The NJCRC’s Field Site Visit Workgroup organized a trip through the urban wildlands of the Meadowlands to tour past restoration projects and review plans for future projects on Oct. 2.
The 3-hour field trip began at Carlstadt’s River Barge Park, a restored park that includes a fringe tidal marsh and amazing views. The group loaded onto pontoon boats and traveled to some of the older wetland restoration sites in the Meadowlands, including Western Brackish Marsh (restored in 1987), Marsh Resources Inc. I (1999), MRI II (2001), MRI III (2012), and Secaucus High School (2010).
The boat trip then proceeded to Anderson Creek Marsh, Laurel Hill Park, Sawmill Creek Wildlife Management Area and Riverbend Creek Marsh Preserve. The areas are all being assessed for potential enhancement and restoration projects, and the Meadowlands Research & Restoration Institute is seeking input on future plans for these sites.
The trip wound down with a scenic trip on the Hackensack River, with participants sharing their ecological restoration knowledge and expertise with each other.
For more information on the Field Site Visit Workgroup, or to learn about or propose future activities, click here or contact Workgroup Chair Mike Galvin at MGalvin@jmt.com.