Home / Missions / Environmental / Environmental Restoration / Hudson Raritan Estuary

Civil Works Links

HRE - Hudson Raritan Estuary Ecosystem Restoration

Timeline/Status:  

See the HRE Placemat and Fact Sheet for an updated summary of the study background and details (costs, habitat acreage, designs) for the 20 recommended sites. For more information regarding the Study, please contact the Project Manager.

July 23, 2025

Status of the Engineering and Design (E&D) Phase for each specific HRE-Project is as follows:

HRE-Stony Creek Marsh Island (Sponsor: NYCDEP)

  • All field sampling has been completed including:
    • Hydrodynamic data in Jamaica Bay collected by USACE Engineering Research Design Center (ERDC) (May 2023 through May 2024);
    • NYD Survey Branch completed bathymetric surveys (July and December 2023) and topographic surveys utilizing drones (February 2024);
    • Wetland delineation, bio-benchmark surveys and vegetative mapping (October-November 2023) and geotechnical sampling was completed (October 2024).
  • Plans and Specifications (P&S): 30% design package completed (May 2024) and 60% design package was completed in June 2025.
  • Value Engineering (VE) Study was held March 31 through April 4, 2025.  VE Report  was completed April 23, 2025.
  • Next Steps include completion of P&S for construction in coordination with a Navigation Dredging Project (Jamaica Bay O&M Project) for the sand source and construction of the Duck Point Marsh Island Project (pending appropriations). 

HRE-Duck Point Marsh Island (Sponsor: NYCDEP)

  • All field sampling has been completed as indicated October 31, 2024 Update although additional topographic surveys are planned to refine the design.
  • USACE ERDC worked on hydrodynamic modeling and a boat wake analysis (that would continue into 2026) in coordination with Stony Creek Marsh Island. 
  • Plans and Specifications (P&S) were initiated on January 14, 2025.
  • Next Steps include completion of P&S for construction in coordination with a Navigation Dredging Project (Jamaica Bay Operations & Maintenance Project) for the sand source and construction of Stony Creek Marsh Island Project (pending appropriations). 

HRE- Oyster Restoration at Naval Weapons Station Earle (Sponsor: NJDEP and Partner: Navy)

  • All field sampling has been completed as indicated in November 25, 2024 Update.
  • NY/NJ Baykeeper transferred restoration program to Monmouth University (July 2023).
  • 30% Plans and Specifications (P&S) were initiated in July 2023
  • Given evolving state of the science, plans are integrating additional reef structures (including oyster pyramids, 2-Tier Cubes, Natrx Lattice and reef balls) working with Monmouth University and the Billion Oyster Program for seeding structures.
  • Next Steps include completing P&S for construction pending appropriations.

HRE-Flushing Creek (Sponsor: NYCDEP)

  • All field sampling was completed by NYCDEP with Hazen & Sawyer as Work-In-Kind including wetland delineation and bio-benchmark surveys (May 2023) and bathymetric/topographic surveys (June 2024). Geotechnical and Hazardous Toxic Radioactive Waste (HTRW) sampling was planned for winter 2025/2026.
  • Plans and Specifications (P&S) were initiated via an A/E Task Order (with Coastal Partners: CDM Smith, Coastal Engineering Consultants, WSP, Arcadis) on February 20, 2025 and 30% P&S were completed in May 6, 2025 and 60% P&S were completed October 16, 2025.
  • Coastal Partners installed (April 6, 2025) and removed (July 18, 2025) tide gauges at 2 locations in Flushing Creek to inform 60% designs.
  • Future activities will complete P&S for construction pending appropriations.

HRE-Bronx Zoo & Dam/Stone Mill Dam (Sponsor: NYC Parks; Land Managers: NY Botanical Gardens and Wildlife Conservation Society)

  • An Engineering Documentation Report (EDR) was approved on May 1, 2024 to address minor changes to the restoration plan compared to the authorized project.  The project now includes partial removal and  removal of the Bronx Zoo Dam and Stone Mill Dam, respectively, improving fish passage.
  • The NYD is in the contracting process for an A/E Task Order (with Princeton Hydro) to conduct field sampling and completion of Plans and Specifications (P&S) for construction planned for 2028 (pending appropriations).

HRE-Fresh Creek (Sponsor: NYCDEP and Partner: NYC Parks)

  • The NYD is in the contracting process for an A/E Task Order (with Dewberry) to conduct field sampling and completion of Plans and Specifications (P&S) for construction planned for 2028 (pending appropriations).

November 25, 2024

  • HRE- Oyster Restoration at Naval Weapons Station Earle:  Geotechnical borings were completed (November 2-3, 2024) and hydrodynamic instruments (including acoustic doppler current profilers and turbidity sensors) were deployed (November 21, 2024) between the piers to collect data on currents and waves, which will be used to refine the hydrodynamic model. The hydrodynamic model will be used to understand the hydraulic conditions of the installation site and the impact of the oysters on currents and waves. In addition, salinity and turbidity will be monitored to inform the design of the oyster restoration and the development of a long-term monitoring program.

October 31, 2024

  • HRE-Duck Point Marsh Island Restoration: Field Sampling including bathymetric and topographic surveys (August and September 2024), biological surveys (wetland delineation, bio-benchmark surveys, vegetative mapping in September 2024), and geotechnical borings (Completed: October 26-27, 2024) were completed.

May 29, 2024

  • Additional Funding for Engineering and Design was provided for:
    • HRE - Fresh Creek Restoration:   Remaining Federal funds ($2,750,000) to complete the engineering and designs for Fresh Creek Restoration were included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024.  The Fresh Creek authorized Project planned to restore a mosaic of 80 acres of habitat including low marsh, high marsh, scrub/shrub wetlands, maritime forest and bed/channel restoration.  The Design Agreement was executed with NYCDEP on May 29, 2024 for a total of $5,000,000 ($3,250,000 Federal and $1,750,000 Non-Federal) to complete the engineering and design phase.
    • HRE-Duck Point Marsh Island Restoration:  Federal Funds ($2,275,000) were provided in the FY23 Summer Spend Plan for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).  The authorized project plans to restore a mosaic of 47 acres of habitat (low marsh, high marsh, scrub/shrub wetlands, tidal channels and shallows) beneficially using more than 220,000 CYD of dredged material. The Design Agreement was executed with NYCDEP on May 29, 2024 to complete the Engineering and Design phase for a total of $3,500,000 ($2,275,000 Federal and $1,225,000 Non-Federal).   
  • The HRE- Harlem River Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study would be the first Feasibility Study Spin-off for the HRE Program.  $500,000 was allocated in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024.  A Feasibility Cost Share Agreement (FCSA) was planned to be executed with NYCDEP as the local sponsor in 2026.

September 11, 2023

Engineering and Design (E&D) Phase:  The first six (6) restoration sites are currently underway through five (5) projects:

  • HRE-Stony Creek Marsh Island Restoration:  New York District (NYD) and NYCDEP executed a Design Agreement on July 28, 2022 to complete E&D for a total of $3,182,000 ($2,068,300 Federal and $1,113,700 Non-Federal).  The authorized project planned to restore 62 acres of marsh island (low marsh, high marsh, scrub/shrub, tidal channels, shallow water) in Jamaica Bay following placement of >150,000 CYD of dredged material beneficially used from the O&M of the Jamaica Bay Federal Channel for a total project cost of $29,726,000 (FY22 price level).  Funds were appropriated for PED from the FY22 Appropriations bill and the FY22 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 
  • HRE-Flushing Creek Restoration Project: NYD and NYCDEP executed a Design Agreement on July 28, 2022 to complete E&D for a total of $4,198,000 ($2,728,700 Federal and $1,469,300 Non-Federal).  The authorized project planned to restore ~19 acres of a mosaic of habitats (wetlands, scrub/shrub, maritime forest and shallow water habitat) through invasive vegetation removal, re-grading, placement of clean cover/growing media and native plantings for a total project cost of $21,032,000 (FY22 price level).  
  • HRE-Bronx Zoo & Dam and Stone Mill Dam Restoration Project: NYD and NYC Parks executed a Design Agreement on 29 June 2022 to complete E&D for a total of $4,942,000 ($3,212,300 Federal and $1,729,700 Non-Federal).  The authorized project planned to restore fish passage in the Bronx River and restoration of freshwater wetlands, stabilize streambanks and restore channel beds for a total project cost of $19,850,000 (FY22 price level).
  • HRE-Oysters at Naval Station Earle Restoration Project: NYD and NJDEP executed a Design Agreement on 14 September 2022 to complete E&D for a total of $ 2,270,000 ($1,475,500 Federal and $794,500 Non-Federal).  The authorized project planned to restore 10 acres of oyster reefs using oyster castles, shell and gabions for a total project cost of $10,999,000 (FY22 price level). The project will expand an existing smaller pilot reef footprint that was constructed in 2012 by the NY/NJ Baykeeper now managed by Monmouth University.
  • HRE-Fresh Creek Restoration Project: NYD and NYCDEP will execute a Design Agreement (pending) to restore 80 acres of habitat (low marsh, high marsh, scrub/shrub, maritime forest, and bed/channel restoration) within Fresh Creek in Jamaica Bay for a total project cost of $50,987,000 (FY24 price level).  Federal funds ($500,000) were appropriated in the FY2023 Omnibus Energy & Water Bill.