We are proud to share the success of our stormwater management initiative on Centre Avenue. We wanted to shine a spotlight on the new installations on Centre Avenue near Post Place. Funded by a $154,000 Water Quality Restoration grant from the NJDEP, the Town of Secaucus partnered with a team from Stevens Institute of Technology to implement nature-based solutions with high-tech results.

Led by Dr. Dibyendu Sarkar and Dr. Hadeer Saleh, we retrofitted local rain gardens with Green Engineered Mulch (GEM)—a filter media made from recycled materials that traps dirt, metals, and chemicals from road runoff. What is a rain garden, you may ask. It is a shallow, landscaped basin constructed in stormwater flow paths. Rainwater flows into the raingarden, reducing runoff.

 Is it working? The monitoring results from the mulch are in, and they are impressive:

• Lead reduction: Up to 75%

• Suspended solids: Reduced by nearly 50%

• Nutrients (Phosphorus/Ammonium): Reduced by ~50%

 This project demonstrates that nature-based solutions are not just aesthetic improvements; they are vital infrastructure for a healthier community and cleaner waterways. So next time you see a rain garden, think about the positive impact it has on our environment.