WP_Query Object
(
    [query] => Array
        (
            [tag] => njdep
        )

    [query_vars] => Array
        (
            [tag] => njdep
            [error] => 
            [m] => 
            [p] => 0
            [post_parent] => 
            [subpost] => 
            [subpost_id] => 
            [attachment] => 
            [attachment_id] => 0
            [name] => 
            [pagename] => 
            [page_id] => 0
            [second] => 
            [minute] => 
            [hour] => 
            [day] => 0
            [monthnum] => 0
            [year] => 0
            [w] => 0
            [category_name] => stream_restoration
            [cat] => 41
            [tag_id] => 807
            [author] => 
            [author_name] => 
            [feed] => 
            [tb] => 
            [paged] => 1
            [meta_key] => 
            [meta_value] => 
            [preview] => 
            [s] => 
            [sentence] => 
            [title] => 
            [fields] => all
            [menu_order] => 
            [embed] => 
            [category__in] => Array
                (
                    [0] => 41
                )

            [category__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [category__and] => Array
                (
                )

            [post__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [post__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [post_name__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [tag__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [tag__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [tag__and] => Array
                (
                )

            [tag_slug__in] => Array
                (
                    [0] => njdep
                )

            [tag_slug__and] => Array
                (
                )

            [post_parent__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [post_parent__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [author__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [author__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [search_columns] => Array
                (
                )

            [ignore_sticky_posts] => 
            [suppress_filters] => 
            [cache_results] => 1
            [update_post_term_cache] => 1
            [update_menu_item_cache] => 
            [lazy_load_term_meta] => 1
            [update_post_meta_cache] => 1
            [post_type] => 
            [posts_per_page] => 10
            [nopaging] => 
            [comments_per_page] => 5
            [no_found_rows] => 
            [order] => DESC
        )

    [tax_query] => WP_Tax_Query Object
        (
            [queries] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [taxonomy] => category
                            [terms] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => 41
                                )

                            [field] => term_id
                            [operator] => IN
                            [include_children] => 
                        )

                    [1] => Array
                        (
                            [taxonomy] => post_tag
                            [terms] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => njdep
                                )

                            [field] => slug
                            [operator] => IN
                            [include_children] => 1
                        )

                )

            [relation] => AND
            [table_aliases:protected] => Array
                (
                    [0] => ph_term_relationships
                    [1] => tt1
                )

            [queried_terms] => Array
                (
                    [category] => Array
                        (
                            [terms] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => 41
                                )

                            [field] => term_id
                        )

                    [post_tag] => Array
                        (
                            [terms] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => njdep
                                )

                            [field] => slug
                        )

                )

            [primary_table] => ph_posts
            [primary_id_column] => ID
        )

    [meta_query] => WP_Meta_Query Object
        (
            [queries] => Array
                (
                )

            [relation] => 
            [meta_table] => 
            [meta_id_column] => 
            [primary_table] => 
            [primary_id_column] => 
            [table_aliases:protected] => Array
                (
                )

            [clauses:protected] => Array
                (
                )

            [has_or_relation:protected] => 
        )

    [date_query] => 
    [queried_object] => WP_Term Object
        (
            [term_id] => 807
            [name] => NJDEP
            [slug] => njdep
            [term_group] => 0
            [term_taxonomy_id] => 807
            [taxonomy] => post_tag
            [description] => 
            [parent] => 0
            [count] => 41
            [filter] => raw
            [term_order] => 0
        )

    [queried_object_id] => 807
    [request] => SELECT SQL_CALC_FOUND_ROWS  ph_posts.ID
					 FROM ph_posts  LEFT JOIN ph_term_relationships ON (ph_posts.ID = ph_term_relationships.object_id)  LEFT JOIN ph_term_relationships AS tt1 ON (ph_posts.ID = tt1.object_id)
					 WHERE 1=1  AND ( 
  ph_term_relationships.term_taxonomy_id IN (41) 
  AND 
  tt1.term_taxonomy_id IN (807)
) AND ((ph_posts.post_type = 'post' AND (ph_posts.post_status = 'publish' OR ph_posts.post_status = 'acf-disabled')))
					 GROUP BY ph_posts.ID
					 ORDER BY ph_posts.menu_order, ph_posts.post_date DESC
					 LIMIT 0, 10
    [posts] => Array
        (
            [0] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 7723
                    [post_author] => 3
                    [post_date] => 2021-02-24 08:35:52
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2021-02-24 08:35:52
                    [post_content] => 
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.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzIcjCRXXSA&feature=youtu.be[/embed]
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.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvRHQCXLwyg&feature=youtu.be[/embed]
Construction of fish passage structures. Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service




[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdkF1K8HLbQ&feature=youtu.be[/embed]
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.
                    [post_title] => WATCH: Time-Lapse of Columbia Lake Dam Removal
                    [post_excerpt] => 
                    [post_status] => publish
                    [comment_status] => open
                    [ping_status] => open
                    [post_password] => 
                    [post_name] => time-lapse-columbia-dam-removal
                    [to_ping] => 
                    [pinged] => 
                    [post_modified] => 2026-04-02 16:27:50
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-04-02 16:27:50
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => https://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/?p=5979
                    [menu_order] => 0
                    [post_type] => post
                    [post_mime_type] => 
                    [comment_count] => 0
                    [filter] => raw
                )

            [1] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 2418
                    [post_author] => 3
                    [post_date] => 2018-08-14 20:44:35
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2018-08-14 20:44:35
                    [post_content] => 

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."




Here's a snapshot of what's been happening over the last last two weeks:

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.


In order to create a notch in the dam, the crew supplemented the saw cutting with hammering.








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.
                    [post_title] => UPDATE: The Columbia Lake Dam Is Coming Down
                    [post_excerpt] => 
                    [post_status] => publish
                    [comment_status] => open
                    [ping_status] => open
                    [post_password] => 
                    [post_name] => columbiadamdemo
                    [to_ping] => 
                    [pinged] => 
                    [post_modified] => 2026-04-02 16:28:15
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-04-02 16:28:15
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => http://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/?p=2418
                    [menu_order] => 0
                    [post_type] => post
                    [post_mime_type] => 
                    [comment_count] => 0
                    [filter] => raw
                )

            [2] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 2280
                    [post_author] => 3
                    [post_date] => 2018-07-13 18:46:41
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2018-07-13 18:46:41
                    [post_content] => 
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.
[embed]https://youtu.be/oneon9y7DLU[/embed]
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.
                    [post_title] => Celebrating the Columbia Lake Dam Removal
                    [post_excerpt] => 
                    [post_status] => publish
                    [comment_status] => open
                    [ping_status] => open
                    [post_password] => 
                    [post_name] => celebrating-the-columbia-dam-removal
                    [to_ping] => 
                    [pinged] => 
                    [post_modified] => 2026-04-02 16:27:58
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-04-02 16:27:58
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => http://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/?p=2280
                    [menu_order] => 0
                    [post_type] => post
                    [post_mime_type] => 
                    [comment_count] => 0
                    [filter] => raw
                )

        )

    [post_count] => 3
    [current_post] => -1
    [before_loop] => 1
    [in_the_loop] => 
    [post] => WP_Post Object
        (
            [ID] => 7723
            [post_author] => 3
            [post_date] => 2021-02-24 08:35:52
            [post_date_gmt] => 2021-02-24 08:35:52
            [post_content] => 
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.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzIcjCRXXSA&feature=youtu.be[/embed]
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.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvRHQCXLwyg&feature=youtu.be[/embed]
Construction of fish passage structures. Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service




[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdkF1K8HLbQ&feature=youtu.be[/embed]
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.
            [post_title] => WATCH: Time-Lapse of Columbia Lake Dam Removal
            [post_excerpt] => 
            [post_status] => publish
            [comment_status] => open
            [ping_status] => open
            [post_password] => 
            [post_name] => time-lapse-columbia-dam-removal
            [to_ping] => 
            [pinged] => 
            [post_modified] => 2026-04-02 16:27:50
            [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-04-02 16:27:50
            [post_content_filtered] => 
            [post_parent] => 0
            [guid] => https://www.princetonhydro.com/blog/?p=5979
            [menu_order] => 0
            [post_type] => post
            [post_mime_type] => 
            [comment_count] => 0
            [filter] => raw
        )

    [comment_count] => 0
    [current_comment] => -1
    [found_posts] => 3
    [max_num_pages] => 1
    [max_num_comment_pages] => 0
    [is_single] => 
    [is_preview] => 
    [is_page] => 
    [is_archive] => 1
    [is_date] => 
    [is_year] => 
    [is_month] => 
    [is_day] => 
    [is_time] => 
    [is_author] => 
    [is_category] => 
    [is_tag] => 1
    [is_tax] => 
    [is_search] => 
    [is_feed] => 
    [is_comment_feed] => 
    [is_trackback] => 
    [is_home] => 
    [is_privacy_policy] => 
    [is_404] => 
    [is_embed] => 
    [is_paged] => 
    [is_admin] => 
    [is_attachment] => 
    [is_singular] => 
    [is_robots] => 
    [is_favicon] => 
    [is_posts_page] => 
    [is_post_type_archive] => 
    [query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => 16a36510aa112441c9263bd7fcdcbb93
    [query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] => 1
    [thumbnails_cached] => 
    [allow_query_attachment_by_filename:protected] => 
    [stopwords:WP_Query:private] => 
    [compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array
        (
            [0] => query_vars_hash
            [1] => query_vars_changed
        )

    [compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array
        (
            [0] => init_query_flags
            [1] => parse_tax_query
        )

    [query_cache_key:WP_Query:private] => wp_query:11bd083464a19b9ddd8e48d6df053d1f
)

Home Blog

Tag: NJDEP