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