New Jersey restores 112 acres along Raritan River with thousands of native plants
A 112-acre floodplain restoration near the Raritan River in Hillsborough is underway, planting about 50,000 native trees and shrubs and creating vernal pools.
Under a settlement involving the U.S. Justice Department, New Jersey and Wyeth Holdings, a 112-acre restoration along the Raritan River is being implemented on land owned by Duke Farms. The effort aims to replace forest and wetland habitats degraded by historic contamination from the American Cyanamid Superfund Site. Plans include planting roughly 50,000 native trees and shrubs, removing invasive plants, and establishing three acres of vernal pools for amphibians.
Additional measures such as a deer fence and pollinator seed mixes will support wildlife, while a 15-year monitoring program will guide adaptive management. The trustees—US Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA and NJDEP—will oversee the work, which also seeks to improve water quality and flood resilience.
Why it matters
Restoring the floodplain helps repair ecological damage, boosts wildlife habitat, and enhances river water quality for local communities.
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