Too bad that you could only find one reference in the archives; so,in the interest of history we will have to rely on Ol'Homer's cerebral matter.
Back in the '60's the County of Bergen had a planning office which was run out of the former County engineering building at 29 Linden Street. The operation was headed by a fellow named Don Clark. Homer doesn't recall how or when the plan was initiated; but, there probably were groups of consultants here who put together the plan with a whole bunch of fancy drawings and brochures.
Now for the hard part. The Hackensack River is tidal up until around New Milford. The proposed tidal barrier would have controlled the ebb and flow of the tide in Hackensack creating a lake like effect north of the barrier.
Here's a curious element of the plan: Was there sufficient technical wherewithal fifty years ago to construct this barrier?. Apparently some agency thought so and required an environmental study. This study "concluded" that the operation of a tidal barrier on the Hackensack River at the site proposed would elevate the temperature of the Hackensack River in the Meadowlands by about two degrees which would have a devestating effect on the marine life in the Meadowlands. This caused the project to be scuttled.
At the same time, Public Service was constructing it's generating plant in Ridgefield Park along the River. Guess that had no effect on Marine life along the River?