Heards Brook is a stream in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County,

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

, United States. The brook has a watershed of about 135 acres, flowing eastward through Woodbridge for 1.8 miles and draining into

Woodbridge Creek The Woodbrige River (also known as Woodbridge Creek) is a river in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The river is an important waterway, which frequent ...

, which flows southward into Arthur Kill. There is a history of tidal flooding along this creek and its tributary Heards Brook. The most extreme flooding occurred during

Superstorm Sandy Hurricane Sandy (unofficially referred to as ''Superstorm Sandy'') was an extremely destructive and strong Atlantic hurricane, as well as the largest Atlantic hurricane on record as measured by diameter, with tropical-storm-force winds spann ...

, with a high water mark in Woodbridge Creek of 12 feet. Where the brook enters the creek there is only a six-foot elevation above sea level. Heards Brook has been described, also, as having a "high flow, flashy nature"; in addition to

tidal flooding Tidal flooding, also known as sunny day flooding or nuisance flooding, is the temporary inundation of low-lying areas, especially streets, during exceptionally high tide events, such as at full and new moons. The highest tides of the year may b ...

, fluvial flooding is also common. The land is relatively impervious, and flooding is exacerbated by steep slopes, urban cover and outflow block. The culvert size at the Route 35 crossing is 12 × 6 feet; reconstruction of this culvert was the most expensive and leading priority of the Woodbridge post-Sandy recovery planning report. Nevertheless, back-flow from this location continues to cause upstream flooding. Flooding will occur as far west as Elmwood Avenue during a two-year storm. Prolonged coastal storms (

nor'easters A nor'easter (also northeaster; see below), or an East Coast low is a synoptic-scale extratropical cyclone in the western North Atlantic Ocean. The name derives from the direction of the winds that blow from the northeast. The original use of ...

), which combine tidal and fluvial flooding, along with flow constrictions, cause an increase in the duration of flooding of Heards Brook, which may last for days before water levels subside. Decadal events have the potential for four-foot flooding in lowest developed areas. After Sandy, Woodbridge removed multiple residential properties in the flood-hazard areas adjoining Heards Brook near its debouchement into Woodbridge Creek. Frequency of flooding in the area has increased over time, as residential areas moved into previous marshland, decreasing the ability of the land to absorb excess water. When the Sandy came it was "characterized as a tsunami-like water wall", destroying adjoining homes. This area, near the confluence of the two streams, has become a part of the restoration plan for the riparian environment. Woodbridge's actions and plans have been called a "slow motion evacuation from climate change." As people move out of flood hazard areas, they will replaced by a "flood plain forest of native trees, shrubs and grass". In the center of Woodbridge, Heards Brook passes through Heards Brook Park. Described as "the most preferred tourist attraction in Woodbridge", it has a wooded area, picnic tables, tree-lined stone pathways, basketball courts and "stunning views of the brook". The

Rutgers Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's College, and w ...

floodplain plan is to integrate smaller park areas of eastern Heards Brook into the larger areas with a

bioswale Bioswales are channels designed to concentrate and convey stormwater runoff while removing debris and pollution. Bioswales can also be beneficial in recharging groundwater. Bioswales are typically vegetated, mulched, or xeriscaped. They co ...

. Around 1860 Woodbridge became a hub of the brickmaking industry. Large scale excavation was started in the town for clay; Woodbridge clay was used for making fire bricks, able to withstand heat of greater than 2000°. Heards Brook was used as a marker delineating the location of various pits.

References

{{authority control Rivers of Middlesex County, New Jersey Rivers of New Jersey Bodies of water in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey