Passaic River

Passaic River
Passaic River in Bergen and Passaic Counties
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
Counties	Hudson, Essex, Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Union, Somerset
Districts	Northern New Jersey, Gateway, Skylands
Tributaries
- left	Rockaway River, Pompton River, Saddle River
- right	Dead River
Cities	Newark, Paterson, Passaic
Source	Unnamed Pond
- location	Mendham
- elevation	540 ft (165 m)
- coordinates	40°45′44″N 74°34′39″W / 40.76222°N 74.57750°W / 40.76222; -74.57750
Mouth	Newark Bay
- location	Newark
- elevation	0 ft (0 m)
- coordinates	40°42′46″N 74°07′08″W / 40.71278°N 74.11889°W / 40.71278; -74.11889Coordinates: 40°42′46″N 74°07′08″W / 40.71278°N 74.11889°W / 40.71278; -74.11889
Length	80 mi (129 km)
Basin	935 sq mi (2,422 km2)
Discharge	for Little Falls
- average	2,100 cu ft/s (59 m3/s)
- max	8,330 cu ft/s (236 m3/s)
- min	36 cu ft/s (1 m3/s)
Discharge elsewhere (average)
- Chatham	320 cu ft/s (9 m3/s)
The Passaic and Hackensack watersheds

The Passaic River (/pəˈseɪ.ᵻk/ pə-SAY-ik) is a mature surface river, approximately 80 mi (129 km) long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. The river in its upper course flows in a highly circuitous route, meandering through the swamp lowlands between the ridge hills of rural and suburban northern New Jersey, called the Great Swamp, draining much of the northern portion of the state through its tributaries. In its lower portion, it flows through the most urbanized and industrialized areas of the state, including along downtown Newark. The lower river suffered from severe pollution and industrial abandonment in the 20th century. In April 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $1.7 billion plan to remove 4.3 million cubic yards of toxic mud from the bottom of lower eight miles of the river. It is considered one of the most polluted stretches of water in the nation and the project one of the largest clean-ups ever undertaken.

The Passaic rises in the center of Mendham, in southern Morris County. It begins between Spring Hill and Hardscrabble Road, travelling northeast and crossing Corey Lane before entering the Buck Hill Tract Natural Area. At this point the river begins to generally flow south, through Morristown National Historical Park, and forms the boundary between Morris and Somerset counties. In its current path, it passes through the southeast edge and drains Lord Stirling Park then along the western edge of the Great Swamp, which it drains through several small tributaries including Black Brook. The river passes through a gorge in Millington and then turns abruptly northeast, flowing through the valley between Long Hill to the west and the Second Watchung Mountain to the east.