Text version of the proposal below:

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Delaware River National Park & Lenape Preserve

A Sustainable Vision for our National Heritage in the Delaware River A Place that provides the opportunity to be inspired by nature, history, and culture

THIS IS A GRASSROOTS CITIZEN EFFORT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND IS NOT A SIERRA CLUB PROPOSAL ALTHOUGH SIERRA CLUBS FROM NY, NJ, AND PA ARE ALL MEMBERS IT IS FROM:

 

Alliance for Delaware River National Park and Lenape Preserve

• Most National Parks owe their existence to motivated citizens and citizen groups and not to the bureaucracy We have been engaging citizens and listening and learning from all constituencies Every meeting has resulted in good ideas that we have added to our Proposal Describing What, Where, and Why are national parks and national preserves in this presentation.

 

National Park Service Foundation Document for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area 

 

Describing why the park exists

“The purpose of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA) and the Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational river(MIDE) is to preserve the natural, cultural, and scenic resources and values of the Delaware River valley and provide opportunities for resource-based recreation, education, and enjoyment in close proximity to the most densely populated region of the nation.”

 

Why Should it be the Delaware River National Park and Lenape Preserve?

• The singularly spectacular resources found here include the longest undammed river in the Eastern U.S., the Appalachian Trail, the 911 Trail, the Kittatinny Ridge, a migratory highway and northern terminus of many species and southern terminus of many other species. 12,000 years of documented human occupation all within the homeland of the Lenape People. It sits at the center of hundreds of thousands of acres of connected public lands in PA. and in NJ only 85 miles from NYC. 

• As President Johnson said when he signed the legislation, this national park will be within a day’s drive of 15% of the American population. The park was always meant to provide recreational equity and parity to the now 60 million people close by the park. Those people deserve to have their national park that meets every criteria of a national park recognized as much as anyone else in the country does. The Lenape Preserve will enhance traditional activities such as hunting in perpetuity.
   

Why Upgrade to “National Park and Preserve” Status? 

• Landscape-scale habitat connectivity 

• DEWA is the keystone of protected natural landscapes that connect essential habitat for the sustained health and adaptability of plant and animal communities. It sits at the heart of hundreds of thousands of acres of connected lands 

• Many plant and animal populations are more stable and secure because they can inhabit an unfragmented landscape, supporting increased bio-diversity 

• Adding National Park Status to some of this river and land will add greater protection to the resources 

• The ecological integrity of the river is dependent on the protected and managed landscapes in the 3,500- square-mile Delaware River Watershed.

 

What does it Mean to be a National Park and Preserve

• The Proposal is for a 9,760 acres between 13 and 14 % percent of the existing DEWA to become a National Park the designation according to the National Park Service that offers the highest level of protection of all The great majority of the existing Federal area OVER 56,000 acres will become a Preserve which is the designation most like a National Park but where Congress allows hunting, and the Preserve will protect hunting rights better than the existing NRA legislation 

 

In the Proposal all traditional uses continue 

No impact on Fishing, No impact on Boating 

Local economy benefits from more visitors

 

Questions and Concerns

• Potential Toll Through Park? The NRA has had an amenity fee for decades. The VUM outlined an entrance fee, but it was rejected at the end of the day. No effect on fees by the Proposal. 

• Closure of Route 209? Not possible, the transfer deeds from PA. prohibit closure of the road or it reverts to PA. (see legal analysis by Attorney General Peter French) 

• Making believe visitation is not increasing is a bad plan for all. NPS reported a 400K increase in last 2 years 

• Increased Traffic? Must be addressed in any case; visitation last year exceeded 4 million. No Effect or Positive Effect from Proposal 

• Potential Resource Impacts? Also needs to be addressed either way. Infrastructure is inadequate already. Chance to implement the Visitor Use Management Plan. Positive Impact from Proposal

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No Impacts on … 

• The Proposal does not create fees IN FACT WE ARE NOW CALLING FOR A PROHIBITION ON AN ENTRANCE FEE AS PART OF THE LEGISLATION 

• does not include state lands 

• does not affect state regulations 

• asks for additional lands from willing sellers only to eliminate any Temporary impact on Hunting 

• No use of eminent domain will be considered 9,760 acres national park and 56,000+ acres Lenape Preserve

 

BENEFITS TO THE RESOURCES FROM THE DELAWARE RIVER NATIONAL PARK AND LENAPE PRESERVE 

• The removal of authority to manipulate habitat. No forest to field conversion except in the preserve 

• Lowering the number of acres in agricultural leases will eliminate large amounts of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer to maintain no till farming, mostly all the fields are adjacent to the river further protecting Delaware River water quality

• Stop US Government from competing with private farmers. Why does any park need 3000 acres of corn and soybeans?

• Restoration of native woodlands and wetlands, thereby enhancing the native wildlife and vegetation.

• Enhanced Carbon Sequestration and Ecosystem recovery resulting from restoring natural systems, vegetation and wildlife

• No future Secretary will approve additional right of way for a new mega powerline saying it is only a Recreation Area. First energy holds a right of way across the whole park.

 

Benefits to Resources in Delaware River National Park & Lenape Preserve

• Protecting the intact landscape will benefit all the public lands especially the ones directly connected to the national park and preserve

• Forest restoration will add to the biodiversity of the area

• The overall effect will enhance the resilience of the lands

• It will add to the climate change adaptation possible and necessary in the coming years

• The already existing migratory highway of the Kittatinny Ridge and all the park which is essential to the Northeast corridor

• Hunting in the preserve will benefit from being adjacent to and surrounding a national park

• The legislation will support hunting rights in a more secure manner

 

FACTS ABOUT MONEY NOT SUPPOSITION

DEWA one of the “Big Eight” containing 60% of all the NPS Infra-structure. Failing for years resulting in closures of to the public

 

BIG 8 and their appropriations in 2022

DEWA      $10.1 million       4.1 million visitors

GATE       $26,924 million       9,0 million visitors

GLAC      $15,115 million       3.3 million visitors

GOGA       $26,507 million       14 million visitors

GRCA       $23,027 million       4.5 million visitors

GRSM       $20,664 million       14 million visitors

YOSE       $31,109 million       3.3 million visitors

YELL       $37,371 million      4.7 million visitors

 

SOME SAY NATIONAL PARKS DON’T GET MORE MONEY THAN OTHER UNITS. WRONG!

APPROPRIATIONS FOR PARKS FIGURES BELOW ARE FACTS FROM GREEN BOOK

• NOT THE COMPLETE NPS BUDGET BUT THE PART THAT GOES TO PARKS

• $2,688,287,000

• $510,524,000 goes to the 63 national parks

• Averages close to 8 million

• 2,167,763 goes to the other 359 parks

• Averages closer to 6 million

• Clearly national parks average more money per unit than other designations

• There are some highly funded NRAs especially in the Big Eight, but DEWA is not one of them

• THE Great American Outdoor Act GIVES 169 MILLION TOWARD THE NPS BACKLOG DEWA NEEDS 149 MILLION ITSELF

 

2021 DEWA ECONOMIC EXISTING CONTRIBUTION TO SURROUNDING AREA

$163 MILLION IN VISITOR SPENDING

 

DEWA Economic Output in 2021

$260 million generated LOOK IT UP YOURSELF
 

New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania

Deserve a National Park and Outdoor Equity

42 million NY, NJ and PA residents, but no national park

Of the 63 national parks, only 9 are in the Eastern United States

Not everyone has the resources and time to travel to Yellowstone or other

parks in the west

The OUTDOOR EQUITY for 60 million urban people nearby was Congressional purpose of the park (see legislative history and the enabling legislation)

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NONATIONALPARK.ORG QUOTES IN THE MEDIA

• “MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS MORE TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA, AND I JUST DID NOT WANT TO SEE THAT,” OWNER OF THE NO PARK WEBSITE 

• ”WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT WHILE LENAPE REPRESENTATIVES LIVING IN THE MIDWEST HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS, THE LENAPE NATION AND TRIBES OF OUR REGION, THOSE THAT HAVE AN INTIMATE, PERSONAL AND ENDURING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR RIVER AND WATERSHED HAVE NOT.” MAYA VAN ROSSUM, RIVERKEEPER 

• “AS FAR AS ECONOMICS, I DON’T KNOW HOW THEY FIGURE HOW MUCH SPENDING EVERY PERSON’S GOING TO DO WHEN THEY COME UP HERE, WHEN BASICALLY THERE’S NOTHING TO SPEND MONEY ON.” SAID SANDY HULL 

• “THERES NOTHING TO SEE HERE. DO YU SEE A GEYSER?” SANDY HULL

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QUOTES FROM WEST VIRGINIA OFFICIALS

AND BUSINESSPEOPLE

• “Redesignation of the National River to a National Park and Preserve will shine a brighter light on West Virginia and all that it has to offer and provide another catalyst for tourism industry and local Businesses.” Senator Capito

• ” The redesignation is a crucial step in reinvigorating our economy, it will preserve and protect New River Gorge for generations to come and make our state an even better place to work and raise a family.” Congressman Miller

• ” It’s a real victory for Prestige, Title and Tourism dollars.” Senator Capito

• “This is a way to keep your child or grandchild living in West Virginia.” a local businessman, National Parks Traveler.

• Let’s hope congressional delegations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania can be as progressive as the delegation in West Virginia

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