EHT Nature Reserve

Here in Atlantic County New Jersey,  what is not taken up by towns and small cities is managed by Townships.  The three big ones are Galloway, Hamilton, and Egg Harbor Township.  Unlike Galloway and Hamilton, EHT is a meandering place with parts that are completely disjointed from the rest.

Deep in the heart of EHT is a small Nature Reserve.  This nice little park is entirely rustic, with two three unpaved and barely improved paths, two parking lots, a small office, and some port-a-potties.  It is not at all ADA compliant and does not pretend to be.  The sight was once a Sand Pit where they mined sand for building the Casinos and other large buildings that needed it.  The problems started when the owners got greedy and pulled more sand than they were allowed and then they hit a freshwater spring...

The spring is where it gets interesting.  After settling with the state and township for their misdeeds, EHT suddenly had a plot of land with a small lake in the middle of it.  After cleaning up all the debris from the mining operation, they decided to make it into a Nature Reserve for any and everyone to enjoy.  because the lake is spring fed, it is completely clear, unlike most bodies of water here in the Southern Half of the state.  Most lakes and all the rivers and creeks are fed from the Pine Barrens, thus the waters are dark and inky with tannins from centuries of falling and decaying pine needles.

I will have to get my kayak here once the weather warms, it would be nice to paddle on water that is not black or dark green.  Until then, enjoy the view from the shoreline.

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