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The planting was completed in one day by a team of 20+ volunteers, staff members from Mt. Arlington Department of Public Works (DPW), Lake Hopatcong Foundation, Lake Hopatcong Commission, Princeton Hydro, and a generous community member who volunteered his excavating equipment (and time). The planting initiative aims to prevent shoreline erosion, promote the growth of native species, increase wildlife habitat, and improve the water quality of Memorial Pond and Lake Hopatcong. Funding for this project was secured through a grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, awarded to the Lake Hopatcong Commission in partnership with the Lake Hopatcong Foundation. [caption id="attachment_13422" align="aligncenter" width="616"] Photo by Lake Hopatcong Foundation Executive Director Kyle Richter[/caption] Memorial Pond Memorial Pond is a 0.3-acre stormwater runoff basin that gradually releases into Glen Brook, which then flows into Lake Hopatcong. The pond receives sheet flow of stormwater from the adjacent road, which contributes to nutrient and sediment loading, thus locally reducing water quality in Memorial Pond and ultimately the waters of Lake Hopatcong. Memorial Park, which includes Memorial Pond and Glen Brook, was identified by Princeton Hydro and the Lake Hopatcong team as a priority site for improvement, targeting initiatives that reduce pollutants and excessive nutrients entering into Lake Hopatcong. Additionally, the pond’s steeply-sloped shoreline was bare and only stabilized with large rocks at the base of the banks. In the absence of stabilizing vegetation, the pond’s banks were experiencing erosion, and there was some concern about a few mature trees along the shoreline potentially falling into the pond. [gallery link="none" ids="13416,13407,13413"] The photos above were taken in April 2023 before the planting initiative. Shoreline Planting Initiative The plant selection and layout were designed taking into account the steep slope and presence of mature, existing trees as well as focusing on regionally native plant species that will thrive and help stabilize the eroding shoreline. The planting team, led by Princeton Hydro Landscape Architect Jamie Feinstein, RLA and Aquatics Project Manager Pat Rose, was given precise instructions on how to install the plants to eliminate washouts and ensure the root systems can embrace the soil and hold it in place. A variety of native herbaceous plants and shrubs were chosen for the site, including pennsylvania sedge, slender mountain mint, blue flag iris, sweet azalea, smooth hydrangea, and maple-leaved viburnum. [gallery link="none" ids="13427,13421,13428"] The plants will help reduce stormwater flow, absorb excess nutrients, prevent erosion, and ultimately decrease sedimentation to the pond, while creating a visually pleasing addition to the park and providing a habitat for pollinators and birds. Overall, this project promotes a healthier and more balanced ecosystem in Memorial Park. [gallery link="none" ids="13400,13392,13394"] The photos above were taken in July 2023 immediately after the planting initiative. Multi-Faceted Approach to Water Quality Improvements The installation of these beneficial plants is part of a series of water quality initiatives on Lake Hopatcong funded by a NJDEP Freshwater Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Prevention & Management Grant and 319(h) Grant awarded to Lake Hopatcong Commission in partnership with the Lake Hopatcong Foundation. Additional initiatives included in the watershed implementation and HABs management plan are, the installation of:
400 native plants were installed along the western shoreline of Memorial Pond in Mount Arlington, New Jersey. The planting was completed in one day by a team of 20+ volunteers, staff members from Mt. Arlington Department of Public Works (DPW), Lake Hopatcong Foundation, Lake Hopatcong Commission, Princeton Hydro, and a generous community member who volunteered his excavating equipment (and time).
The planting initiative aims to prevent shoreline erosion, promote the growth of native species, increase wildlife habitat, and improve the water quality of Memorial Pond and Lake Hopatcong. Funding for this project was secured through a grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, awarded to the Lake Hopatcong Commission in partnership with the Lake Hopatcong Foundation.
Memorial Pond is a 0.3-acre stormwater runoff basin that gradually releases into Glen Brook, which then flows into Lake Hopatcong. The pond receives sheet flow of stormwater from the adjacent road, which contributes to nutrient and sediment loading, thus locally reducing water quality in Memorial Pond and ultimately the waters of Lake Hopatcong.
Memorial Park, which includes Memorial Pond and Glen Brook, was identified by Princeton Hydro and the Lake Hopatcong team as a priority site for improvement, targeting initiatives that reduce pollutants and excessive nutrients entering into Lake Hopatcong.
Additionally, the pond’s steeply-sloped shoreline was bare and only stabilized with large rocks at the base of the banks. In the absence of stabilizing vegetation, the pond’s banks were experiencing erosion, and there was some concern about a few mature trees along the shoreline potentially falling into the pond.
The photos above were taken in April 2023 before the planting initiative.
The plant selection and layout were designed taking into account the steep slope and presence of mature, existing trees as well as focusing on regionally native plant species that will thrive and help stabilize the eroding shoreline. The planting team, led by Princeton Hydro Landscape Architect Jamie Feinstein, RLA and Aquatics Project Manager Pat Rose, was given precise instructions on how to install the plants to eliminate washouts and ensure the root systems can embrace the soil and hold it in place.
A variety of native herbaceous plants and shrubs were chosen for the site, including pennsylvania sedge, slender mountain mint, blue flag iris, sweet azalea, smooth hydrangea, and maple-leaved viburnum.
The plants will help reduce stormwater flow, absorb excess nutrients, prevent erosion, and ultimately decrease sedimentation to the pond, while creating a visually pleasing addition to the park and providing a habitat for pollinators and birds. Overall, this project promotes a healthier and more balanced ecosystem in Memorial Park.
The photos above were taken in July 2023 immediately after the planting initiative.
The installation of these beneficial plants is part of a series of water quality initiatives on Lake Hopatcong funded by a NJDEP Freshwater Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Prevention & Management Grant and 319(h) Grant awarded to Lake Hopatcong Commission in partnership with the Lake Hopatcong Foundation.
Additional initiatives included in the watershed implementation and HABs management plan are, the installation of:
floating wetland island (FWI), which are a low-cost, effective green infrastructure solution designed to mimic natural wetlands in a sustainable, efficient, and powerful way. FWIs improve water quality by assimilating and removing excess nutrients; 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;
biochar filtration bags, which improve water quality by removing phosphorus from waterbodies. Biochar can be placed in floatation balls, cages, or sacks, which are then tethered along the shoreline and in critical locations throughout the waterbody; and
nanobubble aeration system, which increases the concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the water, prevents stagnation of water, increases circulation, disrupts thermal stratification which provides “through-column” mixing, and minimizes the occurrence of HABs.
“Paired with biochar filters attached to buoys in the pond and continued monitoring and maintenance of the plantings by the DPW, these steps will set a healthy precedent for what can be achieved through working together with funders, local partners, science, and landscape architecture,” said Feinstein, who sourced plant material, provided logistics and co-led the planning and volunteer planting event along with Rose.
Princeton Hydro's Landscape Architect, Cory Speroff PLA, ASLA, CBLP, designed the planting plan, and Will Kelleher and Jackson Tilves from the Aquatics Team participated in the plant installation event with Feinstein.
Princeton Hydro is also authoring and supplying a maintenance manual that provides guidance on seasonal care of the plantings, when to remove the herbivory protection fencing, pruning, watering, and other activities that support the long term success of the planting initiative.
“This collaborative effort to enhance water quality serves as a prime example of how seemingly simple actions can have a meaningful impact on safeguarding our water resources for the benefit of future generations,” said the Lake Hopatcong Foundation.
The photos above from left to right: June 2023 before the planting; July 2023 during the planting (photo by Lake Hopatcong Foundation Executive Director Kyle Richter); and July 2023 immediately after the planting.
Princeton Hydro has been working on Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey’s largest Lake, for 30+ years, restoring the lake, managing the watershed, reducing pollutant loading, and addressing invasive aquatic plants and nuisance algal blooms. To read about some of the other projects we’ve recently worked on at Lake Hopatcong, click here.
Exciting changes have unfolded at Kol Emet, a Reconstructionist Congregation in Yardley, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The campus’ exterior lands have undergone a remarkable transformation, blossoming into an enchanting and peaceful place for community member gatherings, and a wildflower meadow.
Princeton Hydro partnered with Congregation Kol Emet to design and implement the synagogue's 10-acre campus transformation. The Princeton Hydro team provided green infrastructure engineering, landscape architecture, and construction services aimed at enhancing the usability and welcoming atmosphere of the synagogue, and creating a sustainable outdoor solution in the event of future pandemics, and a place to connect with the natural environment that surrounds the property. The design provides a net positive impact by reducing flooding in the community and improves water quality by augmenting stormwater management and biodiversity throughout the property.
"Our vision surpassed mere construction of a gathering space," said Geoffrey M. Goll P.E., President of Princeton Hydro, a congregant of Kol Emet, Executive Board Member, and point person for the project. "We wanted to create a harmonious union between the synagogue campus and the surrounding preserved woodlands, cultivating a serene haven where congregants can unite, celebrate, and worship, while also enhancing the ecological functionality and biodiversity of the landscape. This was a realization of the vision of the Founders of Kol Emet and the labor and financial support of many members of the Board, past and present, and a generous donation by a longtime supporter of the community. The outdoor sanctuary was named in honor and memory of a founding member and former President, Geri Shatz, who was a staunch supporter of the Jewish community and advocate for the mission of Kol Emet. She lived the ideals of community and contribution. I am proud of the extraordinary transformation that’s been achieved."
The Kol Emet Reconstructionist Congregation, is a 501(c)3 religious organization, founded in 1984. While a center of worship for its members, it is much more than that. Kol Emet is a community of people who care about improving the world around them through social action and environmental protection.
The sentiment of "Tikkun Olam" is embodied by Kol Emet and the committee that spearheaded the project, working directly with the Princeton Hydro team to bring the project goals to fruition. The modern interpretation of the Hebrew phrase “Tikkun Olam,” is “action intended to repair and improve the world.” The campus restoration project brings the concept of “Tikkun Olam” to life.
Princeton Hydro Landscape Architect Cory Speroff, PLA, ASLA, CBLP is the project’s lead designer. The project included landscape design and planting that incorporates native and sustainable trees and shrubs; significant upgrades to the existing stormwater management basin, including the conversion of low-flow channels, impervious surfaces, and turf-covered areas to native grassland and wildflower habitat; and the development of the “Geri Shatz Outdoor Contemplative Space."
Cory’s design inspiration for the Geri Shatz Outdoor Contemplative Space is modeled after the Hebrew term “etz chaim” or “Tree of Life.” In Judaism, the Tree of Life has a number of meanings, both literal and figurative. In the Kabbalah, the Tree of Life represents the connection between heaven and earth, wisdom and knowledge, and the interconnectedness of all living things. It is visually represented as a diagram that looks much like a tree with 10 nodes and 22 lines. Cory’s design for the community space uses strategically placed trees to mimic the Tree of Life and aims to promote community connection and a connection to the surrounding natural landscape.
The contemplative space consists of a bimah, seating to accommodate at least 80 people, and a beautiful array of native trees and flowering shrubs, including black gum, silver birch, and Virginia sweetspire.
Cory’s design for the land surrounding the contemplative space improves flood resilience; controls stormwater runoff volume and promotes groundwater recharge; boosts safety features of the campus; and enhances habitat for pollinators, native plants, and other important species. The wildflower meadow was seeded with a variety of native plants, including purple love grass, common milkweed, wild bergamot, and blue wild indigo.
“During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it felt like the only way to see our loved ones was to be outside, and during these backyard and front porch gatherings many people re-discovered their love for the outdoors,” said Cory. “In talking with the Committee, there was a desire to create an outdoor sanctuary where the congregation could gather and continue that re-discovery. I believe that through the careful consideration of symbolic elements and thoughtful design choices, we’ve created a space that can inspire introspection, connection, and a sense of harmony with both nature and faith.”
Funding for the project came from the Congregation Kol Emet’s “Our Heart. Our Home” capital campaign, a $750,000 campaign focused on upgrading four key aspects of the synagogue: social hall, HVAC upgrades, indoor sanctuary, outside school, and the new outdoor sanctuary. The outdoor sanctuary and ecological uplift to the 10-acre campus is a primary piece of the campaign and was made possible by the generous donations of several Kol Emet members.
Stan Shatz bestowed a bounteous donation in memory of Geri Shatz, which made possible the creation of the “Geri Shatz Outdoor Contemplative Space.”
The following families also contributed to the funding of the Geri Shatz Outdoor Contemplative Space: Laurel & Kevin Bloch, Barbara & Debra Fogel and Family, Jill & David Gordon, Annie & Ryan Kubanoff and Family, and Teddi & Josh Matisoff and Family.
The Princeton Hydro team is honored to have worked with Kol Emet on this important and inspirational project.
Congregation Kol Emet came together on Sunday, June 4, 2023 for a celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the outdoor sanctuary project. Here are a few photos from the joyous event:
Princeton Hydro is an expert in engineering, ecological restoration, and landscape architecture, and we’ve been incorporating green stormwater infrastructure and nature-based solutions into our designs for decades. Click here to read about the landscape restoration and stormwater management project we designed and implemented in Thompson Park, a 675-acre recreation area in Middlesex County, New Jersey.
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