Ecological Benchmarking Assessment for an Urbanized Estuarine River J.K. Shisler, T.J. Iannuzzi, A.D. Standbridge, J.M. Gonzalez, and D.F. Ludwig

2

3 What are Some Impacts to the Lower Passaic River (LPR)? Shoreline features/impacts – lower 6 miles Right*Left* Bulkhead52.5%51.9% RipRap32.3%28.5% Vegetation with RipRap 9.2% 13.8% Aquatic Vegetation 6.0%5.8% *Facing Up-River from Newark Bay

4 Wetlands Loss in the Region Mid-19 th CenturyToday

5 Loss of Historic Tributaries in Region River/CreekEstimated Length Lost (mi) Bound Creek and Tributaries 18.1 Maple Island Creek and Tributaries 13.2 First River and Tributaries 6.0 Unnamed Passaic Tributary Creeks 0.7 Kearny Marsh Tributaries 1.2 Great Meadow Brook and Tributaries 6.3 Oyster Creek and Tributaries 2.3 Upper Newark Bay Tributaries 10.9 Other Newark Bay Tributaries 20.2 Total Lost 76.6

6 Can We Restore This System?

7 To What? It won’t look like this again Many system constraints in an urban river such as the LPR Goal is to create an ecosystem balanced for biological production, and human and wildlife use So, restoration requires: –Value judgments –Ecological benchmarking –Creative engineering Scope for restoration is substantial

8 Expected Natural Habitats Mudflat Salt marsh – low marsh Salt marsh – high marsh Estuarine scrub-shrub Transitional tidal marsh Freshwater tidal marsh Transitional and freshwater scrub-shrub Floodplain forest

9 Objectives Examine existing habitats Characterize and quantify physical and ecological attributes or “benchmarks” Use benchmarks as foundation for evaluating the likely success of potential restoration projects

10 What is an ecological benchmark?

11 LPR Salinity Gradient Salinity (ppth)River Mile Polyhaline Mesohaline Oligohaline Freshwater >

12 What Information Do We Need to Get Started? Know the constraints Can we modify constraints to meet restoration goals? Benchmark local reference wetlands

13 Limitations to Restoration in LPR Shoreline use/configuration Geomorphic setting Tidal zone Flooding/inundation Elevation Salinity Shade/sun Substrate Water velocity

14 Natural Salt Marsh is an Objective

15 Where is Spartina? Upper limit at about river mile 2.7 Habitat conditions are a factor

16 Lower (i.e., Polyhaline) Section of LPR

17 RipRap Shoreline Edge

18 Old Bulkhead

19 Urban Tidal River

20 Can We Restore A Salt Marsh Habitat? The quick answer is yes, BUT Location is critical Will not have high marsh habitat since the area has been lost due to development Will be narrow bands with riprap as the ecotonal edge Limited wildlife use May require breakwater in front of the wetland

21 Local Wetland Restoration Effort - Why did it Fail? Located above elevation benchmarks for S. alterniflora in system Constraints from outside impacts –Geese –Floatables –Ice Requires extensive engineering to overcome constraints

22 Where is the Brackish Water Tidal Wetland? Very limited locations within the LPR

23 Urban Impacts

24 Transitional-Freshwater Section Goal

25 Observed Habitat Transitional-Freshwater Section of LPR

26 OBSERVED RIPARIAN HABITAT Existing Transitional-Freshwater Habitat

27 Urban River Restoration Concepts and Conclusions Set realistic goals Use benchmarking of existing habitat attributes Focus on function Restoration vs. Creation Adaptive Management Stakeholder Commitment

28 Questions?