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Archive for the 'completed projects' Category
Tags: stony brook millstone watershed association, wma 10 (millstone)
Posted in biological diversity, completed projects, franklin parker small grants program, land preservation project, projects funded by conservation resources, recreation & aethestics, water protection, filtration, & control
In 2010, CRI awarded this project $3000 through its Franklin Parker Small Grant program.
The 68.84 acre Thompson property is of critical importance to the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed and its surrounding region. It was purchased in July 2011 by the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association (SBMWA) through the state Green Acres program, in partnership with Mercer County and Hopewell Township, with support from CRI. The tract now connects the Association’s formerly separate units into 930 contiguous acres. In addition to important habitat and resource protection, securing this land is also critical for completing an uninterrupted hiking trail between Hopewell Borough and Kunkel Park in Pennington.
Honey Brook, a tributary to the Category One waters of the Stony Brook, bisects the property. Approximately one third of the tract includes associated wetlands and habitat. Honey Brook is also the feeder stream to a 4.5 acre pond, so the protection of this area is crucial from a habitat management standpoint.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Water Protection, Filtration, and Control: Water quality and quantity- protection of wetland habitat, groundwater recharge areas
Biological Diversity: Habitat- management of wetlands habitat
Recreation and Aesthetics: Public access- hiking trails
Total Project Cost: About $1.5 million
Status: Purchase was completed July 2011.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
Tags: franklin parker small grants program, new jersey audubon society
Posted in biological diversity, completed projects, ecological restoration project, franklin parker small grants program, projects funded by conservation resources, recreation & aethestics, water protection, filtration, & control
In 2010, CRI awarded this project $3500 through its Franklin Parker Small Grant program.
In 2010, the New Jersey Audubon Society (NJAS) was awarded a Franklin Parker Small Grant to assist in the construction of a 2-acre wetland at the Elvin W. Georges Grassland Preserve. The preserve is a 71-acre parcel that, in addition to wetland enhancement, is being planted in native warm season grasses. Wetland construction began in late July 2011 and was completed by October. By late November the wetland was already showing the transformation from a seep with non-native invasive vegetation to the beginnings of a functional wetland. Insects, frogs and some birds began using the wetland nearly immediately.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Water protection, Filtration, and Control: Water quality and quantity- protection and expansion of wetlands
Biological Diversity: Habitat- extend habitat for amphibians and migrating wetland birds; increase diversity of habitats on preserve
Recreation and Aesthetics: Public access- hiking trails; wildlife viewing
Total Project Cost: $16,300
Status: The wetland is complete. This wetland restoration project was partially funded by NRCS and was designed by NRCS engineers. The New Jersey Audubon Society (NJAS) obtained a WHIP grant that provided about $10,000 towards construction costs. Additional funding sources for the wetland included a NRCS WHIP grant and NJAS.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
Tags: conserve wildlife foundation
Posted in biological diversity, climate stabilization and/or air pollution mitigation project, completed projects, ecological restoration project, projects funded by conservation resources, water protection, filtration, & control
In 2010, CRI awarded the Conserve Wildlife Foundation $20,000.00 through its RPWHP Grant program. This grant covered 50% of the costs of the afforestation of 7.6 acres along the northern face of the Sourland Mountain at Otto’s Farm Park.
Otto’s Farm Park sits on the northern edge of the regionally significant Sourlands. Contiguous forest blocks are known habitat for the state threatened Barred owl and other declining wildlife such as the Eastern box turtle, Black and white warbler, Canada warbler, Hooded warbler, and Louisiana waterthrush.
Hillsborough Township contracted with Conserve Wildlife Foundation (CWF) to remove very mature woody invasive plants on 30 acres of Otto’s Farm Park. CWF worked to have half of the property cleared in October 2009. The remaining 15 overgrown acres were cleared in October and November of 2010, followed immediately by no-till planting with a native warm-season / cool-season grass mix and northeast native wildflowers. In late November 2010, more than 60 fruit-producing shrubs like elderberry, serviceberry, dogwoods, and hackberry were planted in perimeter patches along the grassland to provide food sources for songbirds, bees, larval and adult butterflies, and other wildlife. Tree guards were put around each shrub for deer protection. Several hundred additional trees and shrubs were planted in the Spring of 2011.
Benefits include the conversion of marginal cropland to long-term wildlife habitat and extending the forest cover of the Sourland Mountains Central Focal Area as identified in the draft RPWHP Forest Conservation Plan.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Management: Carbon sequestration- afforestation
Water Protection, Filtration, and Control: Water quality- improved groundwater recharge, improved soil stability, increased rainwater infiltration, buffering of adjacent forested wetlands.
Biological Diversity: Habitat- protection of habitat for Fowler’s toad, species of special concern in NJ, removal of invasive species, ecosystem restoration.
Total Project Cost: $40,000
Status: This project was completed in Spring 2011. Project partners included the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which provided much of the plant materials (~1,000 trees and shrubs), and Hillsborough Township’s Department of Public Works, which spent their time to help accomplish the planting and deer fencing. Funding was provided through an NRCS WHIP grant and a CRI RPWHP grant.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
Tags: new jersey audubon society
Posted in biological diversity, completed projects, ecological restoration project, projects funded by conservation resources
In 2010, CRI awarded the New Jersey Audubon Society $16,000 through its RPWHP grant program. This grant covered 50% of the costs of this grassland restoration project.
The Six Mile Run Grassland restoration project encompasses 153 acres of State-owned land in Franklin Township, Somerset County and is part of a larger grassland restoration effort that generated over 300 acres of grassland habitat along Six Mile Run. This site has been identified as a priority site for grassland restoration in Central New Jersey. This project provided additional critical habitat for grassland-dependent birds, and helped to improve water quality and reduce erosion.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Biological Diversity: Habitat- grassland restoration, grassland bird habitat
Total Project Cost: $32,000 NJAS received a 50% matching NRCS WHIP grant on behalf of the State of New Jersey to assist in the completion of this project. In 2008 NJAS obtained a $2,000 grant from USFWS to assist in the seeding of the original 97 acres. Project partners included the NJ chapter of Pheasants Forever, which donated $500 towards seeding of the 56 acres, and Advanced Forestry Solutions, which contributed $15,000 of in-kind services toward the clearing of the first 97 acres.
Status: Seeding is now complete at Six Mile Run with 153 acres of native warm season grasses in place.
 The tall grasses at the Middlebush site and the starting grasses at the location seeded during the spring of 2011 tell the story. The 300-acre restoration project along Six Mile Run is now complete, and NJAS’s Citizen Science group should be seeing some amazing species next spring!
Tags: friends of hopewell valley open space
Posted in biological diversity, climate stabilization and/or air pollution mitigation project, completed projects, ecological restoration project, projects funded by conservation resources
In 2010, CRI awarded the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space $17,500.00 through its RPWHP Grant program. This grant covered 50% of the costs of the reforestation of 8.3 acres of abandoned agricultural fields to restore contiguous forest cover at Baldpate Mountain Park. 
Baldpate Mountain and its vicinity have been identified as a priority forest conservation area in the RPWHP Forest Conservation Plan. There are several fields near the summit of the mountain that have been utilized for agricultural or programmatic reasons (e.g., historic Kuser homestead, viewshed of Delaware River). Two of these fields totaling 8.3 acres were identified for forest restoration to improve connectivity of large forest areas that surround these fields.
These two fields were converted to forest habitat through the planting of 1,660 native trees and shrubs (planting density of 200 per acre) and fencing field perimeters to avoid deer browsing on plantings and naturally recruited native trees and shrubs. Periodic control of invasive species and maintenance of exclosure fencing will occur as needed in subsequent years to allow for the successful growth of native plantings.
Baldpate Mountain is known to harbor nesting Kentucky and Hooded Warblers. The increase in continuity of forest cover will ultimately provide additional habitat and reduce forest edges that are avoided by forest interior birds.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Mitigation: Carbon sequestration- reforestation
Biological Diversity: Habitat- restoration of forest bird habitat; Ecosystem restoration- invasive plant removal, forest restoration
Total Project Cost: $35,000
Status: In October of 2010, Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space and the Mercer County Park Commission organized four volunteer work days to complete the planting. Volunteers came out from corporations such as Merck, Rosetta, and the Educational Testing Service, from Master Gardeners, Hopewell Valley High School, Girl Scouts, and residents. Over 1600 native trees and shrubs were planted. The trees and shrubs were supplied by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
Tags: d&r greenway land trust
Posted in completed projects, projects funded by conservation resources
In 2009, CRI granted the D&R Greenway Land Trust $199,500 towards this project through the RPWHP Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Re-grant Program.
The 57-acre Maple Lane Farm property in Hillsborough, New Jersey is located in Focal Area 9 as identified in the Raritan-Piedmont Wildlife Habitat Partnership (RPWHP) Grassland Conservation Plan as a high priority property for protection. Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus, a state threatened species, has been observed on a portion of the property, which exhibits suitable habitat – old hay field or fallow pasture. Additionally, the property is located next to more than 250 acres of additional suitable habitat and thus holds great potential for fulfilling conservation targets outlined in the RPWHP Grassland Conservation Plan.
This property is east of the largest expanse of open space in the area – the Sourland Mountain Preserve.
NJCF provided the funds for the easement through a grant they received from the NRCS Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) and then D&R Greenway purchased the remaining fee interest. D&R Greenway now owns and manages the property, and leases it to an area farmer with provisions for grassland bird habitat management. D&R Greenway plans to manage the tract for grassland conservation.
Environmental Services Provided:
Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Mitigation: Carbon sequestration- avoided deforestation
Biological Diversity: Habitat- state threatened/endangered species habitat protection
Total Project Cost: $1,314,500
Status: This project was purchased and preserved in the Summer of 2010.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
Tags: new jersey conservation foundation, stony brook millstone watershed association
Posted in biological diversity, climate stabilization and/or air pollution mitigation project, completed projects, land preservation project, NRD settlement candidate project
 The Ricciardi Property consists of approximately 14 acres that is located entirely or substantially on the Princeton Ridge, a unique ecological area that extends from the Millstone River and D&R Canal State Park, across the northern region of Princeton Township into Hopewell Township, where it is known locally as the Mount Rose Ridge. This property connects nearly 300 acres of undisturbed, forested habitat on the eastern Princeton Ridge.
Since at least 1959, Princeton’s Master Plan has identified the Princeton Ridge as among the most important and sensitive environmental features in the community. The area contains regionally important forested habitat. According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Ridge’s mature forests provide habitat for several endangered and threatened species, including the Wood turtle, Eastern box turtle (species of concern), Cooper’s hawk, and Barred owl. In addition to the endangered and threatened species, the Ridge provides migration and nesting habitat for a number of migratory birds that require large patches of unfragmented forests to live and breed.
This property was purchased and preserved in August of 2011. Project partners included the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, the Kingston Greenways Association, and Friends of Princeton Open Space. Public agency funding partners include the state Green Acres Program, Mercer County and Princeton Township.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Climate Stabilization and Air Pollution Mitigation: Carbon sequestration- avoided deforestation
Biological Diversity: Habitat- federal threatened/endangered species habitat protection
Total Project Cost: $3.95 million
Status: This project closed in August of 2011.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
Tags: friends of holmdel open space
Posted in biological diversity, completed projects, franklin parker small grants program, land preservation project, projects funded by conservation resources, recreation & aethestics, water protection, filtration, & control
CRI awarded two grants to FOHOS for this project through its Franklin Parker Small Grants program: $2,500 in 2008, and $1,000 in 2009.
The Neil Waackaack Preserve (former Lady Slipper Preserve) consists of 11 acres of forested open space bordering Waackaack Creek, a tributary of Raritan Bay, and Allocco Park, a small but heavily used municipal park. The Lady Slipper Preserve provides a much needed expanded recreation area in densely populated North Holmdel. Notable botanical features include Lady slippers, Willow oak, Sassafras, Mountain laurel, and Sweet gum. Friends of Holmdel Open Space (FOHOS) worked to preserve this property with the help of NY/NJ Baykeeper, and with funding from the Port Authority of NY/NJ, Green Acres, and Monmouth County.
FOHOS is working to make this preserve more accessible to residents. With over 100 hours of volunteer labor and donated big equipment with skilled operators, FOHOS has been able to remove heaps of dumped trash, put in a permeable small parking lot, erect a fence to prevent further dumping, and plant shrubs and flowers. FOHOS has also erected boundary markers and established a wood chip trail connecting the preserve to the adjacent park.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Water Protection, Filtration, and Control: Water quality- protection of headwaters
Biological Diversity: Habitat- federal threatened/endangered species habitat protection, extend habitat corridors
Recreation and Aesthetics: Public access- hiking trails
Total Project Cost: $7833, plus the cost of in-kind donations
Status: This project has been completed.
If you would like further information about this project, please contact Conservation Resources.
Tags: musconetcong watershed association, wma 01 (upper delaware)
Posted in completed projects, franklin parker small grants program, projects funded by conservation resources, recreation & aethestics, supplemental environmental project
The Musconetcong Watershed Association‘s (MWA) role in educating local officials and residents and protecting and restoring the Musconetcong Watershed is more important than ever. MWA recognized that in order to meet its mission, it was imperative to build a permanent structure; a River Resource Center will ensure the continued viability of their preservation, education, and stewardship efforts.
The MWA renovated a 2,150 square foot storehouse building, adapting it into a meeting hall with office and support space to base the association’s programs. These include environmental and outdoor educational programs, municipal government outreach, workshops and seminars for the public, stream cleanups, and projects such as stream bank restoration, well-testing and water quality monitoring. The headquarters will also be a beginning point for river-based recreation activities like canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and fishing.
The River Resource Center building renovation includes a complete refurbishment inside and outside the structure, and provides examples of sustainable building practices such as composting toilets, riparian restoration, the use of passive solar, and pervious paving for visitor parking. The MWA designed and built the River Resource Center to achieve the US Green Building Council’s LEED certification.
This “green” building provides a physical model for homeowners and small businesses; it demonstrates how applying green building and landscaping principles can be practical and cost-effective and incorporated into any project. The River Resource Center will lead the public by example in exploring cost- effective and environmentally sound solutions that can be applied to other building projects in the region.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Outreach, Recreation, and Aesthetics: Environmental education- LEED-certified nature center and model for sustainable building practices; Public access- access to waterfront
Total Project Cost: $668,000
CRI provided funding towards this project through its Franklin Parker Small Grants program: $5,000 in 2006, $2,000 in 2007, $2,500 in 2008, and $4,000 in 2009.
Status: This project is closed.
If you would like further information about this project, contact Conservation Resources Inc.
Tags: bowman's hill wildflower preserve
Posted in biological diversity, completed projects, ecological restoration project, franklin parker small grants program, projects funded by conservation resources, recreation & aethestics
A baseline Plant Stewardship Index (PSI) survey was conducted on Bull’s Island and Fireman’s Eddy Natural Areas, in Hunterdon County, to identify rare and endangered plants. This is being followed by invasive species removal and native restoration plans by the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, Delaware River Greenway Partnership, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The goal is to ensure that herbicidal application will not inadvertently harm NJ’s native and rare species. This site is appropriately located to provide important resting, foraging, and nesting habitat for migratory grassland dependent birds.
 The plan for Bull’s Island aims to restore approximately 5 acres of upland and palustrine forested and scrub/shrub habitat by controlling invasive Japanese knotweed and planting native trees and shrubs. The Natural Heritage Database revealed four rare plant species within the project area. These species include few-fruit sedge (Carex oligocarpa – SE), blue waxweed (Cuphea viscosissima – SC), Carolina whitlow-grass (Draba reptans – SE) and basil beebalm (Monarda clinopodia – SE). This project supports preservation of a northern floodplain and habitat and rare species habitat.
Ecosystem Services Provided:
Biological Diversity: Ecosystem restoration- Invasive plant removal, ecosystem-level management
Total Project Cost: $33,875
CRI granted a $2,000 Franklin Parker Small Grant Award to this project in 2009.
Status: The survey was completed, and restoration work is underway.
If you would like further information about this project, contact Conservation Resources.
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