LOCATION: Branch Brook Park is a county park located in the north ward of Newark in Essex County.

PURPOSE: To restore the southern division of the lake shoreline which was severely eroded and inhabited by invasive species.

FUNDING: The NJDEP Office of Natural Resource Restoration contributed $135,000 to the Branch Brook Park Alliance for this project.  The funds  came from a natural resource damage settlement for the Caldwell Trucking Superfund Site in Fairfield, NJ for natural resource injuries to ground water, wetlands and surface water of the Passaic River.  The injury and the restoration project are located in the Lower Passaic and Saddle Watershed Management Area (WMA) 4 in Essex County. Additional funding for the project was provided by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and the Branch Brook Park Alliance.

PROJECT SUMMARY: The shoreline stabilization project started in the spring of 2005, and consisted of two phases:  the removal of invasive species and concrete blocking along the shoreline, and plantings along the sloped portions of the lake edges.  The Branch Brook Park Alliance oversaw the work in the southern part of the park under an agreement with Essex County. Shrubs such as Sweet pepperbush, azaleas, St. Johns wort, high bush blueberry and vibernum were planted along the shoreline bank and below canopy trees to recreate the original Olmstead design of layered plantings for visitors to enjoy. The project also included stabilizing the banks with boulders to create a natural looking shoreline that is ecologically beneficial.  This project was successfully completed in the fall of 2005.

BENEFITS: By preventing erosion from occurring along the stream bank and sedimentation of the lake, the restoration project improves the water quality of the Second River which feeds into the Passaic River   It also provides food and enhances wildlife habitat using native plants.