Long Abused, New Jersey's Hackensack River Recovers

LYNDHURST, New Jersey, September 24, 2007 (ENS) - The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, NJMC, approved the purchase of 35 acres of wetlands along the Hackensack River on Wednesday over the objections of builders, who said part of the property could be a site for affordable housing.

The $2.5 million purchase pre-empts development on an ecologically valuable property where apartments and condos were proposed in the past, commission officials said. However, all but a few acres are covered with water at high tide.

The Hackensack River has been polluted and poisoned by chemicals, industrial waste and sewage for decades, but now, under the care of the commission and many citizens groups the river is coming back to life.

Ospreys, herons, falcons, striped bass and perch are returning to the lower part of the river. The section that flow through the Meadowlands is being turned into eco-parks and wildlife refuges.

Last week, the Meadowlands Board of Commissioners announced a partnerhip with a team of researchers from Princeton University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to study engineered soils that can immobilize and isolate contaminants at two high marsh communities at the Secaucus Wetlands Enhancement Site.

"As we continue to move forward acquiring, preserving and enhancing open space in the Meadowlands District, we are heedful of the importance of gathering and sharing information on this unique ecosystem," said Acting NJMC Chairman Charles Richman, who is also acting Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

"What we learn at the Secaucus Wetlands Enhancement Site will build upon this agency's proven track record of founding environmental policies on hard scientific data," he said.

Enhancement activities at the 42 acre Secaucus Wetlands Enhancement Site, including increasing tidal flows and enhancing biodiversity, have been underway since March 2007. Enhancement of the site, adjacent to Secaucus High School in the northern end of the city, is expected to be complete by late fall 2007.

The commission developed two high marsh communities at the site this summer utilizing sand and a sand/organic material mixture and planted native grasses, including saltmeadow hay, spike grass, and saltmeadow rush.

The engineered soils used to create the two high marshes are believed to be useful for immobilizing and isolating potential contaminants in sediments. Data analyzed in the study will help the commission determine the best practices for sustaining additional high marsh communities and maximizing the engineered soils' capacity to give natural processes an opportunity to propel wetlands vitality. Up to $100,000 has been appropriated for the study.

The Secaucus Wetlands Enhancement Site will provide a key habitat for fish, mammal and bird species, such as the yellow-crowned night heron which nests in nearby Schmidt's Woods. Black-crowned night herons, great blue herons, great egrets, and least bitterns, amng many other species, have been observed at the site.

The commission is also constructing a 1,500 foot elevated wooden boardwalk at the site that will allow the public to view the continued growth of the restored urban wetland.

This access point will increase the waterfront recreational opportunities available to Secaucus residents and visitors and become part of the Secaucus Greenway, a planned 15 mile pedestrian trail interlinking retail, office, commercial and residential areas while preserving open space.

A 21 mile paddling route from Oradell to Jersey City is in the works for for kayakers and canoeists.

NJMC Executive Director Robert Ceberio said, "We look forward to building on our tradition of good environmental stewardship and developing access points to the river for residents in Secaucus and the District as a whole."

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