Environmental Resource Inventory for Ewing Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
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Created in 1965, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) is an interstate, intercounty and intercity agency that provides continuing, comprehensive and coordinated planning to shape a vision for the future growth of the Delaware Valley region. The region includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, as well as the City of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties in New Jersey. DVRPC provides technical assistance and services; conducts high priority studies that respond to the requests and demands of member state and local governments; fosters cooperation among various constituents to forge a consensus on diverse regional issues; determines and meets the needs of the private sector; and practices public outreach efforts to promote two-way communication and public awareness of regional issues and the Commission. Our logo is adapted from the official DVRPC seal, and is designed as a stylized image of the Delaware Valley. The outer ring symbolizes the region as a whole, while the diagonal bar signifies the Delaware River. The two adjoining crescents represent the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey. DVRPC is funded by a variety of funding sources including federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation=s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Pennsylvania and New Jersey departments of transportation, as well as by DVRPC=s state and local member governments. The authors, however, are solely responsible for its findings and conclusions, which may not represent the official views or policies of the funding agencies. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................ 5 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 6 BRIEF TOWNSHIP HISTORY.................................................................................................. 7 EWING TOWNSHIP LOCATION, SIZE, AND LAND USE................................................ 11 NATURAL RESOURCES ......................................................................................................... 16 PHYSIOGRAPHY.................................................................................................................... 16 The Piedmont Plateau ........................................................................................................... 16 Geologic Outcrops ................................................................................................................ 16 Radon .................................................................................................................................... 17 TOPOGRAPHY AND SURFACE LANDSCAPES ................................................................ 18 SOILS ....................................................................................................................................... 19 Soil Series ............................................................................................................................. 20 Matapeake......................................................................................................................... 20 Bucks................................................................................................................................. 20 Quakertown....................................................................................................................... 20 Udorthents......................................................................................................................... 21 Urban Land....................................................................................................................... 21 Birdsboro .......................................................................................................................... 21 Sassafras ........................................................................................................................... 21 Readington and Abbottstown ............................................................................................ 21 STEEP SLOPES ....................................................................................................................... 26 SURFACE WATER RESOURCES ......................................................................................... 28 Watersheds............................................................................................................................ 28 Alexauken Creek / Moore Creek / Jacob’s Creek............................................................. 29 Assunpink Creek................................................................................................................ 29 Streams.................................................................................................................................. 29 Delaware River ..................................................................................................................... 30 Lakes..................................................................................................................................... 33 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................... 33 Agricultural Wetlands....................................................................................................... 33 Vernal Ponds......................................................................................................................... 34 Flood Hazard Areas .............................................................................................................. 36 Surface Water Quality........................................................................................................... 38 Ewing Township Stream Water Quality............................................................................ 39 New Jersey’s Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report................... 39 Causes of Water Quality Impairments.................................................................................. 42 Stormwater Runoff and Impervious Cover ....................................................................... 42 Inadequate Stream Buffers................................................................................................ 42 Point Sources of Pollution ................................................................................................ 45 GROUNDWATER ................................................................................................................... 47 Aquifers................................................................................................................................. 47 Drinking Water Supply......................................................................................................... 48 Wellhead Protection Areas and Water Supply Wells ........................................................... 50 Groundwater Recharge ......................................................................................................... 50 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES................................................................................................... 53 NATURAL VEGETATION..................................................................................................... 53 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................... 54 Upland Forests ...................................................................................................................... 55 Grasslands and Agricultural Lands....................................................................................... 55 LANDSCAPE PROJECT PRIORITY HABITATS................................................................. 57 Landscape Project Data on Wetland Habitat ........................................................................ 59 Landscape Project Data on Upland Forest Habitat............................................................... 59 Landscape Project Data on Grassland Species Habitat......................................................... 59 ANIMAL COMMUNITIES ..................................................................................................... 60 Invertebrates.......................................................................................................................... 60 Vertebrates ............................................................................................................................ 61 Mammals........................................................................................................................... 61 Deer Management in New Jersey ..................................................................................... 61 Fish ................................................................................................................................... 62 Birds.................................................................................................................................. 63 Common Reptiles and Amphibians ................................................................................... 63 Rare and Endangered Vertebrates...................................................................................