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Project Summary

Full Summary

Monmouth County, NJDEP and the Borough of Spring Lake contracted Najarian Associates to produce environmental and engineering services for Wreck Pond.

County: Monmouth

Town: Spring Lake

Monmouth County, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP),  and the Borough of Spring Lake contracted Najarian Associates to provide environmental and engineering services for Wreck Pond.

Wreck Pond is a coastal pond connected through an outfall structure to the Atlantic Ocean in Spring Lake and Sea Girt, New Jersey. The outflow from the Pond during rainfall events had been previously identified as a source of beach closings due to elevated bacteria levels in the ocean’s adjacent bathing beaches.

In addition, Wreck Pond and the other watershed ponds have reported degraded water quality conditions, including excessive sediment accumulation, elevated nutrient levels, and frequent algal blooms. After repeated inundation over the last 10 years, flooding has also become a concern for local residents.

Technical Services 

Regional Stormwater Management Plan (RSWMP)

Najarian Associates began a Wreck Pond water quality and flood abatement project in 2005 by initially conducting a study for the Borough of Spring Lake under a US EPA Grant. The study included water quality and sediment monitoring and watershed modeling.

Monmouth County then retained Najarian to develop the Regional Stormwater Management Plan (RSWMP) for the Wreck Pond watershed. This was completed in association with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for the study.

Monmouth County received a grant from NJDEP to develop this plan, which would serve as a model for additional watersheds within New Jersey. As the lead author for the watershed report, Najarian prepared the text and environmental GIS mapping, compiled and synthesized data, and integrated technical studies from other TAC members.

Wreck Pond Brook Watershed Restoration Plan for Impaired Waters

In order to meet revised NJDEP regulations and US Environmental Protection Agency requirements, Najarian completed the Wreck Pond Brook Watershed Restoration Plan for Impaired Waters in 2015. The restoration plan satisfies USEPA’s Nine Elements of a Watershed-Based Restoration and Protection Plan per the ‘Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters’ and other USEPA guidance.

The two plans, certified by NJDEP, identified key issues of concern such as impaired water quality, developed pollutant reduction goals and outlined projects to achieve those goals.  

Hydrologic and Water Quality Modeling

With storm events over the last 7 years, flood control has become an important concern, and a secondary outfall was proposed to mitigate flooding impacts. Najarian updated and enhanced their hydrologic and hydraulic models to document the impact of a proposed secondary outfall on flooding. The results were a key component in securing grant funding to complete the outfall – which is now under construction.

Because of these modeling results, the project resulted in a positive benefit-cost ratio.

Manufactured Stormwater Treatment Devices Project

Najarian also conducted a project to install Manufactured Stormwater Treatment Devices (MTDs) on stormwater outfalls in the lower watershed. The MTDs provide water quality treatment to the stormwater flowing through them, thereby reducing nutrient and sediment loading to the Pond. The firm designed the MTDs, provided construction oversight on the installation, and conducted a follow-up review of the outfalls with each municipality.

Wreck Pond Project Results

Green Coastal Resiliency Solutions

Najarian is in the process of developing green coastal resiliency solutions along the shoreline of Wreck Pond in coordination with the Spring Lake Borough engineer. The existing shoreline of the pond includes vegetated areas, stone and wooden bulkheads, and a mowed grass area with low spots that are susceptible to flooding.

To enhance these features and reduce flooding, Najarian prepared a Preliminary Feasibility Study for a living shoreline on behalf of Monmouth County and NJDEP. Najarian conducted modeling to assess the impact that the new outfall would have on tidal elevations and salinity in the Pond.

The primary emphasis of the design is on a living shoreline along portions of the Pond’s berm up to State Route 71.

The restructured living shoreline will provide enhanced habitat value and mitigate low spots along the berm.

Currently, the firm and the Borough Engineer have developed design plans for a pilot project along one portion of the shoreline and submitted permit applications to the relevant agencies, which are now under review. A detailed investigation of and design for the living shoreline berm along the rest of the Pond has been initiated, which is included as part of the grant funding for the new outfall.

Outfall Restoration Solutions

To provide protection from future rainfall flood events to enhance fish passage and water quality, Spring Lake obtained funding from state and federal agencies to construct a secondary outfall. Najarian’s environmental studies, living shoreline feasibility study, and flood modeling were essential elements in the grant application and required environmental assessment. The outfall has been constructed and became operational in late 2016.

Technical Services

  • Regional Stormwater Management Plan (RSWMP)
  • Hydrologic and Water Quality Modeling