunday, it became completely plugged.
The upstream lake filled till the water was a foot above the top of the outbound spillway and was threatening to overtop the dam. Through the network of volunteers we have in Medford Lakes, we were able to get a contractor out within 24 hours to clear the plug. Princeton Hydro was brought into the project because the full repair was going to require engineering design, project plan development, submission to Dam Safety, and ongoing oversight to ensure the repair was completed correctly. Princeton Hydro managed that full process with a very quick turnaround. Who would have thought that pine needles could plug a 30-inch corrugated culvert pipe?
Q: What are some exciting things your organization is working on right now?
In this line of work, around managing dams and water quality, we don’t like “exciting.” Waking up one day to a plugged culvert pipe and a lake about to overtop a dam is the kind of “excitement” we would prefer not to have!
We are moving along with a program to install aeration bubblers in most of our lakes. We have them in about one-third of the lakes completed right now. Subject to budget constraints, we should have them in all relevant lakes within the next two years. We are also in the first year of a small longitudinal data collection project. Last fall, the Colony purchased a YSI Proline data logger which allows us to collect temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. I have partnered with another volunteer, and we have collected data from nearly a dozen lakes on multiple dates in May, June, July, and August. We have defined locations in each lake and we gather data in one-foot increments in the entire water column at each location. We are able to see water stratification developing in some of the lakes as the summer moves on and temperatures rise. I have identified a couple locations where we have underground springs flowing into specific lakes. This is just the start of a broader data collection and the analysis program the Colony wants to implement to understand the long-term dynamics of this watershed.
Click here to read the previous edition of our Client Spotlight blog series, which features The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey:
It’s been two and a half years since the removal of the Columbia Dam on the Paulins Kill in Northern New Jersey. In that time, American Shad have been discovered upstream of the former dam, a major indicator of improved water quality. The following time-lapse videos highlight the amazing efforts by the project team to reconnect the floodplain and restore fish passage, enabling the river to return to its former ecological state.
Removal of the Columbia Dam. Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Contracted by New Jersey Nature Conservancy and American Rivers, our team of engineers and ecologists designed, permitted, and oversaw the removal of the Columbia Dam, the largest dam removal to date in New Jersey. Additional project partners include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Riverlogic, and SumCo EcoContracting.
Construction of fish passage structures. Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Removal of the Remnant Dam. Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Princeton Hydro has designed, permitted, and overseen the reconstruction, repair, and removal of dozens of small and large dams in the Northeast. Click here to read more about our work in fish passage, river restoration, and dam removal.
In March 2020, NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) published the long-awaited revisions to the New Jersey Stormwater Management Rule (N.J.A.C. 7:8), which now requires the use of green infrastructure. But what do these updates actually mean for New Jersey’s stormwater infrastructure?
At Princeton Hydro, we recognize the benefit of green infrastructure and we've been incorporating it into our engineering designs since before the term was regularly used in the stormwater lexicon. We've been following the rule amendments very closely, so we’ve got the inside scoop on how to interpret these new updates. In this blog, we’ll break down the complexities and changes to help you understand what’s really going on.
So, let’s start with what green infrastructure actually is in a general sense. Many people think of green infrastructure solely as a way to classify certain stormwater best management practices, or BMPs, but in reality, it goes much deeper than that. Green infrastructure is an approach to engineering design that emphasizes the use of natural processes. Examples include green roofs, rain gardens, constructed wetlands, vegetated bioswales, and living shorelines. In general, approaching environmental management from this lens can help reduce costs and negative impacts to our ecosystems. The benefit to using green infrastructure over structural grey infrastructure is that these living BMPs are incredibly resilient. Being living systems, green infrastructure BMPs help decrease stormwater volume, as soil and vegetation naturally retain and evapotranspire water. Afterall, those natural processes have successfully worked for billions of years, so why not mimic them in our design?
In addition to effectively managing stormwater, green infrastructure has other added benefits such as reducing the heat island effect, reducing energy use, removing pollutants from the air, beautifying public spaces, and even increasing property value. Though the actual practice of green infrastructure may seem new and innovative, the concept has been around for decades.
So now, let’s get to the updated regulations. The biggest takeaway from this update is that green infrastructure is now required to meet the three performance criteria that NJDEP sets forth for stormwater management. The amendments to the rule give definitions of green infrastructure as it applies to stormwater management. The rule defines green infrastructure as follows:
"‘Green Infrastructure’ means a stormwater management measure that manages stormwater close to its source by:
Treating stormwater runoff through infiltration into subsoil;
Treating stormwater runoff through filtration by vegetation or soil; or
Storing stormwater runoff for reuse.”
NJDEP evaluates stormwater management compliance through three basic performance metrics: (1) groundwater recharge, (2) water quality, and (3) peak flow control. While these metrics have remained relatively unchanged under the amended rule, the requirements for meeting them have been modified to include green infrastructure. The pre-existing rule required that major developments incorporate nonstructural stormwater management BMPs/strategies to the “maximum extent practicable” to meet their criteria. The amended rule not only gives specific suggestions for the kind of BMPs it's looking for by adding a definition of green infrastructure, but it also makes those BMPs/strategies a requirement for compliance with the rule’s minimum standards.
The rule also includes tables outlining/summarizing the application of each type of stormwater BMP. One of the biggest changes here is that some of those BMPs have drainage area limitations, which could pose new challenges in the design process.
As stated above, the rule defines green infrastructure as, “a stormwater management measure that manages stormwater close to its source.” This is where those drainage area limitations come into play. Dry wells have a one acre drainage area limitation, which is not new, however, pervious pavement has a 3:1 ratio requirement, meaning that the water flowing over standard pavement, or impervious surfaces, should not be more than three times greater than the area of the pervious pavement.
Likewise, in the amended rule, BMPs like bioretention systems, have a drainage area limitation of 2.5 acres. The addition of this requirement will require designers to spread BMPs out throughout their site, instead of simply including one large structural BMP in a single location on the site. This approach decentralizes and distributes BMPs, enabling more stormwater to infiltrate into the ground, rather than runoff. Because this method more clostely mimics the natural water cycle, it is expected to foster better long-term performance of the BMPs.
This 2.5-acre drainage area limitation is going to effect stormwater design in that it will lead to BMP decentralization. So, project sites will likely have numerous smaller BMPs that will be distributed throughout the area, as opposed to having one large basin at the bottom of the site. This applies, in particular, to large scale commercial and residential projects, as the updated rule will discourage, and in most cases actually not allow, for the implementation of one large basin at the bottom of the site, which currently is common practice in large-scale development design.
Another update to the rule is that motor vehicle surfaces are now incorporated into the definition of major development, which was further clarified and defined as:
“Any individual ‘development,’ as well as multiple developments that individually or collectively result in:
The disturbance of one or more acres of land since February 2, 2004;
The creation of one-quarter acre or more of “regulated impervious surface” since February 2, 2004;
The creation of one-quarter acre or more of “regulated motor vehicle surface” since March 2,2021; or
A combination of 2 and 3 above that totals an area of one-quarter acre or more. The same surface shall not be counted twice when determining if the combination area equals one quarter acre or more.”
The amended rule requires these motor vehicle surfaces to have 80% total suspended solids (TSS) removal, in order to maintain water quality. These surfaces include standard pavement drive/parking areas and gravel and dirt drive/parking areas, according to the rule. However, the rule does not require water quality control for runoff from other impervious surfaces that are not traveled by automobiles, such as rooftops and sidewalks, or other paved walkway areas.
In addition to the changes made to the actual rule, NJDEP released an updated draft of Chapters 5, 12, 13, and Appendix D of the NJ Stormwater BMP Manual, which is currently open for public comment. Chapter 5 regards Stormwater Management and Quantity and Quality Standards and Computations and Chapter 12 regards Soil Testing Criteria. The biggest update to the manual is the addition of the recently finalized Chapter 13: Groundwater Table Hydraulic Impact Assessments for Infiltration BMPs, which requires design engineers to assess the hydraulic impact on the groundwater table to avoid adverse impacts such as surficial ponding, flooding of basements, interference with sewage disposal systems, and interference with the proper functioning of the BMP itself. The addition of this chapter will ensure that these issues are minimized, helping to improve the state’s stormwater management practices overall.
New Jersey municipalities will need to comply with the new standards, as the NJ Stormwater Management Rule represents the minimum requirements for stormwater control ordinances. The law states that municipalities must update their ordinances by March 2, 2021. To make this transition a bit smoother, NJDEP has released a revised model ordinance in Appendix D of the NJ Stormwater BMP Manual to act as a sample for municipalities to follow when adopting these new regulations. Similar to before, municipalities do have the ability to require stricter stormwater performance metrics, but the criteria outlined in the rule are the minimum that must be met under the new regulations.
For more information on the updates to the stormwater regulations, you can check out an informational webinar (below) hosted by NJ-AWRA and The Watershed Institute. This webinar includes three presentations by New Jersey stormwater experts, including our Director of Stormwater Management & Green Infrastructure, Dr. Clay Emerson, PE, CFM.
Have you ever wondered what it actually means to conduct construction oversight on a project? Our engineers regularly do so to ensure design plans are being implemented correctly. But, construction oversight requires a lot more than just the ability to oversee. Our engineers have to understand the ins and outs of the plans, be adaptable, fast-thinking, and incredibly capable of communicating with and coordinating various parties.
Let’s walk through a day in the life of one of our construction oversight engineers, Casey Schrading, PE, and outline the key components of his job:
SAFETY. When it comes to construction sites, safety always comes first. It is important to have the proper health and safety training before entering an active construction zone. On an active construction site, there could be many different hazards that workers encounter. Before heading to the site, Casey makes sure he has all his necessary safety equipment and protection gear. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) usually includes a neon safety vest (visibility), hard hat (head protection), long pants (protective clothing), safety glasses (eye protection), and steel-toed boots (foot protection). In some cases, on construction sites with more risk factors, higher levels of PPE may be required including hearing protection, gloves, respiratory masks, fall protection equipment, and disposable Tyvek coveralls.
COORDINATION. For most construction projects, the day starts early. Upon arrival, Casey checks the site out to see if anything has changed from the day before and takes pictures of the site. He then checks in with the contractor to discuss the plan for the day and any outstanding items from the day prior.
Most of the day consists of a back and forth process between watching the construction workers implement the design and then monitoring and checking the design plans. In order for the contractor to properly implement the design, the oversight engineer must direct the workers during the installation process; for many designs, there are critical angles, locations, heights, and widths that features must be installed at. It is imperative for the oversight engineer to direct and work hand-in-hand with the contractor so those features are installed correctly for effective design implementation.
ON-SITE MONITORING. For certain projects, the day-to-day construction oversight tasks may get a little more involved. For instance, when conducting construction oversight for our Columbia Dam Removal project, Casey was tasked with taking turbidity samples every three hours at two locations along the Paulins Kill — one upstream of the site to collect baseline data and one downstream of the site to quantify the site’s effect on turbidity. If the turbidity readings downstream of the site came out too high, Casey would then have to determine how those high levels were affecting the turbidity in the Delaware River, which the Paulins Kill discharges into less than a quarter mile downstream of the site. If flooding in the Delaware River wasn’t enough to pose safety concerns, Casey would then take readings at two additional locations upstream and downstream of the Delaware River-Paulins Kill confluence. Again, the upstream reading served as a baseline reading for turbidity while the downstream reading showed the effects of the Paulins Kill on the Delaware River.
These turbidity samples were necessary because this project involved passive sediment transport, meaning the sediment that had built up behind the dam for over a century was going to slowly work its way downstream as the dam was notched out piece by piece, as opposed to it being dredged out before the barrier removal. It’s important to monitor turbidity in a case like this to make sure levels remain stable. The need for monitoring at construction sites further emphasizes the need for construction oversight engineers to be multifaceted.
ADAPTATION. In all construction projects, the goal is to have everything installed or constructed according to plan, but, with so many environmental factors at play, that rarely happens. Because of the ever-changing nature of most of our projects, it is essential that our construction oversight engineers have the keen ability to adapt and to do so quickly. Casey has experienced a range of changes in plan while conducting construction oversight. He says the skills he relies on most is communication. When something changes, it’s imperative that the onsite engineer knows exactly who to contact to work out a solution. Sometimes that might be Princeton Hydro’s internal project manager, or sometimes it might be a regulatory official from NJDEP.
WEEKLY MEETINGS. Another critical part of construction oversight is facilitating weekly coordination meetings. The weekly meeting is usually attended by the contractor, the engineering firm, and the client. The parties will discuss what has happened thus far at the site and what still needs to happen, allowing them to establish action items. Occasionally, other entities like organizations that provided funding for a project or regulatory agencies, will also be involved in those conversations. The weekly meetings are designed to keep everybody on task and help to ensure every party’s goals and needs are being met.
DOCUMENTATION. Anytime field work is being conducted, it is essential to document the happenings and the progress made. This documentation usually comes in the form of a Daily Field Report (DFR). A DFR includes information about the work performed on a given day, such as measurements, quantities of structures installed, and how that installation process went. Also included in the DFRs are clear and descriptive photographs.
COMMUNICATION. Working on any project, it’s important to make sure all involved parties understand the reason behind each installation. It is often easier for a construction team to implement plans correctly if they know and understand why each part of it is important and included in the project. Explaining why a task needs to be completed also helps relieve tension that could potentially arise between the engineer and the contractor. It is essential to make sure every person on the project team is on the same page.
PUBLIC OUTREACH. Another critical aspect of construction oversight is having the ability to successfully communicate with the public. Members of the community surrounding a site need to be kept apprised of the goings on so they can remain safe during the construction period and understand the goals of the project. When citizens understand the purpose and goals of a project, they are more likely to support and respect it.
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. Understanding the permitting surrounding a project is also essential to success as a construction oversight engineer. The engineer has to understand the ins and outs of the permitting and regulations in order to be able to make decisions about changes in the plan and to be able to successfully point the contractor in the correct and compliant direction.
"Construction oversight is a tedious and incredibly important job, yet I really enjoy it because it gives me a new and better understanding of the engineering design process," explains Casey. He feels it gives him a much more practical understanding of engineering design, as he has seen what kinds of plans are actually implementable and what that process looks like. "Watching a design plan get implemented brings the project full circle and allows me to take that knowledge and experience back to the office and back into the design process."
Princeton Hydro provides construction oversight services to private, public, and nonprofit clients for a variety of ecosystem restoration, water resource, and geotechnical projects across the Northeast. Learn more.
Casey graduated from Virginia Tech in 2018 with a degree in Biological Systems Engineering and now works as a staff engineer for the firm with a focus in water resources engineering. He has experience in ecological restoration, flood management, water quality analysis, and best management practices. His experience also includes construction oversight for dam removal and restoration projects as well as design, technical writing, and drafting for a wide variety of water resources engineering projects. In his free time Casey very much enjoys travelling, hiking, skiing, and camping.
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It's happening! The Columbia Dam on the Paulins Kill in Northern New Jersey is finally coming down thanks to a successful collaboration between The Nature Conservancy, American Rivers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife Service, and Princeton Hydro. The first cut on the main dam wall was made just two weeks ago, and the water has started flowing downstream as the concrete is slowly being removed by the contractors RiverLogic Solutions and SumCo Eco-Contracting.
“In New Jersey, successful dam removal projects are often the result of partnerships between nonprofit organizations, federal and state agencies, consultants, and others working together toward the common goal of river restoration," exclaimed Dr. Laura Craig, Director of River Restoration, American Rivers. "The first day of dam demolition is always a joyous occasion for project partners, but I was especially happy to see the river flowing through the breached Columbia Dam for the first time after working so intensely on this project for the last few years.”
Princeton Hydro has been involved with the engineering and restoration design from the beginning, so we're very excited to report on this major update. Our team of engineers and ecologists studied the feasibility of removal as requested by American Rivers in partnership with the New Jersey chapter of The Nature Conservancy. We investigated, designed, and prepared the necessary permits for the removal of this dam. And, now we've been subsequently been hired to provide construction administration services during the removal process, which means we get to see the dam come down firsthand, piece by piece!
"It is truly amazing and exciting to finally see the main and remnant dams come down, as I have been involved in this restoration effort since the feasibility stage," said Kelly Klein, Senior Project Manager, Princeton Hydro. "I am so honored to be part of this dynamic team and to collaborate with our project partners during every stage of this dam removal."
"On Friday, August 3rd 2018, we began demolition of the 300 foot-long, 18 foot-high Columbia Dam. The Paulins Kill will run freely to meet the Delaware River for the first time in 109 years," said New Jersey Nature Conservancy's Beth Styler Barry. "The benefits of reconnecting these two freshwater ecosystems will be immediate and impact creatures that live in and near the stream, as well as people who come out to paddle, fish or enjoy the wildlife. Dam Removal projects are exciting, ecologically important and also a challenge, this project is a good example of partners coming together to get a great restoration project done."
In order to make the first saw cut into the dam, Princeton Hydro and RiverLogic Solutions first identified the locations of the drill holes. These drill holes are used to feed the diamond wire through the dam for saw cutting.
The crew placed the saw cutter machine on the staging area on top of the apron and prepared for the cut.
Since the high water level was now higher than the bottom of the breach, water is able to flow in and over the notched section.
Because of high flows of water from recent storm events, the dam breach is being widened to allow for larger flows of water to move downstream during high flow events.
Additionally, a few weeks ago we reported on the lowering of the water levels and removal of the remnant dam downstream. Click here for more details and photos.
Since then, the remnant dam has been completed removed and the area has been stabilized.
Now, the water can freely flow through this section of the Paulins Kill.
In case you missed it, we celebrated the commencement of the Columbia Dam removal with NJDEP's Commissioner Catherine McCabe and our project partners. Click here to read the full story.
On a bright, sunny day in Warren County, Princeton Hydro celebrated the Columbia Dam Removal Project with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Commissioner Catherine McCabe, The New Jersey Nature Conservancy (event organizer), American Rivers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife Service, RiverLogic Solutions, and SumCo Eco-Contracting.
Overlooking the soon-to-be removed, century-old, hydroelectric Columbia Dam, key stakeholders, including Princeton Hydro's President Geoffrey Goll, P.E. and New Jersey Nature Conservancy's Director Barbara Brummer, remarked on the success of the project, collaborative team efforts, and future benefits to the Paulins Kill habitat.
NJ Nature Conservancy's River Restoration Manager, Beth Styler-Barry thanked project funders including NJDEP's Office of Natural Resource Restoration, USFWS's Fish Passage Program, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Bring Back The Natives program, Natural Resources Conservation Service's Regional Conservation Partnership Program, New Jersey Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership, Leavens Foundation, Tom's of Maine, and Nature Conservancy members and donors.
"We made a commitment early-on to a 10-year monitoring and measurement plan. The removal of Columbia Dam is an opportunity to gain new knowledge and generate data that builds the case for this type of restoration. We'll be looking at everything from mussels to temperature to geomorphological changes to increasing our targeted efficiencies. We're also going to use images taken from repeated drone flyovers to look closely at changes in topography," said Styler-Barry.
NJDEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe added, "The Columbia Dam is ranked in the top 5% of the nearly 14,000 dams that were assessed for priority. It will give us one of the most bangs for our buck in terms of fish and native species that we'll be able to bring back up here." She added, "This is exactly what Natural Resources Damages funds should be used for, and we are thrilled to see it come to fruition."
Back in the day, this dam structure was a marvel of engineering. Because concrete was very expensive during the time of construction, a patented, innovative "ransom hollow" design was used, which means it has a hollow center with series of doorways underneath the dam, explained Geoffrey Goll, P.E., President of Princeton Hydro. However, sustainability and climate change are very important issues today and must be taken into consideration for the life-cycle of a dam.
"Removal is a logical step in the history of this dam. Dam removals are the most impactful restorations. They provide the most ecological uplift and improvement for rivers," Goll stated.
For Princeton Hydro, this project involved every discipline we have in the firm: civil engineering, fishery biology, wetland science, hydraulics, geotechnical engineering, and regulatory work. We were contracted by American Rivers to investigate, design, and permit for the removal of this dam for the New Jersey Nature Conservancy. Our team of engineers and ecologists studied the feasibility of removal by collecting sediment samples, performed bioassay tests, and conducted a hydraulic analysis of upstream and downstream conditions. Currently, we are providing construction administration services during the removal process. This project is a great example of our ability to complete multi-disciplinary projects in-house.
At the end of the press conference, project partners celebrated the anticipation of the "first hammer" in the near future with an imitation dynamite siren and plastic sledge hammers. It was truly a keystone moment for everyone involved in this project.
The remnant dam downstream has already been removed and the main dam is due to be removed very soon. Check out our previous story with a series of photos documenting this first-step in the overall dam removal process: bit.ly/ColumbiaDamRemoval. Stay tuned for photos during the main dam removal process too.
Princeton Hydro has designed, permitted, and overseen the reconstruction, repair, and removal of a dozens of small and large dams in the Northeast. To learn more about our fish passage and dam removal engineering services, visit: bit.ly/DamBarrier.
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