When it comes to the environment and open space Charlie Fineran covers it all in Warren County. He attended a ceremony recently that celebrated the removal of a pipeline in the Musconetcong River.

The removal of a pipeline under the Musconetcong River at Changewater on Tuesday, Nov. 16, was one more step toward a free-flowing river.

The removal ceremony was a joint effort of the National Park Service and Chevron Corporation at Chevron’s Changewater property off Asbury-Anderson Road in Washington Township. River advocates and local officials from both Warren and Hunterdon counties attended to celebrate the long-planned removal and an extensive restoration which included planting more than 1,000 trees.

The Musconetcong is the longest New Jersey tributary of the Delaware River, flowing more 40 miles from Lake Hopatcong to Riegelsville.

The pipeline and an oil storage and pumping station at Changewater were installed in 1887 as part of a pipe running from the oil fields in northwestern Pennsylvania to the refineries at the New Jersey seaports. Nine pipes crossed the river as part of the Tidewater Getty pipelines which were the first such extensive pipelines in North America.

The Tidewater Pipe Co. made the first pipe to carry oil across the Allegheny Mountains toward Williamsport. Tidewater/Getty were the first oil pipelines, built to compete with John D. Roickefeller’s Standard Oil. His rail monopoly made overland shipping competition-proof.

The Changewater station was used until 1981, but its mission had changed from shipping crude east to the refineries to sending refined oil products west for distribution.

When the pipeline was decommissioned the pipes were property drained and safely sealed to protect the river, but were left in place.

But recently, stewards of the river and other open space lands resulted in the creation or organizations and special designations for Rivers and Special Sites. The U.S. Congress created the Wild & Scenic Partners River Program, which is administered by the NPS (National Park Service) The Musconetcong River is a ‘Wild & Scenic’ Partner River and the MRMC (Musconetcong River Management Council) was required and created by that Wild & Scenic designation to have local representation in the protection and developing of programs within and along the river.

The nationally recognized MWA (Musconetcong Watershed Association) was created by concerned citizens and has been protecting and promoting the river for more than 25 years and now the length of the river from Lake Hopatcong to the Delaware is designated a ‘National Water Trail’ presently the only one in New Jersey.

The advent of recreational boating and river activities, especially at low water, brought to light these pipelines, as they were encountered by people paddling down the river.

In response, an alliance/partnership, if you will, was formed among the NPS, Chevron, MWA and the Musconetcong River Management Council to remove the pipeline. During the many planning meetings, that Chevron advised, they had the funding, necessary training and equipment to accomplish all our goals during the removal. And, an important point, even with some uncooperative moments from Mother Nature, the project was completed on schedule with no incidents.Once the physical work was concluded it was time to celebrate and educate about the history and innovations, including the new technology for moving oil which greatly benefitted our developing industrial nation, along with providing important jobs for the local economy. The story will be told through signage and brochures detailing how the alliance of groups added an important chapter to the Musky’s story.

For more on the Wild & Scenic Rivers Program – Musconetcong River, New Jersey (rivers.gov), and the National Water Trails Program – https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationaltrailssystem/national-water-trails-system.htm

There was plenty to celebrate with the removal of a pipeline in the Musconetcong River. In the photo above, guest Speakers included, (L-R), Mike Schmidt, Mayor Lebanon Twp., Cindy Joerger, Exec. Director MWA, Paul Kenney, Mgr. Scenic & Wild Rivers, National Park Service, and Henry Stremlau, Operations Mgr., Chevron.

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran, Director Open Space

Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission – Chairman

Allamuchy Historical Society – President