Date: Wednesday, February 16th, 2022
Come join us for two lightning talks on water resources and permitting projects in NJ.
Click here for the event flyer
Burnt Mills Dam Removal and Flood Plain Restoration
Bill Kibler, Raritan Headwaters Association
Raritan Headwaters Association (RHA)’s Burnt Mills Dam Removal and Flood Plain Restoration project was a collaborative ecological restoration project in the nation’s most densely populated state. The project took place from Fall 2019 to Spring 2021. RHA partnered with a group of respected community partners to improve the Lamington River at Burnt Mills Preserve located in Somerset County, owned and managed for public access by RHA. The project entailed a dam removal, wetland enhancement, and stream restoration for a section of the Lamington River, a tributary of the North Branch Raritan River in central New Jersey.
The Burnt Mills Dam Removal and Flood Plain Restoration project benefits the local and regional environment in numerous ways. It has improved water quality; enhanced aquatic organism habitat; stabilized stream bank erosion; and reduced local flooding. The dam removal allows free passage of migrating fish and adds riffles and pools to the river to improve aquatic organism habitat. The wetland enhancement project component included native tree plantings and removal of invasive species along the Lamington River slowing stormwater runoff. This provides important habitat for birds, fish, and mammals, improves water quality, and cultivates beautiful, natural outdoor spaces for all to enjoy.
The Round Valley Reservoir Project: Rehabilitation and Resource Preservation of Water Supply Infrastructure,
Julie Shelley, New Jersey Water Supply Authority
The Round Valley Reservoir is located in Clinton Township, New Jersey and became operational in 1965. The 55-billion gallon pumped storage reservoir was formed by construction of two earthen dams and an earthen dike closing off gaps in a natural horseshoe shaped valley. The reservoir was designed as part of a larger system of facilities to manage water supply for central New Jersey, and is the largest water supply reservoir by volume in the state.
As part of the Authority’s asset management program, it hired a team of internationally recognized dam safety experts to conduct a holistic review of the structural health of the Round Valley dams. Based on the results and recommendations from this review, the Authority is making improvements to extend the operating life of the Round Valley reservoir. Design standards and construction techniques have evolved in the 50 plus years since the reservoir was built. Many dams of similar type to the Authority’s that were built in the same era have also required periodic rehabilitation. The Authority’s plans for improvement of the three earthen dams will incorporate modifications to meet current design standards and add state of the art monitoring systems. This presentation will highlight the components of the Round Valley project and explain, in layperson’s terms, the issues requiring rehabilitation and what actions are being undertaken to address them. The first phase of the Round Valley project included grouting of the abutments at the North and South Dams as well as dredging of the Intake Channel at the South Dam tower. These two component projects were completed in 2020. The second, and final, phase of the project involves rehabilitation of all three embankments (North Dam, South Dam, Dike) and installation of new drainage features within each. Construction on the embankments started in early 2020.
This talk is being reviewed for credit eligibility.
