Paterson , Clifton , Garfield , Elmwood Park, New Jersey
54-462: Acquackanonk refers to the region and people along the Passaic River in northern New Jersey : Acquackanonk tribe Acquackanonk Township, New Jersey Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Acquackanonk . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
108-474: A fairly regular basis, homes and businesses in the flood plain become flooded. A plan has been proposed to build a massive 20 miles (32 km) structure, the Passaic River Flood Tunnel , to divert the periodic floodwaters southeasterly into Newark Bay, thus relieving these flooding problems upstream. Some residents have accepted buy-outs from the federal government while the concept of constructing
162-542: A flood tunnel is debated, however, many residents still live within the flood plain and flooding appears to be growing worse as the land in the Passaic River basin continues to be developed. The Little Falls River Gauge along the Passaic River is located just south of the junction with the Pompton River, in an area that frequently floods. Flood stage is 7 feet (2.1 m) at this location. On February 28, 1902, there
216-568: A major donor to and participant in JJSA) the North American Wildlife Foundation established its Great Swamp Committee in 1960. Between the two organizations and, in less than a year, enough property in the core of the swamp was quickly purchased, assembled, and donated to the federal government to qualify for perpetual protection as a National Wildlife Refuge. As the representative from Arizona , Stewart Udall immediately championed
270-473: A massive proglacial lake that formed in North Jersey at the end of the last ice age , approximately 13,000 years ago. That prehistoric lake is now known as Glacial Lake Passaic and was centered in the present lowland swamps of Morris County, forming because of a blockage of the normal drainage path. Eventually, the lake level rose high enough that the water flowed out of a new outlet. The Passaic River found
324-455: A natural ecological filter trapping sediments and contaminants. Numerous nonprofit organizations have arisen from the communities within the Great Swamp watershed and work closely in partnership with the refuge. The Great Swamp Watershed Association , founded in 1981, works to protect the entire 55-square-mile (140 km ) watershed that surrounds the swamp. Within the Great Swamp there also
378-449: A new path that altered the old drainage paths. When the plug collapsed, the river still was forced to travel north through the range before finding a new outlet near present-day Paterson where it could manage the eastern turn toward the sea. Some ten thousand years ago, Amerindians arrived in the area and established settlements shortly after the retreat of the glacier, hunting, fishing, and farming. In 1614, Dutch colonists claimed part of
432-759: A new path to the ocean via the Millington Gorge and the Paterson Falls as the glacier that covered the area retreated northward and the lake drained. As a result, the river as we now know it was born. Prior to European colonialization along the Passaic in the late 17th century, the valley was the territory of the Lenape groups now known as the Acquackanonk and Hackensack , who used the river for fishing. To that end they built weirs , or overflow dams, to create pools and where
486-508: A number of county parks. One notable park is Stanley Park between Summit and Chatham. Other parks along the river are located in Passaic County. As part of the ongoing Newark revitalization effort by the city government, parkland is proposed along the banks of the river. The Passaic River generally is free of industrialization until it reaches the Summit and Chatham border. The upper portion of
540-429: A special issue of the magazine and quickly became its best-selling issue, confirming readers' interest in stories involving the Passaic River. Antabanez intentionally did not want the special issue to be a history lesson of New Jersey or the river but instead wanted it to be a Huckleberry Finn -style adventure story. In his canoe, Nightshade, Antabanez visits the most dangerous parts of the Passaic, along with several of
594-574: A very small stream that begins from a spring located approximately 1000 feet south west of the pond at the bend in Spring Hill Road. This spring is the likely true headwater of the Passaic River. Leaving Dubourg Pond the river travels northeast and crosses Corey Lane before entering the Buck Hill Tract Natural Area . However At this point, the river begins to generally flow south, through Morristown National Historical Park , and forms
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#1732851290393648-406: A wide variety of wildflowers and plants call the refuge home. Some of the animals hunted by the prehistoric native inhabitants and colonists, such as bear and beaver, are encountered occasionally. Its role in draining the region and absorbing flood water for gradual release can be critical during extreme weather conditions. The refuge also plays an important role in improving water quality by acting as
702-527: Is a river , approximately 80 miles (130 km) long, in Northern New Jersey . The river in its upper course flows in a highly circuitous route, meandering through the swamp lowlands between the ridge hills of rural and suburban northern New Jersey, called the Great Swamp , draining much of the northern portion of the state through its tributaries . In its lower (southern) portion, it flows through
756-491: Is a migration-resting and feeding area or a permanent habitat for more than 244 species of birds. The major routes of birds migrating along the eastern portion of the United States follow the corridor that includes the Great Swamp as an important stopping place for rest and nutrition. Many species of birds reside permanently in the watershed. Deer, fish, fox, frogs, muskrat, raccoons, snakes, turtles, as well as many insects and
810-537: Is a nonprofit bird-rehabilitation center founded in 1977, called The Raptor Trust , mainly specializing in birds of prey , such as eagles , hawks , and owls . Lord Stirling Park is part of the Somerset County Park System. The park is entered from the community of Stirling that is named after a military officer of the American Revolution who lived in the community, William Alexander . The park
864-643: Is also host to the annual Head of the Passaic Regatta that has been held since 2001. Commercial transport on the Lower Passaic hasn't entirely died. On December 3, 2008, a barge was loaded with biodiesel at the former W.A.S. Terminals in Newark, now Passaic River Terminals. Innovation Fuels LLC, one of the terminal's tenants, has plans to continue to sell two barge loads a month of biodiesel to customers in Europe. This
918-447: Is located immediately adjacent to the southwestern boundary of the refuge on the west side of the Passaic River. The park offers excellent hiking facilities that include trails, boardwalks, observation blinds, and naturalist exhibits displayed in its park office that are related to the swamp and its wildlife. The Morris County Park Commission manages parks in the vicinity of the NWR, including
972-460: Is the first commercial barge in the river in over 15 years. Although they experienced some delays with the County drawbridges that have been neglected for years and had some problems with shoaling due to the lack of maintenance dredging, they remain undeterred and the Passaic River represents the cheapest and most efficient method to ship their cargo to its customers. The Passaic River can be accessed via
1026-452: The FBI . While there has been a decline in the industrial use of the river, recreational use has increased since the early 1990s. There has been a long tradition of high school rowing by Kearny (since 1968), Belleville (1942, New Jersey's first public high school crew team), and Nutley High Schools and, in 1990, the historic Nereid Boat Club (founded in 1868) was revived, broadening participation in
1080-697: The Passaic River Basin Flood Advisory Commission . In January 2011 a report was issued, mentioning the 2010 flood, and the result was for municipalities to change their master plans and change local flood damage prevention ordinances, which would include such things as elevating structures, and to stop expansion into flood zones. The areas considered prone to continual flooding are Acid Brook, Buttermilk Falls, Haycock Brook, Mahwah River, Masonicus Brook, Packanack Brook, Pequannock River, Plog Brook, Pompton River, Ramapo River, Third River, Wanaque River, and Wolf Creek. On August 30, 2011 there
1134-519: The United States Department of the Interior . Refuge lands lie within the townships of Chatham , Harding , and Long Hill . The Great Swamp is the remnant of the bottom of the once-mighty Glacial Lake Passaic that approximately 15,000 to 11,000 years ago stretched across 30 by 10 miles (48 by 16 km) in what is presently northern New Jersey. The lake was formed by the melting waters of
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#17328512903931188-670: The Vietnam War . The cleanup of the dioxin contamination on the bottom of the river is the subject of a major environmental lawsuit regarding the responsibility for the cleanup. In 2008, the EPA reached a settlement with Occidental Chemical Corporation and Tierra Solutions Inc. to clean a portion of the polluted river. A New Jersey Superior Court judge, ruling in July and September 2011, stated that Occidental and Maxus Exergy Corporation (a subsidiary of YPF ) are liable for remediation in other portions of
1242-533: The American Revolution. The land that would become the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was established by an Act of Congress on November 3, 1960, after a multi-year legal battle that pitted local residents against Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials wishing to turn the Great Swamp into a major regional airport to supplement Newark Airport's ability to accommodate large jet aircraft. The Jersey Jetport Site Association
1296-654: The Dundee Dam at the Eighth Street/Locust Ave Bridge in Wallington where the dredged Wallington Reach channel begins. Proceeding beyond the Wallington Reach, the river remains navigable via a series of maintained channels to its final destination, Newark Bay . It passes Passaic , Clifton again, then Nutley and Belleville on the west; it flows past Rutherford , Lyndhurst , and North Arlington to
1350-672: The Rockaway is joined by its own tributary, the Whippany River . Southwest of Lincoln Park it passes through the Great Piece Meadows , where it turns abruptly eastward and is joined at Two Bridges by its major tributary, the Pompton River , then meandering through Little Falls, New Jersey as it drops over a fall, across some rapids, and under Passaic County Route 646 and an abandoned railroad trestle . The river flows northeast into
1404-400: The abandoned buildings and factories that relied on the Passaic years ago. In addition to the river and the decaying structures that surround it, he also researched murders that involved the Passaic River, including the horrific case of Jonathan Zarate, who attempted to dump the mutilated body of his 16-year-old neighbor in the river but was thwarted by a police officer who happened to pass by at
1458-465: The area as New Netherlands and they traded with the natives. Later, British settlers came, establishing dominion over what they called the Province of New Jersey . The refuge includes about one-quarter of the Great Swamp 55-square-mile (140 km ) watershed that gives rise to the Passaic River . The watershed touches ten modern communities, many of which were settled by European colonists long before
1512-455: The boundary between Morris and Somerset counties. In its current path, it passes through the southeast edge and drains Lord Stirling Park then along the western edge of the Great Swamp , which it drains through several small tributaries including Black Brook. The river passes through a gorge in Millington and then turns abruptly northeast, flowing through the valley between Long Hill to
1566-501: The city of Paterson , where it drops over the Great Falls of the Passaic . On the north end of Paterson, it turns abruptly south, flowing between Paterson and Clifton on the west and Hawthorne , Fair Lawn , Elmwood Park , Garfield on the east, next through the city of Clifton. At Elmwood Park it begins to form Dundee Lake , created by the Dundee Dam built in 1845. The river becomes navigable 2.5 miles (4.0 km) downstream of
1620-518: The course of the Passaic River , which had drained a swamp that predated the lake. A range of mountains to the west of Morristown formed the western boundary of the new lake and the most easterly line of the Watchung Mountains became the eastern boundary. The tops of some of the Watchung range became islands in the great lake. Water that had vented through the Watchung range, or to its south, found
1674-534: The decline of industry along the river, it still suffers from substantial degradation of water quality . The sediment at the mouth of the river near Newark Bay remains contaminated by pollutants such as dioxin . The dioxin was generated principally by the Diamond Shamrock Chemical Plant in Newark, as a waste product resulting from the production of the Agent Orange defoliation chemical used during
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1728-404: The early emergence of the area as the center of industrial mills. Much of the lower river suffered severe pollution during the 19th and 20th centuries because of industrial waste discharges to the river and improper waste disposal practices on adjacent land. Although the health of the river has improved due to implementation of the 1972 Clean Water Act and other environmental legislation , and
1782-474: The east. In its lowest reaches, it flows along the northeast portion of the city of Newark on the west, passing Kearny , East Newark , and Harrison on the eastern bank. Near downtown Newark it makes an abrupt easterly bend, then south around Ironbound , joining the Hackensack River at the northern end of Newark Bay, a back bay of New York Harbor . The Passaic River formed as a result of drainage from
1836-564: The efforts of these residents, whom he described as having mounted the greatest effort ever made by residents in America to protect a natural habitat, and later, on May 29, 1964, as the Secretary of the Interior , he oversaw its dedication as a refuge. The initial donation was 2,600 acres (11 km ), which assured its protection as a refuge and the acquisition of additional lands continued. In 1960, Representative Peter Frelinghuysen, Jr. , whose estate
1890-578: The fish could be trapped. Many of these archeological sites are still present and, in some cases, in good condition. The river was highly significant in the early industrial development of New Jersey. It provided a navigable route connected by canals to the Delaware River starting in the late 18th century. It also was an early source of hydropower at the Great Falls of the Passaic in Paterson, resulting in
1944-500: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Acquackanonk&oldid=932671977 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Passaic River The Passaic River ( / p ə ˈ s eɪ . ɪ k / pə- SAY -ik or locally / p ə ˈ s eɪ k / pə- SAYK )
1998-445: The lower few miles (kilometers) of the river mainly are industrialized. The Passaic River is known for chronic flooding problems during periods of heavy rainfall or snow-melt, especially where the Pompton River joins the Passaic River on the border of Fairfield, Lincoln Park, and Wayne . The two rivers form a sizable flood plain in this area. Building has been allowed in the flood plain and during extreme weather events that occur on
2052-426: The most urbanized and industrialized areas of the state, including along Downtown Newark . The lower river suffered from severe pollution and industrial abandonment in the 20th century. In April 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $ 1.7 billion plan to remove 4.3 million cubic yards (3.3 million cubic metres) of toxic mud from the bottom of lower eight miles (13 km) of
2106-409: The nation and one of the biggest clean-ups project ever undertaken. The decline of manufacturing on the lower river has left a post-industrial landscape of abandoned and disused factories and other facilities. In particular, the stretch of the river along downtown Newark came to be regarded in the latter decades of the 20th century as particularly wretched. Starting in the 1990s, the lower river became
2160-564: The park service of the federal government was declared a National Natural Landmark in May 1966. More land has been added several times. Its eastern half (3,660 acres (14.8 km )) was designated as a wilderness area by Congress in 1968, making it the first wilderness area within the Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service , an agency within
2214-465: The retreating Wisconsin Glacier at the end of the last ice age . The glacier had pushed a moraine ahead of its advance, a rubble of soil and rocks that plugged the existing outlet for the waters that drained into the area of the watershed. As the retreating glacier melted, the waters rose to create the lake before a new outlet began to allow the water to exit at a much higher elevation. The plug altered
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2268-637: The river, above Summit and Chatham, are more natural in appearance and the river has more of a young river character in places. The middle portion of the river flows through natural marshlands and forested areas in Essex County, which are generally inaccessible, and then through heavily populated areas of Passaic County where it is accessible via parallel roads and parks. Lower portions of the river, south of Paterson are wider, more industrialized, and more mature in nature. Kearny Riverbank Park and Riverbank Park in Newark both provide waterfront access. The banks of
2322-475: The river. In 2013, several corporate defendants agreed to pay the State of New Jersey $ 130 million for ecological damages related to Passaic River pollution. However, it is unclear as to whether the state will actually use this money for clean-up efforts. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) issued notices in 2009 banning commercial fishing and advising the general public that fish caught in
2376-405: The river. It is considered one of the most polluted stretches of water in the nation, and the project is one of the largest toxic cleanups ever undertaken in the nation. The Passaic River rises in the center of Mendham , in southern Morris County . According to Google Maps the river begins at Dubourg Pond located on private land between Spring Hill Road and Hardscrabble Road. This pond is fed by
2430-526: The run in the 2004 short story, "From Out of the River", by beat laureate Spencer Hash. The river, and especially its Great Falls, plays a large part in William Carlos Williams 's epic poem Paterson . From 2006 to 2008, writer Wheeler Antabanez traveled the Passaic River and its shores, chronicling his adventures in a special issue of Weird NJ magazine. Nightshade on the Passaic was released as
2484-673: The sport of rowing on the Passaic River. In 1999, the Passaic River Rowing Association became the second rowing club along the banks of the Lower Passaic River. Today, the rowing community is very active through the two Rowing Clubs ( Nereid Boat Club and Passaic River Rowing Association) and ten high school crews that include Kearny, Belleville, Nutley, Don Bosco Prep , St. Peter's Preparatory School , Montclair, Ridgewood, Teaneck, Westfield, North Arlington (2012-13 School Year), and St. Benedict's Prep . The Passaic River
2538-524: The subject of federal and state urban restoration efforts, which have resulted in new construction along the riverfront, the city of Newark has constructed a riverfront walk from the Jackson Street Bridge to the Bridge Street Bridge . It is landscaped with trees, plants, flowers, and benches. Construction of office buildings has also taken place, including a regional headquarters building for
2592-409: The tidal Passaic River (from Dundee Dam to the mouth at Newark Bay) should not be eaten. The fish consumption advisories remain in effect as of 2020. In April 2014 EPA announced a $ 1.7 billion plan to remove 4.3 million cubic yards (3.3 × 10 ^ m ) of toxic mud from the bottom of lower eight miles (13 km) of the river. It is considered one of the most polluted stretches of water in
2646-590: The time. (As encountered traveling upstream to its source): Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is located in Morris County , New Jersey , United States. Established in 1960, it is among what has grown to be more than 550 refuges in the United States National Wildlife Refuge System . The first part of the Great Swamp that was assembled and donated for perpetual preservation by
2700-579: The west and the Second Watchung Mountain to the east. It forms the boundary between Morris and Union counties as it passes Berkeley Heights , New Providence , and Summit . Near Chatham it turns north, forming the boundary between Morris and Essex counties. It passes Livingston and Fairfield , where it flows through the Hatfield Swamp and is joined by the Rockaway River just after
2754-416: Was another flood with a 14.19 feet (4.33 m) crest. The flood control issue had been considered as far back as 1870 and there were studies in 1939, 1948, 1962, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1987, and 1995 with minimum results from report suggestions. A poem about the river was written by John Alleyne Macnab in 1890, and put to music by Fountains of Wayne . The river hosted a group of Inuit plantation workers on
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#17328512903932808-485: Was in the area targeted for development also joined the effort. By the end of 2010, the extent of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge had grown to nearly 7,800 acres (32 km ) of varied habitats . It lies within the Northeastern coastal forests ecoregion . When the remainder of the area donated was dedicated on September 9, 1968, it was the first refuge to receive wilderness designation. The Great Swamp
2862-465: Was severe flooding of the river. On October 10, 1903, one of the worst floods on record happened. The water crest was 17.50 feet (5.33 m) and severe flooding of Little Falls, Paterson, as well as many other areas along the river. Other high crests were: 12.91 feet (3.93 m) on April 7, 1984; 11.88 feet (3.62 m) on April 18, 2007; and 11.87 feet (3.62 m) on March 16, 2010. On April 23, 2010, Governor Chris Christie issued an order creating
2916-603: Was the first to form in opposition. Their efforts to prevent the development of an airport in the swamp became public knowledge on December 3, 1959, when four of its members ( Kafi Benz , Joan Kelly, Esty Weiss, and Betty White ) were expelled from a meeting at the Essex House in Newark that had been organized to generate support for its construction. The JJSA activity was followed closely by an influential sister organization when (because of connections with Marcellus Hartley Dodge, Sr. ,
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