24: VERNAL POOLS - Franklin Township · Vernal pools are recognized as disproportionately diverse...
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Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) Franklin Township, Warren County, New Jersey Prepared by Princeton Hydro, LLC 30 June 2007 24: VERNAL POOLS Vernal pools are narrowly defined ephemeral wetlands that are characterized by hydrologic features and ecological function. These pools are confined basins or depressions lacking means by which the standing water in the pool can drain. To be classified as a vernal pool, standing water must be present in the pool for at least two continuous months between March and September in a year of normal rainfall. Ecologically, vernal pools must harbor documented obligate or facultative vernal habitat species (as listed by NJDEP) and be free of fish populations or dry up for some period during the year. Obligate species may be defined as those species that are dependent on vernal pool habitats at some stage of the life cycle, while facultative species are those species that frequently utilize vernal pools but are capable of reproducing outside of vernal pools. Vernal pools are recognized as disproportionately diverse habitats within generalized upland settings. In particular, they are associated with various obligate species across taxa that are recognized as threatened or endangered. Characteristic obligate species include amphibians such as the mole salamanders (Ambystoma spp.), and Wood frog (Rana sylvatica), but are equally important to facultative wildlife such as state threatened Wood turtle (Glypternys insculpta). Statewide, the number of vernal pools has declined drastically because of increased development and the lack of specific regulatory protection afforded larger, more typically defined wetlands. With the approval of the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act Rules in 2001, vernal pools became specifically protected. The NJDEP’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program established the Vernal Pool Project, which is a dedicated effort to map and survey vernal pools throughout the state. Much of the NJDEP’s mapping efforts have been completed through trained volunteer surveys and a partnership with Rutgers University’s Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis. Additional information can be found online (http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/vernalpool.htm ) and (http://www.dbcrssa.rutgers.edu/ims/vernal/). Vernal pools represent a unique natural resource. Filling, altering, draining or otherwise compromising the hydrological or ecological function of vernal pools should be avoided and any such activity is subject to NJDEP review and approval. The vernal pools located in the Township are presented in (Figure 23 ) with additional information appearing in Appendix 23. Zero of the possible 21 vernal pools that occur in Franklin Township have yet to be certified by the NJDEP Endangered and Nongame Species Program.
Transcript of 24: VERNAL POOLS - Franklin Township · Vernal pools are recognized as disproportionately diverse...
Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) Franklin Township, Warren County, New Jersey
Prepared by Princeton Hydro, LLC 30 June 2007
24: VERNAL POOLS Vernal pools are narrowly defined ephemeral wetlands that are characterized by hydrologic features and ecological function. These pools are confined basins or depressions lacking means by which the standing water in the pool can drain. To be classified as a vernal pool, standing water must be present in the pool for at least two continuous months between March and September in a year of normal rainfall. Ecologically, vernal pools must harbor documented obligate or facultative vernal habitat species (as listed by NJDEP) and be free of fish populations or dry up for some period during the year. Obligate species may be defined as those species that are dependent on vernal pool habitats at some stage of the life cycle, while facultative species are those species that frequently utilize vernal pools but are capable of reproducing outside of vernal pools. Vernal pools are recognized as disproportionately diverse habitats within generalized upland settings. In particular, they are associated with various obligate species across taxa that are recognized as threatened or endangered. Characteristic obligate species include amphibians such as the mole salamanders (Ambystoma spp.), and Wood frog (Rana sylvatica), but are equally important to facultative wildlife such as state threatened Wood turtle (Glypternys insculpta). Statewide, the number of vernal pools has declined drastically because of increased development and the lack of specific regulatory protection afforded larger, more typically defined wetlands. With the approval of the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act Rules in 2001, vernal pools became specifically protected. The NJDEP’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program established the Vernal Pool Project, which is a dedicated effort to map and survey vernal pools throughout the state. Much of the NJDEP’s mapping efforts have been completed through trained volunteer surveys and a partnership with Rutgers University’s Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis. Additional information can be found online (http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/vernalpool.htm) and (http://www.dbcrssa.rutgers.edu/ims/vernal/). Vernal pools represent a unique natural resource. Filling, altering, draining or otherwise compromising the hydrological or ecological function of vernal pools should be avoided and any such activity is subject to NJDEP review and approval. The vernal pools located in the Township are presented in (Figure 23) with additional information appearing in Appendix 23. Zero of the possible 21 vernal pools that occur in Franklin Township have yet to be certified by the NJDEP Endangered and Nongame Species Program.
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HUNTERDON COUNTY
WARREN COUNTY
Pohatcong Creek
Pohatcong Creek
Morris Canal (Dry)
Montana Brook
Musc o netcong River
Bethlehem Township
Bloomsbury Boro
Hampton Boro
Greenwich Township
Washington Township
Harmony Township
BLOOMSBURY RD
MORRIS TPKE (RT. 57)
MOUNTAI N VIEW RD
GOOD S PRINGS RD
ASBU
RY-BR
OADW
AY RD
MAPLE AVE
MILLBROOK RD
MO NTANA RD
ANDERSON RD
BICKEL RD
WILLOW GROVE RD
HALFW
AY HOUSE RD
BUTLE
R RD
KITCHEN RD
BRY A N R D
MAIN S
T
SHIRTS RD
WHITE
S RD
SURRY LN
BUTTERMIL K BRIDGE RD
STE WARTSVILLE RD
HARLE Y CT
MOUNTAIN VIEW ROAD-WES T
EDISO
N RD
DIRT LN
HERLEMAN RD
HOFFMAN RD
STEEPLE CHASE
HALLS MIL L RD
WARN
E WAY
CLIF F SIDE DR
BEIDL
EMAN
RD
MICA MINE RD
INSCHO RD
WOOLV
ERTO
N RD
SECOND ST
THIRD ST
MORGAN RD
L EN A PE TRL
COPP
ERFIE
LD DR
NEW ST
YOLM
AN RD
CEME
TERY
HILL
RD
COLE
RD
RIDDLE CT
LIMEK
ILN RD
MULLER LN
SINGL
EY LN
WICKOFF CT
WATE
RBRO
OK DR
PRICE DR
EDISO
N RD
STEWARTSVILLE RD
White TownshipFil
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NEW JERSEY COUNTY MAP
FIGURE 23VERNAL POOLS
DE L A W
A R E
RIV
ER
OCEAN
MORRIS
SUSSEX
BURLINGTON
WARREN
MONMOUTH
HUNTERDON
BERGEN
MIDDLESEX
MERCER
PASSAIC
ESSEX
UNION
SOMERSET
CAMDENGLOUCESTER
HUDSON
SALEM
U 0 3,0001,500Feet
1 inch equals 3,000 feet
SOURCES:1. Parcel, roads and the Franklin Township Boundary data obtained from Warren County Planning Dept. "This map was developed using the Warren County New Jersey, Geographic Information System digital data, but this secondary product has not been verified by Warren County and is not county- authorized."2. Surface water data obtained from the NJDEP, Division of GIS.3. Vernal Pool locations obtained from Rutgers University.
NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORYFRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
WARREN COUNTY, NEW JERSEYLegend^ Vernal Pools
County BoundaryMunicipal BoundariesRoadsParcelsNJDEP Wetlands (726.9 Ac.)Ponds/Lakes
StreamsStreamsMorris Canal (Dry)
PRINCETON HYDRO, LLC.1108 OLD YORK ROAD, SUITE 1RINGOES, NEW JERSEY, 08551
Vernal Pool locations obtained from the Grant F. WaltonCenter for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis (CRSSA-Rutgers).The CRSSA is partnered with the NJDEP, Division of Fish andWildlife, Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP).The vernal pool locations shown here have been certified bythe ENSP.
