Great Ecology served as the ecological consultant for a 185-acre Brownfield to Greenfield project in Woodbridge, NJ. The firm was involved in multiple complex aspects of the project, most notably leading the strategy, permitting, design, and adaptive management planning of a 50-acre wetland restoration and creation to offset wetland impacts incurred during site remediation activities. Prior to design development, Great Ecology performed extensive ecological investigations including multiple functional analyses, wetland delineation, surface water monitoring, soil analysis, and avian, benthic, reptile and amphibian surveys. Recommendations were developed based on this analysis that weighed potential ecological uplift, estimated construction and maintenance costs, and anticipated long-term success. We ultimately designed a complex habitat restoration program including freshwater wetland enhancement, creation and restoration, and tidal wetland enhancement.
Great Ecology staff also designed a system of trails and boardwalks to be integrated into the restoration, providing Woodbridge Township with its first public access to the Raritan River in 100 years. In addition, Great Ecology worked with the local School District to implement greenhouse curricula. Our team obtained local, state and federal permits for remedial and compensatory mitigation and conducted extensive stakeholder outreach with non-profit organizations, neighbors, multiple government agencies, and municipal planners.
