A COMPREHENSIVE PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES INVENTORY OF THE DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL RECREATION AREA IN NORTHWESTERN NEW JERSEY AND NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area’s (DEWA) geology and paleontology has been rigorously studied since 1883. In 1903, the first paleontological inventory was completed by Start B. Weller. David Parris reexamined the Silurian and Devonian strata in 1979 and 1980 with Shirley Albright, and Ordovician strata in 1984 with Kenneth Cruikshank. 18 formations in the park are fossiliferous, primarily containing marine invertebrates, and representing the time from approximately 450 to 360 million years ago. In accordance with the 2009 Paleontological Resource Protection Act, which requires all national park units to establish inventories of paleontological resources, this is the first paleontological inventory to be conducted in 39 years to relocate localities and assess their condition. Repositories with specimens collected from DEWA were included in the report. 169 paleontological localities were compiled using studies conducted in or near the park; 92 were surveyed for the inventory. Seven new localities were discovered, recorded and photographed. Another 29 localities were found to be partially or completely vegetated. An additional 16 localities were not located, or inaccessible. With this inventory completed, a permanent inventory and monitoring program can be established to preserve, study and interpret paleontological resources at DEWA. It was found that erosion, vegetation and unauthorized collection were threats to localities. Vegetation increases erosion, damages fossils and obscures localities. Removal of vegetation around the most significant localities was recommended. Regular monitoring of outcrops along roads, rivers and trails by law enforcement would reduce unauthorized collection. Interpretation of paleontological resources through exhibits and tours would be tools for educational outreach. Baseline photos taken will provide comparative analysis to better assess site condition with cyclical monitoring. Due to time constraints, future investigations into the remaining 77 localities and the recently acquired Hidden Falls Camp property in the Catskill Formation, are recommended.