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FACT SHEET - Newark Bay, Hackensack and Passaic Rivers, New Jersey

Newark Bay Channels Federal Navigation Channel Maintenance and Stewardship

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
Published Dec. 20, 2023

DESCRIPTION:  Several channels comprise this high-use deep draft asset.  The Newark Bay Channels includes the following channels:

  1. A main channel, from the junction with the Kill Van Kull, 50 ft deep and 1,650 feet wide for a length of about 2.4 miles; thence 40 ft deep, 800 ft wide to the branch channel at Port Newark, thence 35 ft. deep, 500 ft wide, to a turning basin at the junction of the Hackensack and Passaic River channels, total length about 4.7 miles.
  2. A branch channel at Port Newark (Port Newark Branch Channel) 40 ft deep, 800 ft wide, leading to an inshore channel, 400 ft wide, total length 1.6 miles.
  3. A branch channel (Elizabeth Channel) 50 ft deep, 500 ft wide, leading to an inshore channel, 400 ft wide, total length 1.4 miles.
  4. A pierhead channel (Port Newark Pierhead Channel) 40 ft deep, 200 ft wide, between the Port Newark and Elizabeth branch channels, length 4,100 ft.
  5. A branch channel (South Elizabeth Channel) 50 ft deep leading to inshore reach of South Elizabeth channel 45 ft deep, 290 ft wide and 0.6 mile long.

AUTHORIZATION:   The 35 ft and 40 ft Newark Bay Channels were authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Acts of 1922 and subsequently modified on 1943, 1954, 1964, 1966, 1975, 1985 and Water Resources Development Acts of 1986 and 1990.  The 50-foot project of New York and New Jersey Harbor - Newark Bay Channel was authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 2000. 

COMMERCE:  This asset supports deep-draft commercial navigation to the Port of New York and New Jersey.  In 2021, approximately 52.8 million tons of bulk cargo was transported through the approach channels into Port Newark and Port Elizabeth (2021 Waterborne Commerce Data).  Other major commodities include coal, food products, manufactured goods and equipment, vehicles, and crude materials. 

BACKGROUND:  Last maintenance dredging cycle included the critically shoaled areas in the main channel and branch channel at Port Newark performed in 2023.

The previous maintenance dredging cycle included the critically shoaled areas in the Port Newark approach channels done in 2021 & 2022 with dredged materials placed at upland permitted sites.  Prior maintenance dredging cycle included the critically shoaled areas in the Port Newark approach channels in 2020

STATUS:  In FY2024 funds will be used for commonly performed Operations & Maintenance (O&M) work including solicitation and award of a maintenance dredging contract in FY2024.  Funds are also being used to close out the contract awarded in FY2023; monitoring of the channel shoaling conditions and coordination with the users and stakeholders; production of an annual hydrographic condition survey, and publication of the Controlling Depth Report on the District’s website below.  https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Controlling-Depth-Reports/

         

CONTACT:  

Jun Yan, P.E.
Asset / Project Manager
P: (917) 790-8437
Email:  
jun.yan@usace.army.mil
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
http://www.nan.usace.army.mil
 

District Area: NJ # 8, 10