Old Short Hills Park Restoration
LOCATION: Old Short Hills Park is located in Millburn Township, Essex County west of South Mountain Reservation in the Arthur Kill Watershed Management Area (WMA) 7.
PURPOSE: To reduce flooding from major storm events by reducing storm water runoff, restoring the historic hydrology at the Park and enhancing habitat.
FUNDING: The riparian restoration at the Park was primarily funded by the NJDEP, Office of Natural Resource Restoration from money received from the Merck Natural Resource Damage Settlement. The Merck NRD site is in the same WMA as the project. Additional funding was provided by the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Millburn Township, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
PROJECT SUMMARY: The project began on June 29th, 2009 with the structural portion completed on July 16th, 2009. This restoration involved removing an old ineffective concrete pipe outflow structure
 in the lower pond near the park entrance, and replacing it with a concrete box outflow structure with stainless steel wire grates.
The restoration site/area included two ponds connected by approximately 870 feet of streambed. To restore the historic hydrology, the lower pond was excavated to the original shape and depth. Natural boulders were then brought in and placed around the perimeter to line the water’s edge. The streambed leading from the upper to the lower pond was marked and excavated in the natural shape of a stream. The old terra cotta pipes from the failed system were removed as they were encountered along the excavation route.
In the upper pond, the old concrete outflow structure was removed and the area restored. A new spillway with 6-7 inch rip rap stone was installed. At the meandering sections of the stream, tree root wads were installed in order to slow the water down and create pools that mimic a natural water habitat. Large rock boulders were placed at various locations in the streambed to slow the water down and create a more natural looking stream.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided the native seeds which were planted along the stream and pond perimeters. The project area was stabilized with straw and watered to ensure successful germination.
On April 23rd, 2010, volunteers planted trees and shrubs provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along the streambed and in the riparian buffer strip. Several major rain events have occurred since the project has been completed and today the stream is flowing and flourishing with native plant life. Mallard ducks, king fisher and blue heron have visited the site along with numerous songbirds. Five blue bird houses were installed and continue to be monitored and maintained in the project area. The stream bed is being monitored to ensure success.
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