Delaware Riverkeeper Network opposes upgrading Water Gap to National Park

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network is opposing any re-designation of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area because it might be too successful, and lead to overdevelopment of the areas of New Jersey and Pennsylvania outside its boundaries.

In separate letters to members of the Delaware River Basin Commission and to the members of the DEWA National Park Steering Committee, the DRN takes the position that, similar to what has happened around other national parks, there will be hard-to-control development outside the park's boundaries.

"The footprint and activities plan, by sheer virtue of their size and scope, will inflict irremediable harm and undermine efforts of NPS to prioritize river protection over visitor experience," states the letter sent to the steering committee, which includes former superintendent John Donahue and the Sierra Clubs of both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. "And as with other national parks nationwide, the new status will attract massive new development activity outside of the park that will cause a level of local buildout that will inflict additional unacceptable harm over which the NPS has no control."

In addition, the letter cites concerns over potential impact on water quality in the area.

"It is our considered opinion that the water quality and ecosystem impacts of the development planned shouldnational park status be achieved, compounded by development outside of the park boundaries that willadditionally ensue, will compromise the high quality water and natural ecosystems of the River, to a degreenot in keeping with the needs and goals of our region or the Special Protection Waters designation that wehave worked so hard to secure and uphold for the non-tidal River,"

The letter to members of the DRBC is more succinct: "We are concerned that the water quality and ecosystem impacts of the development planned should national park status be achieved, compounded by development outside of the park boundaries that will additionally ensue, will compromise the high quality water and natural ecosystems of the River, to a degree not in keeping with SPW protections."

Copies of the two letters, dated Thursday, were made available to the New Jersey Herald.

Related:NJ state legislators introduce resolution opposing national park in Delaware Water Gap

The Steering Committee is not associated with the National Park Service while the DRBC is a federal agency, charged with preservation and protection of the Delaware.

The commission is made up of the governors of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware and a federal representative, usually a high-ranking officer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The commission is currently chaired by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf.

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area was created more than 50 years ago to include land around a lake which was to be formed by the Tocks Island Dam. While the dam project was cancelled, the Corps of Engineers had already purchased or taken by eminent domain most of the property within the recreation area. Ownership was transferred to the National Park Service and became the Water Gap Recreation Area.

The plan to re-designate the land as a national park has met with stiff opposition by newly-formed citizens groups, as well as most of the municipalities bordering the park.

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The Riverkeeper Network is a not-for-profit group formed in 1988 and "champions the rights of our communities for a Delaware River and tributary streams that are free-flowing, clean, healthy, and abundant with a diversity of life" according to its website.

The Delaware River is the longest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi, beginning as two rivers in the Catskill Mountains which join at the New York/Pennsylvania border and empties into Delaware Bay. Along the way, the river is drinking water source for 17 million people in the four states.

In addition to the recreation area, three sections of the river also have been protected by designation under the Clean Waters Act which carry designations as units of the National Park Service.

The letter to the DRBC goes on to say, "The ecological health and low level development within and around the DWGNRA has been key to the exceptional water quality and ecosystem health of the main stem River and tributaries throughout the region."

Within the National Park Service there are several designations, such as "recreation area," "battlefield," "monument," "preserve" and "historic site."

There is federal law covering each of those designations and what activities may be carried out within a designation's boundaries.

Most recreation areas surround man-made lakes and reservoirs and allow most outdoor activities from swimming to hiking and hunting/fishing.

National Park designation, however, does not allow for "extraction" of natural resources, including wildlife, which means no hunting, fishing or trapping. National parks also most often charge an entry fee to users.

By the numbers:How does Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area compare to existing national parks?

The recreation area, which is known as DEWA within the NPS, does charge for use of some areas, such as beaches, boat launches and some campsites. However, with more than three dozen entry points into the park, there is no general fee and some park roads are regular commuter routes.

The plan put forward by proponents of national park designation does take into account the opposition centered around hunting and fishing and proposes to designate some portion of DEWA as the "Lenape Preserve," where hunting and fishing would be allowed.

However, the current plan does not include any map or description of what would be Lenape Preserve and what would be Delaware Water Gap National Park.

Both letters also reference the "preserve" but question how much the Lenape people have been involved.

"We are also concerned that while Lenape representatives living in the Midwest have been included in theplanning process, the Lenape Nation and tribes of our region, those that have an intimate, personal andenduring relationship with our River and watershed have not," the letter states. "The perspective of the local Lenape tribes and people is essential and must be honored. Failure to include them in planning seems a dramatic oversight ofhigh concern."

Both letters are signed by Maya K. van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper and Deputy Director Tracy Carluccio.

Neither the steering committee nor the DRBC had returned calls seeking comment by Friday afternoon.

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Riverkeeper Network says it opposes proposed DEWA national park