Delaware
Water Gap News Release
Release date: August 28, 2020
Contact(s): Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Specialist
Kathleen_Sandt@nps.gov; (570) 234-9144
Eric
Lisnik, Chief Ranger
Eric_Lisnik@nps.gov; (570) 242-3432
Park Regulations Updated to Curb Litter and Protect Wildlife
BUSHKILL, PA- The Superintendent’s Compendium of Designations,
Closures, Permit Requirements, and Other Restrictions for Delaware Water Gap
National Recreation Area and the Middle Delaware National Scenic and
Recreational River has been updated with new measures intended to curb litter
and protect wildlife in the 70,000-acre national park unit. It was previously updated in May 2020.
The
Superintendent's Compendium is revised and published annually but may be
revised more often if needed. It
addresses park-specific issues and regulations at the local level using federal
authority granted to superintendents in Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), Parts 1 through 7. The CFR is a codification of the general and
permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments
and agencies of the federal government, including the National Park Service.
The CFR is available electronically at www.ecfr.gov.
Under 36 CFR
1.7(b), superintendents are required to “compile in writing all the
designations, closures, permit requirements, and other restrictions imposed
under discretionary authority. This compilation shall be updated annually and
made available to the public upon request.” The Superintendent’s Compendium,
signed on August 26, 2020, is available on the park website at: https://www.nps.gov/dewa/learn/management/compendium.htm. For those without
internet access, hard copies are available by calling the superintendent’s
office at (570) 426-2418.
Changes in
this version of the Compendium are intended to reduce litter and trash and
protect wildlife and natural and cultural resources throughout the park. The following areas and activities are
affected by these changes in regulations:
Raymondskill Falls and Creek- Raymondskill Falls is the
tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania and has been one of the busiest sites in the
park this year, often filling to capacity by 8:30 am on weekends.
- The Raymondskill Creek Drainage,
from the base of the lower falls, including the pool area, downstream to
the confluence of the Delaware River and including the Schanno House
(former) parking area and grounds on the west side of US Route 209 at
Raymondskill Creek, is closed from May 1 to September 30, annually. This
closure does not include the McDade Recreational Trail which passes
through the area.
Caddoo
Access- Located off
Old Mine Road in Montague Township, NJ, at the north end of the park, this site
provides primitive river access for car-top launching of vessels. It is now open Tuesday through Friday, during
daylight hours; the site is closed Saturday through Monday. It was previously
open 7 days per week.
Picnicking- Areas where picnicking
and food consumption are prohibited include:
- Raymondskill Creek, trails, and
parking areas, from the park boundary to the confluence of the Delaware River,
including Hackers Falls and Trail;
- Point of Gap overlook parking area and riverbank;
- Sawkill Creek from the park
boundary to confluence with the Delaware River (including the Mott Street
Bridge and the pool below the bridge);
- Riverview Trailhead parking area
for the McDade Recreational Trail;
- Karamac Trail and riverbank.
Park visitors who wish to
prepare, cook or heat food using grills, stoves, or other food heating devices
must do so at a designated picnic area that has the appropriate facilities for
those activities, like restrooms, trash cans, picnic tables, and parking.
Designated picnic areas in the park include:
- Bushkill Store Picnic Area
- Milford Beach
- Namanock Recreation Site
- Smithfield Beach
- Toms Creek
- Turtle Beach
- Watergate Recreation Site
The
Superintendent has determined changes are necessary to maintain public health
and safety; protect the environmental and scenic values; protect natural and
cultural resources and park wildlife; and avoid user conflicts. “We have been
seeing large groups of visitors arriving early in the day and remaining in the
same area for up to twelve hours cooking, preparing, and eating one or more
large meals,” Chief Ranger Eric Lisnik explained. “Sites like our
beach and picnic locations are made for larger groups. We have the right
infrastructure, such as trash receptacles and restrooms, at those locations.”
Along with an increase in
visitation this year, the park has also seen an increase in trash and human
waste, which in some cases is causing damage to sensitive park resources. “One
concern is the potential for bear-human conflict caused by the substantial
amount of trash generated and left behind by large groups of picnickers,
especially in more remote areas,” said Kara Deutsch, Chief of Resource
Management and Science at the park.
“Access to human food and food waste leads to habituation and
wildlife-human conflicts, especially with black bears whose primary habitat
includes many of these areas. Once they have identified a location as a source
of food, they will be back.”
Jennifer Kavanaugh, the park’s Volunteer and Partnership
coordinator pointed out that “while the park has had more visitors, and more
trash, than usual, we’ve also seen a lot more people interested in helping out
by becoming Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP’s) this year.” To find out about becoming a VIP and what
volunteer opportunities are available, go to www.volunteer.gov or email Kathy Hudak, Assistant Volunteer Coordinator, at Kathleen_Hudak@nps.gov.
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-NPS-
About the National Park
Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s
419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve
local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more
at www.nps.gov.
Kathleen Sandt
Public Affairs Specialist
National Park Service
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River
Cell: (570) 234-9144