F I N A L Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Maurice National Scenic and Recreational River Menantico Creek, a tributary of the Maurice River National Park Service, Philadephia Support Office In Cooperation with Partners January 2001 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 1 II. Overview............................................................................................................................................... 5 A. Legislative Background ................................................................................................................... 5 B. Purpose of the Comprehensive Management Plan ......................................................................... 6 C. The Planning Process ...................................................................................................................... 7 D. Summary of Public Involvement ...................................................................................................... 7 F. Plan Update & Revisions ................................................................................................................ 7 III. Purpose and Significance ................................................................................................................... 9 A. Mission ............................................................................................................................................. 9 B. Purpose ............................................................................................................................................ 9 C. River Significance ............................................................................................................................ 9 D. Special Mandates ............................................................................................................................ 11 IV. Goals and Objectives .........................................................................................................................12 A. Goals ...............................................................................................................................................12 B. Objectives .......................................................................................................................................12 V. River Management ............................................................................................................................13 A. Overview ........................................................................................................................................13 B. Roles and Responsibilities ...............................................................................................................13 VI. Resource Management Issues—Goals and Prescriptions ..........................................................29 A. Managing the Corridor ....................................................................................................................29 B. Resource Protection Areas ............................................................................................................43 VII. Visitor Management and Interpretation Services .......................................................................55 A. Background .....................................................................................................................................55 B. Significance .....................................................................................................................................55 C. Audiences .......................................................................................................................................56 D. Interpretive Goals and Issues .........................................................................................................58 E. Stories .............................................................................................................................................59 F. Desired Experiences .......................................................................................................................61 G. Existing Facilities and Programs .....................................................................................................62 H. Interpretive Proposals .....................................................................................................................67 I. Cost Estimates ................................................................................................................................79 VIII. Environmental Impact Statement .................................................................................................87 A. Cover Sheet ....................................................................................................................................87 B. Summary .........................................................................................................................................87 C. Purpose and Need for Action .........................................................................................................88 D. Proposed Action & Alternatives ....................................................................................................89 E. Funding Plan ...................................................................................................................................98 F. Periodic Reporting Requirements ...................................................................................................98 Page G. Affected Environment ........................................................................................................... 101 H. Impacts .................................................................................................................................. 110 I. Consultation and Coordination ............................................................................................... 110 J. Bibliography and Reading List ............................................................................................... 113 K Glossary of Terms.................................................................................................................. 119 List of Appendices Appendix 1 - Public Law 103-162................................................................................. 147 Appendix 2 - Wild and Scenic Rivers Act..................................................................... 151 Appendix 3 - Memorandum of Understanding .............................................................. 167 Appendix 4 - Listing of Historic Structures ................................................................... 172 Appendix 5 - Federal and State Threatened and Endangered Species ......................... 175 Appendix 6 - Biological Assessment Table ................................................................... 185 Appendix 7 - Regulatory Programs ............................................................................... 189 Appendix 8 - Guidelines for Water Resources projects ................................................ 195 Appendix 9 - Interpretive Planning Information ............................................................ 199 Appendix 10 - State Historic Preservation Office Section 106 Clearance ..................... 206 Appendix 11 - Comment Letters and Responses............................................................ 207 List of Maps Map #1 - Federal Boundary .................................................................................... 125 Map #2 - Scenic and Recreational Boundary ......................................................... 127 Map #3 - Rare and Endangered Species ................................................................ 129 Map #4 - NJDEP Watershed Map ......................................................................... 131 Map #5 - Pinelands National Reserve..................................................................... 133 Map #6 - Wetlands and Flood Hazard Areas.......................................................... 135 Map #7 - Generalized Land Use ............................................................................. 137 Map #8 - Protected Open Space ............................................................................ 139 Map #9 - Composite Zoning Map ........................................................................... 141 Map #10 - Resource Protection Areas ..................................................................... 142 Map #11 - Pinelands and CAFRA areas within designated river corridor ............... 145 List of Tables Table I - Designated Areas and Classification ........................................................... 8 Table 2 - Resource Protection Areas ....................................................................... 44 Table 3 - Natural/Cultural Resource Management Issues Goals & Prescriptions ... 45 Table 4 - Visitor Management and Interpretation Strategies .................................... 81 Table 5 - Summary of Management Alternatives..................................................... 99 Table 6 - Streamflow Data ..................................................................................... 108 Section I — Summary ontroversial development proposals