New Jersey-2018-AR138-Amended

An Assembly Resolution urging the United States Secretary of the Interior to designate Rancocas Creek as a National Water Trail.

Whereas, Rancocas Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River in southwestern New Jersey; and

Whereas, Rancocas Creek has two main branches in the Pinelands National Reserve, the north branch which is in northern Burlington County and the south branch which is in central Burlington County; and

Whereas, Rancocas Creek is one of the most prominent and important waterways in Burlington County; and

Whereas, The creek supported Native Americans and European settlers for centuries by providing a means of transportation, commerce, industry, and recreation; and

Whereas, Today, the creek can be classified as a water trail as it provides both conservation and recreational opportunities; and

Whereas, The creek affords many people the opportunity to enjoy natural settings, recreational water access, picnic facilities, and play areas; and

Whereas, Residents of New Jersey and visitors can enjoy the 14-mile Rancocas Creek Canoe Trail, the Pemberton Campus at Rowan College at Burlington County, Historic Smithville Park, and Mill Dam Park; and

Whereas, Furthermore, the preservation and restoration work at Historic Smithville Park will provide visitors with a historic look into the Industrial Revolution, and the Historic Prison Museum, a National Historic Landmark, tells an intriguing story of early American architecture and prison life; and

¹Whereas, There are other multi-use water trails on Rancocas Creek which include Medford Township Canoe Trail on South Branch and Rancocas State Park Bluewater Trail on North Branch where marshes are host to one of the State's largest fields of wild rice; and

Whereas, Rancocas State Park Bluewater Trail runs through Timbuctoo, an area along the creek that was a settlement for free African Americans and escaped African American slaves, and which is now an African American Civil War burial site; and¹

Whereas, The creek is home to a variety of wildlife including painted and box turtles, white-tailed deer, beavers, herons, kingfishers, wood ducks, mallards, and Canada geese; and

Whereas, Rancocas Pathways, a tax exempt nonprofit organization, is the designated project manager for the planning and submission of Rancocas Creek for designation as a National Water Trail in the National Water Trails System, and will also be responsible for managing the implementation of sustainable activities associated with the newly designated water trail; and

Whereas, Rancocas Pathways is dedicated to improving the environmental quality of the creek for both residents and visitors who wish to enjoy the creek's natural beauty or recreational activities; and

Whereas, Rancocas Pathways members collaborate with State and local agencies and private organizations to monitor and maintain water quality and to identify sources of pollution and regularly clean up the creek by removing fallen leaves that obstruct the waterway and by collecting trash; and

Whereas, Rancocas Pathways promotes recreation, assists Burlington County in coordinating events, and facilitates numerous community forums to highlight issues and address concerns regarding the creek; and

Whereas, The creek provides opportunities for communities to develop and implement strategies that enhance and restore the health of the local waterways and surrounding lands; and

Whereas, The Rancocas State Park Bluetrail provides a linkage, or "bridge," to enhanced public access between the Rancocas Blueway and the Rancocas Greenway for the purpose of sustaining preservation efforts within the Rancocas Creek Watershed; and

¹Whereas, Several community groups along Rancocas Creek provide opportunities for community engagement such as the Pemberton Township and Medford Township canoe fairs and float festivals; and

Whereas, The annual Lumberton Fall Festival allows for communities to connect and enjoy the heritage and natural history of Rancocas Creek; and

Whereas, The Pinelands Preservation Alliance, the Friends of Whitesbog Historic Village, and the Rancocas Nature Center are all active in enhancing public access and improving the water quality of Rancocas Creek; and

Whereas, Furthermore, the Rancocas Creek Association (RCA) is a residents' organization originally formed in the 1930s by families from Camden, Philadelphia, and other surrounding towns along or near the creek; and

Whereas, The RCA is dedicated to improving the environmental quality of the creek for both residents and visitors who wish to enjoy the creek's natural beauty or recreational activities; and

Whereas, RCA members maintain and keep the non-tidal North Branch of Rancocas Creek clean; and¹

Whereas, The National Water Trails System (NWTS) is a distinctive national network of exemplary water trails that are cooperatively supported and sustained through federal, state, local, and nonprofit entities; and

Whereas, The NWTS was established to protect and restore America's rivers, shorelines, and waterways, and conserve natural areas along waterways and increase access to outdoor recreation on shorelines and waterways; and

Whereas, In order to receive a NWTS designation, a water trail must meet certain criteria and incorporate NWTS best management practices; and

Whereas, Rancocas Creek, through the efforts of Rancocas Pathways, meets the NWTS criteria and incorporates NWTS best management practices, such as providing public information, recreation, conservation, trail maintenance, and community support; and

Whereas, The New Jersey State Park Service endorses the designation of the Rancocas Creek as the Rancocas Creek National Water Trail and the United States Secretary of the Interior is considering designating the creek as a National Water Trail; and

Whereas, It is fitting and proper to designate Rancocas Creek as a part of the NWTS; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House respectfully urges the United States Secretary of the Interior to designate Rancocas Creek as a National Water Trail.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, each member of Congress elected from this State, the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Burlington County, and Rancocas Pathways.