NLJA News

Pages Mill Pond Fishway Dam – North Branford, Connecticut The purpose of the fishway is to provide access to the 4.25-acre head pond and 6 miles of river above the dam for migratory fish such as sea-run brown trout, blueback herring, alewife, sea lamprey and American eel. These species, whose populations have been impacted by lack of access to critical spawning habitat above the state’s many dams, are important forage fish, including commercially important species in Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. The 170 ft. long fishway rises 10 ft. and consists of concrete entrance structure, resting pool, concrete column supports, turning pool, concrete channel and exit structure, as well as 35 ft. of aluminum steeppass fishway and an eel-pass. To address aesthetic concerns of the residential property owner, simulated stone masonry, re-used steeppass sections, and naturally durable native wood railing material was used. In 2020 the Pages Mill…

Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates is honored to receive a 2018 Distinguished Service Award from the Connecticut Association of Street and Highway Officials (CASHO), “For its continuous dedication and support to the principals and ideals of CASHO.” The firm was presented with the award at CASHO’s 47th Annual Awards Banquet held at the Aqua Turf Club. In accepting the award on behalf of the firm, Geoffrey Jacobson remarked that, “Over the past 46 years Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates have had the opportunity and privilege to serve more than 60 municipal clients on a wide variety of projects. Since most of these projects included working with local public works officials to improve municipal infrastructure, it is especially meaningful to receive this recognition from CASHO.” Fifteen of the company’s staff members and their spouses, as well as the firm’s founder, were in attendance to celebrate this achievement.    

Ed Bill’s Pond Dam Fish Ladder – Old Lyme, Connecticut Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, Inc. received an Environmental Merit Award in 2001 from the New England Office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Merit Award recognizes environmental advocates who have made outstanding efforts in preserving New England’s environment. Two such contributions by Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, Inc. included design and construction administration services for the Mary Griswold Steube Fishway at Lower Mill Pond Dam in Old Lyme, CT and the Ed Bill’s Pond Dam Fish Ladder in Lyme, CT. The latter project is shown in the photos at right. Prior to construction of the fish ladder, Ed Bill’s Pond Dam was the Eight Mile River watershed’s only remaining impassable barrier to significant spawning habitats for Atlantic salmon, American shad, alewife, blueback herring, sea lamprey and sea-run brown trout. Construction of a fishway at this location completed the…

Cherry Hill Road Bridge – Middlefield, Connecticut The New England Chapter of the American Concrete Institute, Inc. and The New England Ready Mixed Concrete Associations honored Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, Inc. with an award in 2001 for their design of the Cherry Hill Road Bridge project in Middlefield, Connecticut. This award is given each year to formally offer recognition to projects in New England, whose design and construction represent the best in concept, originality and application of concrete and concrete products. Besides being adjacent to Wadsworth Falls State Park, the project site was determined to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places due to the presence of an arch gravity brownstone dam immediately upstream of the bridge, remains of the original 1868 bridge abutments, 19th century dam abutments, one or more water power flumes, and buried mill foundations. One of the flumes ran immediately behind…

Mount Saint John School – Deep River, Connecticut Throughout the past 20 years, Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, Inc. has enjoyed a close working relationship with Mount Saint John School, serving as its engineering consultants on a variety of school development projects. During the June 2000 Commencement Service, Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, Inc. was awarded the prestigious Macdonald Medal with the following inscription: “The Macdonald Medal is given each year to a friend of this institution. Nathan L. Jacobson and Associates have been good friends of Mount Saint John for many years. Mr. Nathan Jacobson and Mr. Jeff Jacobson have worked with Mount Saint John over the years on a great many projects. Friends of, and respected by, Father Macdonald, the company provided essential services to Mount Saint John as the property on the Mount underwent extensive renovation and development. Always helpful and often answering urgent calls for assistance…

Mary Griswold Steube Fishway – Old Lyme, Connecticut Completed in 1998, the Mary Griswold Steube Fishway at Lower Mill Pond Dam in Old Lyme, Connecticut was constructed as a cooperative venture of the Connecticut River Watershed Council and the Old Lyme Conservation Trust. Named in honor of a generous benefactor of the Old Lyme Conservation Trust who donated the project site, the fishway provides a means for anadromonous fish (alewives) to pass the dam and spawn in the pond and central reaches of the Mill River. The fishway consists of concrete entrance and exit structures, a concrete resting pool with a side viewing window for counting fish transiting the fishway, and an aluminum steep pass structure. Aesthetics were an important part of the project as the fishway could be seen from a dwelling located immediately across the Mill River from the project. Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, Inc. received a…

Quinnipiac University Law School – Hamden, Connecticut The 130,000 square foot School of Law, located at the base of Sleeping Giant State Park, forms the western terminus of the University’s “Village Street”. Located in an Aquifer Protection Zone of the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, and directly adjacent to a groundwater pond, the site design required a careful and thoughtful approach to preserve sensitive environmental resources. Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, Inc. responsibilities included the design of all site improvements including pedestrian and vehicular access, parking and all supporting civil utilities (water, gas, sanitary and stormwater). Additional responsibilities included coordination with other site utilities, and obtaining all necessary local, regional and state land use and environmental permits. Completed in 1994, under the direction of Centerbrook Architects, the Quinnipiac University School of Law design team received an AIA Design Award in 1997. Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, Inc. have served…

Depot Road Bridge – Coventry, Connecticut The Portland Cement Association honored the Depot Road Bridge with an Award of Excellence, in an international competition recognizing creativity and imagination in the aesthetic design of concrete bridges. Completed in 1996, the Depot Road Bridge project included the replacement of an historic stone arch bridge built in the early 1800’s. The new bridge consists of a precast rigid frame, with cast-in-place concrete parapets and wingwalls, supported on timber piles for scour protection. Most notable is the concrete form-lining and color-staining utilized on the wingwalls and parapets to simulate the appearance of stone masonry. Consideration of site aesthetics during design of roadside safety improvements also led to the selection of an AASHTO approved steel-backed timber guide rail that complements the appearance of the simulated stone masonry. Nathan L. Jacobson & Associates, Inc. was reported to be the first to use either of these two…