Call it the Snailpocalypse or Snailzilla, but the New Zealand mud snail is an invasive species that is no laughing matter. It has the potential to rapidly reproduce through cloning and then displace native macroinvertebrates. This can have upstream affects in the food chain, by pushing out native aquatic insect larva and snail populations which feed fish and insect-eating terrestrial species like bats, dragonflies, and birds. Just this month, its presence was recorded in the Musconetcong River and the Little Lehigh River - the first 2 sightings in the Delaware River Watershed. MWA sent routine macroinvertebrate samples for taxonomic identification and analysis to Cole Ecological, Inc. 5
This year, the National Wild & Scenic Rivers Act turns 50, and we've got a lot to celebrate. We've just received great news about a new segment of the Musconetcong River on its way to Wild & Scenic designation. This Tuesday, the Pohatcong Township Council passed a resolution in support of a new section of the Musconetcong being a Wild & Scenic river. Holland Township has already passed a similar resolution, so the 4.3 miles of river from the Hughesville Mill (Cyphers Road) to the Delaware River is now on its way to being added as part of the Wild & Scenic River System. MWA will let you know when the National Park Service finalizes the paperwork. Also, we've received a matching grant from
