MWA Meets with Congressman Malinowski on Removal of Largest Dam on Musconetcong River
By Karen Doerfer, Communications Coordinator, Musconetcong Watershed Association
Congressman Tom Malinowski; Alan Hunt, MWA Director of Policy and Grants; Cinny MacGonagle, MWA Board Member; Eric Schrading, NJ Field Supervisor for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Michael Palmquist, Office of Natural Resource Restoration at NJ Department of Environmental Protection
In late March 2021, the Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA), joined by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and property owner International Process Plants (IPP), met with Congressman Malinowski (NJ-07) to discuss a feasibility study and plans to remove the largest dam on the Musconetcong River in Holland Township, Hunterdon County and Pohatcong Township, Warren County.
Congressman Malinowski indicated, “The Warren Mill Dam removal project has been a priority for the nearby communities for over a decade, and the feasibility study is a huge step forward toward the removal of the dam, and the ecological restoration of the Musconetcong River. The removal will improve water quality and create a larger habitat for local wildlife species, including the American shad. My office is proud to support the Musconetcong Watershed Association in their ongoing removal efforts, and I will continue to work in Congress to bring federal funding back to New Jersey.”
MWA recently received funding from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) to support and expand on the preliminary design work done by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to remove the Warren Mill Dam. This includes developing initial designs, including an engineering assessment of removal, and sediment transport and management plans, estimated to cost $260,000. MWA will work in partnership with USFWS service to complete this preliminary work.
The Warren Mill Dam is one of two remaining dams on the lower Musconetcong River impeding migratory fish passage from the Delaware River. In 2012, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) classified the Warren Glen Mill Dam as a Class I High Hazard dam where “failure of the dam may result in probable loss of life and/or extensive property damage.” The dam’s removal will protect public safety, improve water quality, allow kayaking and canoeing through the Musconetcong Gorge, and expand fish habitat, including for migratory fish like the American Shad.
Alan Hunt, MWA Director of Policy and Grants, showing Congressman Malinowski the Warren Mill Dam site
Removal of the 330’ wide and 39’ tall dam is significantly complicated by its size and the volume of accumulated sediment upstream of the dam. The impoundment behind the dam is almost completely filled by sediment and silt accumulation that can be observed as far as 2/3 of a mile upstream. The dam is over 100 years old and formerly powered the Warren Paper Mill, which has been abandoned since 2008.
The Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA) leads the Musconetcong River Restoration Partnership (MRRP), a multidisciplinary group of partners working to restore the Musconetcong River. MWA also regularly interacts with other stakeholders including the landowners, like IPP, and local municipalities on projects to improve local water quality.
MWA, USFWS, NJDEP and partners have worked to remove a total of 5 dams on the Musconetcong River, making the Warren Mill dam the next obstruction. This project will complement the Hughesville dam removal in 2016, which restored 7.8 miles of the Musconetcong River as a migratory passage from the Delaware River. In 2017, state officials observed the return of American Shad to the Lower Musconetcong River, but their upstream migration was halted by the Warren Mill Dam. This project will support and expand on the preliminary design work performed by NJDEP. This includes the preparation of plans, specifications, and design calculations for the removal of the dam in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws.
Additional Quotes
Senator Cory Booker
“Restoring New Jersey’s unique ecosystems through projects like this helps protect our communities from flooding hazards, expands critical fish habitat, and increases recreational opportunities along the Musconetcong. I applaud the Musconetcong Watershed Association and its partners for their commitment to protecting this vital natural resource, and I remain committed to securing any additional federal funding needed to see this project through to completion.”
Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)
“Thank you to the Musconetcong Watershed Association and everyone involved for their continuous work to remove the Warren Glen Dam and restore the natural state of the river. Because New Jersey is so densely populated, we need to make sure we’re doing all we can to increase access to and manage the quality of our outdoor spaces. Removing this dam will restore important wildlife habitat, improve water quality, and help prevent flooding.”
Alan Hunt, Director of Policy and Grants, Musconetcong Watershed Association
“This dam removal project expands on the restoration work of the MWA in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Musconetcong River Restoration Partnership, to reduce flooding hazards in our community, restore the natural river flow, and allow migratory fish passage, including American Shad.”
Cindy Joerger, Executive Director, Musconetcong Watershed Association
“The MWA works to improve the free-flowing quality of the Musconetcong River so we can improve fish habitat and expand recreation of this shared resource with our community. We work to improve paddling and fishing opportunities for those looking to get outside and explore nature in their own backyard.”
Eric Schrading, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the Musconetcong Watershed Association and the Musconetcong River Restoration Partnership in planning the removal of Warren Mill Dam. Previous removal efforts such as the Hughesville Dam have shown immediate benefits to migratory fish within the first year. We are confident that removal of this substantial dam will have tremendous benefits for migratory fish, water quality, and the local community.”
Beth Styler Barry, Director of River Restoration, The Nature Conservancy and head of the New Jersey Statewide Dam Removal Partnership
“The removal of the Warren Glen Dam highlights many of the important benefits of dam removal. This removal will eliminate the threat of a dam failure during a storm, which would put life, property and the valuable natural resources of the Musconetcong River at risk, it adds five miles of spawning habitat for American shad and other migratory fish, and it improves water quality for resident fish. This award is a big win for this National Wild and Scenic River, and brings it one step closer to running free.”
Ed Potosnak, Executive Director, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters
“Congratulations to the Musconetcong Watershed Association, their partners, and thank you to Congressional Representatives Mike Sherrill, Tom Malinowski, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Josh Gottheimer, and Senator Cory Booker for their critical support for this impactful grant. It is an important first step to restoring additional miles of the Musconetcong River for fish passage from the Delaware River and to improving local water quality. In a state as densely populated as New Jersey, safeguarding our water supply from contaminants is a difficult but necessary task for the well-being of our families, ecosystems, and economy. This brings us one step closer to achieving our clean water goals.”
Sandra Meola, Director, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed
“The Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed is thrilled that funding has been secured to begin planning for the removal of the Warren Mill Dam. We are thankful for Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman’s leadership in prioritizing healthy habitat and clean water, which this restoration project will contribute to.”
For more information on this or previous dam removal projects on the Musconetcong River, please visit the Musconetcong Watershed Association website: https://www.musconetcong.org/dam-removals.