U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge At the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, we conserve the biological diversity of the Wallkill Valley by protecting and managing land, with a special emphasis on s% i 7 7 7* 7 migrating wate / fo wl, wintering raptors, and endangered species, while providing \ opportunities for scientific research J *tind compatible I public use. ' Our Mission Congress established the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge in 1990 "to preserve and enhance refuge lands and waters in a manner that will conserve the natural diversity of fish, wildlife, plants, This blue goose, and their habitats for present and designed by J.N. future generations and to provide "Ding" Darling, opportunities for compatible has become the scientific research, environmental symbol of the education, and fish and wildlife- National Wildlife oriented recreation." Congress Refuge System. /. also required the protection of •/. aquatic habitats within the refuge, •- including the Wallkill River and '53 Papakating Creek. - The individual purposes of this Wallkill River refuge are supported by the mission in fall The refuge is located along a nine-mile of the National Wildlife Refuge stretch of the Wallkill River, and lies in System, of which the Wallkill River a rolling valley within the Appalachian refuge is a part. That mission is Ridge and Valley physiographic "to administer a national network province. The Wallkill Valley is of lands and waters for the bounded by the Kittatinny Ridge to conservation, management, and the west and the New York/New where appropriate, restoration of Jersey Highlands to the east. This the fish, wildlife, and plant resources area is part of the Great Valley, which and their habitats within the United extends from Canada to the southern States for the benefit of present and United States. future generations of Americans." As the glaciers left the Wallkill Valley Shaped by Nature The Wallkill River begins in Sparta, area, a glacial lake was formed. The and People New Jersey, flows north through major wetlands in the valley are Orange and Ulster Counties in New former glacial lake sediments, and the York, and merges with the Rondout former lake's organic muck soils now Tmitt lilies Creek to flow to the Hudson River. support extensive bottomland © Gene Stires, Sr. hardwood forests, wet meadows, and farm fields. The valley is underlain by limestone, with limestone outcroppings sometimes appearing as "islands" found along the river and in many of the other major wetland complexes to the south and west of the refuge. Occupation of the valley by Native Americans began as early as 10,000 B.C. The Wallkill River was first known by the Lenape people as "Twischsawkin," meaning "the land where plums abound." The Wallkill Valley was an important source of flint and chert for Native Americans, battles were known as the "Muskrat who used these stones to fashion and Beaver" wars. The millers were projectile points. known as the "beavers." The farmers were known as the "muskrats." The In historic times, an influx of disputes were finally settled in the European settlers followed the farmer's favor in 1872. Wallkill River southward from settlements along the Hudson River. A Variety of Swamps and floodplains composed of It is believed that the river was Habitats red maple, river birch, American named after Holland's River Waal. sycamore, green ash, buttonbush, The bottomlands along the Wallkill silky dogwood, highbush blueberry, River came to be known as "The spicebush, skunk cabbage, marsh Drowned Lands" because the valley marigold and sensitive fern flooded extensively. As early as 1775, characterize the refuge. A small efforts were made to drain the river Atlantic white cedar forest is found to make the land dry enough to farm. on the refuge. The mixed hardwood The effort did not succeed until 1835 forests of the higher elevations when a large canal lowered the include sugar maple, white oak, river's water table. Mill owners, shagbark hickory, flowering dogwood, however, sought to keep the lands witch hazel, mayapple, cardinal flooded, and a battle ensued between flower, and columbine. the millers and the farmers. These Grasslands are the refuge's dominant upland habitat type. The original Chestnut-sided warbler with nestlings © Scott A. Vincent native grasslands that occurred alongside the river before it was channelized no longer exist. Farmers, though, planted cool season grasses both at the river's edge and in upland meadows, and native warm season grasses have been restored in former fields. The third important habitat type on the refuge is the river and its tributaries. Bobolinks, The Wallkill River bottomland is one Bog Turtles, of the few, large areas of high quality Black Ducks, waterfowl habitat remaining in and More northwestern New Jersey. As a major watershed and wetland complex, the Wallkill River provides migratory and nesting habitat for Atlantic flyway black duck populations as well as wood duck, mallard, green-winged teal, common mergansers and Canada geese. A total of 225 species of birds occur on the refuge, including 19 species of waterfowl, 35 species of waterbirds, 24 < species of raptors, and 125 species of o songbirds. The arrival of springtime e is harkened by the shrill of the red- Eastern bluebirds winged blackbird and the spectacular courtship display of the American woodcock. Also common during spring migration are wading birds Indigo binding such as the greater and lesser yellowlegs. In summer, the indigo bunting, bobolink, scarlet tanager, Baltimore oriole, grasshopper sparrow, savannah sparrow, cedar waxwing, chestnut-sided warbler and other songbirds bring color and melody to the refuge. Kestrels commonly nest on the refuge, and the "who cooks for you" call of the barred owl can often B be heard. The fall migration brings C waterfowl, shorebirds, and other songbirds that had nested further - north. Raptors are plentiful during a •/. fall migration as well, when sharp- 9 Wildlife Refuge management is focused on Management conserving, restoring, and enhancing the natural diversity of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats along the Wallkill River. Many of the historic wetland areas along the Wallkill River were drained in the past. Management activities include restoring some areas to their natural wetland condition, creating "potholes" which hold spring and fall floodwaters in areas where the original hydrology cannot be restored, and managing some Birdivatching on areas as moist soil units for Hillside with fall foliage waterfowl and wading birds. Kevin Holeomb/USFWS the Wood Duck Nature Trail shinned hawks, Cooper's hawk, and Grassland and forest areas are broad-winged hawks fill the sky on important to raptors and songbirds clear September days. Short-eared and will be maintained and enhanced owls, northern harriers, and rough- CO for nesting and migrating species. legged hawks are found primarily p /. The refuge has an active grassland during the winter. restoration and management c program. Our cooperative farming The diverse mammal population V = program provides opportunities for includes bats, beaver, muskrat, river • •. local farmers to harvest hay in late otter, mink, red fox, gray fox, coyote, summer from the refuge. white-tailed deer, and black bear. While amphibian and reptile Enjoying the The National Wildlife Refuge populations are generally declining Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 due to habitat loss and degradation, designated wildlife-dependent the Wallkill River valley provides recreation as an important part some of the best remaining habitat of refuge management. If compatible, for salamanders, frogs, turtles and refuges are to offer opportunities snakes in the northeast. Of special for wildlife observation and significance on the refuge is the bog Farmers photography, hunting and fishing, turtle, a federally threatened species loading hay protected by the Endangered JeffShryer/USFWS Species Act. The refuge supports 48 species identified in New Jersey as Short-eared owl threatened, endangered or of special concern, and 11 species listed in New York. The Wallkill River provides an excellent warmwater fishery for largemouth bass, pickerel, perch, •I. sunfish, and bullheads. Some of the streams that enter the Wallkill River •/. •_ have native brook trout populations. and environmental education and interpretation. The refuge provides many opportunities for visitors to get closer to nature. Refuge Office The refuge headquarters, open 8:00 am to 4:30 pm weekdays, is located in a renovated 150-year old farmhouse at 1547 County Route 565 in Vernon Township, New Jersey. Public restrooms are located at the parking lot and are open daily. Wildlife As of March 2001, there are two Observation nature trails on the refuge with a third currently in the planning stages. In winter, with proper snow conditions, cross country skiing and Sardinia!/ sparmw snowshoeing are permitted on at her nest these trails. The Wood Duck Nature Trail passes 0 through wetlands and wet meadows for 1.6 miles on a former railroad bed, < ending at the Wallkill River. The first Q 0.6 mile is wheelchair accessible. - The trail includes a wildlife photography blind, several benches, and interpretive signs that describe wildlife and habitat. The parking area Yellow ivarbler is located on Route 565 in Wantage, New Jersey, approximately 200 yards north of Route 23. Future plans include construction of a footbridge across the Wallkill River and continuation of the trail to a parking area in Hardyston. B S- The 2.5-mile Liberty Loop Trail was created on a former sod farm. The trail is co-aligned with the o Appalachian Trail for 1 mile and also /. with a second abandoned railroad bed. The trail loops around a wetland and grassland management unit, providing an excellent opportunity to observe waterfowl in the spring, grassland birds in the summer and the short-eared owl in the winter. The Opposite page: trail head is located on the south side Beaver of Oil City Road in Pine Island © Gene Stires, Sr.