Mehrhof Pond

Category: Candidate Restoration/Preservation Site Mehrhof Pond

Location: South of Losen Slote Creek, east of Losen Slote Creek Park, and west of the Hackensack River in Little Ferry, Bergen County.

Latitude/Longitude: 40.83600/-74.03752

Current Land Use: Open water, upland, and freshwater wetland

Size: 77 acres

Current Ownership: BCUA (NJMC has lease access agreement for public access.)

Site Description: The Mehrhof Pond site consists of an open freshwater pond (Mehrhof Pond), native grassland and wet meadow areas, and the BCUA Nature Preserve and trail. The site is adjacent to a BCUA water treatment facility, and is bisected by a service road. The approximately six acre BCUA Nature Preserve and trail were dedicated in June of 1996 by BCUA. The nature preserve itself is considered a remnant lowland forest with coastal indications, while the self-guided trail is approximately 1½ miles long and features observation sites that include an observation deck and an outdoor classroom. The trail encircles Mehrhof Pond, which was formerly a clay pit for a brick manufacturing company that occupied the property until the 1940’s. All the plant life that embellishes the nature preserve is indigenous to the area. At the present time, the BCUA Nature Preserve is not open to the general public, but is open by appointment only to organized groups and organizations.

Existing Site-Specific Data Inventory

A. Survey, Maps, and GIS

HMD regional data exists inclusive of this site.

B. Real Estate/Ownership

Owned by BCUA. (NJMC has lease access agreement for public access).

C. Site History & Land Use

No data obtained.

D. Biological Studies – Fauna

Fisheries study completed in 1998.

E. Biological Studies – General Environmental

No data obtained.

F. Geotechnical

No data obtained.

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

No data obtained.

Site Reports

Site #21 – Mehrhof Pond

Category: Candidate Restoration/Preservation Site

Location: South of Losen Slote Creek, east of Losen Slote Creek Park, and west of the Hackensack River in Little Ferry, Bergen County.

Latitude/Longitude: 40.83600 / -74.03752

Current Land Use: Open water, upland, and freshwater wetland

Size: 77 acres

Current Ownership: BCUA (NJMC has lease access agreement for public access.)

Site Description: The Mehrhof Pond site consists of an open freshwater pond (Mehrhof Pond), native grassland and wet meadow areas, and the BCUA Nature Preserve and trail. The site is adjacent to a BCUA water treatment facility, and is bisected by a service road. The approximately six acre BCUA Nature Preserve and trail were dedicated in June of 1996 by BCUA. The nature preserve itself is considered a remnant lowland forest with coastal indications, while the self-guided trail is approximately 1½ miles long and features observation sites that include an observation deck and an outdoor classroom. The trail encircles Mehrhof Pond, which was formerly a clay pit for a brick manufacturing company that occupied the property until the 1940’s. All the plant life that embellishes the nature preserve is indigenous to the area. At the present time, the BCUA Nature Preserve is not open to the general public, but is open by appointment only to organized groups and organizations.

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

Mehrhof Pond is owned by BCUA, from whom NJMC has a lease access agreement for public access.

C.  Site History & Land Use

No data obtained.

D.  Biological Studies – Fauna

1.      Princeton Hydro, LLC. An Environmental Assessment of Mehrhof Pond as part of the Revitilization Project for the Bergen County Utilities Authority Nature Preserve & Trail, Bergen County. October 1998. [1a] Fisheries study completed for Mehrhof Pond.

E.   Biological Studies – General Environmental

No data obtained.

F.   Geotechnical

No data obtained.

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

No data obtained.

K. Bibliographic Updates                   

Site #21: Mehrhof Pond