Garden State Trout

PEACE New Jersey is pleased to announce that we have received a grant through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for our project:
Restoring Riparian Habitat and Improving Public River
Access in Hackettstown New Jersey
Grant Amount:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $437,000
Matching Funds:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $452,500
Total Project Amount:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $889,500
The purpose of the grant will be to restore Doug A Blake park in Hackettstown, New Jersey, by planting a riparian buffer with native plant species, stabilizing 305 linear feet of riverbank along the Musconetcong River.
We will also be installing seven pollinator gardens and completing design plans for ADA-compliant paths. Project will benefit priority pollinator species and freshwater mussels, improve recreational access for the community and restore the park to a more natural condition.
This project all started with the town approaching PEACE NJ for help solving a problem. A deteriorating structure in the river is a safety hazard and liability for the town and needed to be removed.
We helped come up with a plan, with community input, and folded in some conservation measures to provide increased habitat and safer recreational access. This made the project attractive to a variety of funders.
We are hoping to continue to involved the community over the next two years as we enter into the implementation phase of this project. Thanks to everyone who has provided input and donations to keep us going!

My firm will be invited to bid on this. It is disappointing to me that no actual river restoration work will happen. The plan for the river is to simply remove the old and dangerous concrete diving platform in the river in Hackettstown's park. No in-stream habitat restoration.

Rusty Spinner wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:39 am

My firm will be invited to bid on this. It is disappointing to me that no actual river restoration work will happen. The plan for the river is to simply remove the old and dangerous concrete diving platform in the river in Hackettstown's park. No in-stream habitat restoration.

well that sucks. the way the article is written. it was going for somewhat a restoration . just not remove that old platform

Troutman wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 06, 2026 7:17 pm

Rusty Spinner wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:39 am

My firm will be invited to bid on this. It is disappointing to me that no actual river restoration work will happen. The plan for the river is to simply remove the old and dangerous concrete diving platform in the river in Hackettstown's park. No in-stream habitat restoration.

well that sucks. the way the article is written. it was going for somewhat a restoration . just not remove that old platform

There were a number of reasons they decided not to pursue in-stream work and they make sense to me now. First of all, that section of the river no longer holds trout over in summer. Secondly, there is the presence of listed freshwater mussels nearby which further complicates permitting. So the project in the river focuses on removal of the large, old, concrete diving platform that stands in the river. There is some bank restoration in that area as well, plus a lot of native plantings.

Rusty Spinner wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 10, 2026 9:47 am

Troutman wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 06, 2026 7:17 pm

Rusty Spinner wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:39 am

My firm will be invited to bid on this. It is disappointing to me that no actual river restoration work will happen. The plan for the river is to simply remove the old and dangerous concrete diving platform in the river in Hackettstown's park. No in-stream habitat restoration.

well that sucks. the way the article is written. it was going for somewhat a restoration . just not remove that old platform

There were a number of reasons they decided not to pursue in-stream work and they make sense to me now. First of all, that section of the river no longer holds trout over in summer. Secondly, there is the presence of listed freshwater mussels nearby which further complicates permitting. So the project in the river focuses on removal of the large, old, concrete diving platform that stands in the river. There is some bank restoration in that area as well, plus a lot of native plantings.

I fished that area ever so often. There are holdover in that area. but you have to find them. I fish it early am in the summer some time if its cool enough.