The Merrill Creek Reservoir, a 2,700-acre water supply and environmental preserve in New Jersey, has been honored with the 2024 Governor's Environmental Excellence Award by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The recognition falls under the "Healthy Ecosystems and Habitats" category.
The award ceremony took place on December 10 and highlighted the successful partnership between Merrill Creek Reservoir, local communities, and partners such as Terra Engineers, New Jersey Youth Corps of Phillipsburg, and New Jersey Audubon.
John Parke, an Environmental Specialist at FirstEnergy and Ecologist at Merrill Creek Reservoir, remarked on the project's impact: "The habitat enhancements and restorations at MCR are expected to have far-reaching benefits, not just for wildlife, but for surrounding communities. Our habitat projects serve as models for recognizing the benefits of collaboration for restoration, protection and stewardship of natural resources."
Voluntary conservation practices were recognized over more than 173 acres of land. These efforts included improvements across 75 acres of forest stand and habitat management practices along with nearly 98 acres dedicated to native grassland management. Additionally, an acre was devoted to new and enhanced pollinator gardens.
Merrill Creek Reservoir also improved fish habitats by repurposing autumn olive—a non-native woody species removed during grassland restoration—into underwater structures like spider blocks and fish cribs. This method reduces potential microplastic contamination by avoiding traditional PVC tubes or plastic pipes.
Situated in Washington Township within Warren County, Merrill Creek Reservoir encompasses a total area of 2,727 acres. It includes a reservoir spanning 650 acres alongside a 290-acre environmental preserve filled with forests and fields. The site supports over 380 species of wildlife including endangered birds and rare turtles.
Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), which part-owns the reservoir alongside FirstEnergy Pennsylvania (FEPA), serves about 1.1 million customers across several counties in New Jersey. FirstEnergy itself is one of the largest investor-owned electric systems in the U.S., operating extensive transmission lines connecting various regions.
For further information or inquiries regarding this achievement or related matters:
News Media Contact: Chris Hoenig at (609) 350-8599
Investor Contact: Gina Caskey at (330) 607-0157