Tocks Island
Encyclopedia
Tocks Island, located upstream from Delaware Water Gap
in the Delaware River
was the controversial site of a dam
, proposed in the 1950s, which would have created a 37-mile (60-km) long lake between Pennsylvania
and New Jersey
, with depths of up to 140 feet. Although the dam was never built, 72,000 acres (291 km²) of land were acquired, which became the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
.
and Philadelphia.
The United States
government began acquiring, often by condemnation, land from residents that lay within the boundaries approved for this unprecedented recreation area. Today, there are few existing structures from the original town of Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania
, and there are few remaining from Bushkill, Pennsylvania
and other surrounding areas.
On the New Jersey side, much of the area of Pahaquarry Township
was taken over, leaving the community with no more than a few dozen residents. On July 2, 1997, Pahaquarry Township, whose population had dwindled to fewer than a dozen people, was dissolved and incorporated into Hardwick Township
.
Protesters whose land had been acquired raised the issue of unfair acquisition of land. Two such individuals, Nancy Shukaitis and Ruth Jones, formed a group called the Delaware Valley Conservation Association. Along with other supporters, they attended government hearings and meetings of the United States Army Corps of Engineers
. Another individual who was instrumental in bringing national attention to the issue was Justice William O. Douglas
, who fell in love with the area after visiting Sunfish Pond
with his wife.
The decision on the future of the project lay with the Delaware River Basin Commission, the governing board of which included the governors of the four states in the Delaware River Basin (New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware) and a federal representative who reported to the U. S. Secretary of the Interior. The project's momentum was slowed in the early 70s by objections voiced by New Jersey Governor William T. Cahill, who was concerned with land acquisition issues raised by local residents, by the potential adverse environmental impacts of the project, and by the costs that would be imposed on New Jersey to provide sewerage and highways to serve growth in Northwest New Jersey that would be prompted by the recreation area that would surround the dam. The recreation area was needed to provide the economic benefits needed to allow the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, which would build the dam, to demonstrate that it had a positive ratio of benefits to cost. The further studies prompted by Cahill's objections and by question raised by his successor, Governor Brendan T. Byrne, in 1974 revealed that better and more economical options existed to reduce flood damage and improve water supply than the dam. The dam was disapproved by a majority vote of the Delaware River Basin Commission in 1975.
Financial problems also contributed to the demise of the project. With the United States funding the Vietnam War
, the allocation of $384 million needed to fund the dam and lake became less feasible. Finally, the geology of the area was too unstable to build the earthen dam. The bedrock could not support what would be the largest dam project east of the Mississippi River
.
In 1992, the project was reviewed again and rejected with the provision that it would be revisited ten years later. In 2002, after extensive research, the Tocks Island Dam Project was officially de-authorized.
Today, the land is preserved by the National Park Service
as the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
.
A video documentary called Controversy on the Delaware: A Look Upstream at the Tocks Island Dam Project
was created in 2006 that investigates the Tocks Island Dam Project.
Delaware Water Gap
The Delaware Water Gap is on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania where the Delaware River cuts through a large ridge of the Appalachian Mountains...
in the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
was the controversial site of a dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
, proposed in the 1950s, which would have created a 37-mile (60-km) long lake between Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, with depths of up to 140 feet. Although the dam was never built, 72,000 acres (291 km²) of land were acquired, which became the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, administered by the National Park Service, preserves almost of land along the Delaware River's New Jersey and Pennsylvania shores, stretching from the Delaware Water Gap northward almost to the New York state line...
.
History
The Tocks Island Dam Project was under consideration prior to the 1955 flood, which caused several deaths and immeasurable damage to the Delaware River basin. The need for flood control brought the issue to the national level, and in 1965 a proposal was made to Congress for the construction of the dam. The Tocks Island National Recreation Area was to be established around the lake, which would offer recreation activities such as hunting, hiking, fishing, and boating. In addition to flood control and recreation, the dam could be used to generate hydroelectric power, and, more significantly, the water stored in the lake would be pumped to supply water to the cities of New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Philadelphia.
The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government began acquiring, often by condemnation, land from residents that lay within the boundaries approved for this unprecedented recreation area. Today, there are few existing structures from the original town of Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania
Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania
Dingmans Ferry is an unincorporated community in Delaware Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was originally sited on the Delaware River in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, but was moved farther up the mountain when the Park Service acquired the land for the...
, and there are few remaining from Bushkill, Pennsylvania
Bushkill, Pennsylvania
Bushkill is an unincorporated community in Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States.Portions of Bushkill were seized by the United States government during the Tocks Island dam project and are now part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area....
and other surrounding areas.
On the New Jersey side, much of the area of Pahaquarry Township
Pahaquarry Township, New Jersey
Pahaquarry Township is a now-defunct Township that was located in Warren County, New Jersey.Pahaquarry Township was formed on December 27, 1824, from portions of Walpack Township in Sussex County and set off to Warren County....
was taken over, leaving the community with no more than a few dozen residents. On July 2, 1997, Pahaquarry Township, whose population had dwindled to fewer than a dozen people, was dissolved and incorporated into Hardwick Township
Hardwick Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,464 people, 502 households, and 410 families residing in the township. The population density was 40.1 people per square mile . There were 530 housing units at an average density of 14.5 per square mile...
.
Protesters whose land had been acquired raised the issue of unfair acquisition of land. Two such individuals, Nancy Shukaitis and Ruth Jones, formed a group called the Delaware Valley Conservation Association. Along with other supporters, they attended government hearings and meetings of the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
. Another individual who was instrumental in bringing national attention to the issue was Justice William O. Douglas
William O. Douglas
William Orville Douglas was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. With a term lasting 36 years and 209 days, he is the longest-serving justice in the history of the Supreme Court...
, who fell in love with the area after visiting Sunfish Pond
Sunfish Pond
Sunfish Pond is a glacial lake surrounded by a hardwood forest located on the Kittatinny Ridge within Worthington State Forest, adjacent to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Warren County, New Jersey. The Appalachian Trail runs alongside the western and northern edges of the...
with his wife.
The decision on the future of the project lay with the Delaware River Basin Commission, the governing board of which included the governors of the four states in the Delaware River Basin (New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware) and a federal representative who reported to the U. S. Secretary of the Interior. The project's momentum was slowed in the early 70s by objections voiced by New Jersey Governor William T. Cahill, who was concerned with land acquisition issues raised by local residents, by the potential adverse environmental impacts of the project, and by the costs that would be imposed on New Jersey to provide sewerage and highways to serve growth in Northwest New Jersey that would be prompted by the recreation area that would surround the dam. The recreation area was needed to provide the economic benefits needed to allow the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, which would build the dam, to demonstrate that it had a positive ratio of benefits to cost. The further studies prompted by Cahill's objections and by question raised by his successor, Governor Brendan T. Byrne, in 1974 revealed that better and more economical options existed to reduce flood damage and improve water supply than the dam. The dam was disapproved by a majority vote of the Delaware River Basin Commission in 1975.
Financial problems also contributed to the demise of the project. With the United States funding the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, the allocation of $384 million needed to fund the dam and lake became less feasible. Finally, the geology of the area was too unstable to build the earthen dam. The bedrock could not support what would be the largest dam project east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
In 1992, the project was reviewed again and rejected with the provision that it would be revisited ten years later. In 2002, after extensive research, the Tocks Island Dam Project was officially de-authorized.
Today, the land is preserved by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
as the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, administered by the National Park Service, preserves almost of land along the Delaware River's New Jersey and Pennsylvania shores, stretching from the Delaware Water Gap northward almost to the New York state line...
.
A video documentary called Controversy on the Delaware: A Look Upstream at the Tocks Island Dam Project
Controversy on the Delaware: A Look Upstream at the Tocks Island Dam Project
Controversy on the Delaware: A Look Upstream at the Tocks Island Dam Project is a video documentary that investigates the Tocks Island Dam Project, a plan proposed in 1965 for the United States Army Corps of Engineers to build a dam across the Delaware River six miles upstream from the Delaware...
was created in 2006 that investigates the Tocks Island Dam Project.
External links
- The Legacy of Tocks Island, Pocono RecordPocono RecordThe Pocono Record is a daily newspaper published in print and online in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania USA.-History:The Pocono Record was founded as the Stroudsburg Daily Times April 2, 1894....
, August 12, 2001 - Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area