In Passaic County, NJ, E&LP improved the trout habitat within West Brook in Ringwood Borough by supplying plans for a Highlands General Permit #1 with Habitat Creation and Enhancement as well as a Water Quality Certificate. The WindBeam Fishing Club employed E&LP and Urbani Fisheries to restore 2,275 linear feet of degraded trout stream habitat.
Urbani Fisheries is a nationally recognized stream restoration expert, and the firm has designed and managed several successful stream and river restoration projects in New Jersey including the West Brook, Musconetcong River, South and North Branches of the Raritan River, Capoolong Creek, Lamington River, Pequest River, and the Paulinskill River.
The construction work generally consisted of excavation and relocation of soil, stumps, and rocks in order to create deeper pools for fish habitat enhancement. The West Brook is located within the West Brook/Burnt Meadow Brook HUC 14 subwatersheds, and flows southeast across the WindBeam Club property, under Magee Road Bridge, and through the southeastern end of the property before its high flow events resulted in adverse impacts to trout habitat within the upstream reach of West Brook as well as upstream and downstream of Magee Road Bridge. These flow events caused the movement of large debris within the channel, resulting in blocked channels, alteration of channel morphology, and damages to existing structures. Additionally, these events caused floodplain scour and erosion as well as the deposition of sediment as point bars and within pools. Sediment deposition within pool habitat can reduce cold water refuge for trout during the summer months through infilling, resulting in shallower pool depths and warmer water temperatures. Sediment deposition within riffle habitat can reduce suitable spawning habitat through a reduction in interstitial space in stream bed material, which may lead to reduced fry survival and benthic invertebrate production.
Finally, there are a number of stormwater outlets originating from West Brook Road located upstream of, and within, the property that are outlets directly into West Brook. Not only do these outlets discharge sediment laden stormwater during precipitation events, further contributing to the sedimentation of valuable trout habitat, but they also discharge petroleum hydrocarbons from car traffic as well as high pH surface water that further degrade water quality within West Brook. This point source pollution has adverse impacts on trout.
An upstream project area was previously restored in 2013; however, given the impacts from changing climate conditions as well ongoing upstream land uses, an adaptive management approach is being applied to the upstream project area in order to repair, enhance, and fortify the previous restoration project.
With this in mind, the project achieved ecological uplift within West Brook through the following activities:
- Restore the lower reach of West Brook downstream of Magee Road Bridge through the removal of large debris and the remaining wooden dam in Tuckaway Pool and to restore the Lower Home Pool, Tuckaway Pool, Gibson Pool, and Hidden Pool as well as the Medial Bar.
- Repair and enhance trout habitat within the upper reach of the West Brook on the property upstream of Magee Road Bridge by repairing the existing weir that was damaged since 2013, reinstating and reconnecting the thalweg, deepening pool habitat, enhancing spawning habitat, and stabilizing banks.
- Place biofiltration/sediment traps in partnership with Rutgers University and upstream stakeholders to trap excess sediment and petroleum hydrocarbons at outfall locations and to protect against the acidification of West Brook in the vicinity.
- The project dovetails well with other upstream restoration activities, such the Land Conservancy of New Jersey’s restoration of headwater features in the watershed. This project entails relocating the headwaters of West Brook to its original channel and building beaver dam analogs to improve floodplain connectivity and charge the surrounding water table. This project will help buffer downstream fluctuations in discharge and temperature of West Brook.
Additional Highlands Information
West Brook, Gibson Pool after Restoration
West Brook, Hidden Pool after Restoration
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