Story of Passaic River Resonates in Parsippany

With the wealth of seasonal hiking, birding, and gardening available on a clear spring day, getting a crowd of nature-lovers together – indoors – is no small feat.

The award-winning documentary American River was, evidently, enough of a draw to bring 80 environmental advocates together on a recent Saturday at the Parsippany Main Library. The documentary, from director Scott Morris, is based on the book An American River by journalist and biologist Mary Bruno, who appears in the film along with guide Carl Alderson. Bruno was raised in the city of North Arlington, through which the Passaic River passes on its 80-mile route from the headwaters in Mendham to its outlet in Newark Bay.

The screening was organized by the Parsippany Green Team and the Parsippany Environmental Advisory Committee, along with land preservation group Wildlife Preserves, Inc. The organizers were joined by Pastor John Algera from Paterson, who runs a company called Urban Wilderness Renewal, that does paddling expeditions on the Passaic River.

The documentary tells the story of the mighty Passaic, from its start as a trickling stream to areas of suburban development, through old-growth forest teeming with life in Great Piece Meadows, to the stunning vista of Paterson’s Great Falls, now a National Historical Park. American River documents the process by which the Passaic River attracted civilization and industry, to the way the post-industrial river became littered with abandoned factories and abused with toxic chemicals, including a heavy trail of dioxin. The film does carry a message of hope, from the many local recovery efforts to the massive EPA Superfund cleanup. The latter efforts continue, most recently with the May 2024 EPA approval of a final clean-up design for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River.

The Passaic River connects towns and cities throughout eight New Jersey counties. Parsippany finds itself within an important part of the Passaic River Basin, where the Troy Brook, West Brook, and Whippany River flow through Troy Meadows to join the Rockaway River as major tributaries to the Passaic. This confluence creates diverse habitat in the region, capable of supporting countless species of flora and fauna, including many threatened and endangered species.

“It was great to see so many interested residents come out to learn about the history and plight of the Passaic River,” exclaimed Janice McCarthy, Chair of the Parsippany Environmental Advisory Committee. “This is such an important natural resource to our town, and we need to do everything we can to protect it.”

Matt Kavanagh, Co-Leader of the Parsippany Green Team added, “This fascinating film really highlights the natural beauty of our region, despite how we have treated our waterways. It definitely offers a message of hope.”

“The toxic history of the Passaic River had me stunned,” said Cassara Grasso, CEO of Happy Daze Boutique in Parsippany. “I was unaware that it had been used as a dumping ground for dioxin, a byproduct of Agent Orange.” These practices of dumping industrial waste into the Passaic continued through the 20th century with far-reaching consequences and, as Grasso points out, “will forever influence our ability to maintain our earth’s natural resources.”

Early efforts by pioneers like the Passaic River Coalition helped draw attention to the river’s plight to draw support from the public, along with coalitions of neighbors from impacted neighborhoods. Len Fariello of Whippany, who appears briefly in the film as a representative of Wildlife Preserves Inc., expressed his appreciation in particular to author Mary Bruno for recognizing the late Robert L. Perkins, Jr. and Perkins’ role in preserving Great Piece Meadows. “Mary Bruno’s book, An American River, is an incredible read, and contains one of the only interviews that Bob ever did,” said Fariello. “Bruno’s work will inspire the next generation of environmental stewards - - not only in New Jersey, but in every area of the country where nature has been exploited, leaving habitat and resources degraded.” Environmental recovery is within reach, and it is worth fighting for.

Special thanks to the Parsippany Main Library for hosting and supporting this event.

For more information:

An American River [book]: www.thisamericanriver.com

American River [documentary]: www.americanriver.film

Parsippany Green Team: www.parsippanygreenteam.com

Parsippany Environmental Advisory Committee: https://www.parsippany.net/pages/environmental-advisory-committee

Wildlife Preserves Inc: www.wildlifepreserves.org

Passaic River Coalition: www.passaicriver.org

Urban Wilderness Renewal: www.uwrenewal.org