Hatfield Swamp
Encyclopedia
Hatfield Swamp is a fresh water wetland
area in the US state of New Jersey
, forming what might be considered the "second bank" of the Passaic River
between Morris
and Essex
counties.
and early Jurassic
periods, when the North American plate separated from the African plate, an aborted rift system was created. The resulting rift valley, known as the Newark Basin
, was filled with alternating layers of red bed sediment and flood basalts
. Over millions of years, the rift valley was faulted, tilted, and eroded, until the edges of the hard flood basalt layers formed ridges. Prior to 20,000 years before the present, an ancestral Passaic River
flowed through a gap in these ridges. This changed when the Wisconsin Glacier
, a massive continental ice sheet which formed during the last ice age, advanced on the region and permanently plugged the gap with glacial rubble
. As the glacier eventually melted back, water pooled behind the ridges (known today as the Watchung Mountains
), forming Glacial Lake Passaic
. After thousands of years, the lake drained leaving behind many swamps with various hardwood trees struggling to take hold, including the Hatfield Swamp.
The area is from 180 feet (54.9 m) above sea level to 160 feet (48.8 m). Latitude 40.85 N and Longitude 74.32 W
The area of Hatfield Swamp is approximately 2500 acres (10.1 km²), located in northern New Jersey.
. During the struggle, the properties of Hetfield an acknowledged Loyalist
, were confiscated and sold to Cyrus Crane. After the death of family member Herbert Crane in the 1960s, the mill was dismantled and moved to Allaire State Park
in Monmouth County , New Jersey.
Muskrats are low in population in the swamp due to several factors. The first is the flooding of the area which fills bank dens with water. The second is the lack of plant foods that the muskrats eat. The third is water pollution, as the three rivers that were once highly polluted has gotten better, however pollutants remain in the soil and water.
Waterfowl that pass through he area in the autumn stop and rest in the swamp before proceeding south.
Fish that inhabit the Rockaway River and Whippany River is carp and catfish.
The area has a northern deciduous forest consisting of various oaks, maples, sweet gum, and elm. Most trees are from six to ten inches (254 mm) , with some going to twenty inches. Due to the constant flooding makes it difficult for hardwood trees to grow.
. Both the Essex County Chapter of the Sierra Club
and the New Jersey Audubon Society lead trips throughout the swamp all year long. Information on trips can be found at the Essex County Environmental Center. The swamp land is very flat so hiking is very easy.
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
area in the US state of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, forming what might be considered the "second bank" of the Passaic River
Passaic River
The Passaic River is a mature surface river, approximately 80 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. 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,...
between Morris
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
and Essex
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
counties.
Geology
During the late TriassicTriassic
The Triassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about 250 to 200 Mya . As the first period of the Mesozoic Era, the Triassic follows the Permian and is followed by the Jurassic. Both the start and end of the Triassic are marked by major extinction events...
and early Jurassic
Jurassic
The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Mya to Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic era, also known as the age of reptiles. The start of the period is marked by...
periods, when the North American plate separated from the African plate, an aborted rift system was created. The resulting rift valley, known as the Newark Basin
Newark Basin
The Newark Basin is a sediment-filled rift basin located mainly in northern New Jersey but also stretching into south-eastern Pennsylvania and southern New York. It is part of the system of Eastern North America Rift Basins.-Geology:...
, was filled with alternating layers of red bed sediment and flood basalts
Flood basalt
A flood basalt or trap basalt is the result of a giant volcanic eruption or series of eruptions that coats large stretches of land or the ocean floor with basalt lava. Flood basalts have occurred on continental scales in prehistory, creating great plateaus and mountain ranges...
. Over millions of years, the rift valley was faulted, tilted, and eroded, until the edges of the hard flood basalt layers formed ridges. Prior to 20,000 years before the present, an ancestral Passaic River
Passaic River
The Passaic River is a mature surface river, approximately 80 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. 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,...
flowed through a gap in these ridges. This changed when the Wisconsin Glacier
Wisconsin glaciation
The last glacial period was the most recent glacial period within the current ice age occurring during the last years of the Pleistocene, from approximately 110,000 to 10,000 years ago....
, a massive continental ice sheet which formed during the last ice age, advanced on the region and permanently plugged the gap with glacial rubble
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
. As the glacier eventually melted back, water pooled behind the ridges (known today as the Watchung Mountains
Watchung Mountains
The Watchung Mountains are a group of three long low ridges of volcanic origin, between 400 ft. and 500 ft. high, lying parallel to each other in northern New Jersey in the United States...
), forming Glacial Lake Passaic
Glacial Lake Passaic
Glacial Lake Passaic was a prehistoric proglacial lake that existed in northern New Jersey in the United States at the end of the last ice age approximately 19,000-14,000 years ago...
. After thousands of years, the lake drained leaving behind many swamps with various hardwood trees struggling to take hold, including the Hatfield Swamp.
Geography
The Whippany River flows into the Rockaway River, at the western end of the swamp. The Rockaway River travels a short distance and then flows into the Passaic River near the center of the swamp. The USGS gaging station is 1.3 miles (2.1 km) downstream of the Rockaway River confluence. At this point the Passaic River drainage is three hundred forty nine square miles. This includes the Rockaway River drainage of one hundred twenty five square miles and the Whippany River drainage of sixty nine square miles.The area is from 180 feet (54.9 m) above sea level to 160 feet (48.8 m). Latitude 40.85 N and Longitude 74.32 W
The area of Hatfield Swamp is approximately 2500 acres (10.1 km²), located in northern New Jersey.
History
The swamp is named for Cornelius Hetfield who owned and operated a mill sometime before the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. During the struggle, the properties of Hetfield an acknowledged Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
, were confiscated and sold to Cyrus Crane. After the death of family member Herbert Crane in the 1960s, the mill was dismantled and moved to Allaire State Park
Allaire State Park
Allaire State Park is a park located in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, near the town of Farmingdale, operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry and is part of the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route. The park is known for its restored 19th century...
in Monmouth County , New Jersey.
Flora and fauna
The Hatfield Swamp floods several times a year, from heavy rain, snow melt in spring, or hurricanes passing through the area. The area is the joining point of three rivers. Due to the flooding, this makes it a difficult place to live for mammals such as deer, raccoons, possums, skunks and fox to live. Most of these animals live on the fringes of the swamp where the ground is higher.Muskrats are low in population in the swamp due to several factors. The first is the flooding of the area which fills bank dens with water. The second is the lack of plant foods that the muskrats eat. The third is water pollution, as the three rivers that were once highly polluted has gotten better, however pollutants remain in the soil and water.
Waterfowl that pass through he area in the autumn stop and rest in the swamp before proceeding south.
Fish that inhabit the Rockaway River and Whippany River is carp and catfish.
The area has a northern deciduous forest consisting of various oaks, maples, sweet gum, and elm. Most trees are from six to ten inches (254 mm) , with some going to twenty inches. Due to the constant flooding makes it difficult for hardwood trees to grow.
Hiking
It is part of West Essex Park and has a number of trails for public hikingHiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
. Both the Essex County Chapter of the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
and the New Jersey Audubon Society lead trips throughout the swamp all year long. Information on trips can be found at the Essex County Environmental Center. The swamp land is very flat so hiking is very easy.