Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area - MANAGEMENT: Planning-History (U.S. National Park Service)

YESTERDAY

1930s First modern proposals for a dam at Tocks Island
1955   Hurricane Diane floods the valley
1956   Delaware River Basin Advisory Committee created from representatives of 4 states
1960   Army Corps of Engineers finalizes a plan for a dam at Tocks Island
1960s Record drought hits the Delaware Valley
1962   Congress authorizes Tocks Island Dam
1965   Delaware Valley Conservation Association forms locally to oppose the dam
1965   Congress establishes Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to manage the
           lands that will surround the future Tocks Island reservoir
1966   Lenni Lenape League forms to oppose pumped-storage at Sunfish Pond
1967   Justice William Douglas leads a hike to Sunfish Pond in support of its preservation.
1970   National Environmental Policy Act passes.
1971   Save the Delaware Coalition unites dozens of organizations to fight the dam
1975   Delaware River Basin Commission votes 3 to 1 against constructing the dam
1978   Congress establishes Middle Delaware National Scenic River within the park,
           effectively blocking future dams
1992   Congress de-authorizes Tocks Island Dam
1993   Congress establishes Minisink Archeological Site National Landmark within the park

TODAY

Today's recreation area proves the claim of opponents to the dam, who said not only that the valley was worth preserving in its natural state, but also that a free-flowing river can provide recreational opportunities as enjoyable as those of a man-made reservoir.

The nearly 70,000 acres of the recreation area are rich in both cultural and natural history. The ridges and river valley contain streams, waterfalls, geologic features, a diversity of plants and wildlife, and traces of past cultures, including significant Native American artifacts and sites.

Forty miles of the middle Delaware River are the primary focus of park recreation: fishing, boating, canoeing, and swimming. In addition, the recreation area offers opportunities for hiking, biking, picnicking, hunting, and auto touring.

The recreation area receives more than 5,000,000 visits each year, making it the 8th most-visited unit of the National Park System.

TOMORROW
A statement by the park's superintendent on the occasion of the park's 40th anniversary
on September 1, 2005.

John Muir once reminded us that all things in the universe are connected and you cannot separate a flower from a star. That sentiment is embodied by the longest free flowing river in the Eastern United States – the Delaware. The river ties three states together and weaves an intricate tapestry of natural and cultural resources found throughout this ancient valley.

From ridge top in New Jersey to ridge top in Pennsylvania, the park preserves an unparalleled experience for visitors. Whether traversing the park on a ridgetop trail or in a canoe on the river, visitors will wind their way through eons of history, archeology, cultural landscapes, watershed dynamics, and geological formations that can be read as easily as the Sunday papers.

Whether you come here seeking solitude or recreation, this park will be here in perpetuity for you and all the generations to come.

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