Watershed Management Area 5
Hackensack, Hudson, Pascack

Watershed Management Area 5 has a drainage area of approximately 165 square miles, which includes parts of Hudson and Bergen Counties. WMA 5 is comprised of three watersheds: Hackensack River Watershed, Hudson River Watershed and Pascack Brook Watershed.

Although WMA 5 is the most populated of all the WMAs, approximately 50% of the land is still undeveloped, with more than 30% residential development. The remaining developed land is commercial/industrial use. Much of the lower Hackensack River Watershed is tidal marsh known as the Hackensack Meadowlands. The Meadowlands are home to more than 700 plant and animal species including several rare and threatened species. The Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission (HMDC) was created by an act of the New Jersey Legislature in 1968 and was passed into law in January 1969. The act gave the HMDC three mandates; environmental protection, economic development and solid waste management. HMDC district size is 19,730 acres, 32 square miles and is located in the Hackensack River Watershed.

For more information regarding watershed management areas please contact DEP's Office of Policy Implementation and Watershed Restoration at (609) 633-2201.