Long Valley Preserve Grows by 4 Acres

Sure, it's just 4 acres. But, it's 4 acres that weren't part of the preserve before. And, more acreage is always better than less when it comes to preservation.

Press release courtesy NJConservation.org.

Long Valley preserve expands by four acres

WASHINGTON TWP. – The Drakestown Preserve in Long Valley just grew by four acres, increasing recreation opportunities and enhancing protection of the public drinking water supply.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation purchased the land near the intersection of Drakestown and Flocktown roads - which had been approved for the construction of one house - in early May.

“It’s a relatively small property, but it borders the 228-acre Drakestown Preserve, an environmentally sensitive property,” said Michele S. Byers, executive director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation. “We’re always looking for opportunities to expand our preserves by acquiring adjacent land, and adding these four acres helps protect drinking water and wildlife habitat.”

The newly-acquired property contains wooded “uplands” that buffer a wetlands complex within the Preserve.  These wetlands are associated with pristine headwater streams flowing into the South Branch of the Raritan River, a source of drinking water for 1.5 million New Jersey residents.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation received a grant from the Morris County Open Space Trust Fund to cover most of the acquisition cost.

“This property contains both wetland and upland forests at the headwaters of the South Branch Raritan River,” said Morris County Freeholder Ann Grossi.  “It is adjacent to a remote parcel of the South Branch Headwaters Preserve project, which was also funded with the assistance of a county open space grant.  Acquisition of this property will build upon lands that are already preserved in the region and will promote passive recreational opportunities.”

The Drakestown Preserve sits high atop Schooley’s Mountain. The original 228-acre tract was acquired in December 2010 from the estate of the late Jack Borgenicht, a businessman, mountain climber and philanthropist who amassed a substantial amount of land in the Long Valley area during his 93 years.

The Drakestown Preserve is open to the public for passive recreation such as hiking and nature observation, and can be entered from Drakestown Road or Fairview Avenue. For more information, go to www.njconservation.org/drakestownpreserve.htm.

Greenwich Twp. Farm Preserved

Greenwich Township is becoming a star of preservation in not only Warren County, but New Jersey in general!

Article originally posted on NJ.com.

Fox River Farm in Greenwich Township has been preserved, adding 65 acres to the growing list of preserved farmland in the municipality. The farm was preserved via a partnership between the Township, Warren County and the State Agriculture Development Committee, with assistance from The Land Conservancy of New Jersey. This beautiful, busy horse farm is located along Route 519 bordering Lopatcong Township.

Working closely with The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, the Township is achieving remarkable results retaining and preserving its farmland base. Since 2005, this partnership between The Land Conservancy and Greenwich Township has resulted in the preservation of six properties for open space, recreation, and farmland totaling 580 acres. In total, there are 1,000 acres of preserved farmland in Greenwich Township.

“Without the hard work of our Open Space Committee led by Dawn Marie Kondas, willing landowners, Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the State of New Jersey, and The Land Conservancy, our preservation efforts of hundreds of acres in Greenwich Township may not have ever been possible. Thank you to all,” stated Elaine Emiliani, Deputy Mayor of Greenwich Township

Almost entirely prime farmland soils, the Fox River Farm is a scenic property of rolling topography and tilled agricultural fields. Over 40 acres of this farm is harvested cropland and another 10 acres are in permanent pasture, the balance of the property is woodlands. Used primarily for horses, the farm supports an arena for riding and numerous paddocks for the horses to exercise. This was the third farm preserved in the Township using funds provided by the state and county farmland programs. Greenwich Township and Warren County each provided 19% of the total project cost, with the State of New Jersey contributing 61% of the funds necessary to close this transaction.

Located three miles east of Phillipsburg, and within the Highlands Planning Area, the Fox River Farm is surrounded by preserved open space. Within one and one-half miles of this farm there are six additional preserved farms totaling 390 acres, Fox River Farm is now the northern most farm preserved in the Township’s significant farmland belt. With the preservation of this farm, there is now over 760 acres of contiguous preserved land.

“Greenwich Township has approached land preservation in a very thoughtful, intelligent and systematic way. They are creating a lasting legacy of protected farmland and open space that will serve the township very well in its future,” explained Sandy Urgo, Land Preservation Director for The Land Conservancy of New Jersey.

Five More Flood Prone Homes to Return to Open Space

They should never have been built there in the first place. Glad to see something good done about it.

Story originally on DailyRecord.com

PEQUANNOCK — Five homes located in the floodplain of the Pompton River have been purchased and will be demolished with the land returned to its natural condition.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey and the township announced the purchase Friday that was made in partnership with Morris County and the state of New Jersey’s Green Acres program, according to a prepared statement from the Conservancy.

These acquisitions will aid the community’s efforts to remove residents and their personal property from harm’s way during the onslaught of heavy rains and storms, the statement read.

“This has been an exciting year both with the massive flooding and the continuing buyout of homes for the Riverwalk,” said Frank Spizzirri, chair of the township’s Open Space Advisory Committee. “Phase 5 of the Riverwalk projects is almost concluded with contracts on 6 homes, of which 5 have been purchased and the last one in the wings and ready to set a closing date.”

The purchase and preservation of the five homes was coordinated by the Conservancy working with the township’s governing body and Open Space Advisory Committee.

Homes around the banks of the Pompton River have long suffered from flooding. The Pompton Riverwalk program provides space for flood storage, while creating new public recreation opportunities in the community, the statement read.

These five recently acquired properties bring the total to 21 lots that have been acquired under the Riverwalk initiative during the first five phases of the Riverwalk project. Once purchased, the properties have subsequently been cleared to provide flood storage and parkland, the release said.

During the most recent flooding, the water level reached 2 feet above the second floor of two of these five houses and all five of the structures were severely damaged. Each property is less than a third of an acre and averaged approximately $253,000 to purchase and preserve.

Two-thirds of the funding was provided by the Morris County Open Space Trust Fund and the balance was provided through the New Jersey Green Acres program. The township covered all of the due diligence costs of the transaction and will immediately begin the process of demolishing the structures and clearing the property for open space, the statement read.

“The successful transition of these areas from flood-ravaged residences to preserved parkland has been remarkable,” said Greg Collins, land preservation specialist with the Land Conservancy. “It makes great sense to see a dilapidated structure that was a headache for the homeowner and a burden on taxpayers converted into a park serving as a buffer against future flooding.”

Since its initial grant request for this project, the township has used $2,511,050 in grant funding from Morris County for the Riverwalk project and has matched this with funds provided through Green Acres totaling $2,330,150. Since 1999, the Land Conservancy of New Jersey has helped Pequannock preserve 27 properties, including the 21 properties which comprise the highly successful Pompton Riverwalk project.