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<br />NEll JERSEY <br /> <br />New Jersey's Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was passed in 1977 creating the <br />state rivers system. The Legislature directed the Department of Environmental <br />Protection to establisdh a system of rivers classified, designated and <br />administered as Wild, Scenic, Recreational or Developed Recreational rivers. <br /> <br />The development of the Wild and Scenic TIivers System was assigned to the <br />Green Acres Prograw, a bond issue supported program which serves as the <br />statewide outdGor recreation planning agency as well as funding state <br />acquisition and local acquisition and develoment grants for outdoor recreation <br />and open space. <br /> <br />'. <br /> <br />As directed by the Act, guidelines for the classification, study and <br />plannin~ of rivers for designation to the system and rules concerning the <br />administration and regulation of components have been adopted. Designation <br />studies of two rivers, which were mandat~d by the Act for study and inclusion <br />initial components, are in the final stages of completion. <br /> <br />as <br /> <br />The two mandated study rivers are the Lower Atsion segment of the Mullica <br />River and the Cedar Creek, both of which are within the Preservation Area <br />Cistrict of the Pine lands National Reserve. The Lower Atsion is entirely within <br />the Ilharton Sta'te Forest, however, the Cedar Creek has considerable private <br />shoreline o,mership. A Qajor acquisition project is underway to connect two <br />major state lands by way of the Cedar Creek river area. A third river study is <br />underway of the Great 199 liarbor Riv~r including headwaters, mainstem and a vast <br />tidal estuary. <br /> <br />A lOO-year flood hazard area <letermined by the Division of Hater Resources <br />serves as the designated river area within which the river system rules apply, <br />The administration of public lands remain under the managing agency. Private <br />lands may be administered by a river commission formed by the affected <br />municipalities, Administraion of the river area must reflect the classification <br />of the river area tc prevent incompatible management or development. <br /> <br />Classification is determined by the designation study based on five basic <br />criteria contained in the Guidelines. TIley are: access, shoreline development, <br />free-flow, water quality, and length. llild and Scenic classifications require a <br />minimum of access and shoreline develcpment. High water quality, a free-flowing <br />character and length suitable for a daylong experience are most desirable. <br />Recreational and Developed Recreational classifications allow for varying levels <br />of shoreline development and access, lesser water quality, some diversions and <br />less length, however, natural and cultural recreational access and development. <br /> <br />To determine study priority, a stalewide rivers assessment has been <br />completed which ranks potential rivers on the basis of the basic classification <br />criteria, natural, cultural and special values and cultural influences including <br />development pressure and existing protection, as well as public interest and <br />support. Comments, input and public participation are now being sought before <br />finalizing the priority list. <br /> <br />42 <br />