Hopewell Township has joined Lawrence, Pennington, and Princeton in a commitment to develop a regional watershed plan for Stony Brook.
The collaborative effort, facilitated by The Watershed Institute since 2022, is aimed at safeguarding water quality, reducing flooding, enhancing resilience to climate change and setting a precedent for watershed management across New Jersey.
The Stony Brook starts in the Amwells, in Hunterdon County, and flows through the four partner municipalities in Mercer County. Portions of these towns drain into Stony Brook carrying with them increased stormwater runoff that causes flooding and water pollution.
The Watershed Institute hosted a statewide Watershed Conference in 2024 focused on facilitating regional solutions such as green infrastructure, stream buffer restoration, floodplain reconnection, rain gardens, trees, and other runoff-capturing interventions across the Garden State. Hopewell, Lawrence, and Princeton are participating in additional regional meetings with the goal of developing watershed-based plans for the Assunpink and Millstone Rivers, demonstrating their dedication to sustainable water resource management.
A newly approved contract with One Water Consulting will look to support the development of a comprehensive watershed plan designed to improve water quality, manage stormwater, reduce flooding, and enhance the ecological health of Stony Brook. By pooling resources and expertise, the participating municipalities aim to create a replicable framework for regional environmental cooperation.
“It will allow each municipality to better understand water quality and flooding issues in their municipality, identify and prioritize improvement projects, and comply with their NJDEP stormwater permit requirements,” says James Cosgrove, president of One Water Consulting.
Founded in 1949, The Watershed Institute has the mission to protect and restore water and the environment through conservation, advocacy, science, and education. For more information about the Watershed Institute visit.
