Somerset County has filed an application with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for a minor diversion of Green Acres encumbered parkland in support of the proposed overall Headgates Dam Removal Project at Raritan River Mile 29.9, located in the Townships of Bridgewater and Hillsborough within Duke Island Park, Somerset County. The portion of the project that requires a diversion is the relocation of the existing Bridgewater Township 54-inch diameter sanitary sewer pipe. In order to meet the project need, it is necessary to divert a relatively small portion of the river and park property (subsurface), specifically 0.42 acres from encumbered parkland at Block 102, Lots 10 and 39 in the Township of Bridgewater and Block 48, Lot 10 in the Township of Hillsborough, Somerset County.

As compensation for the proposed diversion, Somerset County proposes to accept monetary compensation for the minor diversion which will be deposited into Somerset County’s Open Space Preservation Trust account to be utilized for future acquisition of land for recreation or conservation purposes. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:36-26.6(c) a hearing to obtain public comment on this request will be held at: North Branch Park located at 355 Milltown Road, in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey on December 3rd at 6:00 PM.

Please see below a letter in support of this diversion, submitted to Somerset County by the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership (LRWP).

November 17 / 2024

Thomas J. Boccino, PP, LLA / Supervising Planner – Preservation, Planning Division / Somerset County Department of Engineering and Planning / 20 Grove Street • P.O. Box 3000 / Somerville, NJ 08876-1262 / Boccino@co.somerset.nj.us

RE: Headgates Dam Removal Project

Dear Mr. Boccino —

The Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership (LRWP) is writing to express full support for the proposed minor diversion of Green Acres encumbered parkland to support the proposed overall Headgates Dam Removal Project at Raritan River Mile 29.9, located in the Townships of Bridgewater and Hillsborough within Duke Island Park, Somerset County. Our understanding is that the portion of the project that requires a diversion is the relocation of the existing Bridgewater Township 54-inch diameter sanitary sewer pipe.

The LRWP supports this diversion as an important step in meeting project needs, and furthermore understands that it is necessary to divert a relatively small portion of the river and park property (subsurface), specifically 0.42 acres from encumbered parkland at Block 102, Lots 10 and 39 in the Township of Bridgewater and Block 48, Lot 10 in the Township of Hillsborough, Somerset County. The LRWP believes that the overall project will significantly enhance habitat connectivity, improve water quality, and expand recreational opportunities for the Lower Raritan River and Watershed.

The LRWP formed in 2014 to address legacy contamination and current pollution in the Raritan River and the Lower Raritan Watershed. Our mission is to conserve, enhance and restore the natural resources of the New Jersey Watershed Management Area 9, the Lower Raritan Watershed. Specifically regarding the proposed interventions to replace and relocate of a section of the Bridgewater Township 54-inch sanitary sewer line, these activities will not only directly improve resources impacted by legacy contamination, but will benefit a broad spectrum of the Raritan River’s ecology and enable other environmental and human use benefits.

Significant ecological, environmental and human use benefits have in fact already been realized following recent removal of a series of dams (Robert Street, Nevius Street, and Calco) on the lower portion of the Raritan River between the towns of Bridgewater and Bound Brook. Likewise, we expect the proposed restoration activities for the Headgates Dam Removal Project to advance multiple Lower Raritan Watershed stakeholder goals, namely expanding access to several thousand acres of non-tidal freshwater mid to upper reaches of the Raritan River’s major tributaries. More specifically, we expect that removal of Headgates Dam will enhance maturation and rearing habitat for striped bass, American shad, American eel, blueback herring, and alewife, and should significantly increase the abundance of anadromous and catadromous species, which will improve the ecological health of the Raritan River.

Enhancing fish populations in the Raritan River system is important for fresh and marine ecosystems. It is especially appropriate as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) lists the estuarine portion of the Raritan River as an important migratory pathway for anadromous alewife and blueback herring, species which NOAA lists as of special concern. The LRWP feels that the proposed projects could help to reverse declining population trends, and anadromous fish returning to spawn each spring in the Raritan River.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions, or if you wish to discuss further.

Sincerely,

Heather Fenyk, Ph.D., AICP/PP

Board President, Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership