THE CLINTON TOWNSHIP NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY (NRI) Prepared By - The Clinton Township Council, The Clinton Township Environmental Council, & The Clinton Township Planning Board The Honorable Thomas Borkowski, Mayor David Gromack, Environmental Commission Chair James Imbriaco, Chair, Planning Board P.O. Box 36, Highway 31 North Annandale, New Jersey 08801 Environmental Planning Consultant - pH Princeton Hydro, LLC Ringoes, New Jersey 08551 October 2002 Township of Clinton NRI October, 2002 TABLE OF CONTENTS Subject Page Number Introduction Introduction to Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) & Study Update…………………… ii Introduction, Goals & Objectives.………………………………………………………. ii Plan Components.……………………………………………………………………….. iii Plan Methodology ……………………………………………………………………… iii Inventory Findings…………………………………………………………….………… iv Framework for Resource Management Recommendations……………………... vii Environmental Planning Recommendations……………………………………... vii Environmental Recommendations & Best Management Practices…………… viii Section I ~ Resource Planning and Protection Overview Resource Planning & Resource Protection Overview…………………………………… I-2 Introduction.……………………………………………………………………………… I-2 State & Local Natural Resource Regulations & Planning Policies……………………… I-2 State Planning Area Boundaries.………………………………………………………… I-3 The Clinton Township Master Plan..…………………………………………………….. I-6 Resource Management and Protection Approaches.…………………………….. I-6 The 1991 Land Use Plan Element.……………………………………….……… I-7 The Recreation and Open Space Plan Element.…………………………………. I-7 The Historic Preservation Plan Element.………………………………………… I-7 The Conservation Plan Element….………………………………………………. I-8 The 2000 Master Plan Re-examination Report Plan Element.………………….. I-8 The Clinton Township Land Use Regulations.………………………………………….. I-10 The Clinton Township Resource Protection Efforts.…………………………………….. I-14 Open Space Preservation Program.………………………………………………. I-14 Scenic Roadways.………………………………………………………………… I-16 Scenic Corridor.………………………………………………………….. I-16 Scenic Roadway.…………………………………………………………. I-16 Natural Resources Protection Program..…………………………………………. I-19 Princeton Hydro, LLC Township of Clinton NRI October, 2002 TABLE OF CONTENTS Subject Page Number Section II ~ The Natural Resources Inventory The Natural Resources Inventory…………………………………………………. II-2 Introduction.………………………………………………………………………... II-2 The Ecological Reasons for Identifying and Protecting Natural Resources.……….. II-2 Clinton Township Climate.………………………………………………………… II-4 Clinton Township Air Quality.……………………………………………………… II-5 Clinton Township’s Physiography & Geology.……………………………………. II-6 Topography & Slope.…………………………………………………….… II-6 Physiographic Provinces.…………………………………………………... II-9 Geologic Formations.………………………………………………………. II-10 Surficial Geology and Locally Significant Geologic Features...…………... II-12 Clinton Township Soil Resources.…………………………………………………. II-14 Soil Formation.…………………………………………………………….. II-14 Soil Limitations.…………………………………………………………… II-14 Soil and Septic Suitability.…………………………………………………. II-19 Agriculture and Agricultural Soils.………………………………………… II-23 Limitations and Uncertainties of Soil Survey Data.……………………….. II-27 Clinton Township Significant Flora, Fauna, and Habitat.…………………………. II-28 The Importance of Habitat Protection.……………………………………... II-28 Landscape Level & Critical Area Mapping Information.………………….. II-29 Critical Forest Habitat…..………………………………………………….. II-30 Critical Grassland Habitat….………………………………………………. II-31 Critical Wetland Habitat.…………………………………………………... II-32 Threatened, Endangered, and Rare Wildlife & Plant Species; The Natural Heritage Index Maps...……………………………….. II-32 Habitat Requirements of Threatened and Endangered Species…………… II-36 Other Wildlife Present in Clinton Township.……………………………… II-38 Historical & Cultural Features of Clinton Township.……………………………… II-41 Early Inhabitants…………………………………………………………… II-41 The Early Explorers & European Colonists….…………………………….. II-42 The American Revolution and More Recent History……………………… II-43 Existing Historic Features….………………………………………………. II-44 Surface Water Resources…...…………………………………………………... II-47 Watershed Resources …………………………………….…..……………. II-47 Stream Classification ……………………………………………………… II-49 Princeton Hydro, LLC Township of Clinton NRI October, 2002 TABLE OF CONTENTS Subject Page Number Section II ~ The Natural Resources Inventory ~ Continued Surface Water Flow.……………………………………………………….. II-51 Surface Water Quality .…………………………………………………….. II-54 Floodplain & Riparian Corridors…...……………………………………………… II-56 Floodplains….……………………………………………………………… II-56 Riparian Corridors….……………………………………………………… II-58 Wetlands…………………………………………………………………… II-59 Groundwater Resources, Quantity and Quality...………………………………….. II-61 Groundwater Quantity...…………………………………………………… II-62 Sole Source Aquifers...…………………………………………………….. II-65 Groundwater Quality...…………………………………………………….. II-67 Section III ~ Natural Resource Vulnerability Natural Resource Vulnerability…...……………………………………………….. III-2 Environmental Indicators…….…………………………………………………….. III-2 Population Trends……..………………………..………………………………….. III-2 County Population Trends…………………………………………………………. III-3 Clinton Township Population & Socio-Economic Trends ………………………... III-4 Clinton Township Land Development Data ………………………………………. III-4 Community Design Trends, Land Use & Non-Point Source Pollution.…………… III-6 Clinton Township Land Use Trends…….…………………………………………. III-11 Impervious Surface & Environmental Impacts…….………………………………. III-13 Additional Vulnerability Indicators…….………………………………………….. III-14 Natural Resource Vulnerability, Overlay Analysis…….………………………….. III-15 Critical Resource Areas in Clinton Township…….……………………………….. III-16 Class A, Critical Areas……..………………………………………………. III-17 Class B, Critical Areas……..………………………………………………. III-17 Class C, Critical Areas………..……………………………………………. III-17 Geographic Information System (GIS) Mapping Methodology……..…………….. III-17 Pollution Vulnerability Findings…….…………………………………………….. III-22 Conclusions……..…………………………………………………..……………… III-23 Princeton Hydro, LLC Township of Clinton NRI October, 2002 TABLE OF CONTENTS Subject Page Number Section IV ~ Natural Resources Management Plan Environmental Resource Recommendations………………………………………. IV-2 Introduction………………………………………………………………………… IV-2 The Framework for Management Recommendations……………………………… IV-3 Environmental Protection, Guiding Principles…..………………………………… IV-3 Overview of Findings…...…………………………………………………………. IV-4 Inventory Findings…...…………………………………………………….. IV-4 Findings, Environmental Vulnerability Indicators...………………………. IV-6 Recommendations…..……………………………………………………………… IV-7 Environmental Planning Recommendations…..…………………………… IV-7 Environmental Regulation Recommendations…..………………………… IV-9 Princeton Hydro, LLC Township of Clinton NRI October, 2002 TABLE OF CONTENTS A List of Illustrations Subject Page Number Tables Table 1, 1999 Zoning Districts & Related Information …………………………… I-11 Table 2, Roadway Corridor & Scenic Roadway Classifications...………………… I-17 Table 3, Soil Erodibility….………………………………………………………… II-15 Table 4, Development Limitations of Soils...……………………………………… II-16 Table 5, Natural Heritage Index Threatened & Endangered Wildlife Species….…. II-34 Table 6, Natural Heritage Index Threatened & Endangered Plant Species…...…… II-35 Table 7, Subwatershed Areas & Stream Length.…………………………………... II-48 Table 8, Surface Water Classification & Designated Uses………………………… II-51 Table 9, Surface Water Flow Data….……………………………………………… II-52 Table 10, USGS 7-Day, 10-Year Low Flow Data, Raritan Basin….……………… II-53 Table 11, Floodplain Resources….………………………………………………… II-56 Table 12, Summary of Hunterdon County Domestic Well Yield…..……………… II-63 Table 13, Groundwater Well Information….……………………………………… II-67 Table 14, Hunterdon County Population Trends……...…………………………… III-3 Table 15, Clinton Township, Historic Population Trends…...…………………….. III-4 Table 16, Residential Building Permits Issued, Clinton Township 1991-2000…..... III-5 Table 17, Predominant Land Uses & Non-Point Source Pollutants…..…………… III-7 Table 18, Potential Impacts of Associated Pollutants…...…………………………. III-9 Maps Map 1, Regional Location Map …………………………………………………… xi Map 2, Aerial Photograph Map.…………………………..……………………….. xii Map 3, State Planning Area Boundaries Map...……………………………………. I-5 Map 4, Township Zoning Map……..……………………………………………… I-13 Map 5, Open Space Resources & Scenic Roadways Map…….…………………… I-18 Map 6, Slope Percentages Map…………………………………………………….. II-8 Map 7, Geologic Resources Map……...…………………………………………… II-13 Map 8, Soil Resources Map……..…………………………………………………. II-21 Map 9, Septic Suitability Map ………..…………………………………………… II-22 Map 10, Agricultural Soils Resources Map………...……………………………… II-26 Map 11, Critical Habitat Map……...………………………………………………. II-40 Map 12, Historic Resources Map…….…………………………………………….. II-46 Map 13, Surface Waters, Watershed & Floodplain Resources Map………………. II-57 Map 14, Wetland Resources Map……..…………………………………………… II-60 Princeton Hydro, LLC Township of Clinton NRI October, 2002 TABLE OF CONTENTS A List of Illustrations ~ Continued Subject Page Number Map 15, Aquifer & Community Wells Map.……………………………………….. II-64 Map 16, Groundwater Recharge Resources.……………………………………….. II-66 Map 17, Water & Sewer Utilities Map.…………………………………….……… III-8 Map 18, Land Use / Land Cover Map.…………………………………………….. III-10 Map 19, Natural Resource Vulnerability Map.…………………………………….. III-19 Map 20, Pollution Vulnerability Map.……………………………………………... III-20 Map 21, Pollution Vulnerability & Zoning