Category: Existing Restoration/Preservation and/or Mitigation Site 
Location: East of the New Jersey Turnpike – Eastern Spur, south and west of Cromakill Creek, and north of Mori Tract in North Bergen, Hudson County.
Latitude/Longitude: 40.79927/-74.03556
Current Land Use: Tidal marsh
Size: 60 acres
Current Ownership: NJMC
Site Description: Hartz Mountain Industries restored this site and the Western Brackish Marsh in the late 1980’s. Prior to restoration, the site was undeveloped, had experienced little or no direct industrial activities, and supported a dense monoculture of common reed (Phragmites australis). Restoration activities included the excavation of the marsh surface, the creation of small upland islands using the excavated material, and planting of native vegetation in the tidal and upland areas. Currently, the intended low marsh areas function as mudflat areas while the upland island areas support a mix of tree, shrub, and herbaceous species. This site has also been known as the IR-2 Site.
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
Site-specific history and land use data from 1988 and 1991.
D. Biological Studies – Fauna
No data obtained.
E. Biological Studies – General Environmental
Post-restoration site-specific data collected in 1991 and 1995. Pre-restoration general baseline data conducted in 1978. Wetland assessments performed in 2003.
F. Geotechnical
Post-restoration soil comparison study conducted in 1995.
G. Hydraulics and Hydrology
No data obtained.
H. Water and Sediments
No data obtained.
I. Historical/Cultural Resources
No data obtained.
J. Restoration/Remediation Design Plans
Conceptual restoration/enhancement plan developed in 1986. Post-restoration studies conducted in 1988 and 1991.
Site Reports
Site #2 – Eastern Brackish Marsh
Category: Existing Restoration, Preservation, and/or Mitigation Site
Location: East of the New Jersey Turnpike – Eastern Spur, south and west of Cromakill Creek, and north of Mori Tract in North Bergen, Hudson County.
Latitude/Longitude: 40.79927 / -74.03556
Current Land Use: Tidal marsh
Size: 60 acres
Current Ownership: NJMC
Site Description: Hartz Mountain Industries restored this site and the Western Brackish Marsh in the late 1980’s. Prior to restoration, the site was undeveloped, had experienced little or no direct industrial activities, and supported a dense monoculture of common reed (Phragmites australis). Restoration activities included the excavation of the marsh surface, the creation of small upland islands using the excavated material, and planting of native vegetation in the tidal and upland areas. Currently, the intended low marsh areas function as mudflat areas, while the upland island areas support a mix of tree, shrub, and herbaceous species. This site has also been known as the IR-2 Site.
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
Eastern Brackish Marsh is owned by NJMC.
1. NJMC. Eastern Brackish Marsh Acquisition Information. September 2003.
(from http://www.hmdc.state.nj.us/eip/wl-eastern.html)
Date of Acquisition: March 17, 1999
Cost of Acquisition: Donated
Acquired from: Hartz Mountain Industries
C. Site History & Land Use
2. *Berger, John. The Hackensack Meadowlands. 1991. [2a] A “Restoration Case Study” of the mitigation site for the Hartz Mountain Project. Gives history of Hackensack Meadowlands and both Hartz Mountain mitigation sites (Eastern and Western Brackish Marshes), and describes mitigation methods. Concludes that mitigation activities enhanced habitat heterogeneity, vegetational diversity, and wildlife utilization.
3. *Hix, Stephen & Christine Ross (TAMS Consultants, Inc.) Restoration of a Tidal Marsh in the Hackensack Meadowland Region. 1988. [1] Discusses the methods and preliminary results of a 151 acre wetland restoration project (Eastern and Western Brackish Marshes) ordered by the USACE to offset the filling of 131 acres of brackish wetlands in the Hackensack Meadowlands.
D. Biological Studies – Fauna
No data obtained.
E. Biological Studies – General Environmental
4. *Berger, John. The Hackensack Meadowlands. 1991. [2a] A “Restoration Case Study” of the mitigation site for the Hartz Mountain Project. Gives history of Hackensack Meadowlands and both Hartz Mountain mitigation sites (Eastern and Western Brackish Marshes), and describes mitigation methods. Concludes that mitigation activities enhanced habitat heterogeneity, vegetational diversity, and wildlife utilization.
5. *Celebrano, M. A Characterization of Sites in the Hackensack Meadowlands District Experiencing Unexplained Decline of Spartina alterniflora. HMDC. 1995. [1a] Compares soils from the Eastern Brackish Marsh, Western Brackish Marsh, Empire Tract, and Metro Media sites to determine if differing soil characteristics effect the growth of smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) seedlings in the first growing season. Soil cores from were analyzed for nutrients, metals, percent organic, grain size, acid-volatile sulfides.
6. *Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc. Environmental Impact Statement on a Multipurpose Development. October 1978. [4] Addresses plan to construct a multipurpose development in the HMD. The proposed project included modern retail facilities, office complexes, a residential cluster, and light industrial uses, as well as recreational facilities and corridors of open wetland space.
7. *McCormick, J. M. and F. R. Cantelmo. Investigation of Unexplained Decline of Spartina alterniflora in Northern Portions of the Hackensack Meadowlands District. HMDC. 1995. [1a] Mainly a literature review on factors which influence survival of smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). Contains specific review of history of Eastern and Western Brackish Marshes. A small study on the survivability of transplanted S. alterniflora was also done.
8. *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.
F. Geotechnical
9. *Celebrano, M. A Characterization of Sites in the Hackensack Meadowlands District Experiencing Unexplained Decline of Spartina alterniflora. HMDC. 1995. [1a] Compares soils from the Eastern Brackish Marsh, Western Brackish Marsh, Empire Tract, and Metro Media sites to determine if differing soil characteristics effect the growth of smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) seedlings in the first growing season. Soil cores were analyzed for nutrients, metals, percent organic, grain size, acid-volatile sulfides.
G. Hydraulics and Hydrology
6. *Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc. Environmental Impact Statement on a Multipurpose Development. October 1978. [4] Addresses plan to construct a multipurpose development in the HMD. The proposed project included modern retail facilities, office complexes, a residential cluster, and light industrial uses, as well as recreational facilities and corridors of open wetland space.
H. Water and Sediments
6. *Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc. Environmental Impact Statement on a Multipurpose Development. October 1978. [4] Addresses plan to construct a multipurpose development in the HMD. The proposed project included modern retail facilities, office complexes, a residential cluster, and light industrial uses, as well as recreational facilities and corridors of open wetland space.
I. Historical/Cultural Resources
6. *Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc. Environmental Impact Statement on a Multipurpose Development. October 1978. [4] Addresses plan to construct a multipurpose development in the HMD. The proposed project included modern retail facilities, office complexes, a residential cluster, and light industrial uses, as well as recreational facilities and corridors of open wetland space.
J. Restoration/Remediation Design Plans
10. Berger, John. The Hackensack Meadowlands. 1991. [2a] A “Restoration Case Study” of the mitigation site for the Hartz Mountain Project. Gives history of Hackensack Meadowlands and both Hartz Mountain mitigation sites (Eastern and Western Brackish Marshes), and describes mitigation methods. Concludes that mitigation activities enhanced habitat heterogeneity, vegetational diversity, and wildlife utilization.
11. *Hix, Stephen & Christine Ross (TAMS Consultants, Inc.) Restoration of a Tidal Marsh in the Hackensack Meadowland Region. 1988. [1] Discusses the methods and preliminary results of a 151 acre wetland restoration project (Eastern and Western Brackish Marshes) ordered by the USACE to offset the filling of 131 acres of brackish wetlands in the Hackensack Meadowlands.
12. TAMS Consultants, Inc. Hackensack Meadowlands Eastern Brackish Wetland Mitigation Plan. July 1986. [4] Outlines mitigation plan for the Eastern Brackish Marsh site, which includes enhancement of this brackish area along the Cromakill Creek.
K. Bibliographic Updates
Site #2: Eastern Brackish Marsh