In response to a challenging autumn marked by extreme drought and wildfires, the Merrill Creek Reservoir (MCR) in New Jersey has played a crucial role in safeguarding essential resources. Situated in Washington Township, Warren County, the reservoir spans 2,700 acres and is partly owned by Jersey Central Power & Light, a FirstEnergy electric company, and FirstEnergy Pennsylvania, operating as Met-Ed in eastern Pennsylvania. The site comprises a 650-acre reservoir and a 290-acre environmental preserve that supports biodiversity while offering public recreational and educational opportunities.
Amidst significant rainfall shortages on the East Coast leading to record-low water levels in local lakes and reservoirs, MCR maintained over 95% capacity. This stability is attributed to its unique design purpose. Constructed in 1988 not for drinking water but to replenish the Delaware River, MCR holds 15 billion gallons of water. It releases water only upon request from the Delaware River Basin Commission, which has occurred five times since its inception.
A potential sixth release may occur this year to assist in returning the river's "salt line" to its usual position as determined by the Delaware River Basin Committee. The salt line indicates where freshwater from the Delaware River meets saltwater from the Delaware Bay. Typically located just over a mile north of the Delaware Memorial Bridge during November and December, it has shifted nearly 10 miles past Commodore Barry Bridge due to drought conditions. This shift poses risks to drinking water intakes for Philadelphia and Camden.
John Parke, Environmental Specialist at FirstEnergy and Ecologist at Merrill Creek Reservoir stated: “Philadelphia gets about 58% of its drinking water from the Delaware River, and upstream, Trenton takes its entire drinking water supply from the river.” He emphasized that “about 14.2 million people rely on the Delaware River Basin for their drinking water," highlighting MCR's critical role despite not being a direct source of drinking or power-generating water.
Beyond maintaining downstream water supplies, MCR serves as an essential resource for firefighting efforts by providing water for helicopters used by New Jersey Forest Fire Service during wildfires. As fires spread across northern New Jersey this year amidst worsening drought conditions, MCR was prepared for helicopter pick-ups.
Parke noted: “The last two years saw wildfires in parts of northern New Jersey that haven’t experienced such fires for decades.” He added that "the urban-suburban divide coupled with high fuel loads in forests create potential for devastating fires," underscoring MCR’s contribution as an invaluable resource for fire containment efforts.