New Jersey Fish and Wildlife has concluded the stream bank restoration project at Capoolong Creek Wildlife Management Area, located in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County. The goal of this project was to restore and enhance fish habitat as well as restore a portion of the bank of Capoolong Creek. The badly eroded bank was caused by high water events coming off an existing shear and attacking the river’s right bank, threatening a walking trail that is popular with the public.

A contracted stream restoration company, Trout Scapes River Restoration, conducted in-stream restoration work and habitat improvement activities along the stream bank for a 2-day period in September. Boulders of various sizes, along with river cobbles and gravel to fill in the spaces between boulders, were placed along the stream bank to ensure the bank will resist further erosion and protect the trail above.

A new pool capable of holding both the wild brown trout and stocked hatchery trout living or stocked in the creek was also created. The pool creation was key to moving the thalweg (deepest part of a river’s channel holding the most energy) away from the eroding bank and to dissipate the river’s energy in high water events so that future bank erosion is not experienced in this section of Capoolong Creek. The restored bank was also planted with native vegetation to help hold soils in place.

For more information, please contact Melissa Woerner at Melissa.Woerner@njdepwptest.net.

Habitat Management Projects