Musconetcong Watershed Association Awarded by the NJ Region of American Water Resources Association

A press release worth sharing. Congratulations Musconetcong Watershed Association!

MWA to receive AWRA award for Hughesville Dam removal

Lambertville, NJ  On Friday October 6th, the Musconetcong Watershed Association (Asbury, NJ) received the 2017 Excellence in Water Resources Protection and Planning Award from the NJ region of the American Water Resources Association (NJAWRA) in recognition for the Hughesville Dam Removal.  Nominated by engineering partners, Princeton Hydro, this award recognized the Musconetcong Watershed Association’s ability to utilize partnerships to complete this major restoration project as well as uphold NJAWRA’s mission of “advancing water resources research, planning, development, management and education.”

The Hughesville Dam was an approximately 15 feet high and 125 feet long concrete dam that once provided power to the Riegel Paper Company.  Through the Musconetcong River Restoration Partnership, which included the dam owner, International Process Plants and partners like NJ Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and others, the Musconetcong Watershed Association was able to secure support and funding to remove this obsolete dam last fall.

Dam removals facilitate migratory fish passage and remove outdated structures which can pose safety hazards and flooding risks.  A testimony to the project’s success was the return of migratory fish this year, including the American Shad.  The Musconetcong River is 42 miles long and flows through parts of Hunterdon, Morris, Sussex and Warren counties in New Jersey, and is a federally designated Wild and Scenic River.

The Musconetcong Watershed Association is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and improving the quality of the Musconetcong River and its watershed, including its natural and cultural resources.

Thank you,

Karen Doerfer

Communications & Administrative Coordinator

Musconetcong Watershed Association

10 Maple Avenue

P.O. Box 113

Asbury, NJ 08802

908-537-7060

karen@musconetcong.org

www.musconetcong.org