Project Purpose:

To enhance Upper Paulins Kill wetlands with riparian reforestation, ditch plugs, shallow water habitat pools, invasive species control, and warm season grass plantings while providing outdoor educational opportunities for Sussex County elementary, middle, and high school students, AmeriCorps NJ watershed Ambassadors, and local volunteer organizations. At least 225 volunteers will be engaged in restoration activities by project completion.

 

Brief Description:

The Wallkill River Watershed Management Group (WRWMG) in partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Frankford Township School, and High Point High School will restore and enhance 10 acres of wetlands along 1st and 2nd order tributaries in the Upper Paulins Kill Watershed on Frankford Township Board of Education property and wastewater treatment plant property owned and operated by the Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority in Frankford Township, NJ.  Building off of the 4-mile Upper Paulins Kill riparian reforestation buffer that the WRWMG and The Nature Conservancy installed in 2012-2020, Sussex County students, Girl Scouts, AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors, and members of North Jersey Trout Unlimited will now help with additional riparian reforestation work as part of field training days organized by the WRWMG.  Through a Partners Agreement, the USFWS will install ditch plugs, excavate shallow water habitat pools, and conduct herbicide application to control invasive spotted knapweed in preparation for 2.75 acres of warm season grass seeding.

 

Resource Values/Project Outputs:

All of the proposed BMPs are intended to benefit water quality and improve habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife populations previously documented on or around the project landscape: dwarf wedgemussel, bobcat, barred owl, eastern meadowlark, and wood turtle. The long-term goal of the project is to create a demonstration site that raises awareness about diverse watershed restoration and stewardship practices that can be applied to the man-altered landscape to enhance wildlife habitat and biodiversity.

 

Cost/Budget: $145,780

 

Schedule: August 2021 - October 2022

 

Permit Status: GP 16 to be obtained for ditch plug installation/shallow water habitat pool excavation; no permit is required for the riparian buffer hand planting.  USFWS will assist with permit application through a Partners Agreement.

 

List of Partners:

Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority-Wallkill River Watershed Management Group

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

NJCWRP

Frankford Township School

High Point Regional High School

NJDEP

William Penn Foundation

Branchville Cemetery Association

Fred S. Burroughs Chapter of Trout Unlimited

AmeriCorps NJ watershed Ambassador Program

Girl Scouts of Northern NJ

 

What is requested from the CWRP/Contribution: $25,000 to contribute to the restoration effort

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Point of Contact: Kristine Rogers Phone:  973-579-6998 ext. 110 Email

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