Spruce Run Recreation Area facts for kids

The Spruce Run Recreation Area is a fun place in New Jersey, USA. It covers about 1,290 acres (5.2 square kilometers). You can find it in Hunterdon County, within Union Township and Clinton Township.

This area is home to the Spruce Run Reservoir. This large body of water is super important! It acts as a backup water supply for the state, especially during dry times. It's the third biggest reservoir in New Jersey. People also love to visit for outdoor activities like fishing, boating, and swimming.

Spruce Run Dam and Reservoir History

The Spruce Run Dam was built in 1964. Its main job is to help provide water for towns. The dam is made of earth and stands about 93 feet (28 meters) tall. It stretches for 5,400 feet (1,600 meters) across the land.

The reservoir can hold a lot of water. It can store up to 11 billion gallons (42 million cubic meters)! This water helps supply many areas in northern New Jersey. The land where the reservoir now sits was once used for farming and metal work. Before that, it was important to local Native American communities.

The reservoir was created by building several dams. These dams allowed two main streams, Mulhockaway Creek and Spruce Run Creek, to flood the area. In the 1920s, a water company wanted to build a reservoir here. However, the Great Depression put those plans on hold. New Jersey started the project again in 1956, and the reservoir was finished in 1964.

Water Levels and Fish Life

The amount of water in the reservoir changes a lot during the year. This can affect the plants that grow in the water. Fewer plants mean less hiding spots for young fish. In recent years, the water levels have been kept lower for longer periods.

Fun Activities at Spruce Run State Park

Spruce Run State Park offers many cool things to do! You can go fishing, hunting, camping, or swimming. It's also a great spot for picnics and walks. Just remember, like all New Jersey state parks, alcohol is not allowed.

Camping and Cabins

The park has 67 campsites where you can stay. Each campsite has a picnic table, a fire ring, and a parking spot. These spots are big enough for most camping trailers and RVs.

• Campsites cost $20 per night for New Jersey residents.
• For visitors from other states, it's $25 per night.

There are also three cozy cabins you can rent. The campgrounds are open from April 1st to October 31st each year.

Swimming and Boating Adventures

There's a special swimming beach at the park. Lifeguards are on duty when the beach is open. You can only swim in this marked area, not other parts of the reservoir.

The park also lets you rent boats! You can choose from pontoon boats, motor boats, or row boats. The motors on rental boats are small, usually 10 horsepower or less. If you bring your own boat with a bigger motor, make sure the motor is out of the water when you're on the reservoir.

You can also store your boat at the park for a yearly fee. During the warmer months, boats are kept near the launch area. In winter, they move to a special storage spot.

Spruce Run Reservoir is very popular for sailing! Sailboats can be up to 25 feet (7.6 meters) long. The Hunterdon Sailing Club is based at the lake. They even offer lessons if you're new to sailing!

Fishing at the Reservoir

The reservoir is home to 29 different kinds of fish! The state adds young trout to the lake every year.

• Some popular fish you can catch include:
  • Largemouth bass
  • Northern pike
  • Smallmouth bass
  • Carp
  • Hybrid striped bass
  • Yellow perch
  • Different types of sunfish
  • Several kinds of catfish, like channel catfish

In the past, the state also added tiger muskellunge to the reservoir.

Why So Many Fish?

The water in the reservoir has a lot of nutrients. This helps tiny plants grow, which means there's plenty of food for small fish like alewife. Alewife often swim in open water, away from bigger fish like bass. To make fishing even better, the state started adding hybrid striped bass. These fish also like open water, giving anglers a new type of fish to catch.

Finding the Best Fishing Spots

It's easy to find places to fish at the reservoir. The state park has many spots along the shoreline. These areas are well-kept and offer different fishing locations. You can also find other fishing spots along Van Syckels Road.

Fishing from a boat is very popular. Since the reservoir is so big, a boat helps you explore more areas. You can access the reservoir with a boat at all hours, as long as there's no ice. Night fishing is a favorite during summer for catching hybrid striped bass and catfish. If the reservoir freezes in winter, you can even go ice fishing! Popular fish for ice fishing include yellow perch, northern pike, and crappie.

Wildlife in the Park

The reservoir and the park around it are home to many different animals. You'll often see white-tailed deer in the park. Bow hunting for deer is allowed in certain areas. The large reservoir also provides a home for many types of waterfowl (ducks, geese, etc.). Waterfowl hunting is allowed in the park with firearms, but hunters must stay below the high waterline.

Images for kids

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  Spruce Run Reservoir