Lawrence Gets Over $330K To Improve Colonial Lake Water Quality

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Lawrence Township will get a $316,800 grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to improve the water quality at Colonial Lake.

The grant comes from the American Rescue Plan Funds. In total the NJDEP is awarding $9.95 million in grants to local government agencies, nonprofit groups, universities, and others to improve water quality at lakes.

Lawrence township will be using the funds to apply a multi-layered approach to improving water quality at Colonial Lake. This includes hydro-raking, removing impervious surfaces (an asphalt parking lot), and installing a living shoreline.

“These grants will help a diverse group of DEP partners implement projects that will reduce the harmful effects of stormwater, nonpoint source pollution and Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) that will only worsen due to the impacts of climate change,” NJDEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said in a statement.

“On behalf of the Murphy Administration, we are excited to facilitate these projects in various overburdened communities to meet Department environmental justice and statewide water quality goals and objectives.”

More than $8 million of the grants will fund projects on lakes in or next to overburdened communities in the state, resulting in improved water quality and increased recreational opportunities for residents.

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