Musconetcong Watershed Association

REMOVING THE HUGHESVILLE DAM; HURRICANE SANDY DISASTER RELIEF; POHATCONG TOWNSHIP, NJ

MUSCONETCONG RIVER CMP IMPLEMENTATION

HUGHSVILLE DAM REMOVAL

THE AWARD PURPOSE IS TO PROTECT RIVER VALUES BY ACHIEVING COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN GOALS AS ENUMERATED IN THE MUSCONETCONG WILD AND SCENIC RIVER COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN. THE PROJECT WILL ENGAGE BENEFICIARY NONPROFIT RECIPIENTS, LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES WHO COMPRISE THE MUSCONETCONG WILD AND SCENIC RIVER COUNCIL, RIVERSIDE COMMUNITIES, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS THAT ACHIEVE COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN GOALS INCLUDE WATER-QUALITY MONITORING AND REPORTING, RIVER DEBRIS REMOVAL, MAPPING, PLANNING AND POLICY SERVICES PROVIDED TO LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT, INTERPRETATION, SCHOOL EDUCATION, PUBLIC OUTREACH, AND VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, TRAIL BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE, DAM REMOVAL AND STREAMBANK STABILIZATION PLANNING, INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL, AND THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES MONITORING PROGRAMS. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT WATER QUALITY, RECREATION ACCESS, THE DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT OF INTERPRETIVE WAYSIDES, AND OPERATIONS SUPPORT FOR RIVER COUNCIL BIMONTHLY MEETINGS WILL IMPROVE BECAUSE OF THE AWARD.

MUSCENTCONG RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

MONITORING OF HUGHESVILLE DAM

WARREN MILL DAM FEASIBILITY STUDY PROJECT

PROTECT MUSCCONETCONG WATERSHED

PROVIDE FISH PASSAGE AT THE FINESVILLE DAM

THE MUSCONETCONG RIVER, LOCATED IN THE HIGHLANDS OF NEW JERSEY, IS A FEDERALLY DESIGNATED NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVER THAT HAS OUTSTANDING ECOLOGICAL VALUE IN FREE-FLOWING CONDITION. IT IS THE LARGEST TRIBUTARY TO THE DELAWARE RIVER, AND SUPPORTS A REGIONALLY IMPORTANT RECREATIONAL TROUT FISHERY WITH HIGH QUALITY AQUATIC AND RIPARIAN HABITAT. THE MUSCONETCONG WATERSHED ASSOCIATION (ASSOCIATION) AND ITS PARTNERS HAVE PRIORITIZED DAM REMOVAL PROJECTS ALONG THE MAINSTEM OF THE MUSCONETCONG, AS IS SUPPORTED BY THE MUSCONETCONG RIVERS NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC, RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN. THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (SERVICE), THE ASSOCIATION AND THE PARTNERSHIP HAVE WORKED TO REMOVE A TOTAL OF 5 DAMS ON THE MUSCONETCONG RIVER, THREE OF WHICH HAVE RESTORED 7.8 MILES OF THE MUSCONETCONG RIVER AS A MIGRATORY PASSAGE FOR THE AMERICAN EEL (ANGUILLA ROSTRATE) AND AMERICAN SHAD (ALOSA SAPIDISSIMA). THE HUGHESVILLE DAM REMOVAL IN 2015 LED TO THE RETURN OF AMERICAN SHAD IN THE MUSCONETCONG, AND HAVE BEEN VERIFIED BY STATE OFFICIALS AT THE BASE OF THE WARREN MILL DAM, THE NEXT UPSTREAM MOST OBSTRUCTION. ADDITIONAL DAM REMOVALS IN THE UPPER WATERSHED, SUPPORT HABITAT CONNECTIVITY AND WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FOR NATIVE BROOK TROUT AND SEVERAL STATE AND FEDERAL SPECIAL PROTECTION FRESHWATER MUSSEL SPECIES AND IS IMPORTANT IN INCREASING GENETIC DIVERSITY AND HABITAT RANGE (THUS RESILIENCY) FOR BOTH SENSITIVE FISH SPECIES AND FRESHWATER MUSSELS. MWA WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND WATERSHED RESILIENCE THROUGH THE DAM REMOVALS, AND IS SEEKING FUNDING FOR CONTINUED WORK IN PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING DAM REMOVAL PROJECTS WITH FUNDING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT OF THE SERVICE. THE ASSOCIATION WILL INVESTIGATE POTENTIAL REMOVAL AT THREE SITES, TWIN DAMS ON MINE BROOK IN MOUNT OLIVE TOWNSHIP, NJ,THE ASBURY MILL DAM, IN BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP, NJ AND THE NEWBURGH DAM IN MANSFIELD TOWNSHIP (WARREN COUNTY),AND IDENTIFY A PRIORITY PROJECT. THE FUNDING WILL SUPPORT DESIGN AND ENGINEERING SERVICES AND CULMINATING IN THE REMOVAL OF ONE DAM STRUCTURE.