Judge Deals Staggering Blow to Paramus Wetlands … · Fall 2011, Volume XIV, Issue 3 ... Protection, Division of Land Use ... reation was safe and it was not. However, when millions

InsideAt the Helm 2Sustainable Seafood Fest 5 Real Science 6 Letters to Riverkeeper 7 Are You Smarter Than a 6th Grader? 8 Fish of the Hackensack 11

Whose Job to Clean River? 12Better Know a Colleague 14New RiverBarge Park 13Meadowlands Birdfest 16Watershed Field Notes 18Volunteer Corner 20Kayak Fleet Expansion 22

Fall 2011, Volume XIV, Issue 3

Continued on page 3

Continued on page 4

HackensackRIVERKEEPER®is the independent, non-governmental advocate for the Hackensack River.

By Hugh M. CarolaOn September 12, New Jersey

Administrative Law Judge Barry E. Moscowitz ruled on a case with statewide clean water and open space implications. The case—JDME Acquisitions LLC and Shamrock Creek LLC v. NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Land Use

Regulation—was brought by the companies as a result of their being denied Stream Encroach-ment and Freshwater Wetlands fill permits in 2007.

A quick review: In the autumn of 2006, the developers sought the go-ahead to build “Enchantment at Paramus” – a proposed town-house subdivision on a 34-acre

tract of forested wetlands located off Soldier Hill Road in the bor-ough. In addition to wetlands, the tract also contains Category One-protected streams. On February 14, 2007, the DEP denied JDME/Shamrock Creek’s application. Later that year the developers reapplied and on August 30, the

Judge Deals Staggering Blow to Paramus Wetlands DestructionRules that NJDEP properly denied permits for “Enchantment at Paramus”

By Chris LenIn our last issue, we reported

our efforts to petition New Jersey DEP Commissioner Bob Martin to revoke the state’s permit allowing various municipalities and sewer-age authorities to discharge raw sewage during rain storms. The overflows, called combined sewer overflows, contain untreated hu-man feces, and DEP has done little over the decades to curtail their impact on water quality.

There was a storm of outcry over the fire at the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant in Manhattan that resulted in 200 million of gallons of raw sewage entering the Hudson River. DEP

mobilized its sampling team to track the flow of harmful sew-age to ensure that New Jersey’s beaches remained safe and that citizens were aware when rec-

reation was safe and it was not. However, when millions of gal-lons of raw sewage are discharged by permit into New Jersey Waters

Suit over SewageIllegal Permit sends 23 billion gallons of sewage into NJ water per year

L: Bergen County Utility Authority opens outfall port to discharge raw sewage into the Hackensack River. R: The discharge floats downstream.

Page 2 Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2011

Continued on page 22

Good-bye IreneIt was bound to happen. It was

only a matter of time before the media stopped covering the per-sonal disasters of Hurricane Irene and started giving coverage to politicians and other self serving “experts” making pronouncements and trying to capitalize on flood victims’ emotions. For example, when an irresponsible journalist dredges up a long-discredited and dead idea like the Passaic River flood tunnel and tries to breathe new life into it, he insults flood victims by giving them false hopes at a time when they need real, constructive help. And when an elected official stands in front of television cameras demand-ing that the federal government dredge the Passaic River, he offers only false hopes to his constitu-ents. My cynical side tells me a politician like that is way more concerned about dredging up undecided votes instead of show-ing true leadership in the face of tragedy and loss.

The Passaic River Flood Tunnel was an ill-conceived idea spawned out of desperation but

supported by a cabal of high pro-file politicians that included then-Congressman Robert Roe (D-NJ8) as its prime sponsor. The plan was to construct a huge-bore 21-mile long underground tunnel that would—its supporters claimed —suck flood waters from upper Passaic River Watershed mu-nicipalities like Wayne, Lincoln Park, Pequannock and Totowa and discharge them into Newark Bay. Thanks to Rep. Roe, Congress even set aside funding for this ridiculous scheme but to its credit, the US Army Corps of Engineers killed the project. The reasons cited by the Corps included the need to destroy Meadowlands wetlands to accommodate the tun-nel—the very same wetlands that have since been protected because of their ability to mitigate flood-ing! The Corps also determined that only minimal benefit would result from the $2 billion (read $5 billion or more if resurrected) in taxpayer dollars the project would require.

As for dredging, the hard

231 Main StreetHackensack, NJ 07601-7304

Phone: 201) 968-0808 Fax: (201) 968-0336 Hotline: 1-877-CPT-BILL

[email protected]

Board of TrusteesIvan Kossak, CPA, President

J. Michael Parish, Vice PresidentSusan Gordon, SecretaryDr. Beth Ravit, Treasurer

TrusteesRobert Ceberio

Virginia KortewegKelly G. Palazzi

Ellie SprayMargaret Utzinger

Nancy Wysocki

Honorary TrusteesRobert F. Kennedy, Jr.William “Pat” Schuber

Executive DirectorCaptain Bill Sheehan,

Hackensack Riverkeeper

HRI StaffHugh Carola, Program Director

Emilio DeLia , Development DirectorJodi Jamieson, Project Manager

Chris Len, Staff AttorneyLisa Ryan, Operations Director

Urszula Surgal, Watershed Ambassador

Jodi Jamieson, Tidelines EditorLisa Ryan, Webmaster

We gladly accept submissions of articles, photography and advertise-ments from the community; however, we retain editorial discretion. We do not necessarily endorse any individual or company whose advertisements are found in these pages.

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At the helm

A word from

Captain Bill

Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2011 Page 3

DEP denied the application yet again.

A month later on September 27, 2007, JDME and Shamrock Creek appealed the denial and requested an Administrative Law hearing. On December 17, 2007 the DEP granted their request and subsequently transferred the case to the Office of Administrative Law. The hearing was ultimately held on December 13, 2010. The developers and the DEP then sub-mitted post-hearing briefs; and the record was closed.

“In the meantime JDME and Shamrock Creek forced the Paramus Zoning Board to hold meaningless hearings somehow believing that election of Gover-nor Christie would magically turn Paramus’ opposition into sup-

port,” said Hackensack River-keeper Staff Attorney Chris Len, who attended the hearings. “As it happened they never even reached the public comment section, let alone an actual vote; probably because the developers realized that any local requests would have been denied.”

All of which leads to Judge Moscowitz’s clear and unequivo-cal ruling that the DEP properly denied the application for Stream Encroachment and Wetland permits. The judge enumerated many points in his ruling, not the least of which was that “…the proposed development will result in the loss of all four functional [ecological] values (habitat, non-point source pollutant load reduc-tion, temperature moderation, and channel integrity).” There was even a statement that read in part

“…the scope of development that was presented here was the scope of development that was required to move the project forward from a financial standpoint.”

The next (and hopefully final) step to be taken is for DEP Com-missioner Bob Martin to accept and adopt Judge Moscowitz’s ruling—a ruling that clearly up-holds the work and legitimacy of the DEP to do the right thing by New Jersey’s environment.

Postscript: Hackensack Riverkeeper recognizes the work of Save Paramus Wetlands and its indefatigable founders Ed On-orato and Mark Distler. At great personal sacrifice, these men and their colleagues stood up against developers looking to make a quick buck by destroying lands that the Borough of Paramus promised would be forever wild.

Paramus WetlandsContinued from page 1


Combined Sewer Continued from page 1

during a rainstorm, DEP does nothing, despite the clear requirements of state and federal law. In fact, according to the EPA, a volume equal to the North River disaster is discharged under color of permit to New Jersey waters 115 times a year—that’s over 23 BILLION gallons of sewage to our waters annually.

Hackensack Riverkeeper, with its partners NY/NJ Baykeeper and Bill Schultz, the Raritan Riverkeeper, petitioned Commissioner Martin to revoke the il-legal combined sewer overflow permit, and regulate overflows according to the law. Mr. Martin never responded to our petition until we sued the DEP on August 19th. On September 14th, DEP denied our petition and the matter is now likely to be decided in the courts.

In this matter, we are pleased to work with students and lawyers from two environmental law clinics—Lewis & Clark Law Schools Pacific En-vironmental Advocacy Center and Columbia Law School’s Environmental Law Clinic. The basis for

our suit is simple: DEP’s rejection of our permit was illegal because its combined sewer overflow permit fails to protect human health and the environment, and because it falls abysmally short of the Clean Water Act’s permitting requirements. New Jersey law requires the commissioner to revoke such a permit. We attempted to work with the DEP, now we’ll bring it to the courts.

While the New Jersey DEP stands still, the com-bined sewer problem has spurred others to action. On July 29th, the United States EPA and Department of Justice reached a consent decree with Jersey City to limit harm from its combined sewers. While we feel the consent decree should have gone significantly further, it made many requirements of Jersey City that the DEP had never requested or enforced, includ-ing studies and assessments, purchase of new equip-ment, new signage, warnings to residents, telemetry, some sewer separation and cleaning and maintenance projects which should noticeably reduce combined sewer overflows. The consent decree does not, however, require that Jersey City meet water qual-ity standards or use best technology to control their overflows.

We hope that the Jersey City enforcement marks a beginning, and not an end to EPA enforcement on combined sewer polluters, and we hope that the EPA will take the advice provided in our comments on the Jersey City Consent Decree and use its statutory au-thority to enforce the Clean Water Act notwithstand-ing New Jersey’s illegal permit. We will, however, continue to pursue our own legal strategy to ensure that New Jersey finally provides fishable and swim-mable water to its citizens.

One day self-guided eco-excursions that you can get to by mass transit. NO CARS!

www.GreenDaycations.org

Check our website for outdoor eco-activities!


Hackensack Riverkeeper hosts our Annual Awards Dinner and Sustainable SeafoodFest on Thursday, October 27, 2011. Tickets are on sale now! This year’s event will be held at the Hasbrouck Heights Holiday Inn located at 283 Route 17 South. Come meet our special guest, Brian Thompson, NJ correspondent for NBC New York; and our 2011 honorees: Edward R. Bonanno, former Deputy Attor-ney General for Environmental Crimes; and Whole Foods Market, for it’s history of support and its com-mitment to the environment. Dinner will begin with a scrumptious cocktail reception featuring a selection of appetizers courtesy of Whole Foods market, a stunning entree of sustain-ably harvested seafood and finishing with delicious dessert treats from Elegant Desserts.

We will also have a silent auction, tricky tray, and the drawings of our Super 50/50 and Kayak Raffles.

It promises to be an exciting night, and we hope you will be a part of it! Tickets are $125 each and can be purchased at www.hackensackriverkeeper.org or

by calling our office at 201-968-0808.Super 50/50 Tickets are $25 each. First Prize 30%

of proceeds, Second Prize 15% and Third Prize 5%.To buy tickets, return coupon below with pay-

ment (check or credit card), buy online or call our of-fice! Tickets will be mailed upon receipt of payment. Drawing will be held on October 27, 2011 at our Annual Awards Dinner. Winner need not be present!

Tickets on Sale Now for Hackensack Riverkeeper’s Annual

Sustainable SeafoodFest & Awards Dinner

While Room and Board may not yet be well-known in our watershed, the Minnesota-based furniture company has been making a real name for itself out west and in New York City, where it maintains a successful store in SoHo. Recently the company’s New Jersey Distribu-tion Center management team chose Hacken-sack Riverkeeper as the recipient of an amazing 2-year $50,000 unrestricted grant. Their deci-sion was made after researching and vetting a number of nonprofit organization working within the Metropolitan area. According to the company, “Good design doesn’t end with a beautiful line or striking silhouette; it impacts everything we do, including the way we interact with our employees, our community and our planet.” We couldn’t agree more.

Room And Board Steps up For Hackensack Riverkeeper Socially-responsible company supports Hackensack Riverkeeper in a very big way

Super 50/50 TicketsName .............................Phone # .................................Street ............................................................................City .....................................State ...... Zip .....................Number of Tickets............x $25 = Total $ .....................Credit Card Number: ....................................................Exp. Date ....................... v-Code: .................................

Mail to: Hackensack Riverkeeper, 231 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601

Captain Bill Sheehan (left) receives the first half of our Room and Board grant from NJDC team members George Diaz, Marya Mitchell, Todd Green, Lori Ellerman, David Kearny, Jim Gattuso and Pat Saporito.


Real Science for Real People

Hackensack River Oysters Good News-Bad NewsBy Dr. Beth Ravit

Over the last four summers Hackensack River-keeper volunteers monitored oysters we placed in the river near Laurel Hill County Park. With Rutgers collaborators, I’m now writing a scientific paper about this research. I very much wanted to share the scientific good news (and not-so-good news) with all the dedicated volunteers and Hackensack River-keeper supporters.

The very positive finding was that there were some hardy animals that survived at least three win-ters in the Hackensack River and grew to a very re-spectable size—the largest individual measured 15.6 cm, or about 6.5” long. This is terrific news because we consider oysters to be the “canary in the marine coal mine”—they are extremely sensitive to envi-ronmental stressors. The fact that we had long-term survivors in the Hackensack is evidence that the river is recovering from historic contamination problems. I am hopeful that sometime in the future we can breed these hearty animals to produce juvenile stock that can be used to support a meaningful oyster popula-tion in the lower Hackensack.

The not such good news is that we had high mortality rates (up to 100%) at some locations, most notably next to the turnpike and adjacent to the uncapped abandoned Malanka Landfill. We also found that at all research locations the oyster shells were not developing normally—they were very thin

and broke easily, a definite benefit for oyster preda-tors such as the blue crab. We decided to take a look under the microscope at cells and tissues in some of the survivors and to analyze metal concentrations in their bodies and shells. This is when we found the bad news. The concentrations of metals in the soft tissues were as high, or higher, than concentrations reported in oysters from heavily contaminated urban estuaries. The cells and tissues exhibited abnormal shapes and the numbers of cells that typically re-spond to poor environmental conditions were very elevated. All of the oysters we sampled were males (there should be about a 50:50 ratio of females to males), and their reproductive tissues were not nor-mal—in some samples we saw evidence of reproduc-tive tumors.

I believe that the scientific data we collected is important to the Riverkeeper’s mission of protecting and restoring the Hackensack River ecosystem, as well as meeting the Comprehensive Restoration Plan goals established for the Hudson-Raritan Estuary. Since oysters are filter feeders, this data is evidence that bioavailable heavy metals are apparently still being transported in the Hackensack River water column. However the current NJDEP shellfish policy bans oyster research in “contaminated” non-harvest-able shellfish waters. We cannot fix environmental problems if we do not have evidence that a prob-lem exists, and so I am very proud of the scientific

Map showing location of the abandoned Malanka Landfill in Secaucus along-side the Hackensack River. Site where there was 100% mortality rate of our test animals.

Hackensack River

Malanka Landfill

© Google Maps


contribution Hackensack Riverkeeper and the oyster volunteers have made. Hopefully when the research paper is published there will be further investigation and actions which will contribute to one day finally eliminating dangerous contaminants from the Hack-ensack River watershed.

As followers of this column know, I have been personally advocating a change in the recent NJDEP policy which effectively bans Eastern Oyster re-search in the Hudson-Raritan Estuary. In my spring Tidelines column (April, 2011), I suggested that the NJDEP utilize the scientific expertise represented on NJDEP Commissioner Martin’s Science Advisory

Board (SAB). Dr. Judith Weis, Chair of the SAB, responded (reprinted below) to this suggestion. Dr. Weis points out that the scientific questions which SAB addresses are determined solely by NJDEP, not by SAB. We hope the Commissioner and his staff will see the value in asking his chosen science advi-sors to address the issue of how best to meet eco-logic restoration goals set out in the Comprehensive Restoration Plan. Dr. Weis is a nationally recognized marine biologist, and her insights into these ques-tions would greatly benefit both New Jersey and the Hudson-Raritan Estuary.

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A comparison of digestive tissue sampled from year old oysters placed in the Hackensack River versus oysters from the same hatchery placed in Keyport Harbor illustrates the abnormal cell development in the Hackensack oysters. Digestive cells are enlarged and there are areas of void space - the tissues had a “watery” appearance, which is not normal. Gill, mantle, and muscle tissues all exhibited abnormal features, and tumors were observed in the reproductive tissue.

Figure 1: Keyport Harbor (KH) Normal Oyster Digestive Tissue Figure 2: Hackensack River (HR) Oyster Digestive Tissue

Dear Riverkeeper,

In her article about how states other than New Jersey support oyster restoration, aquaculture, and research, Dr. Beth Ravit suggests that the Science Advisory Board (SAB) of NJDEP should guide the Commissioner in changing the current NJ policy that prohibits these activities in the name of protecting public health. I agree

with her concerns and disagree-ment with this policy, but must inform her and readers of the newsletter that this is not how the SAB was set up. The process is as follows: After considerable internal discussion, the staff of NJDEP comes up with a variety of issues that it wants advice on, and gives the SAB questions that we research and advise on. These issues tend to be quite

technical, but the bottom line is that we give advice to DEP on the topics DEP asks us for advice on. They have not asked for advice on the pros or cons of oyster restoration, which is not clearly a technical/science issue in any case.

Sincerely,Judith S. WeisProfessor, Rutgers UniversityChair, DEP Science Advisory Board

Letters to RIVERKEEPER


Are You Smarter Than a 6th Grader?Students thrive in Urban Watershed Education Program

By Jodi JamiesonThis was a great year for our

Urban Watershed Education Pro-gram (UWEP). We had over 150 students from five urban schools in Carteret, Elizabeth, Jersey City and Hackensack participate this year. Our UWEP survey results show that these students gained significant knowledge about their watershed. And they had fun to boot!

What is a watershed? (Circle correct answer)• A River • Mixture of salt and fresh water • Land area that drains into

specific bodies of water • Where you keep fishing and

gardening tools

What is New Jersey’s biggest concern with Global Warming? (Circle correct answer)• Sea Level Rise • Sunburn • Water Pollution

These are just a couple of survey questions we ask students in our Urban Watershed Education Program. Developed for middle school students, the UWEP famil-iarizes them with their watershed and its issues. Every year for the past fifteen years Hackensack Riverkeeper has worked with the New Jersey Department of Envi-ronmental Protection (DEP) to de-liver this award-winning program to urban schools within the Hack-ensack River and the Newark Bay watersheds. The program, sus-tained financially by a grant from the DEP, is implemented by HRI staff, with the help of Americorp’s

Watershed Ambassadors and angler extraordinaire—Mr. Harold Nebling of the DEP. This past sea-son we were grateful to have two college professors participating in the presentations; Professor Terry Glover of Bloomfield College and Professor Joan Leder of Fairleigh Dickenson University.

A Watershed is a land area that drains into a specific body of water. Among the watershed issues covered by the UWEP: pollution, local fish consumption adviso-ries, wildlife habitat and factors necessary for life-sustaining water quality. We work to foster a sense of stewardship for the natural world, in locations near enough to enthrall urban kids. Our action- packed four day program consists of presentations, demonstrations, games, hands-on experience and field trips.

We start our first day with classroom presentations and games that cover topics on pol-

lution sources, electricity, green house gases, climate change and why it’s a concern for NJ (that would be Sea Level Rise). One game we play helps students com-prehend the real cost of electricity and how much they each person-ally use.

Who owns the river? We do! It’s important for of us

to understand that we all need to be better stewards of our waters.

On Day 2 we reinforce the concept of stewardship and intro-duce fish consumption advisories. We discuss the difference between point and nonpoint source pollu-tion. Point-source pollution comes from a single source that you can point to: a pipe from a factory, overflow from a sewage system, erosion or farm runoff. However, nonpoint source pollution is the bigger culprit in our watersheds these days. It’s the pollution that you and I create collectively:

Mrs. Flynn’s class from the Hackensack 5-6 School made short work of cleaning up the river walkway along the Hackensack River while participating in the UWEP in June.


the litter, pet waste, detergents, fertilizers, motor oil and road salt that run into our stormdrains and wreak havoc in our watershed now. We can all do something about this pollution.

After a demonstration with our 3D watershed model, the Envi-roScape®, we hit the local streets. Students participate in a neighbor-hood cleanup and we mark any unmarked stormdrains. Students are taught that anything that goes into a stormdrain goes into our river. By educating students to do their part we hope to make them better watershed citizens.

Concepts of bioaccumulation and biomagnification are rein-forced with a game. This game helps students to identify local fish and their consumption restrictions.

What is brackish water?• Lake water • Polluted water• Mixture of salt and fresh water

Our watershed contains over 8,400 acres of protected estu-ary located just 5 miles west of New York City. The New Jersey Meadowlands is one of the larg-est urban estuaries in the world. Estuaries are the nurseries for sealife. They contain brackish water, a mixture of salt and fresh

water. The cleaner the water, the more valuable it is as a wildlife habitat and as a place for human recreation.

The Day 3 Eco-Cruise is an exciting day for most students. For many it’s their first time on a boat. Getting out on the water helps the students visualize the regions maritime history. They can savor the natural environment coexisting with commercial enter-prises on our rivers.

Which TWO of the following contribute to turbidity? (Circle correct answers) • Algae • Erosion • PCBs • Acid

Chemistry also plays a ma-jor role in Day 3. Students are introduced to different factors used to determine good water quality. They become scientists by conducting several tests. Starting with the simpler temperature and turbidity tests, they learn how to use a Secchi disk. This is a device for measuring turbidity. Oh, by the way, algae and erosion are two contributors to turbidity.

We also do more complex tests utilizing our chemistry kits. Experiments measuring the amount of Dissolve Oxygen (DO) in parts per million, tell how well fish and other aquatic life can

survive. We measure the amounts of nitrates and phosphates in parts per thousand to see if our water is within an acceptable range. And we discuss what good ranges for these minerals are and factors that can change it. We test the pH to determine if the water is acidic or alkaline. Our water usually tests in a good range of pH 7-7.5. The pH of water should be 7, although water can be a bit alkaline or acidic and still be acceptable for wildlife. Salinity is tested and our brackish water usually tests at 13-16 parts per thousand. If our numbers do not match the norm it sparks a discussion of why. Perhaps it has to do with the tidal cycle or several days of rain.

Which fish are listed in the Newark Bay Complex consump-tion advisories? American Eel, Striped Bass, Winter Flounder, White Catfish, Weakfish and Bluefish all need to be consumed judiciously. But the big No... is reserved for the Blue Crabs that live in the Hackensack River and Newark Bay area.

The crabs are tempting to consume because they look fine, smell OK and taste normal, so I’ve been told. I trust my source—DEP’s 10-year study—resulting in

Explore 2000 Students touring their waterway. The Eco-Cruise exposes students to the juxtaposition of nature and the man made.

Students from Explore 2000 learning to use a direct reading titrator while conducting a salinity test.

Explore 2000 Students working with the Secchi Disk to measure turbidity at Laurel Hill Park.


the ban on the harvesting of crabs from the waters of the Newark Bay Complex. Blue Crabs are bot-tom dwellers that feed on plants and animals living in the contami-nated river and bay sediments. Their flesh contains so many toxins—including PBCs and Dioxin—that consuming just one crab exponentially increases your risk of developing cancer.

What better way to learn about fish than to get outdoors and catch a few? On Day 4 we take the students fishing. Each student gets a rod and reel and becomes an urban angler. While most hone their overhead casting technique, many become proficient in baiting their hooks and untangling lines. It’s a hoot! Not everyone catches a fish but if anyone does it is the object of much excitement. A big question of the day is... To release it or disect it? This past season we caught Ling, American Eel, sea squirts and got up close and per-sonal with a 36” snapping turtle.

The finale on Day 4 is a fish dissection which starts off with the usual shrieks. But once Mr. Nebling starts removing the gill comb the students are surrounding him 3 deep vying for a better view and an opportunity to touch or hold the different parts.

We had a lot of fun this year. Our students did extremely well, improving their knowledge and understanding of water pollution,

water quality, watersheds, local fish, their habitat, consumption advisories and the best way to fillet a fish.

If you know of schools interested in participating in this program please contact me: [email protected]. I will be setting up the 2012 schedule in November and look forward to hearing from you.

The Alliance for NJ Environmental EducationWANTS YOU

to join hundreds of your fellow educators at the Wyndham Princeton Forrestal Hotel

and Conference Center in Plainsboro, NJ for

ANJEE’s 27th Annual EE Conference:

Exploring Our Blue PlanetTeachers, volunteers, docents, nature center staff and others are invited to share three days of

learning, networking and fun! For more information including registration info, go to www.ANJEE.net/conference or call our own Captain Hughie Carola –

ANJEE Conference vice-chair – at 201-968-0808. See you there!

ATTENTION all Environmental Educators…SAVE THE DATES! January 27-28, 2012

(plus pre-Conference workshops January 26)

Above: Students from Hackensack 5-6 Middle school pass around the gill comb during the fish dissection.

Right: Student from Carteret Middle School displays the American Eel she just caught in the Arthur Kill.


By Chris SlesarchikAt first glance the American Eel may not be the

cutest creature to live among our local ecosystems. They are a pest to anglers pursuing the more presti-gious “game fish” that share their habitat and an un-welcomed sight to nature enthusiasts, mostly due to their slimy skin and snake-like bodies. All species of eels have teeth and most, due to their violent thrash-ing, are less than pleasant to handle out of the water. But the American Eel has gained an unfair notoriety based mostly upon its looks and larger saltwater rela-tives, such as the Moray and Conger Eels. In reality, our eels are far from dangerous and are some of the most interesting and biologically influential animals to live in our local waterways.

There is very little public knowledge concerning American Eels but what people have discovered for themselves is that the eels are surprisingly delicious! The animals have been fished and farmed from rivers for centuries from North America to Australia. The Maori of New Zealand were the first to make the creatures a staple of their diet; but in modern times eels are highly valued among Asian cultures for their apparent healing properties.

Imported quantities of elvers (or baby eels) can fetch up to several hundred dollars per pound in Asian markets, where they are dried and enjoyed as a snack. Such demand as a source of food has naturally sparked attempts at farming the animals, however, their uniquely fascinating method of reproduction has kept supply sources very limited.

The American Eel is one of the only fish in the world to migrate into the ocean to spawn and then back upstream into freshwater to mature (catadro-mous). While most river migrating fish have an opposite pattern (anadromous), the eels live most of their early lives in salt water, gradually moving up-stream into freshwater as they mature. Dams or any other attempt at containing the eels inevitably result in the school’s demise, as they need free access both to saltwater and freshwater in order to reproduce. No-body is sure why these eels eventually leave the vast ocean where food supplies are much more abundant in order to move into cramped freshwater rivers. But experts are sure that, due to a slight genetic defect, the largest American Eels will most commonly be found upstream and away from saltwater.

This is a point of interest to any angler consid-ering pursuing the fish. It would seem intuitive to fish in the oceans or at least saltwater when seek-ing the largest catch, however, when it comes to the American Eel, rivers and tributaries are the name of the game. In some cases, eels are born with a ge-netic defect that renders them impotent or unable to reproduce. These eels are born in saltwater and swim upstream into freshwater where they remain until death, all due to their inability to spawn and lack of reason to swim out to sea. These anomalies of nature can easily reach over four feet in length and are ex-clusively found upstream in freshwater habitats (such as the upper Hackensack River).

Coupled with a need for freshwater, the American Eel is also a nocturnal scavenger. They are rarely seen active during the day, when they spend most of their time hiding and buried in the mud. But at night they emerge to feed on any easy prey, from mollusks and insect larvae to flesh of any sort.

Despite their teeth and carnivorous nature, Amer-ican Eels have never been documented in the US attacking a person or animal; the fact of the matter is that they rarely grow large enough to be interested in such prey. However, they will take an amazingly diverse array of natural baits. Plain old worms or even hot dogs set at the bottom of the water have the best chance of catching eels, but a necessity is to fish at night during the late summer when the eels are active and just returning from spawning. The upper Hackensack at this time of year makes a great place to start!

Chris Slesarchik is a recent graduate of Villanova University, an avid fisherman and outdoors-man, and now a Hackensack Riverkeeper volunteer! We welcome this, his first Tidelines submission.

Fish of the Hackensack: The American Eel: An Angler’s Perspective


By Lisa RyanEvery year we receive phone calls from water-

shed residents, often those who live on or near the river or its tributaries, letting us know that there is a tire, or a shopping cart, or generally lots of trash in the waterway, and would we please come and clean it up? Others complain to us that their town, and spe-cifically their DPW, is not doing their part to keep the streams clean. Many blame the town just upstream of them for the mess, or better yet, the towns across the border in New York. Most also assume that trash in the waterways is a result of people standing by the river and carelessly throwing their garbage directly in it.

The majority of the time the accumulation of debris and “floatables” is indeed a result of careless littering but it happens in the street, in driveways, on sidewalks, in parks, and ends up in waterways during rain storms by traveling over the land and through storm drains. Every town and city has storm drains, and no community is innocent of littering, so blam-ing other towns is inaccurate and unproductive. A town can be held responsible for not conforming to the state’s Stormwater Regulations, which require municipalities to replace old storm drains with new ones that contain catch basins, but only when they are repaving roads, (keep your eyes open in your own

town when you see street paving going on, to ensure compliance!) but this is only part of the problem.

In spite of efforts by government and the envi-ronmental community to curb it, littering persists. Whose job is it to clean it up? It’s not Hackensack Riverkeeper’s job, even though we are self-appointed citizen stewards of the river; and do as much as our capacity allows —holding over twenty cleanups that engage over 1,000 volunteers each year. We also try to encourage and train others to start cleanup programs in their own neighborhoods because we strongly believe that individuals need to take respon-sibility for keeping their own backyards clean. The Public Trust Doctrine ensures the public’s right to access tidal waterways and their navigable and non-navigable tributaries, but as in all things, with rights come responsibilities.

The big question is: Is it the government’s respon-sibility? The NJDEP has the responsibility to make the rivers fishable and swimmable under the Clean Water Act (CWA) but the CWA addresses the health of the water itself, which debris and floatables do not markedly degrade, for the most part. The NJDEP can issue Notices Of Violation for littering/dumping IF the source can be pinpointed, which is rare.

I think it comes back to the public’s rights and responsibilities. Let’s say it’s YOUR job to clean

Whose Job is it to Clean the River?Dealing with Debris & Floatables

Last year at NJ Conservation Foundation’s Land Conservation Rally, Captains Bill Sheehan and Hugh Carola met a pair of executives from Recreational Equipment International (REI) who attended their media workshop. In the conversation that followed, our captains learned about the company’s plans to open a new store at the Bergen Towne Centre in Paramus, NJ; and about REI’s commitment to the environment. As their plans came closer to fruition, it became clearer to us that their commitment was much more than just words. Just prior an Eco-Cruise for local and regional REI managers on July 20, Captain Bill received a check for $10,000 in support of our River Cleanup program. All of us at Hacken-sack Riverkeeper welcome REI to our watershed and thank them for standing up for clean water.

REI Opens Paramus Store; Supports River Cleanups$10,000 grant from outfitter will fund public cleanups in 2012

REI Outreach Specialist Brian Powell (left) and Paramus store manager Chad Vincent (center) present Captain Bill with a check that’s big in more ways than one.


the river. Yes, that bottle may have floated down from the town upstream, but your neighbor’s bottle floated downstream into somebody else’s backyard. You don’t litter, but that stream or river belongs to you, and if it looks trashy in your neighborhood, then

you’re not doing your job. If everybody who reads these words (including government and business) agrees that it is their job, we’ll be looking at some pristine streams and righteous rivers.

“Humans (all of us as a species) created the floatable materials, use these items to benefit our lifestyle, and have a responsibility to dispose of them so they do not damage our environment. In terms of the govern-ment—do we want to tax ourselves to pay for ‘maids’ to clean up after our slovenly habits? I do not—there is a human-community responsibility here, not a government action that we can’t do for ourselves.”

- Dr. Beth Ravit, Founder & Director of the Rutgers Environmental Research Clinic

“I believe cleaning up the rivers is everyone’s responsibility—cor-porations, citizens and the govern-ment. The rivers belong to everyone to enjoy, but with that ownership comes a responsibility. This is espe-cially true for businesses that have polluted our shared waterways.”

- Debbie Mans, NY/NJ Baykeeper

“I believe that there is a whole-sale responsibility of all citizens to prevent pollution of our water-ways, whether it be from trash and floatables, or industrial contamina-tion from occurring in the first place. Government plays an important role as well by regulating discharge limitations, providing efficient water and wastewater treatment, and when necessary, performing cleanup operations. We don’t allow littering on our streets and public properties, but it does occur and then govern-

ment entities must clean up. Same holds for our waterways. Local municipalities do a pretty good job of keeping streets clean by perform-ing regular street sweeping opera-tions, maintaining catch basins, and installing guards to prevent floatable from entering the storm sewers. The problem with cleanup opera-tions of the waterways is that once floatables make their way into the waterways, not many people see the problem because in most cases it is “out of sight, out of mind.” A clean environment requires a partnership from everyone. There is personal, corporate and governmental respon-sibility to work collectively to insure that our waterways are maintained, free and clear of obstructions and trash. Thankfully there are envi-ronmental watchdog groups like Riverkeeper and Bergen SWAN that make sure we don’t lose sight of our responsibilities.”

- John Birkner, Mayor of Westwood, NJ and BCUA Environmental Health Specialist

I feel that the cleanliness of our rivers is everyone’s job. The govern-ment should have better control of disposable items such as water bottles that turn up in our rivers by the thousands. Better enforce-ment of litter laws. Our roads are littered with cigarette butts, fast food wrappers, and animal waste which all gets washed down the storm drains in a heavy rain directly into

our rivers. The communities need to police themselves. If they are in a watershed area they need to be diligent about educating the public about what gets into our rivers. My personal opinion is that we should ban plastic bags at stores and go back to paper so at least when it finds its way into the litter stream it will biodegrade. Plastic is forever. I could go on forever about how careless we have become about our waste as a society.”

- Greg Ogden, River Edge, NJ Environmental Protection Commission Chair

“Having participated in countless cleanups, it seems that there is no end to floatables entering our wa-terways. While it is understandable that some debris is going to wind up on our streets and in our streams by accident, the VAST majority comes from individuals and businesses that are careless or thoughtless. The thinking that, “it is someone else’s responsibility”, “it will be washed away out of our sight”, “our tax dol-lars pay for cleaning up litter” have to change. Prevention (caring and proper disposal of litter) is the first step and leaving areas cleaner than you find them will go a long way to reclaiming the way our landscapes are meant to look. It all starts with individual responsibility and pride.”

- Ray Cywinski, United Water New Jersey, Manager Watershed & Environmental Resources

Environmental specialists answer the question, Whose Job is it to Clean the River?


By Hugh M. CarolaOne of the longest-serving

conservation organizations in our region, The Fyke Nature Associa-tion continues to do great things.

Fyke was founded in 1952 by a group of forward-thinking people strongly dedicated to sav-ing wildlife habitats in Bergen County, New Jersey. Early on, the group purchased three hun-dred acres of forested land in the Ramapo Mountains of Mahwah, NJ for just that purpose. The land ultimately became Campgaw Mountain Reservation. Fyke has continued to be a force for pres-ervation in the region, both in the Ramapos and further downstream.

Currently the Association co-manages the Celery Farm Natural Area—a 107-acre nature preserve —with the Borough of Allendale, where the Celery Farm is located. Fyke conducts field trips, cleanups and trail maintenance at the site. The wetlands at the Celery Farm are classified as Exceptional Value by the NJDEP; and as such war-rant the highest level of protec-tion. Together Fyke and Allendale protect and manage the preserve for the benefit of a wide array of breeding and migratory birds and as a result, fifty-three bird species breed here, and over 240 species have been recorded.

Fyke field trips are legend-

ary—the annual North Shore trip to Monmouth County in February and the Great Swamp Woodcock Trip in March are but two of the yearly trips they lead. Hardly a month goes by without one or more Fyke field trips taking place. The group holds monthly meet-ings September through May (excluding December) on the fourth Friday of each month at the Allendale Borough Hall, 500 W. Crescent Ave. Meetings are open to everyone and each features a presentation by an experienced naturalist. Fyke meetings are events where people can educate themselves and share their love of the natural world. Fyke also main-tains the Mount Peter Hawkwatch in Warwick, NY. For more info about The Fyke Nature Association, visit www.fykenature.org.

Still going strong and doing good after all these years.Part six of our 37-part series

Better Know a Colleague

By Urszula SurgalHello, I’m Urszula Surgal, the

AmeriCorps Watershed Ambas-sador for Watershed Management Area 5 (WMA5) which includes the Hackensack and Hudson River watersheds.

I am grateful to be able to hold such an important posi-tion and happy to be stationed at Hackensack Riverkeeper. Like my predecessors I am available as a free resource to the municipalities within WMA5 to discuss clean water issues like non-point source pollution, and the best ways to keep our watershed healthy. I am excited to educate young people

and serve all the people of Bergen and Hudson Counties.

I graduated from New Jersey City University in Jersey City, NJ in 2010 with a Bachelor’s in Geoscience, concentrating in En-vironmental Science and GIS. My education made me want to help the environment and to be part of a team searching for solutions to pollution problems. I live in an urban area where wildlife is rare and our waters aren’t the cleanest. My goal for this year is to educate youth about watersheds, pollution, and the macroinvertebrates that live in the water. Knowing such information will give them a head

start on becoming good watershed citizens making a difference.

As a Watershed Ambassador, I am available to schedule in-teractive presentations for your organization, school, or company showing ways we can combat water pollution. I am also avail-able to train volunteers how to monitor waterways, lead a variety of interactive activities, and much more. I look forward to reaching out to as many people as I can about watershed management in New Jersey. Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or 201-968-0808 x105.

WMA 5 Ambassador UpdateMeet the New Watershed Ambassador


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ALL IMMIGRATION MATTERS

IMMIGRATION QUESTIONS?

By Hugh M. CarolaOn Wednesday, September

28, Captain Bill Sheehan and the staff of Hackensack Riverkeeper joined NJ Meadowlands Commis-sion (NJMC) Executive Director Marcia A. Karrow, her staff and assembled dignitaries to dedicate our watershed’s newest park: River Barge Park in Carlstadt, NJ. The park is located on the Hackensack River at the end of Outwater Lane in the borough—the site of the former Barge Club restaurant and marina which was acquired by the NJMC from restaurateur Lenny LaVerghetta in 2005.

Despite threatening skies, the dedication and ribbon-cutting took place without a hitch. Direc-tor Karrow emceed the event and shared the podium with Carlstadt Mayor William Roseman (R), State Senator Paul Sarlo (D-36), US Congressman Steve Roth-man (D-NJ9), NJ Department of Community Affairs Director (and NJMC chair) Lori Grifa, Captain Bill Sheehan and former NJMC Director Robert Ceberio. Each speaker extolled both the beauty of the park and the amazing series of events that led to its creation.

The dedication ceremony saw

two ribbons cut that day: the first one inside the new satellite envi-ronment center building; and the second one at the Robert Ceberio Environmental Education Pavil-ion. The Pavilion is named after the NJMC director who oversaw the agency’s transformation from its development-driven past to its conservation-driven present. The structure—built of yellow pine salvaged from the barge that once graced the site, and thatched with locally-harvested Phragmites reeds —stands on the adjacent Richard P. Kane Natural Area; land belong-ing to the Meadowlands Conserva-tion Trust.

“If somebody had told me fifteen years ago that I’d be say-ing nice things about Bob Ceberio and helping dedicate a park in his honor, I’d had asked them what planet they were from,” said Capt. Bill, who also serves as the Trust’s Chairman. “But today we celebrate his work and the work that made this park possible.”

In addition to the Center and Pavilion, River Barge Park also boasts launch ramps for power boats and paddlecraft, a thirty-slip marina (which will open for business in 2012), riverfront

promenade, fishing dock, native plantings and handicap-accessible facilities. All of us at Hackensack Riverkeeper celebrate the fact that Bergen County now has what Hudson County has had since 1996—a free public boat launch and modern public access on the Hackensack River.

Hackensack Riverkeeper Helps Dedicate River Barge Park

New park shines at the river’s edge in Carlstadt

Captain Bill with Bob Ceberio at the Environmental Education Pavilion named in his honor.

Marsha Karrow, Captain Bill, and Congressman Steve Rothman


Meadowlands Festival of Birding: Great Days in the Field8th annual event finds over one hundred species, including rare birds

By Hugh M. CarolaOnce again the winning partnership of Hacken-

sack Riverkeeper, the NJ Audubon Society and the NJ Meadowlands Commission produced a fan-tastic festival—two days chock full of field trips, birding-by-boat tours, paddling, workshops and more. Despite Hurricane Irene’s storm surges just

one week prior, Richard W. DeKorte Park and the Meadowlands Environment Center did not disap-point the more than 175 participants who arrived on September 10. As always, novices, longtime birders and everyone in between—including many new faces —enjoyed good times and great birds at DeKorte as well as at Mill Creek Marsh, Harrier Meadow, Gar-

2011 Meadowlands Festival of Birding Official Species List

All birds were noted September 10 & 11 at one or more Festival locations.

Mute Swan Canada GooseMallardGadwallNorthern ShovelerNorthern PintailGreen-winged TealRuddy DuckGreat CormorantDouble-crested

CormorantGreat Blue HeronGreat EgretSnowy EgretLittle Blue HeronBlack-crowned

Night HeronYellow-crowned

Night HeronBlack VultureTurkey VultureOspreyBald Eagle

Broad-winged HawkRed-tailed HawkRed-shouldered Hawk Northern HarrierCooper’s HawkSharp-shinned HawkMerlinAmerican KestrelPeregrine FalconKilldeerSemipalmated PloverBlack-bellied PloverAmerican AvocetWhite-rumped SandpiperPectoral SandpiperLeast SandpiperSemipalmated

SandpiperGreater YellowlegsLesser YellowlegsShort-billed DowitcherGreat Black-backed Gull

Lesser Black-backed GullHerring GullRing-billed GullLaughing GullCaspian TernCommon Tern Forster’s TernMourning DoveRock PigeonBarn OwlCommon NighthawkChimney SwiftRuby-throated

HummingbirdNorthern FlickerHairy WoodpeckerDowny WoodpeckerEastern PhoebeAcadian Flycatcher Olive-sided Flycatcher Willow FlycatcherYellow-bellied Flycatcher

Warbling VireoRed-eyed VireoTree SwallowBarn SwallowCommon RavenYellow-billed CuckooBelted KingfisherBlack-capped ChickadeeTufted TitmouseWhite-breasted NuthatchHouse WrenMarsh WrenGray-cheeked ThrushSwainson’s ThrushVeeryAmerican RobinEastern TowheeBrown ThrasherGray CatbirdNorthern MockingbirdEuropean StarlingCedar Waxwing

Northern WaterthrushAmerican RedstartNorthern ParulaMagnolia WarblerCommon YellowthroatPalm WarblerPrairie WarblerYellow WarblerChestnut-sided WarblerBlack-and-white WarblerSavannah SparrowSong SparrowSwamp SparrowScarlet TanagerNorthern CardinalRose-breasted GrosbeakRed-winged BlackbirdCommon Grackle American GoldfinchHouse Sparrow

104 species total

Birders catching glimpses of the American Avocet at Harrier Meadow.

Bird of the Day— A Great Coromrant.

Keynote Speaker Sandy Komito with (L-R) Volunteer of the Year Charlie Stelling, and HRI staff Jodi Jamieson and Emilio DeLia.

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rett Mountain Reservation, Stateline Lookout and the Celery Farm Natural Area.

A total of 104 species of birds were seen and heard during the 2011 Festival, including eleven dif-ferent shorebirds (among them an American Avocet), eleven birds of prey (ten of which were noted at Stateline Lookout on the Palisades) and a very early Great Cormorant (rarely seen in our watershed region before November). Check out the complete list on page 16.

Festival-goers were treated to a wonderful key-note presentation by the inimitable Sandy Komito—holder of the North American record for bird species seen during a single year. Komito—a native New Yorker, author and birding raconteur—regaled festi-val-goers with stories of the year he and three other birders competed to see who among them could ID the most North American bird species between Janu-ary 1 and December 31, 1998. His winning tally: an incredible 745 species! You can read all it about from the man himself in I Came, I Saw, I Counted, the book he wrote chronicling his feat; or check out The Big Year by Mark Obmascik. The latter was recently made into a movie starring Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson—perhaps the first-ever birding themed film that’s not played for laughs.

Speaking of star power, special kudos to the festival sponsors who stepped up in a big way to help make the event such a success: Verizon, American Dream Meadowlands, Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel, Courtyard by Marriott (Lyndhurst), Spoo, Inc., J. Michael Parish and Charles Stelling. Thanks also

to Scott Gunther and Don Torino from Wild Birds Unlimited of Paramus; Debi Davidson and Tenafly Nature Center; and Beth Goldberg and Bergen Coun-ty Audubon for their participation and support.


Edited by Hugh M. CarolaThe buzzwords for this col-

umn are: Eastern Coyote. Read-ers of this column will recall that I often list coyote sightings from both Bergen and (amazingly) Hudson County locations. That is because in recent decades the Eastern Coyote has increased its numbers and expanded its range throughout most of the eastern U.S and Canada—places where virtually all predators of any size were exterminated long ago. But despite the best—and worst— efforts of humans to destroy them, coyotes have adapted and in many cases thrive in our urban/suburban habitats. It’s a true testament to the species’ ability to survive.

Of course as the coyote population increases, so do their encounters with humans—espe-cially in our heavily-developed watershed region; and coyotes are now seen in all 21 NJ counties. In July the City of Hackensack— where a pair denned and birthed four pups—sponsored a seminar by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife to educate residents how to coexist with the animals. My wife and I attended the gathering as did approximately sixty others. While the information provided was as I’d expected from the DFW (clear, level-headed and intelligent), the levels of fear and ignorance among the audience were appalling.

Despite learning that only one attack on a human has ever been recorded in New Jersey—that of a food-habituated animal on an unattended toddler in Middletown in 2007—many in the room sadly seemed unable to give up their

preconceived notions about coy-otes. I chalk that up to the shame-ful disconnect that far too many people have as regards the natural world. On virtually every Eco-Cruise or Bird-Walk someone asks, “What kind of dangerous animals live around here?” or “If I fell in the water, what would attack me?” (Correct answers: none and nothing) I’ve even had people ask me if there are any bears in the Meadowlands. My response: “Only when they’re in town to play the Giants or the Jets.”

Remember when the Dis-covery Channel showed real documentaries instead of silli-ness and bad science like When Animals Attack? Way too many people judge nature by shows like that instead of learning the (oft times boring) reality. How do we change that? Education, that’s how. Go to www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/coyote_info.htm or visit www.projectcoyoye.org to learn more about Eastern Coyotes in

New Jersey. And like in all things, be smart, be safe, but also treat wildlife with the respect it de-serves, not fear.

Fortunately our contributing naturalists remain fearless in the face of ignorance and the Discov-ery Channel. To wit:

American Avocet – Pretty much the only “benefit” from Hurricane Irene was some great views of this rare (for our area) and beautiful shorebird that many folks enjoyed from late August til early October in numerous Mead-owlands locations.

Bald Eagle – Finally a banner year for Bergen County! The Or-adell Reservoir pair fledged two chicks in late June (both of which had been banded by NJ Depart-ment of Environmental Protec-tion personnel); also in June the Ridgefield Park, NJ pair produced two more fledglings – both of which delighted many Eco-Cruis-ers in July and August.

Black Skimmer – Always a treat to see this large bird in flight

HaCKensaCK watersHed Field notes

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This unassuming hole in the ground is in fact the entrance to one of our local coyote dens.


over the Meadowlands marshes, as many as three birds at a time were seen from late June through late July.

Black Tern – Another “Irene bird”, one was seen at DeKorte Park on 8/30.

Caspian Tern – Up to nine of these large, gull-sized terns were reported at various Hackensack River/Meadowlands locations including over DeKorte Park on 8/15 and near River Barge Park in Carlstadt on 8/29.

Common Nighthawk – An early arrival (possible blown in by recent storms) was seen on 9/2 in River Edge, NJ.

Double-crested Cormorant – The final 2011 tally of cormorant nests located on Aids to Naviga-tion (ATONs) in the Hackensack River and Newark Bay (exclusive of Shooter’s Island) was 28 nests on six ATONs counted on 7/25.

Forster’s Tern – Large num-bers of this most common (for our area) tern began showing up in late July and increased through August. They were noted as far north as the Court Street Bridge between Hackensack and Bogota, NJ and as far south as Newark Bay.

Milk Snake – A handsome specimen was observed at Mill Creek Point in Secaucus on 7/16.

Northern Harrier – The

pair mentioned in our last issue of Tidelines was reported to the NJDEP Endangered/Nongame Species Program back in May. NJMC personnel confirmed the presence of the pair in the vi-cinity of the Oritani Marsh in Rutherford, NJ. A single bird was reported in River Edge on 9/2.

Northern Pintail – One of the most numerous winter ducks of the Meadowlands, a single duck was IDed (about three months early) at Teal Pond in Lyndhurst on 7/8.

Osprey – The final tally from the three active nests was a record-breaker. Three chicks each successfully fledged from the Jersey City and Kearny nests; and once again two birds fledged from the Carlstadt radio tower nest for a total of eight young Ospreys! The non-breeding pair continued to occupy an area near the East Kearny Marsh throughout the spring and summer. On 9/1 ten ju-veniles were observed flying and roosting along Overpeck Creek.

Peregrine Falcon – While no breeding pairs were reported along the Hackensack River, two chicks fledged from the longstanding nest at 101 Hud-son St., Jersey City, NJ. In addi-tion, three active Peregrine nests were reported on the cliffs of the Palisades in New Jersey. The river

was not without falcons however. Single birds were seen over the Anderson Marsh in Secaucus on 7/22 and near Route 3 on 8/15.

Sandhill Crane – Reported just after our last issue went to print, a single crane was reported – and photographed – on the river’s edge just a short way north of River Barge Park on 6/3.

Seaside Sparrow – A bit of a rarity along the river, a single bird was seen by several observ-ers on 7/28 in the Spartina grass at the Mill Creek Point side of the Secaucus High School Marsh.

Short-billed Dowitcher – A single early bird was noted at DeKorte in the middle of the phragmites islands near the Marsh Discovery Trail boardwalk on 7/14.

Snow Goose – Extremely out of place in our watershed during midsummer, nonetheless a single “Snow” was observed on 7/26 with a flock of ~50 Canada Geese near the west bank of the River just downstream of the Route 4 Bridge in Hackensack.

Yellow-crowned Night Heron – The 2011 tally from the Secaucus colonies is: ten active nests at Harmon Cove and four at Schmidt’s Woods. While an exact fledgling count from Harmon Cove has so far eluded me, fifteen chicks fledged out of Schmidt’s— a remarkable 3.75 birds per nest.

Thanks to all our spotters and as always, a tip o’ the naturalist’s hat (from A to Z) to: Anonymous, Joe Augeri, Jay Auslander, Pete Bacinski, Scott Barnes, Dan Carola, Ray Duffy, Gene Dun-ton, Gil Hawkins, Lynn Kramer, Joseph Labriola, Bob Leafe, Eric Martindale, Michael Newhouse, Lisa Ryan and Don Torino.

Milk Snake observed along bulkhead at Mill Creek Point Park in Secaucus.


Volunteer Corner By Lisa Ryan

Our river cleanup program continued merrily along throughout the summer, and here are some photos to prove it! Don’t forget to join us at the last cleanup of the season at Overpeck Park in Teaneck (access from Challenger Road in Ridgefield Park) on October 22 from 9am-5pm. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers who helped us at some big events recently: the Meadowlands Festival of Birding, the Lake Tappan Paddle Day and the Splash Event. You set our minds at ease and make our jobs easy with your commitment and your willingness to do whatever is needed. Thank you!

Mill Creek Marsh, Secaucus – 7/16This spot is just so beautiful, we can’t stop taking pictures!


REI, Laurel Hill Park, Secaucus – 8/7Our first cleanup with new sponsor REI was a blast! Employees for the new Paramus store were eager to get out on the water in the pontoon boat, canoes, kayaks and even paddle boards that they brought along to practice on! And oh, yeah, there was garbage – lots of garbage.

16th Street Park, Bayonne – 7/10Unfortunately, a local paper published the wrong date for this cleanup, so lots of Bayonne folks were standing around by the bay waiting for us the following Saturday, but we were doing a cleanup at Mill Creek! We still had a good crowd of hard workers who en-joyed the spectacular views and pulled big trash out of the water.

Lake Tappan, Pearl River, NY – 8/13This was the first time we’ve ever had boats out on Lake Tappan, part of the Hackensack River system of reservoirs, and it was a beautiful and productive day out on the water (and our first cleanup in New York!).


but simple truth is that by mak-ing streams deeper, you do not prevent flooding; you only make floodwaters move faster and with more destructive power. Also, the floods that batter New Jersey nowadays are made all the more ferocious by the fact that tens of thousands of acres of woods, meadows, and wetlands—all of which used to absorb billions of gallons of stormwater—no longer do so because they’ve been paved over. Today these former natural lands pour stormwater into our rivers and streams in such im-

mense quantities that the water-ways are incapable of handling the immense amounts of mud, grit, garbage and other debris that wind up in the water. Unless and until the current crop of New Jersey politicians gets serious about stormwater management and looks for ways to work with

nature instead of against it, I see no way that real long-term flood mitigation can ever happen.

There is simply no easy an-swer and no quick fix to the prob-lem of flooding; to say otherwise is to ignore reality and to cling blindly to a recipe for disaster that has been force fed to all of us for far too long. A flood tunnel will not simply act “like a bathtub drain”; and floodwaters—espe-cially tidal flood waters—will not simply “go away” if streams are dredged.

And speaking of disasters, I cannot understand why so few people are willing to point out

At the helm continued from page 2

Grants Fund 100% Expansion of our Kayak FleetTwelve new, state-of-the-art Wilderness Systems® boats now available for rentals/tours

By Hugh M. CarolaIn keeping with our commit-

ment to restoring river-based rec-reation on the Hackensack River, Hackensack Riverkeeper recently acquired twelve brand-new kay-aks for our Paddling Center at Laurel Hill County Park. Thanks to a pair of generous donations from the E.J. Grassman Trust and the Norcross Wildlife Foundation totaling $13,000, the boats and their respective equipment were purchased from Ramsey Outdoor Stores on August 5.

“From the get-go, Hackensack Riverkeeper has been dedicated to helping people rediscover not only the river, but also their rights to access it for any and all mean-ingful uses,” explained Captain Bill Sheehan, “And working with fantastic partners like E.J. Grass-man, Norcross and Ramsey Out-door shows that we’re not alone in our quest.”

Our final partner—Wilderness Systems® of Easley, SC—is the manufacturer of the eight single-seat Pungo 14s; two Pungo 12s; and the two twin-seat Pamlico 135Ts that now bring the River-keeper fleet to twenty-four kayaks and sixteen canoes. The new mod-els are exceptionally stable and perfect for both experienced and novice paddlers alike. Along with the boats, the funding enabled the purchase of personal flotation de-vices (PFDs), paddles and a trailer that will allow for point-to-point trips in the near future.

“We’ve noticed two distinct paddling trends over the years: the first is that ever-increasing numbers of people are getting involved in paddling, so much so that our original twelve kayaks often rent out very fast,” said Sheehan. “The second trend is that once people get a chance to explore a bit of the real Mead-

owlands, they want to see much more. It’s our job to help them do just that.”

All twelve boats are construct-ed of bright yellow rotomolded plastic. The color allows them to be seen by both other boaters and Riverkeeper staff – a passive but important safety feature. The material is strong, yet relatively light – a perfect combination for rental boats. Before the choice was made to go with the Wilder-ness Systems products, we spent a great deal of time researching and checking out numerous boats. What ultimately sold us on both the Pungo and Pamlico models were glowing testimonials from current owners. If you’re unfamil-iar with the boats—or paddling in general—come check them out now through the end of October at the Center. Or you can wait til next year. Either way, Laurel Hill Park is located on the Hackensack


Be a Friend of Hackensack Riverkeeper

Your help is urgently needed. Hackensack Riverkeeper® operates with assistance and contributions from concerned citizens such as yourself. Please show your support for environmental health and conservation within the Hackensack River Watershed by making a donation today.

HRI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.Your donation is tax deductible.

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the obvious insanity of rebuilding homes and businesses on flood-plains and expecting a different outcome with the next flood. The unpleasant but honest truth is that if a property was flooded during Tropical Storm Floyd, flooded during the nor’easters of recent years, and was devastated by Hur-ricane Irene, you can be certain that it will flood again and again and again. I cannot imagine who in their right mind would want to stay put in a place like that; and I have to wonder how long insur-ance companies will continue to pay so many repeat claims.

I also cannot help but think

that every time someone decides (with insurance company bless-ings) to rebuild in a chronically flood-prone area, their decision disrespects our first responders; many of whom are volunteers. Those heroic people—who never have the option to ignore calls for help—risk their lives every time they rescue people who purposely and knowingly choose to live in harm’s way.

In closing I believe that before anyone considers spend-ing uncounted billions of dollars on engineering schemes that will, at best, fall horribly short of their cheerleaders’ promises, we

demand that the state and federal governments work together to buy out the properties most at risk for flooding. That way, their long-suffering owners can have the opportunity to relocate to safer, higher ground. This needs to be done yesterday. They—and we—cannot afford to wait for the next storm to hit. It’s high time we stopped clinging to outdated ideas and started working to develop realistic strategies that will save lives and enable all of us to better coexist with the incredible force of nature that is water.

Captain Bill and Lisa Ryan picking up the new kayaks in August.

River at the foot of New County Road in Secaucus, NJ.

Established in 1999, Hack-ensack Riverkeeper’s Paddling Center is still the only small boat livery service on the river; and we are the only ones who offer an ex-tensive list of Guided Paddles each year from April through Septem-ber. The Center is open for kayak and canoe rentals each weekend —weather permitting—from Earth Day to the last weekend in Octo-ber.

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Judge Deals Staggering Blow to Paramus Wetlands … · Fall 2011, Volume XIV, Issue 3 ... Protection, Division of Land Use ... reation was safe and it was not. However, when millions