New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary Explained

The New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary, also known as the Hudson-Raritan Estuary, is in the northeastern states of New Jersey and New York on the East Coast of the United States. The system of waterways of the Port of New York and New Jersey forms one of the most intricate natural harbors in the world[1] [2] and one of the busiest ports of the United States. The harbor opens onto the New York Bight in the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast and Long Island Sound to the northeast.

Although the overall form of the estuary remains unchanged from the time of Giovanni da Verrazzano's visit in 1524, all parts have changed at least a little, and some parts, such as Hell Gate and Ellis Island, have been almost completely altered. In the greatest hidden change, the navigational channels have been deepened from the natural depth to . In some places this required blasting of bedrock.[3]

There is an extremely complex system of tides and currents. Both the Bight and the Sound are essentially marine bodies with tides and saltwater, but the Sound compared to the Atlantic is about 20–30% less saline (as an estuary), and the tide is about 3 hours later with as much as 70% more variation. Rivers add a fresher, non-tidal inflow although the tide and brackishness extend well up rivers[4] throughout the extended hydrologic system from Albany to Montauk Point to the Hudson Canyon region of the New York Bight. The New York Harbor Observing and Prediction System (NYHOPS)[5] utilizes information from sensors, weather forecasts, and environment models to provide real-time forecasts of meteorological and oceanographic conditions in the area.

Since the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962 beaches along the shores of the East Coast have been regularly replenished with sand pumped in from off-shore.[6] [7] The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) coordinates the projects.[8] [9]

In 2016, USACE and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey produced a comprehensive restoration plan for the New York Harbor region, with proposals to mitigate the effects of sea level rise through projects to restore natural areas.[10] In September the USACE released the New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Study (HATS).[11] [12]

Features of the harbor estuary

The lists below includes features of the Port of New York and New Jersey with a waterborne emphasis, starting with natural features. Where possible the list proceeds from the Lower Bay entrance approximately clockwise around the Harbor. The alternative sorting is by jurisdiction.

Official references are the NOAA Coastal pilot,[13] NOAA nautical charts,[14] and USGS topographic maps.[15] Many jurisdictional issues appear in U.S. law.[16]

Rivers and streams

Bi-state

New Jersey

New York

Tidal straits

Inter-state

New York

Bays, inlets and coves

New York Bay

East River

Long Island Sound

Islands

Bi-state

New Jersey

New York

Bronx County

Kings County

Jamaica Bay islands

New York County

Upper Bay islands

East River islands

Queens County

Jamaica Bay islands

Richmond County

Westchester County

Land features

New Jersey

New York

Banks and shoals

Lower Bay

Upper Bay

East River

Navigational channels

Lower Bay

Raritan Bay

Jamaica Bay

Arthur Kill

Newark Bay

Kill van Kull

Upper Bay[18]

Hudson River

East River

Port facilities

One of the many duties of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is to develop trade interests in the New York-New Jersey area. The Port Authority operates most of the containerized port facilities listed here, and also collaborates with the Army Corps of Engineers to maintain shipping channels in the harbor.

New Jersey (numerous privately operated bulk facilities, especially petroleum, are not listed)

New York

Lights and lighthouses

For lists see[22] and.[23] Active unless noted.

New Jersey

New York

Waterfront jurisdictions

Government and other agencies

State, county, municipal

New Jersey

New York

Lower Bay

East River

See also

References

40.5167°N -74.0497°W

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hudson-Raritan Estuary . National Geographic Society . 14 November 2016. 28 March 2017.
  2. Web site: Urban Core. 28 March 2017.
  3. http://www.harborestuary.org/watersweshare/pdfs/CRP/2_Existing_Conditions.pdf
  4. NOAA Tides and Current web site FAQ page. See discussion of hydraulic currents.
  5. http://hudson.dl.stevens-tech.edu/NYHOPS NYHOPS
  6. News: Muka . Samantha . Building Beaches: Beach Nourishment in the United States . August 11, 2015 . 10 April 2017 . New York State has the longest history of nourishment in the country. The first beach nourishment project was the construction and expansion of the shoreline off of Coney Island and Brighton Beach..
  7. Seabrook . John . The Beach Builders . The New Yorker . July 22, 2013 . 18 April 2017.
  8. News: NY District Coastal Storm Risk Reduction Projects and Studies Map . USACE . 19 April 2017.
  9. News: Anderson . Jenny . Rebuilding the Coastline, but at What Cost? . The New York Times . May 18, 2013 . 19 April 2017.
  10. Hudson=Raritan Estuary Comprehensive Restoration Plan . USACE . June 1, 2016 . 19 April 2017.
  11. New York New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Study . USACE . 2022 .
  12. News: Barnard . Anne . A $52 Billion Proposal Aims to Protect New York Harbor From Storm Surges. The New York Times . September 26, 2022 . October 29, 2022.
  13. http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/CP2/CP2-35ed-Ch11_2.pdf Chapter 11
  14. NOAA nautical charts 12327 New York Harbor (1:40,000 scale),12324 Sandy Hook to Little Egg,12350 Jamaica Bay and Rockaway Inlet,12402,12401 New York Lower Bay,12331 Raritan Bay and southern part of Arthur Kill,12332 Raritan River,12333 Kill van Kull and northern part of Arthur Kill,12334 New York Harbor (Upper Bay and Narrows,12337,12335,12338,12341,12339,12366 Long Island Sound and East River, found on page Nautical charts Atlantic Coast charts online, Office of Coast Survey, NOAA.
  15. USGS topographic maps, 1:24,000 scale, listed from west to east (in a row), then north to south:
    • Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Mamaroneck;
    • Orange, Weehawken, Central Park Flushing, Seacliff;
    • Elizabeth, Jersey City, Brooklyn, Jamaica, Lynbrook;
    • Perth Amboy, Arthur Kill The Narrows, Coney Island, Far Rockaway;
    • South Amboy, Keyport, Sandy Hook West, Sandy Hook East.
  16. http://uscode.house.gov/pdf/2001/2001usc33.pdf Title 33. Navigation and Navigable Waters
  17. All of the landfill portion of Ellis Island beyond its 1834 waterfront is in Hudson County, NJ. All water surrounding Liberty and Ellis Islands is in Hudson County.
  18. Web site: Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the New York and New Jersey Harbor Navigation Study: Feasibility Phase. Federal Register Volume 63. Government Printing Office. March 24, 1998. 2014-08-31.
  19. http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/business/buslinks/navig/cntldpth/anchorage.pdf Reports of Channel Conditions
  20. http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/enb2004/20040121/Reg2.html Hearing Notice for Department of the Army Corps of Engineers
  21. Simplified map Bayonne Peninsula Chap. 6, CPIP Toolkit, PANYNJ.
  22. http://www.cr.nps.gov/MARITIME/light/nj.htm Inventory of Historic Light Stations: New Jersey Lighthouses
  23. http://www.lighthousefriends.com/pull-state.asp?state=NJ New York Lighthouses
  24. Boundaries extend to mid-Hudson on the west, into the Upper Harbor south of Governors Island, to the far pierhead line of the East River, Harlem River and Spuyten Duyvil. The exceptions are the additional areas of Marble Hill section included north of the Harlem River (bounded approximately by Johnson Avenue, West 230 Street) and Liberty and Ellis Islands to their original 1834 waterfront. River

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