Bobcat Sightings More Frequent in New Jersey

Bobcat seen on a trail camera near Blairstown, Nov. 2011 via nj.com

A sighting this week of a bobcat in Boonton reminds residents that this endangered species exists in New Jersey and is making a comeback.

These cats, much larger then house cats and with tufted ears, are rarely seen by humans. They prefer to live in isolated large wooded and rocky areas away from homes.

The bobcat seen in Boonton Township was near the Splitrock Reservoir and is an area where deer, foxes, bears, and coyotes are not unusual sightings.

There have been a number of bobcats spotted in the area around the Picatinny Arsenal, a state zoologist told the Daily Record but they are most frequently found north of Route 80.

It seems that they are moving to other sections of Morris County. Although the bobcat population of this native NJ species is climbing in the state's northern region, they remain endangered in New Jersey.

The bobcat is a medium sized-cat, about two feet tall. It is larger than a housecat, but much smaller than the big cats like a cougar or lion. Adult females in NJ generally weigh between 18 and 25 lbs. while adult males can weigh as much as 35 lbs. Their fur ranges from yellowish brown to reddish brown and bears markings that vary from ‘tabby’ stripes to heavy spotting. They possess slightly tufted ears and a short bobbed tail (between three and seven inches long) that is black above at the tip. Generally they hunt both by night and day, although there is evidence to suggest that most hunting takes place at dawn and dusk.

The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife conducted a restoration project where 24 bobcats captured in Maine were released in northern New Jersey from 1978-1982. By the 1990’s reports of bobcat sightings began to increase. Today, bobcat reports from northern NJ are on the increase. Unfortunately, so are the numbers of bobcats killed by automobiles on our highways. During a one year period between 2008 and 2009, fourteen bobcats were observed on NJ roads and ten of these were hit by cars.

Bobcat feeding via wdfw.wa.gov

More info:  http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/ensp/pdf/end-thrtened/bobcat.pdf

New Jersey Peach Festival This Weekend

Peaches have been harvested in New Jersey since the 17th century and the 31st annual New Jersey Peach Festival runs from July 25 to 28 at the Gloucester County Fairgrounds in Mullica Hill. It runs concurrently with the county’s 4-H Fair.

You can find peaches in ice cream, water ice, pies, slushies, coffee cake, jams and jellies and a bake-off will featured both well known items like peach melba and also peach dip and peach sauces.

“New Jersey is currently fourth in the nation in peach production, producing 30,000 tons valued at $39.6 million,” says Lynne Richmond, public information officer for the state Department of Agriculture. Peaches rank second to blueberries in value among the state’s fruit crops; Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem counties are the hotbeds of Jersey peach production.

Admission for the 4-H Fair and Peach Festival is $10 per car.

July 25-28, 2013, 4-H Fairgrounds, Route 77 South, Mullica Hill, NJ

INFORMATION: gloucester.njaes.rutgers.edu/fairfest/

Removal of Third Dam on Raritan River Will Aid Fish Spawning and Migration

Nevius Street Raritan Bridge

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin announced the start of the removal of a third dam from the Raritan River in Somerset County that will further open a 10-mile stretch of the middle and upper portions of the river to fish spawning and migration and also allow more recreational opportunities.

Removal of the Nevius Street Dam in Raritan Borough is the third and final dam elimination project on the Raritan River over the past three years that is financed by a landmark natural resource damages settlement secured by the DEP in 2010 with El Paso Corporation, which is now Kinder Morgan. This restoration project is being implemented as compensation to the public for harm to natural resources caused by past pollution at a refinery that was operated by or affiliated with El Paso.

In addition to the dam removals, the DEP received nearly $160,000 from Kinder Morgan for herring research on the Delaware River as part of the settlement.

“This is another example of the Christie Administration’s commitment to improved water quality and enhanced recreational opportunities in our state,’’ said Commissioner Martin. “This project makes excellent use of pollution settlement dollars to provide a major environmental improvement on the Raritan River. Also, residents and sportsmen in the region will enjoy the recreational benefits of this dam removal for generations to come.’’

“The significant ecological benefits of removing this dam are consistent with the efforts of Duke Farms to be a model of stewardship, and we are delighted to see the progress which has been made to enhance the Raritan as the true queen of New Jersey rivers,’’ added Michael Catania, Executive Director of Duke Farms, which owns the dam.

The Nevius Street Dam is being removed over the next two weeks as part of a watershed-wide effort to re-establish historically significant migratory fish passage, restore riverine habitat and the natural flow of the Raritan River, and enhance recreational uses.

Its elimination will add to habitat improvements realized from removal of the Calco Dam in Bridgewater in 2011 and the Robert Street Dam in Bridgewater and Hillsborough townships in 2012. Removal of the Nevius Street Dam should be completed within two weeks by Kinder Morgan’s contractor, River Logic, said Kinder Morgan project manager John Jengo.

Meanwhile, the DEP’s Office of Natural Resource Restoration continues to study additional dams in the Raritan River watershed and will evaluate and implement appropriate options for future enhanced fish passage and recreational opportunities.

The Nevius Street Dam is located just south of the Borough of Raritan at river mile 27.0 in Somerset County. It was constructed in 1901 by James Buchanan (Buck) Duke, the tobacco and hydropower industrialist, for aesthetic and recreational purposes as part of his development of Duke Farms, a 2,740-acre estate in Hillsborough Township.

The dam is constructed of mortared stone block over a concrete core, with a stair-step design on its downstream side. The dam length is approximately 195 feet.

A water intake structure was installed in the early 1960s on the north end of the dam and Duke Farms began utilizing this intake system for its primary water supply when their pumping withdrawals from the Raritan Water Power Canal were discontinued in the 1970s.

All three dam removals will open up 10 miles of migratory fish habitat along a stretch of the Raritan that twists through a highly diverse residential, commercial and agricultural portion of Somerset County that includes Bridgewater, Hillsborough, Bound Brook, Somerville and Manville. It also will open up about 17 miles of tributaries, including the Millstone River, to spawning. None of the dams were built for flood control:

Calco Dam, demolished in 2011, was located at river mile 20.9 and built by the Calco Chemical Co. in 1938 to disperse chemicals from its facility.
The Robert Street Dam, a 6 ½-foot-high sheet piling and concrete dam had been located at river mile 27.9 and was originally constructed prior to 1930 for purposes that are not known today.
The Nevius Street Dam, located at river mile 27.0, was constructed of rocks and mortar in 1901 for aesthetic purposes and later retrofitted to provide water to Duke Estate ponds.
Fish to benefit most from the removal of the dams are American shad, American eel, herring, and striped bass, which once migrated in prodigious numbers through the gravelly shallows of the Upper Raritan. Better water flow also will improve flushing of sediments, reduce nutrient loadings and improve conditions for tiny aquatic organisms that are critical to the food web in the river system.

"Somerset County is delighted to see this initiative of the Christie Administration and the DEP provide such tangible improvements to the Raritan River to help improve the quality of life for the citizens of Somerset County,” said Somerset County Freeholder Director Peter Palmer.

“The removal of the Nevius Street Dam will complement the borough's plans to make the Raritan River more accessible to our residents and a focal point for our own recreational and redevelopment efforts, added Raritan Mayor Jo-Ann Liptak.

Calco Dam in Bridgewater

The voluntary settlement with El Paso – now Kinder Morgan -- resolved Natural Resource Damage claims made by the DEP against the Houston-based company that stemmed from contamination at EPEC Polymers Inc. in Flemington, Hunterdon County; Nuodex Inc. in Woodbridge, Middlesex County; EPEC Polymers Inc. in Burlington City, Burlington County; and the Eagle Point Refinery in West Deptford, Gloucester County. Investigations and/or cleanups are under way at those sites.

The DEP uses funds secured from Natural Resource Damage settlements toward ecological restoration projects, typically in the same watershed or general area where resource damages occur.

For a copy of the settlement agreement, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/docs/elpaso-nrd-settlement.pdf

For more information on the DEP's Office of Natural Resource Restoration, visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/nrr/

New Jersey Shore Hurricane Remediation at IBSP

More than 75 volunteers, including Field & Stream staffers, gave up a Saturday to clean up and restore Island Beach State Park, a 10-mile-long barrier island off the New Jersey coast that was devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

More about IBSP projects at http://www.thefriendsofislandbeach.org

Learn more about other volunteer conservation projects nationwide at fieldandstream.com/heroforaday

Harvest the Bay Programs at Island Beach Stae Park

The newest editions to the summer programs at Island Beach State Park are the widely-anticipated Harvest the Bay Educational Programs, where participants will be able to engage in popular Jersey Shore pastimes like clamming, crabbing, and fishing.

via www.thefriendsofislandbeachstatepark.org

Harvest the Bay combines seaside recreational enjoyment with active support of commercial industry and local food resources. Park Natural Educators will join visitors as they explore clams, crabs, and fish, their role in the Barnegat Bay ecosystem, and how they are impacted by the health of the bay. Afterword, participants will learn proper techniques for harvesting these creatures.

The Harvest the Bay education programs are made possible through a generous grant from Barnegat Bay Partnership, which will also include implementation of the programs in Spanish.

The Barnegat Bay Partnership also funds the Harvest the Bay Day’ Festival: A Celebration of Barnegat Bay’s Natural Resources. Fresh local seafood, hands-on activities, and nature programs are the star of the show, which will take place on three different dates: July 23rd, August 20th, and October 12th, extending Jersey Shore summer fun well into autumn.

For more information on Island Beach State Park, visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html 

Summer Nature Programs at Island Beach State Park

photo via media.nj.com

Island Beach State Park, one of the most popular destinations in the state park system, is offering a full raft of nature programs this summer as the park continues to progress following Superstorm Sandy.

Shaped by storms and tides, Island Beach State Park is a narrow barrier island stretching for 10 miles between the ocean and Barnegat Bay. It is one of New Jersey's last significant remnants of a barrier island ecosystem and is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier beaches on the north Atlantic coast.

The park is continuing to work on rebuilding four beach access boardwalks with the goal of having the park fully operational for the peak summer season. Two of the boardwalks were completed by Memorial Day, and the remaining two are expected to reach completion by the Fourth of July holiday.

While many flock to Island Beach for its excellent swimming and fishing opportunities, there is a wilder side of the park that offers opportunities for deepening the visitor’s appreciation of wildlife and the ecosystems they depend on. In recognition of this fact, the State Park Service continues to expand its nature programs that focus on the plants and wildlife that have adapted to the harsh barrier island ecosystem.

Past favorites, free with paid admission, are daily programs that delve into the state’s growing population of ospreys, a coastal predator that is an indicator of good environmental health; allow visitors to pull a seine net through Barnegat Bay; provide insights into the plants and animals of a dune system; and explore the watery domain of indigenous fish in tanks at the Pavilion.

Island Beach State Park is also offering guided programs led by an expert team of naturalists. Pre-registration is required for these guided programs, and may be obtained by calling the park office at (732) 793-0506 or by visiting www.conservewildlifenj.org. Visitors will be able to explore the park beyond the beach through these interactive and educational programs, which include kayaking tours (equipment provided), fishing lessons, and the popular WILDCHILD programs for kids.

Tours of Barnegat Bay and Sedge Islands are enhanced by the Birding by Kayak, Sedge Islands “Then and Now” Kayak Tour, and Sunset Paddle excursion options. Park Natural Educators will also offer a Beginner’s Surf Fishing Clinic, where visitors can learn the basic techniques for successful surf fishing. Bait and equipment are provided.

The WILDCHILD Programs include a hands-on course for toddlers, an “Island Explorers” unit for older children, and the WILDCHILD Surfing Safari, in which children from 8 to 17 learn not only about waves and how they are made, but also how to surf them.

Trail hikes and guided walks return for the summer season as well, which will also require pre-registration. The Moonlight Hike allows visitors the opportunity to see the park from a completely new perspective – at nighttime. This hike gives special attention to the more nocturnal residents of the park. Bonfire, marshmallows, and ghost stories are included.

The Time-Travel Trail Hike offers a historical take on the Park, as hikers learn about the people who lived there long ago. A hike geared towards birdwatchers, bird aficionados, and the curious alike gives hikers the chance to see osprey, herons, warblers, and cormorants among the other feathered inhabitants of the park. The Island Eco-Hike provides a glance at the diverse habitats and creatures of the barrier island ecosystem.

For more information on Island Beach State Park, visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html 

Northeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Meeting

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife is reminding the public that the 2013 annual meeting of the Northeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (NEPARC) will be held at the New Jersey School of Conservation in Branchville, July 24-26.

The conference provides a forum to discuss NEPARC projects, hear presentations on various herp conservation and research activities, network and enjoy the company of like-minded herp enthusiasts, and elect officers.

Visit the NEPARC webpage at http://www.northeastparc.org/meetings/  for registration information and additional details.

Tiny Tymbals, Big Sound

Want to know why cicadas can get so loud? Biologist Kelly Rypkema and her Nature Minute video ventures into the thick of the 2013 appearance of periodical cicadas to show you the answer to the questions of why, who, and what body parts they use when they raise the roof after taking to the trees.

Cicadas -- Tiny Tymbals, Big Sound