By John Tredrea, Special Writer
A rain garden and bio-retention system, planned for West Amwell Township-owned land near the municipal building, will minimize storm water runoff, protect water quality and provide flood control, said Dr. Stephen Souza of the firm, Princeton Hydro, which is handling the project for the township.
The system also will provide many flowers and other attractive plants for the viewing pleasure of visitors to the municipal property.
The system, expected to be installed next spring, will be paid for out of a $450,000 stormwater management grant the township received from the state Department of Environmental Protection, Dr. Souza said.
That grant also paid for a nearly complete storm water management project, also done by Princeton Hydro, near South Hunterdon Regional High School, located near the township’s municipal building.
Dr. Souza said storm water runoff from the parking lot next to the municipal building will flow into a grassy swale that will take the water to a rain garden, about 75 feet in diameter, at the base of the lot.
"Some of the runoff would be absorbed into the soil in that garden," Dr. Souza said. "Attractive flowers will be planted there."
A bio-retention basin, about 150-200 feet in diameter, will be constructed near the township’s recycling center, located next to the municipal building.
"That basin would also be of a rain garden design, with a wide variety of plants," Dr. Souza added.
Stormwater runoff not absorbed into the ground by rain garden system will be directed to Alexauken Creek by an existing swale, or drainage ditch, Dr. Souza said.
"The garden next to the municipal building will look pretty," he said. "The one next to the recycling center will be more utilitarian."
A presentation by Princeton Hydro on the project is expected to be on the agenda of a West Amwell Township Committee meeting soon.
A Sept. 24 presentation had to be postponed because the committee had a busy agenda that night.

