Southern Pinelands Natural Heritage Trail Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan
Task 3: Intrinsic Qualities
November 2008
Taintor & Associates, Inc. Whiteman Consulting, Ltd. Paul Daniel Marriott and Associates
CONTENTS
PART 1: INTRINSIC QUALITIES...... 1 1. Introduction ...... 3 Overview: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Intrinsic Qualities...... 3 2. Natural Quality ...... 5 Introduction...... 5 Environmental History and Context...... 6 Indicators of Significance...... 7 Significance as a Leader in Environmental Stewardship ...... 17 The Major Natural Resources of the Pinelands and Their Significance...... 17 3. Recreational Quality ...... 27 Visitation and Accessibility ...... 27 Public Lands ...... 28 Recreational Activities ...... 32 4. Historic Quality ...... 47 Introduction...... 47 Historic Themes and Resources ...... 51 5. Scenic Quality ...... 67 6. Archaeological Quality ...... 69 7. Cultural Quality ...... 71 PART 2: MAJOR PUBLIC-ACCESSIBLE NATURAL AND RECREATIONAL QUALITY SITES AND RESOURCES ...... 73 1. Introduction ...... 75 2. Northern Loop ...... 77 Mullica River ...... 77 Wharton State Forest ...... 78 Batsto Village...... 80 Batsto Natural Area ...... 81 Batona Trail ...... 82 Bass River State Forest...... 84 Green Bank State Forest...... 85 Port Republic Wildlife Management Area...... 85 Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge...... 86 3. Central Section...... 89 Great Egg Harbor National Scenic and Recreational River ...... 89
Southern Pinelands Natural Heritage Trail Task 3: Intrinsic Qualities Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan November 2008
Makepeace Lake Wildlife Management Area...... 90 Weymouth Furnace (Atlantic County Park System)...... 92 Lake Lenape Park (Atlantic County Park System) ...... 93 Gaskill Park (Atlantic County Park System) ...... 94 Great Egg Harbor River Wildlife Management Area ...... 95 Estell Manor Park (Atlantic County Park System)...... 96 Gibson Creek Wildlife Management Area ...... 98 Lester C. MacNamara (Tuckahoe) Wildlife Management Area...... 99 4. Southern Loop...... 103 Maurice River National Scenic and Recreational River ...... 103 Peaslee Wildlife Management Area ...... 104 Belleplain State Forest ...... 106 Eldora Nature Preserve Nature Conservancy’s Delaware Bayshores Office and Visitor Site ...... 108 Dennis Creek Wildlife Management Area – Jakes Landing...... 109 Cape May National Wildlife Refuge (Great Cedar Swamp Section) ...... 110 APPENDICES...... 113 Appendix 1: Web Links...... 113 Appendix 2: List of Works Consulted ...... 121 Appendix 3: Maps...... 123
Figures Figure 1: Canoe and Kayak Access in the Mullica River and Great Egg Harbor River Watersheds...... 35 Figure 2: Periods of Significance of National Register Historic Districts ...... 51 Figure 3: 1770s Map of Mullica River Showing Batsto, The Forks and Chestnut Neck ...... 54
Tables Table 1: U.S. and International Biosphere Reserves...... 8 Table 2: NJ Audubon Important Birding Areas ...... 14 Table 3: Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Species in NJ Pinelands...... 24 Table 4: NJ Category 1 Strongly Invasive and Widespread Plant Species ...... 25 Table 5: NJ Category 2 Invasive But Not As Widespread (Yet) ...... 25 Table 6: State Forest Attendance, July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006...... 27 Table 7: Proximity to Urban Centers...... 28 Table 8: State Wildlife Management Areas Along the Southern Pinelands Natural Heritage Trail ...... 30 Table 9: Boat access areas...... 36 Table 10: Ponds, Lakes and Reservoirs for Fishing ...... 44 Table 11: Rivers for Fishing ...... 44
Southern Pinelands Natural Heritage Trail Task 3: Intrinsic Qualities Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan November 2008
PART 1: INTRINSIC QUALITIES
Southern Pinelands Natural Heritage Trail 1 Task 3: Intrinsic Qualities Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan November 2008
1. Introduction The Pinelands is one of the most extensively studied regions in the nation. It has in place one of the most sophisticated regional land management programs in the country. In this context, the identification of the “intrinsic qualities” of the SPNHT scenic byway is not intended to add detail to the inventory work already performed in the region. Rather, this section of the Corridor Management Plan integrates existing data and information in a way that will allow the byway to build its program in a sound, sophisticated manner that meshes with the other good work being done in the Pinelands on a day to day basis.
This chapter has three clear objectives, consistent with the project’s directive and the requirements of the National Scenic Byways Program.