Waackaack Creek

Waackaack Creek :  The watershed region of Keansburg

Waackaack (pronounced "Way-kay-ack") which means Land of Plenty in Leni-Lenape, is the original name of the area around Keansburg.  Waackaack is also the name of the creek that runs through it.  The creek starts at the Raritan Bay where it separates into two sections, Waackaack and Thorne.  Both sections weave through the wetlands past Highway 36.  Waackaack threads through Alloco Park in Holmdel and into Middletown, where it terminates at Dorsett Park.

The Leni-Lenape derived much of their diet from food, sourced in the creek.  Although, today most folks see it as a source of recreation rather than sustenance.  Boaters see the creek as a quick access to the bay and anglers take advantage of the cove areas for fish and crab.  However, the creek serves as a conduit for tidal water and storm surge, directing these waters into wetlands where it can be safely absorbed.

While the Waackaack Creek and its surrounding wetlands appear to be nothing more than a swamp to many people, the entire watershed region serves a valuable function.  On a basic level, it helps contain storm water and tidal surge, to prevent coastal flooding.  Wetlands provide water storage and act like a natural sponge.

Further, the area serves as a habitat for diverse fish and wild life.  While this may not seem as great a function as flood control consider this, it also improves the quality of the ground water.  A diverse ecosystem of plants and animals filters sediment, nutrients and pollutants from the water.

Currently, there is work being done on Church Street Bridge, over the creek, which almost collapsed in 2015.  The bridge was 71 years old and constructed of timber, it was last reconditioned in 1966.  The county engineers declared it "structurally deficient" in 2012 with a rating of 33.6 out of 100.  The wood rotted over time and it wasn't until a number of drivers noticed the pot holes were larger & deeper than usual that another inspection of the bridge was made.

The Hazlet road department immediately closed the bridge upon closer examination.  The construction of a new bridge is estimated to take eight months.  However, remember the Bray Avenue Bridge in East Keansburg was out for 42 months, following construction delays and financing problems with the federal government.

Original Bridge on  Stone Road 1912 (Church Street / 10th Ave)

Church Street, aka 10th Ave., aka Stone Road

Church Street Bridge Out

Church Street Bridge repair over Waackaack Creek

The pollution of the creek through fertilizer run off and the dumping of simple organic debris has become a serious matter.  Dumping organic matter like leaves and grass into the creek and wetlands creates problems in a number of ways.   The material becomes soil as it breaks down, this process removes dissolved oxygen that fish need and promotes algae bloom in lakes and ponds down stream. The soil itself promotes greater flooding as it inhibits the wetlands from absorbing storm water and tidal surge.

August of 2016 saw an enormous kill off of fish in the Keansburg Harbor, Thorne and Waackaack Creeks.  The fish died due to low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water which developed from high temperatures and increased organic material.  Dumping leaves and organic debris into the creek increases this affect.  More than 5000 pounds (2.5 tons) of peanut bunker (menhaden) died and had to be disposed of, each weighing only a few ounces.  The cost of disposal was several thousands of dollars.

Thousands of Dead Peanut Bunker

Dead Peanut Bunker (Menhaden)

There are a number of organizations in the area that promote conservation of wetlands and the tidal creeks that comprise the watershed region.  The Bayshore Regional Watershed Council is a non-profit group that promotes the responsible use and preservation of the land while protecting it from poorly planned development and pollution.  NY/NJ Baykeeper are another group that strive to accomplish similar goals.

How can Keansburg promote interest in maintaining the creek and its ecological concerns?  We can create events and activities that promote use and responsible management of the water shed region. Recently, the town added a retaining wall on the creek near Laurel Avenue, protecting the area from further erosion.  The added sidewalk and railing is now utilized by local fisherman and crabbing.

One simple idea to promote interest is to create a launch area for small craft like canoes and kayaks. A kayak & canoe launch would promote public access to the creek.  Public interest would generate tourism through paddling, fishing and bird watching.  Further, ecological concerns would be monitored more closely by those users. The creeks relative isolation makes it easier for polluters. People who use parks and lands have a vested interest in maintaining them.

A proposed Waackaack Creek canoe & kayak launch:  One area to be considered is the tail end of the parking lot in St John's Park (Baseball Field and Skate Park) just off Hwy 36, at the end of in St. John Place.  The area already looks as if it is being prepared, perhaps due to snow plowing in the past Winter?  I imagine the sand is for maintaining the baseball field.  Another possible site is the Church Street Bridge area currently under construction.

St John's Park parking lot

St. John's parking lot, aerial view

12 Ways To Stop Storm Drain Pollution

For additional information see:

Keansburg Parks & Recreation

Why Waackaack Creek Is Worth Preserving

Why Wetlands Are Important

Restore The Raritan Bay

NY/NJ Baykeeper Organization

Hazlet Keansburg Bridge Unsafe Closed

Organic Matter - Low Dissolved Oxygen

Waackaack Fish Kill

Cleanup Of More Than 1 Million Fish

Why Dumping Yard Waste Into Wetlands Is Illegal

N.J. Public Access Handbook

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