Category: Candidate Restoration/Preservation Site
Location: Along the eastern bank of the Hackensack River, south of the New Jersey Transit Bergen Line in Secaucus, Hudson County.
Latitude/Longitude: 40.78225/-74.08348
Current Land Use: Tidal Marsh
Size: 52 acres
Current Ownership: NJMC
Site Description: The Anderson Creek Marsh is an undeveloped area, but has been impacted by ditching for mosquito control and tide gate installation. Common reed (Phragmites australis) dominates approximately 95% of the site. The remaining areas are open water with mudflats. The current conceptual restoration plan entails creation of additional meandering creeks, lowering site elevations to allow for twice-daily tidal inundation, and excavation of shallow pools to provide open water habitats. Upland waterfowl habitat nesting islands are also planned with access to open water areas.
Existing Site-Specific Data Inventory
A. Survey, Maps, and GIS
HMD regional data exists inclusive of this site.
B. Real Estate/Ownership
Owned by NJMC. Acquisition data available on NJMC website.
C. Site History & Land Use
No data obtained.
D. Biological Studies – Fauna
Site-specific baseline data collected in 1985.
E. Biological Studies – General Environmental
Baseline data and wetland and habitat quality assessments conducted in the early 1985, 1990, 1992 and 1993. Wetland assessments performed in 2003.
F. Geotechnical
No data obtained.
G. Hydraulics and Hydrology
Site-specific baseline data collected in 1985.
H. Water and Sediments
Site-specific baseline data collected in 1985.
I. Historical/Cultural Resources
No data obtained.
J. Restoration/Remediation Design Plans
Conceptual restoration plans developed in 1985 and 1986.
Site Reports
Site #11 – Anderson Creek Marsh
Category: Candidate Restoration/Preservation Site
Location: Along the eastern bank of the Hackensack River, south of the New Jersey Transit Bergen Line in Secaucus, Hudson County.
Latitude/Longitude: 40.78225 / -74.08348
Current Land Use: Tidal Marsh
Size: 52 acres
Current Ownership: NJMC
Site Description: The Anderson Creek Marsh is an undeveloped area, but has been impacted by ditching for mosquito control and tide gate installation. Common reed (Phragmites australis) dominates approximately 95% of the site. The remaining areas are open water with mudflats. The current conceptual restoration plan entails creation of additional meandering creeks, lowering site elevations to allow for twice-daily tidal inundation, and excavation of shallow pools to provide open water habitats. Upland waterfowl habitat nesting islands are also planned with access to open water areas.
Existing Site Specific Data Inventory
* – Report repeated under multiple data categories and/or sites.
A. Survey, Maps, and GIS
Relevant survey, mapping, and GIS data for the Meadowlands can be found in the Meadowlands-wide site report under data category A.
B. Real Estate/Ownership
Anderson Creek Marsh is owned by NJMC.
1. NJMC. Anderson Creek Marsh Acquisition Information. September 2003.
(from http://www.hmdc.state.nj.us/eip/wl-anderson.html)
Date of Acquisition: January 1976
Cost of Acquisition: Deeded to Commission as a condition of prior permit approval
Acquired from: Hartz Mountain Industries
C. Site History & Land Use
No data obtained.
D. Biological Studies – Fauna
2. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. & Environmental Concern, Inc. Anderson Marsh Wetlands Management Study: Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission Island Residential – 1 Southern Tract Project. Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc. 1985. [1a] Existing water quality, aquatic biota, bird, mammals, and reptiles/amphibians data at Anderson Creek Marsh was reviewed and new data was collected. Included a conceptual restoration/enhancement plan that suggested removing common reed (Phragmites australis) through the application of RODEO, re-seeding with more desirable species, and restricting grading activities to the widening and deepening of existing channels. The conceptual design plan is included.
E. Biological Studies – General Environmental
3. *The Louis Berger Group, Inc. Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) Functional Assessment Model and Guidebook for Tidal Fringe Wetlands in the New Jersey Meadowlands. 2003. [1a](http://merilibrary.meadowlands.state.nj.us/dbtw-wpd/FullText/HGM_guidebook_RVSD.pdf) A hydrogeomorphic functional assessment model and guidebook for tidal fringe wetlands in the Hackensack Meadowlands was completed. The HGM model can be used as a tool to help determine wetland functions and values and to approximate compensatory wetland mitigation. Map-based and on-site field data (including amount of aquatic edge, channel density, vegetative cover, habitat, soil texture, and tidal inundation) were collected from the reference wetlands and used to refine data collection forms, calibrate model variables, and improve the conceptual HGM functional models. Reference sites included Skeetkill Creek Marsh, Meadowlark Marsh, Lyndhurst Riverside Marsh, MRI, Western Brackish Marsh, Mill Creek Marsh, Eastern Brackish Marsh, Mori Tract, Walden Marsh, Oritani Marsh, Harrier Meadow, Anderson Creek Marsh, Kearny Brackish Marsh, and Riverbend Wetlands Preserve.
4. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. Comprehensive Baseline Studies, IR-2 and Off-Site Mitigation Areas/Evaluation of the Harmon Meadow Western Brackish Marsh Mitigation Area. June 1990. [2] Baseline studies were initiated in 1986 to provide Hartz Mountain Industries with planning information about three proposed mitigation sites – IR-2 onsite mitigation (now known as Western Brackish Marsh), Anderson Creek, and South Secaucus (also known as Riverbend Wetlands Preserve) – by documenting existing ecological conditions of the sites and the Hackensack River in their vicinity for a year-long period.
5. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. Functional Evaluation of the Villages at Mill Creek Development and Mitigation Sites. March 1993. [2] Qualitatively evaluates the functional opportunity/effectiveness of wetlands at four sites – IR-2 (now the Mill Creek Wetland Mitigation Site), Anderson Creek Marsh, South Secaucus (also known as Riverbend Wetlands Preserve), and Meadowlark Marsh – based on physical, chemical, and biological attributes.
6. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP): IR-2 Site and Off-Site Mitigation Areas: Evaluation of the Villages at Mill Creek Mitigation Program. October 1990. [2] The HEP was used to quantify the habitat value of the proposed IR-2 site (now the Mill Creek Wetland Mitigation Site) and mitigation area (now Western Brackish Marsh), as well as two potential offsite wetland mitigation sites – Anderson Creek Marsh and South Secaucus (also known as Riverbend Wetlands Preserve).
7. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. Technical Report on Vegetation Mapping for IR-2, Anderson Creek Marsh, and South Secaucus Wetland Sites. December 1990. [2]Presents vegetation mapping with supporting data for the IR-2 site (now the Mill Creek Wetland Mitigation Site), its potential onsite mitigation area (now Western Brackish Marsh), and potential offsite mitigation areas – Anderson Creek Marsh and South Secaucus (now known as Riverbend Wetlands Preserve).
8. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. The Villages at Mill Creek (IR-2) Wetland Evaluation Technique (WET) Assessment (Draft). February 1990. [2]A WET functional wetlands value assessment was undertaken in response to a condition of the USACE draft permit for this project. This WET assessment evaluated existing and future conditions at the IR-2 site (now the Mill Creek Wetland Mitigation Site), as well as the potential mitigation sites – Anderson Creek Marsh and South Secaucus (also known as Riverbend Wetlands Preserve). Social significance and functional effectiveness/opportunity of wetlands were evaluated.
9. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. & Environmental Concern, Inc. Anderson Marsh Wetlands Management Study: Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission Island Residential – 1 Southern Tract Project. Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc. 1985. [1a] Existing water quality, aquatic biota, bird, mammals, and reptiles/amphibians data at Anderson Creek Marsh was reviewed and new data was collected. Included a conceptual restoration/enhancement plan that suggested removing common reed (Phragmites australis) through the application of RODEO, re-seeding with more desirable species, and restricting grading activities to the widening and deepening of existing channels. The conceptual design plan is included.
10. *USEPA and Gannett Fleming, Inc. Site Survey Report: Ecological Studies: Hartz Mountain Development Corporation Villages at Mill Creek. October 1992. [2]Presents results of a fourteen-week field study designed to evaluate the existing conditions of bird and aquatic ecology at the Villages at Mill Creek site (now the Mill Creek Wetland Mitigation Site), as well as the proposed mitigation areas for the fill activity at the site – Anderson Creek and South Secaucus (also known as Riverbend Wetlands Preserve).
F. Geotechnical
No data obtained.
G. Hydraulics and Hydrology
11. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. & Environmental Concern, Inc. Anderson Marsh Wetlands Management Study: Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission Island Residential – 1 Southern Tract Project. Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc. 1985. [1a] Existing water quality, aquatic biota, bird, mammals, and reptiles/amphibians data at Anderson Creek Marsh was reviewed and new data was collected. Included a conceptual restoration/enhancement plan that suggested removing common reed (Phragmites australis) through the application of RODEO, re-seeding with more desirable species, and restricting grading activities to the widening and deepening of existing channels. The conceptual design plan is included.
H. Water and Sediments
12. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. & Environmental Concern, Inc. Anderson Marsh Wetlands Management Study: Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission Island Residential – 1 Southern Tract Project. Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc. 1985. [1a] Existing water quality, aquatic biota, bird, mammals, and reptiles/amphibians data at Anderson Creek Marsh was reviewed and new data was collected. Included a conceptual restoration/enhancement plan that suggested removing common reed (Phragmites australis) through the application of RODEO, re-seeding with more desirable species, and restricting grading activities to the widening and deepening of existing channels. The conceptual design plan is included.
I. Historical/Cultural Resources
No data obtained.
J. Restoration/Remediation Design Plans
13. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. & Environmental Concern, Inc. Anderson Marsh Wetlands Management Study: Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission Island Residential – 1 Southern Tract Project. Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc. 1985. [1a] Existing water quality, aquatic biota, bird, mammals, and reptiles/amphibians data at Anderson Creek Marsh was reviewed and new data was collected. Included a conceptual restoration/enhancement plan that suggested removing common reed (Phragmites australis) through the application of RODEO, re-seeding with more desirable species, and restricting grading activities to the widening and deepening of existing channels. The conceptual design plan is included.
14. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. Functional Evaluation of the Villages at Mill Creek Development and Mitigation Sites. March 1993. [2] Qualitatively evaluates the functional opportunity/effectiveness of wetlands at four sites – IR-2 (now the Mill Creek Wetland Mitigation Site), Anderson Creek Marsh, South Secaucus (also known as Riverbend Wetlands Preserve), and Meadowlark Marsh – based on physical, chemical, and biological attributes.
15. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. The Villages at Mill Creek (IR-2) Brackish Wetland Mitigation Concept. May 1986. [2] Quantifies the net impact of filling 97.41 acres of USACE-regulated wetlands and enhancing 91.98 acres for the construction of the proposed Villages at Mill Creek.
K. Bibliographic Updates
Site #11: Anderson Creek Marsh
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