News Release:
NPS Reports Post Storm Updates
NPS Winter Storm Damage Assessment and Recovery Update Follows With Coverage Of PA & NJ Trails And News On Park Road Openings After The Winter Storms In the Northeast.
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through NPS' website.
Bushkill, PA- Employees at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area continue to inventory damage and assess needed repairs from two back-to-back winter storms that hit the region earlier this month. Most of the snow is gone, but thousands of fallen trees remain strewn throughout the park. “The extent of the storm damage is both significant and widespread and it will take many months, perhaps even years in some cases, to repair,” said Deputy Superintendent Keith Farrar who is working with park staff to draft and submit requests for additional funding before a Friday afternoon deadline. Damage to park trails is substantial especially along iconic waterfall trails and ravines on the PA side of the park where mature eastern hemlock and white pine trees dominate the landscape. The boardwalk trail at Dingmans Falls will likely remain closed through the summer and George W. Childs Park will remain closed indefinitely.
According to the NPS press release, "Effective immediately, all trails on the PA side of the park are closed due to public hazard until further notice; these areas sustained significant damage and hazardous conditions still exist including downed trees, unstable slopes and trail surfaces, damaged bridges, and hanging and leaning trees and branches. Exceptions include the Fossil Trail at Pocono Environmental Education Center and the Raymondskill Falls Trail." "Our crews are working to remove safety hazards from the popular McDade Recreational Trail this week so that we can re-open it as soon as possible," said Bill Tayge, Roads and Trails supervisor for the park.In NJ, the Van Campens Glen trail is closed due to public hazard. Other trails in NJ are still being evaluated.
All park roads that were closed due to the storm have been re-opened although some of the township-owned roads that intersect with Route 209 on the PA side of the park remain closed. Mountain Road in NJ has been re-opened with access to Buttermilk Falls while the dirt section of Old Mine Road remains closed as part of normal winter operations. River Road in PA may be closed on some evenings in the next few weeks to protect breeding amphibians.
For the full press release written by NPS, click here.