The Conservation Exchange » wma 05 (hackensack hudson and pascack)

Harsimus Branch Embankment Greenway

admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:28:09 +0000

The Harsimus Branch Embankment is a half-mile-long segmented stone structure that is an out-of-use rail right-of-way. A monarch flyway, its surface has seeded naturally and provides habitat for many bird and animal species in an otherwise built out urban area.

Initially facing City opposition, the Pennsylvania Railroad Harsimus Embankment Preservation Coalition spent several years developing its arguments for preservation and educating the public and elected officials about the structure’s importance to open space preservation, and for flood and CSO control. The Coalition applied for and received historic protections for the structure at the municipal, state, and national level, as well as other recognitions.

The Embankment Preservation Coalition is working with the City of Jersey City to acquire the Embankment for open space, trails, and potential future light rail. The City and Coalition petitioned the Surface Transportation Board challenging Conrail’s sale of the property to a private developer in July 2005. In August 2007 the STB ruled in favor of the petitioners. If ample funds can be raised, the City is expected to acquire the land through negotiation or eminent domain when Conrail goes through the required federal abandonment process.

Ecosystem Services Provided:

Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Mitigation: Carbon sequestration- avoided deforestation; Physical urban climate moderation and air quality- community greening project

Water Protection, Filtration & Control: Water quality and flood control- CSO control, reducing runoff, groundwater recharge

Biological Diversity: Habitat- urban habitat island, monarch flyway

Recreation & Aesthetics: Public access- hiking trails

Total Project Cost: $5-7 million

CRI has provided two grants for this project through its Franklin Parker Small Grants Program: $3000 in 2007, and $3500 in 2010.

Status: The Embankment structure is a Municipal Landmark, is listed on the State Register of Historic Places, and is eligible for the National Register. The Coalition secured these and the following recognitions: NY/NJ Harbor Estuary Program Habitat Workgroup priority acquisition; Hudson County Open Space Plan priority acquisition; Preservation NJ’s “10 Most Endangered Sites” list, 2006; Jersey City Open Space and Recreation Plan priority acquisition. The Embankment project is the subject of lengthy litigation in local and federal courts between Conrail and a developer partner on one side, and the City of Jersey City, the Embankment Preservation Coalition, and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy on the other. The Coalition has also defended the historic and open space asset against local demolition applications. The Coalition is supported by numerous neighborhood organizations and has cooperative relationships with public and private partners throughout the region.

If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.

Four Towns Watershed Stewardship Project

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:44:45 +0000

The focus of this project is the development of a regional approach to stormwater/watershed management. Guided by expertise from Rutgers’ Water Resources Program and Bergen Save the Watershed Action Network (SWAN), decision makers and stakeholders will engage in a series of information sharing workshops that generate tangible, time-driven results. The meetings will culminate with on-the-ground projects requiring the installation of a demonstration rain garden or streambank restoration project within each of the four towns. The outcomes generated by these meetings and hands-on projects will be used to develop educational materials and other media communications designed to promote the adoption of these techniques more broadly throughout the community.

The principal audience for the stewardship workshops will be elected municipal officials; Planning Board members; environmental commissioners; Dept. of Public Works personnel; and town professionals such as engineers and planners. For the hands-on rain garden and streambank projects Bergen SWAN will reach out to educators, garden clubs, community organizations, and other stakeholders for their input and participation.

There is a dire need to bring new ideas on watershed management to local officials and decision makers. Currently, the prevailing mindset concerning flood control and stream management is to regularly dredge stream beds and move the water quickly down the line to the next town. Such traditional methods inadequately address peak flows and quantity, do not at all address water quality, and seriously damage and stress existing ecological communities.

By providing information on best management practices and low impact stormwater management systems, and by promoting watershed-friendly strategies – floodplain buyout programs, humane geese population control, water conservation inside and outside of homes and buildings, the adoption of no-mow zones, native plants, smaller lawn areas, and other alternative landscaping techniques — municipal officials, land managers, and others will be able to build their capacity for addressing stormwater problems with more creative, long range solutions.

Ecosystem Services Provided:

Water Protection, Filtration & Control: Water quality- protection of groundwater recharge areas, restoration of stream buffers, stream bank stabilization, prevention of sedimentation, stormwater projects, reduction of runoff

Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Mitigation: Carbon sequestration- aforestation

Outreach, Recreation & Aesthetics: Environmental education- workshops/training sessions

Total Project Cost: $30,600

CRI granted $4,000 to Bergen SWAN in 2007, and another $4,000 in 2008 for this project through its Franklin Parker Small Grants program.

If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources Inc.