RIPARIAN ZONE ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION
SITE REMEDIATION ALONG RAHWAY RIVER
Carteret Borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey
Marathon Engineering & Environmental Services, Inc. (Marathon) performed a riparian zone vegetation survey and assisted with the preparation of a riparian zone mitigation plan for a site remediation project on a 125± acre property located adjacent to Deep Creek, Cross Creek and the Rahway River. This environmental work was performed in support of an application to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requesting a Flood Hazard Area Individual Permit, Freshwater Wetlands General Permits, and a Coastal General Permit. The remediation activity included the capping of six (6) impoundments containing industrial waste. Marathon characterized and mapped the existing vegetative associations within the riparian zones and assessed the suitability of the habitats for threatened and endangered avian species, including black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) and yellow-crowned night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea). Marathon assisted with the design of a riparian zone enhancement plan intended to enhance the foraging opportunities of night-herons (black- and yellow-crowned) and wading birds along the Rahway River and it tributaries.
The riparian zones within the tract were assessed for:
- Vegetation composition and diversity;
- Size of woody vegetation;
- Potential adverse environmental impacts by the remediation activities;
- Potential nesting sites for black-crowned night-heron and yellow-crowned night-heron;
- Suitability of foraging habitat for black-crowned night-heron and yellow-crowned night-heron;
- Suitable areas for riparian zone restoration and enhancement.
The deliverables, a Riparian Zone Evaluation Report and Riparian Zone Enhancement Plan, were accepted by the NJDEP in the context of the above referenced permits.
Client: Confidential
Period of Performance:
2013
Key Personnel:
Donald W. Brickner
Daniel J. Martin
Christopher S. Andes
Erik Drew
