The Passaic River and its surrounding wetlands have been degraded as a result of our nation’s commercial growth that brought industrial development to the Passaic’s shores and surrounding properties. Hundreds, if not thousands, of companies and municipalities have contributed to the distressed condition of the river. Factories, waste sites and municipal sewage treatment plants are just a few of the industries responsible for its degradation. Although these businesses were at the heart of America’s rise to the world’s industrial and economic power, the byproducts of our success included dioxins, PCB’s, lead and mercury, which affected the Passaic’s wildlife and its habitat.
The Passaic River, which stretches from the north down through Passaic County to Newark’s industrial heart, is an ideal pilot for the proposed Passaic Rivers Restoration Initiative (PRRI) as appropriated by Congress.
The PRRI calls for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use its proven methodology in remediating distressed urban waterways to cleanse the lower portion of the river -- from Dundee Dam to Newark Bay -- of compromised sediment. Under the PRRI, the Passaic River can become a national showcase for restoration of urban waterways and wildlife habitat, and can set forth a direct and efficient solution to restore the environmental and ecological value to one of America’s most historic rivers.