Environmental Resource Inventory for Harrison Township, Gloucester
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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 This report was funded by the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) Smart Growth Assistance Grant Program, funded by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and by the Township of Harrison. Funding was also provided by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Open Space and Greenways Program. The authors are solely responsible for the report’s findings and conclusions, which may not represent the official views or policies of the non-township funding agencies. Cover Photo: Mullica Hill Pond. Source: DVRPC HARRISONHARRISON TOWNSHIP TOWNSHIP ERI ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE INVENTORY TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 BRIEF TOWNSHIP HISTORY ..................................................................................................... 3 HARRISON TOWNSHIP LOCATION, SIZE, AND LAND USE ............................................... 7 NATURAL RESOURCES ........................................................................................................... 15 PHYSIOGRAPHY.................................................................................................................... 15 TOPOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................ 17 Steep Slopes............................................................................................................................ 17 SOILS ....................................................................................................................................... 18 Soil Series ............................................................................................................................... 19 Sassafras Series................................................................................................................. 19 Freehold Series.................................................................................................................. 19 Westphalia Series.............................................................................................................. 19 Marlton Series................................................................................................................... 20 Aura Series........................................................................................................................ 20 Woodstown Series ............................................................................................................ 23 Alluvial Series................................................................................................................... 23 Downer Series................................................................................................................... 23 Nixonton and Barclay Series ............................................................................................ 23 SURFACE WATER RESOURCES ......................................................................................... 27 Watersheds.............................................................................................................................. 27 Raccoon Creek Watershed................................................................................................ 29 Mantua Creek Watershed.................................................................................................. 30 Repaupo Creek Watershed................................................................................................ 30 Streams.................................................................................................................................... 31 Lakes and Ponds ..................................................................................................................... 31 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................. 32 Agricultural Wetlands............................................................................................................. 33 Vernal Pools............................................................................................................................ 33 Floodplains.............................................................................................................................. 35 Surface Water Quality............................................................................................................. 37 Harrison Township Stream Water Quality ....................................................................... 39 New Jersey’s Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report .................. 40 Causes of Water Quality Impairments.................................................................................... 42 Stormwater Runoff............................................................................................................ 42 Impervious Coverage........................................................................................................ 42 Inadequate Stream Buffers................................................................................................ 44 Point Sources of Pollution ................................................................................................ 45 i HARRISON TOWNSHIP ERI GROUNDWATER .................................................................................................................... 47 Geological Formations............................................................................................................ 47 Hornerstown and Navesink Composite Confining Units.................................................. 48 Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System............................................................................... 48 Aquifers................................................................................................................................... 48 Wenonah-Mount Laurel Aquifer System and Englishtown Aquifer System ................... 48 Potomac-Raritan-Magothy Aquifer System (PRM) ......................................................... 49 Water Supply Wells ................................................................................................................ 53 Groundwater Recharge ........................................................................................................... 53 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES...................................................................................................... 55 NATURAL VEGETATION..................................................................................................... 55 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................. 57 Upland Forests ........................................................................................................................ 59 Grasslands and Agricultural Lands......................................................................................... 59 LANDSCAPE PROJECT PRIORITY HABITATS................................................................. 60 Landscape Project Data on Wetland Habitat .......................................................................... 60 Landscape Project Data on Upland Forest Habitat................................................................. 61 Landscape Project Data on Grassland Habitat........................................................................ 61 ANIMAL COMMUNITIES ..................................................................................................... 62 Invertebrates............................................................................................................................ 62 Vertebrates .............................................................................................................................. 63 Mammals........................................................................................................................... 63 Birds.................................................................................................................................. 64 Common Reptiles and Amphibians .................................................................................