New Jersey DEP recognizes site for its
'Healthy Ecosystems and Habitats'
HOLMDEL,
N.J., Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Merrill
Creek Reservoir (MCR), a 2,700-acre water supply and environmental
preserve part-owned by FirstEnergy's Jersey Central Power &
Light electric company and FirstEnergy Pennsylvania (FEPA), which
does business in the eastern part of Pennsylvania as Met-Ed, has been recognized as
a 2024 Governor's Environmental Excellence Award winner by the New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Presented during a Dec. 10
ceremony, the award in the "Healthy Ecosystems and Habitats"
category highlights the successful collaboration between MCR, local
communities and partners such as Terra Engineers, New Jersey Youth
Corps of Phillipsburg and New
Jersey Audubon.
John Parke,
Environmental Specialist at FirstEnergy and Ecologist at
Merrill Creek Reservoir: "The habitat enhancements
and restorations at MCR are expected to have far-reaching benefits,
not just for wildlife, but for surrounding communities. Our habitat
projects serve as models for recognizing the benefits of
collaboration for restoration, protection and stewardship of
natural resources."
The award recognizes voluntary conservation practices and
environmental restoration efforts, covering more than 173 acres of
the site. The projects include 75 acres of forest stand and habitat
improvement practices, nearly 98 acres of native grassland
management and an acre of new and enhanced pollinator gardens.
Additionally, MCR improved its fish habitat at the property by
repurposing autumn olive, an invasive woody species removed during
its grassland restoration work, into 78 underwater spider blocks
and 17 fish cribs. These man-made structures, which provide
valuable shelter, nurseries and foraging areas for fish,
macroinvertebrates and other aquatic organisms in the reservoir,
are typically made using PVC tubes and plastic pipe. By using
non-native vegetation, such as the autumn olive, MCR is able to
remove the risk of microplastics being released into the water over
time.
Merrill Creek Reservoir is a 2,727-acre property in Washington Township, Warren County, which includes a 650-acre
reservoir, 290-acre environmental preserve and forests and fields.
The site is home to more than 380 species of wildlife, fish, birds
and rare turtles, including dozens of endangered, threatened and
species of concern.
JCP&L serves 1.1 million customers in the counties of
Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union
and Warren. Follow JCP&L on X
@JCP_L, on Facebook at facebook.com/JCPandL or online at
jcp-l.com.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and
operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form
one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems,
serving customers in Ohio,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West
Virginia, Maryland and
New York. The company's
transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of
transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic
regions. Follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp or
online at firstenergycorp.com.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.
