GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

Scope Of Work

Challenge: Firmenich retained GZA to complete a large-scale ecological restoration project on its active industrial property adjacent to Newark Bay, an area impacted by a long history of industrial use. The fragrance manufacturer was eager to re-establish a robust ecosystem supporting pollinators, migrating songbirds, raptors, small mammals and northern diamondback terrapins into the sterile waterfront.

Solution: GZA’s conservation management recommendations included:

Baseline Vegetative Inventory of all back bay and inland buffer habitat;

Plant native shrubs, trees and tree plugs, and natural geotech materials to stabilize ditches in wetland areas and create micro niche habitat;

Aquascape settling pond with benthic construction and floristic enhancements;

Eliminate all Phragmites north and south of the site proper;

Eliminate non-native vegetation from soil berm, create 25’ x 75’ brushpile, and revegetate with native materials designed to attract obligate estuary pollinators, neotropical migrating birds of concern, and estuary dependent species of concern;

Construct and install two osprey nesting platforms; and

Create favorable nesting site conditions for northern diamondback terrapin, identified as a target species of concern, on earthen berm.

GZA collaborated closely with the City of Newark, conservation groups, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the project.

Benefit: GZA recognized the site’s great potential for ecological restoration, and Firmenich was eager to implement the project—which it considers to be a highlight of the company’s global sustainability initiatives.