Kearny Brackish Marsh

Category: Candidate Restoration/Preservation Site Kearny Brackish Marsh

Location: The site is divided horizontally by the New Jersey Turnpike – Eastern Spur and bordered in the east by the Hackensack River in Kearny, Hudson County.

Latitude/Longitude: 40.75814/-74.10272

Current Land Use: Tidal marsh

Size: 116 acres

Current Ownership: NJMC

Site Description: Emergent vegetation at the Kearny Brackish Marsh has been mostly eliminated over the past ten years and replaced by open water. Both tidal flows and hydrologic connections have been restricted due to surrounding development. The current conceptual restoration design includes the re-establishment of emergent vegetation by managing water levels and preventing soil erosion, potentially through the replacement of the broken water control structures at the Cayuga Dike.

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

No data obtained.

E. Biological Studies – General Environmental

A sediment/vegetation comparative study was performed in 2003. Wetland assessment was performed in 2003.

F. Geotechnical

No data obtained.

G. Hydraulics and Hydrology

No data obtained.

H. Water and Sediments

A sediment/vegetation comparative study was performed in 2003.

I. Historical/Cultural Resources

No data obtained.

J. Restoration/Remediation Design Plans

No data obtained.

Site Reports

Site #15 – Kearny Brackish Marsh

Category: Candidate Restoration/Preservation Site

Location: The site is divided horizontally by the New Jersey Turnpike – Eastern Spur and bordered in the east by the Hackensack River in Kearny, Hudson County.

Latitude/Longitude: 40.75814 / -74.10272

Current Land Use: Tidal marsh

Size: 116 acres

Current Ownership: NJMC

Site Description: Emergent vegetation at the Kearny Brackish Marsh has been mostly eliminated over the past ten years and replaced by open water. Both tidal flows and hydrologic connections have been restricted due to surrounding development. The current conceptual restoration design includes the re-establishment of emergent vegetation by managing water levels and preventing soil erosion, potentially through the replacement of the broken water control structures at the Cayuga Dike.

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

Kearny Brackish Marsh is owned by NJMC.

1.      NJMC. Kearny Brackish Marsh Acquisition Information. September 2003.

Date of Acquisition:    November 9, 1999

Cost of Acquisition:     $933,085

Acquired from:            Town of Kearny

C.  Site History & Land Use

No data obtained.

D.  Biological Studies – Fauna

No data obtained.

E.   Biological Studies – General Environmental

2.      *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.

3.      *Ravit, B., J.G. Ehrenfeld, & M.M. Haggblom. A Comparison of Sediment Microbial Communities Associated with Phragmites australis and Spartina alterniflora in Brackish Wetlands of New Jersey. Estuaries. 26(2B). 2003. [1a]Sediment samples under different vegetation types were collected at Kearny Brackish Marsh and Mill Creek Wetland Mitigation Site. Microbial communities within the sediments are being examined to determine if there are any correlations or differences among microbial community, contaminant levels, and type of overlying vegetation in brackish marsh areas.

F.   Geotechnical

No data obtained.

G.  Hydraulics and Hydrology

No data obtained.

H.  Water and Sediments

4.      *Ravit, B., J.G. Ehrenfeld, & M.M. Haggblom. A Comparison of Sediment Microbial Communities Associated with Phragmites australis and Spartina alterniflora in Brackish Wetlands of New Jersey. Estuaries. 26(2B). 2003. [1a]Sediment samples under different vegetation types were collected at Kearny Brackish Marsh and Mill Creek Wetland Mitigation Site. Microbial communities within the sediments are being examined to determine if there are any correlations or differences among microbial community, contaminant levels, and type of overlying vegetation in brackish marsh areas.

I.    Historical/Cultural Resources

No data obtained.

J.   Restoration/Remediation Design Plans

No data obtained.

K. Bibliographic Updates                   

Site #15: Kearny Brackish Marsh