122 Acres Preserved in Frelinghuysen Twp., Warren County

(Originally posted in the Warren Reporter)

The Township of Frelinghuysen and The Land Conservancy of New Jersey are pleased to announce the recent preservation of the 122 acre Linz Farm in Frelinghuysen.

“The Township of Frelinghuysen is please to add another valuable piece of farmland to its preservation effort,” stated Charlie Schaffer, Chairman of the Frelinghuysen Township Farmland Preservation Committee.

Prior to the preservation of the Linz Farm there were 1,659 acres of permanently preserved farmland in Frelinghuysen Township and with the addition of the Linz Farm, there are now 1,780 acres, ensuring a permanent agricultural legacy in the Township.

“Frelinghuysen Township deserves credit for spearheading this project,” explained Corey Tierney, Director of the Warren County Department of Land Preservation. “Mayor Charles and the Township Committee, Chairman Schaffer and the Farmland Preservation Committee, and Gail McDonald from The Land Conservancy of New Jersey all deserve special thanks for their hard work and commitment to preserving farmland. This is an investment in the future. Farmland preservation helps keep agriculture viable for generations to come and ensures that we’ll always have access to locally grown produce and products. We’re happy to see Frelinghuysen Township taking advantage of this great program. By teaming up on this project, the county and municipality each paid less than 15% towards the total purchase price. Working together, we were able to leverage our combined investment in farmland preservation and secure state funding for the 70% balance. We are immensely grateful to the State Agriculture Development Committee for its substantial contributions to this and other preserved farms throughout Warren County.”

“The Land Conservancy of New Jersey appreciates the landowner’s commitment to preservation and the Township and County’s proactive approach to farmland preservation,” stated Gail McDonald, Land Preservation Specialist with The Land Conservancy. “Each partner plays a significant role in the preservation of each farm, and The Land Conservancy is pleased to have been able to assist in preserving this beautiful farm in perpetuity.”
The Linz Farm has been a family farm for three generations. This farm consists mostly of gently rolling open farmland with moderately sloped woodland areas in the easterly portion of the tract and small areas of steep slopes. There is a small stream that flows through the center of the property. The land is currently farmed for hay. In the past, the farm was one of the best working dairies in the area. Corn and other grain crops have also been grown on the farm.

“Since some of that region is already protected, this will provide a wider buffer of protection, while still maintaining viable farmland,” said Freeholder Richard D. Gardner, who is liaison to the Warren County Agriculture Development Board. “As properties become available, the county is pleased to participate in protecting them,” Gardner said. “The open space we have, we owe much to the diligence of the state working hand-in-hand with the county and municipalities,” he said.

Founded in 1981, The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is a member supported non-profit land trust dedicated to preserving and protecting our vital natural lands and water resources. We are working to inspire and empower individuals and communities to take action to preserve land and protect the environment in New Jersey. The Conservancy has preserved more than 20,000 acres of land and helped towns secure $220 million in county, state, and federal grants for their land conservation projects. We have worked in 89 municipalities in 13 counties benefiting millions of people who live, work, or visit our state. Accredited by the National Land Trust Accreditation Commission in 2009, The Conservancy joins 181 organizations nationwide recognized for meeting the highest quality standards for protecting open space, upholding the public trust, and ensuring that our conservation efforts are permanent.

For more information, to volunteer or make a donation, call (973) 541-1010, or visit our website at tlc-nj.org.

36 Acres Preserved in Harmony Township, Warren County

With a name like "Harmony," you know it has to be good. 
This post originally appeared on Warren Reporter.

Recently preserved land in Warren County connects local hiking trails

J. Scott Morrison was a man who appreciated the outdoors, having owned a farm in Hunterdon County after growing up in the rolling hills of Virginia.

After Morrison’s death earlier this year at the age of 76, there was never a question in his three children’s minds that a wooded 36-acre parcel he owned in Harmony Township should be preserved.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation purchased the Morrison property on Oct. 12, expanding a green belt of preserved land and allowing for local hiking trail connections.

“I think my father would be proud of the choice we made,” said daughter Cindy Morrison of Sarasota, Fla. “He always appreciated beautiful land. I’m glad it’s going to be preserved.”

Using grants from Warren County and the state Green Acres program, New Jersey Conservation Foundation purchased the property on Scotts Mountain, between Harmony Brass Castle and Fiddler’s Elbow roads, for $177,500.

The Morrison family sold the property at a “bargain sale” price, or below market value. “It’s what we all wanted to do,” said Cindy Morrison. “It’s a good thing to do.”

The property, which has an existing unpaved lane, is now open to the general public for passive recreational activities like hiking and bird watching.

The property will be linked with a hiking trail on an adjacent New Jersey Conservation Foundation property connecting to the Merrill Creek Reservoir trail system. Nearby are nearly 500 acres of preserved state lands, known as the Warren County Trail State Park.

“The Green Acres Program is happy to have assisted the New Jersey Conservation Foundation in completing this important acquisition,” said Martha Sapp, acting administrator of the Green Acres program. “We continue to work with our partners to protect the streams and natural areas near Scott’s Mountain, the Merrill Creek Reservoir, and throughout the Highlands.”

“Partnering with the New Jersey Conservation Foundation has been very beneficial to the public in term of our recreational directives in the county,” said Warren County Freeholder Richard D. Gardner, liaison to the county’s Municipal and Charitable Conservancies Trust Fund Committee.

“By partnering with New Jersey Conservation Foundation on this project, the County was able to leverage its investment in open space and contribute only a fraction towards the cost of permanently preserving this property,” added Corey J. Tierney, administrator of the Warren County Department of Land Preservation. “Not only do they deserve special thanks for all of their hard work on this project, but for their continuing commitment to preserving natural lands throughout Warren County.”

Preservation of the property protects local water quality and flood control efforts. The pristine Lopatcong Creek flows through it, ultimately making its way into the Delaware River. A small pond on the upper reaches of the Lopatcong Creek helps trap sediment from the top of the mountain.

The land contains a healthy forest with a diverse array of plant and animal species and is known as home to many endangered species, including barred owl, bobcat and red-shouldered hawk.

For more information about New Jersey Conservation Foundation and its programs and preserves, visit njconservation.org or call 1-888-LANDSAVE (1-888-526-3728).

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.

160 Acres Preserved in Frelinghuysen Twp, Warren County

Shots like this make me pine for mid-late spring. It'll be here soon enough!


Article originally appeared on NJ.com:

FRELINGHUYSEN TWP. — The township, the state Department of Environmental Protection and The Land Conservancy of New Jersey announce the preservation of over 160 acres of forested land in the heart of the municipality.


A priority of the township’s Open Space Committee and governing body, the purchase and preservation of the properties straddling Route 94 and Lincoln Laurel Road will permanently protect the forest and create an opportunity for trails and hiking in the municipality.
A joint project of the township, county and state, this project was successfully negotiated and brought to a close through the work and effort of The Land Conservancy of New Jersey, in partnership with the township.

“The preservation of this undisturbed habitat will allow us to enjoy the continued existence of native species at their best,” states Robin Randolph, chair of Frelinghuysen Township’s Open Space Committee. She continues, “Frelinghuysen Township is grateful to the Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders and New Jersey Green Acres for their generous support of this project. Without them, this preservation effort would not have been possible.”

“Once slated for development, the Frelinghuysen Forest Preserve is a wonderful piece of property and Warren County is thrilled that we could help permanently protect it,” explains Corey J. Tierney on behalf of the Warren County Department of Land Preservation. “Not only is the 160 acre Preserve easily accessible, but it boasts a beautiful forest with small streams and an existing network of trails leading back to a picturesque pond. The property will be managed by the Township using local volunteers. This will be a tremendous open space resource for all Warren County’s residents. It is great to see municipalities, like Frelinghuysen Township, taking ownership of these critical natural areas.”

Corey continued, “It takes a lot of hard work by many different people to bring these projects together. We worked closely with the Frelinghuysen Township Open Space Committee and The Land Conservancy of New Jersey who coordinated this acquisition with grants obtained from Green Acres and Warren County’s Municipal and Charitable Conservancy Trust Fund. The County’s participation, of course, was made possible by our Chosen Board of Freeholders, who deserves special thanks for continuing to support local open space preservation.”

The Frelinghuysen Forest Preserve is comprised of two properties owned by relatives who sold the properties together for preservation. This Preserve will offer hiking trails, bird watching platforms, and will be a classroom in nature for recreational hikers, school children and scout groups. This Preserve is large enough to host a large trails network Habitat for sensitive species, springs, seeps and headwater streams make these properties valuable for natural resource protection. The Preserve can be easily accessed from existing driveways on Route 94 and Lincoln Laurel Road.

88 Acres Preserved in Warren County

FRANKLIN TWP. — An 88-acre township farm is adding to the more than 20,000 acres of farmland preserved in Warren County.

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey recently announced that the Santini Farm has been preserved. Owned by Santino and Clara Santini, this farm is “part of a rich agricultural farm-belt near Warren County’s southern border with Hunterdon County,” states a release from Land Conservancy of New Jersey. “The Santini Farm is located within the Pohatcong Ridge Project Area identified in the township’s Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plan completed by Township and The Land Conservancy of New Jersey in 2008. By preserving this farm, the rural character of the area will be maintained and protected.”

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey and Warren County Freeholders purchased the development rights of the property. The Land Conservancy’s funding for this project came from the Garden State Preservation Trust via the State Agricultural Development Committee (SADC) non-profit grant program. These funds were matched by Warren County for a total purchase price of $564,768. Warren County’s contribution was approved by the County Agricultural Development Board.

This acquisition is the latest in a series of closings that The Land Conservancy has completed in Warren County. The Conservancy has spent over $1 million in helping to preserve six different farms in Warren County since 2005. “The Land Conservancy is delighted to continue our partnership with the Freeholder Board to preserve critical farms that preserve an important but threatened way of life in Warren County,” said conservancy President David Epstein. “We thank the Township of Franklin, the Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the State Agriculture Development Committee for their contributions and interest in preserving this beautiful land.”

The Land Conservancy of New Jersey is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a non profit member supported organization dedicated to preserving and protecting New Jersey’s vital natural lands and drinking water resources. To date, the conservancy has helped preserve over 17,600 acres of open space lands and helped towns receive more than $210 million for their land conservation projects.

200 acres in Warren County preserved to protect the endangered bog turtle (4/17/10)

200 acres in Warren County preserved to protect the endangered bog turtle

Friday, April 16, 2010

THE RECORD

New Jersey's Green Acres program has received $300,000 in federal money to purchase 200 environmentally sensitive acres in Warren County to help protect the endangered bog turtle, Sen. Frank Lautenberg's office announced this week.

The land in Frelinghuysen Township is the current site of the Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center and abuts 800 acres of permanently protected habitat.

The bog turtle, on New Jersey's endangered list and on the federal threatened list, is a tiny dark turtle with a distinct orange patch on either side of the head. It is among the smallest and most secretive of North America's turtles, measuring about 3 inches long. They live in limestone fens, bogs and wet, grassy pastures.

The New Jersey Natural Lands Trust will manage the property, said Tom Wells, director of government relations with the Nature Conservancy's New Jersey chapter.

The money came out of the federal Interior Department's Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, part of a multistate effort to protect the habitat of threatened and endangered species.

"Keeping natural habitats pristine and undisturbed is important for the wildlife and the people of New Jersey," Lautenberg said in a statement. "The bog turtle is a key part of our ecosystem and must be protected."

— James M. O'Neill