The Secaucus High School Wetlands Enhancement Site is located between Mill Creek Point Park and Secaucus High School. In 1999, the former NJMC leased the 43-acre site from the Town of Secaucus under a 99-year agreement. In 2007, the former Commission ecologically enhanced 31 acres of wetlands at the site. An additional 6.5 acres of undeveloped and unenhanced wetlands lies between this lot and the high school property.
Prior to enhancement, 83 percent of the site was covered by the invasive form of Common Reed (Phragmites). The enhancement design included a diversity of wetland habitats and planting with a variety of native emergent marsh plant species. Other species of vegetation have colonized the location.
A combination of remote sensing and ground-level fieldwork by the former Commission has produced sophisticated representations of the vegetative cover. A survey in 2012 found 27 species of plants at the site. Big Cordgrass and Virginia Glasswort are found at only a few marshes in the Meadowlands. Big Cordgrass was planted at the site and is flourishing. The site is managed to prevent invasive species from taking over again.
The total number of bird species using the site for breeding, wintering, or during migration continues to grow. There were 55 species observed during a baseline study in 2000, with 76 species currently recorded. Eleven of these are classified as NJDEP State endangered, threatened or special concern species, with six of being observed only following enhancement of the site. The number of breeding species also continues to increase, with 14 species in 2012 seen nesting at the site. Cooperative research projects between the former Commission and academic institutions have been carried out at this site following enhancement.
A 1,500-foot elevated boardwalk is used by visitors to walk along the marsh and peer down into a restored urban wetland. The walkway includes observation benches and award-winning wildlife signage on the rails.
