Natco Lake: A brief history and possible redevelopment.

Natco Lake:  A brief history and possible redevelopment.

Natco Lake District concept art

Natco lake is a man made body of water located on the former site of a clay brick mine.  Natco is an acronym of sorts, that stands for the National Fireproofing Company (where did the 'f' go?).  The company which existed through the 1930’s mined the area for clay mud that was rich in alumina and silica.  This mud is the integral ingredient in the creation of fire bricks, used in the creation of heat resistant insulation, ceramics and ovens.  

While mining, earth moving equipment uncovered an underground spring which flooded the pit area.  Pumps were brought in to clear the area but they failed to stem the flow of water.  Eventually, someone got the idea to drain the lake by digging a ditch and connecting to Thorne’s Creek.  Another ditch was dug to connect the Northern and Southern lake halves. 

Unfortunately, they failed to understand the tide table.  While the lake did seem to empty initially, this proved to be a mistake as the tidal creek swelled later in the day and filled the mine with sea water from the brackish creek.  You can still see the remains of a construction crane in the rear portion of the lake, at low tide.  The cost of dewatering the mine was weighed against the declining value of clay and the life cycle of the mine.  Natco abandoned the facility and sold off much of the surrounding property.

The lake has a northern and southern section.  The North is located in Union Beach and West Keansburg while the South is on the other side of Highway 36 in Hazlet.  The Northern section is best accessed via the Henry Hudson Bike Trail that comprises the old Central Jersey Rail Line.  There is no parking allowed on Rose Lane or the Highway 36 and IFF is known to tow those who park in their lot.

The Southern section (Natco Park) is a Green Acres bird sanctuary established in 1978 with public access parking behind the Lakeside Manor Banquet Hall.  There are several trails throughout the area that comprise the lake and portions of Thorne's Creek.   A pair of bald eagles along with several other species of birds make the lake area their home.

Natco Park Preserve, southern section

Although, it is not listed as a Superfund site, the area is rumored to be polluted from the run off of a local chemical plant, allegedly.  I remember as a child, a few friends telling me that they played in the mud by the bank and later had a strange rash on their arms and hands.  Hopefully, time has dissipated the reactive properties of the water here.  While both sections feature an array of bird life, local anglers generally balk at the fish available in Natco.  Although, the abundance of bird life indicates that there must be bait fish at the very least.

Natco Lake Island

While the Southern section is a nature preserve, the Northern section has been left largely untouched other than homeless encampments.  One industrious person even set up camp on the small island in the center of the lake for a few seasons.  I wonder how he survived the Winter out there?  There have been several attempts to develop this area for residential and recreational use.  

One such plan calls for greater public access to the lake for recreation and dredging a new canal, connecting the lake through Thorne's Creek to the Raritan Bay.  The plan was developed by Sasaki Associates, as part of a federal competition to protect flood prone areas from hurricane damage and storm surge.  

The idea is to create a diverse habitat for different species of wildlife while developing tidal creek areas for storm surge.  Sasaki’s plan hopes to integrate ecological concerns with ideas to promote tourism and the local economy by “...making room for future wetlands (which) could offer not only relief for flooding, but also new ecological attractions that can support the local economy. “

Preserving the Jersey Shore

Sasaki Associates, Ecological Engagement Concept Art

Sasaki Associates, Natco Lake Coastal Park Concept Art

Natco Lake at low tide

Sasaki Field Guide

Natco Park Trails

Natco Lake Map

For additional information, see also:

Close Focus on Natco Lake

Natco Lake at NYNJCT Botany Organization

Plan calls for better access to Union Beach lake

What is fire clay and where to get it in nature

Resilience and The Beach

Sasaki Field Guide