Restoring connectivity to coastal watersheds improves water quality and habitat and provides passage for migratory fish species
Connectivity between the ocean and freshwater and throughout a watershed is important for migratory fish species, such as anadromous river herring and catadromous American eel. River herring, collectively alewife (Alosa pseudoharegnus) and blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis), spawn in freshwater and migrate to the ocean where they spend several years growing and maturing before returning to freshwater to spawn. River herring are listed as a species of concern. American eel (Anguilla rostrata) spend most of their lives in freshwater systems and migrate to the Sargasso Sea to spawn.
We are working to restore connectivity for passage of river herring and American eel in Wreck Pond, a coastal lake located at the border of Spring Lake and Sea Girt, New Jersey.
We are working to restore connectivity for passage of river herring and American eel in Wreck Pond, a coastal lake located at the border of Spring Lake and Sea Girt, New Jersey.
WRECK POND, Monmouth County, New Jersey
Restoring ConnectivityIn order to restore connectivity between the Pond and the Ocean, we are working with various partners to construct a secondary bypass box culvert 5.5' x 8' x 600' north and parallel to the existing pipe. The box culvert was specifically designed to enhance fish passage opportunities, but will also improve tidal flushing and reduce flooding.
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Fish and Habitat Monitoring and PIT TaggingPre- and post-construction monitoring is being conducted for adult and juvenile river herring and American eel. In 2016, we began tagging river herring with Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags in order to be able to track their movement throughout the watershed with instream antenna arrays. Habitat assessments are being conducted as well to qualify connectivity and spawning habitat in the upper watershed.
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Outreach and EducationOutreach is a major component of this project and we have conducted many in-class and field-based lessons with Communications High School, Wall Township High School, and St. Rose High School among others.
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Funding and PartnershipsFunding for this project is provided by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Borough of Spring Lake. Additional partners include the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), County of Monmouth, Borough of Sea Girt, Leon S. Avakian, and Najarian Associates.
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Visit our partner websites for more information:
- NJ Department of Environmental Protection - www.nj.gov/dep/wreckpond/
- US Fish and Wildlife Service - www.fws.gov/hurricane/sandy/projects/NJDamRemoval.html
| 2015 Wreck Pond Habitat Assessment Report |
| 2015 Wreck Pond Fall Fish Monitoring Final Report |
| 2015 Wreck Pond Spring Fish Monitoring Final Report |
| 2014 Wreck Pond Fall Fish Monitoring Final Report |
| 2014 Wreck Pond Spring Fish Monitoring Final Report |
| 2008 Wreck Pond Spring Fish Monitoring Final Report |
| 2006-2007 Wreck Pond Spring Fish Monitoring Final Report |
