Legend

Canoe Marker 1 NJ Turnpike Eastern Spur Foot Bridge Canoe Trail (1½ miles one way) Habitat Island North Canoe Trail Impoundment (1 mile one way – high tide access only)

Walking Trail Foot (1½ mile loop Bridge ` Handicap Accessible) 9 11 10 12 South 7 Impoundment 6 8 13 5 Tide Gate Mill 14 16 17 High tide access only Creek End ı 28 Marsh 4 k e 18 27 re 15 C 19 20 21 3 l 2 il 26 M Sewage 25 1 Treatment 22 25 Trail Plant 23 24 Entrance Start ı Canoe Secaucus th Mill Launch High School or Creek Marsh N Schmidt Point Woods

Mill Creek Marsh Highlights along the canoe trail Please do not throw away this Mill Creek Point The Commission Canoe Guide. Be kind to the earth. (NJMC) acquired in 1996 and Mill Creek Point Keep it for future reference, or pass began wetland enhancement in 1998. Sawmills and gristmills operated in Secaucus it on. Thank you. CANOE Trail Secaucus, New Jersey since the 1760’s. Mills were located along Wetland enhancement improves a wetland tributaries that flow into the and Governor degraded by human activity and fosters a healthy were powered by tidal currents. There is James E. McGreevey ecosystem. The enhancement of Mill Creek evidence that in the 1840’s a mill was built along Marsh brought about dramatic results. More than the bank of Mill Creek. Later the area was used as Chairman farmland: fruits, vegetables and grain were sent to Susan Bass Levin 260 species of migratory shore birds and a variety of waterfowl use the area for resting and the nearby cities. A new building was raised at the Commissioners mouth of Mill Creek in 1940 which operated as the breeding. Thousands of green wing teal have Old Mill Inn restaurant and marina until the mid James A. Anzevino been counted. Heron, egrets, and cormorants fish Michael J. Gonnelli 1980’s. In 2000 the Town purchased the property. Leonard R. Kaiser in the waters. Raptors, hawks, and osprey may be Mia M. Macri seen soaring in the air. Canoe Trail Marker #5 Eleanore S. Nissley Here you see an old tide gate. In 1895 mosquitoes Arleen F. Walther Before you begin your canoe were identified as carriers of malaria, adventure Executive Director starting an era of wetland destruction. Representa- tives from 18 neighboring municipalities formed Robert R. Ceberio Bring along: the Mosquito Extermination Committee. The T A Coast Guard approved committee drafted a bill declaring any water in personal flotation device (PFD) which mosquito larvae bred a nuisance to be T A paddle abated. Dikes were used to drain wetlands and T A buddy tide gates were built across creeks to lower water T A whistle levels. Approximately 18,000 acres of salt marsh We also recommend bringing were drained in the Meadowlands. water, bug spray, sunscreen and binoculars Canoe Trail Marker #18 Secaucus has been involved in the collection and Be aware of the tides treatment of wastewater since the 1930’s. The The tide will affect what you will see. At high tide Sewage Treatment Plant is one of the only publicly the Mill Creek shoreline is covered by 6½ feet of owned treatment plants in the area. Raw wastewa- water. At low tide we see exposed mudflats 1 foot ter is collected and treated before it is discharged, Canoe ramp funded by below the waterline. The water channels will vary as clean effluent, into Mill Creek. DEP National Recreational Trail Grant depending upon the flow of the tide. If the tide is going out, the channel will be narrow. If the tide is Canoe Trail Marker #28 coming in, the channel will be broad. The stumps you see are remnants of an old cedar forest. At one time Atlantic White Cedar forests Look for daily tide information: grew throughout the Meadowlands. The cedar See: www.tides.com trees stood up to 90 feet tall and were used by early settlers to build houses, canoes, roads New Jersey t Region: Mid-Atlantic t Port: Hackensack River, Mill Creek Entrance (such as Paterson Plank Road), barrels and furni- Meadowlands Commission ture. Cedar is rot resistant and can last for years. One DeKorte Park Plaza The forest existed until the early 19th century. Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 New Jersey This trail is suitable for intermediate Phone: 201-460-1700 ● Fax: 201-460-8434 Meadowlands Commission Canoeists.