Lincoln Park West Wetland Restoration Project
 LOCATION: Jersey City, Hudson County between Routes 1 & 9 along the Hackensack River.
PURPOSE: To restore approximately 34 acres of wetlands and 11 acres of wetland transition area. The project has restored the area’s native salt marsh community to enhance the overall ecological health of the Hackensack River ecosystem, improving the tidal hydrology and increasing public access and recreation to a restored urban ecological oasis.
FUNDING: $10.6 million in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal and Marine Habitat funds under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 and $2.3 million in oil spill settlement funds from the Harbor Spill Restoration Committee. Additional funding was provided by the Office of Natural Resource Restoration from natural resource damages of settled sites in the same watershed.
BACKGROUND: In 1998, the NJDEP in association with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), NOAA and Hudson County began discussions of restoring tidal channels and tidal wetlands and properly closing and developing the abandoned 80 acre landfill at Lincoln Park. A Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) was completed in February of 2004 by the USACE. The EA formed the basis for the complete design plans and specifications that were funded and created under the oversight of the NJDEP. The Office of Natural Resource Restoration (ONRR) competed with over 800 grant applicants for federal funding and received the largest ARRA grant given out by NOAA. The ARRA funding was absolutely essential to make this project a reality.
BENEFITS: In addition to properly closing an unregulated landfill, this restoration helps to improve water quality in the Hackensack estuary and restores the area’s native salt marsh community improving the overall ecological health of the Hackensack River ecosystem. This project also provides a unique opportunity in this urban setting for the public to experience a thriving tidal wetland and observe a host of aquatic dependent wildlife in their natural environment.
PROJECT SUMMARY: Approximately 267,000 cubic yards of solid waste material were removed from approximately half of the landfill and consolidated on the northern section of the park outside of the restoration area. The county closed the remaining portion of the landfill making it into a 9-hole golf course for public recreation.
All areas within the wetland restoration site were over-excavated and backfilled with two feet of clean fill material (dredged sand) to create a clean substrate for all wetland and open water areas. Coordination of the project among Hudson County, NJDEP, NOAA, USACE and the Port Authority resulted in beneficial reuse of dredged material from the USACE and Port Authority harbor anchorage project. The dredged material (sand) was brought in by a ship and pumped into a confined dewatering facility created on site. This successful government coordination saved money for both Hudson County and the NJDEP, saved valuable space at the off-shore dredge disposal area, and prevented tens of thousands of trucks from rolling through the streets of Jersey City. The material was then used to provide suitable substrate for growing the wetland plants and aquatic organisms. Dredged material was also used to cap and properly close the landfill.
The site elevation has been lowered and graded so that it is once again regularly flowed by the tide. The site was planted with approximately 100,000 native wetland and upland plants that have a high habitat value for raptors, wading birds, waterfowl, fish and aquatic invertebrates. The creek system design maintains a tidal connection with the existing 9+ acre man-made lake. A weir was installed where the tidal creek and the lake meet, to allow for lake levels to remain stable. The lake was dredged and two feet of clean sand was placed at the bottom. The perimeter of the lake has been planted with intertidal vegetation and the lake shores planted with native species. A walkway/nature path was constructed and provides recreational opportunities for the park users including fishing, birding, walking, and biking. The walkway will ultimately be connected to a larger more comprehensive riverfront trail system.
PARTNERS: NJDEP, NOAA, USACE, Hudson County Parks Department, Hudson County Improvement Authority, Port Authority of NY and NJ and USF&WS.
AWARDS: David Bean, Project Manager with the Office of Natural Resource Restoration received the 2010 Excellence in Restoration award from the NOAA Restoration Center. The award was presented by Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke on Earth Day 2010 at Lincoln Park. The project team received the Partnership Award from Coastal America in January of 2012.
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