Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program
Case Name:
M/T Athos I Crude Oil Spill
Country:
United States of America
Restoration Types:
Recreation
State:
New Jersey
Affected DOI Resources:
Recreational Use Loss
City:
Stow Creek
Phase:
Pre-implementation
To compensate for the loss of recreational opportunities caused by the M/T Athos I oil spill, improvements were made to the boat ramp at Stow Creek State Park. Though extremely narrow, short and in poor condition, the existing boat ramp was heavily used by the public. Located along Stow Creek, the boat ramp offers access to the tidal marshes of the Mad Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area and Delaware Bay several miles downstream. The project included widening and lengthening the boat ramp, removing the existing asphalt and replacing it with concrete, and installing a small dock allowing boaters to safely board, load, and unload their vessels. The improved ramp and dock is accessible to individuals with disabilities, and is now able to accommodate more recreational anglers, boaters, and hunters than before.
State
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Fish and Wildlife Service
The improved boat ramp and dock at Stow Creek State Park., Credit: NJDEP
In addition to being used to launch boats, the dock also provides opportunities for fishing and birdwatching at Stow Creek., Credit: NJDEP
https://www.nj.gov/dep/nrr/restoration/stowcreek-athos.html
New Jersey Ecological Services Field Office
4 East Jimmie Leeds Road, Suite 4, Galloway, NJ 08205 | (609) 383-3938 | http://www.fws.gov/northeast/njfieldoffice/