The Highlands Council approved a 900,000-square-foot warehouse on the Pohatcong grasslands this week despite the fact that Governor Mikie Sherrill called for a moratorium on new warehouses. This is a shameful attack on the protection of the Highlands and the preservation of farmland. The Highlands is, by law, a state and nationally significant environmental region. The purpose of those protections is to safeguard the drinking water supply for more than six million New Jersey residents, as well as residents of New York and Pennsylvania.
The preservation of open space is a critical part of that mission, especially forests and environmentally sensitive farmland. Instead, the Highlands Council approved a dirty deal for politically connected developers — a betrayal of the Highlands Protection Act and a betrayal of our drinking water during a drought. This warehouse is to be built on spec, so we don’t know what it could become: an AI data center or even an ICE detention facility.
Firefighters continue to cool a chemical storage tank with water to prevent it from breaching or exploding. Some 40,000 residents near the Orange County plant have been evacuated to shelters.
Fire officials said on Saturday that there was renewed hope that their strategy of using water to douse a tank filled with an extremely toxic chemical would help slow a reaction that could lead to an explosion that had the potential to ignite a large fireball at a plant in Orange County, Calif.
Still, they warned that the temperature inside the tank had risen more than 20 degrees over the past day, showing the limitations of their cooling efforts. And they acknowledged that a worst-case scenario was still possible.
“Letting this thing just fail and blow up is unacceptable to us,” said Craig Covey, an incident commander with the Orange County Fire Authority. “Our goal is to find something and not allow that to happen, not let it damage our community, not let it damage our environment.”
As efforts continued, tens of thousands of residents remained out of their homes — some for the second consecutive day — as health officials continued to warn that they were unsure of the extent of the potential danger.
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WEST TRENTON, N.J. (May 22) – Paddlers of all ages and experience levels are reminded that it is not too late to register for the 31stDelaware River Sojourn taking place June 20-26.
The Sojourn is a guided paddling and camping trip that combines on-water experiences and educational opportunities. Equipment is provided, and river guides teach basic instruction and keep paddlers safe on the water. Participants may sign up for the entire trip or for the day(s) of their choice.
“For over thirty years, the Delaware River Sojourn has been more than a paddling trip. It is a classroom and a community hub, promoting safe river recreation, conservation, and education about our natural environment, and local history,” said Kate Schmidt, Communications Specialist for the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) and Chair of the Delaware River Sojourn Steering Committee. “This year, the Sojourn is themed ‘Our Nation’s River,’ a nod to the integral role the Delaware River had in the founding of our nation, as well as its importance to communities today.”
The Sojourn allows participants to experience the river’s varied communities and characteristics as it flows downstream. This year’s itinerary includes three days in the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, a day in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and two days paddling the Lower Delaware Wild and Scenic River, including a chance to paddle the site of George Washington’s historic crossing. The trip will culminate with a paddle on the river’s tidewaters near northeast Philadelphia.
In total, over 75 miles of the Delaware River will be paddled, split into daily trips averaging 10 miles each. The all-volunteer National Canoe Safety Patrol provides critical on-water and on-land safety support.
“The Sojourn is a fantastic way to experience this iconic river and inspire more people to help protect our shared waters,” said Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, the DRBC’s Executive Director and a repeat sojourner. “DRBC proudly supports the Sojourn’s commitment to advancing stewardship and promoting the efforts of partners across the basin. We are excited to be a sponsor and lead several programs highlighting our work.”
This year’s enrichment programs celebrating “Our Nation’s River” include a presentation on the Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History, a visit to Washington Crossing Historic Park (Pa.), a preview of the new Visitor’s Center at Washington Crossing State Park (N.J.), a talk about William Penn and Pennsbury Manor, and a program on the 911 National Memorial Trail.
The Sojourn also highlights the connection between outdoor recreation and local businesses. From kayak rental and livery Northeast Wilderness Experience (Honesdale, Pa.), and bussing from We Transport (Sparrowbush, N.Y.), to catering provided by Konrad’s Kitchen, (Yulan, N.Y.), Humpty Junior’s (Columbia, N.J.), Colonial Farms (Washington Crossing, Pa.) and Cathedral Kitchen (Camden, N.J.), it takes partnership across industries to make the Sojourn successful.
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“The Delaware River Sojourn appreciates the support of its donors and grantors, which helps keep registration costs low and allows us to offer package pricing, making the event even more accessible,” said Dejay Branch, Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition and Sojourn fiduciary. “We encourage folks to register for this family-friendly event soon, as space is filling quickly.”
Along with the DRBC, Northampton County Parks, Recreation & Conservation and individual donors, the regional grocery cooperative ShopRite has sponsored the Sojourn since 2013. Grant funding comes from the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, the Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic Rivers Program and PPL.
First held in 1995, the Delaware River Sojourn is one of the longest-running programs of its kind. The nonprofit annual event is planned by a steering committee with representatives from federal, state, and county agencies, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individual volunteers. Schmidt has served as the DRBC’s representative since 2006. Registration fees for the 2026 Delaware River Sojourn are $100 per day for adults and $70 per day for children. For full details and registration, visit https://delawareriversojourn.com/.
The DRBC is a federal-interstate government agency responsible for managing the water resources within the 13,539-square-mile Delaware River Basin, regardless of political boundaries. The five Commission members are the governors of the Basin states (Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania) and the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ North Atlantic Division, who represents the federal government. Learn more at www.drbc.gov.
