Passaic River
Encyclopedia
The Passaic River is a mature surface river
, approximately 80 mi (129 km) 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, called the Great Swamp, draining much of the northern portion of the state through its tributaries. In its lower portion, it flows through 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 twentieth century.
, in southern Morris County
. Initially, it generally flows south, through Morristown National Historical Park
, and forms the boundary between Morris and Somerset
counties. In its current path, it passes along the western edge of the Great Swamp
, which it drains through several small tributaries. The river passes through a gorge in Millington
and then turns abruptly northeast, flowing through the valley
between Long Hill
to 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 West Caldwell
, where it flows through the Hatfield Swamp
and is joined by the Rockaway 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
.
The river flows northeast into 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 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 two and a half miles downstream of 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, New Jersey
to the east.
In its lowest reaches, it flows along the northeast portion of the city of Newark on the west, passing Kearny
and Harrison, New Jersey
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
.
that formed in Northern New 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 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.
groups now known as the Acquackanonk and Hackensack, who used the river for fishing. To that end they built weir
s, or overflow dams, to create pools and where the fish could be trapped. Many of theses archeological sites are still present and in some cases in good condition.
starting in the late eighteenth century. It also was an early source of hydropower
at the Great Falls of the Passaic in Paterson
, resulting in the early emergence of the area as the center of industrial mills.
during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries because of the development. Although the health of the river has improved due to enactment of the 1972 Clean Water Act
and other environmental legislation, and 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 such pollutants 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 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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 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 the river.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
(NJDEP) has issued notices banning commercial fishing and advising the general public that fish caught in the tidal Passaic River (from Dundee Dam to the mouth at Newark Bay) should not be eaten.
The Lower Passaic river also suffers from trash and litter that is either swept into the river by wind and rain, or enters the river by means of combined sewer overflow
s. It is speculated that most of the trash is litter coming from passing motorists and nearby streets.
.
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, Belleville, and Nutley High Schools and, in 1990, the historic Nereid Boat Club (originally founded in 1868) was revived, broadening participation in 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 eight high school crews that include Kearny, Belleville, Nutley, Don Bosco Prep, Montclair, Ridgewood, Teaneck, and Westfield.
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 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 a number of county parks. One notable park is called 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 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 marsh lands 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. The banks of the lower few miles of the river mainly are industrialized.
. 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 a fairly regular basis, homes and businesses in the flood plain become flooded. A plan has been proposed to build the massive 20 mile (32 km) structure, the Passaic River Flood Tunnel
, to divert the periodic flood waters southeastly into Newark Bay, thus relieving these flooding problems upstream. Some residents have accepted buy-outs from the federal government while the concept of constructing 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.
by briana corrochano
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 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 Huck Finn
-style adventure story.
In his canoe, Nightshade, Antabanez visits the most dangerous parts of the Passaic, along with several of 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 the time.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
, approximately 80 mi (129 km) long, in northern 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The river in its upper course flows in a highly circuitous route, meandering through the swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or 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 portion, it flows through the most urbanized
Urbanized
Urbanized is a 2011 documentary film by Gary Hustwit released on 26 October 2011 and considered the third of a three-part series on design known as the Design Trilogy, the first being Helvetica about the typeface and the second being Objectified about industrial design.The documentary discusses...
and industrialized areas of the state, including along downtown Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. The lower river suffered from severe pollution
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
and industrial abandonment in the twentieth century.
Course
The Passaic rises in the center of MendhamMendham, New Jersey
Mendham is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 Census, the borough population was 5,097.While New Jersey was an English colony, Mendham Township was formed on March 29, 1749 as a new governmental entity, from portions of Hanover Township, Morris Township,...
, in southern Morris County
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....
. Initially, it generally flows south, through Morristown National Historical Park
Morristown National Historical Park
Morristown National Historical Park consists of three sites, the Ford Mansion, Fort Nonsense, and Jockey Hollow that were important during the American Revolutionary War, which began in 1775 and was ended in 1783 by the Treaty of Paris...
, and forms the boundary between Morris and Somerset
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
counties. In its current path, it passes along the western edge of the Great Swamp
Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is located in Morris County, New Jersey. Established in 1960, it is one of more than 550 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System.The refuge was declared a National Natural Landmark in May 1966...
, which it drains through several small tributaries. The river passes through a gorge in Millington
Millington, New Jersey
Millington is an unincorporated area within Long Hill Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 07946. As of the United States Census, 2000, the population for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 07946 was 3,000...
and then turns abruptly northeast, flowing through the valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
between Long Hill
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...
to the west and the Second Watchung Mountain
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...
to the east.
It forms the boundary between Morris and Union counties as it passes Berkeley Heights
Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Berkeley Heights is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 13,183....
, New Providence
New Providence, New Jersey
New Providence is a borough on the northwestern edge of Union County, New Jersey, United States. It is located on the Passaic River, which forms the county boundary with Morris County...
, and Summit
Summit, New Jersey
Summit is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 21,457. Summit had the 16th-highest per capita income in the state as of the 2000 Census....
. Near Chatham
Chatham, New Jersey
Chatham refers to two neighboring municipalities in Morris County, New Jersey – Chatham Borough and Chatham Township. The two are separate municipalities, the first a municipality that was settled in 1710 as a colonial English village in the Province of New Jersey...
it turns north, forming the boundary between Morris 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. It passes Livingston
Livingston, New Jersey
Livingston is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 29,366.Livingston was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 5, 1813, from portions of Caldwell Township and Springfield...
and West Caldwell
West Caldwell, New Jersey
West Caldwell is an township located in the West Essex area in northwestern Essex County, New Jersey. It is located approximately west of Manhattan and six miles northwest of Newark...
, where it flows through the Hatfield Swamp
Hatfield Swamp
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.-Geology:...
and is joined by the Rockaway River
Rockaway River
The Rockaway River is a tributary of the Passaic River, approximately 35 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. The upper course of the river flows through a wooded mountainous valley, whereas the lower course flows through the populated New Jersey suburbs and former industrial...
. Southwest of Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park, New Jersey
Lincoln Park is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 10,930....
it passes through the Great Piece Meadows
Great Piece Meadows
Great Piece Meadows is a fresh water swamp located in Morris and Essex Counties, New Jersey. The wooded swamp is mostly inside the bow of the Passaic River which floods during the year from heavy rain or heavy snow melt.-Geology:...
, where it turns abruptly eastward and is joined at Two Bridges by its major tributary, the Pompton River
Pompton River
The Pompton River is a tributary of the Passaic River, approximately 8 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States....
.
The river flows northeast into the city of Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, where it drops over the Great Falls of the Passaic
Great Falls of the Passaic River
The Great Falls of the Passaic River is a prominent waterfall, high, on the Passaic River in the city of Paterson in Passaic County in northern New Jersey in the United States. The Congress authorized its establishment as a National Historical Park in 2009...
. On the north end of Paterson, it turns abruptly south, flowing between Paterson and Clifton
Clifton, New Jersey
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 84,136. The 2010 population represented an increase of 5,464 residents from its population of 78,672 in the 2000 Census, making it the state's 11th largest...
on the west and Fair Lawn, Elmwood Park
Elmwood Park, New Jersey
Elmwood Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 19,403....
, Garfield
Garfield, New Jersey
Garfield is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 30,487.When the area that is now Garfield was first developed in 1873, it was known as East Passaic. In 1881, the community's name was changed to Garfield in honor of...
on the east, next through the city of Clifton
Clifton, New Jersey
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 84,136. The 2010 population represented an increase of 5,464 residents from its population of 78,672 in the 2000 Census, making it the state's 11th largest...
. At Elmwood Park
Elmwood Park, New Jersey
Elmwood Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 19,403....
it begins to form Dundee Lake, created by the Dundee Dam built in 1845. The river becomes navigable two and a half miles downstream of the Dundee Dam at the Eighth Street/Locust Ave Bridge in Wallington
Wallington, New Jersey
Wallington is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 11,335.Wallington was created as a borough on January 2, 1895 , at the height of the "Boroughitis" fever then sweeping through Bergen County...
where the dredged Wallington Reach channel
Channel (geography)
In physical geography, a channel is the physical confine of a river, slough or ocean strait consisting of a bed and banks.A channel is also the natural or human-made deeper course through a reef, sand bar, bay, or any shallow body of water...
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
Passaic, New Jersey
Passaic is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 69,781, maintaining its status as the 15th largest municipality in New Jersey with an increase of 1,920 residents from the 2000 Census population of 67,861...
, Clifton again, then Nutley
Nutley, New Jersey
2010 Census Data:*TOTAL: 28,370 or 100%*White: 23,405 *African American: 628 *Asian: 2,824 *American Indian and Alaska Native: 36 *Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 4...
and Belleville
Belleville, New Jersey
Belleville is a Township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 35,926.-History:...
on the west; it flows past Rutherford
Rutherford, New Jersey
Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 18,061. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
, Lyndhurst
Lyndhurst, New Jersey
Lyndhurst is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 20,554.Lyndhurst was originally formed as Union Township on February 19, 1852 from portions of Harrison Township...
and North Arlington, New Jersey
North Arlington, New Jersey
North Arlington is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 15,392...
to the east.
In its lowest reaches, it flows along the northeast portion of the city of Newark on the west, passing Kearny
Kearny, New Jersey
Kearny is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. It was named after Civil War general Philip Kearny. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population was 40,684. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark....
and Harrison, New Jersey
Harrison, New Jersey
Harrison is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 13,620. The town is a suburb of the nearby city of Newark, New Jersey.-Geography:Harrison is located at ....
on the eastern bank. Near downtown Newark it makes an abrupt easterly bend, then south around Ironbound
Ironbound
The Ironbound is a large working-class neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey. This close-knit, multi-ethnic community covers approximately four square miles . Historically, the area was called "Dutch Neck," "Down Neck," or simply "the Neck," because of the way the Passaic River curved to form what...
, joining the Hackensack River
Hackensack River
The Hackensack River is a river, approximately 45 miles long, in the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey, emptying into Newark Bay, a back chamber of New York Harbor. The watershed of the river includes part of the suburban area outside New York City just west of the lower Hudson River,...
at the northern end of Newark Bay
Newark Bay
Newark Bay is a tidal bay at the confluence of the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers in northeastern New Jersey. It is home to the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, the largest container shipping facility in Port of New York and New Jersey, 3rd largest and one of busiest in the United States...
, a back bay of New York Harbor
New York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
.
Geology
The Passaic River formed as a result of drainage from a massive proglacial lakeProglacial lake
In geology, a proglacial lake is a lake formed either by the damming action of a moraine or ice dam during the retreat of a melting glacier, or by meltwater trapped against an ice sheet due to isostatic depression of the crust around the ice...
that formed in Northern New Jersey at the end of the last ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
, approximately 13,000 years ago. That prehistoric lake is now known as 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...
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 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.
Native American weirs
Prior to European colonialization along the Passaic in the late 17th century, the valley was the terrritory of the LenapeLenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
groups now known as the Acquackanonk and Hackensack, who used the river for fishing. To that end they built weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
s, or overflow dams, to create pools and where the fish could be trapped. Many of theses archeological sites are still present and in some cases in good condition.
Economic development
The river was highly significant in the early industrial development of New Jersey. It provided a navigable route connected by canals to the Delaware RiverDelaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
starting in the late eighteenth century. It also was an early source of hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
at the Great Falls of the Passaic in Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, resulting in the early emergence of the area as the center of industrial mills.
Pollution
Much of the lower river suffered severe pollutionWater pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries because of the development. Although the health of the river has improved due to enactment of the 1972 Clean Water Act
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Commonly abbreviated as the CWA, the act established the goals of eliminating releases of high amounts of toxic substances into water, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that...
and other environmental legislation, and the decline of industry along the river, it still suffers from substantial degradation of water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
. The sediment at the mouth of the river near Newark Bay remains contaminated by such pollutants 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
Agent Orange
Agent Orange is the code name for one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. Vietnam estimates 400,000 people were killed or maimed, and 500,000 children born with birth...
defoliation chemical used during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. The cleanup of the dioxin contamination on the bottom of the river is the subject of a major environmental lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
regarding the responsibility for the cleanup. In 2008 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached a settlement with Occidental Chemical Corporation and Tierra Solutions Inc. to clean a portion of the polluted river. A New Jersey Superior Court
New Jersey Superior Court
The Superior Court is the state court in the U.S. state of New Jersey, with state-wide trial and appellate jurisdiction. The Superior Court has three divisions: the Appellate Division is essentially an intermediate appellate court while the Law and Chancery Divisions function as trial courts...
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 the river.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is a government agency in the U.S. state of New Jersey that is responsible for managing the state's natural resources and addressing issues related to pollution...
(NJDEP) has issued notices banning commercial fishing and advising the general public that fish caught in the tidal Passaic River (from Dundee Dam to the mouth at Newark Bay) should not be eaten.
The Lower Passaic river also suffers from trash and litter that is either swept into the river by wind and rain, or enters the river by means of combined sewer overflow
Combined sewer overflow
A combined sewer is a type of sewer system that collects sanitary sewage and stormwater runoff in a single pipe system. Combined sewers can cause serious water pollution problems due to combined sewer overflows, which are caused by large variations in flow between dry and wet weather...
s. It is speculated that most of the trash is litter coming from passing motorists and nearby streets.
Economic decline and resurgence
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 later decades of the twentieth century as particularly wretched. Starting in the 1990s, the lower river became the subject of federal and state urban restoration efforts, which have resulted in new construction along the riverfront, including a regional headquarters of the FBIFederal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
.
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, Belleville, and Nutley High Schools and, in 1990, the historic Nereid Boat Club (originally founded in 1868) was revived, broadening participation in 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 eight high school crews that include Kearny, Belleville, Nutley, Don Bosco Prep, Montclair, Ridgewood, Teaneck, and Westfield.
Commercial transport on the Lower Passaic hasn't entirely died. On December 3, 2008 a barge was loaded with biodiesel
Biodiesel
Biodiesel refers to a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel consisting of long-chain alkyl esters. Biodiesel is typically made by chemically reacting lipids with an alcohol....
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 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.
Vantage points
Summit, New Jersey
Summit is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 21,457. Summit had the 16th-highest per capita income in the state as of the 2000 Census....
and Chatham
Chatham, New Jersey
Chatham refers to two neighboring municipalities in Morris County, New Jersey – Chatham Borough and Chatham Township. The two are separate municipalities, the first a municipality that was settled in 1710 as a colonial English village in the Province of New Jersey...
. 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 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 marsh lands and forested areas in Essex County
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...
, 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. The banks of the lower few miles of the river mainly are industrialized.
Flooding problems
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 in Wayne, New JerseyWayne, New Jersey
Wayne is a Township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, located less than from midtown Manhattan. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 54,069....
. 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 a fairly regular basis, homes and businesses in the flood plain become flooded. A plan has been proposed to build the massive 20 mile (32 km) structure, the Passaic River Flood Tunnel
Passaic River Flood Tunnel
The Passaic River Flood Tunnel is a proposal for a flood relief tunnel from the central portion of the Passaic River basin in Passaic County, New Jersey in an area where a number of large tributary rivers join the Passaic River and severe flooding occasionally occurs...
, to divert the periodic flood waters southeastly into Newark Bay, thus relieving these flooding problems upstream. Some residents have accepted buy-outs from the federal government while the concept of constructing 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
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
continues to be developed.
Little Falls River Gauge
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.by briana corrochano
Nightshade on the Passaic
From 2006 to 2008, writer Wheeler AntabanezWheeler Antabanez
Wheeler Antabanez is the alter-ego and pen name for Montclair, New Jersey-based writer Matt Kent . Antabanez is best known as the author of best selling special issue of Weird NJ, Nightshade on the Passaic and gasstationthoughts and The Daily Journal Of Wheeler Antabanez, published by Barricade...
traveled the Passaic River and its shores, chronicling his adventures in a special issue of Weird NJ
Weird NJ
Weird NJ is the title of a semi-annual magazine and two paranormal travel guides that chronicle local legends, hauntings, ghost stories, folklore and anything considered "weird" in the U.S. state of New Jersey....
magazine. Nightshade on the Passaic was released as 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 Huck Finn
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel by Mark Twain, first published in England in December 1884 and in the United States in February 1885. Commonly named among the Great American Novels, the work is among the first in major American literature to be written in the vernacular, characterized by...
-style adventure story.
In his canoe, Nightshade, Antabanez visits the most dangerous parts of the Passaic, along with several of 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 the time.
Tributaries
(As encountered travelling upstream to its source):- First RiverFirst RiverThe First River, in the state of New Jersey in the United States, is the first main tributary of the Passaic River encountered while travelling upstream from its mouth at Newark Bay....
(a.k.a. Mill Brook) - Second RiverSecond River (New Jersey)The Second River, or Watsessing River, in the state of New Jersey in the United States, is the second main tributary of the Passaic River encountered while travelling upstream from its mouth at Newark Bay....
- Third RiverThird River (New Jersey)The Third River is the third main tributary of the Passaic River in the northern portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has also been known as the Yantecaw River....
or Yanticaw River - McDonalds Brook
- Weasel Brook
- Saddle River
- Ho-Ho-Kus BrookHo-Ho-Kus BrookHo-Ho-Kus Brook is a tributary of the Saddle River in Bergen County, New Jersey in the United States.Ho-Ho-Kus Brook originates in Mahwah and joins the Saddle River at the Dunkerhook area of Saddle River County Park...
- Ho-Ho-Kus Brook
- Fleischer Brook
- Lyncrest Brook
- Little Diamond BrookLittle Diamond BrookLittle Diamond Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River which flows south through a section of Bergen County in New Jersey. Heading up the approximately two mile long brook from the Passaic River, one encounters the towns of Fair Lawn and Glen Rock....
- Diamond BrookDiamond BrookDiamond Brook, also known as Bass Brook, is a tributary of the Passaic River which flows south through a section of Bergen County in New Jersey, USA...
- Stevenson BrookStevenson BrookStevenson Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River in Hawthorne, Passaic County, New Jersey in the United States.Stevenson Brook is one half mile long and once flowed unobstructed from the Diamond Bridge Avenue area of Hawthorne south to the Passaic River, but a significant portion of the brook...
- Goffle BrookGoffle BrookGoffle Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River which flows south through a section of Passaic County and Bergen County in New Jersey and drains the eastern side of the First Watchung Mountain...
- Deep Voll BrookDeep Voll BrookDeep Voll Brook, also known as Deep Brook , is a tributary of Goffle Brook and part of the Passaic River watershed. The brook drains part of the eastern flank of First Watchung Mountain, cutting through portions of Bergen and Passaic county in New Jersey...
- Deep Voll Brook
- Molly Ann BrookMolly Ann BrookMolly Ann Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River which flows south between the northern ranges of First Watchung Mountain and Second Watchung Mountain in Passaic County and Bergen County, New Jersey...
- Squaw Brook
- Slippery Rock BrookSlippery Rock BrookSlippery Rock Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River which flows north as it drains part of the western flank of First Watchung Mountain in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States...
- Peckman RiverPeckman RiverThe Peckman River is a tributary of the Passaic River in Essex and Passaic Counties, New Jersey in the United States.The Peckman River originates in the township of West Orange and flows northeasterly through the townships of Verona, Cedar Grove and Little Falls to its confluence with the Passaic...
- Singac Brook
- Deepavaal Brook
- Pompton RiverPompton RiverThe Pompton River is a tributary of the Passaic River, approximately 8 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States....
- Pequannock RiverPequannock RiverThe Pequannock River is a tributary of the Pompton River, approximately 20 miles long, located in northern New Jersey in the United States....
- Wanaque RiverWanaque RiverThe Wanaque River is a tributary of the Pequannock River in Passaic County in northern New Jersey in the United States....
- Wanaque River
- Ramapo RiverRamapo RiverThe Ramapo River is a tributary of the Pompton River, approximately 30 mi long, in southern New York and northern New Jersey in the United States.-Course:...
- Mahwah RiverMahwah RiverThe Mahwah River runs on a meandering SSW course for about 11 mi from its headwaters just north of the hamlet of Ladentown, New York to its mouth which empties into the Ramapo River in Mahwah, New Jersey, just south of the village of Suffern, New York, and the state line...
- Mahwah River
- Pequannock River
- Rockaway RiverRockaway RiverThe Rockaway River is a tributary of the Passaic River, approximately 35 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. The upper course of the river flows through a wooded mountainous valley, whereas the lower course flows through the populated New Jersey suburbs and former industrial...
- Whippany RiverWhippany RiverThe Whippany River is a tributary of the Rockaway River, approximately 20 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States....
- Whippany River
- Foulerton's BrookFoulerton's BrookFoulerton's Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River in Roseland, New Jersey in the United States.Foulerton's Brook was rerouted during the construction of Interstate 280 to run behind the Essex County Golf Facility.-See also:*List of rivers of New Jersey...
- Spring Garden BrookSpring Garden BrookSpring Garden Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River in Morris County, New Jersey in the United States.Spring Garden Brook flows through the boroughs of Madison and Florham Park.-See also:* List of rivers of New Jersey...
- Slough BrookSlough BrookSlough Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River in Essex County, New Jersey in the United States.Slough Brook flows through a residential area of central Livingston, mostly filled in or culvertised, with streets now covering what was once the course of the stream. Also, most of the water from this...
- Canoe BrookCanoe BrookCanoe Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River. It runs behind several municipal buildings in Livingston, New Jersey such as the police station and town hall. Its average depth is about 6 inches deep, but its water level can rise to well more than a foot during heavy rains.In the early...
- Cory's BrookCory's BrookCory's Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River that has its source in Warren County, New Jersey and forms the boundary of Union County, New Jersey....
- Dead RiverDead River (New Jersey)The Dead River is a tributary of the Passaic River that has its source in Somerset County, New Jersey in the United States. For several miles it forms the northern border of Warren Township with Bernards Township, both in Somerset County. It joins the Passaic just north of Exit 36 of I-78, and the...
- Black BrookBlack Brook (Passaic River)Black Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River that flows through the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Morris County, New Jersey in the United States. Black Brook rises at the north east base of Long Hill, Chatham Township, Morris County, flows westerly along the hill, by a course of 7 or 8...
- Great BrookGreat Brook (New Jersey)Great Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River which passes through Bernardsville, New Jersey.-See also:* List of New Jersey rivers...
- Loantaka BrookLoantaka BrookLoantaka Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River in New Jersey in the United States.The main headwaters of Loantaka Brook arise in Morris Township between Route 124 and Woodland Avenue in the area just below the medical office parks on the south side of Madison Avenue...
- Primrose BrookPrimrose BrookPrimrose Brook is a tributary of the Passaic River located in the Jockey Hollow section of the Morristown National Historical Park of northern New Jersey. Arising near Post House Rd in Harding, Primrose Brook flows South South East through Great Swamp to where it meets up with Great Brook in...
- Penns Brook
- Indian Grove Brook
- Naakpunkt Brook
- Salt BrookSalt BrookSalt Brook starts in Summit, New Jersey in the highlands south and west of Memorial Field. It then flows north and then west through Summit. It then flows through New Providence, New Jersey where it joins the Passaic River. Flooding is occasionally a problem along the Salt Brook, especially in...
See also
- List of New Jersey rivers
- Passaic FormationPassaic FormationThe Passaic Formation is a mapped bedrock unit in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. It was previously known as the Brunswick Formation since it was first described in the vicinity of New Brunswick, New Jersey. It is now named for the city of Passaic, New Jersey, which is near where its type...
- List of bridges, tunnels, and cuts in Hudson County, New Jersey
External links
- Lower Passaic River Restoration Project
- Passaic River Coalition
- Passaic River Boat Club
- Passaic River Institute, Montclair State University
- North Jersey District Water Supply Commission
- Delaware and Hudson Canoe and Kayak Club: Passaic River- Source to Mouth
- My Passaic River Kayak Trip - 90 Miles of Fun in Northern New Jersey - June 2000 - by Steve Garufi
- Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
- U.S. Geological Survey: NJ stream gaging stations
- Passaic River Rowing Association (Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 92)