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The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) recently announced $8 million in Water Quality Restoration Grants to support projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution, mitigate harmful algal blooms, restore riparian areas, and enhance watershed and climate resilience. Funded through Section 319(h) of the federal Clean Water Act and administered by the DEP's Watershed and Land Management Program, these grants were awarded to municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions across the state.
Princeton Hydro is proud to be a partner on five of the 17 funded projects. Our contributions vary by project and encompass activities such as engineering design, water quality assessment, watershed-based planning, and technical support for implementing stormwater and habitat restoration measures. Let's take a deeper look at these collaborative efforts:

1. The Watershed Institute – Watershed-Based Planning for Assunpink Creek
The Watershed Institute received $205K in 319(h) grant funding to develop a watershed-based plan for the Assunpink Creek watershed, located within the Raritan River Basin. This watershed spans 11 municipalities across two counties, where varied landscapes and demographics share common challenges such as localized flooding, stormwater management, and water quality degradation, highlighting the need for a coordinated, watershed-wide, science-driven approach.
The plan will evaluate pollution sources and identify large-scale restoration opportunities, including green infrastructure and riparian buffer restoration, to improve water quality and reduce flooding. It will also assess the cost, feasibility, and pollutant reduction potential of proposed measures to ensure practical implementation. Princeton Hydro supported the Institute in developing the grant proposal and planning framework, leveraging our expertise in watershed-based planning to prioritize nature-based solutions that address both water quality and climate resilience. This initiative represents a critical step toward regional collaboration, enabling upstream and downstream communities to work together on strategies that strengthen watershed health, protect public safety, and build long-term resilience.




2. Lake Hopatcong Commission – Watershed-Based Stormwater BMPs
The Lake Hopatcong Commission (LHC) was awarded $366K to retrofit an existing stormwater detention basin between King Road and Mount Arlington Boulevard in Roxbury Township. This retrofit is part of a larger Watershed Implementation Plan that Princeton Hydro developed in collaboration with LHC, which prioritizes nutrient reduction and stormwater management strategies across the Lake Hopatcong watershed. Over the past several years, LHC has actively implemented multiple elements of this plan to address harmful algal blooms (HABs) and improve water quality.
For this project, Princeton Hydro is providing engineering design and technical oversight to transform the existing basin into a green stormwater infrastructure system that slows, captures, and naturally treats runoff before it enters King Cove. The design incorporates native vegetation, invasive species management, and erosion control measures to stabilize soils and filter pollutants, reducing nutrient loading, which is one key driver of HABs. Public outreach and pre- and post-construction water quality monitoring will ensure performance tracking and measurable improvements. This basin retrofit represents a critical step in a coordinated, science-based approach to restoring ecological health and water quality in New Jersey’s largest lake.




3. Cozy Lake, Jefferson Township – Addressing Emerging Contaminants
Jefferson Township received $350K in grant funding to develop an Emerging Contaminants Management Plan for Cozy Lake, focusing on cyanotoxins and HABs. Cozy Lake is a 28-acre waterbody within a 1,152-acre sub-watershed that includes both forested (60%) and developed (29%) land. The lake is fed by the Rockaway River at its northern end and a smaller southeastern inlet, with outflow through a dam on the western edge.
The shoreline is primarily residential lawn with minimal emergent wetlands, and several inlets and rock-lined drainage ditches exhibit erosion and lack slope protection, contributing to sediment loading. Princeton Hydro provided early technical input to shape this innovative project with the creation of a comprehensive Jefferson Township Lake and Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan. As part of the plan, Princeton Hydro made recommendations for Cozy Lake, which included enhancing shoreline buffers with native vegetation and installing living shorelines at select properties to stabilize soils, filter stormwater and reduce nutrient loading, improve habitat quality, and enhance community access. These measures, combined with in-lake monitoring and proactive management strategies, will help mitigate HABs and protect ecological and public health.




4. Rockaway Township – Watershed-Based Green Infrastructure
Rockaway Township received $399K in grant funding to implement elements of its Watershed Implementation Plan, focusing on green infrastructure stormwater management and nutrient reduction to improve water quality. The project will retrofit the municipal complex by converting a rock-lined drainage swale into a vegetated swale with a bioretention basin, designed to filter stormwater runoff and reduce nonpoint source pollutants entering Fox’s Pond and Fox Brook.
Princeton Hydro played a key role in developing the Watershed Implementation Plan, which encompasses 11 private lakes within the Rockaway River watershed, prioritizing critical locations for intervention and designing cost-effective green infrastructure BMPs. This regional approach aligns with strategies recommended by NJDEP and the Highlands Council. The plan included a comprehensive watershed-based assessment to identify and quantify factors contributing to eutrophication, evaluate management measures, estimate costs, and establish an implementation schedule. Princeton Hydro authored the final report, which guided the Township in applying for the Section 319(h) grant and now informs the design and construction of green stormwater infrastructure that will deliver measurable water quality improvements while supporting ecological restoration goals.




5. Green Trust Alliance – Green Infrastructure and Community Engagement
Green Trust Alliance (GTA), a nationally accredited land trust and public charity dedicated to accelerating large-scale conservation, received $1.39 million in NJDEP funding to implement green infrastructure improvements at Pinelands Regional High School in Tuckerton, New Jersey. This initiative targets the Tuckerton Creek watershed, which drains into Tuckerton Creek and ultimately flows into Barnegat Bay—a critical estuary spanning 33 municipalities in Ocean County and four in Monmouth County. The retrofit will transform the school’s stormwater detention basin into a multi-functional system that mimics natural hydrology, enhances flow control, and improves water quality locally and in the larger Barnegat Bay watershed.
Working with GTA and GreenVest, Princeton Hydro is serving as the design engineer, applying nature-based engineering and ecological restoration techniques to intercept, evapotranspire, and infiltrate stormwater runoff at its source. In addition to its technical objectives, the effort includes a strong community engagement component and an educational platform for students. By bringing green infrastructure into the school environment, the initiative provides hands-on experience with water resources, stormwater management, and ecological engineering, help to build STEM skills while fostering a deeper connection to the surrounding landscape and an understanding of how natural systems work together to support environmental and community health.



Princeton Hydro also assisted several of these partners in developing successful NJDEP Section 319(h) grant applications, providing technical documentation, conceptual designs, and pollutant load reduction estimates to strengthen the proposals.
To date, the Murphy Administration has awarded more than $33M in Water Quality Restoration grants to improve the health of waterways in all corners of the state. Click here to read about all the 2025 grant funding recipients and their innovative projects.
As NJDEP Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette noted in the department's press release, “Enhancing the ecological health of our lakes, rivers, streams and coastal waters has long been a priority of the Murphy Administration. The Department of Environmental Protection is pleased to award these grants that will help our partners advance a variety of strategies to improve the health of these waterways and enhance the quality of life in our communities.”
We are proud to play a continued role in advancing that mission: helping communities implement practical, data-driven solutions that make a measurable difference for New Jersey’s waterways and the people who depend on them. Click here to learn more about our work to protect natural habitat and restore water quality throughout the New Jersey.
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Last year, there were more than 70 suspected and 39 confirmed Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in New Jersey, which is significantly higher than the previous two years. New Jersey wasn’t the only state impacted by HABs. The increase caused severe impacts on lakes throughout the country, resulting in beach closures, restricting access to lake usage, and prompting wide-ranging health advisories.
In November, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and officials from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced a three-pronged, $13 million initiative to reduce and prevent future HABs in the state. As part of the initiative, NJDEP hosted its first regional HABs Summit with the goal of prevention by improving communication throughout lake communities and sharing information ahead of the warmer months when HABs begin to appear.
The summit, which was held on January 28, 2020 at NJDEP's Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center in Warren County included a Q&A panel discussion, information resource tables for one-on-one discussions, and presentations from a variety of NJDEP representatives and environmental experts. Princeton Hydro's  Director of Aquatics and regional HABs expert Dr. Fred Lubnow’s presentation focused on how to properly and effectively manage HABs.
According to Dr. Lubnow, “Managing loads of phosphorous in watersheds is even more important as the East Coast becomes increasingly warmer and wetter thanks to climate change. Climate change will likely need to be dealt with on a national and international scale. But local communities, groups, and individuals can have a real impact in reducing phosphorous levels in local waters.”
In a recent press release from Governor Murphy’s office, the NJDEP Chief of Staff Shawn LaTourette said, “We will reduce HABs by working closely with our local partners on prevention and treatment techniques, while relying on the best available science to clearly communicate risk to the public. Our new HABs initiative will enhance the Department’s ability to evaluate statewide strategies and increase the capacity of lake communities to reduce future blooms.”
New Jersey’s new HABs initiative is comprised of three main components:

Providing Funding:
More than $13 million in funding will be available to local communities to assist in preventing HABs, including:


 	

$2.5 million will be available as matching funds for lakes and HABs management grants, including treatment and prevention demonstration projects.

 	

Up to $1 million in Watershed Grant funding will be made available for planning and projects that reduce the nonpoint source pollution, including nutrients, that contribute to HABs in surface waters of the State.

 	

$10 million in principal forgiveness grants will be offered through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for half of the cost, capped at $2 million, of sewer and stormwater upgrades to reduce the flow of nutrients to affected waterbodies.


Increasing Expertise & Implementing Prevention Tactics:

Per the Governor’s press release, “the second element of the initiative is to build upon the state’s scientific expertise and enhance its capacity to respond to HAB events. This includes establishing a team of experts from across various sectors to evaluate the state’s strategies to prevent HABs and pursuing additional monitoring, testing and data management capacity.”

Connecting with Communities:

The third component is focused on increasing NJDEP’s ability to communicate with affected communities. The regional HABs Summit held on January 28 was one of two Summits that will occur in early 2020 (the date of the next Summit has not yet been announced). NJDEP has also developed new web tools to provide HABs education, offer a forum to discuss and report potential HAB sightings, and better communicate HAB incidents.
To learn more about New Jersey's new HABs Initiative, click here. To learn more about HABs, check out our recent blog: "Identifying, Understanding and Addressing Harmful Algae Blooms"
                    [post_title] => NJ Takes Serious Steps to Prevent Harmful Algal Blooms
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There are lots of things we can do to preserve our precious water resources. Reducing stormwater pollution in our neighborhoods is something everyone can take part in. Storm drain cleaning is a great place to start!





DIY Storm Drain Cleaning
Urbanization has fundamentally altered the way that water moves through the landscape. Stormwater that doesn’t soak into the ground runs along streets and parking lots and picks up pollutants. Much of the pollution in our nation’s waterways comes from everyday materials like fertilizers, pesticides, motor oil, and household chemicals. Rainwater washes these substances from streets, yards and driveways into storm drains.
It’s a common misconception that storm drains lead to wastewater treatment plants. In actuality, storm drains rarely lead to treatment plants and instead stormwater systems carry untreated water directly to the nearest waterway. This polluted runoff can have negative impacts on water quality, overstimulate algal growth (both toxic and non-toxic), harm aquatic species and wildlife, and cause trash and debris to enter our lakes, streams, rivers and oceans.


[caption id="attachment_4274" align="aligncenter" width="551"] https://www.middlesexcentre.on.ca/Public/Stormwater[/caption]

 
We can all do our part to improve and preserve water resources in our community and beyond! Keeping neighborhood storm drains cleaned is one simple step. Removing debris that collects in nearby stormwater catch basins, storm drains and along curbs promotes cleaner runoff, reduces the potential for flooding, and decreases the amount of pollution and trash entering our waterways.



Follow these simple steps for DIY storm drain cleaning:


 	


[caption id="attachment_4272" align="alignright" width="237"] Photo: Santiago Mejia, The Chronicle[/caption]

Rake/sweep and discard debris that has collected on top of the storm grate and in curbside rain gutters. Please note: If you notice a major blockage or issue with a storm drain, contact your local municipality immediately.
 	
Use a scrub brush or toilet bowl scrubber to remove debris that may be stuck to the storm grate.
 	
Adopt a storm drain(s) and maintain a regular cleaning schedule: Make a note on your calendar each quarter to clean and clear debris from storm drains nearby your home or workplace. And, make a habit of checking your storm drains after rainstorms when clogging is most common.
 	
Host a community clean-up day that includes trash pick-up, storm drain cleaning, and disseminating information on the impacts of stormwater runoff and what we can do to help.
 	
Consider contacting your local watershed association or municipality about getting drain markers installed on storm drains throughout the community. The markers act as a continued public reminder that anything dumped into a storm drain eventually ends up in our precious waterways downstream.


Remember: Small actions lead to big achievements in protecting water quality. 

                    [post_title] => DIY: Protecting Water Quality in Your Community
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The American Littoral Society was awarded the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award in the Water Resources category this year for their Clean Water, Beautiful Bay projects in Barnegat Bay.
According to the Barnegat Bay Partnership, over 33% of the Barnegat Bay watershed has been altered to urban land cover. The construction of communities, roads and business has greatly increased the total amount of impervious surfaces in the watershed. With the added impervious cover has come a steady increase in the amount of nutrients, sediment, pathogens and other contaminants transported into the Bay by runoff. This accelerated the degradation of the Bay’s water quality and triggered changes to the Bay’s ecology.
Recognizing the importance of the Barnegat Bay, the American Littoral Society proposed green infrastructure measures to decrease runoff volume and nutrient loading to the bay and its tributaries.  Princeton Hydro was contracted by American Littoral Society to design four projects and provide oversight on the construction of the bioretention basins, rain gardens, porous pavement, etc. The projects were funded by the largest 319 grant ever administered by the NJDEP, totaling around $1 million. The project aimed to:


 	
Improve the water quality of Barnegat Bay by reducing the influx of nitrogen and other pollutants originating from the Long Swamp Creek and Lower Toms River watersheds. And, therefore, improve the water quality of both Long Swamp Creek and Lower Toms River, thus moving them closer to removal from the NJDEP’s 303D list of impaired waters.

 	
Demonstrate that relatively low-cost, stormwater system retrofits are capable of decreasing runoff volume, increasing stormwater recharge, and removing nutrients, and can be effectively implemented in even highly developed watersheds.

 	
Educate the public, elected and appointed officials and public work personnel of the types and benefits of bioretention, biodetention and infiltration stormwater management techniques.

From our team, Dr. Steve Souza and Paul Cooper worked to develop a unique Scoring Matrix for the selection of best management practices for retrofit projects. They have been asked several times to present on the matrix and demonstrate how to beneficially utilize it. In addition to design, Princeton Hydro participated in much of the public outreach for these projects, including giving presentations, leading workshops, and helping high school students plant vegetation around their school.


[caption id="attachment_3083" align="aligncenter" width="1120"] RWJ Barnabas Community Medical Center Educational Sign[/caption]
According to NJDEP, the Clean Water, Beautiful Bay projects were successful in reducing flooding in a private residential homeowner community, improving a stormwater basin and public open space area at a hospital, introducing golf course staff and golfers to environmentally friendly golf course management practices, and engaging high school students in planting projects on school property.  The projects demonstrated that green infrastructure construction projects can reduce flooding and water pollution at business, community, school and public recreation locations, and can be publicly accepted and valued for the environmentally protective and restorative benefits they provide to Barnegat Bay.
Last year, the American Littoral Society’s Barnegat Bay Green Infrastructure Project was named “Project of the Year” by The American Society of Civil Engineers Central Jersey Branch.
For more information on Princeton Hydro's green infrastructure and stormwater management services, please visit: bit.ly/stormwatermgmt 
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The Pin Oak Forest Conservation Area is a 97-acre tract of open space that contains an extremely valuable wetland complex at the headwaters of Woodbridge Creek. The site is located in a heavily developed landscape of northern Middlesex County and is surrounded by industrial, commercial, and residential development. As such, the area suffered from wetland and stream channel degradation, habitat fragmentation, decreased biodiversity due to invasive species, and ecological impairment. The site was viewed as one of only a few large-scale freshwater wetland restoration opportunities remaining in this highly developed region of New Jersey.


[gallery link="none" ids="7262,7269,7257"]
Recognizing the unique qualities and great potential for rehabilitating and enhancing ecological function on this county-owned parkland, a dynamic partnership between government agencies, NGOs, and private industry, was formed to restore the natural function of the wetlands complex, transform the Pin Oak Forest site into thriving habitat teeming with wildlife, and steward this property back to life. The team designed a restoration plan that converted 28.94 acres of degraded freshwater wetlands, 0.33 acres of disturbed uplands dominated by invasive species, and 1,018 linear feet of degraded or channelized streams into a species-rich and highly functional headwater wetland complex.
We used an innovative approach to restore the hydraulic connection of the stream channel with its floodplain in order to support wetland enhancement. Additionally, to further enhance wetlands with hydrologic uplift, the team incorporated microtopography techniques, which creates a variable surface that increases groundwater infiltration and niches that support multiple habitat communities. This resulted in a spectrum of wetland and stream habitats, including the establishment of a functional system of floodplain forest, scrub shrub, emergent wetlands and open water. Biodiversity was also increased through invasive species management, which opened the door for establishing key native flora such as red maple, pin oak, swamp white oak, and swamp rose. The restored headwater wetland system also provides stormwater quality management, floodplain storage, enhanced groundwater recharge onsite, and surface water flows to Woodbridge Creek.
Completed in 2017, the integrated complex of various wetland and upland communities continues to provide high quality habitat for a wide variety of wildlife species including the state-threatened Black-crowned Night heron and Red-headed Woodpecker. The work done at the site significantly enhanced ecological function, providing high-quality habitat on indefinitely-preserved public lands that offer countless benefits to both wildlife and the community.
[gallery link="none" size="medium" ids="17108,17107,17106"]
Public and private partnerships were and continue to be critical to the success of this project. The diverse partnership includes Middlesex County Office of Parks and Recreation, Woodbridge Township, Woodbridge River Watch, New Jersey Freshwater Wetlands Mitigation Council, GreenTrust Alliance, GreenVest, and Princeton Hydro. The partners joined together as stakeholders to identify long term restoration and stewardship goals for Pin Oak Forest Preserve, and nearly four years later, the partners all remain involved in various aspects of managing the property and this project itself, ranging from fiscal oversight by New Jersey Freshwater Wetland Mitigation Council and GreenTrust Alliance, to permit and landowner access coordination performed by Woodbridge Township and Middlesex County, or the ongoing stewardship, maintenance, and monitoring of the project and the larger park, being conducted by being conducted by GreenTrust Alliance, GreenVest, and NJ Department of Environmental Protection.
This project was funded through the New Jersey Freshwater Wetland In-Lieu Fee program. In 2014, GreenTrust Alliance, GreenVest, and Princeton Hydro secured $3.8 million dollars of funding on behalf of the Middlesex County Parks Department to restore three wetland sites, which included Pin Oak Forest.
The Pin Oak Forest project is a great model for showcasing a successful approach to the enhancement of public lands through a dynamic multidisciplinary, multi-stakeholder partnership. And, because of proper planning and design, it has become a thriving wildlife oasis tucked in the middle of a densely-populated suburban landscape.
[gallery link="file" ids="2693,2696,2694"]


Princeton Hydro specializes in the planning, design, permitting, implementing, and maintenance of wetland rehabilitation projects. To learn  about another wetland restoration, creation, and enhancement project, click here.
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A volunteer effort, lead by the Middlesex County, New Jersey Parks and Recreation Department and the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, recently took place at Thompson Park.
Despite the rainy weather, 78 volunteers and members of the Youth Conservation Corps removed litter from the shoreline of Manalapan Lake, repaired fencing, made improvements to the park’s walking trails, weeded and mulched the park’s rain garden and native plant garden, and installed new plants in the rain garden.
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The park’s rain garden was originally designed by Princeton Hydro Senior Water Resource Engineer Dr. Clay Emerson, PE, CFM. Rain gardens are cost effective, attractive and sustainable means to minimize stormwater runoff. They also help to reduce erosion, promote groundwater recharge, minimize flooding and remove pollutants from runoff.
By definition, a rain garden is a shallow depression that is planted with deep-rooted native plants and grasses, and positioned near a runoff source to capture rainwater. Planting native plants also helps to attract pollinators and birds and naturally reduces mosquitos by removing standing water thus reducing mosquito breeding areas.
Rain gardens temporarily store rainwater and runoff, and filter the water of hydrocarbons, oil, heavy metals, phosphorous, fertilizers and other pollutants that would normally find their way to the sewer and even our rivers and waterways.
On the day of the volunteer event, Central New Jersey received 0.44 inches of rain.  "We got to see the rain garden in action, which was really exciting," said Princeton Hydro Senior Project Manager Kelly Klein, who volunteered at the event.
Volunteers from the following organizations participated:


 	
Edison Metro Lions Club
 	
Hioki USA Corporation
 	
Girl Scout Troop 70306
 	
East Brunswick Youth Council
 	
Monroe Middle School
 	
South Plainfield High School
 	
Rutgers University
 	
Master Gardeners of Middlesex County
 	
Foresters Financial
 	
Princeton Hydro

The Middlesex County Parks and Recreation Department’s next public volunteer event is tomorrow (June 2) in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park.
The Princeton Hydro team has designed and constructed countless stormwater management systems, including rain gardens in locations throughout the Eastern U.S. Click here for more information about our stormwater management services.
…
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The New York State Federation of Lake Associations (NYSFOLA) Board of Directors awarded Dr. Stephen Souza, Founder, Princeton Hydro with its 'Lake Tear of the Clouds' Award. This award, named after the highest lake in the state, is NYSFOLA’s highest honor. It is only given to a person who has shown the highest dedication to New York’s lakes and watersheds, assisted NYSFOLA in its mission, and produced exceptional performance in his or her field of endeavor.


In bestowing this award to Dr. Souza, NYSFOLA recognizes his accomplishments and efforts in the management and restoration of lakes throughout the State of New York and his support of the initiatives promoted by NYSFOLA. The award was presented at the NYSFOLA’s 35th annual conference, which was held on May 4th and 5th at the Fort William Henry Hotel in Lake George.


During his acceptance speech, Dr. Souza said, “I am truly humbled and appreciative to have even been considered worthy of this award.  In accepting the 'Lake Tear of Clouds' Award, I want to extend my deepest thanks to NYSFOLA, the NYSFOLA Board of Directors, Nancy Mueller (NYSFOLA Manager), and all of you here tonight.  It is people like yourselves, who advocate for clean lakes, that have made my career so rewarding. I would be remiss if I also did not take the time to thank my wife Maria and my family for their support over the years and of course the dedicated lake scientists that I have the pleasure to work with day in and day out at Princeton Hydro. That of course includes Dr. Fred Lubnow, who I have had the pleasure of working side-by-side with since 1992, Chris Mikolajczyk and Mike Hartshorne, both of whom are here tonight, and the rest of my Princeton Hydro colleagues."


Dr. Souza first attended the NYSFOLA conference in 1985, and has been working to assess, restore and protect watersheds throughout the state of New York for over 35 years. Some of the notable projects managed by Dr. Souza over that time include projects conducted at Honeoye Lake, Sodus Bay, Greenwood Lake and Sleepy Hollow Lake. He is currently working with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on a major statewide harmful algae bloom (HAB) management effort.


“We thank you for your longtime support of NYSFOLA and our member lake association, Steve,” said Nancy J. Mueller, Manager. “And, we congratulate Princeton Hydro on its 20th anniversary.”








ABOUT NYSFOLA


The New York State Federation of Lake Associations, Inc. was founded in 1983 by a coalition of lake associations concerned about water quality, invasive species, and other issues facing New York's lakes. Today, more than 200 lake associations across the state are members of the only statewide voice for lakes and lake associations. NYSFOLA also has corporate members and individual members who support our efforts.
…










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                    [post_content] => Throughout April and May, Princeton Hydro is participating in a variety of events focused on conserving, restoring, and protecting our precious water resources.
April 11: New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team 10th Annual Conference


Presented by the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, the 10th Annual New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team Conference is considered the most comprehensive state-wide forum on invasive species. The conference brings participants together to collaborate and address new and emerging invasive species issues from a state-wide perspective, and includes an exhibitor hall, networking opportunities and a variety of presentations and panel discussions on topics ranging from “Rare Bird Conservation” to “Foraging for Invasive Species” to “Herbicide Application Techniques.”

Princeton Hydro, a proud sponsor of the conference, will be exhibiting. We hope to see you there!

View the full conference schedule. 

 

April 14: Musconetcong River Watershed Cleanup


As part of the 26th Annual Musconetcong River Cleanup on April 14th from 9 AM - 12 PM, Princeton Hydro will be leading a volunteer team at the Warren Glen Dam site. Friends and family welcome to join us!

For details, visit the Musconetcong Watershed Association's event page.

 
April 18: The New England Chapter of the American Public Works Association Spring Conference
The New England Chapter of the American Public Works Association (NEAPWA) serves professionals in all aspects of public works and supports the people, agencies, and organizations that plan, build, maintain, and improve communities.

This year’s NEAPWA Spring Conference is being held at the Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, CT. The conference includes a tour of the stadium, an exhibitor hall, educational session, and technical workshops on topics, like “Water System Infrastructure Planning in Response to Drought Conditions,” “Leveraging GIS Technology with Municipal LED Street Lights,” and “Using Infiltration and Inflow to Work Smarter not Harder.”

View the full conference agenda.

 
April 26: Arbor Day Planting and Bird Walk at Exton Park


We're celebrating Arbor Day on April 26th (one day early) with Friends of Exton Park. First, we'll be on the lookout for spring migrants during a morning bird walk (8:30 AM - 10:30 AM). Then, we'll show our Arbor Day spirit by planting a variety of native plants at Exton Park (11:00 AM). We hope you'll join us!

Click here to RSVP.

 

 
May 4: New York State Federation of Lake Associations Annual Conference
The New York State Federation of Lake Associations will host its 35th Annual Conference at the Fort William Henry Conference Center in Lake George, NY.  This year’s conference, which is titled, “Protecting Our Lakes for 35 Years – Our Past, Present and Future,” will feature a diverse exhibitor hall, networking opportunities, a silent auction and a variety of educational sessions. Princeton Hydro is exhibiting and giving five presentations:

 	
Nutrient Inactivation: A Pennsylvania Case Study
 	
You Have Your Lake Data, Now What? Creating a Watershed Plan
 	
One Watershed, Many Lakes: A Strategic Plan for the Kettle Lakes of Southern Onondaga and Northern Cortland Counties
 	
Proactive Management of Harmful Algal Blooms
 	
Hydrilla Control in Harveys Lake, PA

Read more.
…
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The Delaware Riverkeeper Network hosted its annual Watershed Congress event, which is focused on bringing environmental enthusiasts together in an effort to advance the best available information and techniques for protecting and restoring watersheds. The one-day conference combines science, policy, and practical applications into one program that consists of an engaging keynote discussion, exhibits, poster sessions and 21 concurrent presentations covering a broad range of watershed topics.

Princeton Hydro gave two presentations during the event:
Ecology/Management of Cyanotoxin Producing Blue-Green Algae in the Schuylkill River 
Dr. Fred Lubnow, Director of Aquatic Programs, presented on the basic ecology of nuisance blue-green algae and how to monitor, manage and prevent cyanotoxins particularly in potable water supplies.

As identified in the Schuylkill River Watershed Source Water Protection Plan, approximately 1.5 million people depend on the Schuylkill River watershed as a source of potable water. Elevated nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) loading can stimulate the growth of nuisance algal blooms in the river, and higher phosphorus concentrations can cause blue-green algae blooms (also known as cyanobacteria). Cyanobacteria produce cyanotoxins, which can cause serious health implications for humans, pets and livestock. Drinking water contaminated by very high cyanotoxin concentrations can actually be lethal.

Fred’s presentation covered the ecology and management of blue-green algae in a riverine ecosystem in order to prevent the potential impacts of cyanotoxins on potable supplies of water. He provided management actions within the context of USEPA's recommended drinking water health advisories for select cyanotoxins. Participants also received general recommendations on what they can do to minimize their contribution to potential cyanotoxin-producing blue-green algal blooms in the Schuylkill River.

Click here to download a complete copy of Fred's presentation!
If it’s a BMP, Will it Protect Water Quality?


Michele Adams of Meliora Design and Princeton Hydro's Senior Project Manager, Dr. Clay Emerson, PE, CFM, taught an interactive presentation and group discussion on stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) and issues.

The presentation covered a variety of stormwater management topics and techniques, including the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Interim Final BMP 6.4.11 Draft Slow Release Concept, which allows for slow release when infiltration is not feasible. They also discussed evolving standards for bioretention/rain garden soils, the lack of requirements for construction oversight, inspection of stormwater BMPs, and the challenges of long-term stormwater BMP maintenance and performance.

Stormwater management has evolved from its peak-flow based infancy into a more comprehensive approach that addresses volume and water quality in addition to peak flow rate. The number of built examples of different types of stormwater management and green infrastructure has greatly increased in Pennsylvania. However, experience suggests that under the current state of practice, many stormwater management designs are not able to meet the goal of water quality protection.

The main goal of the session was to provide participants with the information they need to understand and ask the right questions in order to protect their watersheds as development occurs.
About the Watershed Congress
The Watershed Congress advances the best available information and techniques for protecting and restoring watersheds. The focus on networking across disciplines means that the Congress melds science, policy and practical applications into one program. Every year, a growing and changing group of individuals attends to gain new knowledge, acquire tools, and practice techniques that will allow them to take active roles in the stewardship of their natural resources. View selected presentations from previous Watershed Congresses.

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                    [post_content] => Princeton Hydro Founder Dr. Steve Souza was an invited speaker at the USEPA Region 2 Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Public Drinking Water Systems workshop last week in Manhattan. The objective of the workshop was to share information about the monitoring and assessment of freshwater HABs and the efforts to minimize their effect on public drinking water and the recreational uses of lakes.

Steve’s presentation focused on the proactive management of HABs, providing useful tips for and real-world examples of how to address HABs before they manifest, and, if a HAB does manifest, how to prevent it from further exacerbating water quality and cyanotoxin problems.

The workshop was well attended with 80 people on site and 40 others participating via webinar link. Steve was joined by nine other invited speakers, most of whom were representing the USEPA, NYSDEC and NJDEP, who gave presentations on a variety of HABs related topics, including the optimization of water treatment operations to minimize cyanotoxin risks surveillance and assessment of HABs, and communicating HABs risks in recreational lakes and drinking water reservoirs.

If you're interested in learning more about HABs, you can view a complete copy of Steve's presentation, titled Proactive Management of Harmful Algae Blooms in Drinking Water and Recreational Waterbodies, by clicking the image below. Please contact us anytime to discuss how Princeton Hydro’s Invasive Weed and Algae Management Services can be of service to you.

The USEPA Region 2 serves New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and eight tribal nations. Get more info on key issues and initiatives in USEPA Region 2. And, to learn more about HABs, click here.
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The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) recently announced $8 million in Water Quality Restoration Grants to support projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution, mitigate harmful algal blooms, restore riparian areas, and enhance watershed and climate resilience. Funded through Section 319(h) of the federal Clean Water Act and administered by the DEP's Watershed and Land Management Program, these grants were awarded to municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions across the state.
Princeton Hydro is proud to be a partner on five of the 17 funded projects. Our contributions vary by project and encompass activities such as engineering design, water quality assessment, watershed-based planning, and technical support for implementing stormwater and habitat restoration measures. Let's take a deeper look at these collaborative efforts:

1. The Watershed Institute – Watershed-Based Planning for Assunpink Creek
The Watershed Institute received $205K in 319(h) grant funding to develop a watershed-based plan for the Assunpink Creek watershed, located within the Raritan River Basin. This watershed spans 11 municipalities across two counties, where varied landscapes and demographics share common challenges such as localized flooding, stormwater management, and water quality degradation, highlighting the need for a coordinated, watershed-wide, science-driven approach.
The plan will evaluate pollution sources and identify large-scale restoration opportunities, including green infrastructure and riparian buffer restoration, to improve water quality and reduce flooding. It will also assess the cost, feasibility, and pollutant reduction potential of proposed measures to ensure practical implementation. Princeton Hydro supported the Institute in developing the grant proposal and planning framework, leveraging our expertise in watershed-based planning to prioritize nature-based solutions that address both water quality and climate resilience. This initiative represents a critical step toward regional collaboration, enabling upstream and downstream communities to work together on strategies that strengthen watershed health, protect public safety, and build long-term resilience.




2. Lake Hopatcong Commission – Watershed-Based Stormwater BMPs
The Lake Hopatcong Commission (LHC) was awarded $366K to retrofit an existing stormwater detention basin between King Road and Mount Arlington Boulevard in Roxbury Township. This retrofit is part of a larger Watershed Implementation Plan that Princeton Hydro developed in collaboration with LHC, which prioritizes nutrient reduction and stormwater management strategies across the Lake Hopatcong watershed. Over the past several years, LHC has actively implemented multiple elements of this plan to address harmful algal blooms (HABs) and improve water quality.
For this project, Princeton Hydro is providing engineering design and technical oversight to transform the existing basin into a green stormwater infrastructure system that slows, captures, and naturally treats runoff before it enters King Cove. The design incorporates native vegetation, invasive species management, and erosion control measures to stabilize soils and filter pollutants, reducing nutrient loading, which is one key driver of HABs. Public outreach and pre- and post-construction water quality monitoring will ensure performance tracking and measurable improvements. This basin retrofit represents a critical step in a coordinated, science-based approach to restoring ecological health and water quality in New Jersey’s largest lake.




3. Cozy Lake, Jefferson Township – Addressing Emerging Contaminants
Jefferson Township received $350K in grant funding to develop an Emerging Contaminants Management Plan for Cozy Lake, focusing on cyanotoxins and HABs. Cozy Lake is a 28-acre waterbody within a 1,152-acre sub-watershed that includes both forested (60%) and developed (29%) land. The lake is fed by the Rockaway River at its northern end and a smaller southeastern inlet, with outflow through a dam on the western edge.
The shoreline is primarily residential lawn with minimal emergent wetlands, and several inlets and rock-lined drainage ditches exhibit erosion and lack slope protection, contributing to sediment loading. Princeton Hydro provided early technical input to shape this innovative project with the creation of a comprehensive Jefferson Township Lake and Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan. As part of the plan, Princeton Hydro made recommendations for Cozy Lake, which included enhancing shoreline buffers with native vegetation and installing living shorelines at select properties to stabilize soils, filter stormwater and reduce nutrient loading, improve habitat quality, and enhance community access. These measures, combined with in-lake monitoring and proactive management strategies, will help mitigate HABs and protect ecological and public health.




4. Rockaway Township – Watershed-Based Green Infrastructure
Rockaway Township received $399K in grant funding to implement elements of its Watershed Implementation Plan, focusing on green infrastructure stormwater management and nutrient reduction to improve water quality. The project will retrofit the municipal complex by converting a rock-lined drainage swale into a vegetated swale with a bioretention basin, designed to filter stormwater runoff and reduce nonpoint source pollutants entering Fox’s Pond and Fox Brook.
Princeton Hydro played a key role in developing the Watershed Implementation Plan, which encompasses 11 private lakes within the Rockaway River watershed, prioritizing critical locations for intervention and designing cost-effective green infrastructure BMPs. This regional approach aligns with strategies recommended by NJDEP and the Highlands Council. The plan included a comprehensive watershed-based assessment to identify and quantify factors contributing to eutrophication, evaluate management measures, estimate costs, and establish an implementation schedule. Princeton Hydro authored the final report, which guided the Township in applying for the Section 319(h) grant and now informs the design and construction of green stormwater infrastructure that will deliver measurable water quality improvements while supporting ecological restoration goals.




5. Green Trust Alliance – Green Infrastructure and Community Engagement
Green Trust Alliance (GTA), a nationally accredited land trust and public charity dedicated to accelerating large-scale conservation, received $1.39 million in NJDEP funding to implement green infrastructure improvements at Pinelands Regional High School in Tuckerton, New Jersey. This initiative targets the Tuckerton Creek watershed, which drains into Tuckerton Creek and ultimately flows into Barnegat Bay—a critical estuary spanning 33 municipalities in Ocean County and four in Monmouth County. The retrofit will transform the school’s stormwater detention basin into a multi-functional system that mimics natural hydrology, enhances flow control, and improves water quality locally and in the larger Barnegat Bay watershed.
Working with GTA and GreenVest, Princeton Hydro is serving as the design engineer, applying nature-based engineering and ecological restoration techniques to intercept, evapotranspire, and infiltrate stormwater runoff at its source. In addition to its technical objectives, the effort includes a strong community engagement component and an educational platform for students. By bringing green infrastructure into the school environment, the initiative provides hands-on experience with water resources, stormwater management, and ecological engineering, help to build STEM skills while fostering a deeper connection to the surrounding landscape and an understanding of how natural systems work together to support environmental and community health.



Princeton Hydro also assisted several of these partners in developing successful NJDEP Section 319(h) grant applications, providing technical documentation, conceptual designs, and pollutant load reduction estimates to strengthen the proposals.
To date, the Murphy Administration has awarded more than $33M in Water Quality Restoration grants to improve the health of waterways in all corners of the state. Click here to read about all the 2025 grant funding recipients and their innovative projects.
As NJDEP Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette noted in the department's press release, “Enhancing the ecological health of our lakes, rivers, streams and coastal waters has long been a priority of the Murphy Administration. The Department of Environmental Protection is pleased to award these grants that will help our partners advance a variety of strategies to improve the health of these waterways and enhance the quality of life in our communities.”
We are proud to play a continued role in advancing that mission: helping communities implement practical, data-driven solutions that make a measurable difference for New Jersey’s waterways and the people who depend on them. Click here to learn more about our work to protect natural habitat and restore water quality throughout the New Jersey.
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