Columbia Lake Dam
Knowlton Township, Warren County, New Jersey
Hunter Research is often called up to evaluate potential historic properties or archaeological sites under the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s land use permitting rules for freshwater wetlands, coastal areas, highlands and other types of environmental mitigation projects. A typical example is Hunter Research’s work on the Columbia Lake Dam on the Paulins Kill in Warren County. In this instance, Hunter Research completed a combined intensive-level architectural survey and Phase IA archaeological survey for a project to remove the dam for fish passage. Due to the dam and its associated powerhouse being deemed eligible for state register listing, Hunter Research worked with the NJDEP and the state historic preservation office to develop mitigation stipulations that included historic documentation prior to removal, as well as archaeological monitoring during removal, allowing the project to proceed toward completion.
