By John Tredrea, Special Writer
Hopewell Township has renewed an annual agreement with the U.S. Geologic Survey under which the survey, which is part of the Department of the Interior, will study water resources in the township.
A resolution approving the agreement was passed 4-0 by the Township Committee Monday night. Voting in favor were Deputy Mayor Jim Burd and Allen Cannon, Kim Johnson and Vanessa Sandom, committee members. Mayor Michael Markulec was absent.
The township will contribute $3,925 to cover the work the survey does. Township Administrator/Engineer Paul Pogorzelski said the survey is used because of its expertise and credibility. He noted that the survey publishes its findings online.
In an Aug. 9, 2011 memo to the township, Glen Carlton, of the Survey, said long-term groundwater-level and stream-base-flow data are needed to properly evaluate the township’s water resources.
Accumulation of such data is what the survey will continue to do now that the resolution has been passed by the committee.
Groundwater measurements will continue to be made at three observation wells. Stream-flow measurements will be made on small streams in the township by a volunteer.
Mr. Carlton said the data will assist the township in evaluating the water resources of Hopewell Borough and Pennington Borough, as well as the township.
Both boroughs, less than a square mile in size each, are encircled by 58-square-mile Hopewell Township.
He noted that groundwater withdrawals by wells that supply the Pennington and Hopewell Borough public waterworks affect groundwater levels and stream base flow in the township.
He said Pennington and Hopewell Borough withdraw 100 and 50 million gallons respectively of water from the ground annually.
THE MASTER GARDENERS of Mercer County will hold a Spring Plant Expo on May 5 at the county Educational Gardens and Equestrian Center, on Federal City Road in Hopewell Township. The Township Committee voted Monday night in favor of permitting the Expo.
