Joseph Medwick Park Wetland Restoration Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Case Name:

Exxon Bayway Refinery Pipeline Heating Oil Spill

Country:

United States of America

Restoration Types:

Habitat Creation; Habitat Enhancement

State:

New Jersey

Affected DOI Resources:

Migratory Birds

City:

Carteret

Phase:

Pre-implementation

Project Description

Joseph Medwick Park is an 86-acre park located along the Rahway River in Carteret, NJ. Dedicated in honor of Carteret native and Major League Baseball player Joe "Ducky" Medwick, the park is operated and maintained by the Middlesex County Office of Parks and Recreation. The wetland area along the river historically functioned as a salt marsh but had been diked in the 1950s. The trapped sediments and lack of tidal inundation allowed common reeds (Phragmites) to become established. Limited tidal flushing later occurred after two breaches formed in the earthen dike. To compensate for injuries to natural resources caused by the 1990 Exxon Bayway oil spill, the NY/NJ Harbor Oil Spill Restoration Committee provided funding to complete a feasibility study and produce a conceptual design for the restoration of the 16-acre tidal wetland. In partnership with the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation's (NYC Parks) Salt Marsh Restoration Team (SMRT) designed a restoration plan that included removing debris and approximately 35,000 cubic yards of sediment, recontouring the marsh to create open water and tidal creek habitat, eradicating Phragmites, planting the site with native marsh species such as smooth cordgrass and salt hay, and removing the dike to restore tidal flow. The SMRT prepared and submitted a complete set of construction drawings, written specifications, and a multiyear monitoring plan to the NJDEP's Office of Natural Resource Damages (ONRD). A pilot project was also completed to restore a 0.5 acre section of marsh in an area formerly occupied by Phragmites by planting smooth cordgrass and salt hay seedlings. The marsh restoration project was ultimately completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 2007 using funding from the Arthur Kill Deepening Program Mitigation Fund.