TheTidal Exchange Newsletter of the New York ~ New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program

systems. Nevertheless, because of their Summer 2008, Issue No. 21 The Fate of useful physical and chemical properties, some heavy metals, including mercury, Heavy Metals lead, and cadmium, are intentionally added to certain consumer and industrial THIS ISSUE in Landfills products such as batteries, switches, ______circuit boards, and some pigments. Michael Aucott Many products containing heavy metals are disposed in municipal solid waste or his article summarizes the hazardous waste landfills. It is estimated HARBOR ESTUARY NEWS report “The Fate of Heavy that about 400 tons of mercury, 3000 TMetals in Landfills: A Review,” tons of cadmium, 14,000 tons of nickel, CONTENTS by Dr. Michael Aucott, which was 20,000 tons of copper, and nearly commissioned by the Harbor Project 100,000 tons each of chromium, lead, 1 of the New York Academy of Sciences and zinc are disposed in landfills each The Fate of (NYAS) to review the current knowledge year in the U.S. This adds to heavy on the fate of heavy metals in landfills, metals already residing in municipal Heavy Metals in Landfills both in the short- and the long-term. solid waste landfills. Recently, there has The full report describing the research been an increase in the use and disposal Michael Aucott findings may be downloaded from the of electronic devices such as cell phones, NYAS website: http://www.nyas.org/ mp3 players, and computers, raising 3 programs/harbor/06_LFmetals.pdf questions about the fate of these devices, and the metals they contain, in landfills. HEP Awards Grants for Introduction These products typically contain lead, 4 Stewardship Projects Many heavy metals are cadmium, mercury, arsenic, copper, problematic environmental pollutants, zinc and other heavy metals and rare 5 with well-known toxic effects on living (continued on page 2) How Do Landfills Work? 6 Summer Time: Enjoy and Protect the Estuary 7 Public Access Activities and Programs 8 Muskrat Ondatra zibethica Compiled by Claire Antonucci and Peter Rowe Active area of an operating landfill. 2 SUMMER 2008 THE TIDAL EXCHANGE

The Fate of Heavy Metals in Landfills When landfills have reached New York – New Jersey (from page 1) their capacity limits, they are “closed.” Harbor Estuary Program Closure typically includes installation earth metals. of a relatively impervious cover, Director The large quantities of heavy grading of the surface to facilitate Robert Nyman metals disposed in landfills emphasize water movement away from its surface, US EPA, Region II the importance of understanding their and monitoring of groundwater for 30 long-term fate. Will they remain trapped years. In many cases, landfills also have Gabriela Munoz in the landfills, or will they eventually a gas collection and venting system, Program Associate be released to the environment? which may include combustion of the New England Interstate Water landfill gas or pumping of the gas off- Pollution Control Commission Factors affecting the fate of site to be used as fuel. (NEIWPCC) metals in landfills. Metals in landfills can be found The Tidal Exchange – Summer 2008 Today’s landfills must include in many different forms, depending an impermeable layer (a liner) that on the characteristics of the product Editors separates the landfill and its contents that contains the metal and the landfill Gabriela Munoz, NEIWPCC from the soils and bedrock below, environment. Except for mercury— Jeff Myers, NYS DEC and a system to collect and treat any which is more volatile that the others— Kerry Kirk Pflugh, NJ DEP liquids that seep from the landfill if heavy metals escape from a landfill, (a leachate collection and removal Robert Nyman, EPA HEP Office they are likely to do so primarily in the system). Modern landfills typically aqueous form, via landfill leachate or The Tidal Exchange is a publication treat their leachate to remove metals, runoff that is not successfully captured of the New York – New Jersey bacteria, biological oxygen demand by the leachate collection system. Harbor Estuary Program (HEP), (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand It can be expected that situations in a partnership of federal, state (COD) before discharging to surface landfills that favor the formation of and local governments, scientists water, or they send the leachate to oxidized compounds would lead to and citizens working together to a publicly-owned treatment works some, perhaps significant, dissolution protect and restore the natural (POTW). resources of the estuary. The (continued on page 4) purpose of the newsletter is to promote an informative dialog on Map of the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary issues related to the Harbor Estuary Program. The HEP is sponsored by the States of New York and New Jersey and the US Environmental Protection Agency. The HEP Management Committee consists of representatives from the US EPA, NJ DEP, NYS DEC, NY and NJ local governments, US ACE, US DOI, NOAA, Port Authority of NY & NJ, Interstate Environmental Commission, NJ Harbor Dischargers Group, NYS DOS, Science & Technical Advisory Committee and Citizens Advisory Committee.

The Tidal Exchange is produced and printed by New York Sea Grant (NYSG) under a cooperative agreement with the US EPA (#CE982247-02). The viewpoints expressed here do not necessarily represent those of NYSG, US EPA or the HEP Management Committee, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products or causes constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. Operating and closed municipal solid waste landfills, including Superfund sites (other known or suspected contaminated sites are not indicated). NJ locations: from a NJ DEP database provided by John DeFina; may include illegal dumps as well as presumably improperly closed old landfills; Printed on 100% Post-consumer includes municipal, private and unknown owners. NY locations: permitted landfills from a NYS Recycled Paper Processed Chlorine-free DEC database provided by Gerard Wagner (does not include landfills closed prior to the 1970s). Some landfills were not depicted because location information was not available. THE TIDAL EXCHANGE SUMMER 2008 3 HEP Awards Grants for 4 Stewardship Projects EP has been a long-time supporter of stewardship efforts. From 1991 to 1994, and then from 2002 to 2007, HEP provided close to $280,000 through its Mini Grants and Stewardship Program to over 90 projects promoting citizen involvement Hin protecting and restoring the Estuary. This year, HEP, in partnership with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) has awarded a total of $90,000 to four stewardship projects summarized below. For more information on stewardship and past grants, please visit http://www.harborestuary.org/stewardship.htm v

Sebago Canoe Club: Brooklyn Center for the Increasing Public Access Urban Environment (CUE) and Accessibility to the and New Jersey Marine Sciences Brooklyn Waterfront Consortium (NJMSC): NY-NJ Harbor Education Program Sebago Canoe Club will improve paddlers’ access to Jamaica Bay at Paerdegat Basin Park. The The CUE and the NJMSC will take students out existing ramp is quite steep and narrow, hindering of the classroom and onto the Estuary for engaging, its use by persons with limited mobility or those hands-on learning. These two organizations had wishing to launch larger boats. Sebago Canoe Club previously collaborated to develop standards-based has designed and will build a larger dock and a wider, Harbor Estuary curriculum materials with HEP longer and less steep ramp facility to replace the support. This year, the partners will work together existing one, which is 40 years old and long past its again to develop new materials and deliver the useful life. This structure will enable safer wheelchair educational program to 275 students grades 4-8 from access while allowing launching more and larger boats underserved NJ and Brooklyn, NY public schools. and will complement the handicap-accessible catwalk The program includes a classroom session; a field that the group has already built to connect the street to session at Brooklyn Bridge Park Cove, Sandy Hook the dock. Sebago Canoe Club is an all-volunteer not- Bay, or Liberty State Park; and a tour of the Estuary for-profit organization that offers a variety of public aboard the NY Water Taxi. In addition, professional programs, including open paddles. Once the ramp is development sessions will be offered to teachers in an completed, they plan on offering programs for disabled effort to incorporate project materials into their own paddlers. v teaching. v

Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC): Preservation of NY-NJ Baykeeper: Shoreline Areas by High School Students NY Oyster Program CENYC will work with 325 students from NY-NJ Baykeeper will continue to work to two high schools (DeWitt Clinton H.S. and the High bring about the restoration of oyster reefs in the School for Environmental Studies) and one youth Harbor Estuary while raising awareness among the program (SOBRO in South Bronx) to implement population about this important species. Baykeeper stormwater management practices. Students will learn and its partners—the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club, about coastal waters surrounding NYC and how to New York Harbor School, and the River Project—will protect them (including stormwater issues) over the expand and carry out the New York Oyster Program. course of 7 weekly lessons. This educational program Components of this program include hands-on will conclude with a hands-on project: students will educational activities for K-12 and high school plant 750 trees along the Bronx River shoreline, in students delivered at the waterfront or at one of the Pelham Bay Park, Inwood Hill Park, and in the South existing 25 oyster garden sites; a lecture series on Bronx within the “million trees” area. They will also the ecology of oyster reefs, the history of oysters in remove invasive species and plant over 1,100 ground NYC, and the benefits of their restoration; an Oyster cover plants in Morningside Park and Riverside Park. Restoration Conference to advance restoration efforts Several organizations will collaborate in this effort by in the Estuary; an aquaculture experiment that will selecting the sites and supervising the work, including attempt to grow oysters from larvae in NY City the Bronx River Alliance, the Department of Parks and (currently, oysters are imported as juveniles from Long Recreation (DPR) Natural Resources Group, Friends Island); and a shoreline cleanup at a site relevant to of Riverside Park, and Morningside Park Gardening oyster restoration. v Office at DPR. v 4 SUMMER 2008 THE TIDAL EXCHANGE

The Fate of Heavy Metals in Landfills Metals in landfill leachate and above fractured rock or cavernous (from page 2) gaseous emissions limestone aquifer systems could be especially problematic. of some heavy metal-containing The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compiled A rough calculation using the compounds in leachate. However, the LEACH 2000 database can put in organic matter present in landfills is measurements of heavy metals in leachate from over 200 landfills in its perspective releases of metals from likely to have some capacity to adsorb landfills. U.S. emissions from landfill heavy metals and other cations. “LEACH 2000” database. These data show that landfill leachate are estimated to be about The landfill environment depends 40 to 200 metric tons per year for on the climate, drainage, and other leachate generally contains higher levels of heavy metals than allowed arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and characteristics. The environment also lead. These quantities appear relatively changes over the years as the waste by drinking water standards and groundwater maximum contaminant low compared to other sources. For decomposes. There are no measurements example, 2003 releases from U.S. that provide conclusive information on levels. Arsenic and cadmium stand out by exceeding these limits by facilities (from the U.S. EPA Toxic the long-term fate of metals in landfills Release Inventory or TRI) were roughly because data are available extending wide margins. This situation could be worsened by the likelihood that more 30 to 4000 times higher for the same back in time no more than about 60 compounds. However, it must be years. Thus, our knowledge is limited arsenic-containing material will be deposited in landfills in future years. noted that no information is available to experiments that try to mimic landfill on the species of these emissions. conditions and models that predict Many water suppliers will have to treat water (typically by filtering) to If, for example, a significant portion changes that are likely to occur over of a metal emitted to a water body decades or centuries in landfills and remove arsenic to keep levels below the federal drinking water standard from a landfill was methylated (e.g., what these changes might mean to the methyl mercury, an organic mercury fate and possible transport of metals. of 0.01 mg/L or the lower standard of 0.005 mg/L that is effective in compound, which is bioaccumulative As time passes and organic matter and more toxic than inorganic forms), decomposes, landfills may trap metals New Jersey. The arsenic contained in used filter media may be disposed of a relatively small emission could to a lesser degree or release previously nevertheless be important. bound metals. However, research in landfills. Also, data indicate that cadmium in municipal solid waste is Gaseous emissions from suggests that there are other substances landfills are typically composed of likely to be present in these later stages increasing, maybe because of increased disposal of nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) approximately 50% methane and 50% that would adsorb at least a portion of carbon dioxide, with trace quantities of the metals. rechargeable batteries in consumer electronic devices, such as cell other gases, such as hydrogen sulfide phones. Although the consumer and elemental mercury or mercury- electronics industry has made containing compounds. Mercury is some attempt to encourage the only heavy metal reported in recycling of these batteries, it gaseous emissions from landfills but appears that much more needs to measured levels have consistently been be done to keep Ni-Cd batteries low enough to suggest little cause for out of the waste stream. See the concern. To put it in perspective, it is report on pollution prevention estimated that about 15 kg of mercury and management strategies were emitted from all landfills in NJ in for cadmium by the New York the year 2000. This is a relatively small Academy of Sciences (www. portion of the total estimated statewide nyas.org/harbor). mercury emission to the air that year of These data demonstrate approximately 2000 kg. that leachate must be kept isolated from groundwater, Conclusions and must be treated to remove There are no first-hand data to high concentrations of metals definitively answer all questions about before it is discharged to surface the long-term behavior of heavy metals waters. Existing regulations, in landfills. Without such data, we cannot including requirements for dismiss the concern that at some point landfill containment systems as in the future, heavy metals currently discussed above, are designed stored in landfills might become soluble to ensure that untreated leachate and released to the environment. does not pollute surface or However, data from landfills that ground waters. If a landfill’s have been functioning as long as 60 containment system fails, it years have provided no evidence of increasing leachate concentrations of Landfill gas flare at Cumberland County, NJ Landfill. could threaten ground waters or Photo courtesy of Michael Aucott. surface waters. Landfills located metals over time. Modeling of long- THE TIDAL EXCHANGE SUMMER 2008 5 How do Landfills Work? Adapted from various sources, including U.S. EPA 2005 “The Quest for Less” and NYS DEC website (http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/23682.html) andfills are large areas or excavated sites designed to receive solid wastes. LMunicipal solid waste (MSW) landfills typically accept residential, institutional and commercial waste. They can accept some types of hazardous waste such as cleaning products and paint, and industrial wastes from certain businesses. Landfill leachate is the liquid that seeps to the bottom of the landfill. These liquids may already be present in the waste or may be the result of water (e.g., rain) entering in contact with the landfill contents. To prevent these liquids from contaminating the soil and groundwater, modern landfills must meet stringent design, operation, and closure requirements. Landfill contents are isolated from the surroundings by a series of layers. The bottom of the landfill consists of a layer of compacted clay, on which rests a special plastic liner. These two layers are referred to as a composite liner. On top of this liner sits the leachate collection system, a series of pipes within a layer of sand or gravel, Image courtesy of the National Solid Waste Management Association. designed to collect liquids seeping from the landfill and send them to a treatment plant before discharge to the environment. In New York, municipal solid waste landfills must have two composite liners and leachate collection systems, the bottom one acting as a backup for the first one. Landfills are divided into areas or disposal cells and only one of them receives waste at a time. Every day, the waste is compacted and covered with daily cover (soil or other solids such as ash, compost or sludge) to control insects and pests, fires, odors, blowing litter, and scavenging. Part of the waste in a landfill (putrescible waste) can be decomposed by microbes and this process contributes to changes in landfill conditions as microorganisms consume oxygen and generate acids, methane (a combustible gas that is the main component of natural gas), and other byproducts. Some wastes are not biodegradable but may be affected by these changes. For example, metals will corrode and dissolve more easily in an acidic environment. Microbial degradation generates methane, carbon dioxide, and other gases. These gases, along with small amounts of volatile compounds (including many pollutants) present in the waste, constitute landfill gas. Landfill gas is often flared (burned) to avoid spontaneous combustion or explosions. Alternatively it can be collected and purified to pipeline-quality gas, or collected and combusted for energy generation. Once a landfill is full, a permanent cover is installed, consisting of several protective layers: sand or gravel (pipes are installed in this layer to collect the landfill gas), clay, soil, and vegetated topsoil. The landfill cap is shaped to facilitate water moving away from the surface. Closed landfills are often reused as parks, golf courses, and other recreational areas. Landfill mining or reclamation is a relatively new process whereby old landfills are excavated to recover useful materials, especially metals, while gaining new capacity for waste disposal. v term behavior of landfills has so far sequestered in landfills in the long- that is sent not only to landfills but also suggested that landfills will not change term. Primarily, space for landfills is to incinerators and Waste-to-Energy over the long-term enough to release limited, and the costs of building new Facilities. v significant amounts of their stores of ones are high. Furthermore, from Michael Aucott is Research heavy metals. More comprehensive the perspective of total management Scientist at the NJ Department of modeling and data from actual landfills of the waste stream, it is important Environmental Protection. He has as they age is necessary to confirm to adopt certain waste management developed inventories of mercury these conclusions. practices (for example waste emissions and has helped examine ways Finally, it should be noted that minimization, reuse, recycling, and to minimize mercury releases to the there are many reasons to reduce the material separation and recovery). environment. He is currently researching amount of waste (including metal- These practices can minimize waste emissions of greenhouse gases in NJ, containing materials) sent to landfills of increasingly valuable resources, potential impacts of climate change, and even if heavy metals were indeed and can divert the amount of material emission reduction strategies. 6 SUMMER 2008 THE TIDAL EXCHANGE Summer Time: Enjoy and Protect the Estuary ummer is here! It’s the season for fishing, boating, going to the Sbeach and enjoying the many opportunities the Estuary offers us. It’s also the perfect time to remember that you can do your part to protect or improve this wonderful resource and help ensure that we will continue to be able to enjoy it into the future. Here are some easy ways you can give something back to the Estuary: At the Beach: • Dispose of your garbage properly Use available trash receptacles or Cartoon by Jeff Parker, Florida Today. take it back home. Besides aesthetics, NY side of Hudson River between in large quantities it can cause algal garbage attracts scavengers that eat Battery Park and the Troy Dam blooms, which may decrease oxygen the eggs and chicks of nesting birds. and Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers levels in the water to the point of When litter washes out to the water, in NJ. killing fish and other organisms. it poses a lethal threat (especially plastics and fishing line) to marine • Never dump motor oil or any • Properly dispose of old paint and wildlife and birds. engine fluids to the water shavings Recycle used motor oil at the marina When scraping or sanding your • Avoid nesting areas or take it to a service station that boat, collect the old paint and Many beaches are home to migratory sells and changes motor oil—most shavings and dispose on shore as shore birds. Avoid these areas during of them are required to accept 5 to hazardous waste. the brief periods when the birds are 10 gallons free of charge. Motor nesting or feeding. oil pollutes the water and sticks to Resources • Scoop the poop wildlife. Used motor oil contains NY-NJ HEP (www.harborestuary. Pet waste contains pathogen microbes numerous toxic compounds. Oil org/stewardship-boatingfishing. and may contribute to beach closings. from one oil change can contaminate htm): resources include fishing Its nutrients also degrade water millions of gallons of water. regulations, fish advisories, and quality. So always (no matter the much more. • Maintain your boat to minimize location) clean up after your pet and Going Coastal (www. oil spills. flush it or trash it. goingcoastal.org/) offers lots Maintaining your boat, car and of information, from pumpout other equipment can also help keep When Going Fishing: locations to kayak access points. pollutants out of the Estuary. • Never leave fishing line at the beach NY Academy of Sciences (www.nyas. or in the water • Slow down org/harbor; click on “Community It may entangle and kill wildlife. It Treat vegetated shallows, marshes, Outreach”): Information on can even pose a hazard to swimmers, and mudflats as no wake zones. This oil and household hazardous and damage boat motors. Cut the line helps preserve native plants and waste recycling wildlife habitat. Also be mindful of into pieces and dispose of it in trash NYC Dept. of Parks & Recreation: bins, or better yet, recycle it. Some other areas marked as “no wake”— it’s the law! Many resources, including marinas and popular fishing spots are no wake areas in NY www. setting up recycling bins. • Do not pick up plant and animal nycgovparks.org/sub_things_ hitchhikers to_do/facilities/marinas/html/ When on your Boat: Reduce the spread of invasive species, marinas.html • Never throw any waste from such as zebra mussels and water Fishing line recycling in NJ: the vessel chestnuts, by inspecting and hosing www.nj.gov/dep/njcleanmarina/ You already know how it can affect down your boat’s hull and draining fishing_line_recycling.html wildlife, swimmers and boat motors… all bilge water before moving to and it’s illegal! new waterways. No internet access? Give us a call at 212-637-3793 and we’ll • Do not discharge raw sewage • Use phosphate-free detergent when help you locate what you’re Use pumpout stations. This is cleaning your boat looking for! v enforced in “No Discharge Zones”: Phosphate is an essential nutrient but THE TIDAL EXCHANGE SUMMER 2008 7

Riverside Park, the Public Access Bronx (rowing, fishing). 718-466-5799 Activities and Five dates to be announced, Hoboken Programs C ove C o m mu n i t y Boathouse—Free he NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Kayaking Days at Program has awarded a total of the Hudson River in T$11,400 to support community- Hoboken, NJ (kayaking). based water activities and programs 201-963-6293 by local groups throughout 2007 and 2008. These funds, administered by Past events: the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, June 28, 2008, have made possible many exciting Rockaway Waterfront events starting last summer, helping Kayaking in Sinatra Park in Hoboken, NJ. Image Courtesy of Alliance—Blue Carter Craft, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance. advance HEP’s Public Access Work Canoe Day (another Plan. Bay in NJ (seining, fish printing, event was held on Sept 26, 2007) at nature walk) Upcoming events in Bayswater Park, Beach 35th Street, Far Rockaway. May 10, 2008, Lower Passaic & Summer 2008: Saddle River Alliance—4th Annual Memorial Day to Labor Day, Wed. June 7, 2008, New York Rowing Passaic River Paddle Relay at the evenings & Sat. mornings, Sebago Association—Learn to Row and Lower Passaic in NJ (canoe relay, Canoe Club—2008 Open Paddle Love the River at Swindler Cove kayak race, waterfront festival) Program at Jamaica Bay, Brooklyn Park in Manhattan (sculling, fishing, (kayaking). For more information, nature tour) September 29, 2007, Alley please call 718-241-3683 Pond Environmental Center— May 18, 2008, New Jersey Little Neck Bay Festival at Little July 12 (also two events were Marine Sciences Consortium— Neck Bay, Queens (canoe & kayak held in 2007), Jersey City Reservoir Ocean Fun Day at Sandy Hook, NJ rides, narrated boat ride, seining) Preservation Alliance—Kayak the (seining, water quality testing, benthic Reservoir! in Jersey City, NJ (kayaking, & plankton sampling, touch tanks, September 29, 2007, Brooklyn fishing, nature tour). 201-656-5235 research vessel tours, beach clean-up, Community Board 7—9th Annual fishing) Waterfront Festival at 58th St Pier, Saturdays between July 12 and East River (multicultural festival, 26 (several events were held in 2007), May 17, 2008, Bayshore canoe & ferry rides) Rocking the Boat—Community Regional Watershed Council— Rowing Program at Hunts Point Spend a Day in May Along Raritan September 22, 2007, Harlem River Boat Club—Learn-to-Row Day at Sherman Creek, Harlem River, and Hudson River in Manhattan (learning to row on training barge) September 29, 2007, New York Restoration Project—2007 Harlem River Festival and Peter Jay Sharp Head of the Harlem Regatta at the Harlem River and Sherman Creek in Manhattan (seining, water quality testing, dip-netting, oyster gardening, watching rowing) October 20, 2007, Place in History—A Tree for Anable Basin, Launch Celebration at Anable Basin, Long Island City, Queens (kayaking, installation of sculpture, presentations on wildlife, collection of oral histories) September 30, 2007, South Street Seaport Museum—Estuary Access Day in Upper NY Bay/ East River/ Bay Ridge Channel (tour of east river on tug, touch tanks) v Locations of public access events partially funded by HEP. 8 SUMMER 2008 THE TIDAL EXCHANGE Muskrat Ondatra zibethica This article is part of a series of species profiles commissioned by HEP and compiled by Claire Antonucci and Peter Rowe (New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium). Although the number of muskrats living in the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary has been in steady decline overall for decades, the feeding and building activities of these mammals still play an important part in maintaining the Estuary’s Photo courtesy of AlanD. Wilson, wetland ecosystems by influencing plant growth, soil quality, animal habitats www.naturespicsonline.com and small-scale topography. People often look upon these animals as pests with their burrowing and building activities that can damage creek banks and other shoreline structures, but muskrat burrows or lodges help make wetland areas attractive nesting, resting, and feeding areas for other animals including turtles, terns and other waterfowl, snakes, fish, amphibians, birds, and other rodents. Muskrats are also predators, keeping the Estuary’s local food webs in balance. Known by some as “poor man’s mink,” muskrat can be harvested for its pelt. Historically, muskrats were trapped in the Estuary’s wetland areas including the New Jersey Meadowlands, where their numbers have improved somewhat in recent years, likely due to the abandonment of trapping in this highly-developed area. The muskrat is a stout, semi-aquatic rodent. Full grown, they weigh between 2 and 4 pounds with a body length of 18 to 25 inches and a tail length of 8 to 11 inches. The muskrat’s grayish-brown coat is practically waterproof. Its dense undercoat is covered by long, brown guard hairs that protect the soft undercoat from wear. Its strong tail is nearly hairless, somewhat flat along the sides, and covered in scales. Muskrats are named for their musk gland, located under their tails. Secretions from this gland warn other muskrats to keep away, signaling a particular territory as “taken.” This cuts down on competition for food and mates, aiding in the muskrat’s overall survival. With webbed hind feet acting as paddles and a long tail serving as a rudder, muskrats are good swimmers, capable of moving at up to 3 miles per hour and even swimming backwards. Their nostrils, shaped like the number seven, allow the muskrat to inhale remaining oxygen from their previously exhaled breath. This adaptation enables the muskrat to swim underwater for up to 15 minutes. Living in or near water for most of their lives, muskrats excavate their homes or lodges in the banks of the Estuary’s slower moving creeks and streams using their sharp front claws. Most active at dusk, dawn and during the night, muskrats feed on vegetation including cattails and other aquatic plants but will also eat mussels, frogs and small turtles. They are eaten by foxes, coyotes and large owls. The muskrat is an adaptable creature that can do well close to people. It can tolerate poor water quality, and, where wetland habitat has been eliminated, can make its home in newly constructed canals or irrigation channels. These abilities have enabled the muskrat to survive and claim a niche for itself in the altered environments of the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary. v

New York - New Jersey Would you like to change your Harbor Estuary Program First-Class Mail address or add someone to Postage & Fees Paid our mailing list? 290 Broadway, 24th Floor EPA New York, New York 10007 Permit No. G-35 Provide changes or additions be- low, cut out or copy this section (include mailing label to the right so we can find you in our records) and mail to the Harbor Estuary Program Office, 290 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY, 10007. ______www.harborestuary.org