Spring 2008, Volume XI, Issue 2

Hackensack Riverkeeper® is the leading environmental organization working on Hackensack River issues. Riverkeeper, Baykeeper Settle Railroad Lawsuit A Second Chance? Agreement caps two years of litigation, protects environment Hopefully the LAST EnCap piece By Hugh M. Carola you’ll ever read in Tidelines On February 28, Hackensack In the early Twentieth Century Riverkeeper, NY/NJ Baykeeper the towns surrounding the estuary and the New York, Susquehanna of the Hackensack River (a.k.a. the and Western Railway Corporation Meadowlands) declared war on the (NYS&W) announced a settlement environment and began dumping of federal litigation regarding the garbage in it. Over the years, thou- railroad’s solid waste transload sands of acres of marshes and Since 2006, NYS&W has cleaned up facilities in North Bergen, NJ. operations at its North Bergen facilities. waterways were buried under what Originally conducted at five would eventually become moun- locations in the town, waste materi- by Richard Webster, legal director Continued on Page 7 als (primarily construction debris of the Newark-based Eastern and contaminated soils from envi- Environmental Law Center Avon Landfill ronmental cleanups) are loaded into (EELC). When we first brought Lyndhurst, NJ 2004 railcars for shipment to out-of-state suit in 2006, we sought to shut the disposal sites. facilities down and stop NYS&W As with several previous cases, Continued on Page 23 our organizations were represented

Captain Bill Receives EPA Save The Dates!!! Environmental Quality Award Hackensack Riverkeeper US Environmental Protection Agency recognizes Comedy Night Riverkeeper for cleanups, conservation July 17, 2008 By Hugh M. Carola 5th Annual NJ Meadowlands On April 25, Captain Bill Sheehan and Festival of Birding Hackensack Riverkeeper were honored by the September 13 & 14, 2008 United States Environmental Protection Agency for 9th Annual Hackensack our organization’s work on “clean water issues for Riverkeeper Awards the Hackensack River, the Newark Bay Complex Celebration and and their watersheds for over ten years.” The agency Sustainable SeafoodFest also recognized Hackensack Riverkeeper as “the October 16, 2008 Continued on Page 22 See Inside For Details

INSIDE: Real Science for Real People 10 Birds of the Hackensack 11 Waterfront Walkways 3 Watershed Field Notes 13 2008 Program Schedule 4-5 Ambassador Update 14 Charter Fishing on the Hacky? 6 Edward Abbey Motor Stolen 15 Nature Program Cooperative 9 Volunteer Corner 20-21 Page 2 Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 At the helm

231 Main Street Hackensack, NJ 07601-7304 A word from Phone: (201) 968-0808 Captain Bill Fax: (201) 968-0336 Hotline: 1-877-CPT-BILL [email protected] Harris Does it Again! www.hackensackriverkeeper.org

I am still saddened and angered activism also forces towns to add Board of Trustees by the foolish and dangerous deci- millions of dollars in municipal Margaret Utzinger, President sion handed down on May 1 by services to their budgets – some- Ivan Kossak, CPA, Vice President J. Michael Parish, Treasurer Bergen County Superior Court thing that is unconscionable in Susan Gordon, Secretary Judge Jonathan Harris regarding difficult economic times. Trustees the Paramus Wetlands. Citing a As we all know, the people of Virginia Korteweg technicality, he ruled that the Bergen County have voted to pre- Kelly G. Palazzi 35-acre site – located along Soldier serve open space – usually by very Ellie Spray Hill Brook in Paramus – was not wide margins – time and time Nancy Wysocki protected by a 20-year old Planning again. They do so not to prevent Honorary Trustees Board decision that specifically affordable housing, nor to stop Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. stated that it was. The Judge did economic growth, nor to shut William “Pat” Schuber not take the board’s original intent anyone out of the American Dream Executive Director into consideration; only the way in but simply to make their towns and Captain Bill Sheehan, Hackensack Riverkeeper which it was recorded. Yes, there county better places to live. he goes … AGAIN! Perhaps that news hasn’t yet pene- HRI Staff Hugh Carola, Program Director It is common knowledge within trated the thick limestone walls of Lisa Ryan, Operations Director the conservation community that the County Courthouse. Either that Diane Saccoccia, Development Director Judge Harris is “a developer’s best or Judge Harris simply doesn’t Nick Vos-Wein, Project Manager friend.” As far as I can tell, he has care. never ruled in favor of the environ- Judges are appointed and not Matthew Manthey, Watershed Ambassador ment. His apparent mission seems elected here in New Jersey. Under to be to give land speculators and our system it is nearly impossible Nick Vos-Wein, Tidelines Editor sprawlmongers the freedom to lay to remove a jurist from the bench Lisa Ryan, Webmaster waste to the open spaces, water even when his decisions always resources and the miniscule amount conflict with the public interest. I We gladly accept submissions of articles, photography and advertise- of woodlands left in the county. He urge the Paramus Borough Council ments from the community; however, takes every opportunity and every to appeal this travesty. Judge Harris we retain editorial discretion. We do not necessarily endorse any individual tool at his disposal to help fire up has been overturned on appeal or company whose advertisements are the bulldozers. before, but all too often the battle- found in these pages. Over the years Harris’ decisions weary towns he has victimized are Hackensack Tidelines have cost the citizens of Bergen so battered by the assault that they is published quarterly County millions of dollars – much simply give up. Based on that sorry on recycled paper. of it spent by municipalities trying track record, you can bet that the Riverkeeper is a registered trademark and serv- to defend their dwindling natural speculators who want to destroy ice mark of Riverkeeper, Inc. and is licensed for resources and quality of life. The the Paramus Wetlands expect use herein. Waterkeeper is a registered trademark and serv- sprawl that results from Harris’ ice mark of Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc. and is anti-environmental judicial Continued on Page 22 licensed for use herein. Hackensack Tidelines - Winter 2008 Page 3 Where We Stand: Waterfront Walkways By Capt. Bill Sheehan sight of the public eye. The average Jersey. The parochial interests of Some newly proposed riverfront person didn’t know how bad the homeowners’ associations, condo walkways as well as the continuing situation had become until the management and other property construction of others have raised 1960s and 70s. In 1972 Congress owners are set aside by the PTD. fears among some area residents finally acted and passed the Clean Waterfront property owners are that such walkways could lead to Water Act. Subsequent state laws now required to provide public crime, flooding and environmental passed in New Jersey were even access to the waterways of New degradation in their neighborhoods. more stringent. Jersey. These concerns have prompted The irony is that the waters of Opening up waterfronts to public some to ask Hackensack the state have belonged to all access enlists people in stewardship Riverkeeper what our position is on people since Colonial times. New of the waterway where the pro- public walkways, often assuming Jersey law is based upon English posed walkway would be. Walkers, that that we oppose them because Common Law, which holds that runners, bikers, birders, and of their proximity to the water. On rivers and bays are the property of stroller-pushing parents all have a the contrary, public access to the people, and that the government common interest in maintaining waterways is a vital component of is a trustee obligated to protect Class A access – a place that is our mission, and we believe public these waterways for the common clean, welcoming, well-maintained walkways will improve the public good. Also known as the Public and safe – criteria that will help perception of the river, and ulti- Trust Doctrine (PTD), it holds that work against dumping and pollu- mately its health and that of its no person should be able to exploit tion. inhabitants. a commonly held resource like the The success of Saddle River For hundreds of years, the gen- Hackensack River to the detriment County Park, which has a continu- eral public was denied access to of any other person’s right to enjoy ous walkway stretching across waterways by industry, private the resource. town borders from Ridgewood to property owners and others who New Jersey’s Waterkeepers have Saddle Brook, is well documented. put up No Trespassing signs, built defended the PTD all the way to Those towns have seen no marked fences and even hired security the state Supreme Court, which increase in any type of crime, no forces to prevent them from getting ruled in the Hudson River walkway increase in flooding, and wildlife to the water. Subsequently, water- case that the PTD prevails, and that abounds along the park’s walkway. ways became fouled as all sorts of the waterways of New Jersey Continued on Page 6 waste was discharged out of the belong to all the citizens of New

Spotlight on New Milford: Fear of Flooding During a public meeting in New Milford last month, many citizens spoke out against a public walkway, making the erroneous claim that it would exacerbate flooding in their neighborhoods. We understand the consequences that people endure when the Hackensack River overflows its banks, but it would be irresponsible of us not to point out that living close to a river is inherently dangerous. A pervious walkway would have a negligible impact in a situation where floodwaters sometimes move houses off their foundations, as homeowners testified.

The Hackensack River has been flowing through this area for thousands of years and will continue to do so for millennia to come. When Europeans first settled in Bergen County, they were wise enough to build their homesteads on high ground, at elevations that proved to be safe from the occasional flooding that occurred. As a matter of fact, farmers actually looked forward to the floods because fresh layers of silt would be deposited on their fields as a result. It was only in the later part of the 20th Century that developers began constructing homes, and in some cases businesses, at elevations so low as to place people in harm’s way.

The Hackensack River is a tidal waterway and whenever there is a coastal storm, the tide rises unusually high. This, coupled with the enormous amount of stormwater running off of our developed communities, causes the river to exceed the capacity of its banks. The imminent danger posed by global warming indicates that these tides will become less predictable and future floods will become more regular and more dangerous. Deciding to move from homes that were inappropriately built in harm’s way may not be economically enticing, but may well be a matter of survival. Hackensack Riverkeeper commends the administration of New Milford for its foresight in acquiring several parcels of land along the river to prevent future development there. The borough needs to take this kind of proactive approach to protect the health and safety of its citizens. Page 4 Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 2008 Program Schedule

OPEN ECO-CRUISES: GUIDED PADDLES: The ORIGINAL Hackensack River boat tour! From Want to experience a heron’s eye view of our May through October, we conduct Open Eco-Cruises watershed? Join us in a canoe or kayak on one of our aboard the Keeper vessels Edward Abbey and Robert popular Guided Paddles. Most trips involve exploring H. Boyle. Departing from the docks at Laurel Hill the Sawmill Creek and Kingsland Marshes over a two County Park in Secaucus, NJ, Captains Bill Sheehan hour period. Birding trips can take up to three hours and Hugh Carola will take you on a fully-narrated, 2½ and extended trips require a commitment of about five hour tour of the Hackensack River and the marshes of hours to complete. Costs: $30 per paddler and $15 per the Meadowlands. Seats aboard our 28-foot pontoon canoe passenger. High tide trips are usually best for cruisers are available for a donation of $25 each for sightseeing while low tide trips are better for wildlife- adults and $10 each for children under 13 years of watching. As with our Eco-Cruises, reservations age. Reservations secured with a credit card are secured with a credit card are required. Age restric- required. Eco-Cruises are not recommended for chil- tions apply; call Hugh at 201-968-0808 for more dren under 4. To reserve your seats, call Capt. Hugh at information or to reserve your boat. 201-968-0808. GUIDED PADDLE SCHEDULE

Sat, 6/21 9:30 AM / High Tide Sat, 6/28 9 AM / Low Tide Sat, 6/28 3 PM / High Tide Sun, 6/29 10 AM / Low Tide Sun, 7/6 10:30 AM / High Tide Sun, 7/6 3 PM / Low Tide Sat, 7/12 9:30 AM / Low Tide Sat, 7/26 2 PM / High Tide OPEN ECO-CRUISE SCHEDULE Sun, 7/27 9 AM / Low Tide Sun, 7/27 3 PM / High Tide Tue, 6/17 6 PM Sat, 8/9 6 PM Sat, 8/9 5 PM / High Tide / Sunset trip* (new for 2008!) Sat, 6/21 6 PM Sat, 8/16 5 PM Sun, 8/10 9 AM / Low Tide Wed, 6/25 6 PM Sat, 8/23 5 PM Sat, 8/16 1:30 PM / Low Tide Fri, 6/27 6 PM Sun, 8/24 3 PM Sun, 8/31 1 PM / Low Tide / Birding trip Sat, 7/5 6 PM Sat, 8/30 5 PM Sat, 9/6 11 AM / High Tide / Extended upriver trip Tue, 7/8 6 PM Sun, 8/31 3 PM Sat, 9/27 10:30 AM / Low Tide / Birding trip Thu, 7/10 6 PM Sat, 9/6 5 PM Sun, 9/28 1 PM / High Tide Mon, 7/14 6 PM Sun, 9/7 3 PM Wed, 7/16 6 PM Sat, 9/20 3 PM Wed, 7/23 6 PM Sun, 9/21 3 PM Fri, 7/25 6 PM Sat, 9/27 Noon Wed, 7/30 6 PM Sun, 9/28 Noon Mon, 8/4 6 PM Sat, 10/4 Noon PLEASE NOTE: Private Group Tours can be Thu, 8/7 6 PM Sun, 10/5 Noon arranged for $200-$300 depending upon the number of participants involved. For more information or to PLEASE NOTE: The trips listed above are open to arrange a group outing, call Project Manager Nick individuals, couples, families, etc. ONLY. They are Vos-Wein at 201-968-0808. In addition to scheduled NOT available for schools, Scouts, clubs or any other and group activities, the Paddling Center will be open large group. For them, Group Charter Eco-Cruises on weekends for Canoe and Kayak Rentals from can be arranged anytime (and around the group’s now through Sunday, October 26 (as well as July 4th & schedule) from now through October for donations of Labor Day) weather permitting. Reservations are not $300 (adults) and $250 (youth). Combo Programs for required for rentals but it’s a good idea to call the school groups of up to thirty students can also be Center at 201-920-4746 to check on weather condi- arranged. Call Hugh for more details. tions and vessel availability. Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 Page 5

RIVER CLEANUPS: BIRD-WALKS: These popular activities offer you the opportunity Join us for guided birding trips at nearby hot spots. to give back to your community and the environment This year we are concentrating on our two most popu- by doing some “watershed housekeeping” along the lar destinations: the Celery Farm Natural Area in Hackensack River and its tributaries. We provide the Allendale and the Hawk Watch at State Line Lookout tools, gloves, trash bags and refreshments (including atop the Palisades. The Celery Farm features a well- meals!); all you have to bring is yourself and clothes groomed one-mile loop trail with numerous vantage you don’t mind getting dirty in. Most cleanups involve points and LOTS of birds in any season. The Hawk working from shore as well as from canoes (except Watch features breathtaking views and the opportunity where noted*). There’s no cost involved nor registra- to observe hundreds of migrating hawks, falcons and tion required; just look for the white tent and our eagles. Either trip is sure to be “birdful” so don’t forget Mobile Cleanup Unit, check in with Operations to bring your binoculars! Costs for Bird-Walks have Director Lisa Ryan and get to work. Groups are wel- stayed the same – $10 for adults and $5 for kids under come with adequate supervision and group leaders are 13 – but space is limited, so please don’t delay. Call asked to register with Lisa in advance at 201-968- Hugh at 201-968-0808 to book your reservation today. 0808 to ensure we have adequate supplies on hand. BIRD-WALK SCHEDULE

Sat, 9/6 9 AM for a Hawk Watch at the State Line Lookout in Alpine, NJ Sat, 9/20 9 AM for a Hawk Watch at the State Line Lookout in Alpine, NJ RIVER CLEANUP SCHEDULE Sat, 10/18 10 AM at the Celery Farm Natural Area in Allendale, NJ Sat, 6/21 Noon-4 PM, Laurel Hill County Park, Secaucus, NJ PLEASE NOTE: Group Bird-Walks are available for Sun, 7/13 10 AM-2 PM, Oradell Reservoir, nature clubs, school groups, Scouts and others for a Harrington Park, NJ $150 donation to Hackensack Riverkeeper. Call Hugh Sun, 8/17 9 AM-2 PM, Mill Creek Marsh Trail, for more information including the complete list of Secaucus, NJ available birding venues. Sun, 9/7 10 AM-2 PM, Overpeck County Park, Leonia, NJ Sat, 10/4 Noon-4 PM, Foschini Park, Hackensack, NJ

PLEASE NOTE: If you’re looking for a corporate or organizational team-building activity that’s fun, mean- ingful and has lasting effect, a sponsored River Cleanup may be just the thing. To find out how you can participate in Hackensack Riverkeeper’s Corporate River Stewardship Program, give Lisa a call or e-mail her at [email protected].

AND THAT’S NOT ALL... There is a fifth way to explore the Hackensack • A Virtual Tour of the Hackensack River Watershed – River and one that can never be cancelled because of a slideshow and visual feast that includes some ter- bad weather. Captains Bill Sheehan and Hugh Carola rific scenic and wildlife photography. can bring the watershed to you through a presentation • A private screening of Turning the Tide – New Jersey to your club or organization. We can present a Network’s acclaimed documentary featuring the PowerPoint slideshow or video presentation with ques- Hackensack Meadowlands & Capt. Bill. tions and answers for just $150 if presented within the We will always work around your schedule and we’ll Rockland/ Bergen/Hudson/Passaic area. Other options be sure to bring plenty of literature to share with are also available. There are a number of topics we can everyone. For more info or to book a speaking engage- cover but by far our most popular presentations are: ment, call 201-968-0808 and ask for Hugh. Page 6 Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008

Waterfront Walkways Spotlight on Westwood: Continued from Page 3 Making it Accessible Hackensack Riverkeeper believes that a public walkway Bergen County manages Pascack Brook County along the Hackensack River can be done in an ecologically Park in Westwood. A short distance away, the sensitive manner: town of Westwood has invested millions of dol- lars reclaiming the former town garbage dump for * Recycled materials can and should be used to create a pervi- use as parkland. This park, Westvale Park, is in ous walkway the process of being completed, and its two exist- * The most sensitive habitat areas should be avoided ing ball fields and walking path are already well- used. A proposal has been made to connect * Any vegetation removed or disturbed should be replaced these two public open spaces via a walking path with an equal or greater that would follow an informal dirt trail through a amount of native plantings wooded area along the Pascack Brook. * Solar powered, motion acti- Unfortunately, the trail is difficult for emergency vated lights that are directed personnel to access as was demonstrated by a only onto the pathway recent case of a bonfire in those woods that jeop- ardized many acres. Fortunately, the Westwood should be used Fire Department was able to put the fire out. * All planning must have appropriate oversight by the We believe that this streamside walkway would contribute to the safety of the people using that NJDEP. Pavers path, and would make this natural area accessi- ble to people who can not presently enjoy it, such Riverfront walkways, along as those with wheelchairs or strollers. By linking with the efforts of hundreds of the two parks, over 100 acres of parkland will be volunteers who unselfishly connected and this greenway can be used as give of their time to help safe conduit for those wishing to traverse the Hackensack Riverkeeper town without having to get into an automobile. We applaud the approach being taken by clean up this river, ensure that Westwood’s Mayor and Council to formalize our river will continue to these open spaces and make them accessible recover and will be protected, and inviting for residents to enjoy and take pride preserved and restored for Recycled Plastic in. Hackensack Riverkeeper stands ready to future generations to enjoy. assist the town of Westwood in completing this project and we look forward to walking the trail!

Paying to Fish … in the Hackensack? New guide service a sure sign of the river’s continuing recovery By Hugh M. Carola of that hot, southern-style bass not to tell anyone just how good Last August, Captain Bill boat) reports that his striper busi- the fishery is. But tell we must Sheehan saw something he never ness is booming and that he does- because that’s our job. thought he’d ever see on the banks n’t have to travel far to find either “The fisherman in me under- of the Hackensack. He watched trophy-sized bass or large schools stands but the Riverkeeper in me two men pull a sleek, Skeeter- of smaller – and legal – fish for his has to spread the news,” says Capt. brand bass boat out of the water at clients. Often they simply motor Bill. “So to the fisherman I say: Laurel Hill Park and money down to the Bayonne Flats in just keep fishing!” change hands. Newark Bay, the Oyster Flats In addition to his successful Recalled Capt. Bill, “I watched south of Liberty Island or any one striper runs, Angrick also runs for about five seconds, then it of several tributaries of the guided trips for Largemouth and dawned on me: I had just wit- Hackensack River. Smallmouth Bass on north Jersey nessed a fishing guide being paid We at Hackensack Riverkeeper reservoirs, lakes and rivers. For for taking someone fishing on the have known for quite a while that more information or to book a trip, Hackensack River.” the Hackensack River hosts a very call Jay at 973-764-7520. Jay Angrick, proprietor of Good productive Striped Bass fishery; in Time Guide Service (and the owner fact many anglers have asked us Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 Page 7

EnCap municipalities – were shut down. North Arlington, Secaucus, and Unfortunately, and to this day, the Kearny are still uncapped and Continued from Page 1 pollution caused by the open dump- leachate continues to flow into the tains of trash. In those days, the ing era has never been controlled Hackensack River with every rain. technology of modern landfill oper- because when the dumps were In 1998 many of us in the ation didn’t exist and no environ- closed nothing was done to deal Meadowlands began studying a mental controls were in place. It with their poisonous legacy – noth- proposal by EnCap Golf LLC – a wasn’t until 1976 when Congress ing except a thin layer of dirt. subsidiary of Cherokee Northeast. passed the Resource Conservation Pollution (a.k.a. leachate) continues For the first time ever, we heard and Recovery Act (RCRA) that any to ooze out of the dumpsites and people say that they would assume mitigation or damage control was into the Hackensack River and its full responsibility for capping the begun. Meadowlands tributaries. dumps in Rutherford and Until then, no one monitored the Another unfortunate and ques- Lyndhurst. On its face this sounded quantity or composition of refuse tionable action occurred when the like a straightforward plan to reme- being dumped; nor was there any state declared the dumps to be diate the dumps and turn them into understanding of what is under- “orphan landfills,” thus insulating golf courses and other green recre- stood today as hazardous material. those responsible from prosecution. ational space. For decades, anything and every- That led to thirty plus years of Tidelines readers should recall thing was discarded including tons unrelenting. Because of the what followed: Hackensack of lead- and oil-based paint, waste Riverkeeper tacitly agreed with the containing heavy metals and petro- plan. We advised EnCap to imple- leum-based solvents, automotive ment Best Management Practices wastes, construction debris and (BMPs), use treated wastewater for household trash. In addition, indus- irrigation, minimize the use of pes- trial-strength cleaning products, dis- ticides and plant native species in carded tires, broken machinery, and the out-of-play/buffer areas. We millions of gallons of toxic liquid also suggested creating a conserva- waste were mixed with the garbage tion easement to guarantee that the being dumped in the estuary by The former dumps of the Meadowlands green spaces would remain forever should be taken off the table for rede- trucks from all over the velopment and be allowed to become green. Metropolitan area. green open space. We understood there would be In the early 1970s the state of some brick and mortar development New Jersey empowered the fledg- “orphan” designation, the responsi- but the company assured us that ling Hackensack Meadowlands ble parties (haulers, operators and would be kept to a minimum and Development Commission (HMDC owners past & present) cannot be be oriented to compliment the golf – now the NJ Meadowlands sued in federal court. Without liti- courses. They further promised that Commission) to deal with the out of gation, they can’t be forced to pay the development would adhere to control dumping that was destroy- for the engineering needed to pro- LEED standards and become a truly ing the Meadowlands and harming tect the environment and public sustainable addition to the the quality of life for many people health from the imminent endanger- Meadowlands. Wouldn’t that have in neighboring communities. The ment posed by uncapped dumps. been nice? HMDC aggressively went after the In other parts of New Jersey That was then this is now. fly-by-night haulers and shut down some towns have stepped up and To paraphrase an old saying: If their illegal operations – sometimes owned up to their environmental you let a camel stick its nose under in the face of death threats. Police responsibilities. In central Bergen your tent, it’s only a matter of time escorts were sometimes needed to County, Westwood and Hillsdale until the whole unwieldy beast is ensure the safety of state inspectors closed and capped their former inside the tent with you. After years who had been threatened with bodi- town dumps and installed technolo- of broken promises, missed dead- ly harm by gun-toting “landfill gies that transformed those waste- lines and an 11th hour attempt by employees.” lands into parks. Donald Trump to take over and Eventually all dumping was So, what’s up with the build a “mini-city,” the NJMC brought under control as the dumps Meadowlands? Former municipal Continued on Page 12 – several of them owned by local dumpsites in Rutherford, Lyndhurst, Page 8 Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 5th Annual New Jersey Meadowlands FESTIVAL OF BIRDING ADMISSION INCLUDES Eco-Cruises in the Meadowlands, Birding Field Trips, Indoor Programs, Keynote Presentation: “Birding Babylon” by U.S. Army Sergeant Saturday & Sunday Jonathan Trouern-Trend, September 13 & 14, 2008 Nature & Birding Store, Exhibits, Meadowlands Environment Center Breakfast & Lunch on Saturday Lyndhurst, NJ Organized and Sponsored by: Tickets $40, Ages 10-17 Free Hackensack Riverkeeper TICKETS GO ON SALE JULY 14 New Jersey Audubon Society Visit www.hackensackriverkeeper.org New Jersey Meadowlands Commission or call 201-968-0808 Laugh and Hackensack Riverkeeper Laughs with You! On Thursday, July 17th, promoter Rich Carucci – the Steamroller of Comedy – and Steamroller Entertainment will once again host a night of comedy to benefit Hackensack Riverkeeper. Comedy Night will be held at Redd’s Restaurant in Carlstadt and it promises to be an evening you won’t want to miss! So come laugh with us… or come laugh AT us! The talented line-up is expected to include Andy Hayward, Canada’s First Lady of Comedy Laura Nikifortchuk, Craig Sharf, Patrick Lamb, and Mike Gaffney. The evening’s headliner will be Johnny Watson, whose recent appearances include appearances in “Saturday Night Live” and in the movie “The Hot Chick” Let’s not forget the man who put this together for us – Rich Carucci, writer, pro- ducer and entertainer for Steamroller Entertainment will be there as well. Rich has helped raise over $700,000 for non-profit organizations in the last five years, through the power of laughter! For the fourth year in a row, Rich, his outstanding cast of comedians and Redd’s Restaurant are donating their services and talents for the evening. All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to help Hackensack Riverkeeper further our mission to preserve, protect and restore the Hackensack River and watershed. Advance tickets are only $20 and are available by calling Hackensack Riverkeeper at 201-968- 0808 or visiting our website at www.HackensackRiverkeeper.org. While they last, tickets will be available at the door for $25. Last year’s event was a full house – so reserve your seats early! The show starts at 8:00 pm, doors will open at 7:00 pm and there will be a cash bar open dur- ing the show. Please note: there will be adult language and subject matter in the performances. Redd’s Restaurant and Bar is located at 317 Washington Ave., Carlstadt, NJ – just north of the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Redd’s owner Doug Palsi invites ticket holders to come early for a pre-show dinner but stresses that reservations are strongly recommended. You can call them at 201-933-0015 or visit www.reddsrestaurant.com to view their great menu. Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 Page 9 Nature Program Cooperative Programs Hackensack Riverkeeper is a founding member of the This is not your typical pleasure cruise! This is a great Nature Program Cooperative, a network of environmental opportunity to view the majestic Palisades from the deck of education organizations. NPC members provide opportuni- the A. J. Meerwald, New Jersey’s official tall ship. Pre- ties to experience and enjoy our region’s natural side. Registration required. For more information and to regis- Members of one are welcome at all; nonmembers are also ter visit http://www.tenaflynaturecenter.org/Meerwald.htm welcome. (For more info, visit www.natureprogram.org.) or call the Tenafly Nature Center at 201-568-6093. Here are the upcoming events: Damselflies & Dragonflies Eco-Cruise to Newark Bay Hosted by Flat Rock Brook Nature Center Hosted by Hackensack Riverkeeper Celery Farm Natural Area, End of Green Way, Allendale, NJ Laurel Hill County Park, Secaucus, NJ Thursday, August 21, 4:30 - 6 pm Monday, July 14, 12:30 - 3:30 pm For families with children 6 & older. Dragonflies and Captain Bill Sheehan invites NPC members to explore the Damselflies are among the oldest insects, and the most estuary of the Hackensack River and beyond. He and Capt. interesting! Join us at Flat Rock Brook in Englewood and Hugh Carola will take you downriver from Laurel Hill learn the history of these miraculous creatures as well as Park aboard the Keeper Vessels Edward Abbey and their biology and the myths that surround them. Kids will Robert. H Boyle. Among the things you’ll see are: the become dragonflies and we’ll have a buzzing good time! Pulaski Skyway – America’s first superhighway bridge; Register early because space is limited. Registration by remnants of the Morris Canal aqueduct; the Federal mail is required - Go to www.flatrockbrook.org to down- Shipbuilding site in Kearny; Honeywell’s ongoing $400 load the registration form. Cost: $5 for NPC members; million environmental cleanup in Jersey City; the $8 for non-members. For more info, call 201-567-1265. Rutkowski wetlands restoration in Bayonne; and ships at Port Newark. Before heading back to the dock, we’ll Apple Cider Making detour through the marshes of the Sawmill Creek Wildlife Hosted by Tenafly Nature Center Management Area. Reservations are required; call Sunday, September 21, 2 - 3 pm Program Director Hugh Carola M-F to reserve: 201- Discover the history behind a favorite American beverage 968-0808 x102. The suggested donation is $25. See you as you learn about the process of making this crisp refresh- at the River! ing drink. Help make it yourself and end the day with an under 21 version taste of this treat. Pre-Registration Hudson River Sailing Trips aboard the A.J. Meerwald required. For more information and to register please visit Hosted by Tenafly Nature Center http://www.tenaflynaturecenter.org or call the Tenafly July 24 - 27 Nature Center at 201-568-6093. Cost: FREE for NPC Join TNC, ANJEC, and the Bergen County Historical members/Non-members $5 per person. Society as they co-sponsor a series of cruises on the beauti- ful Hudson River this summer! Enjoy the experience of To keep track of more upcoming NPC events or to sailing on a magnificently restored 1928 two-masted, 115- foot Delaware Bay oyster schooner driven by over 3,500 access links to all NPC member organizations, visit square feet of sail (which YOU can help raise and lower). www.natureprogram.org. See you in the field!

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By Dr. Beth Ravit The ongoing drought in Georgia is bringing national attention to the critical state of US water resources. However, the communi- ties in Clayton County, located in southeastern Georgia have plenty of water at their disposal because ten years ago they decided to build an innovative water treatment sys- tem that includes wetlands. These wetlands provide treatment to the effluent (treated wastewater) from a local wastewater treatment plant - in a cost-effective and energy- Treatment Wetlands in Clayton County, Georgia release 10 million gallons of natu- rally treated wastewater to the local water supply daily and provide wildlife habitat. efficient way. After moving through the wetland cells, 10 mil- increase the amount of water they School in Gladstone. This project lion gallons of water returns to the can process; the utility must also required over a year to gain local water supply daily. The comply with their permitted nutri- approval for its wetland treatment biggest complaint of residents liv- ent discharges. We think BCUA system from the local Board of ing adjacent to the wetlands is should consider utilizing treatment Health and NJDEP. Today this sys- noise – from the frogs that now wetlands as an environmentally tem processes all wastewater gen- live in the system (for a detailed sustainable method to improve erated by the school, and produces description of these wetlands water quality, while supporting the treated water of recreational quali- check out the Morning Edition utility’s treatment capacity in a ty, which is then reused onsite. broadcast of May 1, 2008 on the cost effect manner. BCUA recently initiated a feasi- NPR web site). A properly designed, construct- bility study to determine if treat- According to US Fish & ed, and maintained wetland can ment wetlands in the Meadowlands Wildlife (2007), more freshwater remove excess phosphorus and District could potentially provide enters the Hackensack River from nitrogen from wastewater effluent, additional treatment for the utili- sewage treatment plants than flows while requiring little (if any) ener- ty’s effluent. We encourage the past the Oradell Dam. Bergen gy use because gravity is used to Authority to pursue this innovative County Utility Authority (BCUA) move water through the wetland approach, and to reach out to com- is the single largest source of system. These systems are largely panies and individuals who have freshwater entering the self-sustaining, and provide des- constructed these systems and who Hackensack River estuary, dis- perately needed wildlife habitat. A have experience operating sustain- charging up to 109 million gallons presumed hurdle to using wetlands able systems. A BCUA legacy of of treated water into the in NJ is the concern about efficient cleaner water and the creation of Hackensack River each day. To operation during colder winter new wetland habitat would benefit support the additional development months. One of the first wetland the residents, businesses, and that continues in Bergen County, wastewater treatment systems in wildlife of the Hackensack BCUA is faced with the need to NJ was constructed at the Willow Meadowlands District. Hackensack Riverkeeper Paddling Center Laurel Hill County Park, Rental Rates: New County Rd., Secaucus Canoes: $25/paddler; $10/passenger Sat. & Sun., 9 AM to 6 PM Kayaks: $25/paddler (no passengers) Weekdays by appointment only (On weekends, call our Paddling Center at For reservations call 201-968-0808 201-920-4746 to check on vessel availability.) Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 Page 11 Birds of the Hackensack: American Goldfinch

By Ivan Kossak sis on the second When signs of Spring are dis- note has been American Goldfinch cussed, most people think of bud- described both as ding trees and the arrival of the per-chick-o-ree first Robin on their lawn. However, and po-ta-to-chip. for me a sure sign of the coming Although Spring is the molting of the American American Goldfinch (Carduelis Goldfinches tristis). Goldfinches spend the establish territo- Winter months in drab olives, ries in the Spring browns and grays, displaying only (when it is easiest a hint of the bright yellow that to hear their graces our yards in Spring and song), they are Summer. As male goldfinches molt among the latest (replace feathers) into their breed- of our birds to ing plumage, they turn a bright yel- nest and raise low and assume a black cap on the young. Some Photo by Gerry Barrack forehead. Their wings are also individuals will black with white highlights. The raise a brood as New Jersey’s state bird, the American Goldfinch feeds females lack the male’s black cap late as the latter primarily on thistle seed. and are brownish olive on the back part of August or and head with yellow underparts. even September. Nest building Jersey’s state bird, so it is not sur- Both males and females measure coincides with the blooming of prising that they are very common about five inches long, and have a thistle plants and birds will line here in the Garden State. American small conical bill. During the molt- their nests with thistle down. For Goldfinches can be found in all of ing process, you can sometimes this reason, Goldfinches have the lower 48 contiguous states and observe individual feathers having developed an appetite for thistle their breeding range extends into been replaced if the same individ- seeds. Therefore, a good way to southern Canada. In the extreme ual birds frequent your feeder over attract Goldfinches to your yard is southern part of the United States, the course of several weeks in to hang a thistle feeder or thistle American Goldfinches will only be February and March. sock. An added benefit is that found in Winter. Their numbers The American Goldfinch’s song squirrels do not eat thistle so your have varied on New Jersey is a series of twittering chirps often feeder can be squirrel free. Christmas Bird Counts from 3,000 with long whining notes inter- American Goldfinch clutches con- to 5,000 in any given year. spersed. These whines suggest a sist of from two to seven eggs and Throughout the year they can be crying sound which gives the bird are incubated for about two weeks. found in a variety of wooded and its Latin name of tristis which The young are helpless when born open habitats including parks, means “sad.” The bird’s flight call and fledge in 11 to 17 days. weedy fields and suburban yards, of four quick notes with an empha- The American Goldfinch is New including yours. Page 12 Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 Hackensack Riverkeeper’s 9th Annual Awards Dinner

Mark your calendars now – Hackensack tireless efforts to “Save Paramus Wetlands.” “Mark Riverkeeper is holding its Annual Awards Dinner and Ed epitomize grass roots activism” says Captain and Sustainable Seafood Fest on October 16, 2008. Bill. “They saw a problem, and instead of waiting The event will once again be held at the Hasbrouck for someone else to ‘do something’ they took Heights Hilton and will feature a silent auction, action.” cocktail reception and a delicious sit down dinner Although a recent court ruling caused a setback, featuring sustainable seafood. Mark and Ed continue to raise awareness about the We are pleased to be honoring some very special need to protect the wetlands and continue to people this year; advocate for the protection of this sensitive land. • Ralph Izzo, Chairman of the Board, President • Lynette Lurig, Research Scientist with the New and Chief Executive Officer of Public Service Jersey Division of Environmental Protection will Enterprise Group (PSEG) will be the recipient of receive our Friend of Hackensack Riverkeeper our Corporate Environmental Stewardship Award, in Award. recognition of PSEG’s “Lynette was an commitment to the instrumental part of environment. Save the Date! the team that created “Ralph has proven the Urban Watershed to be a visionary Thurs., October 16 Education Program in leader at PSEG, conjunction with working to promote Hackensack sustainable energy and Hilton Hotel Riverkeeper” Captain improve our environ- Bill explains. “For ment” commented Hasbrouck Heights many participants, this Captain Bill in program is the first announcing this award. time they have ever PSEG recently hosted the weekend-long Global been on a boat or went fishing.” Green Expo, where many speakers and exhibitors Since the program began, thousands of young provided information on environmental issues. people have learned about state issued fish PSEG has also committed to provide over $100 advisories, the importance of clean water and their million toward the financing of solar system role in protecting our natural resources. installations over the next two years. Its Solar Loan Please join us for an evening of fun, good food Program will allow solar energy systems to be and recognition of these special friends. Proceeds installed on customers’ premises as part of their from the event will help Hackensack Riverkeeper continuing efforts to encourage the development and fulfill its mission to protect, preserve and restore the installation of clean, renewable energy technologies. Hackensack River watershed. Tickets for the event • Mark Distler and Ed Onorato will receive our are $150 and can be purchased by calling 201-968- Grassroots Activists Award, in recognition of their 0808 or online at www.HackenackRiverkeeper.org.

EnCap best approach. opment within the Meadowlands It is time to step back and let the District but we now submit that all Continued from Page 7 NJMC complete the engineering the former dumps of the ended the EnCap project on May 7. and landscaping; and make the Meadowlands be taken out of The Commission announced that it areas safe. Once that’s done, consideration and be allowed to would finish the landfill closure and Hackensack Riverkeeper strongly become green open space. Sadly, all the work needed to protect the advises the NJMC to re-vegetate they can never again be marshes environment. The NJMC also the entire area and allow natural but they can and should be announced that the ultimate end plant succession to take place for managed as upland habitats and use(s) of the remediated dumpsites the benefit of both wildlife and added to the already-protected won’t be determined until all the people. 8,400 acres of world class wetlands work is complete and the NJDEP There are plenty of opportunities we call the Meadowlands to create signs off on it. This is clearly the for logical and responsible redevel- a truly remarkable habitat. Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 Page 13 HACKENSACK WATERSHED FIELD NOTES

By Hugh M. Carola of the ducks was seen off Mill the Meadowlands in Hudson Before we get to this issue’s list, Creek Point in Secaucus on 2/21. County. Unfortunately a road-killed please understand that this column Common Merganser – Flocks of coyote was seen alongside the is a digest, not a birding hotline the large duck were seen through- Garden State Parkway in Paramus list. By the time you read it, in all out the winter in the river near the on 4/18. likelihood the creatures listed have Teaneck-New Milford border. Eastern Phoebe – Our first moved on. But don’t worry if you Common Raven – The Laurel watershed report of this true miss something; just get out in the Hill Ravens were first spotted on harbinger of spring came from a field and come up with your own 2/21 bringing sticks to their nest Secaucus backyard on 3/22. reports just like these: site. By 4/10, the pair was observed Fox Sparrow – One was seen at American Bittern – One of these chasing away a pair of curious DeKorte on 2/12 and a group of uncommon and secretive herons Red-tailed Hawks. On 4/19, five three was noted at Mill Creek Point was observed at Lincoln Park West nestlings were identified and by on 2/21. A flock of 20 individuals in Jersey City on 4/6. 5/15, all had fledged! Several were was observed at Schmidt’s Woods American Woodcock – The first still seen in the area on 5/29. on 3/13. report of this unusual shorebird Common Snipe – Yes, it real- (A.K.A. Timberdoodle) came from ly IS a bird! In fact, it’s often Fox Sparrow Schmidt’s Woods Park in Secaucus one of the first shorebirds seen on 3/13. BTW, it is never found at during spring migration. On 4/8 the shore. a flock of six was observed at Bald Eagle – Reports continued Ridgefield’s Skeetkill Marsh. through early June of single and Common Redpoll – About multiple birds throughout our area sixty of these northern visitors from Lyndhurst to Oradell. A were observed on 2/17 at record nine eagles at one time (one Liberty State Park roosting in AD and eight IMM) were counted trees across from the at Overpeck Park in Teaneck on Interpretive Center. On 2/28, a Photo by Gerry Barrack 3/10. At least twelve eagles single bird was seen at a overwintered in the Hackensack Hackensack feeder. Golden-crowned Kinglet – River watershed! Common (Eurasian Green- Another harbinger of spring, small Black-crowned Night Heron – A winged) Teal – This rare visitor flocks of this tiny warbler-like bird roosting flock of 32 was noted at from Europe was observed at were seen at Mill Creek on 4/20. the “usual site” near Laurel Hill in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst Great Egret – The first report of Secaucus on 3/13. By mid-April, throughout February. We hope 2008 was made on 3/13 from we had reports from Van Buskirk those who keep Life Lists got a DeKorte. Island in Oradell and Lake Tappan chance to see it (unlike me ). Great Horned Owl – One was in River Vale. By mid-May we reported at Schmidt’s Woods on were seeing them on every Eurasian Green-winged Teal 3/13 and again on 4/11. Eco-Cruise. Greater Yellowlegs – Always the Black-headed Gull – This rare first sandpiper to arrive in our area, visitor to our area was noted at individual birds and small flocks Liberty State Park on 2/16. were noted at Mill Creek and Common throughout northern DeKorte from early April through Europe and Asia, a small breeding late May. population also exists in western Green Heron – One of the few Newfoundland. heron species known to breed in Canvasback – The flock at the Meadowlands, an individual Sawmill Creek Wildlife was observed in Mill Creek Marsh Management Area (WMA) Eastern Coyote – A healthy- (a known breeding area) on 4/20. continued to be observed through looking individual was observed Continued on Page 16 early April. Also, a flock of twenty foraging in an uninhabited area of Page 14 Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 WMA 5 Ambassador Update By Matthew Manthey Courtesy NJDEP The Green Scene of Spring model continues to delight school- children and parents alike. I’ve used it in towns throughout the watershed to illustrate the negative Summer’s here and many great impacts of point and nonpoint things have been happening in our source pollution. Closer to head- watershed. First and foremost, quarters, my “Clean Streams Club” Hackensack Riverkeeper’s partnership with Hackensack Category One Watershed Seminar Middle School went very well. was a great success. More than During May and June I taught eighty municipal officials and Hackensack students to “think employees from local towns attend- green” by incorporating watershed ed the event and learned a great protection into all aspects of their deal about their responsibilities as lives. Until lately most of them had stewards of Category One streams. never thought much about the envi- The seminar was also a great net- ronment or spent time in nature. Earth Day, Arbor Day,MeadowFest, working opportunity; several of the Captain Hughie took them on an or any other special occasion. One officials I met asked me to attend Eco-Cruise in June. thing I learned from attending council meetings to discuss I think the most memorable April’s Global Green Expo at stormwater issues and watershed work I experienced this year was Liberty State Park is that as a peo- education. my Volunteer Monitoring Training ple, we must remain ever-conscious Borrowing a catchphrase from at Rutherford High School and of our impact on the environment. Chef Emeril Lagasse, watershed Cresskill’s Merritt Memorial For example, clean water isn’t just education has “kicked up a notch.” School. The training programs were about picking up litter, using less Requests for presentations and conducted through the NJDEP with fertilizer, or not feeding geese. It’s tabling events keep pouring in as Watershed Ambassadors training also about conserving water. educators and community groups students to be volunteer stewards of There’s a lot we can do to keep our want to learn about protecting the their local waterways. Between water clean, but if we don’t con- environment while taking advan- both schools, I trained 110 students serve that sustainable yet finite tage of warm weather. Earlier this in visual and biological stream resource, our problems will only season, several of my fellow monitoring techniques. The stu- increase. Watershed Ambassadors attended a dents learned a lot about their envi- Okay, that’s enough “preaching” NJ Nets game at the IZOD Center ronment, can now conduct monitor- for now. It’s time to go outdoors for the team’s annual “Green ing on their own and have gained a and spend quality time in nature. Night.” While ushers handed out new appreciation for macroinverte- See you at the river and have a reusable shopping bags, I distrib- brates (or as they call them, Great Summer! uted information and talked to fans “bugs”). I trust it was an experience -Matthew Manthey about what they can do to help they won’t soon forget. [email protected] keep our waters clean. Of course, sharing a “Green 201-968-0808 Our EnviroScape® watershed Message” should never end with Subscribe To Hackensack Tidelines Report Suspected Pollution Sources If you are enjoying this issue of Hackensack Tidelines and you want it to be mailed to your home or business, call to Watershed Watch Hotline 201-968-0808 or email [email protected]. Subscriptions to Tidelines are FREE . . . but donations are 1-877-CPT-BILL appreciated to help defray printing and postage costs. Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 Page 15 Hackensack Riverkeeper is a Crime Victim Brazen thieves make off with motor from our vessel “Edward Abbey” in April

Sometime between 4 PM on cers reviewed surveil- April 14 and 9 AM on April 15, lance footage from 2008, thieves stole the motor off the nearby cameras and Riverkeeper vessel Edward Abbey interviewed contractors while it sat on blocks at Laurel Hill working at the nearby County Park in Secaucus. The boat Secaucus Transit was being prepared for the start of Village. Unfortunately our 2008 Eco-Program season – and the video evidence was was only one coat of paint away inconclusive and the from being launched – when the interviews uncovered 115-hp Yamaha motor was taken. no new leads. Electrical cables and fuel lines were “At the time we cut, bolts removed and judging by weren’t sure if the theft Picture of the crime scene shortly after Captain Bill marks left on the pavement, the was actually an act of discovered the motor was missing. 500-pound motor was dragged to a vandalism against waiting vehicle; most likely a pick- Hackensack Riverkeeper or if the Yamaha. The crooks stole a motor up truck or van. thieves simply saw it as a target of that was six years old and had a “I was putting out the drop cloths opportunity,” said Capt. Bill. “All I tremendous amount of hours on it. and getting the paintbrushes ready knew at the time was that the crooks In comparison, the 90-hp Honda when I walked around the stern of didn’t just steal a $10,000 motor motor mounted on the Robert H. the boat and discovered that the from us but from everyone who Boyle was purchased only last fall motor was gone,” recalled Captain depends on us.” and is still virtually brand new. In Bill Sheehan. “For ten seconds I just While it’s not really possible for other words, they picked the wrong stood there trying not to believe it.” a story such as this to have a happy motor to steal. Upon discovering the theft, Capt. ending, two positives did emerge. “One of the Sisters who taught Bill immediately contacted Hudson Our insurance company paid the me in grammar school used to tell County authorities who began an loss to us (minus the deductible and us that ‘stolen things have a curse investigation into the crime. Among labor) and we were able to replace on them’,” said Capt. Bill. “I hope other tactics, County Sheriff’s offi- the motor with a brand-new 115-hp she was right.” Looking for Volunteers to Measure Rain and Snow at Home!

Hackensack Riverkeeper is partnering with NJ CoCoRaHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network) - in an effort to sign up New Jersey residents to take daily observations of precipitation. Based at the Office of the State Climatologist at Rutgers University's Agricultural Experiment Station, the NJ chapter of CoCoRaHS is looking to enlist hun- dreds of volunteers from across the state to take a few minutes each day to report the amount of rain, hail or snow that has fallen in their backyards. All that is required to participate is a 4" diameter plastic rain gauge, a ruler to measure snow, an internet-connected computer, and most importantly, the desire to watch and report weather conditions. Hackensack Riverkeeper plans to buy rain gauges in bulk in order to save volunteers a little money. If we get enough volunteers together, the folks from NJ CoCoRaHS will hold a group training session for us.

Observations from CoCoRaHS volunteers are widely used by scientists and agencies whose deci- sions depend on timely high-quality precipitation data. For example, hydrologists and meteorologists use the data to warn about the potential impacts of flood and drought. Please email Lisa Ryan at lis- [email protected] or call 201-968-0808 to sign up for this exciting program. Page 16 Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008

Field Notes viduals of this State-listed how common foxes have become Continued from Page 13 Endangered Species were observed in our area. As a species, they have over Mill Creek Point on 2/21 adapted to changes in the environ- Green-winged Teal – Good num- including a pair engaged in ment and now thrive in our devel- bers of this small, fast-flying duck courtship behavior. In the same oped world. were seen through the end of April, area on 3/7, one was seen mobbing Red-tailed Hawk – Certainly not especially in Mill Creek. A few a Red-tailed Hawk. an unusual species but one was stayed through mid-May. seen in a very unusual place Hairy Woodpecker – This Jersey City Ospreys on 2/21: roosting in a 20-foot larger cousin of the similarly- cedar tree just a half-block patterned Downy away from Sears in Woodpecker was noted at Hackensack. A week earlier, Schmidt’s Woods on 3/13. another close encounter took Hermit Thrush – A good place in a Teaneck backyard winter for these usually- on 2/15 when a hawk killed absent birds, two were and ate a gray squirrel. observed at DeKorte on 2/12. Rough-legged Hawk – A single bird was seen at One was observed at Schmidt’s Woods on 3/13. Photo by Nick Vos-Wein DeKorte on 2/15. 2007-8 was Horned Grebe – Usually a good year to observe this seen in NJ along the coast and on Osprey – They’re baaaack! Arctic-nesting species overwinter- the back bays in winter/early That’s right, the Ospreys that nest- ing in our area. spring, one was observed in the ed at PSE&G’s Hudson Generating Savannah Sparrow – Large Hackensack River off Harmon Station in Jersey City have numbers of this grassland species Cove in Secaucus on 3/20. returned. By 4/20 we confirmed were observed at Mill Creek Marsh Killdeer – The first of the spring that the female was incubating eggs on 4/20. Many others were seen were heard at DeKorte Park on 3/5. and by 5/29 the first hatchling was throughout the month of May. Two days later, a pair was observed reported. Three chicks were pho- at Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus. A tographed in the nest on 6/7. Continued on Page 17 flock of nine was seen at DeKorte Because of upgrade work being on 3/13. By early April, a large done at the plant, PSE&G has number had begun nesting through- taken extra steps to help ensure the Peregrine Falcon out the Meadowlands. FYI: One success of the nest site and safety bright spot in the EnCap story is of the birds. that the company created a vast Peregrine Falcon – We received area of Killdeer nesting habitat. several reports from the Lesser Scaup – A large flock of Meadowlands and the Palisades about 70 ducks was seen on 3/7 at throughout late winter & spring but Mehrhof Pond in Little Ferry. none could compare with the sight- Long-eared Owl – In keeping ing Captain Bill and I had over with what was a good winter for Main Street in Hackensack on 3/29 seeing this species in our area, – we watched a Peregrine harass three individuals were observed at and almost catch a pigeon in flight. DeKorte on 2/12. The moral: You never know what Merlin – An individual of this you’ll see and where you’ll see it. small falcon species was observed By 4/17 Peregrines were back on at DeKorte on 3/13 feeding on the Rte. 3 bridges over the unidentified prey. Another was seen Hackensack. at Overpeck Preserve on 4/15. Red Fox – A fox was observed Mute Swan – A flock of about 40 near a NJ Turnpike entrance ramp juveniles has taken up residence in in Secaucus in the presence of its the Sawmill WMA. road-killed mate. While it was sad Photo by Doug Goodell Northern Harrier – Three indi- to see, it was also evidence of just Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 Page 17

Field Notes White-crowned Sparrows Continued from Page 16 Short-eared Owl – Two individuals were noted at DeKorte on 2/12. Believe it or not, back when the garbage dumps were operating in the Meadowlands, this species was much more evident than it is now. Nowadays: No trash = No rats = Less owls. Snapping Turtle – An extremely large individual (most likely a female leaving the water to lay her eggs) was observed on the mud at Mill Creek on 4-17. Photo by Doug Goodell According to reports, its shell was over two feet in length and its head as large as two fists side-by-side. Snowy Egret – The first report of 2008 came on 3/7 Snow Geese – Very uncommon in the Meadowlands, from Mill Creek Marsh. a small flock was observed roosting at Mill Creek Tree Swallow – A true harbinger of springtime in the Point Park in Secaucus on 4/14. Meadowlands, the first arrivals were observed at Snowy Owl – This rare Arctic visitor was observed DeKorte on 3/25. at Caven Point in Jersey City on 3/2. As far as we know, this was the only Snowy reported in New Jersey Tree Swallows this past winter season. White-crowned Sparrow – a group of TEN was seen foraging at DeKorte on 3/13 (FYI, DeKorte is a very good location to find this uncommon sparrow if your timing is right). Wild Turkey – A pair of hens was photographed in a Teaneck front yard on 3/25. One was observed in Secaucus near the entrance to Harmon Cove on Meadowlands Parkway on 3/28 and again on 4/13. Two more hens (including a partial albino) were noted at DeKorte on 4/11. Photo by Gerry Barrack Wood Duck – Reports from the “middle” watershed (south of Oradell and north of the Meadowlands) included one drake and a pair of hens on 2/25 and a This Spring, Captain Bill & the Crew lone drake in the company of two Mallards on 3/8. A single drake was seen at DeKorte on 3/27. went for a special cruise with English Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – A male was observed at actor Ray Coulthard. An enthusiastic Schmidt’s Woods Park in Secaucus on 2/21. On 4/5 an birder, Ray plays James Schofield in amazing nineteen were counted at Hudson County the BBC series Hotel Babylon. Park in Bayonne. FYI, that’s got to be a record! Yellow-crowned Night Heron – Another of the few heron species to breed in the Meadowlands, four birds were noted at Harmon Cove on 4/10 – a known nest- ing location.

Thanks and as always, a tip o’ the naturalist’s hat (from A to Z) to: Joe Augeri, Jay Auslander, Pete Bacinski, Scott Barnes, Vic Conversano, Beth Cronk, Ray Duffy, Gene Dunton, Scott Gunther, Tom Hart, Gil Hawkins, Stan Jakubaszek, Dolores King, Angie Kirk, Lynn Kramer, Bob Mackerley, Frank Massaro, James Murphy, Mike Newhouse, Joanne O’Leary, Bruce & Karen Reide, Christina Rottinger, Mike Ruscigno, Lisa Ryan, Diane Saccoccia, Mark Schmelz, Tina Schvejda, Don Smith, Bernie Sobeleski, George Stauble, Don Torino, Bill Sheehan, Nick Vos-Wein, Kevin Watson and Michael Zahn. Page 18 Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 RiverCreepers Post Good Showing In 2008 World Series Of Birding Our Silver Anniversary WSB team lists 104 species By Hugh M. Carola never get the job done. Kudos to their largesse was given elsewhere, Well, the rain didn’t help, the Shop Rite Supermarkets whose Nonetheless, our goal this year was wind blew in the wrong direction sponsorship enables us to partici- to raise $10,000 all on our own (or and we got a “late” 3AM start but pate as a Level One team and to at least to best the $9,100 pre- the Shop Rite Hackensack our newest WSB partner, Toyota of match total we earned last year). At RiverCreepers still listed 104 Hackensack, whose loan of a 2009 press time we’re pretty sure we species during the 2008 World 4Runner allowed us to bird in com- we’ll do the latter but our five-fig- Series of Birding on May 10 (our fort and in safety. ure goal may remain just out of eighth WSB outing!). Our first bird Now the bottom line: Most, if reach unless… was an American Robin heard not all Tidelines readers know that …YOU help put us over the top. singing at DeKorte Park in we don’t do the WSB for fun, we I can’t close the books on the 2008 Lyndhurst and our last one (literal- do it to raise money that supports World Series of Birding until all ly eighteen hours later) was a Barn the ongoing work of Hackensack pledges have been received so Owl over the 1-E Landfill in North Riverkeeper. Many folks make a there’s still time for you to make a Arlington. In between we birded a per-species pledge while others WSB donation. Please help us meet large swath of the upper watershed, send in a WSB-earmarked dona- this major milestone – just write Palisades Interstate Park and spent tion. In recent years, we also bene- “WSB” on the memo line of your two hours aboard the Robert H. fitted from matching funds pledged check. Thank you in advance for Boyle scouring the riverbanks and by generous funders but this year, your support. marshes of the Meadowlands. It was actually hard work to find different species in our watershed Category One Seminar a Success this year. Even common birds like On March 13, Hackensack Riverkeeper, in partnership with United Yellow-rumped Warbler were hard Water New Jersey, hosted a free, informative workshop titled “A to find and three species seen on Citizen’s Guide to Protecting the Hackensack River’s Category One each of our seven previous WSBs were nowhere to be found: Waterways.” We conducted the workshop in order to provide elected Forster’s Tern, Eastern Screech- officials, municipal employees, environmental commissions, and inter- Owl and Chestnut-sided Warbler. ested citizens with a greater understanding of the special protections We also posted a worst-ever sand- afforded the Hackensack River upstream of the Oradell Dam. piper count (five species) and a Over eighty people learned about the Category One protections and bush-league warbler count (sixteen how they relate to land use planning and stormwater management. The species). However, we did list two seminar was a great success, and we at Hackensack Riverkeeper extend new species (Least Flycatcher and our thanks to former NJDEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell, Dark-eyed Junco) and found Michael Bennett of Hatch Mott MacDonald, and Debra Hammond & enough hit-or-miss birds like Katrina Wessling of the NJDEP for their outstanding presentations. Belted Kingfisher and Black-billed Thanks also to The Watershed Institute for funding this important Cuckoo to break the century mark event. To obtain a copy of the “Citizen’s Guide…” booklet that we cre- once again. Our cumulative list ated for this event visit the resources section of our website or call us at now stands at 156 species. As always, I can never say 201-968-0808 to have a copy mailed to you for $5.00. enough about my ‘Creeper col- Thanks to our Category leagues: Kerul Kassel and Ivan One seminar presenters Kossak. They bring the real talent (left to right) Michael and expertise while I mainly do the Bennett, Debra Hammond, paperwork & drive the boat (and Katrina Wessling, Captain ID a bird or two along the way). Bill Sheehan & Bradley Campbell. But seriously, without them, we’d Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 Page 19 Hackensack RiverCreepers 2008 World Series of Birding Official Results Hackensack River Downy Woodpecker Worm-eating Warbler Watershed / WMA-5 Northern Flicker Ovenbird Mute Swan Least Flycatcher* Northern Waterthrush Canada Goose Eastern Phoebe Common Yellowthroat Gadwall Great Crested Flycatcher Canada Warbler American Black Duck Eastern Kingbird Scarlet Tanager Mallard Warbling Vireo Eastern Towhee Blue-winged Teal Red-eyed Vireo Chipping Sparrow Green-winged Teal Tree Swallow Savannah Sparrow Ruddy Duck Cliff Swallow Song Sparrow Ring-necked Pheasant Barn Swallow White-throated Sparrow Wild Turkey Northern Rough-winged Swallow Dark-eyed Junco* Double-crested Cormorant Blue Jay Northern Cardinal Great Blue Heron American Crow Rose-breasted Grosbeak Great Egret Common Raven Red-winged Blackbird Snowy Egret Black-capped Chickadee Common Grackle Black-crowned Night Heron Tufted Titmouse Brown-headed Cowbird Yellow-crowned Night Heron White-breasted Nuthatch Baltimore Oriole Turkey Vulture Carolina Wren House Finch Osprey House Wren American Goldfinch Northern Harrier Marsh Wren House Sparrow Red-tailed Hawk Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Peregrine Falcon Veery 2008 WSB Highlights: Clapper Rail Swainson’s Thrush Killdeer Wood Thrush 104 species Greater Yellowlegs American Robin 1st ever Least Flycatcher* and Lesser Yellowlegs Gray Catbird Dark-eyed Junco* Solitary Sandpiper Northern Mockingbird Spotted Sandpiper Brown Thrasher 2nd ever Barn Owl Least Sandpiper European Starling Ring-billed Gull Cedar Waxwing Sixteen Warbler Species Herring Gull Nashville Warbler The Hackensack Great black-backed Gull Northern Parula RiverCreepers are: Mourning Dove Yellow Warbler Hugh Carola Rock Pigeon Magnolia Warbler Kerul Kassel Black-billed Cuckoo Black-throated Blue Warbler Ivan Kossak Barn Owl Yellow-rumped Warbler Great Horned Owl Black-throated Green Warbler Corporate Sponsor: Common Nighthawk Pine Warbler Shop Rite Supermarkets Chimney Swift Blackpoll Warbler Corporate Partner: Belted Kingfisher Black-and-white Warbler Toyota of Hackensack Red-bellied Woodpecker American Redstart Three Convenient Ways To Donate To Hackensack Riverkeeper® • Online. In just a few clicks, you can donate to Hackensack Riverkeeper; please go to www.hackensackriverkeeper.org. Click on the ClickandPledge icon. You can conveniently charge a donation to your credit card. • By phone. You can call the Hackensack Riverkeeper office (201-968-0808) between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays and give us your credit card information over the phone. • By mail. Send a check or money order to this address: Hackensack Riverkeeper, Inc. 231 Main Street Hackensack, NJ 07601-7304 Page 20 Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008

It was an exceptional spring for volunteering at Hackensack Riverkeeper. We had a whopping 5 River Cleanups in the first month of the season resulting in 1500 hours of volunteer work! Our Earth Day Cleanup at Overpeck Park in Leonia drew 120 VoLunteer participants and netted 40 square yards of trash by Lisa Ryan (that’s a lot) PLUS a huge pile of tires. A week later, Corner 150 people showed up in River Edge to retrieve yet another huge dumpster’s worth of debris from our Staib Park, May 3: river, some of which has been floating about since last spring’s flooding rains. Panasonic employees came out in force for the third year in a row, and acted very uncorporate-like as they collected a heaping dumptruckful of mucky, unidentifiable items from the Sawmill Creek in the Meadowlands! At our 3rd Saturday cleanup in a row, volunteers cleaned up Benny & family, who attended in honor of her birthday, Coles Brook in Hackensack, and replaced a pathway all sporting caps designed especially for the occasion! of large stones that slow the rush of stormwater into the brook. One partipant even asked her entire family to come to the cleanup for her birthday instead of giv- ing her gifts! All in all, it has been a tiring yet rewarding and inspiring start to our season - read on for more amazing stories! Thank you all for making it happen. We got to load a garbage truck ourselves for the first time!

Overpeck Park, April 19:

Yuck. Alan, Dumpster Decorator Extraordinaire

2 huge dumpsters at Overpeck Launching & unloading boats for 4 straight hours

Nice phrags! As Capt. Bill always says, they’re better than condos! Chloe & Carl ridin’ low in the river, weighed down by big trash! Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 Page 21

Laurel Hill Park, April 25 A Special Thank You! Occasionally, something happens that stops us in our tracks and reminds us that people can be really, truly amazing. We received an email on Earth Day from one of our volunteers. She apologized for missing that day’s cleanup, but noted Panasonic employees have been coming out every year to clean up that she and her family had been with us the Meadowlands, and this year overfilled a big dump truck! in spirit and had gone out on the river in their own boat and filled it with trash FDU, April 22 that morning. As if that wasn’t enough, she went on to say that her 7 year old daughter felt so badly about our boat motor being stolen that she had asked for donations to Hackensack Riverkeeper instead of gifts for her birthday! I cried. Erin McMahon raised over $500 for us, which, incidentally, takes care of the

deductible to replace the motor! Kent Fairfield and some of his senior management students standing Thank you, Erin, for the help you have amongst the spoils of their Earth Day Cleanup on the FDU campus. given us, and for being a very special Professor Kent Fairfield and the students of his person whom we are proud to know. Senior Management class students at Fairleigh Dickinson University spent their spring semes- ter raising money and awareness on campus. They held bake sales, a big Earth Day cleanup and a Smart Car Raffle. Their efforts brought Hackensack Riverkeeper over $3,000, plus a bunch of new friends and supporters. Thank you all for your creativity & hard work!

Kenneth B. George Park, River Edge Many, many boatfuls of trash!

Congratulations to Dr. Cummins of Bergenfield! Page 22 Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008

EPA Award The award also cites Hackensack Riverkeeper’s Continued from Page 1 work on behalf of the unglam- watersheds’ leading environmental orous but critical work of end- organization” for its advocacy and ing Combined Sewer River Cleanup program. Presenting Overflows (CSOs) into the the award was US EPA Region 2 Hackensack River and Administrator Alan J. Steinberg. Newark Bay. According to the “I was especially honored to agency, “…by working with receive this award because it recog- municipalities, NJ Department nizes the work we do to empower of Environmental Protection individuals and organizations to officials and Citizen’s engage in active conservation,” said Advisory Committees, Captain Bill. “It was also great to Hackensack Riverkeeper is see Alan again – and in much happi- working toward the ultimate er circumstances than prior days.” eradication of Combined Captain Sheehan receiving his Environmental Quality award from EPA Region 2 No stranger to public service, the Sewer Overflows.” Administrator Alan J. Steinberg. region’s environment or the EPA Environmental Quality Captain, prior to being appointed to Award recipients are chosen for the Waterkeepers were recognized for his current position by President high level of their accomplishments their work: Peconic (Long Island, Bush in 2001, Steinberg served as in improving environmental quality. NY) Baykeeper Kevin McAllister the Executive Director of the NJ The agency’s Region 2 includes and Robert Goldstein, general coun- Meadowlands Commission (former- New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico sel for Hudson Riverkeeper. ly the Hackensack Meadowlands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addi- The actual award itself is crafted Development Commission tion to Captain Sheehan, forty-four from a solid piece of sustainably- (HMDC). During his tenure at the other individuals and organizations harvested maple that is certified by Commission, Steinberg often were honored for their efforts the Forest Stewardship Council sparred with Captain Sheehan over including the West Milford, NJ- (FSC). In addition, 100% of the the future of the region’s wetlands. based Pequannock River Coalition energy used in its production was “Both of us were doing our and former Norwood, NJ resident mitigated through the purchase of respective jobs at the time,” recalled Marie Springer, founder of the Green Tag carbon offsets. Next time Capt. Bill. “Although I think I did Friends of Wallkill River National you’re in our neighborhood, stop by mine just a little bit better.” Wildlife Refuge. Two other and check it out.

At the Helm Protection refused to issue develop- approaching extortion. ment permits specifically because In addition to urging the Continued from Page 2 of the site’s Category One status. Borough to appeal, we fully expect Mayor Tedesco and the Borough Judge Harris did not even refer to the DEP to uphold its Category Council to wave the white flag of the DEP ruling in his decision. One designation for Soldier Hill surrender. The current owners of the Brook – something that was estab- The worst insult of all is that we Paramus Wetlands bought the tract lished before the current owners shouldn’t even be having this con- for a pittance – just $95,000 for 35 ever set foot in Paramus. That, at versation. acres of Bergen County real estate! least, should be a no-brainer. Soldier Hill Brook is a Category In Bergen, vacant developable land On a much more festive note, all One-listed waterway. Because it commands upwards of $1 million of us at Hackensack Riverkeeper flows to the Oradell Reservoir, it is per acre. By siding with the specu- hope you will join us on October a public water supply. The brook is lators, Judge Harris has artificially 16 at our annual banquet when we protected by statute and requires a boosted the value of the property. salute Mark Distler, Ed Onorato 300-foot conservation buffer on Any subsequent approval(s) from and all the folks at Save Paramus either side. The buffers reduce the state, county or local agencies will Wetlands for standing up for open tract’s developable area to almost inflate it even more. At that point, space and for doing the right thing nothing. Last year the NJ if Paramus tries to purchase the for their town and its environment. Department of Environmental property back, it could be at a cost Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 Page 23

NYS&W Settlement additional operational measures to ment and allows the continued Continued from Page 1 minimize environmental impacts at transportation of this waste to law- the last one. ful disposal sites without burdening from conducting any activities in “This case shows just how far the state’s congested highway sys- North Bergen. However, due to the we’ve come from our region’s pol- tem.” unique federal regulatory status luted past,” said Captain Bill. “Just The plaintiffs never suggested that enjoyed by railroads in America, a few years ago, no one would the waste materials be moved by that goal proved unworkable. have cared about the environment truck – only that NYS&W conduct During the course of the litigation, in the Meadowlands, but today their business in a way that did not the company closed three facilities; people do care and a company did adversely affect the environment or enclosed operations and installed live up to its responsibility to the harm local residents. waste water and dust control sys- Meadowlands – albeit after our tems at another; and agreed to take prodding.” “This settlement underscores the As part of the settlement – in importance of the role of citizen which NYS&W admitted no liabili- watchdog organizations like ty, wrongdoing or violation of law Baykeeper and Riverkeeper in solv- – the company agreed that any ing complicated environmental waste facility it operates in the problems,” said Andrew Willner, future will have effective environ- former NY/NJ Baykeeper. “We are mental safeguards. Additionally, the pleased that the outcome of this lit- company contributed $30,000 igation resulted in improvements to towards a supplemental environ- the infrastructure, and resulted in mental project to be carried out by more protection for the fragile the Waterkeepers to benefit the environment surrounding the rail- people of Hudson County. road facilities.” Nathan R. Fenno, President of “As always we are very pleased NYS&W said, “We are pleased that to have provided legal services to we have been able to reach a settle- the Waterkeepers to assist them in This is what NYS&W’s transloading ment with the Waterkeepers which achieving their environmental facility at 2200 Secaucus Road looked acknowledges their important role goals,” added attorney Webster. like back in 2004. in protecting the region’s environ-

Letters to Riverkeeper Dear Riverkeeper,

You've successfully spawned a river cleanup spin-off! We had our first cleanup and all went well. No canopy needed; the weather turned out great. We had 20 kids plus a few parents and teachers and pulled out a lot of trash--well over 20 bags plus tires and other large objects including an enormous plastic drainpipe. One parent complimented me on my organization but I gave all credit to you folks as my role model.

Proof is attached. Thanks for everything!

Brian Hanson-Harding, English Department Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan Thank You for the Kind Words... We would love to hear from You! Please don’t hesitate to send us a letter or email telling us about your relationship to the Hackensack River. Hackensack Tidelines - Spring 2008 Page 24

tide208 Be a Friend of Hackensack Riverkeeper Volunteer Opportunity! Your help is urgently needed. Hackensack Riverkeeper® operates with Summer Oyster Monitoring assistance and contributions from concerned citizens such as yourself. Please show your support for environmental health and conservation within the Hackensack River Watershed by making a donation today. HRI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donation is tax deductible. Name ______Address ______Tidelines readers will recall that last August we began a study City, State, Zip ______to determine whether oysters can Phone (_____) ______survive in the Sawmill Creek and Hackensack River. Over the past Email ______9 months we have been regularly sampling our 18 oyster subsets to ______$250 ______$100 ______$50 ______$25 $______(other) track the growth and ____Amex ____Visa ____MC mortality. Card #______V code______The time has come to open up the 18 large oyster enclosures and Signature: ______Exp. Date ___ /___ /___ see what has been going on _____ My employer will match my gift. A form is enclosed. beneath the surface. Join us at _____ Contact me about volunteering for Hackensack Riverkeeper®. Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus on the following dates... _____ Please remove me from your mailing list. Make checks payable to Monday, June 30 11 am - 3 pm Tuesday, July 1 noon - 4 pm Hackensack Riverkeeper, 231 Main Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 Wednesday, July 2 1 - 5 pm or visit www.hackensackriverkeeper.org/donate.html to donate online Thursday, July 3 2 - 6 pm

Hackensack Riverkeeper: Protecting The Public’s Right To: • Clean, Plentiful Drinking Water • Open Space Preservation • Safe Boating, Swimming, • Public Access To Local Waters • Wildlife & Habitat Conservation Paddling, Fishing

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