Two Northampton County Open Space projects received unanimous approval for funding.

At Northampton County Council's June 6 meeting, council authorized a $58,800 grant to remove the Johnston Park Dam in Bethlehem's Historic Colonial Industrial Quarter, along the Monocacy Creek and $119,789 to rehabilitate the Creek at Illick's Mill Park.

The dam removal grant is also funded by a matching $58,800 DCNR grant and $33,500 from the City of Bethlehem.

The $151,100 project will remove a 50-foot-wide, 6-foot-high dam and stream, stabilize the stream bank and establish a riparian buffer zone. Riparian buffer zones play an important role in soil conservation and also in restoring plant habitats and communities along the river margins.

In addition to installation of a riparian buffer zone at Monocacy Creek at Illick's Mill Park, work on the creek will also include prevention of erosion and sedimentation, removal of inadequate buffers and excavation of the existing stream bank. The project's total cost is $252,258. The county's grant will be matched by a DCNR grant and $12,680 from the City of Bethlehem.

Because of the July 4th holiday council's next regular meeting will be 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 2. Council meets on the third floor of Northampton County Courthouse, 669 Washington St., Easton.