Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge

The 30,000-acre valley harbors nationally significant ecosystems and many protected plant and animals, including federally listed threatened or endangered species. The Kittatinny Ridge, following the creek’s path, is a major avenue for migrating birds of prey, songbirds, waterfowl and bats.

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25).[3]

Federal Trust Species in Cherry Valley: American eel, bald eagle, Northeastern bulrush, dwarf wedge mussel, spreading globeflower.

Mammalian species that roam in this refuge are black bear, coyote, white-tailed deer, squirrel, raccoon, beaver, fox, river otter, woodchuck, bobcat, skunk, opossum and muskrat.

According to the Trewartha climate classification system, Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge has a Temperate Continental climate (Dc) with warm summers (b), cold winters (0) and year-around precipitation. Dcbo climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F (0 °C), four to seven months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (10 °C), all months with an average mean temperature < 72.0 °F (22 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. Although summers are typically comfortably humid at Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge, episodes of heat and high humidity can occur with heat index values > 94 °F (34 °C). Since 1981, the highest air temperature was 98.0 °F (37 °C) on 07/22/2011, and the highest average mean dew point was 71.6 °F (22 °C) on 08/28/2018. The annual peak in thunderstorm activity occurs in the month of July. Since 1981, the wettest calendar day was 6.20 inches (157 mm) on 10/08/2005. During the winter months, the plant hardiness zone is 6a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of −9.0 °F (−23 °C).[4] Since 1981, the coldest air temperature was −18.5 °F (−28 °C) on 01/21/1994. Episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < −21 °F (−29 °C). Ice storms and large snowstorms depositing ≥ 12 inches (30 cm) are somewhat frequent, particularly during nor’easters from December through February.

• Media related to Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge at Wikimedia Commons
• Refuge website
• Refuge proposal website

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.