We are awaiting the final permit to remove the Gruendyke dam on the Musconetcong River at the Hackettstown and Mount Olive border next to the Pump House Restaurant. DEP Dam Safety has issued their necessary permits and now we need the DEP Freshwater Wetlands permit before we can begin removal. On the Hackettstown side of the river is a new 4′ x 8′ sign indicating the project’s scope, partners and its benefits to the river system. This sign was made by our Division of Fish & Wildlife in hopes of educating the public on the removal of both the Gruendyke mill dam and the Seber dam upstream a short distance that will also be removed. The large pile of rocks at both dam sites were donated by K. Hovnanian Homes and their sub-contractor, Mountain View Developers from one of their nearby job sites. While TU has been at odds with some builders at certain projects, this is one instance where our two group’s interests came together for the betterment of the Musconetcong River. The cost of these stones had we been forced to purchase them would have been $70,000 and would have delayed our removal project until that money could have been raised which could easily have exceeded another year or two. Thanks go out to these developers for their generosity in helping with these two dam removals!
This stone will be used to build weirs to prevent the river from scouring at the current dam sites as well as to provide a natural drop in the river above the Gruendyke dam where the river is currently ponded. In all, three weirs will be constructed, one at the Seber dam site and two at the Gruendyke dam site. These weirs will allow for fish passage and sediment travel while re-channeling the river to its former course. Work is still scheduled to begin in late 2007 providing we receive the final permit.
