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Prescribed Burning at MCR Implemented for the First Time
As part of habitat stewardship activities, prescribed fires were implemented for the first time at Merrill Creek Reservoir (MCR) by NJ Forest Fire Service on March 22, 2025. Prescribed fire, also known as a controlled burn, is the planned and controlled application of...
Merrill Creek Reservoir Safeguards New Jersey & Neighboring States Through Drought and Wildfires
650-Acre Reservoir Offers Vital Water Resource During Challenging Autumn Months The fall of 2024, New Jersey, along with Pennsylvania and New York, faced extreme drought conditions and wildfires. In response to these challenges, the Merrill Creek Reservoir (MCR) is...
Merrill Creek Reservoir Wins 2024 NJ Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award in Healthy Ecosystems & Habitat Category
On December 10, 2024, at the Historic Masonic Temple of Trenton, NJ, Merrill Creek Reservoir (MCR) was honored as the winner of the 25th annual Governor's Environmental Excellence Award for the category of Healthy Ecosystems & Habitat. Winners of the Governor’s...
Its Berry Awesome at MCR!
It’s that time of year at MCR where many delicious brambles species are in fruit! What is a bramble you say, well bramble is a common name given to the Rubus genus of plants of the rose family. Still don’t know what a bramble is, well most of these plants have woody...
Oh, how they grow up so fast! MCR Eaglet Update
Both Bald Eagle nests at MCR have produced young this year and they have now fledged the nests within this past week! MCR’s eagle nest at the west side of the property produced 2 eaglets and our nest to the east produced 1 eaglet. According to the National Wildlife...
Pollinator Gardens are the “BUZZ-words” at Merrill Creek Reservoir this year!
According to the Xerces Society, “Pollinators are one of the easiest groups of declining animals to support in not just a rural landscape, but in a residential and urban landscape as well, since even small spaces have the potential to meet the most basic needs of the...
Repurposing Invasive Species Control Byproduct to Create Critical Fish Habitat
Working with MCR, NJ Youth Corps of Phillipsburg helped build 78 fish habitat structures that have been being deployed in MCR since April 2024. These structures are a modified version of “Spider Bocks.” Typically, when constructing Spider Blocks, PVC tubes or plastic...
Spring Ephemerals – Critical for Pollinators- So Don’t Pick or Eat Them!
As Spring arrives the fields and woodlands begin to wake-up and burst with the emergence of plant life to color the landscape and welcome in the wildlife from the long cold winter. And with the arrival of the new buds, shoots and flowers comes opportunity for us...
Winter is a Time for Owl Breeding at MCR
Winter time is not typically thought of when people think of birds laying eggs and nesting. But for three of New Jersey’s permanent resident owl species that live at Merrill Creek Reservoir, the Great Horned Owl, the Barred Owl and the Eastern Screech Owl, winter is...
Snow Equals Fun Times with Animal Tracks at Merrill Creek Reservoir
With snow on the ground at MCR this is a great time to look for animal tracks! This past year we had a few surprises at MCR with the confirmation of porcupine, fisher and river otter on the property! That said, here is a great link for a pocket printout for animal...
Merrill Creek Reservoir
34 Merrill Creek Road
Washington, NJ 07882
(908) 454-1213 (ph)
(908) 454-2747 (f)
*Play MCR's Tree Finder Game !
Along the trails at MCR there are 9 different individual trees that have FACES. More Info...
