Rocky Point NRMA

Much of the Rocky Point Natural Resource Management Area (NMRA) are woodlands consisting of Oak Pine forest, Oak forest, Pitch Pine Oak, Pitch Pine and Scrub Oak shrubland. Within the complex are also a handful of grasslands, one of which being Currans Field located southeast of the Rocky Point Road and Whiskey Road intersections.

There are a few aquatic ecosystems are found within the eastern part NRMA, the largest of which being Lake Panamoka and Deep Pond. Several small kettlehole ponds are also found throughout the southern portion of the complex.

In the 1920s, the Rocky Point NRMA was once home to the largest radio station in the world – Radio Corporation of America (RCA). The extremely fire-prone site was altered to protect the infrastructure that was developed. This included 200’ wide fire breaks which reduced the land to the bare sandy soil. With the use of satellites on the rise, in 1978 the RCA sold the land to the state for $1. Much of the infrastructure from poles and wires can still be seen within the management area. 

The eastern part of the Rocky Point NRMA was also at one point a nursery for horticultural plants, which has caused it to be much more disturbed and invaded than other portions of the management area. 

Size: 6000 acres

Relatively free of invasive species compared to its size:

Invasive species such as swallowwort and buckthorn are largely confined to dustrubed trails and roads within the management area. 

Populations of rare and endangered species:

Like other complexes within the central pine barrens, Rocky Point NRMA is home to a number of state rare species, including the pink lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium arietinum), and provides habitat for migrating species of birds and insects. 

Continued partnership and support of the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission to monitor and manage invasive species at and within the buffer of this state and globally rate site is of high importance to LIISMA. One such species of high priority here is pale swallow wort, which was first detected by a survey done in 2007. Repeated cutting has been done to contain the spread of this tier 3 invasive species. Continued monitoring of SPB is also of high priority since as of 2021 there has been minor invasion documented there.  

Species found within the buffer of the ISPZ, require monitoring for early detection and rapid response:

• English Ivy (Hedera helix)
• Bamboo Phyllostachys spp.

Species recently found within the park that require rapid response:

• Swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum spp.)
• Southern Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis)  
• Cypress spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias) 
• Chinese silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis)
• Princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa)

Invasive species that are established within the park, requiring containment and removal in highest quality areas:

• ​​Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
• Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
• Mimosa (Albezia julibrissin)
• Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) 
• Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
• Nodding thistle (Carduus nutans)
• Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
• Spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)
• Autumn olive (Eleagnus umbellata)
• Winged burning bush (Euonymus alata)
• Glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus)
• Chinese lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)
• Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
• Bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)
• Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum)
• Common reed (Phragmites australis)
• Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
• Glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus)
• Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
• Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)
• Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius)
• Wisteria (Wisteria spp.)

Widespread invasive species found within the park that require greater research on their impact:

• Day lily (Hemerocallis fulva)
• White mulberry (Morus alba)
• Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
• Linden viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum)
• Tea viburnum (Viburnum stiregium)