NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY OFTHE , GREAT EGG HARBOR RIVER WATERSHED IN HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, ATLANTIC COUNTY, NJ July Z&1994 Prepared for HA~~ILTONTOWSHIPE~WROA~ENTXL~~~&W~~I~N PETER P. IC4RAl3ASH~ NJ. PP. #1375 by Peter l? Karabashian 2 7 Gordon ‘s Alley Atlantic City, NJ 05401 (The original copy of this report has been signed and sealed in accordance with the law.) DEDICATION The Natural Resource Inventorv of the Great Egg Harbor River Watershed in Hamilton Township, Atlantic Countv, New Jersev is dedicated to the citizens of Hamilton Township to assist'them in safeguarding their River and its Watershed. This Inventory, supplementing the Township's original Natural Resource Inventory (1983), is provided for the use of those who would consider the variety of physical environments and natural habitats within the Township and to provide direction to all who would use its land and waters. The Hamilton Township Environmental Commission expresses gratitude to past and present members of the Hamilton Township Committee for their participation in achieving the Great Egg Harbor River's Wild and Scenic River designation and for their support of the Local River Management Plan and this Inventory, both produced through the efforts of members of the Environmental Commission with funding through grants provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection & Energy, Office of Environmental Services. HAMILTON TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE Bruce Strigh, Mayor Lorraine Granese John Sacchinelli Noreen McCall Joseph Nickels HAMILTON TOWNSHIP ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION Evelyn Braeunig, Chairman William Christman Michael Dupras Janet Mazzocca John Sacchinelli Dorothy Lodovico James Sacchinelli Michelle Bellinger JULY 1994 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION . i II. OBJECTIVE . 1 III. DEFINITION . 1 IV. METHODOLOGY . 1 V. PINELANDSAREAS ................................ ....................... 2 VI. INVENTORY ...................................... ....................... 8 APPENDMlSOILMAPUSE . 46 APPENDIX 2 OFFICE OF NEW JERSEY HERITAGE REPORT LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1 GREAT EGG HARBOR RIVER WATERSHED AREA . 4 FIGURE 2 GEOLOGIC CROSS SECTION OF THE KIRKWOOD-COHANESY AQUIFER IN ATLANTIC COUNTY, NJ . 10 LIST OF TABLES TABLE# TITLE TABLE I NRI PINELANDS MANAGEMENT AREA BREAKDOWN HAMILTON TOWNSHIP . , . , . 5 TABLE 2 NRI ATLANTIC COUNTY SOILS DATA . , . 14 TABLE 3 NRI SELECTED SOIL CHARACTERISTICS , . , . 16 TABLE 4 NRI WETLANDS SOILS ANALYSIS BY PINELANDS MANAGEMENT AREA IN THE GREAT EGG HARBOR RIVER WATERSHED: HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, ATLANTIC COUNTY, NJ . , 18 TABLE 5 NRI WETLANDS VEGETATION ANALYSIS BY PINELAND AREA IN THE GREAT EGG HARBOR RIVER WATERSHED: HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, ATLANTIC COUNTY, NJ . , 25 TABLE 6 NRI MAMMALS OF THE PINELANDS AND THEIR HABITATS . 26 TABLE 7 NRI ENDANGERED AND THREATENED BIRD SPECIES IDENTIFIED IN ATLANTIC COUNTY AND THEIR HABITATS . 27 TABLE 8 NRI THREATENED AND ENDANGERED REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF THE PINELANDS AND THEIR HABITATS IDENTIFIED IN ATLANTIC COUNTY AND HAMILTON TOWNSHIP . , , . , . 30 TABLE 9 NRI SPECIES REPORTED FROM THE LOWER AND UPPER GREAT EGG HARBOR RIVER WATERBEDS . , . 31 TABLE 10 NRI SULPHUR DIOXIDE (in ppm), AS MEASURED NEAR HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, 1990-I 992 . 34 TABLE 11 NRI TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATES, AS MEASURED NEAR HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, 1990-I 992 (in ug/m3; measured @A.C.) . ..a.................... 35 TABLE 12 NRI CARBON MONOXIDE (in ppm) AS MEASURED NEAR HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, 1990-l 992 . , . , . , . , . 36 TABLE 13 NRI INHALABLE PARTICULATES, AS MEASURED NEAR HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, 1990-1992 (in ug/m3; measured # A.C.) . 37 TABLE 14 NRI OZONE (in ppm), AS MEASURED NEAR HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, 1990-I 992 . , . , . 38 TABLE 15 NRI NJ POLLUTANT STANDARDS INDEX (PSI) SOUTHERN COASTAL REGION (ATLANTIC, CAPE MAY COUNTIES), 1990-1992 . 39 TABLE 16 NRI RECORD OF DAYS WHEN PSI EXCEEDED HEALTH STANDARD AT LOCATIONS NEAR HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, 1990-l 992 . , . 40 NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY OF THE GREAT EGG HARBOR RIVER WATERSHED I. INTRODUCTION In 1983, Peter P. Karabashian Associates, Inc., prepared on behalf of the Hamilton Township Planning Board a Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) of Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, NJ. This NRI was prepared as an element of the Comprehensive Management Plan (Master Plan) of the Township. The findings of the NRI served to establish an informational base upon which the goals and objectives of the Master Plan and the Development Ordinance regulations were formulated. The NRI, Master Plan and Development Ordinance were prepared by the Township, submitted to the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, and certified by that body as being in compliance with the provisions of the Pinelands Commission Comprehensive Management Plan. Although the NRI was originally developed as part of the Township’s compliance effort, data was included on the area of the Township that does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Pinelands Commission. This “non-pinelands” area can generally be described as that portion of the Township located along the tidal portion of the Great Egg Harbor River below the Lake Lenape Dam. This non-pinelands area includes lands that are part of the Pinelands National Reserve (Federal Legislation) but are not designated as being in the Pinelands Protection Area (State Legislation) as well as an area of approximately 1,000 acres that has not been designated as a pinelands area under either State or Federal legislation. This 1994 update is being prepared and specifically targeted for that portion of the Township that lies within the Great Egg Harbor River Watershed. As shown on Map 1, entitled Great Egg Harbor River Watershed Area, a vast majority of Hamilton Township lies within the Great Egg Harbor Basin area, except for two relatively small areas of the Township that do not drain towards the Great Egg Harbor River. These areas, approximately 391 acres located along the northeast edge of the Township adjacent to Galloway Township, part of the Mullica River Watershed, and of approximately I,61 5 acres located at the eastern corner of the Township, in the Absecon Creek drainage area. Combined, these two areas encompass approximately 2,000 acres (2,006 rt acres) or less than 3% (2.75%) of the total area of the Township (73,600 acres). This report updates the 1983 NRI inventory through a review of new information received from State and Federal environmental agencies including: . New Jersey Pinelands Commission; . New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection & Energy (various divisions); . U. S. Geologic Survey: . U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service. This document was prepared with the aid of a grant of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection & Energy, Office of Environmental Services. NATURAL RESOURCF INVFNTORY OF THF GRFAT FGG HARROR RIVER WATERSW II. OBJECTIVE The objective of the Natural Resource Inventory (hereinafter referred to as NRI) is to present a comprehensive inventory and analysis of the natural resources found in that portion of Hamilton Township that lies with the watershed of the Great Egg Harbor River. The documentation of these natural resources js a critical component in formulation of national land use planning data, crucial to preparing a Master Plan and Land Use Ordinance which is consistent with the natural environment. Accordingly, the N.R.I. is a working document that identifies critical and environmentally sensitive habitat in the Township, thus making it possible to plan with nature, By developing such compatibility, the land use planning process addresses one of the key components of the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Plan, which is to: l Promote the conservation of valuable natural resources without the degradation of the environment through the improper use of land. These resources are the basis upon which the Hamilton Township Master Plan and Land Use Ordinance are formulated. Ill. DEFINITION The NRI for the Great Egg Harbor River Watershed area of Hamilton Township is the compilation of environmental information relating to the entire Township, and includes data for the following resources: topography and slopes; geology; soils, including prime agricultural soils; vegetation; surface and ground water resources; wildlife habitat; air quality and areas of scenic and recreational importance. IV. METHODOLOGY The information used in this NRI was obtained from the following sources: * The New Jersey Pinelands Commission; * NJDEPE Bureau of Air Monitoring; * Cape-Atlantic Soil Conservation District; 4 Federal Aviation Administration; * N.J.D.E.P.E. Bureau of Water Resources; * U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and * NJDEPE Office of Natural Lands Management; * Atlantic County Division of Parks; and * NJDEPE Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife. Calculations of land areas relating to vegetation, soils, etc. were originally made with a compensating planimeter. Accuracy checks made during the course of these measurements show the figures obtained through the use of the planimeter to be within plus or minus 5% range. The Soils and Vegetation Maps provided by the Pinelands Commission were originally color coded by Peter P. Karabashian Associates, Inc., in 1982 for use in the analysis and presentation of the original NRI of the Township. This color coding system was established to determine not only boundary lines for various types of vegetation and soils, but also for the identification of soil and vegetation types with common properties. In addition, the color coding of these maps facilitated the comparison of the wetlands/upland boundaries on the soils map against