History of the Watershed

Crafts Creek and Spring Hill Brook are two streams that run through the largest parts of Mansfield Township. The elements that contribute to the special nature of these two streams are multiply. The fact that these streams exist in the most densely populated state

In the United States makes their survival all the more important. Both these streams run through some of the richest farming soils in the state of New Jersey. The percentage of watershed forested canopy is still significant. The fields that blend into these streams edges are extremely attractive to view. Threatened and Endangered wildlife forage and live in these watersheds.  The impairments that threaten them are multiply. And at the same time knowledge and science bring potential for stream improvement . The reasoning for keeping these streams as pristine as possible is to serve ourselves and our natural resources. Crafts Creek and Spring Hill brook contribute their flow to the Delaware River at Newbold Island a Critically Sensitive Biodiverse D.E.P. recognized area of marsh, river, and wildlife.  This stream water then goes on to contribute a supply of drinking water for folks south of us in large part of the New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Metropolitan Areas.  

Not to mention the beauty of large areas of these watersheds is to be remiss. Look at the bridge on Mill Lane and look West as Crafts Creek meanders along the North side of Columbus. Look at the unofficially named Hedding Hill on Jacksonville Road and see the open marsh area at the base of this hill that slopes toward Crafts Creek. What could be more pleasant than looking eastward toward Crystal Lake and observe virgin forest to waters edge where Great Blue Herons and Great White Egrets stand feeding at lakes edge. Go to Georgetown look at the pond that the head waters of Crafts Creek create what a view. There are many other small and large view scapes that can be seen in Mansfield’s watersheds.

When we talk of watershed impairments essentially this means physical problems of erosion, chemicals from road runoff, chemicals from housing lawn maintenance, herbicides, pesticides, nitrates, phosphorous, fecal coli forms from animals and man. Loss of permeable soils to impermeable asphalt, soil compaction,  building, and encroachment on wetlands, will directly affect stream flow. Impairments are the result of the above things and equate to water degradation. We have all the above impairments to some degree in these watersheds main stem and tributaries. Citizen future goals should be to identify and address as many of these impairments as can be found.  In 1972 Congress in acted” The Federal Water Pollution Control Act” its purpose to restore and maintain the nations waters. This was legislation that was designed to involve the public in this long difficult process.

The role of the local resident is paramount in Watershed Management many tasks can be accomplished by interested citizens. Using stream visual and scientific assessments, benthic macroinvertibrate monitoring, soil hydro geological information analysis, stream clean ups, chemical analysis, reintroduction of native plant species, and physical remediation, our streams will improve! Thus improving the health and welfare of wildlife and humans!