Restoring New Jersey's Coastal Lakes
Informational document containing information about, restoring, and treating the problems pertaining to coastal lakes. This can be helpful in restoring Sylvan Lake.
Content
Restoring Our Coastal Lakes
Stephen J. Souza, Ph.D. Princeton Hydro, LLC
1108 Old York Road Ringoes, NJ 08551 [email protected]
What Makes These Lakes So Unique
Origin History Setting Demographics Hydrology
1
The Shared Problems
Impaired water quality
Bacteria Nutrients Turbidity Petroleum hydrocarbons
Infilling and loss of depth Algae and weed blooms Impacted riparian zone Floatables
Root Cause of Problems
Intensive watershed development Improper / inadequate stormwater mgmt Sanitary/stormwater cross-connections Filling and alteration of riparian areas Lack of waterfowl mgmt
2
Restoration Strategies
Dredging Stormwater management Shoreline restoration Waterfowl management Identification and correction of illicit connections Aquatic weed and algae control
Before you begin need to define the problem and make sure root causes properly identified and quantified.
Key to Successful Lake Restoration
Don’t Just Treat The Don’t Just Treat The Symptom….Correct the Symptom….Correct the Cause Cause
3
Putting The Plan Into Action
Properly define problems (cause/effect)
Need to formulate restoration plan using sound, technically robust data… Avoid “reactive management”
Galvanize local commitment
Need to establish community support
Get fiscal planning and funding in place
Local, State and County
Create shared services and inter-local agreements Stick to it…will take time, money and resources
The “Fixes” For Our Coastal Lakes
Implement regional stormwater management Dredge out accumulated silt Reduce influx of floatables Reduce bacteria loading Control aquatic weed and algae infestations Restore native shoreline and riparian plants Limit use of lakes by Canada geese
4
Regional Stormwater Management
Goal –Reduce nutrient and sediment loading Emphasize recharge and infiltration Use “pocket BMPs” Retrofit existing infrastructure Reduce stream erosion and restore incised streams
For The Coastal Lake Watersheds Need To Be Creative
Require SWM for redevelopment sites Use MSWMO mitigation for noncompliance Reduce volume Use small footprint BMPs Locate basins in primary source subwatersheds Get support of NJDOT
5
Dredging
Streamline permit process Establish regional disposal areas Create dedicated pool of funding …grants or revolving loans
Sediment Control
Identify and correct erosion problem sites Enforce erosion control ordinances and laws Reduce volume of runoff Repair eroding stream channels Re-establish riparian vegetation
6
Floatable Control
Educate and get message out there Retrofit catch basins (Ecogrates) Commit to maintenance
Reduce Weed and Algae Impacts
Reduce nutrient loading
Better stormwater mgmt Waterfowl mgmt Lakeside buffers & nomow zones
Algae treatments Weed control
7
Reducing Bacteria Loading
Fix leaking sanitary lines & CSOs Locate and correct Illegal cross-connections Get aggressive with goose control Enforce pet waste management
Shoreline Restoration
Replace invasive nonnative plants w/ native riparian plants Re-establish emergent wetland plants Create no-mow zone, avoid clearing to lake’s edge
8
Shoreline Restoration
Replace invasive nonnative plants w/ native riparian plants Re-establish emergent wetland plants Create no-mow zone, avoid clearing to lake’s edge
Controlling and Managing Geese
Do not feed! Deter use of lake and adjacent lands
Egg addling Boarder collies Shoreline plantings No-mow zones Fencing
9
Goose Control and Management
1 Septic System
In Summary
Coastal lakes are important resources
History, recreational potential, aesthetics
Most problems linked to intensity of watershed development
Poor stormwater management
Key problems
Nutrient loading - Invasive weeds and intense algae blooms Sediment loading – Infilling and critical loss of water depth
10
In Summary
Before you begin identify the root cause of problems Develop a technically sound database for use in planning and decision making Prepare plan of action
Prioritize actions Create implementation schedule Galvanize commitment to execute plan Get funding in place
In Summary
Enact watershed management emphasizing stormwater controls (quality, volume, recharge)
Nutrients Sediments Floatables Bacteria
Implement in-lake restoration
Dredging Shoreline stabilization Weed and algae control
11
Thanks - Questions
Stephen J. Souza, Ph.D. Princeton Hydro, LLC
1108 Old York Rd. Ringoes, NJ 08551 908.237.5660 [email protected]
1998-2008 1998-2008 1998
10
YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
12
Stephen J. Souza, Ph.D. Princeton Hydro, LLC
1108 Old York Road Ringoes, NJ 08551 [email protected]
What Makes These Lakes So Unique
Origin History Setting Demographics Hydrology
1
The Shared Problems
Impaired water quality
Bacteria Nutrients Turbidity Petroleum hydrocarbons
Infilling and loss of depth Algae and weed blooms Impacted riparian zone Floatables
Root Cause of Problems
Intensive watershed development Improper / inadequate stormwater mgmt Sanitary/stormwater cross-connections Filling and alteration of riparian areas Lack of waterfowl mgmt
2
Restoration Strategies
Dredging Stormwater management Shoreline restoration Waterfowl management Identification and correction of illicit connections Aquatic weed and algae control
Before you begin need to define the problem and make sure root causes properly identified and quantified.
Key to Successful Lake Restoration
Don’t Just Treat The Don’t Just Treat The Symptom….Correct the Symptom….Correct the Cause Cause
3
Putting The Plan Into Action
Properly define problems (cause/effect)
Need to formulate restoration plan using sound, technically robust data… Avoid “reactive management”
Galvanize local commitment
Need to establish community support
Get fiscal planning and funding in place
Local, State and County
Create shared services and inter-local agreements Stick to it…will take time, money and resources
The “Fixes” For Our Coastal Lakes
Implement regional stormwater management Dredge out accumulated silt Reduce influx of floatables Reduce bacteria loading Control aquatic weed and algae infestations Restore native shoreline and riparian plants Limit use of lakes by Canada geese
4
Regional Stormwater Management
Goal –Reduce nutrient and sediment loading Emphasize recharge and infiltration Use “pocket BMPs” Retrofit existing infrastructure Reduce stream erosion and restore incised streams
For The Coastal Lake Watersheds Need To Be Creative
Require SWM for redevelopment sites Use MSWMO mitigation for noncompliance Reduce volume Use small footprint BMPs Locate basins in primary source subwatersheds Get support of NJDOT
5
Dredging
Streamline permit process Establish regional disposal areas Create dedicated pool of funding …grants or revolving loans
Sediment Control
Identify and correct erosion problem sites Enforce erosion control ordinances and laws Reduce volume of runoff Repair eroding stream channels Re-establish riparian vegetation
6
Floatable Control
Educate and get message out there Retrofit catch basins (Ecogrates) Commit to maintenance
Reduce Weed and Algae Impacts
Reduce nutrient loading
Better stormwater mgmt Waterfowl mgmt Lakeside buffers & nomow zones
Algae treatments Weed control
7
Reducing Bacteria Loading
Fix leaking sanitary lines & CSOs Locate and correct Illegal cross-connections Get aggressive with goose control Enforce pet waste management
Shoreline Restoration
Replace invasive nonnative plants w/ native riparian plants Re-establish emergent wetland plants Create no-mow zone, avoid clearing to lake’s edge
8
Shoreline Restoration
Replace invasive nonnative plants w/ native riparian plants Re-establish emergent wetland plants Create no-mow zone, avoid clearing to lake’s edge
Controlling and Managing Geese
Do not feed! Deter use of lake and adjacent lands
Egg addling Boarder collies Shoreline plantings No-mow zones Fencing
9
Goose Control and Management
1 Septic System
In Summary
Coastal lakes are important resources
History, recreational potential, aesthetics
Most problems linked to intensity of watershed development
Poor stormwater management
Key problems
Nutrient loading - Invasive weeds and intense algae blooms Sediment loading – Infilling and critical loss of water depth
10
In Summary
Before you begin identify the root cause of problems Develop a technically sound database for use in planning and decision making Prepare plan of action
Prioritize actions Create implementation schedule Galvanize commitment to execute plan Get funding in place
In Summary
Enact watershed management emphasizing stormwater controls (quality, volume, recharge)
Nutrients Sediments Floatables Bacteria
Implement in-lake restoration
Dredging Shoreline stabilization Weed and algae control
11
Thanks - Questions
Stephen J. Souza, Ph.D. Princeton Hydro, LLC
1108 Old York Rd. Ringoes, NJ 08551 908.237.5660 [email protected]
1998-2008 1998-2008 1998
10
YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
12
