South Branch Preserve Gets 18 More Acres, Mount Olive

Now, here is something to be thankful for!

This originally appeared in The Daily Record

MOUNT OLIVE — The Land Conservancy of New Jersey closed on two properties totaling 18 acres to be added to the South Branch Preserve.

“The Preserve is an important water management resource in Morris County, providing drinking water for 1.5 million New Jersey residents,” said Glenn Schweizer, executive director of the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority.

These are the first two of four projects the Morris County Utilities Authority and New Jersey Water Supply Authority are working on in conjunction with the Land Conservancy, according to a prepared statement from the Conservancy.

These are the fifth and sixth properties to be added to the Preserve since its establishment in 2010, according to the statement, which said that the long-term vision is to increase the South Branch Preserve to 1,000 acres to serve as a showcase for watershed

“We hope this project will inspire our state, county and local agencies to continue to fund these important preservation initiatives to ensure our water resources remain secure and plentiful,” said David Epstein, president of the Land Conservancy.

The South Branch Preserve contains rich forests, agricultural fields, and wetlands. It flows into the main stem of the Raritan River, the largest river basin located entirely within the state of New Jersey and one of its most critical water supply sources, the statement said.

The Land Conservancy and its partners have added five properties to the Preserve, which now totals 390 acres and includes three-quarters of a mile of the river flowing through the Preserve, the statement said.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is a member supported nonprofit land trust whose mission is to preserve land and water resources, conserve open space, and inspire and empower individuals and communities to protect our natural land and environment. They have worked with 89 municipalities in 13 counties to preserve a total of 19,500 acres in 330 projects, helping towns secure $224 million in county, state, and federal grants.

Denville to Knock Down 11 Homes, Return to Open Space

This is at least one very good thing to come out of Hurricane Irene's fury last year!

This article originally appeared in The Citizen:

DENVILLE – It’s been about a year since Tropical Storm Irene lashed out on Denville and the surrounding areas, not to mention a good portion of the East Coast.

But on Tuesday, Aug. 14, residents of Riverside Drive finally saw some light at the end of a dark, stormy tunnel.

 

The council passed an ordinance that allows the township to purchase eleven residential properties for a total of $3.7 million through funding from the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, the state Green Acres Program and Morris County.

With the grants the township will buy the homes, knock them to the ground and create an open space area.

“We have to have the properties restored to their natural state,” Denville Business Administrator Steven Ward said on Monday.

Denville was hit hard during last August’s tropical storm, experiencing unprecedented damage. But Riverside Drive was one of the worst hit areas.

“The (eleven) properties were just decimated,” Ward said.

“Five were abandoned.”

During the storm the surge from the Rockaway River was 9.5 feet, far surpassing the previous high of 6.22 feet, according to Department of Public Works (DPW) Supervisor John Egbert in August 2011.

“We have been declared a disaster area,” Michael Feravolo, the township’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) coordinator said, immediately following last year’s tropical storm.

Seventy-five businesses and 350 homes were affected to some degree, Ward said, which made choosing how to use the funding a bit of challenge.

“We had a rough idea of how many homes we could acquire,” Ward said.

Ward and other Denville officials then mapped out where Tropical Storm Irene and other storms hit the hardest, perused Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) data and identified a group of neighboring homeowners who were interested in the buyouts—Riverside Drive.

The area of Riverside Drive suffers from even moderate storms, Ward said.

“This is one of the worst areas in town,” Ward said.

The purchases will likely be closed on in the first or second week of October,

“Once the closings take place, we'll be bringing in a contractor to demolish the properties and restore them to their natural state,” Ward said.

Hopefully, the entire process will be done by the end of the year, he added.

44 Wooded Acres Preserved on Schooley's Mountain, Morris County

I have a work associate that lives in this area, and I am supremely jealous.

Original press release courtesy NJConservation.org:

 WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP – The green belt of preserved land on Schooley’s Mountain is growing, thanks to New Jersey Conservation Foundation and its partners.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation, a private nonprofit organization, just purchased a 44-acre property off Zellers Road. The parcel is surrounded by more than 1,000 acres of preserved farmland and open space.

“We’re very pleased to add this property to the impressive inventory of preserved land in the Schooley’s Mountain area, and make it available to the public for passive recreation like hiking and nature observation,” said Michele S. Byers, executive director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

The property was purchased for $370,000, using funding from the Morris County Preservation Trust, the Victoria Foundation, the state Green Acres Program and the Washington Township Land Trust. The Teetertown Brook, a pristine, trout-producing tributary of the South Branch of the Raritan River, flows through the property. The South Branch is a drinking water supply for more than 1.5 million New Jersey residents.

 “The Morris County freeholders are delighted to partner in this project with these groups who value, as we do, the preservation of open space and the protection of our essential water resources,” commented Freeholder Ann Grossi.

The wooded property includes habitat for several endangered and threatened species, including the bobcat, barred owl and longtail salamander. The Newark-based Victoria Foundation, in addition to providing funding toward the purchase of the property, also gave $10,000 to assist with the stewardship of the land.

 “Victoria Foundation is firmly committed to open space preservation and stewardship, particularly for protecting water quality,” said Dale Robinson Anglin, senior program officer with Victoria Foundation. “We are pleased to continue our long-term partnership with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation to preserve this critically important property.”

The property is located near the Columbia Trail and Hunterdon County’s Teetertown Preserve, and is a short distance southwest of New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s Drakestown preserve, also in Washington Township. It is located in the “Special Environmental Zone” designated in the Highlands Regional Master Plan, meaning it has the highest priority ranking for preservation.

“The Washington Township Land Trust is delighted to use part of our state Green Acres grant toward this purchase of this property, which will provide recreation while protecting wildlife habitat and our water supply,” said Karen Richards, president of the land trust.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s mission is to preserve land and natural resources throughout New Jersey for the benefit of all. Since 1960, the Foundation has helped preserve more than 120,000 acres of open space and farmland. For more information on the Foundation’s programs and preserves, visit www.njconservation.org or call 1-888-LAND-SAVE (1-888-526-3728).

835 Acres Preserved in Jefferson Twp, Morris County

This is AWESOME news.

Originally appeared on Jefferson Patch

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will announce the protection of 835 acres in the New Jersey Highlands in Morris County, creating a link to 3,000 acres of existing public land.

The Baker residential property has been a high priority for preservation for more 20 years due to its varied habitat, water resources and adjacency to over 3,000 acres of preserved lands, accourding to the DEP. The property contains environmentally sensitive wetland areas, steep slopes and habitat for a number of important state and federally listed species including bobcat, golden-winged warbler, timber rattlesnake, red-shouldered hawk, Indiana bat, Cooper’s hawk and barred owl.

The agreement calls for ownership to be split between Jefferson Township and the DEP as an addition to the Rockaway River Wildlife Management Area. The project is being funded by federal Highlands Conservation Act funds, the state Green Acres Program and the Morris County Open Space Trust Fund.

And some more info from a NJDEP press release:

A pristine 835-acre tract located in the heart of the North Jersey Highlands in Jefferson Township, and once slated for residential development, will be permanently preserved through a $4.6 million agreement announced today by project partners, the Department of Environmental Protection, the federal government, the Trust for Public Land, Morris County, and Jefferson Township.

The newly preserved land, long known as the Baker Firestone or Baker Residential property, will greatly expand the DEP’s Rockaway River Wildlife Management Area and provide land for local parks, said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin.

The property, long sought by conservation groups, had recently been bought by the Trust for Public Land as an interim conservation purchaser for $4.6 million. Title to the land is being formally conveyed to the State of New Jersey and Jefferson Township, which will take ownership of 647 acres and 188 acres respectively.

12 Acres Preserved in Rockaway Twp., Morris County

Also mentioned is The Land Conservancy of New Jersey's recent 36-acre purchase in Montville Twp., as well.

Originally appeared on DailyRecord.com.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey has announced two new preservation initiatives that will add to the county’s open space areas used for watershed protection and recreational activities.

In June, Montville Township purchased and preserved 36 acres known as “Market Place” along River Road across from Robert Lazar Middle School; in July The Land Conservancy purchased the 12-acre Heart of the Farny Highlands property in Rockaway Township.

The Montville property will be utilized for flood storage protection and hiking; it was purchased with a $1.35 million grant from the Morris County Preservation Trust Fund and is the 17th property Montville Township preserved since the inception of its open space program in 1990, which includes 1,100 acres.

“The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is proud of its accomplishments in Montville Township,” said Linda Gloshinski, land preservation specialist with The Land Conservancy. “From protecting the Towaco Aquifer, to creating new parks for ball fields, to expanding the protected lands along the Rockaway River, the Market Place property will further enhance the open space and recreational opportunities available to Township residents.”

The site has access points at River Road and Old Changebridge Road. The township decided to preserve the space instead of developing it with 14 single-family houses after considering the impact on water quality and flood protection, including the riparian corridor of Crooked Brook, which traverses the eastern portion of the site.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey purchased the Farny Highlands in Roxbury with funds provided by the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority and Morris County Park Commission. The property lies within a 35,000-acre region of watershed land and is surrounded by more than 8,000 acres of public parkland and will be owned and managed by the Park Commission.

The property is situated on the eastern border of Rockaway Township and Kinnelon Borough within the Highland’s Preservation Area. It is located within 300 feet of the Split Rock Reservoir and an unnamed tributary to the Timber Brook runs through the southern portion of the lot and the property. The parcel is completely forested and according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, offers suitable habitat for bobcat, Coopers Hawk and foraging for great blue heron.

The property was previously owned by the Timothy family who had owned it since the 1990s and approached the conservancy about preservation options in 2011.

“We thank Lynne Timothy for her foresight in preserving this critical property,” said conservancy President David Epstein. “Lynne’s commitment to conservation has helped to make New Jersey is a better place to live.”

Dave Helmer, executive director, Morris County Park Commission said the preservation of the Timothy property will provide the final necessary link connecting the two arms of the 1,498-acre Silas Condict County Park.

“Without the support of the residents and businesses of Morris County, open space preservation projects like this one would not occur,” he said.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is headquarters in Montville Township on the 44-acre WildAcres preserve. The Fred Hierwarter WildAcres Trail consists of three walking trails, of varying difficulty, where hikers can enjoy the scenic vistas and experience the property’s varied wildlife habitat. WildAcres Garden features native plants and has been certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

36 Acres Preserved in Montville, Morris County

Always good to hear my adopted home county acquiring more land for open space.

Press release from The Land Conservancy of New Jersey

On June 21, Montville Township purchased and preserved 36 acres along River Road. Known simply as "Market Place," the Township of Montville purchased this undeveloped property for open space and recreation, plans include utilizing the property for flood storage protection and hiking.

River Road has been identified in the 2011 Open Space and Recreation Plan as a proposed bicycle route in the southern part of the municipality, this property would provide a quiet respite for riders along this scenic road across from the Knoll West County Club in neighboring Parsippany-Troy Hills Township. Robert Lazar Middle School is diagonally across from the northeastern corner of the property.

Purchased with a $1,350,000 grant from the Morris County Preservation Trust Fund, this is the 17th property Montville Township has preserved with the assistance and technical expertise of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey.

With its headquarters located on a municipal park in the Township, The Land Conservancy has worked with Montville Township since 1998 assisting the township with its open space preservation program. Since the inception of the Montville Township open space program in 1990, 1,100 acres of land have been preserved by the township for recreation and watershed protection.

"The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is proud of its accomplishments in Montville Township," stated Linda Gloshinski, land preservation specialist with The Land Conservancy. " From protecting the Towaco Aquifer, to creating new parks for ball fields, to expanding the protected lands along the Rockaway River, the Market Place property will further enhance the open space and recreational opportunities available to Township residents."

"The acquisition of the former Market Place property is a valuable addition to the township's parks and open spaces," stated Victor Canning, township administrator.

The Market Place property had the potential to be developed with 14 single-family homes. The site has ample access available from River Road, as well as approximately 50 feet of frontage on Old Changebridge Road.

The Township of Montville has a long history of preserving open space within its borders and is focusing its energies on providing public access to preserved lands in the township. A parcel along the Rockaway River was donated to the township as part of this transaction, and may become part of a future river walk. Preserving Market Place protects an area that would be best left undeveloped for water quality and flood protection, including the riparian corridor of Crooked Brook, which traverses the eastern portion of the site.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey has its headquarters in Montville Township on the 44-acre WildAcres preserve. This park offers many opportunities for visitors to enjoy a beautiful part of Montville: The Fred Hierwarter WildAcres Trail consists of three walking trails, of varying difficulty, where hikers can enjoy the scenic vistas and experience the property's varied wildlife habitat (including deer, black bear, blue birds, wild turkeys, pileated woodpeckers and more).

WildAcres Garden, established with the help of dedicated volunteers, features native plants and has been certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

For more information, to volunteer or make a donation, call 973-541-1010, or visit www.tlc-nj.org.

'Singing Wood' Preserved in Harding Township

I currently live in Morristown, which means I am very familiar with the large pieces of preserved land in nearby Harding Township. Eventually, I wouldn't mind moving there. We all can dream ...

‘Singing Wood’ is preserved in Harding
From New Jersey Hills

HARDING TWP. –  Most of the property dubbed “Singing Wood” is likely to stay just that.
May 23 marked the one-year anniversary of the death of Harding resident, former Congressman and  conservation trailblazer Peter H. B. Frelinghuysen Jr.

Mr. Frelinghuysen called “Singing Wood” on Sand Spring Lane his home since 1948 and he stayed there until his death last year.

Through his will, Mr. Frelinghuysen bequeathed development rights on more than 90 acres to the Harding Land Trust for the purpose of open space preservation.

Harding Land Trust officials said the gift limits development on nearly two-thirds of the 150-acre Harding homestead and estimate the value of the donation to be worth $5 million.

 “Mr. Frelinghuysen made a final gift to the residents of Harding and the region by preserving some of the most valuable building areas on the property,” said Dave Shepperly, the Harding Land Trust board president.
Residents are invited to join the Harding Open Space Trust Committee for a presentation and discussion about the preservation plan for the Frelinghuysen property. It will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6, at the Harding Township Municipal Building on Blue Mill Road.

“Singing Wood,” according to the Land Trust, is one of the largest remaining private farm properties in the township.

Shepperly refers to the views of the property as a “homecoming” to those traveling down James Street into the township.

“It’s when you know you are really back in Harding.”

Local residents have long speculated about the future of the property. Not until now, however, have  Frelinghuysen’s plan for Singing Wood been fully revealed.

Frelinghuysen’s support for open space and conservation issues was not merely in the  political realm. He practiced it personally. In 1999, he conveyed to the Harding Land Trust 88 acres of open fields near James Street and Wexford Lane through a combination of donations, conservation easements, and bargain sales.
Most of Singing Wood will be permanently preserved as open space due to his foresight and generosity.

“The remaining tracts that comprise Singing Wood provide beautiful sweeping views over hayfields, bordered by forests and the streams that feed the Great Swamp”, said Tina Bologna, executive director of the Harding Land Trust.  “The property’s natural features are part of a complex of habitats that play an important role in the diversity of the region.”

In 2008, the  Planning Board approved a 13-lot subdivision on Singing Wood Farm.

Lot sizes in the subdivision range from three acres to more than 30 acres in size and each takes full advantage of the extensive views from the property, according to the Harding Land Trust.

“Mr. Frelinghuysen had a vision for the property that did not include the full build-out of all 13 lots,” said Dave Shepperly, the Harding Land Trust board president.

Harding Land Trust is working with the Frelinghuysen Estate to acquire several other important parcels of the property in order to link all of the ecologically critical areas into a contiguous preserve.

“When completed, some additional residential development will still be available; however, the remaining lots will be tucked away and surrounded by preserved natural areas.” said Bologna.

“This project is one of the more significant open space projects ever undertaken in Harding Township,” said Mr. Frelinghuysen’s daughter, Adaline Frelinghuysen.

“We hope the result will serve as a legacy to our father’s lifetime of dedication to serving the public interest”. 
Mr. Frelinghuysen Jr. , the father of Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen, represented Morris and Somerset counties in the United States House of Representatives from 1953 through 1974.

During his time in the House, his proudest achievement was blocking the Port Authority of New York nd New Jersey from building a fourth major airport in what is now the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
The federally protected Great Swamp is one of the most unspoiled wildlife refuges in the Northeast.

The Frelinghuysen family has a long history of giving, having donated lands which support some of Morris County’s most  cultural institutions.

Since 1963, Peter H. B. Frelinghuysen Sr.’s estate, “Twin Oaks,” has been the home of the Morris Museum, which is located on Normandy Heights Road in Morristown [Morris Township -ed.].

Today this architecturally significant Georgian-style mansion is the heart of the museum’s exhibition space. The family donated many of the surrounding acres to Morris Township for a municipal playground.
The land donations do not stop with Peter Frelinghuysen Jr.’s immediate family.

Frelinghuysen’s aunt, Matilda Frelinghuysen, is best remembered for establishing the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Plains [It's actually in Morris Township -ed.].  The Arboretum, with over 127 acres, was dedicated in 1971 and was bequeathed to the people of Morris County for public use.  It was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.  A portion of this property also became the site for the Morris County Library.

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.

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.

Almost 200 Acres Preserved in Morris County

This one is a two-fer. I was already planning on posting the 129-acre announcements, but this article, from the Daily Record, also notes a piece of preserved land on the Mendham-Chester border. Whoo hoo!

Two large swaths of land were preserved this week in deals that will add nearly 200 acres to public lands. Both deals — 129 acres bordering Rockaway and Boonton townships, and 46-acres bordering Chester and Mendham townships — were brokered by the Trust for Public Land and announced Wednesday.

More than 129 acres south of Decker Road in Rockaway and Boonton townships were preserved and will be managed by the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. The purchase extends the Johanson tract, a 62-acre property managed by the nonprofit land group that is adjacent to Wildcat Ridge Management Area.

About $1.2 million of the $1.74 million purchase price came from the Morris County open space trust fund.

The property supports critical water resources, including a tributary of the Stony Brook, a Rockaway River watershed stream and Dixon’s Pond, according to a prepared statement that said the pond will not be open to the public, but future trails will offer hikers lake views.

Michele S. Byers, executive director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, called it a “Highlands gem.”

“It contains valuable wetlands, as well as rocky outcrops with wonderful views of the water,” Byers said. “We are pleased to work with The Trust for Public Land, Morris County, and the state to permanently protect this beautiful wooded property and expand the area’s network of preserved lands.”

In Chester and Mendham townships, the 46-acre Shale Valley property consists of mature upland woodlands and wetlands that connect the Morris County-owned Mount Paul County Park and the Mendham Township-owned Burnett Brook Natural Area.

Funding for the $1,697,500 purchase was provided by a $1,188,250 grant from the Morris County Preservation Trust Fund.

The property was transferred to the Schiff Natural Lands Trust, which owns the nearby 423-acre Schiff Nature Preserve. The organization intends to conduct a large-scale ecological restoration on a portion of the property that was mined for shale. It is envisioned that the restoration would convert 9 acres of the former mining area into a functioning, emergent wetland and upland habitat.

“Preserving and restoring this critical link in the Schiff to Mount Paul Greenway is a key goal identified in our new strategic plan, as well as a natural extension of our community-based conservation efforts in this area over the last decade,” said Marissa Hartzler, executive director of the Schiff Natural Lands Trust.

Bravo. When something gets developed, it really can feel like that's the way it always will be. For much of our lifetimes, that is likely the case. Buying up flood-prone properties and returning them to their natural states is a very real way to keep preservation efforts going.

This originally appeared in The Star-Ledger.

Flood-weary Pequannock gives land back to the river

PEQUANNOCK — Pequannock is plagued by the Pompton River overflowing its banks almost every March. It is becoming as certain as spring, and the river flooded again last summer after Hurricane Irene.

But a project meant to protect homeowners from flooding is one step closer to completion. The fourth phase of the Pompton Riverwalk was finished last week, according to a statement from the Land Conservancy of New Jersey.

"This open space and flood mitigation project protects residents and provides flood storage, open space and public access to the Pompton River for future generations," a statement from the conservancy said.

The strategy is to buy the land near the river and return it to open space to try to slow the floodwaters.

The preservation has created a new community park, known as the Pompton Riverwalk.
"This program has also provided homeowners the opportunity to be removed from the floodway, which just recently had waters in excess of 10 feet high on the property," said Frank Spizzirri, chairman of the Pequannock open space advisory committee. "Irene was the worst in town since 1902 and worse than 1984, to say the least. The owners are very excited about the buyout and are searching for a new place in town to settle."

The fourth phase of the project preserved six properties: the Gidi property on North Pequannock Avenue, the Shudtz property on Riverside Drive, the Berkshire property on Harrison Road, the Hunt property on Riverside Drive, the Soldatenkov property on Pequannock Avenue and the Weir property on Pequannock Avenue.

Last November, Morris County freeholders approved the fifth and final phase of the project. Pequannock will receive $988,000 to buy the land portion of six properties totaling 1.2 acres.
"The first four phases of this project were funded with assistance from the county open-space program, and most of the properties in these phases are now preserved," Freeholder Ann Grossi said at the time. "This latest acquisition will fill in the gaps between existing preserved lands and further Pequannock’s goal of creating a linear park along the Pompton River."

Since its initial grant request, the township has received more than $1.8 million from Morris County and more than $1.7 million from the state’s Green Acres program for the Riverwalk project.

"The success of the Pompton Riverwalk project is the result of a well-planned strategy to convert these flood-prone residences to an interconnected park system along the river for the enjoyment of current and future township residents, and will also reduce the township’s emergency and cleanup costs following future major flooding in the area," said Gregory Collins of the Land Conservancy.

$27 Million Plan Unveiled to Preserve Greystone

From The Daily Record.


It's a neat area, already home to the new Central Park of Morris County. This, obviously, would become an extension of that. 

PARSIPPANY — The abandoned Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital and surrounding land will be preserved and turned into parkland, Gov. Chris Christie announced Thursday.

“This facility has been, unfortunately, an eyesore in this area, the way it’s been maintained and treated over time by the state,” Christie said at Central Park of Morris County, property that was once part of Greystone, a psychiatric facility shuttered in 2008.




Christie said the $27 million project preserving 165 acres would be financed in partnership with local governments, New Jersey Economic Development Authority bonds and open space funding.


While the state would own the site, the Morris County Park Commission would oversee it.
The governor said the first step will be to conduct an environmental assessment of the land before any remediation is done.


Christie noted the historic nature of Greystone, including the looming Kirkbride Building and said that building will be assessed to see if it has any income-generating uses.


Designed a few years after the Civil War by Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan, the former hospital is a French Renaissance Second Empire-style building that features marble pillars, a rotunda and a chapel. Upon its completion, it was christened in 1876 by President Ulysses S. Grant. The neo-Gothic building was the largest poured-concrete structure in the U.S. before the Pentagon was built. At one point, it housed as many as 5,000 patients.


The structure was turned over to the state Treasury Department after a new Greystone hospital opened in Parsippany in 2008 and the remaining patients — less than 500 — were transferred to the new facility.


Environmental assessment work is expected to be completed in 2012, while the demolition and remediation could occur in 2013.


Despite Christie’s pledge to tear down existing, vacant buildings, remediating the land and converting it to open space, Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, took aim at the plan.


“A day after revealing his plan to undermine public access to state parks through privatization, Governor Christie looked for green cover by announcing the grounds of Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Parsippany would be preserved as open space,” Tittel said in a statement. “Open space funding is down under Governor Christie and his administration has been implementing policies that weaken protections for our public lands and limit public access such as the DEP beach access rule.”


Christie was joined Thursday by Bob Martin, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection, and state Treasurer Andrew P. Sidamon-Eristoff.

Morris County to Spend $11.6 Million on Open Space in 11 Towns

Here is a good one, from The Daily Record:

Morris County will spend $11.6 million from the county’s Preservation Trust Fund to help preserve 1,286 acres of open space in 11 towns, with the largest amounts going to preserve land in Harding and Long Hill.

The money, which was approved by the county freeholders Wednesday and was based upon the recommendations of the county’s Open Space Trust Fund Committee, will go toward 12 projects that are located in 11 towns, according to a prepared statement from the county.


The largest grant award, $2,880,000, will go to the nonprofit Harding Land Trust for nearly 70 acres of property in Harding known as Primrose, said Freeholder Ann Grossi, liaison to the Preservation Trust.




“This property contains wetlands, important watershed lands adjacent to both Primrose Brook and the Passaic River and endangered species habitat,” Grossi said. According to the Harding Land Trust, the property will be managed to maintain and enhance wildlife habitat and water quality and to provide opportunities for passive recreation, including hiking.



A grant totaling $2.3 million was awarded to Long Hill to acquire 71.4 acres of property at the northwest intersection of Morristown and Valley roads. Known as Central Park, the township plans to maintain nature trails, picnic areas, and walking and bicycle trails throughout the tract, with portions of the property also being used for active recreational fields, the statement said.


One of the smallest projects approved by the freeholders was the fifth phase of the Pompton Riverwalk in Pequannock, the statement said.


The township will receive a $988,000 grant to purchase the land portion of six properties totaling 1.2 acres on the Pompton River as a continuation of a long-term project to recover riparian buffers and flood mitigation along the river.


“The first four phases of this project were funded with assistance from the county open space program, and most of the properties in these phases are now preserved,” Grossi said. “This latest acquisition will fill in the gaps between existing preserved lands, and further Pequannock’s goal of creating a linear park along the Pompton River.”

Read more --->

Two Separate Washington Twp (Morris Cty) Farmland Purchases!

From December. Here's one, and, here's another!

Jack Borgenicht, an eccentric millionaire, was known in Morris County for his philanthropic and preservation efforts.

The late local legend helped spur the success of Morris County’s fledgling preservation program 15 years ago. Now state, county and local officials think it’s a fitting tribute to purchase and preserve 228 acres of his Long Valley estate.

Five years after his death at 93, the New Jersey Conservation Foundation and its partners, including the Morris County Open Space Trust Fund, bought the property for $2.8 million. Over the years, Borgenicht amassed three Rolls-Royces, four wives, 10 children, thousands of acres and a garment-industry fortune. He also helped start the area’s first brew pub.

"By preserving Jack’s property, Morris County and its financing partners are also preserving the legacy of a remarkable man," Freeholder Jack Schrier said.

The conservation foundation, a private nonprofit organization, owns an 80 percent stake in the property and will be responsible for its management. The New Jersey Water Supply Authority owns 20 percent.
The county open-space trust contributed $1.7 million toward the purchase, the water supply authority $560,000, the Washington Township Land Trust $400,000 and the conservation foundation $80,000.
"We’re so glad that New Jersey Conservation Foundation bought it," Fran Borgenicht, Jack’s widow, said in a statement.

***

Add Trinity Farm to the growing list of properties that have been preserved in Morris County.
The county’s Agriculture Development Board announced Friday that it had purchased the 23-acre parcel for $303,790, paid for by the county’s preservation trust fund.

Trinity Farm, on North Four Bridges Road in Washington Township, is an equine operation that trains and rehabilitates horses.

“It’s going to be able to sustain itself,” said Bill Roehrich, township committeeman and liaison to the development board. “That’s what made it immediately attractive.”

The Hickey family, who own and operate the farm, plan to expand their operation and include horse breeding as well, said Jennifer McCulloch, assistant director of the development board.
“We always like it when we see the landowner is the farmer,” she said.

The farm also has more than 12 acres dedicated to hay production and permanent pastures. Trinity is just east of the Borgenicht property, which was preserved earlier this month.

The Hickey family has owned the property since 2001. They retain ownership and may choose to sell, provided there is a deed restriction ensuring the land will not undergo non-farm development. Any type of agriculture development is permitted.

Trinity Farm is the 113th farm to be permanently preserved in Morris County, bringing the total area for preserved farmland in the county to 7,156 acres or 11.8 square miles, according to figures on the development board’s website. More than half of that total is in Washington Township.

“Keeping open space is one of the great things about our town,” Roehrich said. “People like that way of life.”

Preserved land catch-up! Where have you been??

Please forgive me! Since Morristown Patch has started, my life has been consumed by everything Morristown. Now, finally, things are starting to settle down and I am going to try and catch myself up on some of the great preservation projects that have happened since mid-July. Wish me luck!

Medford, Shamong farmland to be preserved

By Carol Comegno, from Courier Post, Sept. 9, 2010

(There was no photo with the story, so I have included one of Lake Atsion, in Shamong)

MOUNT HOLLY — Burlington County and the state are preserving another 1,211 acres of farmland in the Pinelands in Medford and Shamong.

The Burlington County Board of Freeholders unanimously approved the expenditure of more than $1 million Wednesday night to secure property easements on two farms that will preserve them by banning any development but agriculture.

The county is purchasing those rights for 702 acres of the Brick Farm on Jackson Road in Medford for $666,198 at $949 per acre. The state is preserving the other 400 acres by purchasing the land outright through its Green Acres program.

The Pinelands Commission is giving the county a $115,000 grant to help buy the rights to the Brick Farm, which is in cranberry and blueberry production. The farm is also in a special agricultural production area within the preservation area of the Pinelands rather than in a Pinelands development area.

The county is also expecting a reimbursement from the state Green Acres program for up to 60 percent of its share of the cost.

"These are unique acquisitions in a unique area of Burlington County," Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio said. "These are working farms that contribute not only to the county's agricultural industry but also to our Pinelands heritage."

The listed owner is Brick Enterprises. Bob Brick, owner of Medford Concrete Co. and a family member and a principal in Brick Enterprises, said his family has farmed the ground and wants to keep it in farming. "This seems to be a good way to do that. I think the county program has been pretty successful," he added.

Larry Hajna, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said the state will not disclose the price it will pay for approximately 400 acres until the pending sale contract is signed. He said the department is hoping that will occur in the next two months.

"Pinelands regulations are zoning regulations that provide a good level of protection but not permanent protection," Hajna said.

"Moreover, the acquisition will be added to the Wharton State Forest, the largest state forest in New Jerseywith more than 100,000 acres."

To pay the easement cost, the county is using property taxes from its special trust account for open space, farmland and historic preservation that is financed by a four-cent property tax approved by county voters.

The other farm being preserved by the county, at a cost of $453,658 for 109 acres, is the Abrams Farm at Route 620 and Old Schoolhouse Road in Shamong at $4,162 per acre. Pearl Abrams, owner of the vegetable farm, was unavailable for comment.

These two farms boost the number of farmland acres preserved throughout the county to close to 30,000. The county goal is 40,000 acres.

Reach Carol Comegno at (856) 486-2473 or ccomegno@courierpostonline.com.

***

Maple Lane Farm in Hillsborough Preserved

D&R Greenway Land Trust press release (drgreenway.org)

Maple Lane Farm on Township Line Rd., Hillsborough,was poised for development. With its 57 acres located just east of Route 206 in the desirable community of Hillsborough, the property could have become yet another suburban subdivision.

The family who had owned the land for many years wanted to see the property remain a farm.  They sought a solution that would meet their financial needs while providing for the permanent protection of the land.   The landowners were friends of D&R Greenway Trustee, Rosemary Blair.  When she found out the family wanted to preserve their farm, Mrs. Blair called D&R Greenway's Director of Land Preservation, Bill Rawlyk, to see if an answer could be found.

 

According to Mr. Rawlyk, "The majority of the property is agricultural land with hedgerows and forested buffer along Pikes Run.  The NJDEP Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) has documented bobolink nesting on the field and meadowlarks have been observed.  In the forested areas the ENSP had documented great blue heron.  The bobolink is classified as a threatened species and the meadowlark and great blue heron are classified as a species of concern in New Jersey.  Declining populations are due, in part, to lack of adequate breeding habitat.  "Having the ability to preserve New Jersey's farming heritage and creating synergy with habitat protection made this a great project."

 

"Having the ability to preserve New Jersey's farming heritage and creating synergy with habitat protection made this a great project."   Bill Rawlyk, Director of Land Preservation at D&R Greenway

The property provides for aquifer recharge and stream corridor and wetlands protection, as well as habitat for woodland species.  In addition, the property contributes to an assemblage of 600 acres of preserved farmland.

Working closely with the family, D&R Greenway developed a three-part strategy to finance the preservation of the land while, at the same time, serving the best interests of the public. 

 

Step one was for D&R Greenway to apply, on behalf of the family, to the Somerset County Farmland Preservation Program. Somerset County purchased an agricultural easement on the property for $1,096,699 with grants from three sources: the New Jersey State Agriculture Development Committee; a federal grant from the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP) - administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - that was  contributed by the New Jersey Conservation Foundation; and county preservation funds.  As preservedfarmland, Maple Lane Farm will continue to provide a hay crop, and continue to contribute to the local agricultural economy.
"The Somerset County Agriculture Development Board and Board of Freeholders have funded the preservation of over 8,000 acres since the inception of the Somerset County Farmland Preservation Program, with the largest portion in Hillsborough Township," said Somerset County Freeholder Peter S. Palmer, the program's liaison. "We are very happy that we were able to take advantage of federal funding through a partnership with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation for the preservation of the Maple Lane Farm. This farm will be a proud addition to our inventory of preserved farmland in Somerset County." 
Step two was for D&R Greenway to purchase the now deed-restricted Maple Lane Farm and farm the land in a manner that will also enhance and sustain grassland bird habitat.  A $199,500 Raritan Piedmont Wildlife Habitat Partnership (RPWHP) grant from Conservation Resources, Inc. allowed for the acquisition.   Conservation Resources Inc. (CRI) is a non-profit organization providing financial and technical services to the conservation community in New Jersey.  Funding for the grant was provided to CRI by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
"Maple Lane Farm is one of the priority tracts identified in the RPWHP Grassland Conservation Plan," said Anne Heasly, Vice President of CRI, who also serves as the RPWHP Coordinator. "Preservation of this critical habitat will help ensure that grassland birds will remain a part of the natural heritage of the Central Piedmont area of New Jersey," she explained. 

Step three will be for D&R Greenway to showcase Maple Lane Farm as a model for the agricultural and conservation communities. The property will serve as a demonstration site showing how farmland and wildlife management can complement each other.
D&R Greenway's Executive Director Linda Mead observed "Given limited funding resources and a tremendous need to preserve New Jersey's remaining undeveloped lands, projects like Maple Lane Farm are extremely valuable.  We see this dynamic in our work in Salem County - where preserving economically-significant farmland also provides protection for an internationally-significant waterfowl habitat known as Mannington Meadows - and on our
St. Michaels Farm Preserve in Hopewell - where productive farmland and adjacent natural land complement each other.  Projects like these are win-win; the preservation of both agricultural and conservation lands doubles the benefit to the community."
Madelyn Berger Belliveau, the family member who worked with D&R Greenway to save Maple Lane Farm attests, "The family of John Van Dyke and Blanche Mertz Berger are proud that Maple Lane Farm will remain undeveloped.  We would like to extend our thanks to Rosemary Blair and special thanks to Bill Rawlyk of D&R Greenway for making this preservation possible."

***

106-acre Farm in Franklin Township, Warren County, Preserved (The Land Conservancy of New Jersey)

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is pleased to announce that the Santini Trust Farm in Franklin Township, Warren County has been permanently preserved. This 106-acre farm is owned by the Clara S. Santini and the Santino J. Santini Testament Trust (“Santini Trust”) and has been protected through the purchase of an agricultural easement ensuring the land remains farmland in perpetuity.

Negotiated by The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, this property was preserved using funds provided by Franklin Township’s local Open Space Trust Fund, with matching grants from the Warren County Agricultural Development Board, State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), and the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service through the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program.

This farm was targeted as a priority under Franklin Township’s Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plan, written by the Conservancy and the Township. The farm is located within one of the Plan’s main project areas, the Pohatcong Valley West Project Area. The Plan allowed the Township to qualify for grant funds provided by the State Agriculture Development Committee through the municipal farmland Planning Incentive grant program. This is an important funding source for municipalities throughout New Jersey for farmland preservation. Preserving this farm helps retain the rural, agrarian beauty and economy of the area, as well as protect the Santini family’s interest in farming.

Approximately seventy percent of the farm contains prime farmland soils needed to produce a high yield of crops. A tributary of the Pohatcong Creek bisects the property and preservation of the farm will help ensure protection of this stream and its watershed.

“The preservation of this farm insures permanent protection for prime farmland in a region with a long and productive history of agricultural activity," said Bob Canace, Land Preservation Specialist with The Land Conservancy of New Jersey. "Preservation of this fertile farmland greatly advances Franklin Township and Warren County’s commitment to protecting its best farmland for future generations. The acquisition is a prime example of how towns, counties, the state, and the federal government can pool resources to protect important farmland before it succumbs to development.”

The Conservancy would like to recognize the efforts of Stefanie Miller of the SADC, for helping Franklin Township obtain the federal funding and coordinating the property’s closing with Warren County. Katrina Campbell, the County’s attorney, also worked extremely hard to ensure the farm closed by the end of the State’s fiscal year. Thanks to them and the Township of Franklin, their commitment to farmland preservation ensured this project was a success.

***

Old Bridge will finally get its Cottrell Farm

County, state help town come up with $10.6 million for orchard, adjacent tract

BY LAUREN CIRAULO Staff Writer

A five-year mission to preserve 63 acres of land in the center of Old Bridge will soon be accomplished, thanks to financial assistance from several parties.
In a joint effort by Old Bridge, Middlesex County, the state of New Jersey and the NY/NJ Baykeeper, the township will purchase the 27 acres that were formerly home to the Cottrell Farm, and an adjacent 36 acres known as Whitney Estates. The two tracts, at Route 516 and Cottrell Road, will be acquired for $10.6 million and preserved as open space.

“This certainly needed to be a combined effort to acquire these properties,” Mayor Jim Phillips said. “But everyone stepped up to the plate and wholeheartedly agreed that this land needed to be preserved.”

Phillips said that while the acquisition has proved to be a long and difficult process, it was necessary in order to prevent extensive development on the two tracts.

In 2003, Old Bridge granted Gerald Cernero, owner of the Wall Townshipbased development firm Jerald Development Corp., a 10-year general development plan (GDP) approval for Carriage House Crossing, which called for the construction of a 120,725-square-foot retail and office space, 83 age-restricted townhouse units, and 129 second-floor apartments on the property.

The Planning Board rejected Cernero’s plan in December 2008 “without prejudice,” meaning that the developer could ask for an interpretation from the Zoning Board of Adjustment, an opportunity the builder chose to pursue. After several rounds of testimony, zoning board members voted Jan. 7 that certain aspects of the plan were not permitted under township ordinances, and therefore the applicant would need to seek a use variance.

However, the new application never materialized, and the township finally succeeded in purchasing both properties from Cernero five years after municipal officials began working on the acquisition.

“It was too many potatoes in too small of a bag,” Phillips said in reference to the developer’s plan. “It wasn’t going to happen. This economic climate does not lend itself to his project.”

The recent economic turmoil did not help the township’s position either, Phillips said, but Old Bridge was fortunate to have several supporters.

For the impending purchase, Old Bridge will contribute $2.4 million from its open space trust fund, which has been accumulated through the township’s open space tax over the past 10 years. NY/NJ Baykeeper will spend $200,000, and the state Green Acres program has pledged $1.6 million. But the largest portion will come from the Middlesex County Open Space Acquisitions Fund — a $6.36 million contribution.


“This could not have happened without the technical expertise and due diligence of the county, not to mention their generous contribution,” Phillips said. “They provided the financial resources that really made this work.”

Jerald Development will be required to fix some environmental issues on the property before the properties are officially handed over, the mayor said. He noted that minor asbestos and mold in some of the tracts’ buildings will be remediated, as well as arsenic residue in the orchard.


Maintaining the farm?

As for the future of the properties, Phillips said he would like the township to get back to its agricultural roots by restoring the orchards and opening them to the public as a “pickyour own operation.” He also mentioned the possibility of holding the Old Bridge Farmers Market on the land, as well as opening a pumpkin patch or petting zoo.

“The township purchased the Lambertson Farm, and we put the land to good use,” Phillips said. That land was slated for a municipal golf course but has remained a farm as the township leases it to a local farmer.

The mayor also noted that he would extend an offer to Herbert Cottrell, whose family has farmed the land for generations, to stay on the property and run the farm.

“He’s done a remarkable service for the people of Old Bridge,” Phillips said of Cottrell. “I hope he will continue to stay.”

Though the purchase has not been finalized, Phillips said he feels a sense of accomplishment in acquiring the land and preventing the development.

“I love pizza, but I think I’d rather look at apple trees and a historical carriage house, barn and farmhouse than look at a pizza parlor or a nail salon or another housing development,” Phillips said. “It’s personally gratifying for me — I never saw the wisdom in his plan. But I won’t be truly satisfied until those orchards are open to the public.”

***

40 acres preserved in Bethlehem Twp., next to Tower Hill, Jugtown reserves

The Hunterdon County Democrat

BETHLEHEM TWP. — Some 40 acres of forest and wetlands here have been preserved by the Hunterdon Land Trust, the New Jersey Audubon Society, the township and the New Jersey Water Supply Authority for a total cost of $285,000.

Nestled between land already preserved by the authority and Tower Hill and Jugtown reserves, owned by Hunterdon County, the newly preserved property fulfills many important environmental goals.

“One of our goals at the Hunterdon Land Trust is to preserve continuous expanses of land” said Margaret Waldock, the organization’s executive director. “This property was surrounded on three sides by protected land, which increases the positive impact its preservation will have on our county’s water quality, recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat and rural character and made it an ideal property for preservation.”

The land is on the south side of Mine Road near Mountain View Road. It’s home to a wealth of wildlife and wildflowers. A variety of birds live in the forest, and the seasonal pools and streams provide breeding habitat for wood frogs, salamanders and the eastern box turtle.

Mulhockaway Creek, part of the Upper Raritan Watershed, crosses the land and runs into Spruce Run Reservoir. “The preservation of this property is important to maintaining the water quality” of the reservoir, said Henry Patterson, executive director, NJWSA. The authority’s water customers fund its contributions through their payments.

New Jersey Audubon Society felt this was an important project given the property’s proximity to existing preserved land, the potential for recreation including the connection of existing trails to Hunterdon County parks, bird watching and nature study as well as its potential to provide habitat for birds and forested wildlife.

The Audubon Society put in $57,000 it received from the Hunterdon County Open Space Trust Fund. Bethlehem Township contributed $85,500, using $71,250 from the state Green Acres program and the balance from their County Open Space trust funds. NJWSA paid $142,500.00, or 50% of the purchase price.

The Hunterdon Land Trust brought together the coalition of partners that worked together to fund the preservation of the property is temporarily managing it.
According to Waldock, “we’ll continue to talk with the county to see if the management of this land can be integrated into work the Department of Parks and Recreation is already doing on the adjacent Jugtown and Tower Hill reserves.”

In the meantime, the Land Trust worked with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference to create a link to the Highlands Trail, a “rugged footpath” uniting the Highlands region of New York and New Jersey.

The property can be accessed through the Jugtown or Tower Hill Reserve along the Highland Trail, which is marked with teal, diamond-shaped blazes.

***

242 Acres of Farmland Preserved in Warren County

New Jersey Conservation Foundation

WARREN COUNTY – In a “triple play” of farmland preservation, three Warren County farms totaling 242 acres have been preserved by a partnership between the county, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, the State Agriculture Development Committee, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Warren County purchased the development rights on three farms, meaning they will remain in agriculture forever. They are:

• The 108-acre Prant farm in Allamuchy Township, which includes pastures, hay and crop fields, and woodlands along the Pequest River. It is surrounded by Allamuchy State Park and hundreds of acres of preserved farmland;

• The 56-acre Schuster farm in Greenwich Township, located near the Musconetcong River and consisting mostly of corn fields. It is located a short distance from the state’s Musconetcong Wildlife Management Area;

• The 78-acre Demeter farm on Scott’s Mountain in White Township, rolling farmland with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, including nearby preserved farmland and open space.

Funded by Partnership

All three easements were purchased using a combination of Warren County farmland preservation funds, a portion of New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s federal Farm and Ranch Lands Preservation Program (FRPP) grant, and state farmland preservation funding through the Planning Incentive Grant program.

“We’re very pleased to help Warren County preserve these three farms, and help maintain the county’s rural and agricultural character,” said Michele S. Byers, executive director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

“The preservation of these farms underscores the important role that partnerships play in reaching New Jersey’s farmland preservation goals,” said Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher, chair of the State Agriculture Development Committee that administers the state Farmland Preservation Program. “I want to particularly commend Warren County for maintaining its financial commitment to farmland and open space preservation, and ensuring that the County remains a strong funding partner during these challenging fiscal times.”

Robert Resker, head of Warren County’s land preservation program, said he is grateful to New Jersey Conservation Foundation for its readiness to commit part of its annual Farm and Ranch Lands Preservation Program grant to Warren County.

“The county saved about $300,000, a pretty significant amount” that otherwise would have been taken from its farmland preservation fund, Resker said. “It was very much appreciated and very helpful.”

The Prant farm easement cost $538,620, the Schuster farm easement cost $330,513, and the Demeter farm easement cost $668,388.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation is a private nonprofit whose mission is to preserve land and natural resources throughout New Jersey for the benefit of all. Since 1960, the Foundation has protected more than 120,000 acres, or 187 square miles. For more information on programs and preserves, visit www.njconservation.org or call 1-888-LAND-SAVE (1-888-526-3728).

***

48 Acres Preserved for Open Space in Montville

Daily Record

MONTVILLE — The township, with assistance from the Land Conservancy of New Jersey, has preserved 48 acres of land owned by Robin Starkey for a new park to be named Starkey Park, according to Barbara McCloskey of the conservancy.

The property, located on the corner of River Road and Millers Lane, is one of only a few undeveloped properties remaining in the township and will be part of the Montville Greenway, offering recreational opportunities to residents, said McCloskey, who is the conservancy's membership program manager.

It will be used for hiking, picnicking, cross-country skiing and bird watching. The township also is considering adding fields in the future for sports.

This is the 16th property the township has preserved in partnership with The Land Conservancy, for a total of 567 acres since 1999.

The conservancy is an accredited land trust dedicated to preserving and protecting New Jersey's vital natural lands and water resources. The Conservancy has preserved more than 16,500 acres of land and helped towns receive $192 million in grants to purchase and protect land throughout New Jersey.

The Conservancy has worked with more than 76 municipalities in 13 counties, impacting over half of New Jersey's counties and benefiting millions of residents throughout the state.