The Hackensack River and its associated wetlands have been greatly impacted by man. Construction of a dam at Oradell has greatly altered the original river hydrology, and consequently it no longer functions as a "normal" estuarine river. It is now essentially a canal, open fully only at the end adjacent to Newark Bay. Although the river is not fishable due to restrictions imposed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, this estuary is a refuge and nursery area for several

more »

... tant commercial and recreational species, such as striped bass, Atlantic menhaden, weakfish, winter flounder, alewife, and blueback herring, and for two species listed threatened by the State of New Jersey, the Atlantic tomcod and American shad. Contrary to the misconceptions that the Hackensack River is "dead," the data shows that the river is very much alive and supports moderately diverse fish and invertebrate communities.