Category: Existing Restoration, Preservation and/or Mitigation Site 
Location: Bordered on the north by the Hackensack River and the southeast by Secaucus Tract in Secaucus, Hudson County.
Latitude/Longitude: 40.80420/-74.04718
Current Land Use: Tidal marsh
Size: 43 acres
Current Ownership: Town of Secaucus (NJMC has a 99-year lease agreement).
Site Description: Prior to restoration the site was dominated by a monoculture of common reed (Phragmites australis) and a few straight mosquito ditches that were constructed by the Hudson County Mosquito Commission early in the 20th century. In 2007 the NJMC performed wetland restoration at SHS site. The goals of the SHS wetland restoration were; 1) eradication of the common reed monoculture, 2) deepening of existing channels and creation of new channels to allow for the re-establishment of regular twice-daily tidal inundation to the marsh, and; 3) the planting of native brackish marsh vegetation. The restoration has resulted in self-sustaining low marsh habitats that are inundated twice each day by the tide, high marsh habitats that are inundated only on the highest monthly (i.e., spring) and storm tides, and lowland scrub-shrub habitats along the marsh/upland edge. These improvements provide better fish and wildlife habitat, and increased opportunities for active wetland research and passive wetland observation/study (e.g., bird watching).
Restoration within a 15.38 acre portion of the SHS site was performed by the NJMC as part of an in-lieu fee wetland mitigation for the 7.69 acres of wetland fill associated with the Meadowlands Xanadu development being constructed on the property of the NJ Sports and Exposition Authority in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Restoration of the remaining 22.62 acres of the SHS wetland restoration site was undertaken by the NJMC using its own funds. Federal funding made available through an EPA FY 05 Consolidated Appropriations Act Grant XP97272605 was used to offset the costs of restoration of an experimental high marsh area on an approximately four-acre portion within the remaining 22.62 acres of wetlands at the SHS 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 Town of Secaucus. (NJMC has a 99-year lease agreement). Acquisition data available on the NJMC website.
C. Site History & Land Use
No data obtained.
D. Biological Studies – Fauna
Monitoring conducted in 2001.
E. Biological Studies – General Environmental
Monitoring conducted and baseline data collected in 2001, including vegetation features mapping.
F. Geotechnical
Baseline data collected in 2001.
G. Hydraulics and Hydrology
Baseline data collected in 2001, including hydrologic features mapping.
H. Water and Sediments
Baseline data collected in 2001.
I. Historical/Cultural Resources
No data obtained.
J. Restoration/Remediation Design Plans
No data obtained.
Site Reports
Site #27 – Secaucus High School
Category: Existing Restoration, Preservation and/or Mitigation Site
Location: Bordered on the north by the Hackensack River and the southeast by Secaucus Tract in Secaucus, Hudson County.
Latitude/Longitude: 40.80420 / -74.04718
Current Land Use: Tidal marsh
Size: 43 acres
Current Ownership: Town of Secaucus (NJMC has a 99-year lease agreement.)
Site Description: Prior to restoration the site was dominated by a monoculture of common reed (Phragmites australis) and a few straight mosquito ditches that were constructed by the Hudson County Mosquito Commission early in the 20th century. In 2007 the NJMC performed wetland restoration at SHS site. The goals of the SHS wetland restoration were; 1) eradication of the common reed monoculture, 2) deepening of existing channels and creation of new channels to allow for the re-establishment of regular twice-daily tidal inundation to the marsh, and; 3) the planting of native brackish marsh vegetation. The restoration has resulted in self-sustaining low marsh habitats that are inundated twice each day by the tide, high marsh habitats that are inundated only on the highest monthly (i.e., spring) and storm tides, and lowland scrub-shrub habitats along the marsh/upland edge. These improvements provide better fish and wildlife habitat, and increased opportunities for active wetland research and passive wetland observation/study (e.g., bird watching).
Restoration within a 15.38 acre portion of the SHS site was performed by the NJMC as part of an in-lieu fee wetland mitigation for the 7.69 acres of wetland fill associated with the Meadowlands Xanadu development being constructed on the property of the NJ Sports and Exposition Authority in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Restoration of the remaining 22.62 acres of the SHS wetland restoration site was undertaken by the NJMC using its own funds. Federal funding made available through an EPA FY 05 Consolidated Appropriations Act Grant XP97272605 was used to offset the costs of restoration of an experimental high marsh area on an approximately four-acre portion within the remaining 22.62 acres of wetlands at the SHS 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
Secaucus High School is owned by the Town of Secaucus, from whom NJMC has a 99-year lease agreement.
C. Site History & Land Use
No data obtained.
D. Biological Studies – Fauna
1. *Donald J. Smith Environmental Consultants. Monthly Report: Harrier Meadow, Mill Creek, Skeetkill Creek Marsh, Oritani Marsh, Riverbend Wetlands Preserve and Secaucus High School. August 2001. [1a] Monthly observation report summarizing site conditions, management recommendations, and wildlife monitoring data at the Harrier Meadow, Mill Creek, Skeetkill Creek Marsh, Oritani Marsh, Riverbend Wetlands Preserve, and Secaucus High School sites. Includes photographs documenting environmental conditions.
2. *Donald J. Smith Environmental Consultants. Monthly Report: Harrier Meadow, Mill Creek, Skeetkill Creek Marsh, Oritani Marsh, Riverbend Wetlands Preserve and Secaucus High School. September 2001. [1a] Monthly observation report summarizing site conditions, management recommendations, and wildlife monitoring data at the Harrier Meadow, Mill Creek, Skeetkill Creek Marsh, Oritani Marsh, Riverbend Wetlands Preserve, and Secaucus High School sites. Includes photographs documenting environmental conditions.
3. *Donald J. Smith Environmental Consultants. Monthly Report. Harrier Meadow, Mill Creek, Skeetkill Creek Marsh, and Secaucus High School. October 2001. [1a] Monthly observation report summarizing site conditions, management recommendations, and wildlife monitoring data at the Harrier Meadow, Mill Creek, Skeetkill Creek Marsh, and Secaucus High School sites. Includes photographs documenting environmental conditions.
E. Biological Studies – General Environmental
4. *Donald J. Smith Environmental Consultants. Monthly Report: Harrier Meadow, Mill Creek, Skeetkill Creek Marsh, Oritani Marsh, Riverbend Wetlands Preserve and Secaucus High School. August 2001. [1a] Monthly observation report summarizing site conditions, management recommendations, and wildlife monitoring data at the Harrier Meadow, Mill Creek, Skeetkill Creek Marsh, Oritani Marsh, Riverbend Wetlands Preserve, and Secaucus High School sites. Includes photographs documenting environmental conditions.
5. *Donald J. Smith Environmental Consultants. Monthly Report: Harrier Meadow, Mill Creek, Skeetkill Creek Marsh, Oritani Marsh, Riverbend Wetlands Preserve and Secaucus High School. September 2001. [1a] Monthly observation report summarizing site conditions, management recommendations, and wildlife monitoring data at the Harrier Meadow, Mill Creek, Skeetkill Creek Marsh, Oritani Marsh, Riverbend Wetlands Preserve, and Secaucus High School sites. Includes photographs documenting environmental conditions.
6. *Donald J. Smith Environmental Consultants. Monthly Report. Harrier Meadow, Mill Creek, Skeetkill Creek Marsh, and Secaucus High School. October 2001. [1a] Monthly observation report summarizing site conditions, management recommendations, and wildlife monitoring data at the Harrier Meadow, Mill Creek, Skeetkill Creek Marsh, and Secaucus High School sites. Includes photographs documenting environmental conditions.
7. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. Secaucus High School Wetland Mitigation Site: Baseline Studies. March 8, 2001. [2a]Baseline studies were conducted for the Secaucus High School Wetland Mitigation Site, including vegetation cover type mapping; hydrologic features mapping; soil, sediment, and water sampling and analysis; and ecological sampling and analysis. The report details the methods, results, and conclusions for all of the studies conducted.
F. Geotechnical
8. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. Secaucus High School Wetland Mitigation Site: Baseline Studies. March 8, 2001. [2a]Baseline studies were conducted for the Secaucus High School Wetland Mitigation Site, including vegetation cover type mapping; hydrologic features mapping; soil, sediment, and water sampling and analysis; and ecological sampling and analysis. The report details the methods, results, and conclusions for all of the studies conducted.
G. Hydraulics and Hydrology
9. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. Secaucus High School Wetland Mitigation Site: Baseline Studies. March 8, 2001. [2a]Baseline studies were conducted for the Secaucus High School Wetland Mitigation Site, including vegetation cover type mapping; hydrologic features mapping; soil, sediment, and water sampling and analysis; and ecological sampling and analysis. The report details the methods, results, and conclusions for all of the studies conducted.
H. Water and Sediments
10. *TAMS Consultants, Inc. Secaucus High School Wetland Mitigation Site: Baseline Studies. March 8, 2001. [2a]Baseline studies were conducted for the Secaucus High School Wetland Mitigation Site, including vegetation cover type mapping; hydrologic features mapping; soil, sediment, and water sampling and analysis; and ecological sampling and analysis. The report details the methods, results, and conclusions for all of the studies conducted.
I. Historical/Cultural Resources
No data obtained.
J. Restoration/Remediation Design Plans
No data obtained.
K. Bibliographic Updates
Site #27: Secaucus High School
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