A baseline Plant Stewardship Index (PSI) survey will be conducted on Bull’s Island and Fireman’s Eddy Natural Areas, in Hunterdon County, to identify rare and endangered plants prior to initiating proposed 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.
The proposed 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 possible records of rare plant species that may be found within the proposed 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). A management plan for Bull’s Island Natural Area was approved in 1992, and the designation objective for this area was “preservation of a northern floodplain and habitat and rare species habitat.” This proposed project is designed to support this objective.
The plan for Fireman’s Eddy aims to restore an old 75-acre field within the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, currently dominated by old field vegetation and scrub/shrub habitat, to native warm-season grasses. Project partners will provide approximately 525 pounds of native grass seed made up of a mix of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium).
This site is appropriately located to provide important resting, foraging, and nesting habitat for migratory grassland dependent birds.
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: Both sites are located within the Wild and Scenic River System. The PSI surveys will be conducted in early spring 2010 and again in mid-season July 2010 to prepare for the removal plans slated for August 2010. A PSI survey report will be completed for the project partners by August 2010. Ideally, subsequent PSI surveys would be conducted in two years.
If you would like further information about this project, contact Conservation Resources Inc.
