Spring 2012 Musconetcong River News

Musconetcong River News
MWA to Begin Asbury Mill Restoration
Spring 2012
Published quarterly by The Musconetcong Watershed Association
By Bill Leavens
Asbury Carbons, and the Riddle family.
The
Musconetcong
Watershed
Association has received a challenge
grant to begin Phase I of a project to
restore the Asbury Grist Mill in
Franklin Township, Warren County.
Every dollar the Association receives
will be matched up to $50,000 by
The Association is also the recent
recipient of a $228,000 grant from the
Warren County Municipal
and
Charitable Trust Fund. Proceeds from
these grants and other donations will be
used to complete the first part of the
restoration effort.
The 1865 Asbury Grist Mill as it appears today. During a
three phase restoration project sheds will be removed, the
building will be stabilized and interior and exterior restoration
work will be completed.
The three phases in
the restoration process
will lead to the functional
reuse of the entire building. This first phase will
involve stabilizing the
structure. The tailrace
and deck area will be
restored, a retaining wall
will be constructed, and
attached sheds will be
demolished. The sheds
are collapsing and have
no historic value. Once
this phase is complete
the restored area will be
A Fish Hatchery Runs Through It
By Stuart Shafran
MWA member and longtime supporter
of the association, Vern Mancini, claims
he has never worked a day in his life.
Though he’s been at it seven days a week
since 1958 running the Musky Trout
Hatchery located along the Musconetcong
River in the town of Bloomsbury, he has
never considered what he does to be
work. Only recently has he altered this
fun schedule to six and a half days a week.
Fortunately for him his son Jeff is there to
pick up the slack. Together, they maintain
one of the oldest privately owned fish
farms in the country.
Located in a limestone region, the
hatchery is fed by a spring that supplies
the farm year round with 1000 gallons
per minute of fresh, pure, clear water.
The only thing missing in this ideal location as Vern explains it is enough oxygen, and with his new upgraded oxygen
system almost complete he is proud to
say that his fish will be even healthier
and grow faster.
Though the fish farming business has
provided them with a rewarding existence, their location along the
Musconetcong River has provided some
setbacks. Most recently, the three major
fall floods that our watershed experienced brought the river up higher than
Vern’s seen in fifty years causing the loss
of a tremendous amount of trout and
Asbury, New Jersey
used for recreational purposes including
fishing and boating.
The mill forms much of the early
industrial character of Asbury. From its
construction in the 1860s as a grist mill,
the building has characterized the industrial might of New Jersey with its use of
water wheels and turbines to power the
early machines of industry. The building
was rented and later acquired by Harry
M. Riddle, at which point it was converted to process graphite for industrial
use. That business has evolved into
Asbury Carbons, a significant employer
in the region and the world’s largest
independent processor and supplier of
graphite, a raw material used by a wide
range of industries around the world.
The original mill was closed in the
1970’s as all production had been transferred to the site of the current main manufacturing plant across the Musconetcong
River. Asbury Graphite deeded it, along
ASBURY MILL Continued on page 2
devastating property damage. And when
asked how he recovered from such a loss,
the ever positive Vern replies, “Well, it
gave us the opportunity to upgrade, and
it (the high water) put more fish in the
river for the fishermen. It’s all good.”
The history of the hatchery dates back
to 1867 when John H. Slack, a
Philadelphia physician turned fish culturist, bought the property for the purpose of raising salmon and introducing
salmon runs to the Delaware and Raritan
Rivers. Without a formal education in
fish reproduction, like his predecessor,
Vern gained his knowledge and built his
farm by trial and error. A one-time supHATCHERY Continued on page 2
ASBURY MILL
Continued from page 1
with 3.5 acres of property and two
other buildings, to the Musconetcong
Watershed.
The MWA took title to the mill in 1999
as a donation from the Riddle family, the
owners of Asbury Carbons. “This will be
a beautiful, functioning gateway to the
Asbury Historic Village and an iconic
cornerstone for Warren County.” said
MWA Trustee and project leader Chuck
Gullage. “The Association is looking for
additional partners and volunteers.
Individuals and corporate funders who
wish to participate in the project
are urged to contact Musconetcong
Watershed Association, P. O. Box 113
Asbury,
NJ
08802.”
Inquiries
can be made to (908)537-7060.
www.musconetcong.com.
PO Box 113, 10 Maple Ave.
Asbury, NJ 08802
908-537-7060
www.musconetcong.org
Trustee Officers
President, Bill Harclerode
Vice President, Cinny MacGonagle
Secretary, Bill Leavens
Treasurer, Jody Price
Trustees
Peter Banta
Richard Cotton
Tomas Gonzales
Chuck Gullage
Erik Henriksen
Grant Lewis
Richard Plumpton
Ron Saxon
Stuart Shafran
Staff
Executive Director
Beth Styler Barry
Administrative Assistant
Adrienne Kaczynski
Finance Manager
Kim Hood
WQM Coordinator
Nancy Lawler
Printing: Good Impressions, Washington, NJ
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HATCHERY
Continued from page 1
plier of fish through the Sears and Roebuck Farm Catalogue, he now enjoys providing fish to private owners in the tri-metro area and supplying fresh trout to the
restaurant industry. When asked about the future of his hatchery, Vern replies,
“I hope my grandson will join us.”
For group tours or for more information e-mail musky279@yahoo.com or visit
their website www.muskytrouthatchery.com
In the summer of 1867 John Hamilton Slack (1834–1874) purchased 169
acres on the lower Musconetcong River; the property housed the start of a
hatchery, a single pond dug by a previous owner. There the Philadelphia
physician turned fish culturist created Troutdale Ponds, a hatchery fed by the
property’s “outstanding natural feature…a limestone spring gushing a
thousand gallons a minute of pure 50-degree water, winter and summer”.
Salmon, smallmouth bass and brook trout were raised at the Troutdale
hatchery. Upon Slack’s
death in 1874 his widow
Thirza Slack took on the
on the responsibility for
the work at Troutdale. She
and her descendants
continued the hatchery
business into the early
twentieth century.
In 1941 the Slacks
sold their property to
the Warren County Rod
and Gun Club. The
Interior of Troutdale’s hatching house, from
John H. Slack, Practical Trout Culture (1872).
hatchery was overgrown,
and algae and moss
choked whatever remained of Dr. Slack’s carefully tended ponds. But the
spring that had made the hatchery possible in the first place still ran as clear
and cold as ever. In 1947 the club leased the hatchery site to a fish culturist
named William H. Stanley, and Troutdale—rechristened as the Musky Trout
Hatchery—was reborn. Stanley sold out in 1958 to the current owner,
Vern Mancini.
The American Fly Fisher, Winter 201, Hunting Dr. Slack: American Fish
Culture’s Forgotten Man, by J. I. Merritt.
River Watcher Training
Announcement
Photo by Steve Flood, The Express-Times.
River Watcher Volunteer Water Monitor training
will be held at Warren County Community College on
Saturday, March 24th from 9 a.m. - 4p.m. Learn how
to assess the river‘s health by testing water chemistry
and collecting aquatic animals in the river. Moderate
physical activity is involved; you must be 16 years or
older to participate. March 31st will be the extreme
weather make-up day. Call the MWA to reserve your
seat at 908-537-7060 or for more details. For more
information about the program email the program’s
coordinator at nancy@musconetcong.org.
Watershed Group
chosen to present at
National Water Quality
Conference
The Musconetcong Watershed Association is pleased to
announce they have been chosen to present some of their
work at the National Water Quality Conference in Portland,
Oregon in May of 2012. The presentation, entitled
“Assessing Dam Removals on a Shoestring: Underwater
Photos to Complement Bug Data”, is based on a two-yearlong study of the Finesville Dam using trained volunteers to
collect some of the data. “The idea for using underwater
photography grew out of one of the River Watcher
volunteer’s experimenting with taking pictures of the river
bottom with a regular waterproof camera. When we saw the
pictures we realized what a great tool this could be for us in
AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassador Lauren Smith, headquartered
with MWA, and Water Quality Monitoring Coordinator Nancy Lawler
use underwater photography to document streambed conditions.
assessing our dam work. We are thrilled to have
the opportunity to share what we found at the National
Water Quality Monitoring Conference” said Nancy
Roberts-Lawler, coordinator of the MWA’s River Watcher
Program. The national conference is the forum for federal,
state, local, tribal, volunteer, academic, private, and other
water stakeholders to exchange information and technology
related to water monitoring, assessment, research,
protection, restoration, and management, as well as to
develop new skills and professional networks. For more
information about river monitoring please contact
Nancy Lawler at nancy@musconetcong.org or call the
MWA at 908-537-7060.
News Alert: NJ Passes the Most Protective
Fertilizer Content Standards in the Nation!
One of the biggest threats to our water quality in NJ is non-point source pollution, including fertilizer runoff. According
to the NJDEP, "When fertilizer is washed into our waterways, it stimulates excessive algae and weed growth. This in turn
depletes oxygen from the water and reduces the sunlight needed for healthy aquatic life."
The NJ Fertilizer Law now makes it illegal for residents to use fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus between
November 15 and March 1. It also makes it illegal to apply fertilizer during or just before heavy rainfall, on impervious
ground, and immediately adjacent to water bodies. It requires professional applicators to be certified. And lastly, it requires
increased use of slow-release fertilizer products for turf.
See NJDEP web site www.nj.gov/dep/healthylawns healthywater/ or www.cleanwaternj.org for further details.
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Our January 14th Saxton Falls hike included 14
two-footed participants and two four-footed. We were
all dressed for the weather and enjoyed the opportunity
to see bird nests usually hidden by leaves, brightly
colored berries and other signs of winter.
Kera Luckhardt of Garden State
Underwater Recovery volunteered
to scuba in the former Finesville
Dam impoundment to help MWA
document changes in the
streambed after dam removal.
In March, MWA presented “Food
Foraging” by Tama Matsuoka Wong,
the author of a titled Foraged Flavor.
Bloomsbury resident Christine Hall
and her sons Tommy and Carter
listened and learned enough about
foraging to go home with fresh-picked
makings for salad!
Photo by Bruce Livingston
A snowy owl wintering at Merrill
Creek received much attention from
hikers and photographers.
February Snowy Owl Hike: Mission Accomplished!
On a chilly but clear day a group of 24 hikers joined
MWA on a walk out to see the Snowy Owl that is
wintering at Merrill Creek. As always we had a
great mix of ages and experiences on this hike.
Are you following the Musconetcong Watershed Association on
Facebook? It is a great way to find out what’s going in the watershed.
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• Tuesday April 10th, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. River Talk Plenge Archaeological Site
Join us as our guest speaker Leonard Ziegler discusses and shares samples of some of the thousands of
stone tools recovered from investigations at the Plenge site. These artifacts provide a unique record of
life along the Musconetcong River at the end of the last Ice Age and reveal how Native Americans
adapted to a changing world. Members $3, nonmembers $5. The talk will be held at the MWA River
Resource Center, 10 Maple Avenue, Asbury, NJ 08802. Email adrienne@musconetcong.org or call
(908) 537-7060 for information or to register.
• Saturday, April 14, 9:00 a.m. – noon 20th Annual MWA Musconetcong River Spring Clean
Up Come out and help at the annual River Spring Clean Up. Each year we count on MWA members,
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Trout Unlimited members, local residents, environmental clubs and organizations, religious groups, students of all ages, and community service participants to help pull tons of
trash from local roadsides and stream banks. Afterwards participants gather at noon at the MWA’s
River Resource Center in Asbury for hot dogs and sodas. For more information and starting locations
contact Adrienne at 908-537-7060 or e-mail adrienne@musconetcong.org.
• Saturday April 21, 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. Hike at Musconetcong Gorge Come out and hike the beautiful Musconetcong Gorge. This preserve, part of the Hunterdon County Park System encompasses 425
acres and has trails that are sometimes steep and rocky with views of a scenic waterfall. We will be led
by expert birder John DeMarrais so bring your binoculars. The trails range from moderate to slightly
difficult, and take advantage of the smoothest grounds but are steep in some areas. Members are asked
to donate $3, nonmembers $5, maximum $10 per family. Call (908) 537 7060 or email
beth@musconetcong.org for details, directions or to register.
• Friday, April, 27, 7:00 p.m. MWA Annual Membership Meeting at Hawk Pointe Golf Club
Arrive at 5:30 p.m. for a pre-meeting-bird walk. Our guest speaker is Geoffrey Goll, Partner, Princeton
Hydro, LLC. will speak about the 2012 dam removals on the Musconetcong River. Members will
receive invitations. Not a member? This is a great time to join. Please call 908-537-7060 or e-mail adrienne@musconetcong.org.
• Saturday, April 28, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Native Plant Sale Purchase beautiful native species that
will provide lasting enjoyment and will also save you money, water and time. Native plants provide food
and habitat for our wildlife and are economical for the homeowner since they do not require fertilizers
or pesticides. They are adapted to our local conditions and can withstand our summer droughts and
harsh winters. By planting natives, you will provide food and shelter and will help ensure the survival
of the wildlife that depend upon them. Experts will be on hand at the sale to help you choose the best
plants for your needs and location. River Resource Center, 10 Maple Avenue, Asbury, NJ.
• Sunday, May 6, The 12th Annual MWA Run/Walk for the River Join
Run/Walk with a day full of new and exciting activities. Register early
pre-registration discounts. All participants are eligible for great drawing
We’ve added a tethered balloon ride, Lollipop Run, and Family
See www.musconetcong.org to register or for details.
us for our usual 4mile
to take advantage of
prizes after the run.
Paddling Adventure.
Note: If you are not receiving e-mail reminders for these events it means that we do
not have a current e-mail address. If you’d like to receive reminders and occasional
“Musky News Briefs” please contact beth@musconetcong.org.
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MWA to Begin Asbury Mill Restoration
A Fish Hatchery Runs Through It
News Alert: NJ Passes the Most Protective Fertilizer Content
Standards in the Nation!
Watershed Group chosen to present at National Water quality Conference
River Watcher Training Announcement
Save These Dates
Whatʼs Inside:
Musconetcong River News
PO Box 113
Asbury, NJ 08802
The Musconetcong Watershed Association
The Musconetcong River Valley is rich in scenery, history, natural
resources, and recreational opportunities. The river rises up in Lake
Hopatcong - New Jersey’s largest spring-fed lake - and is shadowed by
1,000-foot Highland ridges and slices through a deep, limestone river
valley, flowing swiftly to the Delaware River. Along the way the “Musky”
passes by state and county parks, bustling towns, vital industries, historic
villages, and some of the most productive farmland in the state.
The Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA) is a non-profit
organization formed in 1991 to protect and enhance the Musconetcong
River and its related resources through advocacy and environmental
education programs, scientific research and river restoration projects.
The MWA scope spans the 158 square-mile Musconetcong River
Watershed, and includes portions of four counties, and all or portions
of 25 municipalities. The Musconetcong River became part of the
National Wild and Scenic River System in 2006.
MWA members are part of a network of individuals, families and organizations who care about the Musconetcong River and its watershed.
They are kept informed about issues concerning the river and its related
resources by receiving quarterly issues of the Musconetcong River News.
MWA Membership Application
Please enroll me as a member of the Musconetcong Watershed
Association in which I will receive membership benefits and
publications. I have enclosed a check payable to MWA for the
membership category listed below:
❑ $20 Student
❑ $100 Sustainer
❑ $30 Family
❑ $250 Steward
❑ $50 Supporter
❑ $500 Champion
❑$1,000+ Life Member
Name: ________________________________________________
Address:________________________________________________
City: _________________ State: _____ Zip: __________________
Phone: ________________________________________________
E-mail: ________________________________________________
Mail to:
Musconetcong Watershed Association
PO Box 113, Asbury, NJ 08802