Approximately three decades ago there were serious plans to use this area for a fourth metropolitan area airport. Through the efforts of environmentalists including Sierra Club this rare natural resource was made a National Wildlife Refuge.
Imagine what may have happened if the airport plan had been consummated. The refuge is the water basin source and reserve of The Passaic River. The River's flow would have been drastically altered. Without the swamp reservoir the areas along the river bed would be subject to the periodic floods that reoccur in the Dakotas and along the tributaries of the Missouri River.
Look up the info on the Internet and take a trip to enjoy nature.
Hello Doc,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say thanks for sharing your pictures of the Great Swamp. My kids thought it was a joke until I show them your pictures!
We are now planning to go next month when temperatures are a bit higher.
We love day trips and NJ surely offers so much!
Thanks again for the pictures and the "tip".
Maria Pellum and Family
The "boardwalk leads to a covered viewing site. There are other trails and I would suggest getting info from the refuge headquarters which can be reach either from Basking Ridge or from Meyersville(The longer way)Wilkepedia has the phone number. They can tell you when is the best time to visit.
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