Fall 2012 - Hackensack RIVERKEEPER

Fall 2012, Volume XV, Issue 3
HackensackRIVERKEEPER®is the independent, non-governmental advocate for the Hackensack River.
Hackensack Riverkeeper Celebrates Fifteenth Anniversary
Our organization has been on the job since 1997
This year marks the Fifteenth
Anniversary of the founding of
Hackensack Riverkeeper, the
clean water advocacy organization
dedicated to protecting, preserving
and restoring your Hackensack
River and its 210 square-mile watershed. Founded in 1997 by Captain Bill Sheehan – it’s Executive
Director and Riverkeeper – ours is
the leading environmental organization working on the Hackensack River from the headwaters
in Rockland County, NY to the
mouth of the river at Newark Bay.
From humble beginnings at
Captain Bill’s dining room table
in Secaucus, Hackensack Riverkeeper has grown into a force to
be reckoned with. Working from
our offices at 231 Main Street
in Hackensack, our staff of
seven–including two US Coast
Guard-licensed captains, a staff
attorney and four other professionals – engages in numerous
clean water, public access and
antipollution strategies. On a
nearly day to day basis, Hackensack Riverkeeper conducts interactive, on-water environmental
education programs, public
continued on page 23
15 Year Timeline
Captain Bill
Sheehan receives
permission from
the Alliance of
River, Sound and
Baykeepers (precursor of the
Waterkeeper Alliance) to found
Hackensack Riverkeeper.
Captain Bill receives the NJ
Audubon Society’s 1996 Conservationist of the Year Award.
1997
By Hugh Carola
Timeline continued on page 6
New Jersey Appellate Court Green-Lights Waterkeepers’
Combined Sewer Overflow Litigation
Hackensack Riverkeeper will have its day in court.
By Christopher Len
Hackensack Riverkeeper
won an important legal victory
in September that will allow our
CSO case to move forward. New
Jersey Appellate Judge William E.
Nugent denied DEP’s motion to
return the matter to them for more
work.
On August 14, the Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP)
moved to have our case against it
remanded back so it could work
on new individual CSO permits
over the next two or three years.
Such permits would “require each
CSO owner to continue to implement the nine minimum controls,
with enhanced notification and
Continued on page 4
Inside
At the Helm
Almost Nirvana
15 Year Timeline
Gala Celebrating Fifteen Real Science
Lake Tappan
River Rescue
2
5
6
9
10
12
13
Splash14
Watershed Field Notes
16
Volunteer Corner
18
Birds of Hackensack
20
Better Know a Colleague
21
Congrats Beth Ravit
22
OnBoard23
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 2 At the helm
231 Main Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601-7304
A word from
Captain Bill
Harmon Meadow and New Milford:
A Study of Two Redevelopment Proposals
Many Tidelines readers will
recall that in 2004 our wetlands
advocacy was rewarded when
the New Jersey Meadowlands
Commission (NJMC) unanimously approved a Master Plan
that protected over 8,400 acres;
effectively taking them out of
any future development equation.
What you might not recall is that
the Plan also designated hundreds
of previously-filled acres within
the NJ Meadowlands District for
redevelopment. By conservative
estimates, the redevelopment potential could yield upwards of $6
billion in new economic growth.
By agreeing to those hundreds of
acres, we secured protection of
8,400 more.
Once the Master Plan was
adopted several prime parcels in
my hometown of Secaucus began
receiving some well-deserved attention. Baker Residential redeveloped the former Shiptank property
on Meadowlands Parkway; and
Extended Stay America redeveloped a parking lot next door. The
Xchange at Secaucus Junction,
built on the former Gallo Asphalt
site across from the train station, is
our region’s newest transit village.
This summer, Hartz Mountain
completed the Osprey Cove redevelopment project on the former
Harmon Cove theatre site.
Hartz is now gearing up for
a project to demolish an office
building at Harmon Meadow
and replace it with five hundred
residential units. Several longtime
Hackensack Riverkeeper supporters recently asked me if I opposed
the project. Here is why I don’t:
It is by definition a redevelopment project. Hackensack Riverkeeper supports such projects
because they take development
pressure off of wetlands and other
green spaces. This new proposal
will not impact wetlands; and it
will fulfill the original goal of
making Harmon Meadow a proper
mixed-use development. Once the
project is built, many people who
work at Harmon Meadow will
have the option of living there.
I’ve lived most of my life in
Continued on page 3
Phone:
201) 968-0808
Fax:
(201) 968-0336
Hotline: 1-877-CPT-BILL
[email protected]
www.hackensackriverkeeper.org
Board of Trustees
Ivan Kossak, CPA, President
J. Michael Parish, Vice President
Susan Gordon, Secretary
Dr. Beth Ravit, Treasurer
Robert Ceberio
Virginia Korteweg
Kelly G. Palazzi
Ellie Spray
Margaret Utzinger
Nancy Wysocki
Honorary Trustees
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
William “Pat” Schuber
Executive Director
Captain Bill Sheehan,
Hackensack Riverkeeper
HRI Staff
Hugh Carola, Program Director
Emilio DeLia , Development Director
Jodi Jamieson, Project Manager
Chris Len, Staff Attorney
Mary Knight, Operations Director
Sarah Menchise, Outreach Coordinator
Melanie Jackson, Watershed Ambassador
Jodi Jamieson, Tidelines Editor
DGM2, Layout Production
Sarah Menchise, Webmaster
We gladly accept submissions of
articles, photography and advertisements from the community; however,
we retain editorial discretion. We do
not necessarily endorse any individual
or company whose advertisements are
found in these pages.
Hackensack Tidelines
is published quarterly
on recycled paper.
Riverkeeper is a registered trademark and
service mark of Riverkeeper, Inc. and is
licensed for use herein.
Waterkeeper is a registered trademark and
service mark of Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc.
and is licensed for use herein.
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
At the helm
continued from page 2
the Meadowlands and have seen
enormous changes over the years.
In the past, most people looked
upon the marshes that surrounded
our towns as wastelands. Today,
an ever-increasing number of them
recognize that the Meadowlands
are valuable natural resources deserving of protection and preservation. At Hackensack Riverkeeper,
we recognize that a clean environment and a healthy economy
go hand-in-hand. As we see it,
sustainable (a.k.a. profitable)
redevelopment projects benefit our
economy by making protection
and preservation of wetlands and
other green spaces affordable.
Recently a controversy began
brewing fifteen miles upriver in
New Milford. There, the focus is
on a 13-acre tract of land owned
by United Water NJ (UWNJ). The
site was used for over 100 years as
a dewatering site for sediment and
sludge removed during the water
treatment process. Several years
ago the company updated its treatment protocols, ended the land’s
industrial use and undertook an
extensive cleanup to remove contaminants from the site. Once the
cleanup and site remediation were
complete, United Water started
looking for a buyer.
In the meantime Hackensack
Riverkeeper settled a long legal
battle with United Water over the
company’s land use policies.in
2009. Among other concessions,
the landmark settlement resulted
in UWNJ granting a conservation
easement to New Jersey’s Green
Acres Program on 3,300 acres of
company-owned woodlands that
surround the Category One-protected reservoirs and waterways
above the Oradell Dam.
Page 3
The New Milford site was not
included in the easement because
a.) the property no longer provided
any service to drinking water quality; and b.) it is not located along a
C-1 waterway.
United Water also agreed to
place $1 million in a land acquisition fund upon the sale of the
property. Last year UWNJ entered
into a contract with Paramus-based
Hekemian Group; the final sale being contingent upon the developer
getting the necessary permits and
approvals to redevelop the former
industrial property. Since then
Hekemian has been steadily working through that process.
It would have been wonderful if New Milford had been able
to acquire the land for open space
preservation but the borough
simply could not afford the $8
million selling price – a price made
all the higher by the necessary
cleanup costs. Adding to the mix
was Stop Overdevelopment (SOD),
an organization started by a group
of residents to fight Hekemian and
prevent any redevelopment of the
site.
The current Hekemian plan being reviewed by Borough proposes
a supermarket, small strip mall and
upwards of 221 residential units
built on the 13-acre tract. This
inflated development plan is opposed by SOD which, among other
things, sees it as a Quality of Life
threat. However, it was not the first
plan submitted. Hekemian’s original plan included the supermarket
and strip mall but zero residential
units. It also would deed several
acres over to the borough for new
playing fields and parking for New
Milford High School. SOD opposed it and by all accounts, their
opposition was partly responsible
for the counterproposal currently
on the table.
It’s classic land-use hardball:
a developer tosses in an “easy”
proposal that includes a few perks.
If it meets opposition, they hurl in
a perk-less fastball and everybody
either winds up at the negotiating
table or in a courtroom.
As I’ve said to my friends
in New Milford, if the land in
question was wetlands, lowland
forest or otherwise critical habitat,
Hackensack Riverkeeper would
be fighting alongside them to
preserve it from development.
But instead of being pristine, the
property is post-industrial. It’s
graded, devoid of native vegetation, and dry. While I agree that
221 units plus a shopping center is
a helluva lot to shoehorn into 13
acres, if the redevelopment plan
comports with stormwater and
flood-protection regulations, there
is no good reason for our organization to oppose it. We simply don’t
have the resources to weigh in on
every local dustup.
On balance, the original Hekemian plan is a good, practical alternative that would result in a balanced redevelopment of the United
Water site: commercial ratables,
benefits to the school system, and
enough room to accommodate 21st
Century stormwater controls. At
present time it appears that there is
still time for New Milford to negotiate with Hekemian and get that
original plan back on the table. To
that end I urge Mayor Subrizi and
her Borough Council to do all in
their power to get the best possible outcome for their community.
At the same time, I urge the good
people in SOD to support their
elected leaders in that effort.
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 4 CSO Litigation
continued from page 1
signage requirements, and to
submit a Long Term Control Plan
(LTCP) within the permit cycle.”
The Catch? DEP doesn’t currently require each CSO owner
to implement the nine minimum
controls; and most permittees submitted their Control Plans to DEP
several years ago. Also, DEP has
never required permittees to reduce or even monitor the amounts
of pathogenic or oxygen depleting
pollutants they pass into New Jersey waters. The Department would
have passed off creating enforceable limits to a future permitting
cycle.
But fortunately, the New
Jersey Appellate Division ruled
in our favor and rejected DEP’s
request. As a result of that decision, Hackensack Riverkeeper’s
legal challenge of DEP’s woeful
CSO program will proceed. The
decision also ensures that the
agency will not be permitted to
address CSO compliance on its
own timeline. Had their request
been granted, our lawsuit would
have been stuck in limbo – perhaps indefinitely.
Q: Why did the DEP seek
remand? A: So it could continue to
“work” on an issue that it has been
“working on” for 40 years. DEP
did not admit any wrongdoing in
its motion and it seems clear that it
Charlotte Sodora, MSW, LNHA Administrator
doesn’t even know what wrongdoing they have committed. Reviewing the history of Combined
Sewer permitting in New Jersey
and the history of DEP’s avoidance of its legally required duties,
it becomes clear that they sought
remand solely as a delay tactic.
DEP began requiring permittees to develop LTCPs as part of
their first CSO General Permit,
which was issued in 1995. In
2004, the DEP required every step
in developing LTCPs except the
one where permittees were supposed to develop special plans to
protect sensitive areas.
Indeed, our Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests reveal
that most if not all permittees have
undertaken extensive and expensive steps to develop LTCPs and
submitted their plans to DEP.
One municipal official told me
“We spent all this money hiring
consultants and developing long
term control plans and we sent the
plan off to the DEP and nothing
happens. Now all that money is
just sitting on my shelf instead of
improving the river.”
As our permittee friend told
me “DEP made us spend over
a million dollars on a netting
chamber to catch floatable debris,
but it doesn’t do anything about
the real CSO pollution. And at
the same time, our outfall is right
next to the storm sewer that sends
201.487.4900
director
362 state street
hackensack, nj07601
T: 201.487.2203 x116
T: 201.881.8116 direct
F: 201.487.4079
A CareOne Senior Care Center
Hackensack, NJ 07601
A Combined Sewer System,
(CSS) is a sewer system designed
to carry both stormwater and
household sewage in the same
pipe to a treatment plant. When
the weather is nice, these systems
are usually reliable and safe.
However, even a small amount of
rain can overwhelm the capacity
of some systems. When capacity
is exceeded, a CSS is designed
to discharge excess sewage from
an outfall directly into a body of
water. These discharges are called
Combined Sewer Overflows or
CSOs.
NOTE:
HARRY COMP
CareOne at Wellington
301 Union Street
the same kind of floatables we
have to catch - from the streets
and highways - straight into the
river. I am as concerned as anyone
about the health of the river. It’s
very important to me. But I wish
we were spending this money on
doing things instead of writing
reports. We need two things from
DEP - the go-ahead to implement
these plans and some funding to
help do them.”
Happily, the Appellate Division saw the DEP’s motion for
what it was – a delay tactic. Immediately upon receiving the denial
from the court, DEP requested an
extension of its briefing deadline.
We now expect DEP’s brief on the
merits of its permit in the middle
of October. It will be interesting to
see how DEP attempts to defend
the indefensible.
e: [email protected]
www.parisianbeautyacademy.com
I xxx paul mitchell schools.
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 5
Paddling through the meadowlands under the light of a full moon
By John Sailer
When you time it right, you can experience the
calmness of the sun setting in the west over the meadows followed by the romance of a full moon rising
over the skyline of Manhattan, all reflected in the
darkening waters of the Hackensack River.
Just as the essence of the marsh changes when the
tides rise and fall throughout the day and when the
seasons flow one into the other throughout the year,
so too does the environment change as day gives way
to dusk and as night eventually falls over the Meadowlands and the creatures within it.
Ospreys are often among the first of the many
varieties of wildlife that we see throughout the marsh
along the route of a full moon guided paddling tour.
Parents circle overhead protecting their young as our
group of paddlers enters the Sawmill Creek Wildlife
Management Area.
Here, in the marsh, we’re also apt to see Cormorants, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, Black-crowned
Night Herons, and even Great Blue Herons, both
perched and in flight. Diamondback terrapins, muskrats, fiddler crabs and other creatures are out here too,
but we’re less likely to see those at night.
Nighttime is different out on the water. While the
unfortunate steady hum of traffic passing by on the
NJ Turnpike and the planes flying to or from Newark
Liberty Airport leave no hope of enjoying the absolute silence that once existed here generations ago,
there is a certain peaceful calm that descends on the
water at nightfall. It’s a serenity that only those paddling by moonlight can naturally embrace.
Spending just two hours out on the water on one
of Hackensack Riverkeeper’s popular Full Moon
Paddles, you will experience all this and more.
Clear your mind. Being out there on the water,
enveloped in serenity, our meditative minds are free
to wander, sensing one’s unity with the earth, even
approaching a feeling of nirvana. Beyond the spirituality of the place, the joyous mood even gives rise
to a silliness that emerges from relaxation. We’re reminded of a line from that Moody Blues song: “cold-
hearted orb that rules the night/removes the colors
from our sight/red is gray and yellow white/but we
decide which is right and which is an illusion.”
Realizing they’re right, we observe the colors
gradually fade as darkness falls. Whether it’s a full
moon or even just a waxing or waning moon, it
quickly becomes clear that as the sun sets and that
other “orb” that is the moon rises, it does, in fact,
remove the colors from our sight. The bright colors
of the day transform into black and white and various
shades of gray. Beyond these changing aesthetics,
the changing hues also heighten our level of caution
because whereas in the bright sun of daytime you can
see the entire group of paddlers with whom you are
paddling, at night you can barely see the paddlers immediately in front of you and behind you. The tides
are strongest when there is a full moon, which, added
to the decreased visibility, requires that every paddler have some experience in order to navigate the
meadows at night.
Experienced guides will handle the caution for
you, as you enjoy the bucolic setting that is the
Meadowlands. We’ll make sure that the lead guide
brings you safely through the channels while the
sweep, the guide who takes up the rear, ensures that
even the slowest paddlers stay on track and with the
group.
Even though 2012 was only our second season offering Full Moon Paddles, they’ve become one of our
most popular events, quickly filling to capacity soon
after we schedule them. In fact, this year, we added
an extra Blue Moon Paddle, taking advantage of the
rare occurrence of a second full moon in a month. On
August 31, 2012, we brought a record 40 paddlers out
on the water for the full moon!
Keep your calendar open. While there won’t be
another blue moon until 2015, so there’s still plenty
of time to plan for our next Blue Moon Paddle, you
don’t have to wait that long to enjoy the serenity and
beauty of a Full Moon Paddle because there will be
another one in a few months, soon after the paddling
season begins again in April 2013.
© Mary Ann Knight
Almost Nirvana
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 6 HackensackRIVERKEEPER®
Fifteen Year Timeline
Norcross Wildlife Foundation funds the organization’s purchase of 12 kayaks for the renamed
Hackensack Riverkeeper Paddling Center at
Laurel Hill County Park.
The NJ State Federation of Women’s Clubs endorses
Hackensack Riverkeeper’s call for preserving the
Meadowlands.
Hackensack Riverkeeper launches the
Canoe Project – the first
small boat livery on the
Hackensack River in over
fifty years – at Laurel Hill
County Park, Secaucus.
Hugh Carola is hired by the Hackensack Meadowlands
Preservation Alliance (HMPA) – a coalition co-founded
by Hackensack Riverkeeper dedicated to stopping the
proposed Meadowlands Mills megamall from being built
on the 600-acre Empire Tract in Carlstadt.
In December, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt tours
the Meadowlands with Riverkeeper and friends.
2003
Funding from the City of Bayonne as a result of
citizen action allows Riverkeeper to acquire a
second pontoon cruiser, the K/V Edward Abbey.
2002
1999
1998
The Hackensack Riverkeeper Watershed Watch Hotline (1-877-CPT-BILL)
comes online in December.
Hackensack Riverkeeper leads a
David vs. Goliath battle against the
Mills Corporation, culminating in a
raucous and sometimes frightening
public hearing in September that
pits hundreds of construction
workers against Riverkeeper and its HMPA allies.
Using $100,000 of court-ordered restitution
from corporate polluter Columbia Terminals,
Inc. and a $10,000 grant from PSE&G, Hackensack Riverkeeper purchases 231 Main Street in
Hackensack – the “Capital of the Watershed”.
2001
The School of Natural
Sciences at Fairleigh
Dickinson University
generously provides an
office for Hackensack
Riverkeeper on their
Teaneck campus.
In its longstanding battle with
the Hackensack Meadowlands
Development Commission (HMDC),
Hackensack Riverkeeper marshals
opposition to the proposed
Special Area Management
Plan (SAMP).
2000
On Earth Day, the Keeper Vessel Robert H. Boyle,
is christened by the man for whom the boat is
named – the same man who helped start the
modern Waterkeeper movement. That year, over
1,000 people participate in Eco-Cruises.
Hackesack Riverkeeper
begins advocating for
Category One protections for
the river’s upper reaches.
Acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco,
flanked by Captain Bill and Baykeeper
Andy Willner, declares: “The day of filling
wetlands in the Meadowlands is over!”
Governor-elect Jim
McGreevey calls for the
establishment of the Meadowlands Estuary Preserve.
At Hackensack Riverkeeper’s urging, the
NJ Legislature rechristens the HMDC: NJ
Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) and
refocuses its mission to one of preserving
the District’s remaining wetlands.
Hackensack
Riverkeeper’s
lawsuit against
Honeywell
International results in a
$400 million cleanup order
by a Federal court.
The organization receives
$30,000 from the NJ Attorney General’s office for
its role in bringing
Eastern Concrete
Materials to justice.
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
NJMC unanimously approves the
2004 Meadowlands Master Plan
which places all 8,400 acres of the
District’s wetlands and waterways
into conservation. Capt. Bill announces, “I declare the War of the
Meadowlands over and we are now
policing the peace.”
After years of advocacy and
Riverkeeper-conducted education,
NJ adopts Phase Two stormwater
regulations.
Captain Bill is
named Bergen
County’s Person of
the Year and one
of America’s River
Heroes by American
Rivers.
Page 7
The Standard Chlorine site
in Kearny is the target of
joint litigation by Riverkeeper & NY/NJ Baykeeper.
The federal lawsuit against the NY
Susquehanna & Western RR is settled.
Captain Bill is named CoChair of the NY/NJ Harbor
Estuary Program’s Citizens
Advisory Committee.
Hackensack Riverkeeper settles a second
Honeywell lawsuit, forcing a cleanup
of additional company-owned properties in Jersey City.
Riverkeeper helps produce
the documentary Turning the Tide, a film about
the Meadowlands and the
Hamilton-Trenton Marsh.
Captain Bill receives a USEPA
2008 Environmental Quality Award.
Captain Bill is elected to the
Waterkeeper Alliance Board
of Directors.
The organization
receives Governor’s
Award for
Environmental
Excellence.
Hackensack Riverkeeper
defeats Wal-Mart’s attempt
to build a gas station next
to wetlands in Secaucus.
The Empire Tract is transferred
to the Meadowlands Conservation Trust. MCT Chairman Bill
Sheehan and Executive Director
Tina Schvejda take title and
re-name it the Richard P. Kane
Natural Area after the former
NJ Audubon vice president.
Riverkeeper kicks off its campaign against
Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs).
HRK sues the NY Susquehanna &
Western Railroad for maintaining
unregulated garbage dumps.
Hackensack Riverkeeper finalizes
an action plan with the
National Park Service to establish
a Hackensack River Water Trail.
We assist activists in Paramus to defeat
an attempt to develop 35 acres of Category
One-protected wetlands.
For the first time in over 50
years, Ospreys successfully nest
along the Hackensack River
– on a platform constructed
by PSE&G ten years earlier at
Captain Bill’s request.
Working in partnership with the Rutgers University Environmental Research Clinic, Hackensack Riverkeeper begins a ground-breaking
project to establish populations of Eastern
Oysters in the lower reaches of the river.
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
Hackensack Riverkeeper conducts the
firstMeadowlands Festival of Birding
with NJ Audubon and the NJMC.
United Water NJ settles with
Riverkeeper and co-plaintiff
Bergen SWAN and places
3,300 acres of company-owned
woodlands into NJDEP-held
conservation easement.
Hackensack Riverkeeper starts
Clean Streets = Clean Water
initiative with the
Bergen County
Sheriff’s Department.
Cleanup work finally begins at Standard Chlorine
in Kearny; Riverkeeper monitors progress.
Riverkeeper helps secure criminal indictment
against Secaucus Crowne Plaza Hotel for
unpermitted wastewater discharges
to the Hackensack River.
Timeline continued on page 8
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 8 15 Year Timeline
The organization opposes Christie administration
plans to curtail public waterfront access, and to
rollback state environmental protections. Captain
Bill Sheehan helps spearhead formation of NJ
League of Conservation Voters.
2010
The group partners with John Dull
Music and the Williams Center to
produce the Pete and Toshi
Seeger Wetlands Preservation Concert featuring the legendary
folksinger.
Fifteenth Anniversary
continued from page 1
presentations, and river cleanups. We also serve as a sounding
board for public officials and
members of the public to discuss
concerns about pollution, development and report instances of
littering from vehicles via our
Clean Streets = Clean Water
program.
Hackensack Riverkeeper was
instrumental in securing permanent protection for 8,400 acres of
wetlands and waterways within
the New Jersey Meadowlands
District; as well as 3,300 acres of
woodlands surrounding the Oradell and Lake Tappan reservoirs
- over 11,000 acres in total. In
Hackensack Riverkeeper
formally requests that NJDEP
revoke CSO permits statewide.
United Water NJ commits $120,000
over four years to support Hackensack
Riverkeeper.
Administrative Law
Judge Barry Moscowitz upholds DEP
denial of permits for
Paramus Wetlands
destruction.
so doing, we helped assure passage of the 2004 Meadowlands
Master Plan which, in addition to
preserving wetlands, also set the
stage for the District’s redevelopment and current economic
revival – all without sacrificing
any additional wetlands habitats.
Hackensack Riverkeeper recognizes that real environmental
progress happens when all stakeholders are engaged in the planning and policy processes that
affect them and their local waterways. In that way, all parties can
better understand the issues and
contribute to their ultimate and
proper resolution. Unique among
environmental groups, we belong
to two Chambers of Commerce:
Hackensack Riverkeeper; in partnership
with NY/NJ Baykeeper, Columbia University
Environmental Law Clinic, and the Pacific
Environmental Advocacy Center;
files suit against the NJDEP to stop
the issuance of CSO permits.
Office at 231 Main Street gets
a complete energy efficiency
makeover thanks to a
$30,000 grant from Gardinier
Environmental Fund.
Captain Bill Sheehan receives
Environmental Legacy Award
from NJ Environmental Lobby.
2012
Crowne Plaza Hotel owners plead guilty;
agree to $75,000 restitution payment to
Hackensack Riverkeeper.
Hackensack Riverkeeper submits
official comments supporting full
dredging and cleanup of contaminants within the lower Passaic River.
2011
continued from page 7
the Meadowlands Regional
Chamber of Commerce and the
Greater Hackensack Chamber of
Commerce.
Today, with the battles over
the Meadowlands a thing of the
past, we and Captain Bill spend
our time “policing the peace,”
working to stop illegal activities
along the river, end Combined
Sewer pollution, and help people
of all ages better understand and
appreciate their roles as watershed citizens.
“We invite everyone to join
us at the riverside to learn the
Hackensack River’s history,”
said Captain Bill. “Together we
can bring it back and help chart
its ongoing recovery.”
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 9
Hackensack Riverkeeper Celebrates Fifteen Years
Milestone gala event bestows awards on Mayor Gonnelli and Panasonic
By Hugh Carola
© Sean Rhinehart / Teaneck Camera Club
© Sean Rhinehart / Teaneck Camera Club
Gerald Cardinale (R-39);
Assemblywoman Connie
On October 4, more than two
Wagner (D-38); Assemblyhundred people joined Captain Bill
man Tim Eustace (D-38);
Sheehan and crew at the Holiday Inn
Hon. Kathleen Donovan
of Hasbrouck Heights to celebrate
(R), Bergen County Execuour organization’s Fifteenth Annivertive; Mayor Ann Subrizi (R)
sary at the Annual Awards Celebraof New Milford, Counciltion and Sustainable Seafoodfest.
man Gil Hawkins (D) of
“I never could have imagined
Leonia; and members of the
this fifteen years ago,” recalled
Secaucus Town Council.
Captain Bill. “But I knew we were
Mayor Gonnelli receiving the coveted
The Hon. Margaret Watkins
Heron from Captain Bill.
on the side of the angels, I had no
(R), former mayor of River
idea just how many “angels” were
Edge and candidate for
actually going to show up and join
Bergen County Freeholder;
me in the work of bringing back
and representatives of the
the Hackensack River.”
Bergen County Utilities
Each year’s event honors indiAuthority attended as well.
viduals and institutions that have
In addition to public
assisted Hackensack Riverkeeper
servants
past and present,
in its mission to protect, preserve
James Kirkos, President of
and restore the Hackensack River.
the Meadowlands Regional
The 2012 milestone celebration
Chamber of Commerce and
was no different. Secaucus Mayor
Debbie Mans, the New York
Michael Gonnelli, received our
Captain Bill with Peter Fannon, VP of
/ New Jersey Baykeeper; and
Excellence in Public Service Award Corporate Affairs, Panasonic Corporation
members of their respective
and Panasonic Corporation of
of North America and Brian Thompson.
staffs attended and lent their
North America received our
support
to
the
anniversary
celebration.
Corporate Environmental Stewardship Award.
“During the course of the year I may receive the
Mayor Gonnelli received his award in recognition
lion’s
share of media attention but tonight is about
of his many years of public service including longpeople
like Mike and the folks at Panasonic who
standing support of open space, wetlands protection
give
the
extra efforts to help us in our mission,” said
and clean water issues. In addition, the mayor has
also done a great deal to bring the people of Secaucus Captain Bill. “I didn’t build Hackensack Riverkeeper alone, and it doesn’t stand alone. It stands and
together in the wake of the arrest, resignation and
succeeds because they – and so many others – stand
conviction of his predecessor.
with us.”
Panasonic received its award for being an environThe event was sponsored by Xchange at Secaucus
mentally responsible corporate citizen, both globally
Junction;
Panasonic Corporation of North America;
and locally; and for its including longstanding particiMeadowlands
Hospital Medical Center; Bergen
pation in our Corporate River Stewardship Program.
County
Utilities
Authority; Whole Foods Market;
In addition, the company is currently building a new,
River Terminal Development; Elegant Desserts;
LEED-certified corporate headquarters in Newark.
The event featured NBC News4NY correspondent PSEG; Hackensack Chronicle; Scarinci Hollenbeck;
Inserra Shop-Rite Supermarkets; Edison Properties,
Brian Thompson who reprised his role as Special
LLC; TD Bank; Wilenta Carting, Inc; Atlantic –
Guest Emcee for the evening’s festivities.
Tomorrow’s Office; Axiom Communications; Kipnis
Among the dignitaries attending the celebraPhysical Therapy; Natoli’s of Secaucus; REI and
tion and showing their support for Hackensack
Samaritan Services, Inc.
Riverkeeper were elected officials: State Senator
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 10 Real Science for Real People
We Can Make a Difference!
By Dr. Beth Ravit
Sometimes environmental problems seem to be
large and unsolvable at the individual level, but not
always. A few weeks ago Hackensack Riverkeeper
led the annual cleanup at United Water’s Oradell
Reservoir. This cleanup took place on Blanch Ave. in
Closter. Having lived in Closter for 36 years, it is a
cleanup that I try to participate in, mainly because it
is a great chance to get in a canoe and paddle on this
magnificent man-made lake in the middle of the Hackensack River. The enjoyment of being out on the water
is hard to maintain when we begin hauling in the trash.
But this year my reaction was a bit different – I realized that the majority of the trash we were picking up
was there because we who live in the watershed make
specific consumer decisions.
If we consider what we do, keeping in mind what
happens to the products we use daily, we can eliminate these materials from our drinking water system.
I know this because there are a few items that we find
every year and it accounts for the majority of the trash!
WATER BOTTLES: It is incredibly ironic that one
of the most common items found during a cleanup of
We support
HackensackRIVERKEEPER®
and their outstanding
River Cleanup Program.
For more information on our services contact:
Wilenta Carting, Inc
PO Box 2596, Secaucus, NJ 07096 • www.wilenta.com
p: 201-325-0044 • f: 201-863-3035
our drinking water source are the commercial bottles
that contained bottled water! According to National
Geographic, Americans drink more bottled water than
any other nation (29 Billion bottles a year!), in spite
of the fact that our public water supply is considered
one of the best in the world. The water bottle recycling
rates are low (13% - that’s why so many end up as litter); the amount of oil used to make the plastic bottles
(17 million barrels/year) is high; and the energy used
to pump, process, transport and cool bottled water
(Earth Policy Institute estimate 50 million barrels of oil
a year) is even higher - are all arguments for stopping
our purchase of bottle water!
I’m really proud that Rutgers students have
organized to work with the administration to ‘Take
Back the Tap’ – the university is testing alternatives to
bottled water (high tech filtered water fill-up stations
for re-usable water bottles) in the campus centers. We
need to encourage our local schools to offer alternatives to bottled water in school buildings and keep
plastic bottles off athletic fields. This is environmental
pollution and wasted energy costs that can be eliminated from our daily pattern of life.
BALLOONS: The birthday party, the real estate
open house, the corporate or political celebration – do
these events really need to release balloons that then
escape into the environment? The damage caused by
helium balloon releases has been documented by the
Marine Conservation Society. Balloon debris is most
dangerous to marine animals – birds and mammals
that mistake the brightly colored material for food.
If a balloon is ingested it can become lodged inside
the animal, and if normal food is blocked, the balloon
contributes to slow starvation. The ribbons and strings
attached to the balloons are also a problem if the animal becomes entangled.
California, Connecticut, Florida, Tennessee and
Virginia have state laws that regulate balloons. Suffolk
County, NY has issued regulations that prohibit the
release of “25 or more” helium filled balloons within
the county in a 24-hour period. While having states
and counties legislate balloon use may seem to be a
bit too much government regulation, the statues illustrate the serious environmental concerns related to
this simple consumer product – a product that we can
easily choose to eliminate from our own lives without
suffering any negative consequence!
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
© Balloonsblow.org
PLASTIC: Environmental concerns
related to plastic are new in my lifetime – this
ubiquitous substance (made from fossil fuel!)
has only come into broad use over the past
fifty years. Now plastic products are so common we really don’t even think about where
the plastic comes from or where it goes when Wildlife imperiled by the unnecessary debris from human celebrations.
we finish with an item – plates, cups, lighters,
use ‘disposable’ plastic products. There are biodegradtoys, candy dispensers, heavy duty pipes and
able alternatives to many commonly used items like
fittings, pens, pencils, bags, and all the other ‘disposplastic plates and cups.
able’ items we use. We use plastic so extensively
NY has passed (2008) the Plastic Bag Reduction,
because it doesn’t degrade – a feature that is disastrous
Reuse, and Recycling Act that requires stores and malls
when these everyday objects escape into our waterto accept clean bags for recycling and to offer reusable
ways. About 85% of plastic waste is not recycled.
bags for purchase. There are two recycling bills in New
Plastic pollution has become a global environmenJersey that would help to regulate plastic waste: The
tal issue, awareness driven in part by the growth of the
New Jersey Bottle Bill (A930/S1467) and the New JerPacific Garbage Patch – an area estimated to be twice
sey Bag Bill (A2112). Details of both bills can be found
the size of Texas where the density of bits of plastic
at www.campaignforrecycling.org/states/new_jersey.
now appears to be greater than the density of the phyI came away from the September clean up feeltoplankton that support the marine food chain!
ing better than I usually do – because I realized that
Since October, 2011 the international Plastic Discontrolling this trash is really in our hands at the
closure Project (www.plasticdisclosure.org) has begun
local level. We can fix the problem of this trash in our
trying to quantify the human ‘Plastic Footprint’ and to
reduce the environmental impacts of our increasing use drinking water supply without radically changing our
of plastic in products and packaging. However, we can lifestyles – we just need to think about the consumer
immediately impact our local waterways be refusing to decisions we make each day.
© NOAA
Page 11
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 12 Lake Tappan Paddle Day
It was one of those scenes that
can only be witnessed because
of the outreach that Hackensack Riverkeeper does. Dozens
of boats trickled out onto Lake
Tappan stretching as far North
as Veterans Memorial Drive in
New York State. The yellow boats
were cheerfully paddled in every
direction mesmerizing the shore
dwellers as they watched this sec-
ond phenomenon to occur on Lake
Tappan in as many years.
This was Hackensack Riverkeeper’s second annual Lake Tappan Paddle Day. A family-friendly
paddle that allowed people of all
ages to enjoy Lake Tappan, an
idea that never seemed plausible
before Hackensack Riverkeeper
convinced United Water New Jersey to open their reservoir to a day
of supervised paddling. Two open
paddles ran for three hours each
Local folks enjoying a
great summer day on
Lake Tappan.
A volunteer cleans all the boats before
they can go into Lake Tappan.
allowing our entire fleet to touch
water twice that day.
Hackensack Riverkeeper
thanks our sponsors for their
generous support with Lake Tappan Paddle Day: United Water,
Shoprite Inserra, REI and Sony.
We also thank all of our volunteers that came out and made the
day possible. Lastly, we thank the
hundreds of paddlers who came
out and supported our event!
Girls just wanna have fun!
Paddling Center Manager John Sailer steadies a
canoe for an anxious family.
REI’s Veronica out supporting the paddlers.
Captain Bill and Rich
Henning VP of United
Water NJ.
photos © Sammy Santiago/Teaneck Camera Club: top row: c; middle row: l, lc, rc; bottom row:l, r. photos © Jonathan Green: top row:r ; middle row: r.
A beautiful day, a couple hundred paddlers and a great time.
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 13
Hackensack Riverkeeper Assists with River Rescue
A true story from “the other helm.”
By Captain Hugh Carola
On Sunday evening, August
26, while returning up the Hackensack River to Laurel Hill Park
after a Newark Bay Eco-Cruise to
Staten Island, Captain Bill Sheehan aboard the Edward Abbey and
I aboard the Robert H. Boyle came
upon a boat in distress. The vessel,
Commander’s Dream, a 25-foot
Bayliner out of Holgate, NJ, had
lost power. Fortunately, her quickthinking owner had been able to
secure her underneath the PATH
bridge near Kearny, NJ. Without
power and with several children
aboard, including an infant, the
Dream’s owner needed help fast.
But with a dozen people
aboard each of our boats, neither
of us was able to safely render
immediate assistance. Although
the people onboard were certainly
worried, we quickly saw that the
broke-down vessel was in no
danger of sinking. Unfortunately,
the Dream’s owner did not have
his VHF radio tuned to Channel 13, which is designated for
vessel-to-vessel communication.
Even worse, the outgoing tide was
at its strongest, making it difficult
to maneuver our pontoon boats
in close. Shouting over the noise
from PATH trains and Route 7,
Bill and I did our best to calm the
owner and assure him that help
would be on the way.
Capt. Bill contacted the New
Jersey State Police Marine Services
Bureau Station at Monmouth Beach
while we continued upriver. Speaking with the sergeant on duty, he
explained the situation; the trooper
then used the State Police firstresponder database to reach out to
available public safety assets.
I returned to the scene as soon
as I dropped off my Eco-Cruise
folks. By the time I got back to
the Dream about 10 minutes later,
Jersey City Police and EMTs were
already onsite and had taken the
women and children off the boat.
Also on the scene was
Marine 2, the Jersey City Fire Department’s 27-foot Boston Whaler
fireboat. Her crew had used the
boat’s twin 300-hp engines to
fight the strong outgoing tidal
current and maneuver the fireboat
alongside the stricken vessel. The
firefighters secured lines and took
the Dream in tow. The owner and
two friends remained aboard and
by all appearances the situation
was well in hand.
While JCFD fireboat crews
throughougly know the ins and
outs of their own city’s multiple
waterfronts, they’re generally
unfamiliar with the Hackensack
Despite her engines’ 600 combined horsepower, with the other
boat in tow Marine 2 was only
able to safely make three Knots
(about 4 MPH)-- a trip that would
normally take twenty minutes
actually took the better part of
an hour. Keeping in VHF contact
with Marine 2’s captain, Ron
Shastay, I guided the firefighters
through the river’s channel and
secured openings from the Upper
Hack and NX Jackknife railroad
bridges. In sight of Route 3 and
our destination, I radioed them to
say I was going on ahead and I
would meet them at the Red Roof.
In darkness but with plenty of
ambient light from Route 3, the
fireboat’s crew deftly maneuvered
the Dream in close enough for
her owner to toss me a bow line.
The owner and his friends jumped
down onto the dock and the four
of us hauled the vessel into a
Commander’s
Dream safe
at her dock.
If you look
carefully, you
can see the
Boyle in the
background.
River north of PSE&G’s Hudson
Generating Station. I was about to
tip my hat to Marine 2’s crew and
head for home when her deck boss
said they were going to tow her
up to the Red Roof Inn Marina in
Secaucus and asked me to lead the
way for them. Naturally, I agreed
and upriver we went.
vacant slip and secured bow and
stern lines to cleats. We hardly had
a chance to give a thumbs-up before the crew of Marine 2 waved
and wished us well as she turned
downriver and headed for home.
Our adventure was over and all
was well.
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 14 Once Again SPLASH Makes A Splash
Our second Waterkeeper Alliance-sponsored event
brings a throng of paddlers on to the river.
Despite an ominous forecast, threatening skies and a stiffening wind, one hundred paddlers in seventy boats took part
in our second Hackensack River Paddle
SPLASH event to benefit Hackensack
Riverkeeper and support a cleaner Hackensack River. Launching from our Paddling Center at Laurel Hill County Park,
canoeists and kayakers headed five miles
upriver on an incoming tide to Mill Creek
Point Park, making this year’s SPLASH
an all-Secaucus event.
Upon reaching Mill Creek they were
greeted with live music provided by Frantic! – a classic rock power trio fronted
by guitarist Al Knight, husband of our
Operations Director Mary Knight.
They were also met by a special guest:
Waterkeeper Alliance President Robert
F. Kennedy, Jr., who had arrived aboard
a Hudson Riverkeeper vessel with two of
his children and several Alliance staffers
as his crew.
Speaking to those assembled at the
water’s edge, Kennedy thanked everyone
for participating and reminded them that,
“The Hackensack River is significant
because it provides access to nature for
those who may never get the chance to
see New York’s Adirondacks or visit Yosemite National Park.” He went on to say
that “Every child, black or white, rich
or poor has the right to come down to the
river to paddle, swim or fish and know
that it won’t be polluted.”
During the trip, the canoes and kayaks
were shepherded by a trio of “mother
ducks”: the Edward Abbey, serving as the
event’s press boat with Captain Bill Sheehan in command; the Robert H. Boyle,
serving as safety boat under Captain Hugh
Carola with BSA Troop 5 Assistant Scoutmaster Thomas Halter aboard; and our
new shallow-draft rescue boat donated by
our friend and Ducks Unlimited colleague
John Spizziri. The new boat was manned
by Paddling Center staffer John Normile
and Hudson County Parks employee
Frederico Nealon.
The Waterkeeper Alliance SPLASH
Event Series is presented nationally by
Toyota in cooperation with KEEN, the
footwear company. SPLASH invites people across America to celebrate and utilize
their local waterways in support of clean
water. Locally, our event was supported
by Sony; REI of Paramus, which supplied
a dozen kayaks and staffers who served as
volunteers; and Shop Rite of Hackensack
/ Inserra Supermarkets, who donated both
breakfast and lunch for everyone. Special
thanks also go to the Town of Secaucus
and the Hudson County Division of Parks
for helping ensure a successful day.
pp 12-13: background photo © Mary Ellen Woods; p12: tl & bc © Jonathan Green; tr © Mary Ann Knight
By Emilio DeLia
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
© Jonathan Green
Page 15
The festivities included entertainment by
the classic rock band Frantic!
© Mary Ellen Woods
Hackensack Riverkeeper Paddling Center staff launched 70 boats into the River.
© Jonathan Green
Bobby Kennedy Jr. and Captain Bill address
paddlers at Mill Creek Point Park in Secaucus
© Jonathan Green
© Jonathan Green
Steven Curtis of Toyota
Mark Yaggi, Waterkeeper
North America addresses
Alliance Executive Director
Paddlers at Laurel Hill Park.
Paddlers lining up for registration and their event tee shirt.
© Mary Ann Knight
© Jonathan Green
© Jonathan Green
Paddlers approaching the Upper Hack Bridge between Lyndhurst and Secaucus.
SPLASHers on the Hackensack River Paddling up to Mill Creek Point Park.
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 16 Hackensack Watershed Field Notes
Whenever I find myself in a
conversation with a person who
denies the facts of global warming
and climate change I usually respond in one of two ways: Either
I bring up the fact that both the
US Navy and NASA recognize
those realities (for years the Navy
has been changing its war-fighting
plans in light of changing coastlines); or I share personal observations. Since this is a Field Notes
column and not one on military
history, I’ll discuss the latter.
Almost any naturalist or
sportsman can tell you that in
recent years animals’ habits have
been changing. For example, in
the past shorebirds began returning to the Meadowlands the third
weekend of July. This year it was
the last weekend in June. Also,
anglers who target striped bass
know that big bass follow herring when the fish make their
way down to our area from the
Bay of Fundy in Atlantic Canada.
Recent reports from commercial
fishermen in that region tell of
almost no herring being caught
this season. What that means for
fall & winter bass fishing is yet to
be seen.
Wildlife species have long
(and rightly) been considered
environmental bellwethers.
And whether it is the proverbial
“canary in a coal mine” or absent
schools of herring in the Bay of
Fundy (or here in our own river),
we would all do well to heed and
better understand what nature and
her (or God and his) creatures
are telling us. And speaking of
creatures…
Royal Tern:
note the long
wing feathers, a
lighter orange
bill and feathery
black cap
American Golden Plover – A
single early migrant was noted
on 8/28 at Liberty State Park in
Jersey City.
American White Pelican – A
real rarity, not just in our watershed but in our part of the country,
a single pelican was observed
from several Meadowlands
vantage points during mid-late
August including Richard W.
DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst and
Kearny Marsh in Kearny, NJ
8/11-13.
Bald Eagle – This past breeding season saw an astounding
eight Bald Eagle chicks hatched
in our area: two in the nest located
on United Water property in Oradell, NJ (both fledged in June);
two in the Ridgefield Park nest on
Overpeck Creek (one survived,
fledged in June, and has since
been seen flying and perching
along the river between Ridgefield
and Carlstadt); three in the firsttime nest located within Palisades
Interstate Park in Alpine, NJ
(none survived).First-time nesters
at Lake Tappan in Orangetown,
NY lost their single chick at the
same time as well.
BigStock
Edited by Hugh M. Carola
Bobolink – A lone individual
of this grassland species was spotted at Mill Creek Point Park in
Secaucus on 8/23.
Caspian Tern – A pair of these
large birds was observed 8/29 roosting on the riverbank at the Anderson Creek Marsh in Secaucus.
Common Nighthawk – A flock
of 47 was observed and heard
over Lyndhurst, NJ the evening
of 8/28. Be sure to look and listen
for these birds throughout early
and mid-springtime as they migrate north.
Common Raven – A pair of ravens was seen and heard over the
Passaic River in Newark while in
the company of a soaring Turkey
Vulture on 8/25. Three more were
observed bothering a Red-tailed
Hawk at Laurel Hill in Secaucus
on 8/29.
Green Heron – A single bird
was seen in the Sawmill Creek
WMA during an Eco-Cruise on
8/12.
Least Bittern – The most
secretive of our breeding herons,
one was seen in the Saw Mill
Creek WMA on 8/15; while a
group of three were observed
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 17
BigStock
Caspian Tern:
note the overall
size of the bill.
Also, the wing
feathers are
shorter than
the tail.
along the Marsh Discovery Trail
at DeKorte Park on 8/19.
Least Sandpiper – Well over
one thousand sandpipers were
observed on 8/19 roosting on
mudflats in the Anderson Creek
Marsh in Secaucus. Many other
flocks – large and small were
observed throughout the month of
August.
Osprey – As it happens, our
watershed boasted five nesting
pairs of Osprey this season. The
fifth confirmed nest was “hiding in
plain sight” between Berry’s Creek
and Valley Brook Avenue in Lyndhurst. That one and the Carlstadt
nest each produced one fledgling,
while the nests in Jersey City and
Kearny each produced two and the
first-year Secaucus nest fledged
three - nine in all. It was the species’ best season so far.
Red-breasted Nuthatch – An
early fall migrant was heard calling on 8/26 in a Maywood, NJ
front yard.
Royal Tern – A flock of five of
this large tern species was seen and
heard as they flew over the Hackensack River past the Red Roof
Marina in Secaucus on 8/25.
Semipalmated Sandpiper – Not
nearly as numerous in our region
as are Least Sandpipers, nonetheless as small flock was observed
foraging on Hackensack River
mudflats adjacent to the Fairleigh
Dickinson University campus in
Teaneck on 7/31.
Check our website for outdoor eco-activities!
One day self-guided eco-excursions that you can
get to by mass transit. NO CARS!
www.GreenDaycations.org
“Like” us on Facebook at Facebook.com/GreenDaycations.org
Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/GreenDaycations
Spot Croaker – On 8/22 a
lucky angler caught one of these
inshore saltwater fish in a very unlikely place: the pond at Andreas
Park in Teaneck, NJ. The pond
has inlets to the river that allow
fish to move between it and the
Hackensack River.
Tricolored Heron – An uncommon visitor to our watershed,
usually seen pre or post-breeding,
a single bird was observed at
DeKorte Park in August and
September.
Warblers (spp.) – With an
early spring, it was just a matter of time before an early fall
was upon us. On 8/17, one of our
observers noted Blue-winged Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler and
American Redstart at Schmidt’s
Woods in Secaucus.
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, Geri Byrne, Harry Byrne, Judy Cinquina,
Judy Collier, Ray Cywinski, Ray
Duffy, Gene Dunton, Ed Goldberg, Lynn Kramer, Joseph Labriola, Don Torino and Rosemarie
Widmer.
Page 18 r
e
e
t
n
u
l
o
V
Corner
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
e n c h is e
by Sarah M
16th Street Park, Bayonne, 7/14/12
Barges were tugged along as Hackensack Riverkeeper volunteers paddled canoes up and down
Newark Bay along the Bayonne Shore. Among our volunteers were both regulars and a surprise
contingent from the Sea Cadets. The volunteers collected garbage that originated from as far north
as Ridgewood, including a metal barrel, half of a garbage can and a license plate.
REI Corporate Cleanup, 7/15/12
REI opened their cleanup to the masses and invited not only their employees
but costumers and Hackensack Riverkeeper’s volunteers. Together the group
tackled Laurel Hill County Park in their ‘Get Dirty’ shirts.
Bectin Dickinson
Corporate Cleanup,
7/19/12
The BD group sure did TIRE
themselves out. Determined
amongst the group to collect as
many tires as possible
they worked until they
could no longer pull
them from the river.
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 19
Johnson Park, Hackensack, 8/4/12
Though the Captain was out of town the volunteers did not slack on the job! Bicycle
parts, soccer balls and an industrial sized metal chain were pulled from the river.
The best find of it all was the statue that left all of the volunteers guessing what it
was portraying!
Macy’s Logistics Corporate Cleanup, 8/7/12
There was a meaty surprise pulled from the river at our Corporate Cleanup with
Macy’s Logistics! Between the balloons, the bag of meat and the large amount of
bottles this 8-man group looked like they partied (or cleaned) hard on the river!
Oradell Reservoir,
8/25/12
The low water level did not
stop our volunteers from
paddling or poling along
the coves of the reservoir.
Our volunteers collected a
five foot pile of garbage and
enough wood to build a fence!
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 20 Birds of the Hackensack:
Marsh Wren
If you spend any time in the field
at all, chances are there are some birds
that you hear far more often than you
see. For me, the Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) is the epitome of such
a bird. In fact, on one occasion I was
comparing notes with another birder in
a marsh along Delaware Bay discussing
the day’s finds. I mentioned that I heard
many Marsh Wrens but saw only one.
The other birder said, “Oh yeah, they’re fun.” Then he
rolled his eyes. Despite the tongue-in-cheek response,
in the ensuing conversation it was evident that we
both had a great deal of respect for these experts at
hide and seek. Marsh Wrens, as their name indicates,
are common in both fresh and salt water swamps and
marshes. They, like most wrens, are skulkers. For the
Marsh Wren to hide, he will stay low in grasses and
cattails emitting a bubbling staccato
burst of notes first rising, then falling in
pitch. I found that often Marsh Wrens
will build their nests in shrubby growth
in the marshes rather than in the grass.
This has made locating them a bit easier
although far from easy. Sometimes they
will pop above the marsh vegetation
while singing and then slowly descend
back into the grass; disappearing just
about the time I turn to see the source
of the sound. Once again heard but not seen.
Marsh Wrens breed in much of the Northern half
of the United States and into Western Canada. Marsh
Wrens are found in suitable habitat throughout New
Jersey, however most of that habitat is coastal. However, there is a healthy population of this species in
the Meadowlands.
Most Marsh Wrens winter in Mexico and in the
Southern half of the U.S. However, New Jersey wintering populations can number up to 80 individuals,
primarily in the Southern portion of the state. They
tend to be rare in Winter in Northern New Jersey but I
was once lucky enough to find one on New Year’s day
along Valley Brook Road on the way to DeKorte Park.
Marsh Wrens were once known as Long-billed
Marsh Wrens to differentiate them from the Shortbilled Marsh Wren which is now known as the
Sedge Wren.
Marsh Wrens are about five inches long. They
are a rich brown, speckled with black on their back,
wings and head with lighter brown tones underneath.
They have a bold white stripe over the eye and white
streaks along their back. Their bill is slightly curved
downward (decurved) and is thin as is appropriate
for snaring their diet of insects and spiders. Western
populations are paler than their eastern counterparts
and the two populations’ songs vary as well. Male
Marsh Wrens will build multiple nests, most of them
“dummy” nests to fool predators. If the female finds a
nest acceptable she will then line the nest with softer
materials. Male Marsh Wrens are polygamous and
have a nasty habit of destroying the eggs of other
species and even of their own if the female cannot
be found. Despite these social failings, I have found
the Marsh Wren to be a delightful addition to my day
list…when I can see them.
© Dennis Cheeseman
By Ivan Kossak
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 21
Better Know a Colleague
The Raptor Trust
Millington-based nonprofit has been walking the walk for
injured birds since 1982
Part eight of our 37-part series
By Hugh M. Carola
Our office often receives calls from people with
questions about orphaned, sick or injured wildlife,
usually while the caller is trying to deal with just
such a situation. Sadly, conflicts between humans and
wildlife most often end up with the animals getting
the short of the stick. When it comes to orphaned,
sick or injured birds – especially raptors – one of our
colleagues always stands ready to help.
The Raptor Trust is one of the premier wild bird
rehabilitation centers in America. Located in Millington, NJ, the Trust includes a hospital with state-ofthe-art medical facilities, quality exterior housing for
several hundred birds, and an education building. A
stalwart advocate for birds of prey for three decades,
it is now recognized as a national leader in the fields
of raptor conservation and avian rehabilitation.
Begun as a modest backyard avian care center in
1983 by Len Soucy and his wife Diane, the Raptor
Trust has since grown to be one of the largest, most
comprehensive facilities of its kind in the nation.
Since its founding over 60,000 hawks, owls and
other wild birds have been cared for at the Trust;
with nearly half of them returned to the wild. Today,
100 birds that cannot be released reside permanently
at the facility, allowing visitors a unique perspective
on creatures that are usually seen only fleetingly or at
a great distance.
Like Hackensack Riverkeeper, the Raptor Trust
is virtually inseparable from its founder. Like our
own Captain Bill Sheehan, Raptor Trust founder
Len Soucy is an indefatigable advocate. A naturalist,
photographer, lecturer, author, raptor researcher and
avian rehabilitator, he holds a master bird-banding
license from the U.S. Department of Interior and has
been banding wild raptors for over 35 years. Len has
received awards for his and the Trust’s work from
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the New Jersey Veterinary
Foundation and the Humane Society of the United
States, just to name a few.
The Raptor Trust is open to the public seven
days a week; a modest donation of $2 per person is
requested. For more information – including what to
do if you find an orphaned, sick or injured bird – visit
www.theraptortrust.org or call 908-647-2353.
ATTENTION all Environmental Educators…
SAVE THE DATES! January 25-26, 2013
The Alliance for NJ Environmental Education
WANTS YOU
to join hundreds of your colleagues at
the Wyndham Princeton Forrestal Hotel
and Conference Center in Plainsboro, NJ for
ANJEE’s 28th Annual EE Conference:
Wild About New Jersey
Teachers, volunteers, Scouters, nature center staff and others are invited to share
two great days of leaning, networking and fun!
For more information including registration info, go to www.ANJEE.org or call our own
Captain Hughie Carola – ANJEE Conference vice-chair – at 201-968-0808. See you there!
Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
Page 22 Congratulations Beth Ravit!
Our Trustee and longtime colleague honored by NY/NJ Baykeeper
At their annual Sandy Hook
Clambake on September 23, our
friends at NY/NJ Baykeeper
presented Dr. Beth Ravit PhD with
one of their most coveted awards:
the Nancy Zimmerman Memorial
“Running with Scissors” Award.
Named in honor of the late Victoria Foundation program officer,
the award is given each year to an
advocate who personifies a unique
and unwavering commitment to
the environment; and who does so
in a particularly effective way.
In addition to serving as a
Trustee of Hackensack Riverkeeper, Beth is founder and Executive
Director of the Rutgers Environmental Research Clinic. Patterned
after the university’s extensive array of Legal Clinics, RERC works
to provide scientific backing for
environmental advocacy organizations in their ongoing fights
against polluters, sprawl developers and feckless bureaucrats.
All of us at Hackensack Riverkeeper: Captain Bill Sheehan,
Board President Ivan Kossak, our
Trustees and staff join together
in congratulating one of our own
for receiving an award that she so
richly deserves.
Congratulations Beth!
Dr. Ravit examines clam shells for
nursery ready spat (baby oysters) that
attach themselves to the clams .
2012 Donors List
Ommissions and Corrections
Our sincere appologies for the ommission of our supporter:
Kathleen Koslow
HackensackRIVERKEEPER®
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Hackensack Tidelines-Fall 2012
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Page 23
Participate in Your Community to
protect its Environmental Interests
By Susan Gordon
I’ve always found contentment in nature. I
enjoy being outdoors and care intensely about
the environment. As a child growing up on Long
Island Sound I was treated to the beautiful vistas
out across Manhasset Bay every day. That stirred
a love and concern for our land and waters that
has been a lifelong passion.
My understanding of environmental issues
has always been aided by my husband Stephen
and the many organizations with which I’ve been
involved. Stephen is an environmental lawyer. His
first job out of law school, was with the newlycreated New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection and Energy (as it was known in those
days). After the NJDEP he worked for the New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) in Albany. Back in those days
he was involved in writing the regulations that
support our environmental laws.
My formal foray into NJ environmental conservation began over twenty years ago as a trustee
with the 50 acre Tenafly Nature Center and then as
a trustee of the Flat Rock Brook Nature Center in
Englewood. Eventually this led to me becoming
a member of the Tenafly Environmental Commission in the early 2000s. As a member of the
Commission we worked towards state certification
to become a New Jersey Sustainable Community
and studied environmental issues related to NJ
Transit’s proposed light rail to Englewood and
Tenakill Brook, a C-1 waterway which flows into
the Oradell Reservoir.
I’ve been a member of the Citizens’ Advisory
Council (CAC) for the Palisades Interstate Park
(PIP), New Jersey section, for fifteen years. The
council helps oversee management of the elevenmile NJ portion of this bi-state park. Restoration of
Fort Lee Historic Site and greater awareness of the
Park’s importance in the American Revolution has
been a focus of the CAC efforts for many years.
On a national level I’m a member of the Garden Clubs of America (GCA) and have served for
many years on its National Conservation Committee and chaired that committee from 2005-2007.
I have traveled extensively around the country
studying both national and local conservation initiatives and issues that the GCA supported. Since
its founding 100 years ago, the GCA has had a
strong environmental record that supports clean
water initiatives. One GCA initiative was for its
members to be educated about their watersheds.
And it was watershed issues that eventually led
me to the Hackensack Riverkeeper.
I first met Captain Bill Sheehan in the late
1990s. At that time I wanted to involve the New
Jersey GCA in a campaign to stop the Meadowlands Mills mega mall and save the Empire Tract
in Carlstadt. One day I just called him out of the
blue and although I was a perfect stranger at the
time, Bill spent nearly an hour educating me about
the issue. By the time I hung up the phone, I was
tremendously impressed with his leadership and
dedication.
Much as I care deeply about the many serious
environmental issues everywhere, the Hackensack
River is home territory which makes it very special to me. Tremendous strides have been made in
cleaning up this once endangered river but it is a
long term process. Hackensack Riverkeeper is the
hard-fighting, tireless guardian of our river, our
Meadowlands and our watershed, and I am very
proud to be associated with such an extraordinary
organization.
I encourage you all to participate in the stewardship of our river in whatever capacity you can.
Susan Gordon is a graduate of
Wellesley College. She also did
post graduate work at the University of Munich and the Institute of Fine Arts (NYC). She
is a former art book editor for
McGraw Hill; and owner of an
antiques business specializing
in Japanese woodblock prints.
Susan has served on Hackensack Riverkeeper’s Board of
Trustees since 2002.
231 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601-7304 • 201-968-0808 • HackensackRiverkeeper.org
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Drawing
November 8, 2012
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Old Town Otter XT:
• 9’6” Long 28.5” Wide
• 39lb weight
• Max Capacity 275lb.
PFD and paddle included.
Thank you to our friends at
Ramsey Outdoor for donating
this handsome kayak!
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