Princeton-Area Waterways To Benefit From $35K Algal Bloom Prevention Grant

PRINCETON, NJ — Waterways in the Princeton area are set to benefit from a $35,000 grant awarded to The Watershed Institute to support community-based monitoring and prevention efforts targeting harmful algal blooms in the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed, according to a joint announcement from the American Water Charitable Foundation and New Jersey American Water.

The Watershed Institute, headquartered in Pennington, was named a recipient of the Foundation's 2026 Water and Environment Grant Program on Tuesday. The watershed the group monitors runs through Princeton and surrounding Mercer County communities.

"Providing safe and reliable water is what we do, but giving back to the communities we serve is part of who we are," said Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water. "Through the Foundation's Water and Environment Grant Program, we're proud to invest in local organizations that protect our water resources, educate future stewards and strengthen communities across New Jersey."

The grant will fund a project called "Working with Community Members to Address the Threat of CyanoHABs," designed to build community capacity to identify, document and help prevent harmful cyanobacterial algal blooms in local waterways, including those running through Princeton. Funding will allow The Watershed Institute to purchase specialized monitoring equipment, including an AlgaeTorch, FluoroProbe and ioLight microscope, to improve detection of chlorophyll, phycocyanin and phytoplankton in the water.

The new equipment will support water quality monitoring conducted by roughly 55 volunteer community scientists at 80 monitoring locations through the organization's StreamWatch program, several of which are in and around Princeton.

"This grant will support The Watershed Institute's efforts to better understand and prevent harmful algal blooms that threaten local waterways," said Jim Waltman, executive director of The Watershed Institute. "With this funding, the organization will purchase new tools to improve detection and monitoring, while expanding community outreach to increase awareness and encourage actions that help protect our water quality."

The Watershed Institute also plans to deliver educational presentations to elected officials, local government representatives, environmental commissions and community members throughout the Stony Brook, Upper Millstone and Lower Millstone watersheds, an area that includes Princeton. Organizers said the project is expected to directly benefit approximately 300 people and indirectly reach as many as 3.5 million residents through community education and regional partnerships.

The grant is part of the Foundation's Keep Communities Flowing Grant Program, which focuses on water, people and community giving. In 2026, the Foundation awarded more than $179,000 in Water and Environment grants to 10 nonprofit organizations across New Jersey American Water's service area.

"The American Water Charitable Foundation is delighted to support eligible nonprofit organizations making a meaningful impact across New Jersey," said Carrie Williams, president of the American Water Charitable Foundation. "Funding for Water and Environment grants support projects focused on clean water, conservation, environmental education, climate variability, and water-based recreation."

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