Official Brochure of Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River (NWSR) in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
Lower Delaware NWSR
https://www.nps.gov/lode/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Delaware_National_Wild_and_Scenic_River
The Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River protection covers 67.3 miles (108.3 km) miles of waterways in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The Delaware River, the largest free-flowing river in the eastern United States, runs past forests, farmlands and villages. It also links some of the most densely populated regions in America. In 2000, the National Wild and Scenic River System incorporated key segments of the lower Delaware River to form this unit of the National Park System.
The Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River is located between Interstate 80 (at Portland, Pennsylvania and Columbia, New Jersey) and Interstate 95 (at exit 51 in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania and exit 1 in Washington Crossing, New Jersey). In Pennsylvania, follow PA-611 and PA-32 to drive along the river. In New Jersey, follow NJ-29 south of Frenchtown for a drive along the river.
No Visitor Center
There are no visitor centers associated with Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River.
Delaware Canal at Raubsville, Locks 22 & 23
A rural boat lock with a gate
Locks were used to move boats overland via canals
Raven Rock Bridge
An old stone-pier bridge over a river
The Bridge from Lumberville, PA to Bulls Island Recreation Area, NJ
Delaware River Sojourners
Kayakers enter the river from a riverside beach
Sojourners enter the river at Martins Creek, PA
Red Admiral Butterfly
butterfly lands on a maple leaf
Butterfly at Delaware Canal State Park near Upper Black Eddy, PA
Ringing Rocks County Park
water falls over a layered stone cliff face
Visitors overlook the waterfall
Lower Delaware River
Lower Delaware
Scenic and Recreational River
New Jersey/Pennsylvania
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Official Map and Guide
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Introduction
As t h e largest f r e e - f l o w i n g river in t h e eastern U n i t e d States, t h e timeless Delaware
River f l o w s t h r o u g h forests, farmlands and
villages, a n d majestically links t h e most
densely p o p u l a t e d r e g i o n in America w i t h
its storied past. The l o w e r n o n - t i d a l p o r t i o n
of t h e Delaware River stretches 67 miles
u n b r o k e n f r o m south of t h e Delaware
W a t e r Gap t o W a s h i n g t o n Crossing,
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and serves as
t h e b o u n d a r y b e t w e e n t h e t w o states. Key
segments t h a t lie b e t w e e n t h e W a t e r Gap
and W a s h i n g t o n Crossing, including t h r e e
Pennsylvania tributaries, t h e Paunacussing,
Tinicum and Tohickon Creeks, w e r e designated i n t o t h e National W i l d a n d Scenic
River System in 2000. The more developed
a n d industrial parts of t h e river corridor
w e r e excluded f r o m consideration i n t o t h e
National System.
The l o w e r Delaware River is situated w i t h i n
t w o hours drive of t h e N e w York City a n d
Philadelphia m e t r o p o l i t a n areas. By t h e
t i m e t h e river empties i n t o t h e Delaware
estuary, nearly 1 0 % o f t h e nation's p o p u l a t i o n has t a p p e d i n t o it. These w a t e r diversions, c o u p l e d w i t h increases in river
corridor d e v e l o p m e n t a n d d r o u g h t , have
stressed t h e f r a g i l e shortnose s t u r g e o n
p o p u l a t i o n , shad, great blue herons,
ospreys, eagles a n d o t h e r t h r e a t e n e d a n d
e n d a n g e r e d species. But t h r o u g h t h e partnership b e t w e e n t h e National Park Service,
t h e t w o states, counties a n d local m u n i c i palities, t h e l o w e r Delaware River's
resources are b e t t e r p r o t e c t e d f o r t h e
e n j o y m e n t o f f u t u r e generations.
Outstandingly
Remarkable
Resources
Naturalists, river recreators a n d history
buffs w i l l f i n d river activities t o suit t h e i r
interests. The l o w e r D e l a w a r e River has
s o m e t h i n g f o r everyone. B r e a t h t a k i n g
scenic vistas o f f o r e s t e d bluffs, farms,
hamlets, u n d e v e l o p e d islands a n d 19th
century canal buildings g r e e t l o w e r
D e l a w a r e visitors a n d recreators. A l o n g
t h e shoreline, beavers w o r k , otters f r o l i c
and w h i t e - t a i l e d deer f o r a g e , w h i l e skyw a r d , masses of m i g r a t o r y birds mysteriously f o l l o w t h e i r p r i m o r d i a l paths a l o n g
t h e A t l a n t i c Flyway.
The lower Delaware River possesses a g r e a t
diversity o f significant resources. A h i g h
density of p o p u l a t i o n and recreational
opportunities combine w i t h a wealth of
n a t u r a l , cultural, and historic features o f
n a t i o n a l significance.
Natural Resources
Fertile farmlands a d j o i n complex canal netw o r k s on b o t h sides of t h e river. Tne river
corridor's canals, mills and t o w p a t h s tell t h e
story of a bygone era of w a t e r - b o r n e c o m merce. Riverside villages a n d t o w n s mark
t h e routes of George Washington's ill-clad
army d u r i n g America's desperate struggle
f o r independence. 19th-century bridges still
connect t o w n s along t h e Lower Delaware
River's tributaries.
Today, locals and visitors alike fish f o r
striped bass and shad, and gamofish like
walleye pike and muskellunge t h r i l l anglers
o f all ages. Recreational boaters, tubers and
paddlers ply t h e lower Delaware's b r o a d ,
ifcalm waters. Picnickers and campers enjoy
t h e solitude of riverside public parks, a n d
birders w o n d e r in a m a z e m e n t at t h e n u m bers and diversity o f local a n d m i g r a t o r y
birds t h a t feed and nest a l o n g t h e river's
banks, in its wetlands, and o n its undeveloped islands. The l o w e r Delaware River
t r u l y has s o m e t h i n g t o offer t o everyone.
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Management Goals
and Approach
The Lower Delaware River M a n a g e m e n t Plan
provides a vision f o r t h e f u t u r e of t h e river a n d
context f o r f u t u r e actions t h a t emphasize local
control and h o m e rule. The heart o f t h e vision
is expressed in t h e f o l l o w i n g six m a n a g e m e n t
goals t h a t w e r e crafted by t h e Lower Delaware
W i l d a n d Scenic River Task Force p r i o r t o
national designation.
Lush areas o f w i l l o w , spirea, silk d o g w o o d
a n d alder shrubs can be f o u n d in t h e river
corridor's f l o o d p l a i n . This riverside vegetat i o n provides valuable h a b i t a t for birds,
mammals, a n d shades t h e w a t e r f o r fish.
The riverside v e g e t a t i o n varies correspondingly w i t h t h e geology and soils in t h e river
corridor. In t h e u p p e r