County Profile
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Section 3: County Profile SECTION 3. COUNTY PROFILE This profile describes the general information of the County (physical setting, population and demographics, general building stock, and land use and population trends) and critical facilities/lifelines located in Hunterdon County. In Section 3, specific profile information is presented and analyzed to develop an understanding of the study area, including the economic, structural, and population assets at risk and the particular concerns that may be present related to hazards analyzed (for example, a high percentage of vulnerable persons in an area). 2021 HMP Changes The “County Profile” is now located in Section 3; previously located in Section 4. It contains updated information regarding the County's physical setting, population and demographics and trends, general building stock, land use and trends, potential new development and critical facilities. This includes U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS) 2018 data and additional information regarding the New Jersey Highlands Region and NJDEP Sewer Service Areas in the Development Trends/Future Development subsection. The critical facility inventory was expanded to include community lifelines using FEMA’s lifeline definition. 3.1 GENERAL INFORMATION Hunterdon County is located in western New Jersey, along the Delaware River and is made up of 26 municipalities that cover over 437 square miles. Hunterdon County is bordered to the north by Warren and Morris Counties, to the south by Mercer County, to the east by Somerset County, and to the west by the Delaware River and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Figure 3-1 illustrates Hunterdon County, its municipalities, and the surrounding jurisdictions. The County was established on March 22, 1714, separating from Burlington County (now known as Morris, Sussex, Warren County). Hunterdon County was named after Robert Hunter, the Scottish Royal Governor of the New York and New Jersey (the area that now includes Hunterdon, Mercer, Sussex, and Warren Counties). During the 1700s and 1800s Hunterdon County produced over half the peaches in the State of New Jersey and grew many apple orchards (Hunterdon County n.d.). Hunterdon County’s transportation system existed since the early 1800s including an intricate network of freight and passenger lines, trolley lines, and canals. Some rail lines still exist today, but several transportation features were converted to recreational parks. The 1834 Delaware and Raritan canal ran from Bull’s Island near Raven Rock to Trenton to supply water to New Brunswick. It closed in 1932 and became a recreational park serving the community in 1974. The Leigh Valley Railroad ran for over 1-mile to Clinton Township carrying freight and passenger services. Eventually, the service was decommissioned and converted to a hiking trail (Hunterdon County n.d.). DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Hunterdon County, New Jersey 3-1 May 2021 Section 3: County Profile Figure 3-1. Overview Map of Hunterdon County, New Jersey DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Hunterdon County, New Jersey 3-2 May 2021 Section 3: County Profile 3.1.1 Physical Setting This section presents the physical setting of the County, including location, hydrography and hydrology, topography and geology, and climate. Location There are 849 linear miles of rivers and streams in Hunterdon County, connecting rural areas, suburban areas, villages and towns (Hunterdon County Growth Management Plan 2007). These waterways include rivers, such as the Delaware River, as well as numerous smaller rivers, brooks, and streams, including: Alexauken Creek, Assiscong Creek, Back Brook, Beaver Brook, Brookville Creek, Bushkill Brook, Capoolong Creek, Chambers Brook, First Neshanic River, Harihokake Creek, Holland Brook, Lamington River, Little Nishisakawick Creek, Lockatong Creek, Milford Creek, Muddy Run, Mulhockaway Creek, Musconetcong River, Neshanic River, Nishisakawick Creek, Pleasant Run, Quequacommisacong Creek, Rockaway Creek, Rocky Run, Route 202 Tributary, Second Neshanic River, Sidney Brook, South Branch Raritan River, South Fork Third Neshanic River, Spruce Run, Stony Brook, Swan Creek, Third Neshanic River, Walnut Brook, Wickecheoke Creek, and Willoughby Brook (FEMA Flood Insurance Study [FIS] 2012). Watersheds A watershed is the area of land that drains into a body of water such as a river, lake, stream, or bay. It is separated from other systems by high points in the area such as hills or slopes. It includes not only the waterway itself but also the entire land area that drains to it. For example, the watershed of a lake would include not only the streams entering the lake but also the land area that drains into those streams and eventually the lake. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes and can cross municipal and county boundaries. Drainage basins generally refer to large watersheds that encompass the watersheds of many smaller rivers and streams. Hunterdon County is encompassed by three major watershed basins: Delaware, Raritan and Passaic. Each of which are made up of smaller watersheds. Details regarding these water basins and watersheds are described below. Delaware River Basin The Delaware River is the longest un-dammed river in the United States east of the Mississippi River. It runs and drains through parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware. The Delaware River extends 330 miles from the confluence of its east and west branches at Hancock, New York to the mouth of the Delaware Bay where it meets the Atlantic Ocean (Watershed Alliance 2019). Overall, the Delaware River is fed by over 2,000 tributaries and spans approximately 13,600 square miles, including the 782 square mile Delaware Bay. Its hydrographic regions are divided between two main physiographic areas—the Appalachian Highlands and the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The Hunterdon County portion of the Delaware River falls in the central region of the basin in the non-tidal area of the piedmont plains consisting of widespread branching streams, rolling hills, and good agricultural soils (Delaware River Basin Commission 2019). Approximately 8.3 million people live in the Delaware River Basin, of which 23-percent reside in the State of New Jersey. The population in the Delaware River Basin is expected to increase 8.4-percent by 2030 and a portion of this increase is expected in Hunterdon County (Delaware River Basin Commission 2019). DMA 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – Hunterdon County, New Jersey 3-3 May 2021 Section 3: County Profile Raritan River Basin The Raritan River basin is the largest drainage area located entirely in New Jersey. The Basin contains portions of Hunterdon, Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer, Union, Middlesex, and Monmouth Counties. Approximately 1,100 square miles of the State's land drain into the Raritan Bay via the Raritan River and its tributaries within seven counties providing a major source of the region’s water supply and recreational activities for tourists and residents (Rutgers University, n.d.). The South Branch Raritan River makes up the Basin and Hunterdon County is located within its watershed. The South Branch drains almost 280 square miles as it winds 51 miles from western Hunterdon County through central Hunterdon County and into western Somerset County, before combining with the North Branch. The South Branch begins in Hunterdon County as the outflow of Budd Lake. Major tributaries include the Neshanic River, Spruce Run creek, Mullhockaway Creek, and Cakepoulin Creek. Major impoundments are the Spruce Run Reservoir and Round Valley Reservoir (NJDEP, 2012). Watershed Management Areas In 1996, the NJDEP began implementing a watershed management approach to maintaining the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the State's waters. This approach concentrates on managing individual watershed areas by defining the physical geographic boundaries of the watersheds, basing water policy on sound scientific principles, and developing partnerships with the public. The NJDEP divided New Jersey into five water regions: the Northeast, Raritan, Northwest, Lower Delaware and Atlantic Coastal. Each water region is then divided into three to five watershed management areas (WMAs), for a total of 20 WMAs. Each WMA encompasses a particular group of major rivers and each consists of numerous smaller watersheds (USGS 2000). Hunterdon County is located within the Raritan and Northwest water regions. Additionally, the County is located in 4 of the 20 WMAs, which are described below (NJDEP 2012). Refer to Figure 3.2 which depicts watershed management areas in Hunterdon County. Watershed Management Area 1 – Upper Delaware WMA 1 includes 6 major drainage basins: Delaware River, Flat Brook, Paulins Kills, Pequest River, Lapatcong and Pohatcong River, and Musconetcong River. Large portions of Sussex, Hunterdon, and Morris Counties are included in this land area. The area encompasses 746 square miles in the mountainous region of New Jersey (NJDEP, 2012). Watershed Management Area 8 – North and South Branch Raritan WMA 8 includes the North and South Branches of the Raritan River and their tributaries. Large portions of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Morris Counties are included in this land area. The North Branch of the Raritan River is 23 miles long and flows from northwestern Morris County through Somerset County to the confluence with the South Branch between the Towns of Branchburg and Raritan. Major tributaries include the Peapack Brook, Rockaway Creek, and Lamington River. The only major impoundment