Rancocas Creek Water Trail – Creek Mile 14 found at Mt. Holly Village’s Ironworks Park–where the mill dam “rips”. Please paddle safely, as tidal ice is starting to form. Yes, you will likely get a bit cold while undertaking some winter observations of the water trails natural wonders. Ice surely offers a remarkable environment. Very chill is one way to put it. Videography introduces people to the Rancocas Creek Water Trail with its head of tide and westerly outflow from the famed NJ Pine Barrens. “Ice is vice” offers the early phases in the evolution of ice formation on the Rancocas. Still photos and video help capture the beauty of foamed crystals (a natural science in itself) consolidating as bubbles and the as circular, flat pans of slush. Hoping to post the entire cycle from freeze-up to the Mid-winter thaw. Feel free to zap along any questions you may have on this subject. And, yeah, it’s always a fine time to get out there paddling, so long as the “creek -ice don’t rise’ (too much ;)!

Defrain Sand Mines are found along RCM 24.3. Remains of the 1890’s barges, tugs and scows surface at a low tide. RP is splicing together old newspapers articles, fb postings, discussions and local archives to re-construct the extractive maritime commerce of the Rancocas Creek. Hainesport, South Branch; Defrain on the Main Stem to Delaware River Port of Philadelphia piers and landings.

This is an evolving geo-spatial community focused effort to promote public access and enhance water quality. The wealth of old submerged timbers and flanking natural tidal marsh buffers, in place 300-400 yards running to protected creek banks of the Burlington County Greenway that flanks the Rancocas. Co-junction of the Rancocas Creek and the Delaware River is the catalyst for a unique environmental resource and heritage inventory of the Rancocas Creek and the maritime community of the Delaware River estuary, proper.

Part 1 of 5 completed parts focus is the Defrain Sand Mines, RCM 24.3

The ERHI is part and process of the National Water Trail, Rancocas Creek nomination package. ERHI anchors program forums and outreach discussions that focus on the relationships for public access and promotes multi-use water quality along West Jersey’s largest tributary to the Delaware River, whose maritime heritage goes back 400 years and before that 6,000-8,000 years back when native Americans traversed that which is the fabric of the Rancocas Creek watershed.

RP is promoting awareness about water quality and improved public access for recreational use. Sat, April 13, 2019: Rancocas Oxbow-Channel Kayak Time-Trials (sanction-pending event). Paddlers, Non-Paddlers and Vendors are sought…

1st Day Paddle. NJ’s Rancocas State Park Bluewater Trail n Mt. Holly Oxbow n Mill Race. Rancocas Creek, largest tributary flows west from South Jersey 2 Delaware River. Watershed enhances 360 square miles, tidal n non-tidal waters. NJ’s 80 miles of exemplary water trails